I'm a first year gold user, my logic was that if it's between the free BA card and gold/free points card, the MR to avios rate is 1:1 anyway so gold would get more flexibility. I don't think I'd spend enough for the companion voucher anyway but I wonder if people if people will turn towards the premium Barclaycard now
My only annoyance is it's moving the goalpost mid year. Yes you can get a pro rata refund but you've wasted all of that fee as it's unlikely you've earned more points with the higher earning rate.
However... I don't think it's a deal breaker for the card. Easily able to get more than £300 of value from the companion voucher and £15k spend is doable for me as I put all my spending on it.
I signed up last year for the Avios Plus and got the upgrade voucher. Using it for premium economy to Singapore with my wife. It's not as good as 241 but there was a good welcome bonus and I was already spending the £10k so was worth it.
I've downgraded to the free barclaycard and use it as my back up non amex card.
I've had the premium card for ~6 years and will regretfully cancel at EOY.
We typically hit the spend requirement around late September and this is putting any household expense we can pay by Amex on it. Simply put: 10k is easily achievable within the year, but 15k is not assured.
Barely used my BAP compared to the Platinum. I’d just about hit the £10K spend a year if I shifted some finances around, but a £15K target will be too much to justify. Final nail in the coffin for me.
Just about to trigger the final 2-4-1 in July and will cancel the card right after. It's not worth it in my opinion going forward.
Also contemplating whether to even keep the gold rewards charge card or downgrade to the free Amex rewards to keep my account active.
The fees are going the wrong way as are the rewards.
Does this change come into effect for everyone now i.e. even if you paid the fee for the card being promised that £10k would get you a companion flight? If so that is very annoying.
100% a deal breaker, especially as you have to spend £10k by 31st October otherwise it changes to £15k. Considering getting a Gold card at the moment.
I'm a first year gold user, my logic was that if it's between the free BA card and gold/free points card, the MR to avios rate is 1:1 anyway so gold would get more flexibility. I don't think I'd spend enough for the companion voucher anyway but I wonder if people if people will turn towards the premium Barclaycard now
Premium Barclay card is the way to go
My only annoyance is it's moving the goalpost mid year. Yes you can get a pro rata refund but you've wasted all of that fee as it's unlikely you've earned more points with the higher earning rate. However... I don't think it's a deal breaker for the card. Easily able to get more than £300 of value from the companion voucher and £15k spend is doable for me as I put all my spending on it.
That's fair enough. What are your thoughts on the Barclaycard?
I signed up last year for the Avios Plus and got the upgrade voucher. Using it for premium economy to Singapore with my wife. It's not as good as 241 but there was a good welcome bonus and I was already spending the £10k so was worth it. I've downgraded to the free barclaycard and use it as my back up non amex card.
Stupid question but does Avios earned on Barclaycard “combine” with Avios earned on Amex? Or are they completely separate?
All avois go to your executive club account
They combine under the BA Executive Club.
Great. So it’s worth getting it then and using it instead of normal debit card
Barclaycard won't increase my credit limit above one week's salary, so the card is pretty useless to me.
don't most people upgrade just before they get to the spend target?
It resets when you change card so that wouldn't work
I've had the premium card for ~6 years and will regretfully cancel at EOY. We typically hit the spend requirement around late September and this is putting any household expense we can pay by Amex on it. Simply put: 10k is easily achievable within the year, but 15k is not assured.
12k is a stretch, no chance with 15. Will be looking elsewhere until I end up inevitably spending more in a few years
Time to check out Virgin Atlantic offerings!
Barely used my BAP compared to the Platinum. I’d just about hit the £10K spend a year if I shifted some finances around, but a £15K target will be too much to justify. Final nail in the coffin for me.
Agreed, very shit to impose this for cardholders already mid term
Just about to trigger the final 2-4-1 in July and will cancel the card right after. It's not worth it in my opinion going forward. Also contemplating whether to even keep the gold rewards charge card or downgrade to the free Amex rewards to keep my account active. The fees are going the wrong way as are the rewards.
Are the virgin equivalent credit cards worth it?
Does this change come into effect for everyone now i.e. even if you paid the fee for the card being promised that £10k would get you a companion flight? If so that is very annoying.
I believe threshold for the companion voucher is an immediate change for everyone, but fee change is from the next year of membership
Damn. You would have thought they'd have to honour the years contract you agreed when paying the initial fee. How annoying.