American Express Membership Rewards - Switching from Gold Amex to SPG Amex - how to cancel gold and keep MR points active?

Title says it all.
If I cancel the gold card will my MR points remain active if I have a SPG Amex.
Thanks

Points expire with card. Either transfer them to an airline or partner, or ask AMEX about getting another, cheaper, AMEX product that will allow you to keep the points active until they've been used.

Keep both if you can. Gold cards are great because you can participate in the double MR promotions.

Title says it all.
If I cancel the gold card will my MR points remain active if I have a SPG Amex.
Thanks

Can't you transfer your MR to Starpoints?

Can't you transfer your MR to Starpoints?

the rate is VERY bad

Thanks for asking this question. I am doing the samething.

Thanks for asking this question. I am doing the samething.

Please see my other thread I posted (New Amex Platinum, Please HELP Me Figure It Out!!! ).

I firmly believe the SPG Amex is superior to all other point cards. I calculate the rate of return on the card to be 4-6% which is unheard of for other cards. If yo uspend $30k per year on the CC you automatically get Gold.

Your situation may be different, but as an American Airlines Elite flyer, AMEX Platinum didn't have anything to offer for me except Hertz Gold (which can be bought for $50 per year). Starpoints are EXTREMELY valuable!!!

I'm curious why the new SPG card is not considered "Platinum" like the old one, or the Hilton Platinum card? My available credit is REALLY high on the card and the level of service I get is definitely platinum like (when compared to Chase, Citi, etc...)

I firmly believe the SPG Amex is superior to all other point cards. I calculate the rate of return on the card to be 4-6% which is unheard of for other cards.

I'm curious why the new SPG card is not considered "Platinum" like the old one, or the Hilton Platinum card? My available credit is REALLY high on the card and the level of service I get is definitely platinum like (when compared to Chase, Citi, etc...)

1. The American Express Platinum Card is certainly not the best for earning points, but this does not mean that all Membership Rewards cards are inferior to the SPG credit card. Much depends on your travel pattern. Membership Rewards is nearly useless on AA, but we often fly Virgin Atlantic and I treat our Rewards Plus Gold card as if it were a Virgin affinity card. Our 2006 return will be at least 6%, because American Express offers promotions to Green and Gold cardholders that are not offered to Platinum.

2. There was recurring confusion between the Starwood Preferred Guest "Platinum" credit card and Starwood Preferred Guest "Platinum" elite status. This problem does not arise at Hilton because their top tier is named "Diamond".

dennis

1. The American Express Platinum Card is certainly not the best for earning points, but this does not mean that all Membership Rewards cards are inferior to the SPG credit card. Much depends on your travel pattern. Membership Rewards is nearly useless on AA, but we often fly Virgin Atlantic and I treat our Rewards Plus Gold card as if it were a Virgin affinity card. Our 2006 return will be at least 6%, because American Express offers promotions to Green and Gold cardholders that are not offered to Platinum.

2. There was recurring confusion between the Starwood Preferred Guest "Platinum" credit card and Starwood Preferred Guest "Platinum" elite status. This problem does not arise at Hilton because their top tier is named "Diamond".

dennis

I figured that was the reason for the platinum change.

My next paragraph (which you didn't quote) said "your situation may be different."

I meant those statements as far as my situation. In my situation, the hotel rooms are where the rewards have the best ROI for me. If it takes 30,000 MR points to book a Cat4, then I would need a triple accelerator 100% of the time on the platinum card to equal what I'm doing on SPG or a 2x accelerator for airline miles (which I wouldn't use). So for me, the only reason to get the Platinum would be for the other perks. For someone who doesn't travel much, the status you get for $395 would be worth it in itself, however, if you don't travel much you wouldn't be using those enhancements very much, so it's a catch 22.

Points expire with card. Either transfer them to an airline or partner, or ask AMEX about getting another, cheaper, AMEX product that will allow you to keep the points active until they've been used.

Thanks - that answers my question, I'll try to switch down to green or liquidate the points prior to closing.

Thanks - that answers my question, I'll try to switch down to green or liquidate the points prior to closing.

We just called Amex to get the SPG card. They said we could call and have our points transferred prior to closing the Gold acct. We'll see if this works or not.

Transferred where? If you meant transferred to Starwood Preferred Guest be sure to confirm how many points you will receive. Normally 1,000 Membership Rewards points becomes 333 Starpoints, or if your card participates in Membership Rewards Options 2,000 points becomes 333 Starpoints.