BA Amex Premium Plus – can I downgrade after I receive the 70,000 Avios?
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Hi,
Posted similar on Reddit recently.
Deadline is next week and I am considering applying for the Premium Plus version. This comes with the £250 annual fee, and 70k Avios points if spending £3k or more in the first 3 months,
– Is it possible to spend the £3000 in the first few months and then switch to the BA Amex card which is free? Do I still keep the Avios points?
-If so, what about the fee I have paid?
-Do I cancel my Premium Plus card and reapply for the BA Amex free version?
-Easy enough to book flights using Avios Points? I saw on here you have to boko 1 year in advance?
I currently have two credit cards with Virgin Money and Halifax (no annual fees). My combined monthly credit bill is around £500-600 give or take. However I have recently bought a house, and soon do need to buy various items such as bathroom stuff, sofas, toilets, radiators, tv etc. Otherwise I wouldn’t be usually spending £3000 in 3 months. That is my only reason for considering this deal.
-Apart from the fee, is Amex generally like any other credit card? (I know some retailers won’t accept)
Many thanks
Hi @totestornot123
– Yes it is possible to downgrade (you can request this via the chat function in the Amex app). The Avios earned will still be credited to your BAEC account.
– Amex will credit your account with a pro-rata refund of your fee, which is a very generous policy not usually applied by other card issuers
– No need to cancel & re-apply, as I say above.
– The ease of booking flights with Avios depends on many factors, including the popularity of the route. The need to book on day seats are released (T-355 days) applies mostly to business class on long haul flights to destinations like Australia, the Maldives etc. Equally, you may find plenty of availability in economy, or indeed in business on short haul to European cities etc. There are lots of articles and forum posts on here about this so suggest you have a browse!
– The BAPP is a credit card so you benefit from the same Section 75 consumer protection rights that you have on your existing cards. As you say, some retailers don’t accept but that list seems to be getting shorter all the time.
Finally, if you do go ahead and get the BAPP don’t forget that the main benefit for most is the 2-4-1 voucher earned on spending £10k: The BAPP version of the voucher is superior to that earned on the free card so you should consider holding the card until you earn it!Thank you for your reply, very useful. I do plan to use this as my primary credit card for spending instead of my others, thus built up points for it.
Not quite sure I will spend 10k in 12 months but will see how it goes. I understand I need to create a BAEC account first and then apply for this, otherwise it may only give me a 35k bonus points?
Side question out of interest, what does 70k of Avios points actually get you in terms of flights? Could I use that for a short haul flight for two people or can the points only be redeemed for the cardholder i.e myself?
I will get applying today, hopefully it gets approved before the cut off point of 21st Feb.
I done this last month. Spent £3k in the first couple of weeks. Used the app.. downgraded my account & the £250 reimbursed. Cost £0 for 70k airmiles. I just cancelled my VA Mastercard & will use this card as much as I can or as much as it allows me to. Already found several places dont take Amex. Great deal though.
I done this last month. Spent £3k in the first couple of weeks. Used the app.. downgraded my account & the £250 reimbursed. Cost £0 for 70k airmiles. I just cancelled my VA Mastercard & will use this card as much as I can or as much as it allows me to. Already found several places dont take Amex. Great deal though.
Good to know, thank you. I guess you just have to ensure the points are actually in your BAEC account before downgrading.
What is the name of the subreddit?
I guess you just have to ensure the points are actually in your BAEC account before downgrading.
That’s not what I’m picking up from this thread. To me it sounds like you can downgrade as soon as the bonus points have been applied to your Amex account. You don’t need to wait for them to reach your BAEC account, which could be up to a month later.
Used the app.. downgraded my account & the £250 reimbursed.
Didn’t know you could downgrade in the app. Where do you go to do that? I can’t find that option anywhere.
What is the name of the subreddit?
