Does American Express pull your credit for an upgrade?

American Express does not perform a hard pull to your credit when you upgrade your card. This means it will not add a new inquiry or a new account to your credit history.

Is the Amex Gold card better than the Amex Platinum card?

Neither card is necessarily better than the other — it depends on what you value more. The Amex Gold card is a much stronger point-earner, especially if you spend a lot of money on dining out or grocery store purchases. Meanwhile, the Amex Platinum is loaded up with top-notch benefits that provide outsized value to cardmembers, especially those that are frequent travelers.

Can you switch from the Amex Platinum card to the Amex Gold card?

Yes, you can downgrade your Amex Platinum card to the Amex Gold card. But just like with upgrades, you’ll want to make sure that you’ve had the card open for at least 1 year or more. This is a great way to save yourself some money if you no longer find the benefits of the Amex Platinum card to be worth the fee.

Is it good to upgrade a credit card?

It can be! If you think the benefits of the card you’re upgrading to are better, you have a lucrative upgrade offer, or you’re trying to avoid any new credit pulls, then upgrading could be a great option. But you should first make sure that you’re not adversely impacting your eligibility for future welcome bonuses.

How To Upgrade the Amex Gold to Amex Platinum Card [2024]

Key Takeaways

Upgrading from the American Express^® Gold Card to The Platinum Card^® from American Express can be done by contacting American Express customer service or using the chat feature on the website.
The Platinum card has a higher annual fee, but you should consider the enhanced benefits you can enroll in like airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and additional travel credits.
If you’ve never earned a welcome bonus for the Amex Platinum card before, you are better off applying outright.

The American Express^® Gold Card and The Platinum Card^® from American Express are 2 heavy hitters in the world of points and miles, with many award travel enthusiasts carrying one, or both, of the cards in their wallets. But if you’re someone who prefers to carry one card, you might be wondering which Membership Rewards card is a better fit for you?

In this post, we will provide a benefits comparison of both cards to help you determine which is best for you, along with answering how you can go about upgrading your Amex card and who should consider upgrading.

Amex Gold Card vs. Amex Platinum Card

Make no mistake, the Amex Gold card and Amex Platinum card are both fantastic, but very different, travel rewards cards. Here is a breakdown of the top benefits of each card.

Amex Gold Card Benefits

LAST CHANCE

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome OfferEarn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
60,000 points + up to $100 back

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,420

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros

4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com

Cons

$325 annual fee (rates and fees)
No lounge access

Read Full Review

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
Get the American Express^® Gold Card in either the Gold, Rose Gold or Limited-Edition White Gold metal design. White Gold design is only available while supplies last.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Dunkin' locations.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: See Pay Over Time APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 90,000 points with the Amex Gold card. The current public offer is 60,000 points + up to $100 back. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

The Amex Gold card has strong earnings at supermarkets and restaurants with a variety of ways to earn/redeem rewards and plenty of travel benefits — all without a premium annual fee!

Our favorite benefits include:

4x points per $1 at global restaurants (up to $50,000 in annual spend, then 1x after that), plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
4x points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x thereafter
3x points per $1 on flights purchased directly with airlines or at AmexTravel.com
Access to the American Express Hotel Collection
Up to $120 annual dining credit: up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
New $100 Resy Credit: $100 annual statement credit ($50 semi-annually), redeemable at any U.S. Resy restaurant and other eligible Resy purchases. Enrollment required through your Amex account.
New Dunkin’ Credit: $84 annual statement credit ($7/month), redeemable at Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.

The Amex Gold card aims to help keep you covered by offering travel insurance benefits like baggage insurance coverage, trip delay insurance, and rental car insurance, along with purchase protection and extended warranty protection.

Bottom Line: Spend a lot of money on dining and at supermarkets? The Amex Gold card will help you rack up Amex Membership Rewards points faster than any other card.

Amex Platinum Card Benefits

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome OfferEarn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros

The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

$695 annual fee (rates and fees)
Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Read Full Review

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^®.
$200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card^® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
$199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile.
$695 annual fee.¤
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: See Pay Over Time APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 125k (or 150k) points with the Amex Platinum. The current public offer is 80,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

The premium Amex Platinum card is packed with $500+ in statement credits, considerable 5x points travel earnings, and access to thousands of airport lounges worldwide.

Here are our favorite earnings and benefits that the card features:

5x points per $1 spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com and on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
$200 airline fee credit
Up to $200 annual Uber Cash
Access to over 1,400 airport lounges, including Amex Centurion lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, Escape Lounges, and Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta the same day
Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
Access to American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts and the Amex International Airline Program
Avis, Hertz, and National rental car elite status
And much more!

The Amex Platinum card also takes the level of protection you receive to another level by offering travel insurance benefits like rental car insurance, trip delay protection, and trip cancellation protection, plus purchase benefits like return protection, purchase protection, and extended warranty protection.

Bottom Line: The Amex Platinum card offers some of the very best travel and lifestyle benefits of any rewards card on the market.

