American Express is running a new sign-up offer for the AMEX Platinum Charge, exclusively for MileLion readers.
From now till 28 August 2022 (extended from 31 July 2022), MileLion readers can enjoy a welcome gift of 65,000 MR points, plus a sign-up bonus of 115,000 MR points for a total of 180,000 MR points.
This, in my opinion, is a much better offer than the sign-up gifts we’ve seen of late, which include massage chairs, standing desks, and Fullerton Bay Hotel staycations. MR points are highly flexible, and can be converted into airline miles and hotel points with a wide range of partners, or redeemed for vouchers and statement credit (albeit at relatively poor value).
| 💳 AMEX Plat. Charge Welcome Gifts |
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MileLion Offer: AMEX Platinum Charge
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| Apply Here |
From 11 July to 28 August 2022, customers who sign up for an AMEX Platinum Charge via The MileLion and receive approval by 11 September 2022 will be eligible for the following:
- 65,000 bonus MR points for paying the S$1,712 annual fee
- 40,000 bonus MR points for spending S$5,000 in the first 3 months
- 75,000 bonus MR points for spending S$20,000 in the first 6 months
- 25,000 base MR points from spending S$20,000
65,000 bonus MR points will be granted within 8 weeks of paying the S$1,712 annual fee.
Cardholders who spend at least S$5,000 within the first 3 months of approval will receive a further 40,000 bonus MR points, credited within 12 weeks of meeting the spend threshold.
Cardholders who spend an additional S$15,000 (i.e. S$20,000 total) within the first 6 months of approval will receive a further 75,000 bonus MR points, credited within 8 weeks of meeting the spend threshold.
Spending S$20,000 will also generate 25,000 base MR points, at the usual earn rate of S$1.60= 2 MR points. This means a grand total of 205,000 MR points (65,000 + 40,000 +75,000 + 25,000).
For the avoidance of doubt, this offer cannot be stacked with the MGM bonus of 20,000 MR points. Terminating the card within six months of approval will lead to a clawback of the welcome gift.
Who is eligible?
The 65,000 bonus MR points for paying the S$1,712 annual fee and 75,000 bonus MR points for spending S$20,000 in the first 6 months are available to anyone who has not cancelled an AMEX Platinum Charge in the past 24 months. It’s fine if they currently hold other AMEX cards.
The 40,000 bonus MR points for spending S$5,000 in the first 3 months is available to anyone who has not cancelled an AMEX Platinum Charge in the past 24 months, and does not currently hold an existing AMEX card. For avoidance of doubt, this does not include supplementary cards, corporate and business cards, as well as AMEX cards issued by DBS and UOB.
| ❓ Applied by 21 August 2022? |
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If you submitted your application by 21 August 2022, you are still eligible for the 40,000 bonus MR points even if you currently hold another AMEX card. This new restriction only applies to applications submitted from 22-28 August 2022. |
Terms & Conditions
- 65,000 MR points welcome gift (Page 2)
- 75,000 MR points sign-up bonus (Page 3)
- 40,000 bonus MR points (Page 7 & 8)
What counts as qualifying spending?
American Express provides a full list of exclusions here (section 3).
The key exclusions to highlight are:
- Insurance premiums
- GrabPay top-ups
- SPC transactions
- Utilities
For avoidance of doubt, CardUp transactions, hospital bills, the purchase of supermarket vouchers and Amazon/Lazada etc. gift cards will count towards the minimum spend requirement.
What can you do with MR points?
With the welcome gift, sign-up bonus and base points factored in, you’re looking at a total of 205,000 MR points.
Based on the conversion rate enjoyed by AMEX Platinum Charge customers (400 MR points to 250 miles), this would be worth 128,125 miles with any of the following frequent flyer programmes:
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Using KrisFlyer as an example, 128,125 miles would be enough for a Business Class round-trip ticket to Cape Town, Johannesburg or Istanbul (113,000 miles), or a one-way First Class ticket to Sydney or Melbourne (93,500 miles).
- 10 nights at the Conrad Bangkok
- 7 nights at the St. Regis Kuala Lumpur
- 5 nights at the Millennium Hilton Seoul
- 5 nights at the Le Meridien Maldives
Note: Marriott and Hilton practice dynamic award pricing, and the exact number of points required will depend on when you stay.
And in a worst case scenario where you converted the MR points into statement credit (which I’d highly advise against), 205,000 MR points would be worth S$984, or S$1,200 at Pay with Points+ merchants including Apple, Challenger, Fairmont Singapore or Lee Hwa Jewellery.
Just got your card?
If you’ve just got your AMEX Platinum Charge, welcome to the club! Do have a read below of the seven things you should do in order to kickstart your journey.
AMEX Platinum Charge: 7 things to do after getting your card
Conclusion
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| Apply Here |
MileLion readers can enjoy a sign-up bonus of 180,000 MR points for applications submitted by 28 August 2022.
This is one of the biggest offers in recent memory, and a good opportunity to hop onboard if you’ve been considering this card but didn’t like the previous welcome offers.
So basically 5k more points vs the previous milelion exclusive?
yes, but also structured differently (previous offer was 100k upfront 75k on spend, this one is 65k upfront 115k on spend).
