Trying to upgrade free BA Amex

[GimmeMorePoints]

I currently own the free BA AMEX and I’m wanting to upgrade to either the BA Premium or AMEX Gold.
I want more avios but so I’m leaning towards the BA Premium but I’m not fond of the £250 fee.

Does AMEX offer upgrade offers from free to Premium? and what kind of annual retention points are there for Premium and Gold, if any?

[DJ]

I don’t recall Amex ever had any fee reduction offers. It has always been just enhanced welcome bonus for new customers.

Just get the gold card if you don’t like paying fees …..

[SteveJ]

Gold, spend 15k get 10k bonus points after 12 months of card membership (meaning you’ll need to pay month 1 of the fee in year 2). 1 point per pound (can be used for Avios or multiple other avenues), plus 2x free lounge passes and £5/MTH on deliveroo. Free for first year.

BAPP, spend 10k get a companion voucher. 1.5 points per pound, £250/yr.

Maths will work out differently for different people.

[TedL]

My son has just tried to upgrade his partners free BA card to the BAPP, they are about £200 shy of triggering the economy 241 but has been refused, “She is not eligible” but could not get any decent reason from Amex. Is this a new policy, just specific to their account or should they call back again?

• This reply was modified 54 years, 12 months ago by .

[SteveJ]

TedL wrote:

My son has just tried to upgrade his partners free BA card to the BAPP, they are about £200 shy of triggering the economy 241 but has been refused, “She is not eligible” but could not get any decent reason from Amex. Is this a new policy, just specific to their account or should they call back again?

Have they tried via this route?
https://www.americanexpress.com/uk/benefits/upgrade/ba-premium-plus-credit-card/

[TedL]

Thanks @SteveJ, previous reply disappeared! Will advise him and see what comes of it.

[TedL]

SteveJ wrote:

TedL wrote:

My son has just tried to upgrade his partners free BA card to the BAPP, they are about £200 shy of triggering the economy 241 but has been refused, “She is not eligible” but could not get any decent reason from Amex. Is this a new policy, just specific to their account or should they call back again?

Have they tried via this route?
https://www.americanexpress.com/uk/benefits/upgrade/ba-premium-plus-credit-card/

will let him know and come back with the result

[Rob]

Has he up/downgraded before? Amex is definitely clamping down now although some agents seem willing to override the system or simply go about it a different way.

[TedL]

@Rob, not sure if been up/down graded before but @SteveJ’s link did the trick, card has been upgraded using it. Many thanks.

[TedL]

Comment in the Daily Chat thread reminded me, son upgraded BA to BAPP using the above link and worked with enhanced 241 triggering immediately and for correct validity.