I was debatng starting a separate thread, but hoping someone can provide feedback, without getting the current discussion too far off track.

I had a Green card but product changed to a 2nd Gold to keep the account and credit active.

I have 2 Gold cards and keep them because I can easily use all the credits, but for the past few years, I've upgraded one Gold card to a 2nd Platinum, around the 4th quarter of the year, so I can utilize all the annual credits. I'll keep it for 13-14 months, use all the annual credits for the following year, and downgrade back to a Gold card, around January or February, and get a prorated refund of the annual Platinuim fee.

One of my Gold cards' anniversay is in October and the other is in November. I am think about changing 1 to a 2nd Platinum around the 1st week in September, so I can utilize:

-$200 hotel credit for 2025
-$300 (rumored) hotel credit for the 2nd half of 2025
-$200 airline credit for 2025
-$50 Saks credit for the 2nd half of 2025
-$200 airline credit for all of 2026
-$100 Saks credit for all of 2026
-$600 hotel credit for all of 2026
-$300 (rumored) hotel credit for the 1st half of 2027
-$200 airline credit for 2027
-$50.00 Saks credit for the 1st half of 2027
Downgrade back to Gold in January/February 2027 and get a prorated refund.

If I product change from Gold to a 2nd Platinum around the first week in September, I know it make take a few weeks for Amex to charge me for the conversion, but will I still lock in at the existing $695.00 Platinum fee?

These are all rumors, but having $500 hotel creidt ($200+$300) from one Platinum card and $300 from my existing Platinum card, would allow for a nice weekend getaway later this year.
Does anyone have any opinions or advice?