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I’ve accumulated around 450,000 Avios. I cancelled my BA card in July24 due to lack of acceptance and increased spend limits. My retirement has been pushed back to end March 26 so I’m reviewing my card and travel plans. I had earmarked the Avios for a couple of trips to S America late 26 early 27 using Iberia. I’ve probably enough for at least 3 legs business for two but no 241. Now I’m reconsidering
1 should I continue as planned and clear out my stash on the basis booking now to get flights next November or
2 delay but travel elsewhere and apply for BA paid card after July (to get whatever bonus is on offer)and try to push enough spend to get a 241 and make Avios go further? The risk is devaluation health issues and not getting accepted for card as I’ll be retired but with an income over the £35k threshold.
Would welcome the collective wisdom and thoughts of all
Thanks
You’ll be taking a risk applying once you’re fully retired, regardless of income. The Amex algorithm seems to really not like it.
The received wisdom here is that it’s never a great idea to hoard points as you never know what’s around the corner. I would get at least one trip booked that you really want to take. IB avios pricing is so reasonable that not having a 241 isn’t a huge deal, plus you get a bit more flexibility, as evidenced in the “Booking the return at T-355” and other threads!
Finally, you may find that your priorities change once you’re retired. Certainly my attitude to travel changed; I don’t dread coming home any more, nor worry that anything might derail a trip as the next one won’t be far off! Also, having recently discovered how ridiculously cheap IB cash fares are within Europe, I’ve decided to limit long haul redemption travel to once or twice per year, and aim to spend a couple of the autumn/winter months each year somewhere warm and affordable.
Thanks. My priorities will be changing once retired – more travel. Will have the time to plan it. At the moment I am targeting long haul travel whilst we have the health and inclination. I’m sure that will change with time. Food for thought especially with the potential for not getting accepted for the card once retired. When I cancelled the BA card in July 24 retirement was not a consideration. With hindsight I should have cancelled it earlier as I had not used it for over a year. If we all had hindsight life would be so much more different.
If you do get rejected for the card as retired, consider getting a few hours of paid work per month and re-applying. I was rejected for putting “retired” on an application, even though my pension is my main income, but I reapplied and stated that I am a tutor (a couple of hours per week, earning peanuts!) and was accepted. Obviously then put all your income sources in the relevant field.
Hmmm wonder if charity trustee counts albeit unpaid?
I wouldn’t worry about being retired. I’ve put that on loads of applications over the years, as well as declaring a not very large income, and never had an issue being accepted. And I hardly think I’d be the only retired person applying to Amex.
This discussion has been had on here before, there’s no way of knowing why NL was rejected, could have been any number of reasons.
I’ve put that on loads of applications over the years,
“Over the years” is not the same as now. Rules change and their credit assessment models change.
I’ve put that on loads of applications over the years,
“Over the years” is not the same as now. Rules change and their credit assessment models change.
Sure rules change, but just a few months ago I successfully applied for Amex Gold and Barclaycard Avios Plus in a period of 10 days, that in the same month as cancelling a BA Amex that I’d taken out less than a year earlier, and seven months after my previous Gold cancellation.
Obviously there’s no guarantee of OP being accepted, all I’m saying is I haven’t seen any evidence that being retired is a problem in and of itself.I guess I’ll make the application at the necessary time and see if I get accepted and hope that my credit limit is such that I can take advantage and get the sign up and spend bonus. Let’s see next year!
hope that my credit limit is such that I can take advantage
Not sure what you mean, but having a high credit limit across your cards at the time of application will reduce your chances of being approved for a new card. It’s totally in your hands to try actively reduce your credit limits before any new application.
On the other hand if this forces you to close cards, remember that not many lenders may approve new cards for with a lower income post retirement. Swings and roundabouts.
The best option with lowest risk would be to get the cards you want before retirement, if your circumstances allow.I’d be worried about getting a nominal limit of say £1000 which would not be enough to cover holiday or flight bookings for 2. I’ve no intention of churning cards or having multiple applications as happy with the Barclaycard and would keep that anyway as back up for when Amex not accepted.
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