Maybe it’s the magic of Christmas, but we received a special present from American Express. My wife is out of AMEX pop-up jail!
It was only two months ago when Sharon applied for the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card and received the dreaded pop-up message saying she wasn’t eligible for the bonus miles. This was the first time AMEX had ever denied an application from either of us. It was an even bigger shock because Sharon uses her Hilton AMEX Surpass card as her primary spending choice to help us meet the $15,000 requirement for a free night certificate.
I wasn’t overly worried about this, though I was slightly disappointed to miss out on earning some bonus SkyMiles. I didn’t change spending patterns or increase usage on her other AMEX cards.
Taking Another Shot
I wasn’t actively seeking a new signup bonus, even though we have some larger bills to pay at the beginning of 2025. The timing seemed decent for picking up a card with a higher spending requirement. That’s when I noticed a mailer from AMEX addressed to Sharon, offering the American Express Gold Card with a 100,000 Membership Rewards bonus for spending $6,000 within six months.
This offer is significantly better than the usual 60,000 points typically offered for the Gold Card and can only be found in targeted promotions. I figured if American Express was willing to pre-approve her for this card, it was the perfect opportunity to test the hypothesis that targeted offers might help bypass pop-up jail.
The Gold Card also fits into our larger American Express strategy. It’s hard to believe Sharon’s only AMEX charge card was the Green Card. Now that American Express has implemented a “little brother” rule for their charge cards, it makes sense to apply for them in order: Green, Gold, and then Platinum. Why not take advantage of earning 100,000 points while getting the Gold Card?
Application Process
To apply for the card, I entered the code from the mailer. On the website, the increased offer was prominently displayed, along with a notice that it was only for the recipient named in the mailer and that pre-approval didn’t guarantee final approval.
I completed the application and was thrilled to see Sharon make it past the pop-up jail message. She was approved for the card if she chose to accept it. I appreciate how American Express handles this process, allowing you to see if you’ll be approved before completing the application and taking a credit score hit.
Final Thoughts
Unfortunately, I don’t have any groundbreaking insights about AMEX’s pop-up jail from this experience. We were frozen from signing up for new cards for only a few months, while others can spend years in limbo. I haven’t changed how we use our AMEX cards since Sharon’s initial denial. Anyone claiming they have a guaranteed trick to escape AMEX pop-up jail is likely not being truthful.
If you’re patient and play the long game, maintaining a good relationship with the bank is your best bet. Keep using your cards responsibly, and stay on the lookout for targeted offers—you never know when the magic might strike!
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