One of the great appeals of getting a new credit card or charge card can be a generous sign-up offer. While many will factor in a card’s ‘everyday’ points earning rate and annual fee, the promise of a healthy up-front helping of points can turn that ideation into action. But when it comes to American Express, who is eligible for those sign-on bonuses?

After all, you wouldn’t want to be drawn in with the promise of a solid sign-up offer, only to find that you don’t actually qualify! Here’s the lowdown.

Amex sign-on bonuses: the simple answer

Just looking for the bullet points about an American Express sign-on bonus? We should highlight that the terms of Amex’s deals can change from time to time. They may also vary from one card to the next. In any case, you still need to check the terms of any offer for yourself. But, we’ve noticed a common theme.

Usually, American Express rules out anybody who already currently holds an Amex Card in Australia from earning another sign-on bonus. The same exclusion applies to anybody who has held an Australian Amex Card in the last 18 months. Read on to learn about the small number of exceptions to this.

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Amex sign-on bonuses: the longer answer

There’d long been an exception for holders of the David Jones American Express Card products. However, Amex no longer issues cards for David Jones. Any DJs cards that remained have now been transferred to David Jones’ new provider. Or, they’d have been transitioned over to a non-DJs Amex Card (or cancelled by choice of the customer).

That brings us to the official wording of one current sign-on deal, for the American Express Platinum Card:

If you previously held a David Jones American Express Card and have not held any other American Express Card(s) in the past 18 months, you will be eligible for the offer. All other Card Members who currently hold or who have previously held any Card product issued by American Express Australia Limited in the past 18 months are ineligible for this offer.

American Express Platinum Card

Apply Now Read the guide
  • Sign-up Bonus: 225,000 bonus Membership Rewards points
  • Rewards Earn Rate: Earn 2.25 Membership Rewards points per $1 on all eligible purchases, except for spend with government bodies, for which you will earn 1 point per $1 spent. 
  • Annual Fee: $1,450 p.a.
  • Offer expires: 8 April 2025

The American Express Platinum Card is offering 225,000 bonus Membership Rewards Points¹ for new American Express Card Members who apply by 8 April 2025 and spend $5,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months of approval. It also comes with up to $400 in Global Dining Credit¹¹ per calendar year and a $450 annual Travel Credit⁵. A great card for those who want to earn Membership Rewards Points on everyday spend and transferable to over 10 major Airline Rewards Partner Programs⁸. T&Cs apply.

Similar wording can be found in the fine print for other offers currently promoted by American Express Australia. Still, we know that leaves a few ambiguities unanswered. Allow us to shine a torch over some of the common questions you may still have.

This article is not presented as personal financial advice, nor does it supersede or seek to provide a legal interpretation of the Terms and Conditions of any American Express Card offer. Ultimately, the reader remains responsible for confirming and complying with the terms of any sign-up offer, which, as noted, may change from time to time. This includes after this article is published.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m currently an Additional Card Member on my partner’s American Express Card. However, I don’t have an Amex Card of my own. Would I still be eligible for the sign-on bonus if I apply for a Card as the primary cardholder?

Generally, yes. As an Additional Card Member, you are not a primary ‘American Express Card Member’. In other words, you don’t already have your own Amex Card, so you shouldn’t expect to be excluded from an Amex sign-on deal on this basis alone.

How long do I have to wait from cancelling an American Express Card and applying for a new one to get the sign-on bonus?

Generally, an 18-month exclusion period applies. That’s between holding a primary American Express Card and being eligible to qualify for a sign-on bonus. If there’s any doubt, it’s best to call American Express to confirm the exact date that your previous account is considered to have been closed.

If I close my existing Card that has been held for 18 months, would I qualify for sign up points straight away? Or, do I have to wait 18 months from when I cancelled my Amex before I qualify again?

Even if you cancel your existing American Express Card, you would have held that Card within the past 18 months. That, alone, is a reason that American Express uses to disqualify customers from its sign-on bonus offers.

Under the present rules, you’d need to keep that account closed for 18 months – while also having no other American Express Cards on which you are the primary Card Member – before you may requalify as an eligible new customer.

Can I hold multiple American Express Cards at the same time as the primary cardholder?

Generally, yes. But any decision to approve a new credit product would ultimately come down to factors such as credit worthiness, serviceability and customer history.

Even so, we’ve previously been advised by American Express Australia that it will issue no more than four primary credit cards to any one individual in Australia. This includes personal Cards, as well as business Cards for which the individual is personally responsible as the primary contact.

