Downgrading to a lower-level AmEx card: need to cancel and re-apply?
Mar 10, 2013, 12:19 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Programs: American Airlines Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 3,790
Downgrading to a lower-level AmEx card: need to cancel and re-apply?
I have an AmEx Gold card, and am considering upgrading to an AmEx Platinum. I may not have use for it for more than a year or two, and so I'd want to be sure that I can just downgrade back to an AmEx Gold. (Who knows what my financial circumstances will be in 2 or so years.)
So...to downgrade to a lower-level card, can you just call AmEx and downgrade? Or do I have to cancel the higher-level card and apply anew for the lower-level card?
Thanks!
So...to downgrade to a lower-level card, can you just call AmEx and downgrade? Or do I have to cancel the higher-level card and apply anew for the lower-level card?
Thanks!
Mar 10, 2013, 6:44 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rockin' the Bakken
Programs: Several
Posts: 978
This is sorta relevant question. If I have Platinum card, can I downgrade it to the Blue Cash card?
I can see it being easy to switch to the Blue Points cards, but then again the Blue cards are credit whereas the Platinum is a charge card.
Anyone have any experience with this? I could just call an ask but wanted to hear from anyone before I do.
I can see it being easy to switch to the Blue Points cards, but then again the Blue cards are credit whereas the Platinum is a charge card.
Anyone have any experience with this? I could just call an ask but wanted to hear from anyone before I do.
Mar 10, 2013, 7:53 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 217
This is sorta relevant question. If I have Platinum card, can I downgrade it to the Blue Cash card?
I can see it being easy to switch to the Blue Points cards, but then again the Blue cards are credit whereas the Platinum is a charge card.
Anyone have any experience with this? I could just call an ask but wanted to hear from anyone before I do.
I can see it being easy to switch to the Blue Points cards, but then again the Blue cards are credit whereas the Platinum is a charge card.
Anyone have any experience with this? I could just call an ask but wanted to hear from anyone before I do.
Mar 10, 2013, 11:36 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rockin' the Bakken
Programs: Several
Posts: 978
Thanks for the info.
Sep 10, 2013, 11:05 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: DL DM MM, Hyatt LT Globalist, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,141
Now that my wife and I are married, we no longer feel the need to have two separate Platinum charge accounts. The account we'd like to downgrade has about 70K Membership Rewards points still associated with it. We're looking for the best level of membership to preserve the MR points with full transfer ability. After the downgrade we won't be using the card for any purchases; basically just need a placeholder for the MR points.
Amex gave an option to downgrade to a 'Senior Card' with an annual fee of $35. They assured me that this level of cardmembership allows for full MR transfer. Has anyone had experience with this type of card? Any other suggestions for the best level of membership for this purpose?
Amex gave an option to downgrade to a 'Senior Card' with an annual fee of $35. They assured me that this level of cardmembership allows for full MR transfer. Has anyone had experience with this type of card? Any other suggestions for the best level of membership for this purpose?
Sep 10, 2013, 12:54 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 67
I just downgraded from AmEx-P straight down to Green. I believe this is as low as you can go with MR. I just wanted to preserve my MR points in case they ever became worth anything for transfers again, and this did it fairly cheaply. I've been w/AmEx almost 30 years and never heard of the senior card, and was not offered it. I'm 55, FWIW.
Sep 10, 2013, 1:16 pm
#12
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,953
The Senior cards are eligible to participate in Membership Rewards, but there is an additional $40 program fee.
Start here:
http://www.membershiprewards.com/cat...rmsSplash.aspx
Scroll down to paragraph 2 WHO CAN USE THE PROGRAM & ANNUAL FEES, and look at the table.
Did you ask if Customer Service would transfer the points from the account you are closing to the other person's account on a one-time exception basis? They may be more willing to do this if the closer is an Authorized User on the surviving Platinum Card account. You don't have to choose a supplementary Platinum card ($175, for up to three). Instead you could request a Gold card ($45, for up to five).
Start here:
http://www.membershiprewards.com/cat...rmsSplash.aspx
Scroll down to paragraph 2 WHO CAN USE THE PROGRAM & ANNUAL FEES, and look at the table.
Did you ask if Customer Service would transfer the points from the account you are closing to the other person's account on a one-time exception basis? They may be more willing to do this if the closer is an Authorized User on the surviving Platinum Card account. You don't have to choose a supplementary Platinum card ($175, for up to three). Instead you could request a Gold card ($45, for up to five).
Last edited by mia; Sep 10, 2013 at 1:36 pm
Sep 10, 2013, 8:32 pm
#13
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: DL DM MM, Hyatt LT Globalist, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,141
Thanks for the link- I found it after posting.
I thought of the same idea of transferring the MR points- no luck. So we ended up downgrading to the senior card and paying the fee to keep MR points- $75.
I thought of the same idea of transferring the MR points- no luck. So we ended up downgrading to the senior card and paying the fee to keep MR points- $75.
The Senior cards are eligible to participate in Membership Rewards, but there is an additional $40 program fee.
Start here:
http://www.membershiprewards.com/cat...rmsSplash.aspx
Scroll down to paragraph 2 WHO CAN USE THE PROGRAM & ANNUAL FEES, and look at the table.
Did you ask if Customer Service would transfer the points from the account you are closing to the other person's account on a one-time exception basis? They may be more willing to do this if the closer is an Authorized User on the surviving Platinum Card account. You don't have to choose a supplementary Platinum card ($175, for up to three). Instead you could request a Gold card ($45, for up to five).
Start here:
http://www.membershiprewards.com/cat...rmsSplash.aspx
Scroll down to paragraph 2 WHO CAN USE THE PROGRAM & ANNUAL FEES, and look at the table.
Did you ask if Customer Service would transfer the points from the account you are closing to the other person's account on a one-time exception basis? They may be more willing to do this if the closer is an Authorized User on the surviving Platinum Card account. You don't have to choose a supplementary Platinum card ($175, for up to three). Instead you could request a Gold card ($45, for up to five).