There’s one thing I do regularly that feels almost too good to be true — but it’s completely allowed and one of my favorite ways to earn extra points.

I didn’t open a new card.
I didn’t get a hard inquiry.
And I didn’t add another account to manage.

Instead, I logged in to pay my bill — and earned 60,000 points.

Here’s exactly what happened, why this works, and why I always check for this before applying for anything new.

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The Card I Thought I Was Done With

I originally had a premium travel card that I kept for about a year. When the annual fee came up, I decided to downgrade it to a lower-tier version.

Not because the card wasn’t valuable — honestly, I could have used the monthly credits to offset the annual fee.

But at the time, I didn’t want to think about managing another set of credits, and simplifying felt better.

So I downgraded.

That decision turned out to be key.

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The Pop-Up Offer That Changed Everything

Months later, I logged into my account to pay my bill.

Right there on the screen was a pop-up offer:

Earn 60,000 points after $2,000 in spend.

No application.
No hard pull.
No new account.

Just an invitation to upgrade.

This is something that happens more often than people realize — but only if you’re paying attention.

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This Is NOT a Retention Offer (And That Matters)

It’s important to clarify what this wasn’t.

This was not a retention offer.

A retention offer is when you already have a card and contact the issuer because you’re considering canceling. In response, they may offer points or a statement credit to keep the same card open.

That’s not what happened here.

This was an upgrade offer.

I had already downgraded my card. Later, I was invited to upgrade back — with a points bonus — without submitting a new application.

Here’s why that distinction matters:

• Retention offers are designed to prevent cancellation
• Upgrade offers invite you to move to a different product
• Retention offers keep the same card
• Upgrade offers change the card and can include bonus points

Upgrade offers don’t require a new application and don’t trigger a hard inquiry.

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Why Upgrade Offers Are So Powerful

This works especially well because of how some card issuers structure welcome bonuses.

Many cards have “lifetime language,” meaning you can generally only earn a welcome bonus on that specific card once.

Upgrade offers operate differently.

When you downgrade a card and later receive an upgrade offer, you’re being invited back — sometimes with a points bonus — without applying again.

That’s why this strategy is so powerful.

You can:

• earn a large chunk of points
• avoid a hard inquiry
• avoid adding a new account
• avoid impacting application limits like 5/24

You’re earning points by being observant — not by opening more cards.

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This Isn’t a One-Time Thing

I’ve used this same strategy with other cards as well.

Downgrade when the annual fee no longer makes sense.
Wait.
Watch for upgrade offers.
Upgrade again when the math works.

This isn’t about gaming the system.
It’s about paying attention.

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Don’t Miss Upgrade Offers in Your Email and Mail

One important thing to know: these upgrade offers don’t always appear when you log in.

Sometimes they show up as:

• targeted emails
• physical mail offers
• account messages
• app notifications

That’s why I don’t automatically ignore emails or mail from card issuers — especially if I’ve downgraded a card in the past.

Most people assume it’s just marketing.

Sometimes it is.
Sometimes it’s a no-application upgrade offer worth thousands in travel.

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My Rule Before Applying for Any New Card

Before I ever apply for a new card, I always do three things first:

1. Log into my existing accounts and check for upgrade offers
2. Read emails instead of deleting them automatically
3. Pay attention to mail offers — especially after a downgrade

Because sometimes the best offer isn’t a new card at all.

It’s already waiting for you.

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Want My Best Offers and Updates Each Month?

If you want to stay on top of the best current offers, upgrade opportunities, and time-sensitive bonuses, here’s where to start:

• Follow me on Instagram, where I share monthly “best offers” stories
• Check my tools and freebies page for updated links
• Watch your email — I share important updates there first

I do the filtering so you don’t have to.

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The Bottom Line

Downgrading a card doesn’t mean you’re done with it forever.

Sometimes it’s just a pause — until the math makes sense again.

If you’re paying attention to upgrade offers in your account, email, and mail, you can earn a lot of points without opening new cards, triggering hard inquiries, or complicating your setup.

That’s a strategy I’ll keep using — and one I want you to know about, too.

Beginner FAQ: Upgrade Offers vs. New Applications

Do I need to call to get an upgrade offer?
No. Upgrade offers are usually targeted and appear automatically — either when you log in, through email, or via mail. You can’t force them.

Will this hurt my credit?
Upgrade offers typically do not involve a hard inquiry because you aren’t opening a new account. However, your account terms and annual fee may change, so always review the details.

Is this the same as a welcome bonus?
No. A welcome bonus comes from opening a brand-new card. An upgrade offer is tied to an existing account you already have.

Is this guaranteed to work for everyone?
No. Upgrade offers are targeted. Some people see them often, others rarely. This is a “pay attention and wait” strategy — not a guaranteed one.

Should beginners do this right away?
Not necessarily. If you’re brand new to points and miles, your first focus should be understanding how one card works. This strategy is best reinforced by good habits once you’re more comfortable.

What’s the biggest mistake people make with this?
Upgrading just for points without considering the annual fee or whether they’ll use the card’s benefits. The math should always make sense for your situation.