I upgraded my card sometime last y ear. The prorated annual fee was charged towards end of November. Unfortunately no annual free night certificate has arrived. My card anniversary is in June. So Looks like I will get it then.

Also, I had a stay in October that I got $300 credit for. I had another stay in December after the annual fee posted. No credit posted. So it looks like this will reset in June.

I had a different experience with aspire. I got the annual free night certificate once the annual fee posted. Maybe amex changed their award system.