American Express Membership Rewards - Can't change AMEX card type?

I have "Clear" from American Express and want to change it to HHonors American Express. I called up customer service to request this change in card type and was told that it cannot be done. I was told that I would have to apply for a new card if I want HHonors AMEX. The rep had an Indian accent so I guess it was transfered to outsourced call center. Is there anyone here who has any insights?

I have had this AMEX account (Blue from AMEX then) open since 2001 and don't want to close it. I don't care if I do not get the HHonors sign up bonus.

Thanks in advance!

In my understanding HHonors, SPG, Skymiles, JetBlue etc are based on the Optima product. The terms of the Clear card are substantially different because this is American Express' "no fees" card. It makes sense that they would not permit an exchange to a card with materially different financial terms.

I would keep the Clear card, apply for HHonors, then use the online tool to move all except $1,000 of the Clear credit line to HHonors. There's no important drawback to keeping a dormant card that doesn't require an annual fee.

Moderator Hat On

Mia, thanks for your thoughtful response. This will probably get better responses in the AMEX MR forum, so I'm going to move it there.

Moderator Hat Off

Mia is correct, you can only change between certain card types. I've changed between the Optima Platinum and the SPG and plan to change my inNYC card to the Blue soon. However, you would not be able to change a card such as a Green/Gold/Platinum to a Blue.

Mia is correct, you can only change between certain card types. I've changed between the Optima Platinum and the SPG and plan to change my inNYC card to the Blue soon. However, you would not be able to change a card such as a Green/Gold/Platinum to a Blue.

Did you get the sign-up bonus when you switched from Optima to SPG?

Did you get the sign-up bonus when you switched from Optima to SPG?

Yes, but only because I asked when doing the conversion and was told yes. In retrospect, it took a lot of work and I probably shouldn't have been given the bonus, based on the T&C's.

I think AMEX has some new rules about changing. I tried to change my AMEX Blue to the Blue Cashback, the rep kept trying the code to change it and said it work previously. After speaking to someone, she came back and told me I had to apply for the Blue Cashback and could not change it.

I've been a big Amex switcher lately. In the past year, I've switched the same card from Delta SkyPoints to SPG to Blue, with no troubles at all. I'm thinking the switch to Blue was stupid though - I miss my SPG points.

I've had no problems trading from one card product to another (between Delta, Hilton, SPG and Optima). I was able to get into Blue recently, but decided to go back to Delta. I was told I couldn't... I could only transfer between Blue types, Clear and a new "Amex Delta Reserve Card.

I asked about the American Express Delta Reserve card. He told me it's so new that he has limited information. He said it is supposed to be Amex's top Delta card and cost $450/yr. Apparently, the system will allow the product trade to this card. Anyone else heard of this card?

I have a small business card that is currently a JetBlue card (need to reset expiration on some JetBlue points!), and has in the past year been a DL card, a SimplyCash card, and a Blue card. I've done other small business conversions, and other than not being able to convert between a charge card and a credit card, have yet to run into a card not being able to be converted. (Though I am guessing that the Plum card is most likely an exception to this, despite being a credit card.)

It may be that personal cards are more limited in conversion. Also, in almost every case, when I've converted a personal card the conversion did not take place until the next billing cycle cut. The only exception was when I recently converted a Gold Rewards Plus to a Green card, which took a week or so mid-cycle. Whenever I have converted a small business card, the conversion took effect in 1 - 2 days.

I've had no problems trading from one card product to another (between Delta, Hilton, SPG and Optima). I was able to get into Blue recently, but decided to go back to Delta. I was told I couldn't... I could only transfer between Blue types, Clear and a new "Amex Delta Reserve Card.

I asked about the American Express Delta Reserve card. He told me it's so new that he has limited information. He said it is supposed to be Amex's top Delta card and cost $450/yr. Apparently, the system will allow the product trade to this card. Anyone else heard of this card?

Hadn't heard of it prior to this. A quick Google search brings up this link, which references the Delta Reserve Card in the T&C's:

http://www10.americanexpress.com/sif/cda/page/0,1641,15175,00.asp?

Based on the price, I'd guess that it will be similar to the Continental/Chase card which gives a Presidents Club membership, Elite Access, and some elite miles. Great, possibly another way to earn MQM's without flying, although there is no confirmation on this yet.

Even if you have a regular Amex Gold charge card and you want to apply for a Platinum charge card..you must apply for it seperate,a credit check will be run on you,and an inquiry will be noted on your credit report for 2 years..thats what you need to know..@:-)

Even if you have a regular Amex Gold charge card and you want to apply for a Platinum charge card..you must apply for it seperate,a credit check will be run on you,and an inquiry will be noted on your credit report for 2 years..thats what you need to know..@:-)

If you want to have a seperate, new, distinct Platinum account that is true. If you simply want to upgrade your Gold card to Platinum, it is not. I have an account that I have taken from Gold, to Platinum, and back to Gold. The account number stayed the same during all of these changes and no additional credit report was pulled.

If you want to have a seperate, new, distinct Platinum account that is true. If you simply want to upgrade your Gold card to Platinum, it is not. I have an account that I have taken from Gold, to Platinum, and back to Gold. The account number stayed the same during all of these changes and no additional credit report was pulled.

When I "upgraded" to platinum they mailed me a new card with a new number and I then had to cancel the gold card I had previous. :rolleyes:

Not sure why that happened, maybe the phone rep gets a bonus for a new card signup or something instead of a conversion/upgrade.

When I "upgraded" to platinum they mailed me a new card with a new number and I then had to cancel the gold card I had previous. :rolleyes:

Not sure why that happened, maybe the phone rep gets a bonus for a new card signup or something instead of a conversion/upgrade.

Sounds like they do get some kind of bonus for this. Similar thing happened to a friend of mine, he wanted to convert his card, but ended up with 2 separate accounts.

Sounds like they do get some kind of bonus for this. Similar thing happened to a friend of mine, he wanted to convert his card, but ended up with 2 separate accounts.

same with me, I had to apply anew & then had a green and plat. card, I cancelled the green, but was able to transfer my membershiprewards pts.

same with me, I had to apply anew & then had a green and plat. card, I cancelled the green, but was able to transfer my membershiprewards pts.

In the long run it doesn't really matter if they say you need to open a new account. The only real effect to an individual is an inquiry on your credit, an additional account closing/opening, and some work updating your cc info for recurring charges. However, it is definitely possible to keep your same number when upgrading/downgrading/changing.

Sounds like they do get some kind of bonus for this. Similar thing happened to a friend of mine, he wanted to convert his card, but ended up with 2 separate accounts.

Thats what Im saying..when i got upgraded they told me in advance they have to give you a new account number and ran a credit check..its on your credit report for 2 years..so if your shopping for loans just know its there..@:-)

I called Amex CS today, and they told me that they couldn't upgrade me from Green to Platinum without applying, and opening a new account. I've read any previous posts that said I could. Am I just not asking them in the correct way? I told them I wanted to, "UPGRADE from a Green charge card to a Platinum one."

Ryan,

Try asking it this way -- "I would like to transfer from my green card to a Platinum card."

Sanosuke!