What happened
Frequent Miler reports that American Express no longer attaches new Membership Rewards cards to an existing account automatically by Social Security Number. Cardholders who already hold Membership Rewards cards must choose the link step in the application or contact Amex later to combine balances.
Membership Rewards cards used to share a single profile matched by Social Security Number. A prompt to attach the new card still appears during the application. Skip it and Amex initially opens a separate Membership Rewards account. Combining after approval means calling American Express. Whether chat can finish the link is unclear. Frequent Miler notes the change could be a temporary glitch.
Unlinked cards leave points in separate pools and can block a transfer or travel booking that needs a combined balance. Choose the in-application link on a new Membership Rewards card, or call Amex after approval if the accounts stay separate.
- Who qualifies
- Anyone opening a new American Express card that earns Membership Rewards points who already has other Membership Rewards cards
- Takeaway
- When you apply for a new Membership Rewards card, use the in-application option to link it, or call Amex afterward if the accounts are not combined.