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What is Amex Smoking? Our Amex Gold to Platinum Upgrade Offer Was Ridiculous

Ryan Smith
Ryan Smith

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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. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. Links in this post may provide us with a commission.

American Express Platinum Varieties Guide

My American Express Business Platinum Upgrade Offer Was Awful

American Express usually has some pretty juicy upgrade offers but not this time around. Minutes apart, my wife and I both got an upgrade “offer” phone call from American Express. I don’t think this was targeted–more like just calling anyone who has the American Express Business Gold Card. The offer was a “you’ve got to be kidding” upgrade offer for the Business Platinum card.

American Express business gold

Details of the Offer

Here are the details of the offers my wife and I received minutes apart:

  • Upgrade the Business Gold Card to the Business Platinum Card
  • Pay the higher annual fee ($595 compared to $295)
  • Get nothing — no points, no nothing

You read that right. There was no bonus or incentive. That’s why I wonder what Amex was smoking before calling us. After telling the rep “I already have the card,” both reps seemed at a loss for words. There could be an upgrade perk offered (maybe!) for someone who didn’t already have the Platinum version. They gave me no offer to make it worth upgrading. They asked if I wanted to upgrade and have a 2nd Business Platinum. I asked if there was any promotion to upgrade, and they said no. My wife got the same “no offer” phone call 5 minutes later.

American Express business platinum

Final Thoughts

American Express seems to be calling people with the Business Gold card. If you’re interested in seeing the offer, don’t tell them you already have the Platinum version. Maybe they’ll offer you something. I like Membership Rewards points, but it would have to be really good to justify paying the fee twice. It looks like American Express isn’t doing any homework before calling people, just hoping to rake in the extra fees by getting people to upgrade the Business Gold to Platinum. No thanks.

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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Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
Ryan Smith
Ryan Smith
Travel hacker in 2-player mode, intent on visiting every country in the world, and can say "hello" or "how much does this cost?" in a bunch of different languages.

Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

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At Miles to Memories we share the best tips, tricks and deals plus travel rants, musings, hotel, airline and loyalty program reviews and a lot more! Our goal is to help people save money so they can get out there and travel the world! Through our various blog posts, podcasts & videos we teach others how to maximize loyalty rewards, hotel & airline programs and credit cards to achieve amazing things.

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