Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and products that appear on this website are from companies which AskSebby may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. You don't have to use our links, but we're grateful when you do! View our Advertising Policy .The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired.
American Express has a wide variety of credit cards, co-branded credit cards, and charge cards.
One rule to be aware of is that American Express has a once in a lifetime rule, so if you receive a welcome offer for a card, you will not be eligible for another welcome offer for the same card again.
Regarding upgrade and product change options, I don’t recommend taking an upgrade offer unless you have previously received a welcome offer for the same card. Taking an upgrade offer first would disqualify you from receiving the welcome offer for the same product.
For example, if you currently have the Amex Gold card and you receive an upgrade offer to the Amex Platinum card (and you accept it), you will not be eligible for the Amex Platinum welcome offer. However, if you receive a welcome offer for the Amex Platinum first, you will also be eligible for the upgrade offer.
When to Downgrade an American Express Card
Some people might product change a card if they’re not getting positive expected value from an annual fee.
Downgrading a card is ideal to keep your credit history alive since you’re not canceling the card. I usually recommend doing this after having the card for 12 months if you’re not getting positive expected value in the second year to keep a good relationship with American Express.
If you cancel or product change a card before the first year, Amex has the right to claw back the welcome offer for “abusing the system.”
American Express Product Change Options
- Rule #1: You can NOT product change a business credit card to a personal credit card, vice versa.
- Rule #2: You can NOT product change in/out of co-branded groups
- For example (NOT allowed):
- Hilton card -> Delta card (different group)
- Delta -> Amex Platinum (different group)
- Rule #3: You can NOT product change between charge cards and credit cards
Watch the video below for an overview of product change options:
Advertiser DisclosureSome of the card links and other products that appear on this website are from companies which AskSebby will earn an affiliate commission or referral bonus. AskSebby is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers.
Editorial Note:
Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, vendors or companies, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
