Amex Referral Bonuses Spike to 45,000 Points, Delta Offers Cheap Awards

The American Express referral bonus has been increased to 45,000 Membership Rewards points per approved applicant, up from its previous limit. This change allows cardholders to earn up to 225,000 points if they max out on referrals.

However, it's essential to note that Amex reports referrals as taxable income at 1 cent per point, so recipients should expect a 1099-MISC form.

In other airline news, Delta is offering discounted awards for its new route from Atlanta to Riyadh. One-way awards from New York to Riyadh via Atlanta are available for 15,000 SkyMiles, but with a co-branded card discount, the price drops to 12,700 miles.