Downgrading/Upgrading BAPP Card

[mycity]

Morning All,

I’m looking at downgrading my BAPP card for the blue, then upgrade again before I hit the £10,000 spend. I’m sure I’ve seen on here that Amex are taking a dim view of this currently, anyone got any updated views please?
Thanks.

[can]

It’s not just a dim view. They may now impose a grace period before you can apply BAPP. I’d double check.

[mycity]

Thanks @can I’ve not heard about a grace period @Rob or anyone else heard anything?

[JDB]

mycity wrote:

Thanks @can I’ve not heard about a grace period @Rob or anyone else heard anything?

There is no official policy/grace period etc to read or hear about. Obviously doing this is a way of evading payment of the full annual fee that most people pay, so there can be no certainty or entitlement in the downgrade/upgrade routine and Amex wouldn’t need to give notice if they ceased to tolerate it. It’s your decision.

[Ash]

Whatever companion voucher you earn – you must pay for its redemption booking with the same card….eg you earn a voucher with the BA Premium card, downgrade to basic card, you’ll find you can no longer use the voucher for business class.

[alig4th]

Ash wrote:

Whatever companion voucher you earn – you must pay for its redemption booking with the same card….eg you earn a voucher with the BA Premium card, downgrade to basic card, you’ll find you can no longer use the voucher for business class.

This is technically in the T&C but doesn’t work like this in practice. Any AMEX card (even not in your name) will do

[polly]

@mycity
It’s probably better to keep the BAPP a couple of months, after upgrading. Give them a couple months fees, then cancel. They don’t look too kindly on the down/up/down model in quick succession.

[Rob]

There is certainly no official policy but some people are certainly getting a harder time from call centre agents. Whether this is encouraged by management or not is a different question.

[guy]

I came across this link to downgrade from BAPP to BA free card

https://www.americanexpress.com/en-gb/apply/downgrade/personal/credit-cards/ba-classic

so there is no need to speak to live people

[pelicanicecoffeeolaf]

can wrote:

It’s not just a dim view. They may now impose a grace period before you can apply BAPP. I’d double check.

I was planning to downgrade and then apply for BAPP again early next year. Is this not advisable?

[lordy]

guy wrote:

I came across this link to downgrade from BAPP to BA free card

https://www.americanexpress.com/en-gb/apply/downgrade/personal/credit-cards/ba-classic

so there is no need to speak to live people

Thats amazing, but that in my favourites for use later on.

[BajanNation]

I upgraded to BAPP shortly before hitting the £10k spend and now have the 2-4-1 in my BAEC account. I was going to use the above link to do the online downgrade but as I’m hoping to get Platinum I think I might bin the BA Amex altogether for 2 years and then apply for BAPP to get the sign-up bonus. Any reason not to do this?

[lordy]

I can’t see any reason to downgrade, either keep it if the 1.5x is beneficial or start a new 24m clock.