Benefits Comparison

Amex Gold Upgraded Points LLC 23 Large — Image Credit: Upgraded Points

Here is a head-to-head comparison of the Amex Gold card and Amex Platinum card to help you determine which card is a better fit for you.

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Benefit	Amex Gold Card	Amex Platinum Card
Airfare purchases	3x	5x
Dining purchases	4x	1x
Supermarket purchases	4x	1x
$120 annual dining credit	X	–
Rental car insurance	Secondary: $50,000	Secondary: $75,000
Foreign transaction fees	$0	$0
Baggage insurance	$1,250 per person	$3,000 per person
Trip delay insurance	$300 per trip	$500 per trip
Purchase protection	$10,000 item/$50,000 year	$10,000 item/$50,000 year
Extended warranty protection	X	X
American Express Hotel Collection	X	X
American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts	–	X
$200 airline fee credit	–	X
$200 annual Uber Cash	–	X
$100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit	–	X
Airport lounge access	–	X
Hotel elite status	–	X
Rental car elite status	–	X
Amex International Airline Program	–	X
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit	–	X

As you can see, the strength of the Amex Gold card is that it has a much lower annual fee than the Amex Platinum card and is significantly better at earning points if you’re someone who regularly spends money on dining and groceries.

On the other hand, the main appeal of the Amex Platinum card is that it is absolutely loaded up with fantastic benefits like access to 6 different airport lounge networks, hotel elite status, a variety of annual credits, and many more perks that frequent travelers are sure to love. Further, eligible Amex Platinum military members won’t be charged the annual fee.

Bottom Line: Are the added benefits of the Amex Platinum card worth the additional $300 in annual fees? Well, that is for you to decide, and if you need extra help doing so, we’ve got you covered in our ultimate guide to the Amex Platinum vs. Amex Gold.

How To Upgrade Your Amex Gold Card

Requesting an upgrade with your Amex Gold card is a very straightforward process, and you have 2 options for doing so.

The first option is by calling the customer service number on the back of your Amex Gold card and telling the representative that you’d like to upgrade to the Amex Platinum card. Your second option is to use the chat feature on the American Express website, though be advised that they might still ask you to call the customer service line to finalize the upgrade.

Who Should Upgrade Their Card?

Amex Platinum Upgraded Points LLC 24 Large — Is it worth upgrading to the Amex Platinum card? Image Credit: Upgraded Points

We’ve outlined the benefits of each card and explained how to go about asking for an upgrade, but should you actually do it? Here are a few tips to help you make that decision.

1. You’ve Had the Amex Gold Card for More Than 1 Year

Due to the Credit CARD Act of 2009, credit issuers are not able to increase the annual fee of a cardmember if their account is less than 1 year old. So if you haven’t had your Amex Gold card open for at least a year, you will not be eligible to upgrade it to the Amex Platinum card.

2. You’ve Previously Earned a Welcome Bonus for the Amex Platinum Card

Traditionally, when you upgrade to a new card, you are not eligible for the public welcome bonus that the card currently offers. So if you’ve never received a welcome bonus for the Amex Platinum card before, you’d be much better off just applying for the card outright as the welcome bonus offer is often worth more than $1,300 in travel based on our valuations.

If you’ve already received a welcome bonus on the Amex Platinum card, though, then you would not be forfeiting any points should you decide to upgrade your Amex Gold card.

3. You’ve Been Extended an Upgrade Offer

Occasionally, American Express will send cardmembers an offer to upgrade their card and receive a bonus for doing so. We’ve seen offers as high as 60,000 Membership Rewards points (valued at $1,320) to upgrade from the Amex Gold card to the Amex Platinum card. So if you’ve received such an offer, that would be a great reason to upgrade.

Hot Tip: You’re still eligible for upgrade offers even if you have already received a welcome bonus for the Amex Platinum card. However, if you accept an upgrade offer and you’ve never had a welcome bonus for the Amex Platinum card, you’ll no longer be eligible to receive one should you decide to apply for the card outright.

4. The Amex Platinum Card is a Better Fit for You

If you’ve weighed the benefits of each card and decided that the Amex Platinum card is a better fit for you, then it might make more sense to ask for an upgrade. But just make sure you don’t leave any Membership Rewards points on the table if you do so.

5. You Don’t Want To Add a Hard Pull to Your Credit

When you ask for an upgrade on an Amex card, American Express does not perform a hard pull, meaning you will not receive a new inquiry on your credit report, and it will not impact your 5/24 status for those who are trying to stay eligible for certain Chase cards.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, while the process of upgrading your Amex Gold card to the Amex Platinum card is an easy one, the decision on whether or not it makes sense to do so is a lot more situational. On one hand, upgrading might offer you a nice bonus without adding an inquiry to your credit score. On the other, you might be forgoing the large boost of Membership Rewards points you could have received from the welcome bonus by applying for the card outright.

Either way, you should do whatever makes the most sense for you. You might even decide that is worth holding both the Amex Gold card and Amex Platinum card so that you can take advantage of the point-earning and luxury travel benefits of both cards!

For rates and fees of the American Express^® Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, click here.