There is a massive targeted upgrade offer for the Amex Business Platinum that started appearing on some Amex business cardholders’ accounts over the weekend. It seems to be targeted just at Business Gold cardholders (although it could be that some Business Green cardholders are targeted as well) and offers 140,000 points for $10K spend within the first three months. I believe that this would be the best upgrade offer that we’ve come across for Business Gold to Business Platinum.
The Deal
- Targeted upgrade offer for American Express Business Gold Cardholders: Upgrade to Platinum and earn 140,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $10,000 in first three months of card membership.
If you get a screen like this (or a screen that says that this offer is no longer available), it means you’re not targeted:
Quick Thoughts
Here’s yet another entry in the steady stream of crazy Amex offers on consumer and Business charge cards. We’ve seen 150,000 Membership Rewards points after $6K spend for the consumer Platinum, 130,000 points for the Business Gold after $10K spend, another Business Gold offer for 180,000 points after $20K in spend and 250K after 30K spend for the Business Platinum.
But this is an upgrade offer, as opposed to a welcome offer on a new card. It’s been fairly common over the years for Business Gold cardholders to get targeted for an upgrade right before or after their first cardholder anniversary. But, in recent times, we’ve seen folks targeted for upgrades as soon as 2-3 months after completing the minimum spend on the Business Gold welcome offer. I don’t recall ever seeing an upgrade offer above 120,000 points, so this would be a new all-time high.
This upgrade offer should only be considered if you’ve already had, or currently have, the Business Platinum card. Otherwise, upgrading will cause you to become ineligible for new enrollment welcome offers on the card for at least the next 4-5 years.
However, if you’ve already had the Business Platinum (or have one now), this is a great deal. There is no hard-pull on the upgrade and neither your card numbers nor your card anniversary will change. You will be charged a prorated annual fee for the new card based on the time remaining until your next account anniversary. It effectively allows you to get a new cardholder welcome offer without actually opening up a new card.
There’s also several links floating around with offers for the Business Platinum that don’t have Amex’s “Once in a Lifetime” language (NLL offers). There is a 150K offer as well as a 160K link (that adds 10K for an employee card). Neither one should result in a hard pull if you’re targeted and current or previous cardholders of the Business Platinum will be able to get them. So, even if you’re not targeted for this upgrade offer, there’s still other avenues to take part in the Amex Points Parade.
(h/t: DDG)
On a different note, my Schwab Plat is due for renewal, the AF posted on Friday.
Chatted with AMEX rep, current retention offer is for 3K spend in 3 months you either get $175 statement credit or 20K MR points. Do these offers keep changing every month. I have until 23rd August to cancel.
Thanks
Raghu
0/3 for upgrade.
DP: I received under amex offers the 150k + 10K biz plat NLL one. So i applied and was rejected. Reason given bec i was recently approved for another biz plat NLL 2 weeks ago (also under my amex offers).
While i understand their reason, why would the amex system offer me this NLL deal, if they’re going to reject me anyway??
if I take the offer, can I apply for another gold biz , i like the 4x bonus?
Is this the right order?
Of course you can also mix in the employee card offers.
I received the offer and have only had my biz Gold 2 months and have 2 other biz Platinum cards.
[…] Update 7/25/22: More targeted now at the same link, this time the bonus is up from 13,000 to 140,000 with the same $10,000 spend requirement. Offer available through 1/31/23. (ht FM) […]
See Amex Chat transcript
“The eligibility for upgrade is 12 months on existing card. So if you make a change to your card, the welcome bonus on Business Gold card will forfeit.”
I’m not surprised that you got this from a CSR. Many will tell you that you can’t have more than one of each flavor of charge card as well (as that’s the rule). The official rule is that you can’t upgrade until after 12 months, but I’ve never heard of any instance where someone had a bonus clawed back for accepting a targeted offer (emphasis on targeted). Not saying it hasn’t happened, just that I’ve never heard about it…and I’ve heard of a lot of folks doing it (including me).
But that said, if you’re not comfortable with the upgrade, try one of those targeted NLL links in the post. There’s so many ways to get a lot of Amex points right now, there’s no need to to put yourself in a situation that you’re not comfortable with.
That said,
Thanks Tim. When you say targeted, I clicked on the link in the blog post you provided, and I was logged in into my Amex Account , and the offer showed up.
Does that mean I was targeted, or I should actually get a flyer or email from amex directly for me to be considered targeted
Thanks
Raghu
Did you click on the “request an upgrade” button? That will show you whether or not you’re targeted
Yes, when I say targeted, I mean that an offer is showing to you when you are logged into your account. If you aren’t targeted, it won’t show and you won’t be able to apply (that’s what happened to both my wife and I when we checked the link, as well as everyone else on the FM team).
Thanks Tim. When I clicked on Request an Upgrade, I knew I was not target. Will try close to Jan 31, 2023
I got the 140k upgrade offer with 10k spend on the Gold Business card. My existing business platinum is up for renewal this month, 2nd anniversary. I got the entire fee waived last year.
If I take the upgrade offer could I close the existing platinum? Hate to pay 695 twice in 2 months!
Tim
My wife’s Biz Gold card got this offer. She barely completed 3 months and min spend on the biz gold card. So upgrading this early will not trigger clawback of he 90K Biz Gold offer? Just confirming
I have a biz gold that hasn’t yet hit its 1 year anniversary. AmEx takes back your welcome offer if you cancel within a year correct? Would this operate differently because it’s an upgrade? Something to ponder
Yes. You’d want to keep the upgraded card until at least the first anniversary, but I would keep it until 12 months after the upgrade.
I have seen people get an upgraded card before the first anniversary, complete the upgrade offer spend and then still get a retention offer on the first anniversary…not sure how common that is, though.
You can upgrade prior to anniversary without any issues, but not cancel.
Interesting. When I went into the AmEx chat and asked to speak about an upgrade offer, their language there was you had to wait until a year to upgrade a card. Regular theme on Frequent Miler podcasts about information not always being accurate! Just wanted to make sure I wouldn’t be forfeiting my Biz Gold bonus from when I opened the card.
Difference is you want the upgrade, not Amex offering. If Amex offers, different situation. A couple of years ago I took out the business gold. Then after about six months, I received an invite from Amex to upgrade for the platinum. In the end I received about 140K points (70K gold + 70K upgrade) in less than a year. The spend was nothing as high as today. And they will prorate the AFs too. This was when the platinum was $595 I think. As to FM, they and DOC are my go to for correct and very timely info. Just saying!