Targeted Offer: 50,000 MR to Upgrade Amex PRG To Platinum Card

I don’t normally like to talk about targeted promotions, but when it comes to credit cards there seems to be more opportunity than with other companies to talk your way into getting a similar offer once you know it exists. (Chase is a particularly good example.) In this case, my wife was sent an offer from American Express to upgrade her Premier Rewards Gold card to an American Express Platinum Card. She would get 50,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $5,000 in the first three months.

She already got 50,000 Membership Rewards points for the original application and another 10,000 points when she signed up for their delayed payment plan (basically turning it into a credit card that can be paid off over time.) But we both have a Premier Rewards Gold card and probably don’t need two of them. I can always make her an authorized user on my account and save on her annual fee.

Several benefits make this offer appealing:

Megan has complained about not having her own Amex Platinum Card for free lounge access to the Alaska Airlines Board Room, a relatively minor benefit for some but valuable since we’re based in Seattle. I have been reluctant to add her to my Business Platinum Card because the fee for authorized users is much higher than for the personal card.

I’ve been considering closing my Business Platinum Card anyway because I’ve already gotten a 100,000-point sign up bonus out of it and two years’ of airline statement credits. With the loss of American Airlines lounge access, I can’t say I feel compelled to keep it.

If Megan gets a personal Amex Platinum Card, she can add me as an authorized user at a more favorable rate, so I’ll keep my Platinum Card benefits. We can also add my parents and have them reimburse us.

Megan needs to update her Global Entry once she changes her name on her passport. It’s only $25, but I hope that Amex will still offer a fee credit.

Amex normally doesn’t offer bonus points for signing up for the Amex Platinum Card. You can get 50,000 points with the Mercedes-Benz version of this card, but the annual fee is slightly higher and I hope she could keep that in her back pocket to apply again later. The fact that this offer is touted as an “upgrade” also suggests she has a good chance of being approved.

The timing is ideal. Megan can pay the $450 annual fee now and collect 2 x $200 airline fee credits, since the annual fee is based on a 12-month cycle but the airline fee credit is based on a calendar year.

Can you tell I’ve already talked her into applying?

The application “upgrade” link isn’t unique, although she does have a unique offer code that you need to enter. If you haven’t gotten a letter and want to try your luck, you can call 1-888-814-9099 to make your case.