According to US Credit Card Guide, AMEX has introduced a new application link where the page only tells you that you may earn up to 150,000 as a welcome offer. The exact amount is only revealed at the end of the application. Is this basically trying to get everyone to scratch and see whether they hit the jackpot? I’d suggest making it a 1,000,000-point welcome offer so people can keep scratching for a while.
In reality, though, I think AMEX’s logic is this: applicants who don’t apply for many cards and have a strong history may get 150,000, while people who frequently grab the welcome bonus and then move on may get less, or even no welcome offer at all. You could say AMEX has gotten very good at this kind of differential treatment. Likewise, the Gold card also has this type of uncertain offer, with up to 90,000.
- Up to 150,000 application link (must be opened in browser incognito mode)
The frustrating part is that no matter how large or small your revealed welcome offer is, the spending requirement is still $8,000 in six months across the board. On the plus side, according to the terms, after you submit your application, AMEX will first tell you how many welcome bonus points you would receive, and then you can decide whether to accept it. Based on the current situation, before you accept, AMEX only does a soft pull, which does not affect your credit score. Only after you choose to accept the offer will it become a Hard Pull, which may slightly affect your credit score.
After you submit your application and before you accept the Card (if you are approved) , we will tell you the exact amount of Membership Rewards® Points which you are eligible to earn, which will be an amount up to 150,000 points. To qualify for such points, you must spend $8,000 (the "Threshold Amount") or more in eligible purchases on your Platinum Card® from American Express within the first 6 months of Platinum Card® from American Express Card Membership starting from the date that your account is opened
