American Express updates Membership Rewards account linking and redemption processes

American Express has reportedly changed its policy regarding Membership Rewards accounts. Previously, the company automatically linked new Membership Rewards-earning cards to an existing profile based on a customer's Social Security Number. Under the new process, accounts are no longer automatically pooled. Cardholders must now manually select the option to link a new card during the application flow or contact customer service after approval to merge points into a single profile.

Regarding point utilization, travelers can redeem Membership Rewards for flights either by booking through American Express Travel or by transferring points to airline partners such as Air Canada Aeroplan, Flying Blue, Delta SkyMiles, and British Airways Avios. Experts advise confirming award seat availability before initiating transfers, as American Express generally cannot reverse completed transfers once points have been moved to an airline program.