Earning Amex points in 2026: useful spending and limits

Start with planned spending

Italian rules generally provide one Membership Rewards point per eligible euro, with card-specific exceptions. Concentrating planned purchases can simplify tracking; increasing spending to chase points changes the strategy’s cost. Estimate affordable outgoings first and check your product: not every American Express card participates in the same programme.

Exclusions matter

Exclusions include cash withdrawals, prepaid top-ups, PagoPA, payments at Mooney and Poste Italiane, fees, interest and fuel under the stated conditions. Fuel purchases through apps are included in the exclusion; Business Net has a specific exception to check. Refunds reverse points. An accepted payment is not automatically an MR-earning transaction.

The Platinum bonus checked today

As checked on 20 September 2026, the public Italian personal Platinum offer runs from 8 September to 6 October: 31,250 MR per EUR2,000 eligible spend in the first six months, up to 125,000 MR. The maximum therefore requires EUR8,000 eligible spend. Eligibility requires no current MR card and none held during the preceding twelve months; posting is within eight weeks under the conditions. The standard fee is EUR70 monthly. Check eligibility and the application page before applying.

Supplementary cards and digital wallets

Eligible supplementary-card spending credits the primary cardholder’s account. Keep a shared spending limit and check statements. A wallet or intermediary does not remove exclusions and may prevent merchant identification for a specific bonus. Do not treat PayPal as a guaranteed shortcut that turns every payment into points.

Measure the net result

Keep the selected offer terms and record the spending threshold, eligible period and posting. Separate one-off bonuses from ordinary earning and account for fees and additional purchases. A strategy works when it funds a concrete redemption without weakening the household budget, not when it reaches a theoretical points maximum.