[Rumor] American Express To Increase Gold Annual Fee To $325 From $250

[xenon3030]

They do not have SUB for checking. If they provide SUB, I may go for it. The checking account is a bit weird. I talked to an Amex representative a few weeks ago about their checking (biz but not personal). It looks to be completely an online product (no branch), without any physical check but there is e-check (they said that they can ship any physical check to any person for free).

[FicoMike0]

@xenon3030  They don't offer sub on personal, but they offer 30,000 mr points on the biz account. They might offer the personal again, who knows? No branches. I seldom use checks, never use the debit card either. Probably should cancel it, lol. I keep a little money in the account and the debit active, just in case. I keep most of my debit cards frozen, in my sock drawer.

[Thomas_Thumb]

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@Namaste7 wrote:
If AMEX moves forward with the AF increase, I’m downgrading to the Green. I’ll get better use out of the Green credits compared to the Gold and paying $325/yr is bonkers.

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Go Green! I enjoy my green card with $55 annual fee. Was a bit upset when they increased it from $35. I am now grandfathered - hopefully for life. Been a member 40 years.

[FlaDude]

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@Thomas_Thumb wrote:

Go Green! I enjoy my green card with $55 annual fee. Was a bit upset when they increased it from $35. I am now grandfathered - hopefully for life. Been a member 40 years.

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I remember when my green card was $55, but even though I've been a member for 30 years and had the green card almost all of that time, they still jack up my rate, it's up to $150 now. Do you know what the criteria is for grandfathering?

[Thomas_Thumb]

I don't know the criteria. My membership has been continuous with no break. You state "almost all" for your situation. That might be a factor in not being grandfathered.

I know there was a fee bump to $95 from $55 probably 9 years ago before the more recent increase to $150. I avoided that earlier increase as well. I would have been 55 with 30 years of continuous membership then.

Age and years of continuous membership may both play a roll in grandfather status. I never saw any official published criteria. Your membership gap likely resulted in a reset of terms and conditions to what was current for new card members. Atleast you retain your original member since date.

Years ago I was offered the option to freeze my annual fee with the understanding I would not qualify for the newer, enhanced, rewards program. I was good with that. For all I know, this type of grandfathering may no longer be possible.

[FlaDude]

My first card was Gold but I got the Green within a couple of years, have had it continously since then. I did have a Plat card for a few years when I as travelling a lot for work but that's long gone. Now that you mention it, I do recall being grandfathered at the 55 rate when they went to 95, but don't recall if there was some kind of offer that I skipped out on when they raised it to 150.

[Carrington59]

Looks like AMEX had a qwww link for a limited edition "White Gold" card. I imagine the release of this will align with the expected refresh. No exact date given but probably coming soon.

https://www.reddit.com/r/amex/comments/1dcfhe2/new_color_amex_gold/

[Trikoret]

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@Thomas_Thumb wrote:

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@Namaste7 wrote:
If AMEX moves forward with the AF increase, I’m downgrading to the Green. I’ll get better use out of the Green credits compared to the Gold and paying $325/yr is bonkers.

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Go Green! I enjoy my green card with $55 annual fee. Was a bit upset when they increased it from $35. I am now grandfathered - hopefully for life. Been a member 40 years.

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Is your green card the traditional green for $55? It basically doesn't earn rewards. You add rewards to card for $40 which will make it $95 a year. 

[Thomas_Thumb]

As mentioned above, I opted to maintain the $55 fee and forego higher annual fees with added rewards.

[OrangeRange]

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@Carrington59 wrote:

Looks like AMEX had a qwww link for a limited edition "White Gold" card. I imagine the release of this will align with the expected refresh. No exact date given but probably coming soon.

https://www.reddit.com/r/amex/comments/1dcfhe2/new_color_amex_gold/

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Looks nice. I'll be changing mine over once it's released. 

Interesting enough, Amex is acquiring Tock from Squarespace as well Rooam to seemingly to merge them into Resy and improve their restaurant, entertainment and loyalty booking offerings: https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/newsroom/articles/travel-and-dining/to-enhance-dining-platform...

Makes me think Gold is for sure getting a Resy credit.