Amex No Lifetime Language Offers
More is often – but not always – a good thing in our points and travel hobby. More’s certainly positive when it comes to credit card signup bonuses and options for obtaining them. So Amex No Lifetime Language (NLL) Offers, in and of themselves, are good news. But we shouldn’t overstate their value. Today, I’m bringing Amex NLL offers a bit down to Earth. In certain situations, it may be wiser to make an alternative choice. But first, I’m resetting what Amex NLL Offers are and why they matter.
What Are Amex No Lifetime Language Offers?
First, let’s review what Amex lifetime language is. For years, Amex has advised that individuals cannot receive a signup bonus for a given card if they have received one for that same product or any of its previous versions. More recently, Amex has expanded the language to include certain card families. For instance, here’s the lifetime language for the current Amex Platinum welcome offer:
You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card, the Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab, the Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley or previous versions of these Cards.
The good news is that Amex occasionally offers certain card welcome offers without this language, effectively rendering the bank’s primary card application rule moot. In those cases, individuals can easily receive multiple signup bonuses on the same card or within the same family.
So what’s not to love?
No Referral Bonus
Many of us who play the points and miles game with another player, such as a spouse or domestic partner, can add even more points to the welcome offer deal by referring the other player to the card. Amex referral bonuses can be significant – up to 45k Membership Rewards points in certain cases. While neither my wife nor I have been that lucky, one of us can routinely refer the other for an additional 20k-30k bonus points.
But Amex No Lifetime Language Offers generally require individuals to apply directly on the Amex site/not through a referral link. That takes a bit of shine off what two-player households can do with a NLL offer. Of course, appropriately characterize and value what a referral bonus can do in your situation.
Inferior Welcome Offers
This isn’t necessarily always the case, but Amex No Lifetime Language Offers can involve signup bonuses lower than otherwise available. For what it’s worth, I’ve noticed this happening more often recently.
Sure, we can say that an inferior welcome offer is better than nothing. But in a world of devaluations, their mediocrity is tougher to ignore. Also take into account that by obtaining that inferior NLL bonus, you are stuck with that card in your portfolio for a year or so. Depending how advanced you’re playing the game with Amex, you may value that slot more than the limitations are worth.
Unpredictability
Unfortunately, we can’t conjure up Amex NLL Offers within a timeframe most convenient for us. From the outside, there seems to be no rhyme or reason to how they’re offered. They often come around when we’re maxed out on Amex card slots for the foreseeable future. And that’s if they come around at all. Invariably, the card you have eyes on and hope will come with a no lifetime language doesn’t. Hope is not a strategy.
Conclusion
Amex is still my favorite bank for points, miles, and cash back. The bank has manageable application rules, providing cardholders more options for wiggling around the few they do have. NLL offers are just one example. Amex is a “yes, and” partner in our hobby; I rarely have to settle for an “either, or” decision with the bank. Amex No Lifetime Language Offers are just one tool we can use to do bigger things with Amex. Many more options are available. Have fun collecting and redeeming!
Have you pursued an Amex No Lifetime Language Offer recently? Which one and why?
