Amex no longer auto-pools Membership Rewards on new cards

American Express now puts each newly opened Membership Rewards card into its own rewards account rather than joining an existing pooled balance. New earnings stay separate until the cardholder links the accounts. Existing cards are described as unaffected for now.

If more than one rewards account exists, some or all products can be linked so earnings combine into one balance. Products can be added to or removed from a rewards account at any time, though additional terms may apply when connecting accounts online. Doctor of Credit says linked balances can take a few hours to appear. Points on an unlinked card could be stranded or forfeited if that card is closed without consolidating.

One Mile at a Time calls the extra step minor if you remember it, but flags the new friction as unexplained, citing possible motives that include stranded points on closed unlinked cards and later different transfer rates by card as with Chase and Citi. After opening a new Membership Rewards card, link it under Manage Connections so points keep pooling with your existing account.