UkPersonalFinace or AskUK I posted in
Can anyone still see the 70k sign up offer? It is showing 35k for me, trying to sign up now
Side question out of interest, what does 70k of Avios points actually get you in terms of flights? Could I use that for a short haul flight for two people or can the points only be redeemed for the cardholder i.e myself?
https://www.headforpoints.com/2020/04/06/how-do-you-book-flights-using-avios-points/
Can anyone still see the 70k sign up offer? It is showing 35k for me, trying to sign up now
Can anyone still see the 70k sign up offer? It is showing 35k for me, trying to sign up now
Explained here : https://www.headforpoints.com/forums/topic/70k-avios-for-bapp-dropped-back-to-35k-today/#post-456566
Can anyone still see the 70k sign up offer? It is showing 35k for me, trying to sign up now
This seems to still show 70k offer
The link I was looking at was this: (linked from headforpoints article)
Im 1k away from the 3k for 70k points but will try to go for 241. Its an incredible voucher which is best used on long haul. When you get the BAPP card get a supplementary card, its free and gets you another 3k. You dont even need to use it if you dont want. So youll have 70k + 3k + 4.5k AVIOS for the spend. Thats 77.5k miles right off the bat.
With the 2 for 1 voucher after spending 10k in a year, you could start your journey in Madrid and fly business lie flat to Miami or New York for a measly 68k for 2 people using off peak chart!!! Good luck. I was green, just like you a year back.
Used the app.. downgraded my account & the £250 reimbursed.
Didn’t know you could downgrade in the app. Where do you go to do that? I can’t find that option anywhere.
Top right corner, chat
…and there was me thinking you’d found a way of downgrading without having the hassle of communicating with Amex CS on live chat. Oh well. 😄
there was me thinking you’d found a way of downgrading without having the hassle of communicating with Amex CS on live chat.
I used this link last year to downgrade from the BAPP to the free version without chat/calling…
https://www.americanexpress.com/en-gb/apply/downgrade/personal/credit-cards/ba-classicMake sure you are logged in first. It might still work.
Thanks @FFoxSake. That looks promising. I’ll give that a try upon hitting the £3k spend.
Is it possible to be referred for the free card rather than downgrading?
Im 1k away from the 3k for 70k points but will try to go for 241. Its an incredible voucher which is best used on long haul. When you get the BAPP card get a supplementary card, its free and gets you another 3k. You dont even need to use it if you dont want. So youll have 70k + 3k + 4.5k AVIOS for the spend. Thats 77.5k miles right off the bat.
With the 2 for 1 voucher after spending 10k in a year, you could start your journey in Madrid and fly business lie flat to Miami or New York for a measly 68k for 2 people using off peak chart!!! Good luck. I was green, just like you a year back.
Supplementary card for my partner for example? I do plan to do that, and if I downgrade down the line (from Premium Plus to the free card) it will downgrade both cards right?
And wow I didnt realise the 2v1 is basically a free flight (in business?) for someone else too. If I feel like I am on track to hit 10k, I will proceed else downgrade to the free card. 70k points on the free card would still be decent especially in my first year..?
Is there a limit on moving up and down between the free and plus card?
Current plan was to trigger the plus companion voucher, downgrade then upgrade again before hitting the next £10,000 spend in the following year to minimise the time on the fee paying card but generate two 24 month companion vouchers.
Does that sound viable?
Could you trigger the initial avios reward, downgrade, upgrade before triggering the first companion voucher then back down again?
Is there a limit on moving up and down between the free and plus card?
Current plan was to trigger the plus companion voucher, downgrade then upgrade again before hitting the next £10,000 spend in the following year to minimise the time on the fee paying card but generate two 24 month companion vouchers.
Does that sound viable?
Could you trigger the initial avios reward, downgrade, upgrade before triggering the first companion voucher then back down again?
It’s a matter of goodwill, so while people successfully upgrade/downgrade on a regular basis there can be no certainty or entitlement that this will always be the case.
And wow I didnt realise the 2v1 is basically a free flight (in business?) for someone else too.
Not free, both passengers still pay surcharges/taxes.
zapato1060
Im 1k away from the 3k for 70k points but will try to go for 241. Its an incredible voucher which is best used on long haul. When you get the BAPP card get a supplementary card, its free and gets you another 3k. You dont even need to use it if you dont want. So youll have 70k + 3k + 4.5k AVIOS for the spend. Thats 77.5k miles right off the bat.I have the 70k BAPP card, do you mean I get an extra 3k to add an additional cardholder? And what is the 4.5k?
Thanks in advance
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