American Express: The American Express Referral System (Promotion Until March 4, 2024)

Updated Aug 27, 2024
Fact checked by
Alexandrine Bertrand
Alexandrine Bertrand

Alexandrine Bertrand

Alexandrine Bertrand
A passionate solo traveler, Alexandrine is an expert on loyalty programs such as Aeroplan, Avios, AIR MILES, Flying Blue and Marriott Bonvoy. With a budget-conscious approach, she helps travelers maximize their points and miles for low-cost, off-the-beaten-path getaways. A food lover, she enjoys discovering the local flavors and culinary traditions that enrich her adventures.
All posts by Alexandrine Bertrand
Carte Prestige AéroplanMD- American ExpressMD salon Air Canada-5
To the point The American Express referral system is a great way to earn points faster, especially during promotional periods.

Information updated on January 17, 2024

Please note that Milesopedia is a partner of American Express Canada.

Therefore, all the links available on Milesopedia are NOT referral links. By applying for your American Express Card via Milesopedia, you support the development of the site and the Milesopedia community, which is 100% free.

Referral promotion until March 4, 2024

Like every year until March 4, 2024, American Express is running a promotion to encourage the referral of friends by doubling or even tripling referral bonuses:

Card Sponsor bonus
American Express Platinum Card® 30,000 Membership Rewards points
American Express® Gold Rewards Card 15,000 Membership Rewards points
American Express Cobalt® Card 10,000 Membership Rewards points
American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card 20,000 Aeroplan points
American Express® Aeroplan®* Card 10,000 Aeroplan points
Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card 20,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
Business Platinum Card® from American Express 40,000 Membership Rewards points
American ExpressMD Gold Rewards Card for SMEs 30,000 Membership Rewards points
American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card 40,000 Aeroplan points
Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Card 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

 

American Express card categories

American Express referral is available to any American Express cardmember.

There are 4 categories of American Express Cards:

  1. Membership Rewards
  2. Aeroplan
  3. Marriott Bonvoy
  4. SimplyCash

You can only refer within the same category. And there are limitations in each of these categories to the cards that can be referred.

The referral card will determine the number of points/miles you will receive for the referral. Note that American Express frequently changes the points/miles earned through a referral.

Referral offers may be more attractive than regular offers… but the amount you have to spend will often be much higher than the offers available on this page! So “think twice” before making a referral offer!

Referral restrictions

To limit abuse, American Express updated the terms and conditions on referrals on March 12, 2020.

Who can I refer?

If the referral is made in a personal or family context, you agree to make referrals only to family members and friends with whom you have a relationship and who have confirmed that they wish to receive this communication.

If this is a referral made in a professional context, you agree to make referrals only to professional contacts whom you know and who have consented to receive this referral from you.

You should not send referrals to people you don’t know. (…) You must not post or share your referral link in places where the audience is likely to include people with whom you have no professional, personal or family connection or who may not be interested in the offer.

American Express Canada

Thus, it is prohibited:

  • to broadcast its referral link on different platforms (websites, forums, chat, facebook group…)
  • share your referral link with people you don’t know

American Express is strengthening its control over platforms like Reddit or blogs that share referral links (Milesopedia is not one of them).

Self-referral / self-recommendation

If you already have an American Express Card, you may not refer yourself for an American Express Card. Any violation or misuse of this referral program, including, but not limited to, sending e-mails to persons with whom you do not have a professional, personal or family relationship, self-referral, attempts to circumvent, manipulate, disguise or otherwise alter the accurate delivery and representation of the Referral Link, as well as the sharing of tools, content, information, instructions or other materials provided by us, will be considered a breach of these Terms and Conditions and will result in your ineligibility for referral rewards, cancellation of your referral rewards, exclusion from the Program and cancellation of your Card account.

American Express Canada

Thus, it is now explicitly forbidden to self-sponsor (from a Business Platinum Card to a Gold Business Card for example).

The risk: losing referral points and being excluded from the program.

It is now preferred to refer only within the family, between friends or colleagues.

