I'm confused..why is BCP an upgrade from Blue Cash?

[Fico2Go]

I keep reading on this forum that people are "upgrading" from the AMEX blue cash to the BCP.  How is this an upgrade?  Blue Cash pays 5% rewards on key categories vs. 6-3-1. 

I might have to take a chance after requesting my 61 day CLI in a few days.   

[longtimelurker]

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@Fico2Go wrote:

I keep reading on this forum that people are "upgrading" from the AMEX blue cash to the BCP.  How is this an upgrade?  Blue Cash pays 5% rewards on key categories vs. 6-3-1. 

I might have to take a chance after requesting my 61 day CLI in a few days.   

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I don't think anyone here is saying that!   There have been posts about upgrading from BCE to BCP, which goes from 3-2-1 to 6-3-1 for a $75 AF.

Re Blue Cash: only a handful of people have been able to PC their BCE/BCP to BC, so most of those getting it did a new app.  I haven't seen any posts from someone with a BC going to a BCP.

Now Amex DID promote the "new" cards, BCP/BCE as new better versions of the BC.   And certainly for a large segment these cards would give more rewards than the old BC.   The $6,500 barrier before the BC earns rewards makes the card useless to people who spend little in the key categories.

[Fico2Go]

I was referring to this link.. and there are others like it.

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Card-App-Approvals/Amazon-Signature-Visa-Blue-to-BCP-TYP-Nord...

OP mentioned upgrading from Blue Cash to BCP.   I'm thinking about upgrading from BCP to Blue Cash. 

[clocktick]

"Amex Blue upgraded to BCP and CLI from 1k to 5k"

I had that Amex Blue card but it wasn't the cash card.  You would earn points. 

https://www304.americanexpress.com/credit-card/blue

[wHiTeSoL]

The original "blue cash" only received 1% on the first $6500 at grocery, drugstores, and gas stations (.5% everywhere else). After the first $6500 per year then it becomes 5%/1% no caps. 

It's pretty simple if you are only worried about grocery stores, If you spend less than about $12k per year, get the BCP, more than $12k then get the blue cash. This of course completly ignoring the BCE, and the drugstore bonus. 

[H4LO]

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@clocktick wrote:

"Amex Blue upgraded to BCP and CLI from 1k to 5k"

I had that Amex Blue card but it wasn't the cash card.  You would earn points. 

https://www304.americanexpress.com/credit-card/blue

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I regret going from the AMEX Blue to BCE.

The points are worth way more to me than the cash back. 

I'm going to see if I can PC back. 

[longtimelurker]

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@clocktick wrote:

"Amex Blue upgraded to BCP and CLI from 1k to 5k"

I had that Amex Blue card but it wasn't the cash card.  You would earn points. 

https://www304.americanexpress.com/credit-card/blue

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Right, lots of confusingly named cards!

In the "current" line up:

Blue:   This is in the Membership Rewards family, and is the only non-AF one.  Strictly speaking, it is MRE, you need another MR card to be able to transfer points to partners.  Useful when cancelling other cards as a way to keep MR points.

Blue Cash Everyday:  No AF: 3-2-1% rewards on groceries/gas and department stores/everything else

Blue Cash Preferred: $75, 6-3-1% on above categories

Available: 

Blue Cash: 5-5-5-1% on groceries/gas/drug stores/other after $6,500 spend, 1-1-1-0.5% before.

[longtimelurker]

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@H4LO wrote:

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@clocktick wrote:

"Amex Blue upgraded to BCP and CLI from 1k to 5k"

I had that Amex Blue card but it wasn't the cash card.  You would earn points. 

https://www304.americanexpress.com/credit-card/blue

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I regret going from the AMEX Blue to BCE.

The points are worth way more to me than the cash back. 

I'm going to see if I can PC back. 

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Do you have another Membership Rewards card?    Because without, isn't the Blue basically a 1% card (2% on travel booked through Amex) and the BCE is at least 1%, and more on other categories.

[Open123]

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@longtimelurker wrote:

Do you have another Membership Rewards card?    Because without, isn't the Blue basically a 1% card (2% on travel booked through Amex) and the BCE is at least 1%, and more on other categories.

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+1

Without another full MR card, the BCE would be better, in every way.  

Unless, one is planning to harvest MR points, until they're ready to apply for a full MR card for redemption.  However, if the latter, it's infinitely more efficient to utilize the sign-up bonuses.

[H4LO]

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@longtimelurker wrote:

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@H4LO wrote:

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@clocktick wrote:

"Amex Blue upgraded to BCP and CLI from 1k to 5k"

I had that Amex Blue card but it wasn't the cash card.  You would earn points. 

https://www304.americanexpress.com/credit-card/blue

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I regret going from the AMEX Blue to BCE.

The points are worth way more to me than the cash back. 

I'm going to see if I can PC back. 

---

Do you have another Membership Rewards card?    Because without, isn't the Blue basically a 1% card (2% on travel booked through Amex) and the BCE is at least 1%, and more on other categories.

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@Open123 wrote:

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@longtimelurker wrote:

Do you have another Membership Rewards card?    Because without, isn't the Blue basically a 1% card (2% on travel booked through Amex) and the BCE is at least 1%, and more on other categories.

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+1

Without another full MR card, the BCE would be better, in every way.  

Unless, one is planning to harvest MR points, until they're ready to apply for a full MR card for redemption.  However, if the latter, it's infinitely more efficient to utilize the sign-up bonuses.

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I have the AMEX Green card with 20K bonus.

I got my 10K Blue sign up bonus before I PC'd to BCE.

Seeing as I'm able to move MR to British Airways. It's way more valueable than 2x for gas etc.