What’s the cpm for FX transactions on this card?
Question…
I am currently on Amex KF (on the FYF), and I have a big-tix purchase coming up (say, in excess of 30K).
From what I read it seems that Amex has the “pay only the highest annual fee”, and it extends to 1 charge + 2 credit cards. If I get the Platinum Charge, you think I could stand a chance to also apply for KF Ascend + Platinum Rsv and get annual fee “waivers”, plus get the welcome points across all of the cards? Or is that a snowball’s chance in hell?
highest annual fee applies to platinum card series. no fee applies to platinum reserve. first year fee applies to kf ascend (subsequent years is waivable subject to approval).
Ah thanks! Do you know if I will still be out of pocket by 1,712 first if i apply for Platinum Rsv first, and then later on apply for Platinum Charge; and will it depend on whether I apply for them in the same month?
the order should be to apply for the platinum charge first, then reserve.
What will happen if i applied on 10 July?
The TnC does seem to suggest that applicants must not have cancelled their charge card in the last 6 months:
https://www.americanexpress.com/content/dam/amex/sg/campaigns/pdfs/affiliates-milelion-tncs.pdf
is that correct?
that’s for the 40k. if you want the other 65K + 75K, 24 months is the timeout.
Hm… I just cancelled my card a month ago so obviously will not qualify. BUT what’s AMEX selling point (literally)?
We pay a hefty $1712 and spend $20,000 to “earn” the MR points – it’s not like they are giving anything for free here. Other average Joe cards are giving free cash, free vacuum mop etc with 12 months exclusion – WTH- pass…
I guess the idea here is to pay for this card instead of buying those hotel stays or air tickets that you might already have intended to. All the card benefits are considered the “freebies” after that..
115,000 MR points can be converted to $1080 statement credit for select categories. This is over 3 times what most peasant cards give ($300).
lifestyle card. you dont have the lifestyle so you dont get it.
How does one find out when they cancelled their card? I can’t remember the exact date and it would be such a waste if it was less than 2 years
Hi Aaron, cardup payment (possible for Amex?) counts towards the $20k spend?
Thanks.
*Opps found the answer through another blog post of yours and it’s possible :)*
What about ipaymy?
Taking a pure cpm consideration, $1712 would yield 214k miles via CitiPayall + another 20k card spend should yield 24k miles minimally. Making it a total of 238k miles. So in this regard, I’ll get less miles via the Amex Plat Charge (128k) with the same outlay / card spend. I should still opt for CitiPayall (if I have not hit the 100k limit)… correct?
if your primary goal is to maximise miles, the amex plat charge isn’t the right card for you. this is an opportunity for those who want a benefits card to pick up a decent sign up bonus in the process.
Noted Aaron, thanks for sharing.
What’s the best way to reach the $20k spend? I’ve got a $10k purchase coming up but not sure how to best spend the other $10k.
Holiday (hotel, air tickets, etc), luxury items (watch, bag,etc), renovation, Tech stuff, furniture, vouchers, daily expenses
How do we charge reno to the card? Most IDs collect cash?
Hi Aaron, does the credit card fee of $1712 count towards the $20 k spend ?
No. Excluded
According to the TnC, the first 5k must be on the main card holder. How about the remaining 15k? Also main card holder? Supp card expenditure not valid? TIA
I checked with Amex. They will update the t and c such that the first 5k can be Main + supp instead of just main
hi Aaron, the TnC listed here for the 40k bonus sign up is not reflected on the link. I remembered reading it prior to signing up for the card. Today when I clicked on it to check again for the details, the TnC has been changed. There is no more details on the 40k MR for the $5K spend. Instead, it is updated with the new sign up bonus for the latest Oct 2022 sign up promotion. I think Amex changed it and I think this will create some issues when the crediting of the 40K MR for those who… Read more »
Hi Aaron,
Can you help check with Amex. I called them and asked about the 40k MR but they denied knowing about this promo. Please help!
if you have issues with fulfilment and it has been more than 12 weeks since you met the qualifying spend, please send your application reference number (also known as a PCN) via the contact us option on the site
The only sensible use case for this card is as a starter for a 2 year Centurion run. If that is the idea, more power to people that apply. Otherwise people in this country paying S$1712 for what goes around at $695 back in the States is a testament to AMEX’s shrewdness and faux status signalling. This is also a peasant card, albeit in a premium garb, overpriced and slightly pretentious to boot.
Hi Aaron, am trying to apply the card today, 1 day before the promotion ends on 15 August.
In your article, the bonus MR points mentioned for charging $20K is 115,000 points.
But the Milelion Amex card application website now indicates that the promo is till 30 Sep 2022 but the bonus MR points for charging $20k, is reduced to 100,000 points.
Pls clarify.
nothing has changed- the offer is still as described in this post. read it carefully. different components have different end dates
sold my oto massage chair at sgd$1000. i think the massage chair would be a better deal
Is Amex likely to reinstate the relaxed conditions for the plat. charge? without the extra 40K points (ie, by holding an existing Amex card) this offer is no better than the one by amex itself…