My American Express Upgrade Offer From Delta Blue to Platinum

My American Express Upgrade Offer From Delta Blue to Platinum

I called American Express about an issue with my account yesterday and wound up with an upgrade offer on my Delta SkyMiles Blue Card. This wasn’t showing in my “offers for you” portal, and I jumped at it. Let’s take a look.

Why Not Get The New Card Welcome Offer?

I opened the American Express Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card in 2013. In 2017, I downgraded it to the Blue version, because that has no annual fee. I did this to preserve my credit history, since the card is one of my oldest.

Yes, the Platinum version has an increased welcome offer right now of 100,000 Delta SkyMiles (learn more). Unfortunately, I’m not eligible for it. This is because American Express has “once in a lifetime” language on most welcome offers/bonuses for cards you’ve had previously.

My Upgrade Offer

I called American Express yesterday with a question about my Gold Card. As the phone rep was going through my account, he said there was an offer on my SkyMiles Blue Card to upgrade to the Platinum Card. I’d seen an offer before, but it was bad so I passed.

He told me there was an new upgrade offer: 

I jumped at this. Because I’m not eligible to get a new card welcome offer on the SkyMiles Platinum Card, upgrade offers are where I’m at. The previous offer wasn’t worth my time or money, but this one is a good deal to me.

Offer Not Visible Online

While on the phone with the rep, I told him I couldn’t see this offer in my Amex portal. He told me that upgrade offers aren’t always visible. He even encouraged me to call back regularly to see if any of my cards have upgrade offers on them.

This phone rep also offered me other things. For example, I could add Authorized Users to my Gold Card, have them spend $500 in 90 days, and I’d get 5,000 Membership Rewards points in addition to the points earned from the purchases.

I declined this offer. I’d love 5,000 points, but American Express authorized user cards show up on the AU’s credit report. It won’t report the date the card was opened but rather when the AU was added. I don’t want to add my wife as an AU on a 2018 card and have her get an account opening date of 2020. She’s trying to get back under Chase 5/24, and this would mess her up. If this offer works for you, you could call and ask.

Final Thoughts

I’m used to seeing upgrade offers in my Amex portal. I’ve never had a phone rep proactively offer me one while talking to me about a completely different card. I’ve also never had a phone rep tell me to call in and ask about offers that aren’t showing up online. If you’re looking for upgrade offers on Amex cards where you aren’t eligible for new cardmember welcome offers, pick up the phone. I was happy to get this American Express upgrade offer from SkyMiles Blue to SkyMiles Platinum.

Disclosure: Miles to Memories has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Miles to Memories and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

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