Advertiser Disclosure: We love living points life by using points and miles to elevate travel experiences. In the interest of being transparent with you, we may be compensated from an approved credit card's application, or from some of the products and services recommended on this site. This only happens when you click on our affiliate links. We also earn commissions from purchases made through Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Thank you for your support and especially for reading this blog! Please see our Advertiser Disclosure for more details!
American Express has a “once-in-a-lifetime” rule on its charge and credit cards. This rule prevents consumers and business owners from applying for a card simply for the welcome bonus, closing the card, and reapplying to get the bonus.
While the miles and points community offers numerous insights into bypassing the Amex once-in-a-lifetime rule, here are my four (4) personal “play-by-the-book” experiences on how I could get the Amex sign-up bonus again despite the rule.
Amex Once In A Lifetime Rule: How Does It Work
When you are applying for an American Express card, it is important to read the fine print. It is especially true if you are looking to get the huge Amex card’s welcome bonus, as you will see the offer’s term states the following:
You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card. You also may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer based on various factors, such as your history with credit card balance transfers, your history as an American Express Card Member, the number of credit cards that you have opened and closed and other factors. If you are not eligible for a welcome offer, we will notify you prior to processing your application so you have the option to withdraw your application.
As you can see, the wording “if you have or have had this card” indicates that you will not qualify for the welcome bonus offer again if you have had the card. This term refers to as Amex once-in-a-lifetime rule. The rule limits consumers and business owners to one welcome bonus per card.
Fortunately, there are permitted ways to get around that rule without abusing the relationship between you and American Express.
Getting Around Amex Once In A Lifetime Rule: My Experiences
While the once-in-a-lifetime Amex rule can be difficult to circumvent, there are a few exceptions that allow us to sign up for its cards and receive the welcome bonus offer again. Throughout my experiences, I have used the following methods without jeopardizing my relationship with American Express.
Amex’s targeted offer for the card that I already closed
Amex loves targeting individual long-term customers. From time to time, although you already closed a particular Amex card, you may receive an email or a mail offer inviting you to apply for that card again with a lucrative sign-up bonus promotion. In this case, the welcome bonus term will not include the once-in-a-lifetime wording. Therefore, you are safe to apply for the targeted card and receive the welcome offer again.
Amex’s targeted offer for the card that I currently have
Another scenario is when Amex sends out a targeted offer to you via email or within your Amex account to add the same card to your portfolio. Amex generally makes those offers available for the Platinum card, referring to it as “sign up for another one to add the spending power to your current Platinum Card.”
In the above case, you are also safe to apply for the card again and receive the welcome offer again. The offer’s term will not mention the once-in-a-lifetime rule.
Existing Amex card’s upgrade offer
Sometimes, American Express may want you to upgrade your existing credit card to a higher annual fee card. This marketing approach generally has a welcome offer as well. Despite the fact that you may or may not have had the upgraded card in the past, you are eligible for the welcome offer that is associated with the upgrade offer without the once-in-a-lifetime language.
Amex’s once-in-a-lifetime rule after 7 years
The seven (7) years rule is not a formal rule that Amex supports. However, from the miles and points community, and as far as I know, the seven-year rule is true.
The seven-year rule means that after seven years since you closed your Amex card, you can apply for that same card and get the welcome offer again despite the once-in-a-lifetime term.
While you can bypass the one welcome bonus per card in a lifetime rule after seven years, if Amex flags you in the system, you may encounter another pop-up, Apply With Confidence.
Based on your history with American Express welcome offers, introductory APR offers, or the number of cards you have opened and closed, you are not eligible to receive this welcome offer. We have not yet performed a credit check. Would you still like to proceed?
If you do not receive the Amex pop-up mentioned above, then it’s safe to say you can apply for the card and receive the welcome offer again after seven years have passed.
Avoid other card member’s targeted offer links
While it is not the way to get around Amex’s once-in-a-lifetime rule, I cannot stress enough that you must NEVER use a targeted or upgrade offer’s link that was not meant for you. It does not matter where your trusted points travel bloggers grab the link from and make a post about it with a warning. Do not attempt to apply. The huge sign-up bonus offer may be appealing, but it’s not worth ruining your banking relationship with Amex and the risk of getting all your Amex accounts shut down.
In the meantime, I’ll show you how you can check from time to time to see where you can see your Amex targeted and upgrade offers.
Where to Find My Amex Targeted Offers
You can find your own Amex targeted offers, including card upgrade offers, through the following places:
- Emails
- Snail mails
- A pop-up offer after you sign into your Amex account online.
- Under the Useful Links on the right-hand side, if any.
- The Amex Offers section, both online and in the mobile app.
- After you sign in to your Amex account online:
- 13 Best Hyatt Hotels to Book Now to Maximize Your Points Before March 25 2025 - March 20, 2025
- Full List of Hyatt Promotions and Offers (2025) - March 20, 2025
- Full List of Timeshare Promotions and Offers (2025) - March 20, 2025