However, from the same conversation, it seems there’s no set limit on the number of charge cards Amex Australia will issue. Remembering, of course, that charge cards need to be repaid in full each and every month.

Amex also promotes the ability to hold more than one product – just less overtly. For instance, by offering the Amex Platinum Reserve Credit Card for no annual fee to those who concurrently hold a Platinum Card, Platinum Business Card or Centurion Card. In fact, only these existing Card Members are eligible to apply for that product.

American Express® Platinum Business Card

Apply Now Read the guide
  • Sign-up Bonus: 250,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points*
  • Rewards Earn Rate: Earn 2.25 Membership Rewards points per $1 on all eligible business purchases, except for spend with government bodies, for which you will earn 1 point per $1 spent. 
  • Annual Fee: $875 in the first year (normally $1,750 p.a)*
  • Offer expires: 27 May 2025

New American Express Card Members can earn 250,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points in the first year* when you apply, are approved and spend $12,000 on eligible purchases on your American Express Platinum Business Card in the first 3 months of your approval date. Plus, enjoy a half annual Card fee of $875 (normally $1,750) in the first year. The Card is aimed at small and medium-size businesses who want to maximise their points earned, as well as business and travel benefits. Offer ends 27 May 2025. T&Cs apply.

In any case, while you may be approved for multiple American Express Cards as above, you shouldn’t expect to receive any sign-on bonus points with those subsequent accounts, as you would be an existing Card Member.

Will I earn the sign-up bonus on a personal Card if I already hold a business Card, and vice versa?

Generally, no, as small business Cards generally have an individual primary Card Member. Corporate Cards are usually the exception, as these are held by the entity rather than by an individual.

Is there any way to earn a sign-on bonus as an existing American Express Card Member?

Through a normal application, usually not. But you might be able to qualify for an ‘upgrade offer’ on an existing Card account. That is, where Amex offers an incentive if you switch to a higher tier Card within the same product family.

For instance, we’ve seen Amex offer bonus points to a customer who’s switched from the Qantas Discovery to the Qantas Ultimate Card. Ditto, when changing from the Essential Card to the Platinum Edge Card or the Explorer Card. To confirm whether you may be eligible for an upgrade offer on an existing account, contact American Express and ask if there are any upgrades offers available with a product change.

Qantas American Express Ultimate

Apply Now Read the guide
  • Sign-up Bonus: 50,000 bonus Qantas Points¹
  • Rewards Earn Rate: 1.25 Qantas Points earned per $1 on eligible everyday purchases. 2.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent on selected Qantas products and services in Australia. 0.5 Qantas Point per $1 at government bodies in Australia. After a total of 100,000 Qantas Points is earned in a calendar year, the everyday earn rate will change from 1.25 to 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent.. 
  • Annual Fee: $450 p.a.
  • Offer expires: 1 July 2025

The Qantas American Express Ultimate Card has 50,000 bonus Qantas Points¹ on offer for new American Express Card Members who apply by 1 July 2025. It’s one of the highest-earning Qantas Point cards and comes with a $450 Qantas Travel Credit³ each year plus a range of premium travel benefits. Eligibility criteria, minimum spend and T&Cs apply. New American Express Card Members only.

If you’re interested in the Amex Platinum Card, be aware that you can’t usually ‘upgrade’ from another Card. That’s because Amex’s other personal Cards are credit cards, whereas the Platinum Card is a charge card – thus, a different type of financial product. But if you have a personal charge card (perhaps, grandfathered from an old product line), it may be possible to upgrade. Again, contact Amex.

Summing up

Be mindful that in general, credit card issuers like American Express use sign-on deals to attract new, genuine, ongoing customers. They do this by purchasing those bonus points from the airlines. Or by giving you points that you’ll later convert to an airline.

Card issuers don’t go this just to be nice. They do it because it can be hard to attract new customers. In Australia, it’s said that people are more likely to leave their partner than to leave their bank! But, when there’s a solid offering of bonus points on the table, people can be more willing to dip their toe into the water.

Some people might apply for a card with little intention of keeping it after the bonus arrives. While that’s their right, some credit issuers may not look favourably on those who frequently apply for new credit. Or, whose average account age is quite ‘young’. But, some might say, if at first you don’t succeed, try again (elsewhere, perhaps).

Featured image courtesy of American Express.

Also read: Where are American Express cards accepted in Australia?


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Are you eligible for an American Express sign-on bonus? was last modified: March 5th, 2025 by Chris Chamberlin