American Express Membership Rewards are one of the flexible currencies we use in the credit card points and miles game all the time. However, AMEX has changed some of the application rules for their cards. Let’s get clear on the American Express family language!

 

American Express Cards Earning Membership Rewards

You used to be able to open a card from American Express in any order. I opened a personal Platinum Card, then a Gold Card, and finally a Green Card. I couldn’t do that today as they have added specific language to many of their credit cards. For instance, if I click on an American Express Gold Card application, it will say: You may not be eligible to receive the welcome offer on the Gold card if you have or have had The Platinum Card from American Express…”

Similarly, the American Express Green Card application states, “You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card, the Platinum Card^®, … the American Express^® Gold Card or previous versions of these Cards.”

Oops—that means you have to apply in a certain order now if you’d like to eventually hold and get the welcome offers on all three American Express Cards offering Membership Rewards (the Green, the Gold, and the Platinum). Here’s the order that you want to follow now:

• American Express Green Card
• American Express Gold Card
• American Express Platinum Card

For now, the family language only applies to the personal versions of these cards.

 

American Express Delta Cards

American Express co-branded cards also have limits on which you can apply for. Basically, if you get one of the cards with a higher annual fee, you will not be able to get one of the Delta co-branded cards with a lower annual fee. This isn’t a problem if you haven’t started getting Delta cards, but if you hold the Delta Platinum card currently, you won’t qualify for the welcome offer on the Delta Gold card. This takes planning the order in which you apply for American Express cards. Here’s how I would apply for these AMEX Delta cards now:

• American Express Delta SkyMiles Gold Card
• American Express Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card
• American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card

As each card takes a 5/24 spot, I wouldn’t bother with the lower-level (Blue card) options.

 

 

American Express Marriott Cards

To begin with, Marriott cards have a complicated list of which cards you can get between the Chase and AMEX versions. Check out our eligibility chart here. However, if you stick with the American Express Marriott Cards, there are even more rules. (I’m so glad I got into these cards before all these rules, as I still have both Chase and AMEX cards). Basically, here is how you should apply now

• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

 

Bottom Line

Currently, the Hilton and American Express Business Cards do not have family language on them. Will that last, or is this a new trend for all AMEX cards? Only time will tell, but hopefully you are a little clearer on where things stand with the American Express family language right now.