American Express has introduced several important changes that could affect how cardholders earn, manage and redeem Membership Rewards points, use supplementary cards and access existing benefits.
For holders of cards such as the American Express Platinum Charge, Platinum Travel, Rewards and Reserve, these changes are particularly important because some of them affect existing points and benefits, while others require cardholders to take action before specific deadlines.
Here is a consolidated look at the key changes and what you should consider doing.
1. Activate Your Complimentary Times Ace Membership
One of the immediate actions for eligible American Express Platinum Charge cardholders is to activate the complimentary Times Ace membership.
Cardholders were provided access to the membership through an email titled “Enjoy complimentary access to Ace by Times Prime worth 45,000.”
The membership includes a range of subscriptions, vouchers and other benefits, including access to offerings such as:
- Amazon Prime
- Discovery
- GQ
- Condé Nast
- Vogue
- Hamleys vouchers
- Uber One
- Other monthly vouchers and offers
The important point is that this benefit is scheduled to go away after 20 October.
If you are eligible and have not activated it yet, it makes sense to check your inbox for the relevant email, locate the activation/referral code and claim the available benefits before the deadline.
Even if you do not intend to use every benefit, some of the included subscriptions and vouchers can provide meaningful value.
2. Supplementary Card Applications Are Being Temporarily Paused
Another important update concerns supplementary cards.
American Express has communicated that supplementary card applications will be temporarily paused from 22 September.
If you are considering applying for a supplementary card, the stated timeline means you should ideally apply before 22 September and complete the application by 30 September.
The duration of the pause has not been specified in the information discussed here, so it would be difficult to say exactly when applications will resume.
Why are supplementary cards useful?
Supplementary cards can be useful for families because the additional cardholder can make transactions while the primary cardholder continues to manage the overall account.
One potentially significant benefit is credit-history reporting. The discussion around these cards indicates that American Express reports supplementary-card activity to credit bureaus, which could help an eligible additional cardholder establish a credit history over time.
This can be particularly relevant when a younger family member eventually applies for a credit card independently.
Supplementary cards can also help you:
- Consolidate family spending
- Reach spending milestones faster
- Track spending by different family members
- Provide additional access to applicable card benefits
- Manage household expenses more conveniently
According to the information discussed, the American Express Platinum Charge and Reserve cards allow up to four supplementary cards without an additional fee, while Platinum Travel and Rewards cards offer two complimentary supplementary cards.
The exact eligibility, benefits and fees should always be verified with American Express before applying.
3. Membership Rewards Points Will Be Maintained Separately
One of the biggest changes relates to how Membership Rewards points are maintained across multiple basic American Express cards.
Under the new structure, points earned on different basic cards will be maintained in separate point balances or “kitties.”
For example, if you hold multiple eligible cards, points earned through each card will be associated with the respective card rather than continuing as one combined balance.
The change is scheduled to take effect from 11 October.
This is particularly important for cardholders who currently have a large combined Membership Rewards balance across multiple cards.
What happens to existing points?
The information discussed indicates that the existing pooled balance will be handled as part of the new structure, with the higher-variant card retaining the pooled points in the example discussed.
Going forward, however, new points earned through the respective cards will accumulate in their individual balances.
This means that cardholders should pay closer attention to which card holds which points.
Why does this matter?
Previously, having a combined balance could make it easier to accumulate a large number of points and use them together.
Under the new structure, you will need to consider the individual balance of each card when planning redemptions or deciding whether to retain or cancel a card.
It also becomes more important to keep track of your points before making any decision about cancelling a card.
4. Be Careful Before Cancelling an American Express Card
The changes to point pooling make it even more important to understand your Membership Rewards balance before cancelling an American Express card.
The information discussed indicates that if a higher-variant card is cancelled, there may be a limited period in which points can be transferred or redeemed.
However, there appears to be some ambiguity around how this is handled in practice.
Therefore, the safest approach is simple:
Do not cancel a card while assuming your points will automatically remain available.
Before cancelling, check:
- How many points are associated with the card
- Whether those points can be transferred
- Which airline or hotel partners are available
- Whether vouchers or other redemption options are available
- What deadline applies after cancellation
It is also sensible to maintain records or screenshots of your Membership Rewards balances and confirm the applicable rules with American Express before cancelling a card.
The source material specifically highlights the importance of verifying the balance and redemption options rather than relying solely on verbal assurances.
5. No Membership Rewards Points on Overdue Payments
Another significant change applies to cardholders who do not clear their payment obligations on time.
Under the updated approach discussed, if a payment becomes overdue, new transactions will not earn Membership Rewards points from the following day until the outstanding payment is completely cleared.
This is an important change because continuing to spend while carrying an overdue balance could mean that those transactions do not generate Membership Rewards points.
There is another important aspect as well: while the payment remains overdue, redemption of existing Membership Rewards points may also be restricted.
That means an overdue payment could affect both:
- Your ability to earn new points
- Your ability to redeem existing points
For anyone holding a large Membership Rewards balance, this makes timely payment even more important.
6. Keep Your American Express Points and Payments in Check
With several changes happening at the same time, keeping track of your American Express account has become more important.
If you hold multiple American Express cards, consider maintaining a simple record of:
- Card-wise Membership Rewards balances
- Upcoming payment due dates
- Spend milestones
- Supplementary cards
- Benefits that are scheduled to expire
- Points that you are planning to transfer
- Redemption deadlines
This becomes particularly useful when you have a substantial Membership Rewards balance spread across multiple cards.
What Should American Express Cardholders Do Now?
The changes may look complicated when considered together, but the immediate actions are relatively straightforward.
If you have the Platinum Charge card:
Check and activate your Times Ace membership before the benefit goes away after 20 October.
Consider applying for a supplementary card if you need one, keeping the 22 September application pause in mind.
Check your Membership Rewards balance and understand how your points will be affected by the new structure from 11 October.
Keep records of your points balance before making any decision about cancelling a card.
Pay your card dues on time so that you continue earning and remain eligible to redeem your Membership Rewards points.
If you hold multiple American Express cards:
Start looking at your Membership Rewards balances on a card-by-card basis rather than assuming that all your points will continue to be available as one combined balance.
This will become increasingly important once the separate-kitty structure comes into effect.
Final Thoughts
American Express cardholders are seeing several changes at the same time, and the cumulative impact can be confusing.
Some changes could simplify how points are tracked, while others may require cardholders to be more proactive about their benefits, supplementary cards and Membership Rewards balances.
The most important thing is not to make decisions based on a single update in isolation.
If you hold an American Express card, review your current benefits, points balance, payment status and future plans before deciding whether you should continue, change or cancel your card.
And most importantly, verify the latest terms directly with American Express, particularly before transferring points, cancelling a card or applying for a supplementary card.
For educational purposes only. Terms, conditions, eligibility and benefits may change. Please verify the latest information with American Express before making any financial decision.
