Upgrade to BAPP

[Chris R]

Hi guys,

I’ve just upgraded my parents BA Amex to BAPP for them, so that they can redeem the 241 in CW. They’ve already spent more than £12k on the free card and received 241. I expected that when they upgraded to BAPP the 241 would be upgraded too.
Spoke to Amex who say this isn’t the case.

Anyone else had similar experience? Only upgraded today, so am I just being too impatient and will the voucher upgrade itself in time?

Thanks

[Guernsey Globetrotter]

That’s not how it works – you needed to do their upgrade before they’d spent £10k (the BAPP limit for the voucher) and then the enhanced voucher would have triggered when they hit that target. If they’ve already earned the voucher then the standard type is issued and locked in and the upgrade to BAPP after the event won’t change that I’m afraid. Best thing to do is ask Amex to downgrade again so they at least don’t have to pay the BAPP fee…

[NorthernLass]

I hope this was your parents’ mistake and not yours! There can be value to be had in economy redemptions on expensive routes, so they may still get some use from the voucher, especially if they would consider doing one of the long haul RFS routes which would get them a return trip to some US cities for a total of 50k avios plus about £200. (This option would probably require a call to BA as it currently can’t be done online).

[Chris R]

This was my mistake, oops.

I’ve now got them to cancel the card altogether and apply via my refer a friend link for the BAPP. Means they can start working towards the better 241 now and benefit from the sign up bonus

[alig4th]

You’ll get a referral bonus, and they can work towards the better 241, but they won’t get the sign up bonus as they’ve had an Avios-earning card in the last 24 months (i.e. the one they just cancelled)

[alig4th]

Unless you sign up the other parent (who hasn’t held an Avios-earning AMEX for 24 months), instead

[Chris R]

Yeah, signed up the other one to make sure the bonus triggers.

Pretty decent refer a friend bonus at the moment too. Going to refer the wife for the gold card and pocket 48k avois between us. Makes up a 3rd of a recent CW redemption