How to Cancel Card but keep points?

[Curator]

I have an American Express Gold Rewards credit card.
I don’t want to pay the annual fee (I have until November to sort it).

I have read this:
https://www.headforpoints.com/2023/05/28/american-express-rewards-credit-card-benefits-2/

It says I should apply for the AE Rewards Credit card, wait for it to open, then I can cancel my old one and the points will remain.

Is there a reason I can’t use the British Airways AE CC?

Or is the BA one specific for Avios when I could transfer my existing points to other airlines’ points system? It’s likely we’ll transfer to Avios but as we’re not planning on a trip for a few years, not sure what will be available. Writing that, perhaps the recommended rewards card would be better so just keep acruing points?

I have been very lucky enough to get a large amount of points in a very short space of time so don’t want to lose them.

[rtid]

Your Amex Gold Reward Credit Card points are known as Membership Reward points, stored in your Amex Account
The BA Credit Cards are Avios points. These are automatically converted into your BA account.

To retain Amex Membership Points, you’ll need an equivalent Amex Membership Reward Points Credit Card that is storing Amex points.

[PeteM]

See: https://www.headforpoints.com/2023/12/15/should-you-convert-amex-heathrow-rewards-or-hsbc-points-to-avios-on-receipt/#:~:text=There%20are%20various%20reasons%20for,that%20you%20have%20alternative%20options.

[Justin]

If you’d rather not pay an annual fee and retain your MR points, downgrade to THIS fee free MR card.

[Curator]

Thanks, Justin and rtid.

I thought this was the case – I’ll call them to see if I can downgrade or if I have to open new / close old.

PeteM – a good read – cheers!

Thanks