Reasons for downgrading from Amex Platinum to Amex Gold

although American Express Platinum Card® Offering many travel and lifestyle privileges, it is also one of the most expensive cards on the market, with an annual fee of $695 per year (see rates and fees). Additionally, AMEX is expected to revamp its premium card in 2025 and may result in higher annual fees.

Meanwhile, what is inserted under Amex platinum is American Express® Gold Cardthe product has less profit but is lower but has a higher price, with a $325 annual fee (see rates and fees). Both cards offer a variety of statement points and privileges to help offset their annual expenses.

Every cardholder has his own reasons to consider downgrades, and Amex Platinum is a card I think is often downgraded. From Walmart+ membership to equinox credit, a list of allowances has been introduced to lend out more potential value (registration required for select benefits).

While there is no doubt, quantity outweighs quality, especially when considering the annual expense of nearly $700.

If you are considering downgrading from an Amex Platinum card, here are three reasons to migrate to an Amex Gold card and how to do this to maximize your points potential.

Quick comparison of Amex Platinum vs. Amex Gold

This is how the Amex Platinum and Amex gold medals are stacked.

*Your Amex Platinum or Amex Gold must be added to your Uber account and you can redeemed with any Amex card; it is valid only for US purchases.

**Qualifications and income levels vary from card to card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. For more information, visit AmericaneXpress.com/benefitsguide. The policy is insured by AIG New Hampshire Insurance Company.

Why You May Downgrade to Amex Gold

You don’t want to deal with so many credits

this Amex Platinum Have a large annual statement credit line, which covers categories from shopping (Walmart + subscription) to travel (up to $200 for airline fees of $200), and more.

Therefore, casual Amex Platinum users should carefully study these credits. It is clear from the specific nature of several of these privileges that many cardholders will not be able to fully utilize all of these privileges. The annual cost is $695 and you need to use at least a few without getting in the way of you.

Amex Platinum has at least 10 credits. Four are annual, four are monthly, one is annual, and one is every 4 1/2 years. Annual credits are Clear Plus, prepaid hotels, Equinox, Soulcycle and airline fees; monthly credits are for Digital Entertainment, Walmart+ and Uber Cash; annual credits are for Saks Fifth Avenue; global admission/TSA Precheck admission fees are credited every 4 1/2 years.

at the same time, Amex Gold Card There are five statement credits – three times a month.

It is also worth noting that both Amex Platinum and Amex Gold need to be registered before using them, before using them.

Related: Does it make sense to hold an Amex Platinum and Amex Gold card?

You do not need airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Several other Amex Platinum Travel Allowances also provide significant value that cannot be fixed to a specific dollar amount. But for more leisure travelers, these privileges may not be used much.

For example, you will receive one of the most comprehensive airport lounge memberships at Amex Platinum. Specifically, you will enjoy priority pass options (requires admission), visit Amex’s growing Centurion Lounge Collection, and access to Delta Sky Club while flying Delta Air Lines. (Cardmembers will make 10 visits per year at Delta Sky Clubs, or travel on the same day’s Delta business flight, and be able to unlock unlimited spending $75,000 in a calendar year.)

This makes Amex Platinum one of the best cards for Airport Lounge Access. Platinum cardholders can also register for Gold Elite identities at Marriott and Hilton, and even seek help from premium concierge services.

But if all of these travel facilities look redundant, the Amex Gold might be more suitable.

You care more about the points you spend every day

this Amex Platinum Excellent in many ways, but daily spending is not one of them. In addition to eligible tickets that are eligible for booking through American Express travel or eligible tickets booked directly through the airline for 5 points per dollar ($500,000 per year per year), income per dollar is 1 point per dollar, then spent 1 point per day, 1 point per dollar), and booked by American Express Travel, which does not pay 5 points per day and does not allow you to earn a card of victory every day.

Meanwhile, Amex Gold earns 4 points in restaurants worldwide and supermarkets (up to $50,000, then $1 per dollar) and Amex Gold at supermarkets in the United States (up to $25,000, then 1:1 per day) and 4 points in restaurants.

Obviously, every dollar spent on a ticket is not 5 points per dollar, but that means you don’t completely miss potential rewards when carrying Amex Gold.

Related: 8 Ways to Make the Most of Amex Gold Card

How to “downgrade” to Amex Gold

Let’s first be clear about one thing: If you decide to downgrade Amex Platinumyou might need to close it directly and then open a new Amex Gold instead of asking for downgrade to gold directly. Why? Well, because with AMEX, card product replacement will qualify for a welcome quote on the card and you may not want to miss it.

Strategy

at present, Amex Gold Card After you spend $6,000 on your new card during the first six months of your card membership, you will be offered a welcome bonus of 60,000 members’ reward points.

According to TPG’s June 2025 valuation, the bonus is worth another $1,200.

Note that you can usually only get welcome bonuses on any AMEX card once per lifetime, so if you have previously earned bonuses on Amex Gold, you may lose your luck. Although Amex doesn’t require you to hold your card for a certain time before downgrading, you should probably wait for at least a year before canceling or downgrading Amex Platinum.

Another option is to downgrade your Amex Platinum to an American Express® Green Card, as Amex Platinum, Gold, and Green cards are all considered to be in the same card family. Once you do this, you can apply for Amex Gold directly. (However, of course, this means you have two cards.)

The information on the Amex green card has been collected independently by Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Retain the offer

Before deciding whether to cancel or downgrade Platinum, it is absolutely worth calling Amex (or live chat) when your annual fee is about to see if you are intended to keep the offer. These offers are essentially Amex’s last effort to retain your efforts as a cardholder. When you call and talk to someone in the department, ask to transfer it to the AMEX retention line.

In the past, I have received 20,000 membership reward points just to keep my card open for a year.

Bottom line

Downgrading from Amex Platinum to Amex Gold may be a good choice for some cardholders. If you just want to pay an annual fee, you can build the question as follows: Do you want a higher daily income rate in various categories? Or, do you need valuable travel and lifestyle privileges that add luxury to your upcoming trip?

If the first option sounds like you, then the Amex Gold might be more appropriate. However, if the second case is consistent with your needs, you may want to keep the Amex Platinum.

However, please know that you have room for these two cards in your wallet. In fact, as part of Amex Trifecta, Amex Gold and Amex Platinum complement each other.

Apply here: American Express Gold Card
Apply here: Amex Platinum

For Amex Platinum rates and fees, click here.
For Amex Gold rates and fees, click here.