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Hi all
New user here. Looking forward to getting involved in the chat.
I’ve just signed up for the British Airways premium Amex card to get access to the 70,000 points bonus and companion voucher. I’m an existing American Express Gold card member but will be closing this as there’s no point paying two subscriptions.What is the best way to do this? Should I transfer all my points (currently about 60k) to my avios account and then simply request that the Gold card be shut down or is there anything else I need to consider when doing this?
Then when I start using the Gold card, can I still use my existing Amex account or do I have to start a fresh one?
Thanks, in advance, for your thoughts.
You’re “adding” the British Airways Premium Plus card to your existing account, while “removing” the Preferred Rewards Gold credit card. Your account with American Express is the same.
You will have 30 days from cancellation of the PRG card to use or transfer your Member Rewards points before they are forfeited. You can apply for the free Rewards Credit Card (the see-through one) which earns MR too, so that you can keep the MR points without losing them. That’s the best choice if you don’t want to spend or transfer those MR points today.
You can transfer the MR points to your British Airways Executive Club account, or any other partner scheme signed up to American Express MR.If you’ve held that PRG for over a year (and it sounds like you have given you are talking about a ‘subscription fee’) I would expect Amex to offer you some MR so you don’t cancel.
Typically 10k to 20k, though there appear to be some exceptions where they don’t offer anything.
Do ask the agent if they’ve got any retention offers, as not all of them are motivated to proactively check.Thanks for the thoughts on this. That’s interesting regarding the retention offer, though I don’t think it’ll be worth it as I wouldn’t be able to use both cards and would still be paying the fee.
If I can transfer the rewards points from the gold card to the free card, why can’t I transfer them to the new BA premium one?
Thanks!
If I can transfer the rewards points from the gold card to the free card, why can’t I transfer them to the new BA premium one?
Totally different reward schemes. Whereas Gold & the free Amex Rewards card operate on the same rewards scheme, the BA cards don’t.
Thanks for the thoughts on this. That’s interesting regarding the retention offer, though I don’t think it’ll be worth it as I wouldn’t be able to use both cards and would still be paying the fee.
A person with questionable morals might suggest that there is no requirement for you to keep the PRG card after receiving the retention points.
If I can transfer the rewards points from the gold card to the free card, why can’t I transfer them to the new BA premium one?
Because the PRG and the ARCC (and the Platinum card) use Amex MR as the ‘currency’ (sorry can’t think of a better word right now). The BA cards use Avios.
If you take out an ARCC, you aren’t transferring the MR points – the ARCC is simply keeping your MR balance alive after the cancellation of the PRG.To get the MR points turned into Avios, you’d need to get Amex to link your BAEC account to your PRG (better do it now regardless, to save you time later).
You’d then transfer the MR points to BAEC and they’ll show up a few hours later (in theory up to 72 hours, but when I last did this a couple of days ago, it took under 12 hours to complete).Brill – thank you!
If you don’t want to pay two lots of fees – fair enough – and youve been attracted by the BA bonus you should really ask which card you want long term:
– the BA card has a companion voucher of variable value and a higher Avios earning rate on most transactions
– the Gold card is better in all other respects IMO (including possibly better offers)Keep the card you want long term and be prepared to cut in the one you don’t. Either way Amex refund any fee prorata, and the fees are similar. Personally I handed back my BA PP after getting my last voucher and retain a Gold.
That’s interesting memesweeper – thanks. What’s better about the Gold Card in your opinion?
Gold earns in a scheme (MR) which is flexible in terms of which reward you take. I frequently use my MRs for hotel stays, and my single biggest transfer to an airline wasn’t Avios either.
There’s a non-terrible rate for foreign spend, bonuses for various spend targets, limited lounge access (which is perfect for me as a frequent business and status flier I only need card-based access a few times a year), I think the insurance might be better too, but I have a more comprehensive policy elsewhere so I’ve never read the fine print.
But for me its the flexibility of MR that’s the big win. Suddenly need some points in Marriott, or Star Alliance? No problem.
Oh, and there’s a Deliveroo credit on the personal and a Dell credit on the business which can easily reduce the net cost of the Gold annual fee if these are regular spend items for you.
Most of the BAPP offers appear on personal gold but not vice versa, that might save a few pounds a year too.
Mmmmm.The major benefits of Gold is the double MR points for airline bookings and FX spend. The insurance cover offered is rubbish, as are the airport lounge passes over recent years. The Deliveroo credits are fine if you use them…this benefit was better when you could manipulate it and spend less than the £5 credit, but unfortunately they got wise to that in the end.
Unless you plan to book a good number of flights, use the Deliveroo credits and a decent amount of FX spend, then after the subscription free year, I’d change to the free MR card.
The bonus points earned on spend throughout the year are a benefit, but after year one there will be a breakeven figure to hit though, when taking into account the £160 annual fee.
Another BAPP benefit, although it’s a bit clunky, is hotels via booking.com accessed via the BA estore. A recent $900 booking earned over 7,000 Avios. I think the rate is 8 to 1.
Another BAPP benefit, although it’s a bit clunky, is hotels via booking.com accessed via the BA estore. A recent $900 booking earned over 7,000 Avios. I think the rate is 8 to 1.
You don’t need to hold any particular credit card to access BA eStore.
All interesting feedback guys. Many thanks. In the end I asked to cancel the gold card and they gave me 20k extra points. I transferred these to the avios and then asked again to cancel. This time they let me go. So now I have quite a few avios and with the prospect of 70k more to come for the sign up bonus and a companion card voucher… seems like a no brainer in the end!
Another BAPP benefit, although it’s a bit clunky, is hotels via booking.com accessed via the BA estore. A recent $900 booking earned over 7,000 Avios. I think the rate is 8 to 1.
You don’t need to hold any particular credit card to access BA eStore.
I think he may be referring to a kind of double earning, like earning 1.5 Avios per £1 equivalent on the $900 plus the 8 Avios per £1 for the BA store/booking combo.
I kind of see it that way as well and use the BA store all the time even directly with hotels sites, like with Marriott, and also use the price matching guarantee so I get Avios on the Ba card spend, Avios from Feb BA store, best price available on any site, and even earn Bonvoy points (including bonuses), quadruple whammy
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