Downgrading US AMEX Platinum personal card to keep MR points?
May 10, 2017, 11:58 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 18
Downgrading US AMEX Platinum personal card to keep MR points?
Hello,
I've had my Platinum AMEX card for almost a year and after getting the bonus MR points, just wanted to see my options of downgrading the card to a free card and being able to keep the MR points instead of transferring them.
I've searched but could not find details for downgrading to a free card with MR points. I've had experienced with the Chase cards and keeping UR reward points easily after downgrading. Is it that straight forward and easy with AMEX? Upon searching, is the Everyday Amex card a card I can downgrade to (w/ no credit inquiry) and keep my MR points?
Thanks!
I've had my Platinum AMEX card for almost a year and after getting the bonus MR points, just wanted to see my options of downgrading the card to a free card and being able to keep the MR points instead of transferring them.
I've searched but could not find details for downgrading to a free card with MR points. I've had experienced with the Chase cards and keeping UR reward points easily after downgrading. Is it that straight forward and easy with AMEX? Upon searching, is the Everyday Amex card a card I can downgrade to (w/ no credit inquiry) and keep my MR points?
Thanks!
May 10, 2017, 12:36 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 384
You'll have to choose whether downgrading or free is more important to you. You can only downgrade to another charge card and alll of them have fees. You can use the Everyday to keep your MR's but you can't downgrade to it from a charge card.
A single hard pull typically has little impact. If you see significant impact from 1 HP then there are bigger issues with your credit than the HP.
A single hard pull typically has little impact. If you see significant impact from 1 HP then there are bigger issues with your credit than the HP.
May 10, 2017, 2:36 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 18
You'll have to choose whether downgrading or free is more important to you. You can only downgrade to another charge card and alll of them have fees. You can use the Everyday to keep your MR's but you can't downgrade to it from a charge card.
A single hard pull typically has little impact. If you see significant impact from 1 HP then there are bigger issues with your credit than the HP.
A single hard pull typically has little impact. If you see significant impact from 1 HP then there are bigger issues with your credit than the HP.
Thanks! Don't use my AMEX cards enough to have a card from them with a fee.
May 10, 2017, 3:39 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2015
Location: LAX, BUR
Programs: AS,AA,JB, HH Gold, Starriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Explorist, Global Entry
Posts: 1,933
While you're at it you could apply for the Everyday and PRG if you have not had it and get 50K points, annual fee waived 1st year, will only be one hard pull.
May 11, 2017, 10:19 am
#6
Join Date: May 2016
Location: LAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Explorist, National Exec
Posts: 57
May 13, 2017, 2:54 pm
#8
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Cards which participate in Membership Rewards Express do preserve the balance, but lose the ability to transfer of airline or hotel partners -and- they may have a reduced Pay with Points value. The only current Express cards are Blue from American Express and Blue for Business, but this is a good reminder that many people still have older products including Zync, Optima and some no-fee business cards.
Unless you are up against the 4/5 credit card limit the simplest solution for most of us is to hold a free Everyday card which preserves the balance -and- the ability to transfer.
Unless you are up against the 4/5 credit card limit the simplest solution for most of us is to hold a free Everyday card which preserves the balance -and- the ability to transfer.
May 13, 2017, 10:40 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Houston
Programs: DL Platinum, UA Silver
Posts: 37
Do you guys think it would be worth it to open a business platinum to replace my personal where the annual fee is about to hit?
i have about 150,000 MR points in the account. I figure if I open a business account, the value of those points doubles if used to book flights. Current spend bonus is 50,000 points for $10,000, which is steep, but should be able to meet by pre-paying my rent for a few months and earning 1.5x points.
i have about 150,000 MR points in the account. I figure if I open a business account, the value of those points doubles if used to book flights. Current spend bonus is 50,000 points for $10,000, which is steep, but should be able to meet by pre-paying my rent for a few months and earning 1.5x points.
May 14, 2017, 1:07 am
#10
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
Do you guys think it would be worth it to open a business platinum to replace my personal where the annual fee is about to hit?
i have about 150,000 MR points in the account. I figure if I open a business account, the value of those points doubles if used to book flights. Current spend bonus is 50,000 points for $10,000, which is steep, but should be able to meet by pre-paying my rent for a few months and earning 1.5x points.
i have about 150,000 MR points in the account. I figure if I open a business account, the value of those points doubles if used to book flights. Current spend bonus is 50,000 points for $10,000, which is steep, but should be able to meet by pre-paying my rent for a few months and earning 1.5x points.
May 14, 2017, 8:49 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Houston
Programs: DL Platinum, UA Silver
Posts: 37
As of June 1, the "Pay With Points" benefit will be reduced from a 50% refund to a 35% refund, which may play into your decision. It isn't a bad move to consider though, because you would get two $200 airline credits before the next AF rolls over (2017 & 2018), in addition to the 50k signup bonus.
Jun 9, 2017, 2:56 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 18
Ended up receiving the GPR card with the 50k bonus.
Called AMX to cancel the platinum card since I was about to be charged the $450 annual fee, but was offered $300 credit to keep it. Made sense to keep it for another year. Paying $150 and I still get the perks as well $200 airline credit in Jan.
There was no point in getting the GPR but oh well, 50k points will be fine.
Called AMX to cancel the platinum card since I was about to be charged the $450 annual fee, but was offered $300 credit to keep it. Made sense to keep it for another year. Paying $150 and I still get the perks as well $200 airline credit in Jan.
There was no point in getting the GPR but oh well, 50k points will be fine.