Penny for your thoughts – Amex Gold Card Year 2

[Inky]

Afternoon HfP community,

First time posting, fairly new to the world of point earning credit cards.

I do apologise if I have missed a similar post like this in the past, I dont think my search is working? I have also read through alot the guides, but just wanted some more current thoughts on what some of you may do in my situation.

I currently have the Amex Preferred Rewards Gold Credit card. Missed out on the welcome bonus to this one as I have owned the Blue Amex BA card in the year before. I do like the Gold card, mainly for its lounge access alone and have been fortunate enough to travel a fair bit this year so have easily used the free entrys.

This is why I have been considering the Platinum and for all the extra bonus’s that comes with it.

As of next week I’ll be hitting my year 2 and the fee for the gold card. As I am inilegible to receive the welcome bonus on the Platinum and the BA Premium plus cards, what is a good route to go down?

So far I either;

1. Cancel the Gold card and go for either the Platinum or BA card and miss out on the welcome bonus on each.
2. Cancel the Gold card and move to the barclays avios plus card, maybe keeping a free amex card to keep my points intact. Then after a year with this I will be eligable for the BA Amex card welcome bonus? Then platinum in 2 years when I can get the bonus.
3. Ive seen some people talk of an upgrade bonus from gold to plat? so maybe pay the first month and see if I can get this upgrade? (I have asked already and they said nothing is avalible yet)
4. Something I may of missed?

Im aware if I went the Barclays way I wouldnt be getting free entry to lounges, but am unsure on my travel plans for next year so for £19 or so may not be as bigger issue.

Then theres obviously the point earning capabilities..

Am open for any suggestions or advice anyone might have! This has been rattling my brain for some time!

(Sorry If Im not allowed to post these sort of questions)

Cheers and look forward to contributing more in the future!

[Kuestrian]

My thoughts:

1. You’d really have to put a value to you for each of the benefits you get with the Plat to see if you can beat the fee. Personally I got quite a lot out of it in the first year, especially as you get 2 bites at the £300 dining cherry.

2. Definitely an option but bear in mind opening an ARCC to keep the MRs means the 2 year SUB clock doesn’t start. That won’t affect the BAPP SUB from opening up on your 2Y anniversary though.

3. The Gold upgrade makes the Plat very compelling, but there’s no guarantee (afaik) that they’ll run it again any time soon. Others may have better insight as to the likelihood of that.

4. This may or may not be something of interest to you but the NatWest Premier Rewards Black current account gives you family travel insurance, a DragonPass+ lounge pass (£20 for a guest), family gadget insurance, travel discounts and other benefits not found on the Plat such as car breakdown, home emergency cover, and concierge service but doesn’t have the hotel statuses or the car insurance excess cover that the Plat does, so swings and roundabouts. (The Fine Hotels benefit is not missed from the Plat as Emyr can get better deals anyway)

But the best thing about the NatWest account is it’s only £21pm and you can grab £200 for switching any current account over, which is a good chunk towards a free 1st year.

[sloth]

Kuestrian wrote:

My thoughts:

1. You’d really have to put a value to you for each of the benefits you get with the Plat to see if you can beat the fee. Personally I got quite a lot out of it in the first year, especially as you get 2 bites at the £300 dining cherry.

2. Definitely an option but bear in mind opening an ARCC to keep the MRs means the 2 year SUB clock doesn’t start. That won’t affect the BAPP SUB from opening up on your 2Y anniversary though.

3. The Gold upgrade makes the Plat very compelling, but there’s no guarantee (afaik) that they’ll run it again any time soon. Others may have better insight as to the likelihood of that.

4. This may or may not be something of interest to you but the NatWest Premier Rewards Black current account gives you family travel insurance, a DragonPass+ lounge pass (£20 for a guest), family gadget insurance, travel discounts and other benefits not found on the Plat such as car breakdown, home emergency cover, and concierge service but doesn’t have the hotel statuses or the car insurance excess cover that the Plat does, so swings and roundabouts. (The Fine Hotels benefit is not missed from the Plat as Emyr can get better deals anyway)

But the best thing about the NatWest account is it’s only £21pm and you can grab £200 for switching any current account over, which is a good chunk towards a free 1st year.

NatWest Black is £31/month

[Kuestrian]

sloth wrote:

Kuestrian wrote:

My thoughts:

1. You’d really have to put a value to you for each of the benefits you get with the Plat to see if you can beat the fee. Personally I got quite a lot out of it in the first year, especially as you get 2 bites at the £300 dining cherry.

2. Definitely an option but bear in mind opening an ARCC to keep the MRs means the 2 year SUB clock doesn’t start. That won’t affect the BAPP SUB from opening up on your 2Y anniversary though.

3. The Gold upgrade makes the Plat very compelling, but there’s no guarantee (afaik) that they’ll run it again any time soon. Others may have better insight as to the likelihood of that.

4. This may or may not be something of interest to you but the NatWest Premier Rewards Black current account gives you family travel insurance, a DragonPass+ lounge pass (£20 for a guest), family gadget insurance, travel discounts and other benefits not found on the Plat such as car breakdown, home emergency cover, and concierge service but doesn’t have the hotel statuses or the car insurance excess cover that the Plat does, so swings and roundabouts. (The Fine Hotels benefit is not missed from the Plat as Emyr can get better deals anyway)

But the best thing about the NatWest account is it’s only £21pm and you can grab £200 for switching any current account over, which is a good chunk towards a free 1st year.

NatWest Black is £31/month

Not if you have 2 DDs and log into the app once a month.

[Reney]

Not sure if this is great advice, one option is to close the gold card, wait a few months and open it again to get the first year free. It might not be an option that Amex likes, no guarantee you will be approved again. No SUB but if you like the benefits and only pause is the fee. You’ll need the ACRR to keep your points alive in the gap if you want to keep them alive.

[chungcyk]

Here’s the Gold to Plat bonus link – haven’t tried it myself but should work!
https://www.americanexpress.com/en-gb/benefits/upgrade/platinum/

[Kuestrian]

20K seems a bit miserly when compared to the 60K offer last year, and the 35-50K retention bonuses being offered more recently.

Still worth factoring in with the other benefits but not the slam-dunk of last year, for sure.

[JDB]

Kuestrian wrote:

20K seems a bit miserly when compared to the 60K offer last year, and the 35-50K retention bonuses being offered more recently.

Still worth factoring in with the other benefits but not the slam-dunk of last year, for sure.

The gold to plat upgrade bonus was 40,000 this time last year but that may have been related to the gold T&C changes that started on 12 October. On the basis that holding the gold precludes you from a Plat SUB, anything seems generous. It’s also the pathway to those ridiculous retention bonuses you reference, so maybe 55k – 95k MR in 12 months and still you are complaining Amex is being ‘miserly’?!

[Inky]

Thanks all for the comments. Some really helpful things to take on board.

I think the aim would be to look at premier banking at some point. But, for now its either pay my first month of Gold and see if there is any welcome bonus on offer, as up to now they have said there isnt anything.. OR Cancel all AMEX cards and move to barclays mastercard for a year until I hit the British Airways Premium Plus amex card welcome bonus, then the following year Id be able to get the Plat. Just want to make the most of point earning as I messed up on my previous 2 Amex cards..

[Lady London]

I certainly wouldn’t make any card decisions right now if I didn’t have to. Sept-Oct is time of year I would expect to see offers as cards try to grab Christmas/End of Year/New Year spending incl signup offers