mrlasssen

Wanting to convert my Alaska card to a no fee B of A credit card to maintain my history with them but all that B of A will do is cancel my card. I would then have to reapply for another product and have a credit hit on my credit report, there by limiting my ability to apply with Chase due to the 5/24 rule. Does anyone have experience converting cards with B of A, any ideas?

Finkface

There are conflicting reports about this. You used to be able to downgrade but some report that as of 2015, BofA will no longer do this without another hard pull. Some have reported success with the business version. When I tried last year, I was told no more conversions or downgrades. In any case, all of the discussion is here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alask...version-3.html

PABE

I asked to be converted to a TravelRewards card about a year ago and had no issues. Did you try to hang up, call again?

Finkface

From what I read in the other thread, the policy change was late in 2015 so you may have snuck in prior to that. But I think it is a YMMV situation.

progapanda

I converted a BoA Alaska card to a no Cash Rewards card with no issues 3 weeks ago. No hard pull or other shenanigans.

mrlasssen

Plane to try again, have called 2 times with no luck. Will cancel card before paying unless I get some miles.

Eujeanie

Do you not use the companion fare? That usually more than covers the cost of the annual fee.

I don't know what the connection is between having the BofA card and applying for a Chase card?

sdsearch

If you apply for a (non-Chase) business cards, that won't limit your ability to apply with Chase. Chase's 5/24 works by looking at cards showing on your credit report with "opened on" dates in the past 2 years. Business cards (in good standing) don't show up on those credit reports, so Chase can't see them (except they can see any business cards they issued themselves, without looking at your credit report, of course).

And you don't really have to have a business to apply for a business card from Amex, or Citi, or BofA. (Chase may be a bit different on that.)

I never have use for a companion fare myself. (I always fly solo. I sometimes do road trips with other people at my destination, but I don't fly with other people.) I cancel each Alaska card by the time the second year AF comes due, and just apply for another one.

So if you hold an Alaska card year to year, that has no impact on Chase. But if you don't find enough value in paying the AF again without 25k or 30k bonus miles to go with it, and thus cancel and get a new one, that's where the impact on Chase is, if you get the personal card. But as I just explained above, there is no impact on Chase if you get a BofA business card, and BofA does issue business Alaska cards (with the same 30k signup bonus, just no $100 credit).

mrlasssen

Was successful in converting my AS card to a no fee B of A card. Trick was to call customer service and when option for Offers came up press appropiate number. No problem at all and were happy to keep me. Prior to that it was no way can we do that. Got the Cash Rewards card no annual fee, same line of credit and keep my history with them.

mcmeeshi

Thanks for this info. Called BofA customer service and selected the My Offers option from the automated service. Spoke with a rep who originally thought I could convert to a no-fee travel rewards card. However, it was then specified that I would still have the annual fee in order to do the conversion to a card with rewards. I asked if there was any option to convert to a card with no annual fee and no rewards, and was told no, I would have to open a new card.

fredc84

This is not a very active thread but wanted to give my DP. Called in using number on website and got no dice...convert to another Alaska card or cancel. Tried again following mrlassen's post for guidance using customer phone number on card. Got the agent to convert to Cash rewards card.

shimps1

I'll add to the above.

I called in and first try converter Personal Alaska to Cash Rewards.

My wife had to HUCA and got the same done on the second call.

hightide

Are we still able to downgrade the AS card?
Requested to convert to Cash Rewards twice but no go.

sdsearch

How long have you had the AS card? Most banks don't let you product convert a card that you've had less than a full 12 months.

dayone

My unsupported understanding is that you can't product change a BofA partner card to a bank card.