Card Fiasco – Amex & Barclays

[DPop]

Hi wise ones,

Hoping to get some thoughts/advice on the card dilemma I am facing to make the most of the situation

I am a premier Barclays customer (Barclaycard Forward credit card) and also hold the British Airways American Express Premium Plus card. I earned the companion voucher 1 month ago and also 1 Barclays upgrade voucher (both valid for 2 years).

Now, my partner and I normally do 1 big trip a year for which we use the companion voucher. Given the increase in fee for the AMEX plus card and the fact that I think we are sorted for the travelling we’ll do in the next 2 years (I am due to receive another Barclaycard upgrade this time next year), I was thinking of cancelling and perhaps getting the free American Express Rewards Credit Card as per this article https://www.headforpoints.com/2024/04/13/should-you-cancel-your-british-airways-premium-plus-amex-if-you-cant-spend-15000/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEwXzJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHcllXJWaOyqt2JO0Qbe5n_3MDeHLKK2Wf_xxuxsWEzKTnBGiIyN-DtInFQ_aem_1tpq7pQjTwFiFZlIVIYVfw and also getting the free Barclaycard Avios card to maintain the avios points collection (annoyingly Barclays will not approve me for any of their credit cards until I have my basic Barclaycard Forward which I need to cancel, wait for 6 months and then apply (great logic go figure!).

I guess my questions are:

1. Is cancelling the AMEX plus is worth it (I can still make the new limit but a bit of a stretch) and then re-apply in 2 years and pick up a sign-on bonus
2. If I should fall back to the Amex Rewards card or the other free AMEX cards are bringing in more benefits.

3. Should I apply to the Barclays free or plus credit card? Seems silly to pay the fee if I am getting the second Barclays upgrade voucher next year (on the back of the Avios rewards where you pay £12 per month for £1500 points).

Many thanks if you’ve read thus far!

Desi

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

What’s the fiasco?

[NorthernLass]

I am wondering this, maybe OP means dilemma?!

Re the free/paid Barclays card – you said it might be a push to spend the new required £15k on the BAPP, be aware that it’s £20k to trigger the upgrade voucher on the free Barclays avios card.

It depends whether you will be able to use 2 upgrade vouchers as well.

If you cancel your BAPP there’s a chance you may not be accepted for another one but this depends on whichever criteria Amex has in place in another 2 years.

[phantomchickenz]

Not sure why you’d go for the free Amex rewards card. Better off not doing that to open up the opportunity of a gold/platinum signup bonus in 2 years as well.