Documented rule history
Active — last confirmed October 6, 2023Is the American Express Family welcome-offer rule still active? On our documented record it is active, last confirmed October 6, 2023: Gold card added to the Platinum family. We have 4 dated, sourced changes on record since 2018. Statuses reflect documented confirmations, not live issuer policy.
Every documented change — newest first
October 6, 2023
Gold card added to the Platinum family
Gold card terms began excluding applicants who have or had the Gold, Premier Rewards Gold, or any Platinum version; the Platinum cards' own terms were unchanged, so prior Gold holders remained eligible for Platinum offers.
September 1, 2023
Consumer and Schwab Platinum cards combined into one welcome-offer family
Date approximate (month only). The consumer and Schwab Platinum terms began excluding previous or current holders of any of the three Platinum versions, while Morgan Stanley Platinum applicants remained eligible regardless.
January 1, 2023
Family language added to Delta consumer cards
Year approximate. Frequent Miler describes the Delta family structure as one-directional: holding a lower-tier Delta card does not block a higher-tier bonus, but having held a higher-tier card may block lower-tier bonuses.
August 1, 2018
Cross-issuer SPG/Marriott bonus restrictions documented
Date approximate (month only). TPG documented new welcome-offer limits across the Marriott and SPG card lineups that reference holding or recently earning bonuses on specified cards from the other issuer, using 30-day, 90-day, and 24-month look-backs.
Questions
Yes — active on our documented record, as last confirmed October 6, 2023: Gold card added to the Platinum family. Always verify before applying — issuers change unwritten rules without notice.
August 1, 2018: Cross-issuer SPG/Marriott bonus restrictions documented. Since then we have documented 4 changes, each dated and sourced on this page.
October 6, 2023 — Gold card added to the Platinum family. Gold card terms began excluding applicants who have or had the Gold, Premier Rewards Gold, or any Platinum version; the Platinum cards' own terms were unchanged, so prior Gold holders remained eligible for Platinum offers.
Application rules are unwritten issuer policy; they change and get enforced without notice, and exceptions exist. Statuses reflect our last documented confirmation, not live issuer policy. Not financial or legal advice.
Bonus Eagle. “American Express Family welcome-offer rule — The Application Rules Record.” bonuseagle.com. https://www.bonuseagle.com/rules/american-express/family-welcome-offer-rule
All American Express rules: the full issuer page.
