Amex Platinum SUB and switch from PRG?

[nitrov]

Hi, I currently have the PRG with the grandfathered $195 AF. I previously had the Platinum and received a SUB. I need the Platinum again due to lounge access and I’m debating between getting a new account and keeping PRG or just upgrading the PRG. I went through the site to app for Platinum and it said I was ineligible for a SUB, but when I called in they offered me 60k points to open a new account. I would assume they wouldn’t offer it if I was ineligible, but I don’t want to app if I’m not going to get the SUB.

If I upgrade the PRG to Platinum and later downgrade back to PRG, I’m assuming I lose the grandfathered AF, correct? I’m apprehensive to PC because of the points I get on restaurants and grocery but considered shifting that use to my Prestige and BCE, respectively. Open to ideas though!

Thanks

[wasCB14]

Amex may give you another year or two at $195 but eventually you'll be paying $250. Grandfathering isn't a lifetime thing.

[Anonymous]

I was under the (possibly incorrect) impression that all of the old PRG terms were being phased out by October. 

[coldfusion]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I was under the (possibly incorrect) impression that all of the old PRG terms were being phased out by October. 

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IIRC, if you held the PRG for less than a year at the time of the PRG to Gold conversion you would renew once at $195.   If you held it more than a year but your next rewewal was on or before 4/1/19 you would also renew once at $195.  If after 4/1/19, your renewal was at $250.

The PRG to Gold conversion was in October 2018, so yes the old $195 fee would indeed cycle out for all cardholders by October 2019 with all renewals at $250.

[Anonymous]

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@nitrov wrote:

Hi, I currently have the PRG with the grandfathered $195 AF. I previously had the Platinum and received a SUB. I need the Platinum again due to lounge access and I’m debating between getting a new account and keeping PRG or just upgrading the PRG. I went through the site to app for Platinum and it said I was ineligible for a SUB, but when I called in they offered me 60k points to open a new account. I would assume they wouldn’t offer it if I was ineligible, but I don’t want to app if I’m not going to get the SUB.

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OK, so, yeah, no SUB if you already got one is SOP with Amex.

However if you do get one again it's icing on the cake.

You say you NEED the upgrade for lounge access... so, is it worth not getting a SUB or is it more worthwhile to have lounge access????

The pop-up could be a variety of reasons... for me it comes up because I've opened a couple of them in the past 6 months and collected.  If you've been active with Amex recently w/ apps and bonuses that could be the underlying issue.

[NRB525]

OP, which lounges do you need access to?

With the Delta Platinum you can buy in to the Delta lounges, when flying Delta for half-price per person, lately $29. It’s not “free” but then avoids another AF. If often Delta lounges, then the Delta Reserve comes with Delta Lounge access for the cardholder when flying Delta.

If access needed for other, then the Platinum SUB should not be a consideration. Since you had the Platinum before, it is unlikely to be eligible for SUB now.

ColdFusion is correct, at roughly your next AF for the Gold, that will be $250. No permanent $195 for anyone.

[coldfusion]

Brainstorming here, what lounge access do you want (Centurian? Delta SkyClub?) and how often would you use it?

As an example of what I'm driving at is that the UNFCU Elite with $49 AR comes with 5 ea. Priority Pass visits per year.   (joining UNA-USA confers eligibilty for membership).  Point being that in your particular cicumstance there could be better options.

[CBartowski]

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@nitrov wrote:

Hi, I currently have the PRG with the grandfathered $195 AF. I previously had the Platinum and received a SUB. I need the Platinum again due to lounge access and I’m debating between getting a new account and keeping PRG or just upgrading the PRG. I went through the site to app for Platinum and it said I was ineligible for a SUB, but when I called in they offered me 60k points to open a new account. I would assume they wouldn’t offer it if I was ineligible, but I don’t want to app if I’m not going to get the SUB.

If I upgrade the PRG to Platinum and later downgrade back to PRG, I’m assuming I lose the grandfathered AF, correct? I’m apprehensive to PC because of the points I get on restaurants and grocery but considered shifting that use to my Prestige and BCE, respectively. Open to ideas though!

Thanks

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You could also get one of the co branded Platinums, you should get a different SUB, the Schwab and Ameriprise Plat would probably be the easiest. Another poster had a good point...you said you're doing it to lounge access, so why the make or break with the SUB?

[nitrov]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@nitrov wrote:

Hi, I currently have the PRG with the grandfathered $195 AF. I previously had the Platinum and received a SUB. I need the Platinum again due to lounge access and I’m debating between getting a new account and keeping PRG or just upgrading the PRG. I went through the site to app for Platinum and it said I was ineligible for a SUB, but when I called in they offered me 60k points to open a new account. I would assume they wouldn’t offer it if I was ineligible, but I don’t want to app if I’m not going to get the SUB.

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OK, so, yeah, no SUB if you already got one is SOP with Amex.

However if you do get one again it's icing on the cake.

You say you NEED the upgrade for lounge access... so, is it worth not getting a SUB or is it more worthwhile to have lounge access????

The pop-up could be a variety of reasons... for me it comes up because I've opened a couple of them in the past 6 months and collected.  If you've been active with Amex recently w/ apps and bonuses that could be the underlying issue.

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I fly Delta at least once a month and already have the Delta Platinum, I don’t want to have to pay $29 every time I need to go to the lounge, if it’s 2x per month at $29 per visit that’s almost $700 per year. I’m doing a lot of international travel this year so Centurion Lounge access would be great, which you can’t otherwise get without Platinum. I wouldn’t want to get hit for a new account unless I got the SUB, otherwise I would just upgrade it. 

If I’m definitely not getting a SUB, I would upgrade, especially now that I know I wouldn’t be grandfathered for the AF. I haven’t been active with Amex with apps or bonuses, but I did definitely get a SUB for Platinum 2-3 years ago. I’m surprised they’d still offer it to me over the phone though. 

[nitrov]

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@coldfusion wrote:

Brainstorming here, what lounge access do you want (Centurian? Delta SkyClub?) and how often would you use it?

As an example of what I'm driving at is that the UNFCU Elite with $49 AR comes with 5 ea. Priority Pass visits per year.   (joining UNA-USA confers eligibilty for membership).  Point being that in your particular cicumstance there could be better options.

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I already have Priority Pass from 2 diff cards, Delta SkyClubs I use about twice a month, and I will be traveling internationally more this year so I’ll be using Centurion lounges too. Unfortunately I think that makes Platinum the best option for me despite the lackluster MR points earning on restaurants and groceries.