Amex Authorized User Offers Still Work After Upgrades
A few weeks ago my wife accepted a pretty amazing upgrade offer on her Amex Gold card to an Amex Platinum. One thing I had forgotten about was that she already had an authorized user offer on the card, one of many we have been getting. The originalplan was to wait until the first of the year and wait for the $25K US supermarket cap to reset. Then we would do the authorized user spend in the grocery category earning 4X on the purchase plus the 10K bonus after $2K in spend.
A part of the Amex Platinum upgrade offer included 5X earning at US supermarkets and restaurant purchases on the first $25K in spend in the areas. The offer is also limited to the first 6 months after accepting the upgrade. Because of this offer there was no need to wait until the first of the year anymore.
I was worried that the upgrade offer may negate the authorized user offer. I was worried that because the card info changes slightly with the upgrade that it may screw things up. The new card would have a different expiration date and CID number etc. Because of that we started doing the spending on the old authorized user card immediately, before the replacements came in the mail.
From previous experience, I knew the old cards would earn at the new rates as soon as the account showed as upgraded in her Amex account. We completed the spending over the next few days. The nice thing is that the 5X points have already posted from the upgrade offer. That is an improvement from earlier in the year when bonus points were not posting for 6+ months.
A day or two after the final charge settled to reach the $2,000 in spend required on the authorized user offer the 10,000 Membership Rewards points posted. I imagine it would have worked the same even if we had waited to get the new cards. I think the offer is attached to the account number and should track alright. But, if you are like us and didn’t want the added risk you can start spending right away on the old cards as well.
With all of these offers getting sent out it is good to know Amex authorized user offers still work after upgrades.
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On a side note, I contacted Amex a couple of days ago because my personal platinum showed the second year annual fee due. I got 55,000 points for 4K spend in 3 months as a retention offer. I was on the fence but took it. I was also offered a $550 credit for the same spend.
Awesome offer – congrats Christian!
You only got 10,000 membership rewards points for $2000 in spend on the authorized user card? I have an offer to get 20,000 points w $2000 spend for an authorized user w my Platinum card. Yes it costs $175 a year but I can get 3 (one for wife and each kid) and each had the $200 airline credit available to them along w a couple of other benefits. Main reason I am getting it, outside of the bonus points, is Amex limiting Centurion Lounge access to only the card holder (Centurion card holders can still bring in guests) as of 2023. This will allow each of them access, even if traveling alone, so figured I would do it anyway. The bonus points were just gravy.
I have like 4 different AU offers right now – they are all over the place in amounts and spend requirements.
Has your wife had the Amex Platinum before?
Yeah she currently holds the Schwab version and had the regular version 4-5 years ago
Thanks for this one, very timely for me. My upgrade Plat card (from gold) shows today! Already started spending on the number though and did confirm with Amex that it would count towards the minimum spend (or as the delightful person on the phone call said, “Authorization Requirement”)
Got a lovely upgrade, 10X US Grocery and Gas Stations 1st 6 months and 75k MR for 5k spend in the first 6 months. Cakewalk! Just in time too for the Saks thing and trying to land a few other bennies that will start to offset the cost.
It’s been raining MR lately and I finally put the umbrella away!
The offers have been pretty crazy of late.