American Express Membership Rewards - Cancelling Amex Plt -- what to do with MR points?

Like those in various other recent threads (example (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-express-membership-rewards/890320-amex-platinum-renewal.html)), I'm considering cancelling an Amex Platinum card. I have ~100,000 MR points I'll want to protect.

Clearly I can transfer the points to another program. But I don't have any immediate need for a major frequent flier or hotel redemption.

Do I have other options? Get some lower-cost Amex card that includes MR points, and somehow link my accounts so that my MR points remain even after I close the Platinum account? It seems like this should be workable, but I haven't seen much discussion of this strategy here on FT. Nor does the Amex site make it clear.

Many thanks fo rguidance.

I would highly advise transferring them to me at:

The BK Guy
123 Biz-Class-Ticket-LAX-to-NRT Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90210

:D

FWIW, VS is offering a 15% premium for MR points transferred into Flying Club before 1/31/2009. That's not a bad deal if you really want to close the card and get the points out of Amex completely right now, and of course assuming you fly VS or one of their partners.

As far as leaving them in Amex via some sort of clever maneuver, I'll have to leave that to the experts.

Do not know if it is possible but you might just downgrade to a Gold MR card. Call them and tell them what you want to do and see if they will allow it.

Cheers

If you downgrade to a cheaper MR program card you'll still be paying for the program a bit. Some folks have contemplated going to MR Options on a free blue card with the expectation of switching back to a normal MR card when they are ready to transfer to an airline, but there is some risk in that approach, especially if you don't get the MR card back when you try for it.

How much does downgrading to a Gold Card or even a Green Card really save? Don't those cards both have additional fees for the MR program on top of annual fees? I think the savings are less than one would think, to the point it's not really even worth it, if (1) you want to continue with MR and (2) ascribe any value to the lounge access.

How much does downgrading to a Gold Card or even a Green Card really save? Don't those cards both have additional fees for the MR program on top of annual fees?
FWIW, I downgraded to a Green card and have been told the $95 annual fee includes the MR program. I have not seen any indication to the contrary.

If you have another card linked (i.e. corporate card), then you can get a fee-free Blue card and you will retain access to the standard Rewards program (as opposed to the Rewards Light or whatever they call it). That worked for me -- I think it is $75/year to link my Corporate card in.

If you have another card linked (i.e. corporate card), then you can get a fee-free Blue card and you will retain access to the standard Rewards program (as opposed to the Rewards Light or whatever they call it). That worked for me -- I think it is $75/year to link my Corporate card in.

I was told it would be $45 to add MR to my Blue, in addition to my $75 Corporate Card fee. That may be some AMEX misinformation, but I'm pretty sure it was right.

FWIW, I downgraded to a Green card and have been told the $95 annual fee includes the MR program. I have not seen any indication to the contrary.

I downgraded to Green without MR for $55. I burned up my last points before making the switch.

AMEX allows you to ttransfer points to someone else if you close your account. I believe that this is a one-time privilege. At one point, I needed MR points and found a guy who wanted to get value for his so we worked out a mutually acceptable swap.