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Sign-up bonuses are often the fastest way to earn a large stash of points, but they aren’t the only option. Some credit cards also offer bonus points for adding an authorized user — an easy way to earn extra rewards without opening a new account.
These bonuses usually require the authorized user to make a purchase or meet a small spending requirement. Still, they can be worth considering, especially if the card doesn’t charge an authorized user fee or if the added benefits justify the cost.
So which cards still offer bonuses for adding authorized users? Let’s take a look.
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Cards Offering Bonus Points for Adding an Authorized User
There aren't many cards that still provide authorized user bonuses. Most card issuers either don't offer a bonus at all or only offer authorized user bonuses during infrequent promotions.
| Credit Card | AU Bonus Points & Conditions |
|---|---|
| American Express Platinum Card® | 20,000 Membership Rewards® points after the first Additional Platinum Card Member spends $2,000 on eligible purchases in their first 6 months of card membership. |
| Virgin Atlantic® World Elite MasterCard® | Up to 5,000 bonus miles when you add additional cardholders to your account (2,500 miles each for up to 2 authorized users) |
Amex doesn’t offer an authorized user bonus as standard practice. Occasionally, the issuer sends targeted offers to cardholders, offering bonus points for adding one or more authorized users.
Keep in mind that some American Express cards charge a fee to add authorized users. For example, the American Express Platinum Card® charges $195 for each additional Platinum Card® for Authorized Users (Rates & Fees). American Express® Gold Card holders, on the other hand, can add up to five authorized users without a fee (Rates & Fees). That's reason enough to keep your eye out for one of these targeted bonus offers.
Another thing to consider before adding an authorized user is whether they receive the same benefits as the primary cardholder. If you pay $195 for each additional Platinum Card® for Authorized Users on your Platinum Card®, the authorized user cardholders receive lounge access and other benefits. In addition, every dollar they spend earns you more points.
Benefits of Adding an Authorized User
The benefits of adding an authorized user aren’t just restricted to bonus points.
- Card perks pass on to authorized users: It’s rare for all of a card’s benefits to pass on to authorized user accounts, but authorized users on cards like The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card and Platinum Card® gain lounge access perks. Platinum Card® authorized users get the same elite status privileges as the primary cardholder, as well. While you’ll pay a fee for authorized users on your Platinum Card® account, the Ritz-Carlton Card charges nothing on authorized user accounts. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
- Earn more points: Purchases made by the additional cardholders earn points for the primary account. When adding more than one family member as an authorized user, you can ensure all household spending earns points for your account. The downside to this? You’re responsible for paying back everything the household spends.
- Allows you to transfer points to authorized users: The major banks have tightened guidelines on transferring points to other people's accounts. By adding an authorized user, you can sometimes sidestep the tighter restrictions. For example, it’s possible to move Amex Membership Rewards to someone else's frequent flyer account, but only if that person is an authorized user on your Membership Rewards-earning card — and only if they have been on the account for at least 90 days.
- Helps meet minimum spend and status bonuses: Adding an authorized user can help you meet the minimum spend on new cards sooner, with more than one person charging to the account. It can also help you achieve spending bonuses on a card, such as earning a free night after spending $15,000 on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card or The World of Hyatt Credit Card (Rates & Fees).
- Boost authorized user cardholders' credit score: If someone close to you is just starting out on their credit journey, you can add them as an authorized user. In exchange, they’ll get a kickback from your higher credit score and the length of your credit history.
- Purchase and travel protections extend to authorized user accounts: The majority of rewards cards extend the built-in purchase and travel protections to authorized users. This provides a cost-effective way of covering family members and those close to you.
It should go without saying, but we’ll say it anyway. You are responsible for any charges incurred by authorized users. Be mindful that their actions can potentially impact your credit score. Only add an authorized user if you have complete faith and trust in the person.
Adding Someone to Your Credit Card
To add someone as an authorized user to your credit card, you'll need information like their name, date of birth, and Social Security Number. You'll also need their mailing address, so they can receive the card. How exactly you add them as an authorized user depends on the bank.
With American Express, log in, select your card, and head to “account services” on the main screen. Click on “add someone to your account” for personal cards, or “get additional employee cards” for business cards. Note that you might not see the authorized user offer when you go directly to the application. Instead, first check your American Express offers. If there's an authorized user offer there, you can go to the application through the offer.
For Bank of America, log in and click on the card you want to add someone to. Go to the “Information & Services” tab, then scroll down to find “Add an authorized user.”
With Barclays, navigate to your card and then click on “Services” in the top menu. From there, find “Account services” and you'll see “Authorized users” under that.
To add someone to a Capital One card, click the card in your account after logging in. Next, choose “Control Your Card” and “Add Account User.”
For Chase, log in to your account and click “More” next to the “Pay Card” button. Within the drop-down menu, choose “Account services” and then “Authorized users.”
With a Citi credit card, hover over “services” on the main menu and choose “credit card services.” This reveals the authorized user choice under the “card management” menu.
To add an authorized user to your USAA card, log into your USAA account, select your credit card from the main page, and then click the “menu” button at the top right corner of your credit card account page. In the window that pops out, click “add authorized user.”
On Wells Fargo cards, go to your credit card account and click on “Credit Card Service Center” on the right side. From there, scroll down to “Account management” and find the option for “Add Authorized Users to Your Account.”
A Myth About Adding an Authorized User
Some people think authorized users cannot get the same card themselves as a primary cardmember if they're listed as an authorized user on that card for someone else's account. Others believe you can't receive a welcome bonus for opening a credit card after you've been an authorized user on that type of card. Thankfully, that's not the case.
Being an authorized user on someone else's card account does not preclude you from receiving a bonus on your own account for which you separately applied. So, if you're added as an authorized user on someone else's United℠ Explorer Card (Rates & Fees), for example, you can still apply for the card and receive the welcome bonus.
There are some other myths out there, but this is by far the biggest misconception.
Related: Understanding Rewards Credit Card Application Rules and Restrictions
Final Thoughts
Adding an authorized user account is a fast and easy way of collecting some extra points or miles outside of earning a new card's sign-up bonus. In addition to the extra points, authorized users offer a way of sidestepping the more onerous transfer restrictions with some points programs. Ultimately, authorized user accounts allow you to rack up points much faster en route to your next dream holiday.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: American Express Platinum Card® (Rates & Fees), American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees), The World of Hyatt Credit Card (Rates & Fees), and United℠ Explorer Card (Rates & Fees)
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