American Express – increase in fees and 2-4-1 spend increases on Premium Plus

[Ian1967]

Just has an email from Amex, not happy!

From your next fee renewal after 1 August 2024, your annual card membership fee will increase from £250 to £300. The new fee will take effect on the statement following your card anniversary and will be charged to your card account annually as normal. If your next fee renewal is before 1 August 2024, you will be charged the current annual fee of £250 until the following year’s fee renewal.

From 1 November 2024, your required spend to qualify for a Companion Voucher will increase from £10,000 to £15,000 within your membership year. This change will be relevant to the membership year applicable on 1 November 2024 and thereafter. Details of your membership year can be found on your card statement.

[NorthernLass]

Not such big news in your house then 😂

https://www.headforpoints.com/2024/04/10/british-airways-american-express-changes-2/

[Ian1967]

NorthernLass, thank you! Doesn’t make it any easier to swallow. I’m late to the party in all this, only got my Premium Plus card in January. I guess I should be grateful that I already have my first 2-4-1 in the bag and my partner will have his first one by August. For a number of reasons spending on the card(s) has been considerable (to reach the £10k) but I can’t see that being the case every year.:o(

[Ian1967]

Okay, some assistance needed by you experts please.
I got my Premium Plus card in January and already have my 2-4-1 flight booked for Christmas.
My partner got his last month and I estimate he will have his 2-4-1 voucher by September which will be valid for two years.
Due to the increase in charges and spending increases, is there anything preventing me from doing the following:
Applying for the free BA Amex card as there is no fee and the spending limit is now the same as the Premium card, so I can still earn Avios points in the same way, and cancelling my Premium? Will I get a pro-rata refund on the fee as I did when I cancelled my green Amex?
With my new free BA Amex card, will my “account year” start again and will I be able to start spending towards getting another 2-4-1 voucher albeit one that I need to use within one year?
From what I can see, there is nothing preventing me from applying and maintaining two Amex cards at once providing I get approved that is.
Sincere thanks.
Ian

[JDB]

@Ian1967 – you can’t hold the free and paid BA Amex cards at the same time, but you can usually downgrade the BAPP to the free card and for the time being you will get a pro-rata refund of the fee.

Your account year for the voucher will remain unchanged. You don’t mention it, but I’m sure you realise that the free voucher is only valid in economy as well as one having a one year validity as you identified.

[Ian1967]

Dear JDB
Many sincere thanks for your prompt and useful response.
I just literally applied for the Free BA Amex and yes, I see your point, it asked me if I wanted to transfer my existing account.
No, I didn’t realise that the vouchers were only valid in economy (shudder). I will keep things just as they are and take the extra £50 hit for now.

Thanks again

Ian

[zanderblue]

Quick question if I may.
When downgrading to the free Ba Amex from the premium one, what is the significance of transferring existing account, or not?

Thanks

[JDB]

zanderblue wrote:

Quick question if I may.
When downgrading to the free Ba Amex from the premium one, what is the significance of transferring existing account, or not?

Thanks

There’s no great significance, it’s just the way Amex moves people (in either direction) between the free and paid BA cards. You can’t hold both, so everything transfers – credit limit, spend to date, anniversary year to start qualifying for next voucher, any pending Avios etc.

[scamfly]

My wife and I both have BA premium cards and usually achieve two 241 companion tickets each card year. With the increase spend level of 15k per membership year I now wish to increase our chances by shifting my wife’s membership year start date to 6 months after my cards start date. Will I need to cancel and reapply in order to change year start date or is there another option? Thanks in advance.

[Rob]

Need to cancel and re-apply at the right time.