Been reading posts here for a while, and decided to register and share my experience - maybe also get some advice if possible.

I have had the Lufthansa M&M Visa for years. It started with First USA bank, then it became MBNA, and it became BofA. Now the program was eliminated, and I am left with this "Platinum Plus Visa" from BofA. I do not want the card.

Here's my dilemma though - M&M is is the first credit card I ever had. It's the first card I got when I was 18 years old. I am now 25. Therefore, it is essentially the oldest account I have opened. Yes, it jumped from one bank to another, but it maintained the same history on my credit report.

This is exactly why I have chosen to stay with BofA. I am also quite interested in their U.S. Airways Visa Signature card. I would like to change my product to it, without cancelling the account and reopening it.

Is that a smart thing to do? Is is something that is even possible? Are my worries about my credit history valid? Do you think it's worth it to cancel the account as a whole and go to another bank but better program?

Many thanks in advance.

I just read my post, and I see that the title of the post has nothing to do with it.

The reason is that I called BofA a few days ago, and they told me I am not allowed to switch products because the platinum plus visa is a "regular" card, and the US Airways Visa Signature is a miles card. They said that I'm not allowed to switch from a "regular" to a "miles" card. Obviously, he was stumped when I brought up the fact that they took the liberty to switch my "miles" card to a "regular" card. Either way, I wasn't surprised - this is BofA. I simply thanked him and just called again, hoping I'll get someone else.

A lady answered. She explained to me that they cannot switch products at all. She said I have to cancel the account and reopen another one. I tried telling her that I had a very high credit line, etc, but she insisted. Then I told her that 2 minutes before her, someone said I can switch products, as long as they are the same "genre" of cards. She was persistent. I thanked her, hung up, and called again.

A man answered. He was very helpful, and seemed like he knew what he was doing. I told him about the two different answers I had received. He told me they were both wrong, and that I am allowed to switch products but the department is closed. It's called "sales", and he gave me their phone #.

Thats why I had made the thread, because BofA won't be open till Wednesday, and I thought I would at least find out if it's actually possible to do what I'm trying to do.

Again, thank you for your time.

So you want the B of A US Air card with your current credit limit, and you want to maintain your credit history by showing a long standing card. Simple. Just open the new US Air card on line, and don't close your current card. There is no reason why you can't have both cards. Then, after you receive the card, ask to transfer whatever part of the credit limit you have on you old card to the new card. They have done this for me several times in the past. The trick is to first have the new card.

Unlikely: If for some reason you are denied the new card, perhaps because B of A says they have given you enough credit limit already, then ask to talk to someone in the credit department and tell them you want to use part of your credit limit on the old card for the new one. An appropriate phone number will probably appear on the letter saying you have been denied the card. This has happened to me only once, and only with Citibank, when I had credit limits on cards from them well exceeding my annual income and was using much of it for 0% balance transfer offers. The phone call got me the card I wanted.

Are you sure you want the B of A US Air card. Consider instead the Juniper Bank offer, with no annual fee for 2 years plus 50% more miles for purchases the first year.

Be sure to get the best offer for whichever card you want (or both, for that matter). Currently you can get 25,000 miles for first purchase plus $25 for the B of A card, and 15,000 miles for first purchase for the Juniper card.

Why do you want the US Air card? Do you fly US that much?

I was a miles card hound but have switched to cash back cards, except when I use a low-cost miles card to keep ff miles alive.

For the free bonus miles, of course. Yes, free, for the Juniper card. Nobody says you have actually to use it more than once. Just get the free miles, then use your cash back cards in those situations where the cash is more valuable to you than the miles.

And you don't have to fly on US Air to use the miles. They are a member of the excellent Star Alliance. Lots of partners to get you where you want to go.

pgary:

Is the Juniper card still available ... I can't find that offer.
Thanks

BofA is full of it when it comes to the switching. It's entirely possible to switch "types." I switched from the US Airways Visa Sig to the Worldpoints Visa Sig. They issued me a new account number, and it was without hassle. They do, however, have awful policies. Citi kept my card account number the same and even gave me promo APR rates when I switched cards. Why is it so hard for BofA to just be nice? Oh well. I plan to dump them when my balance is paid off.

Yes. It's on my website in Credit Cards > Annual Fee Cards, though there is no annual fee for 2 years.

thank you so much for the tip. I applied for Juniper's and got approved. Here's the kicker though - I applied for the one with the annual fee so I can get those 25K miles - but credit line for my new card was only $3,200.00, so they gave me the no annual fee card which gives you only a few thousand miles, and one mile for every two dollars spent. I needed to be approved for a credit line of at least 5k.

I can't believe my credit line is this low. My BofA credit line is about $20,000.00. I have a chase card which also has one that's a little over 15K. Maybe the available credit thing is freaking them out or something.

Again, thanks everyone for your input

https://www.juniper.com/app/japply/l...partnerid=1117

This link is for the Lufthansa card (NOT US Air)

For which airline LH or US Air? pgary was referring to the US Air card.

Link for U.S. Airways Premier World Mastercard: https://www.juniper.com/app/japply/l...&obchannel=005

pgary has links to other cards http://www.freefrequentflyermiles.com/index.htm

Thanks, found it. I had such a card some time ago ... would I get the 15,000 bonus miles again?

so sorry, I was referring to Lufthansa...i'm reading my post now again, and I see how I may have confused everyone.

That is a very good question that interests me very much. My free two years on this card are about to expire, and I will close it before incurring the fee. Please tell me (us) how you make out trying for it a second time, and how much time you allowed between cancelling the card and applying for it again.

Just out of curiosity, why did you cancel the card? It wasn't out for very long before I obtained it, and my two years haven't quite expired yet.

Thanks.