To max out airmiles, can I alternate between BA Amex Premium+ and Virgin Atlantic Rewards+?

ChrisLV

Apologies in advance, as this seems like the sort of question that would be asked a lot on this forum, but with my rubbish search skills I can't find it.

So after many hard years of debt reduction, I'm finally in a place where I've got 95% acceptance on the beautiful airmiles cards I've always wanted. And I'm super-excited to be able to join the world of airmiles collecting!

The only thing I'm not so keen on is how much better airmiles cards are in the first year thanks to the introductory offer (20k points for BA Amex Premium+ and 15k for Virgin Rewards+) as compared to subsequent years. So, I'm thinking maybe I get Amex Premium Plus and keep it for two years, getting two nice flights and two companion vouchers, then switch to Amex Rewards+ for two years, getting the same, and so on--all the while avoiding the 'you cannot have been a cardholder in the last two years' clause for getting the introductory offer.

Is there a flaw in this plan or is this actually doable?

 

WillPS

Yes, this is a technique known as churning. In years gone by you would only have to have not held the specific product you're applying for with Amex for the previous 6 months. Now their rules are a bit more cumbersome, requiring you to go fallow for 2 years.

Of course, you are relying on the issuing bank being happy to accept your application again 2 years down the line, and there's always a chance the product will be removed from the market for new applicants but left open for existing cardholders (ala Hilton Barclaycard - massively regret closing that one).

ChrisLV

Thanks WillPS. 'Churning'. It's amazing how learning the name of something improves the quality of Google searches! Given your warnings and what I've now read about the risk, I think I'll play it safe with the BA Amex card and not churn. 

Ngozi

If collecting Avios, get the Sainsbury Nectar Credit card for a points boost and shop at sainsbury if possible as Nectar points can be switched to Avios.
Link all cards you use on the BA Shopping Portal.
If booking hotels, use RocketMiles or Nectar Hotels.