AmEx BCE/HHonors Surpass Pre-Qual Apply still a SP?

[comebackkid15]

Well, I was checking my AmEx accounts (Delta Gold/HHonors Base) when I went through the Pre Qualification page, and one of the cards offered was the Blue Cash Everyday, along with a nice 20% back on Amazon buys SUB.

Reasonable AF (NONE)..okay, I can consider it. {Apply Now}

Looking at the HHonors Surpass card, it also has a reasonble AF (for me, the $95 isn't bad, YMMV) I use Hilton Property alot, and the status bump is worthwhile, even in todays enviroment. {Request an Upgrade}

Question: I'm already an Amex customer, will "Applying" or "Requesting an Upgrade" count as a SP or a HP?

DP as 8/20 - 635 across the board

                       1 30 day late 1 yr ago

                       0 Collection/Inquires

                       9 Accounts, Including 1 Clsd Install Loan (PIF)

EDIT: HHonor card was supposed to be Surpass, not the Aspire. Rest is still accurate though, lol.

[K-in-Boston]

Usually a soft pull for existing cardholders,  but an occasional HP does happen.  The new account sting will likely hurt scores significantly more than an inquiry.

[Anonymous]

Aspire is the $450 AF card

Surpass is $95

I'd go for a new one of the 2, instead of an upgrade which may or may not have a low bonus, they both have 150K SUBs

[comebackkid15]

---

@K-in-Boston wrote:

Usually a soft pull for existing cardholders,  but an occasional HP does happen.  The new account sting will likely hurt scores significantly more than an inquiry.

**bleep**, I was considering this might be a possibility...sigh.

Any wild-as guess on how much? I'm thinking worse case 30 pt drop, and probably a SL that's not going to justify it.

---

[comebackkid15]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

Aspire is the $450 AF card

Surpass is $95

I'd go for a new one of the 2, instead of an upgrade which may or may not have a low bonus, they both have 150K SUBs

Just updated the OP...

I'm willing to take a hit on a AF if it means I get better perks out of the deal, but $450 AF better mean that there's a wet bar in every room of the suite... LOL

---

[K-in-Boston]

---

@comebackkid15 wrote:

---

@K-in-Boston wrote:

Usually a soft pull for existing cardholders,  but an occasional HP does happen.  The new account sting will likely hurt scores significantly more than an inquiry.

**bleep**, I was considering this might be a possibility...sigh.

Any wild-as guess on how much? I'm thinking worse case 30 pt drop, and probably a SL that's not going to justify it.

---

---

Nah, if your FICO 8 scores are 635 with as many accounts as you have (which I'll assume are not all that aged), likely a small penalty. Really profile dependent.  If it helps with your utilization or number of revolvers reporting a balance, you might even have a score bump if a threshold is crossed.  If you are already receiving a penalty for HPs, depending on how many you have you may not even lose any additional points.  But from DPs here, I'd conservatively say that at least 90% of Amex apps for existing cardholders are SPs.  My last one was in 2002, and the 5 Amex cards I've opened since 2017 have all been no hard pull.