American Express has increased the annual fee of its high-end Amex Platinum Charge card. But the fee increase is justified by new benefits available to cardholders including complimentary Accor Plus membership.
With an annual fee of $1,450 – a $250 increase – the Amex Platinum Charge card is the most expensive personal card available in Australia other than the invitation-only Amex Centurion card. But in return for the high annual fee, there are many perks available to cardholders.
The higher annual fee applies to new customers, and existing cardholders that renew on or after 1 November 2018. The $250 annual fee increase also applies to those with discounted Amex Platinum cards obtained through organisations such as CPA Australia. The new discounted annual fee, for those eligible, is $1,200.
The Amex Platinum Charge card now includes complimentary Accor Plus membership valued at $395 per year. This comes with a free night at Accor Hotels each year and 50% off dining at Accor properties including Mercure, Novotel, Pullman, Sofitel and Ibis. Accor Plus members also qualify automatically for Silver status with Accor’s Le Club program.
Other new Amex Platinum benefits include complimentary annual subscription to the Australian Financial Review and a $150 increase in the annual travel credit, now worth $450. The card’s travel insurance benefit has been extended to cover up to four additional card members. The physical card is also changing from plastic to a metal design.
The Amex Platinum Charge card already comes with a long list of useful benefits for travellers. Cardholders enjoy unlimited access to Priority Pass, American Express, Plaza Premium, Delta SkyClub and Virgin Australia airport lounges. There’s also complimentary Gold status with the Radisson Rewards, Starwood Preferred Guest, Hilton Honors and Shangri-La hotel programs. In turn, this also opens up a shortcut to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer status.
As an added bonus, there are currently up to 120,000 bonus Amex Membership Rewards Premium Ascent points available to new cardholders until 30 August 2018. These points can be transferred at a 1:1 rate to almost a dozen airline and hotel loyalty programs including Qantas Frequent Flyer, Virgin Australia Velocity, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Etihad Guest. This offer is not available to existing American Express cardholders with Amex-issued cards.
Join the discussion on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum: AMEX platinum Accor plus reinstated
