Amex UK Referrals - Easy Global Transfer - 22K MR no annual fee 1st year or 26K BA

[Formal Hall]

I realise this is very much a niche topic, but Amex offers a very easy global transfer process when moving from Australia to another region. I had a basic Qantas Discovery Card in Australia and was able to get a very good Gold Charge Card just a month after moving to the UK. PM me if you have any questions on how the process works.

Best of all, you can apply online and use the UK referral links, which like in Australia have higher sign-up bonuses than the public offers.

I can refer you for the following via PM:

British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card
26,000 avios when you spend £3000 in the first 3 months (25,000 without referral)
3 avios per £1 on BA
1.5 avios per £1 on everything else
BA 2for1 redemption voucher with 24 month expiry when you spend £10,000 in a year
£150 annual fee (pro-rata refund or downgrade to the free card at any time)

British Airways American Express Card
10,000 avios when you spend £1000 in the first 3 months (9,000 without referral)
1 avios per £1 on everything
BA 2for1 redemption voucher with 12 month expiry when you spend £20,000 in a year
Fee Free for Life

Preferred Rewards Gold Charge Card
22,000 MR when you spend £2000 in first 3 months (20,000 without referral)
2 MR per £1 on overseas spend and Amex travel
1 MR per £1 on everything else
Lounge Club card with 2 free visits a year
10,000 bonus MR when you spend £15,000 in a year
Fee free first year, £140 thereafter (pro-rata refund available)

Hope this is helpful to someone!

 

[alexy23]

Re: Amex UK Referrals - Easy Global Transfer - 22K MR no annual fee 1st year or 26K B

Looking for a bit of info the Amex UK process. Currently have a UK passport and an AMEX Australian Credit card. I'd appreciate if you can give some responses to the following questions.

1) How long did it take?

2) Did you need an UK bank account? If so how did you set this up?

3) Did it affect your Australian credit score?

4) In terms of Membership Rewards - what's the best airline for redemption?

5) I'm assuming you can redeem Sydney to Australia (one-way) on BA right?

6) Does it work for charge cards or only credit cards?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Formal Hall]

Re: Amex UK Referrals - Easy Global Transfer - 22K MR no annual fee 1st year or 26K B

Happy to help with some answers on the Amex UK process:

To answer your questions in turn:

1) About 10 days from card approval to card delivery; approval for my first card took around a week as I had to provide some documents (copy of UK visa and bank statement) but may be quicker for you given you have a British Passport.

2) Yes, you will need a UK bank account, they will ask for a sort code (equivalent of a BSB) and account number as part of their identity checks.

3) No effect on my Australian card, as there is no way of Australian credit agencies knowing your overseas lines of credit as far as I know. I've kept my fee-free Qantas Discovery card open for the duration of my time in the UK, so my Australian credit history has probably improved over time.

4) Best options are BA between Britain and Europe (as taxes are capped at £17.50) or BA awards on Qantas domestic flights or Qantas flights departing Australia, as BA doesn't pass on fuel surcharges on these.

5) Yes, you can redeem SYD-LHR on BA, but I'd recommend on redeeming for QF flights to LHR - it will cost more miles but you will save on taxes as BA has high fuel surcharges on its own long haul flights.

6) It should work for both credit and charge cards, but anecdotally they are happier to provide charge cards for Global Transfer applicants as charge cards have to be settled in full each month - so less of a credit risk.

Happy to answer any further questions.