To the point
The American Express bonus points offer is available to certain cardholders who can earn points by adding additional cardholders.
There’s a new bonus points offer from American Express for certain cardholders: the opportunity to receive points by adding additional cardholders to your accounts and if they reach the required minimum spend.
The promotion is currently underway and runs until March 31, 2025. As some supplementary cards have no fees, this offer can be very advantageous if supplementary cardholders manage to meet the required spending requirements and optimize points to the maximum.
American Express bonus points - Eligible cards
Here is a summary of the select products eligible for this promotion.
The last similar promotion took place in September 2024. It gave fewer points, but required less spending. Note that you can earn bonus points for up to two additional cards for each product.
| Card | Bonus points | Required expenses | Additional card fee |
| American Express Cobalt® Card | 7,500 bonus Membership Rewards points | 2,000 in 3 months | $0 |
| Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card | 7,500 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points | 2,000 in 3 months | $0 |
| Card AeroplanMD* American ExpressMD | 10,000 bonus Aeroplan bonus | 2,000 in 3 months | $50 (with a fee) |
| American Express® Aeroplan®* Card | 2,500 bonus Aeroplan bonus | 1,000 in 3 months | $0 (free card) |
| American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card | 25,000 bonus Aeroplan bonus | 3,000 in 3 months | $199 (with a fee) |
| American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card | 5,000 bonus Aeroplan bonus | 1,000 in 3 months | $0 (free card) |
| American Express Platinum Card® | 25,000 bonus Membership Rewards points | 3,000 in 3 months | $250 (Platinum card with a fee) |
| American Express Platinum Card® – Gold card with additional rewards | 5,000 bonus Membership Rewards points | 1,000 in 3 months | $0 (free Gold Rewards Card) |
| American Express® Gold Rewards Card | 7,500 bonus Membership Rewards points | 2,000 in 3 months | $0 (first additional card), $50 for subsequent cards |
| American ExpressMD Green Card | No offer | No offers | No offers |
| SimplyCash® Card from American Express | No offer | No offer | No offer |
| SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express | No offer | No offer | No offer |
American Express bonus points - Is it worth it?
If you were already planning to add an authorized user to your card, or if the additional card has no cost, the answer is obvious. Where there is a cost, you need to weigh the value you can get from the bonus points against the price of acquiring them.
For example, it may have occurred to you to add your daughter to your AeroplanMD* American Express Card so that she can enjoy free first checked baggage on Air Canada flights on her solo trip to Japan this spring.
While you’re at it, add an extra American Express® Aeroplan®* Card and collect 10,000 points Aeroplan thanks to the American Express bonus points promotion!
Since we give a value of 2¢ or more to 1 point Aeroplan, it’s like paying $50 to have a value of at least $200 (10,000 points Aeroplan X $0.02).
Another interesting offer is the American Express Cobalt® Card since you can get up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points free of charge if you add 2 cards.
Both authorized holders will need to spend a minimum of $2,000 in three months each to unlock the 15,000-point total, but you’ll also earn base points in addition to bonus points.
If they maximize 5X categories (think gift cards too), you can earn up to 30,000 Membership Rewards points with this bonus points offer from American Express at no extra charge.
| Person | Base points | Bonus points |
| Additional card no. 1 | $2 000 x 5 = 10 000 | 5 000 |
| Additional card no. 2 | $2 000 $ x 5 = 10 000 | 5 000 |
| Total | 30,000 points | |
American Express bonus points - Our tip with the American Express Cobalt Card
Are you thinking of taking out an American Express CobaltMD Card for your household? Now is the perfect time to do so.
In fact, you could strategically spread your spending across all three cards (main user + two additional cards) to unlock the welcome bonus and that bonus points promotion from American Express! Three people working towards the same goal, that’s easier too!
The best approach is to start by concentrating spending on additional cards before moving on to the card of the family’s main cardholder.
- 1,250 points for each month you spend more than $750 in the first year;
- 15,000 bonus points for 2 additional cards if you spend over $4,000 in 3 months (or $1,334 per month);
- Over 53,000 base points in the 5X gain categories;
- Over 83,000 points in total (worth $1,423 according to our semi-annual valuation).
| MONTHS | PURCHASES | 5X CATEGORY | BONUS | TOTAL |
| 1 | $1 334 | 6,670 points | 1,250 points | 7,920 points |
| 2 | $1 334 | 6,670 points | 1,250 points | 7,920 points |
| 3 | $1 334 | 6,670 points | 1,250 points + 15,000 points | 22,920 points |
| 4 | $750 | 3,750 points | 1,250 points | 5,000 points |
| 5 | $750 | 3,750 points | 1,250 points | 5,000 points |
| 6 | $750 | 3,750 points | 1,250 points | 5,000 points |
| 7 | $750 | 3,750 points | 1,250 points | 5,000 points |
| 8 | $750 | 3,750 points | 1,250 points | 5,000 points |
| 9 | $750 | 3,750 points | 1,250 points | 5,000 points |
| 10 | $750 | 3,750 points | 1,250 points | 5,000 points |
| 11 | $750 | 3,750 points | 1,250 points | 5,000 points |
| 12 | $750 | 3,750 points | 1,250 points | 5,000 points |
| Total | $10 752 | 53,760 points | 30,000 points | 83,760 points |
Bottom Line
The current American Express Bonus Points promotion will reward those who add additional cardholders to their account until March 31, 2025. So there’s plenty of time to add your two authorized users and plan your spending strategy for the next three months.
If you don’t already have the American Express Cobalt® Card in your wallet, now is the time to do so to earn extra points.
Information on the promotion can be found on this American Express bonus points page.
