Originally Posted by
pokee
The upgrade/downgrade card transfer trick is a great way to churn cards with the credit card accounts you already hold, to avoid pulls but also ensure you get a sign-up bonus! I have done this successfully with BMO, CIBC and now RBC. I know sometimes that certain sign-up bonuses are only good for new applicants/banking customers (CIBC, in particular, seems to have a lot of these deals to draw new customers), which is why it's always good to call to do the transfer (although, RBC appears to be the only bank that allows the online transfers).
FWIW, I get AMAZING value with my Avios, so I churn ANY card that I can get Avios out of! If I hadn't already upgraded to the Avion card with RBC, I may have gone back to the BA Visa! When I originally opened my RBC CC account in 2012, it was with a BA Visa when they had a 50,000 sign up bonus! That was quite the score! Paid for two tickets to Hawaii!
Pokee: Can you elaborate on the up/down-grade issue, and receiving a bonus? I downgraded from RBC Avion to Gold Rewards last year, after being assured that I would not lose the use of my points. I then found out that it's NOT possible to transfer points to AA or BA under the Gold card. I called RBC back to ask for resolution, and despite a lengthy conversation they were willing to do nothing other than inviting me to upgrade back to the Avion -- with no bonus and no AF waiver. They wouldn't even waive the AF.