How easy is it to switch from one kind of AMEX to another?

[Anonymous]

For instance, let's say if I qualify for an AMEX Clear or SkyMiles, but I want to convert to a Blue card ... is it simply a matter of calling a service rep and requesting it and a certain number of months? Assuming I have a good history with them, of course.

If I qualified for an AMEX, I'd use it for every gas purchase, and PIF every month. But my goal is to get the Blue card. This might be my best chance at working my way up to it?

[Anonymous]

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smoothjk wrote:
For instance, let's say if I qualify for an AMEX Clear or SkyMiles, but I want to convert to a Blue card ... is it simply a matter of calling a service rep and requesting it and a certain number of months? Assuming I have a good history with them, of course.

If I qualified for an AMEX, I'd use it for every gas purchase, and PIF every month. But my goal is to get the Blue card. This might be my best chance at working my way up to it?

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Some product changes are allowed, and some are not.

You cannot product change to Clear.  (Clear is actually harder to get than Blue.)

Generally, you can product change among any of the Blues (Blue, Blue Cash, Blue Sky), Hilton HHonors, Starwood, and Delta SkyMiles.

The odd part about this is that if you qualify for Delta SkyMiles (the easiest Amex credit card to get), but don't otherwise qualify for Blue, you can usually successfully product change from Delta SkyMiles to Blue.

Whether this is a wise thing to do in this credit climate and with an issuer as jittery as Amex is another question entirely.

[Anonymous]

just simply call and use the magic phrase "product change". tell them which card you have in mind and they will let you know if you are eligible to change to that card. charge can only go to charge, revolver can only go to revolver, some aren't eligible to change at all.

bear in mind that any customer iniated contact w/amex could result in a higher profile on the amex aa/fr radar.

[Anonymous]

cheddar get out of my head! darn slow dell laptop!

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry, forgive me 'cause I'm a bit slow today, but: if you want a Clear or Blue, why don't you just apply for them to begin with instead of getting approved for another card and then doing a product switch? Wouldn't the  requirements for the cards still be the same anyway?  I read where people on here do that all the time and wonder why. 

Just askin'.

[Anonymous]

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MsQueenB wrote:

I'm sorry, forgive me 'cause I'm a bit slow today, but: if you want a Clear or Blue, why don't you just apply for them to begin with instead of getting approved for another card and then doing a product switch? Wouldn't the  requirements for the cards still be the same anyway?  I read where people on here do that all the time and wonder why. 

Just askin'.

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No, the requirments are not all the same.  Some cards are easier to get than others.

[thrasher865]

Maybe he wants to take advantage of an intro offer on one card and then convert to a rewards program that better suits him when the intro expires?    Thats not what it sounds like, just offering one possible scenario.

[fused]

I did a bunch of CC maneuvering yesterday. I have had my Amex Blue since 12/06 and I just converted it to a Clear.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

bear in mind that any customer iniated contact w/amex could result in a higher profile on the amex aa/fr radar.

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Quote of the day!

[Anonymous]

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fused wrote:

I did a bunch of CC maneuvering yesterday. I have had my Amex Blue since 12/06 and I just converted it to a Clear.

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Interesting.  Conventional wisdom is that product change to Clear is not possible.

Perhaps that's one of those things they only let you do once you've been a cardholder for a while.