Membership Rewards

American Express Platinum Card®

Card New Platinum Card
Name American Express Platinum Card®
Points earned by the sponsor 10,000 Membership Rewards points
Maximum per year 225,000 Membership Rewards points
Card(s) available via sponsorship American Express Platinum Card®

Here is the current offer for this Card available via Milesopedia:

American Express® Gold Rewards Card

Card gold rosegold metal diag lockup ca x
Name American Express® Gold Rewards Card
Points earned by the sponsor 7,500 Membership Rewards points
Maximum per year 75,000 Membership Rewards points
Card(s) available via referral American Express® Gold Rewards Card
American Express Cobalt® Card

Here is the current offer for this Card available via Milesopedia:

American Express Cobalt® Card

Card cobalt card
Name American Express Cobalt® Card
Points earned by the sponsor 5,000 Membership Rewards points
Maximum per year 75,000 Membership Rewards points
Card(s) available via referral American Express® Gold Rewards Card
American Express Cobalt® Card

Here is the current offer for this Card available via Milesopedia:

Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Card Business Platinum Card<sup>®</sup> from American Express
Name Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Points earned by the sponsor 20,000 Membership Rewards points
Maximum per year 225,000 Membership Rewards points
Card(s) available via sponsorship Business Platinum Card® from American Express
American ExpressMD Gold Rewards Card for SMEs
American Express Platinum Card®

Here is the current offer for this Card available via Milesopedia:

American Express® Business Gold Rewards Card®

Card amex or pme bilingual
Name American ExpressMD Gold Rewards Card for SMEs
Points earned by the sponsor 15,000 Membership Rewards points
Maximum per year 225,000 Membership Rewards points
Card(s) available via sponsorship Business Platinum Card® from American Express
American ExpressMD Gold Rewards Card for SMEs
American Express Platinum Card®

Here is the current offer for this Card available via Milesopedia:

Aeroplan

American Express®* Aeroplan® Reserve Card

Card Amex Aeroplan Reserve New
Name American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
Points earned by sponsor 10,000 Aeroplan points
Maximum per year 225,000 Aeroplan points
Card(s) available via referral American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card
American Express® Aeroplan®* Card

Here is the current offer for this Card available via Milesopedia:

American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card

Card Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve New
Name American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card
Points earned by sponsor 20,000 Aeroplan points
Maximum per year 225,000 Aeroplan points
Card(s) available via referral American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card
American Express® Aeroplan®* Card

Here is the current offer for this Card available via Milesopedia:

American Express® Aeroplan®* Card

Card Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve New
Name American Express® Aeroplan®* Card
Points earned by sponsor 5,000 Aeroplan points
Maximum per year 75,000 Aeroplan points
Card(s) available via referral American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card
American Express® Aeroplan®* Card

Here is the current offer for this Card available via Milesopedia:

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card

Card american express bonvoy
Name Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card
Points earned by the sponsor 10,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
Maximum per year 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
Card(s) available via sponsorship Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card
Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Card

Here is the current offer for this Card available via Milesopedia:

Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card

Card american express bonvoy business 1
Name Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Card
Points earned by the sponsor 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
Maximum per year 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
Card(s) available via sponsorship Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card
Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Card

Here is the current offer for this Card available via Milesopedia:

By logging into your American Express account, you will be able to retrieve a referral link via the“Refer a Friend” option on the left side of the home screen. You can click on this link which will ask you to log in to your American Express account to see the available sponsorship offers.

You will then be taken to this page. If you have multiple American Express cards in your account, choose the one you would like to refer from. Below, I have chosen the Business Platinum Card.

parrainage lien entreprise

You will then have the option to make a referral via email, retrieve a referral link, or distribute the link via Facebook message.

cartes parrainage 2

With this link, your friend will arrive on this page:

parrainage lien entreprise pme

They will then have the option to subscribe to the proposed card, or to choose another card that is part of the same referral program (at the bottom of the page):

parrainage lien entreprise autres

Please note that Milesopedia is a partner of American Express. Therefore, American Express links available on Milesopedia are NOT referral links. By applying for an American Express Card via Milesopedia, you support the development of the site and the Milesopedia community!

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
Jean-Maximilien Voisine

Jean-Maximilien Voisine

Jean-Maximilien Voisine
Jean-Maximilien, President and Founder of Milesopedia, is a recognized expert in rewards programs, credit cards, and travel in Canada and France. Approaching forty and a father of two, he has travelled to over 100 countries, half of them with his children and his wife, Audrey. Specializing in top loyalty programs like Aeroplan, American Express Membership Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy, he guides travellers to maximize their benefits across North America and Europe.
All posts by Jean-Maximilien Voisine

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