Should You Accept Credit Card Upgrade Offers or Apply For New Cards?

Is It Better to Apply for New Credit Cards or Accept Offers to Upgrade Existing Ones?

Published By: Manoj Prasad

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[{"selector":"#anim-2e4e1532-b4eb-4970-88c2-d2564450b425","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3efc3d96-2409-45ce-84fe-6a0fd3d497a0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(129.85075%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6e9e74af-2b3f-43c5-87c8-effae298f1fa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d6f8fb67-0a56-481e-8124-4eaf59b4e0e7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(133.59376%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-60ea3311-c472-4ffa-aaf0-41e5ba9f1405 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Issuers frequently encourage upgrades to premium versions

[{"selector":"#anim-80189b03-809d-4f6b-9701-700a4d77f2db","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3a9ce4b3-faf9-4bb7-9bea-70ab2e91fafa","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 179.42794%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a1e58cd5-8b43-4fc7-8588-87ffcc67bb96","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0c5cf4b4-855c-41de-9061-37c520a076bc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 264.29875%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0dfb50c5-ceee-4e92-b5c6-96e44eeeb518 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Upgrades avoid new credit checks that apply with fresh applications

[{"selector":"#anim-dc0e4313-e3fe-4c86-9061-f45d1548fd32","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-77bc5784-e228-426d-893e-af990ca0c779","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-131.74604%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a67646e4-f8cf-4edb-9d1f-2e17cda0f8f9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f5bb6ba2-8581-465f-8d39-0b80289af1bc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-139.16666%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Keeping old accounts open helps your credit history length

[{"selector":"#anim-070aaab6-659d-4a10-b0a2-29c43b4e05bb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ab56f335-9acc-49ee-b375-72e5e462ef36","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(131.74602%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ea4438ba-37f8-4606-be32-b5fe409d6be2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dea2575d-fb8a-4891-8394-e9990067d778","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(132.50000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9203293a-a7f7-4c83-9926-4449d01517d5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Upgrade offers come with lower bonuses than new applications

[{"selector":"#anim-be482b1f-24de-4ed7-b106-31d29df73251","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-baaded48-49f2-498d-9f89-2e01ec187eb1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 179.42794%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-124e01da-7af7-477e-a877-d1334d2ab5f1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9b00fcd1-51ed-4463-980d-6fd0e36905f3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 260.03592%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e6057a4-fbda-4f8d-af8d-3136af6d162d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Earning 50,000+ miles is often worth a minor credit check

[{"selector":"#anim-bffffc6b-f483-4fe7-bbf4-3331d4395318","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a8c1b82b-c4d4-4132-b336-85a3eb4af4a5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-131.74604%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0370cf9f-7bf6-4cd9-8dd7-b81c0cef8044","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e5c41636-bba5-4ad3-b7c7-d5f97ce0c2e9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-134.97943%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Consider getting the premium card for the bonus, then accept a basic upgrade

[{"selector":"#anim-db3f05b2-aaa2-4d82-b24f-8237fe30b842","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e4db3b94-a4ed-416c-a1e8-5222bfc042df","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(131.74602%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8586002a-880e-49e3-a3a7-13dddda9e9ea","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d0c39def-5f8e-45fe-a68b-daf4fd98c7de","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(133.47640%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-211f9aa5-f6ca-4209-bcc0-de8fa88b381e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Or, apply for premium, enjoy perks, then downgrade to no-fee version

[{"selector":"#anim-65d4a08c-3572-4f9a-af27-147d4d291c63","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-02fb7a62-1f71-42b0-a11e-8efbe93c6f85","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 179.42794%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2056cd81-0d34-4afa-b147-c4f9b1b757e0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4e931d6b-a58e-4440-bcea-a6358c40044d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 261.64880%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fe447192-bc51-47d7-b1c4-aa1fbbb7fc1a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Compare bonuses and weigh pros and cons for your situation