Amex “refreshing” Velocity Platinum Card

[Happy Dude]

Except it's not full lounge access
Max two hours before flight.
No guests.
No arrival access.
Not for additional card holders

Ah ok, so not full access relative to others. To be fair though, other than no guest, not huge points of difference for many. Still better than limited to the 2 x one-time passes.

A possible issue could be a >2 hr connection. Wonder how they'd handle that? We may see a "VA lounge allowed/denied me entry" type thread.

 

[blackcat20]

Hmmmm. Finally received the email. They refer to my year ticking over in Feb which is definitely not the case (it's actually June). They'd better not be charging me a full fee after just seven months.

 

[ols]

Hmmmm. Finally received the email. They refer to my year ticking over in Feb which is definitely not the case (it's actually June). They'd better not be charging me a full fee after just seven months.

"As part of these new and updated benefits, your annual Card fee is increasing to $440 on your next Card membership anniversary, after 2 February 2025."

So it looks like if your renewal is before 2nd Feb next year it will be $375.

 

[Ozymandias]

"As part of these new and updated benefits, your annual Card fee is increasing to $440 on your next Card membership anniversary, after 2 February 2025."

So it looks like if your renewal is before 2nd Feb next year it will be $375.

Damn, mine's on the 5th. Rough.

 

[GSP]

I've been a holder of this card for a few years and also received the email. My 5c

- The $375 to $440 increase I'm not happy about.
- The tiered SC bonus was irrelevant as I already received the 100SC due to my spend. SC aren't also that important as now not flying as much.
- I've been Platinum/Gold for 10 years, but have just dropped back to Silver (as mentioned not flying much), so previously the 2 lounge passes were not worth much, but now Silver a lounge pass is a good thing (as others have mentioned, not sure how they would police the restrictions). BUT, only me going in is not great when I have family members in tow.
- The 2 Amex Centurion Lounge passes I used always (with bringing family along) that are going is not good at all. Virgin don't have anyway to use a lounge for international travel, so now this is gone, I have to rely on my Dragon Pass entries from another credit card.
- The points earn is quite good, but I thought they could have been a bit more generous given the fee increase.
- The "free" flight is OK, but as others have mentioned, it has to be a rewards flight so highly restrictive.

In short, it has come down to $65 extra for permanent domestic lounge pass vs losing the 2 International lounge passes. Given I already had 2 domestic lounge passes from this card (plus the 2 from now being Silver), I don't think I'll frequent the lounge too often so I'll be worse off as I valued the International lounge access.

p.s I did have to laugh when they said in their spiel about the lounge access "With this new benefit you can step away from the airport crowds to enjoy all the Virgin Australia lounge experiences like barista coffee, healthy snacks, and more".............what to step into an even more crowded area like the Virgin Lounge.

 

[MooTime]

Current holder of this plat Amex.

Not happy with the refresh.

Have status with VA for now which'll lapse in 2 years.
The annual VA lounge perk useless as have family. It only includes card holder, no guests.
The loss of Centurion lounge for our annual o/s trip is a kick in the guts & all but assured the card in the cancel prior to next AF category.
A supposed premium AMEX card without a single entry into the AMEX own lounge.... Really!


So I'm paying $440 for a return flight.

No thanks.

 

[ols]

Been waiting for the card enhancement as have a couple of friends and family wanting to play the points game and have held them off till the "enhancements"
For the time I have spent educating them they were more than happy to use my referral to get the card.
Only able to refer to an Explorer card on the website.
I hope this is not a permanent thing.

 

[BNEFlyer]

Enrolled for lounge access and made a purchase on Thursday, checked Velocity account today (Saturday) and it’s activated. Which is great as I’m flying tomorrow.

I hope access is easy as the website says I just need to provide my VFF number but I need the Amex card for my guest. What’s the bet the lounge agent will have no idea about this new benefit?

 

[ozzguy]

Enrolled for lounge access and made a purchase on Thursday, checked Velocity account today (Saturday) and it’s activated. Which is great as I’m flying tomorrow.

I hope access is easy as the website says I just need to provide my VFF number but I need the Amex card for my guest. What’s the bet the lounge agent will have no idea about this new benefit?

It'll be interesting to see how you go. I had mine activated today and I fly VA from BNE on Thursday so hopefully access just links to the VA card on lounge entry.

 

[BNEFlyer]

Visited the BNE lounge this morning with a guest. The lounge manager said she knew of the new Amex benefit but hadn’t seen anyone use it yet, and she wasn’t sure how to give me entry.

But one of her colleagues knew, and they let me and my guest in (not sure if a guest pass was used or not, I still have two in my account).

Off topic, the security situation at BNE is shambolic, and that’s putting it lightly.

 

[blackcat20]

"As part of these new and updated benefits, your annual Card fee is increasing to $440 on your next Card membership anniversary, after 2 February 2025."

So it looks like if your renewal is before 2nd Feb next year it will be $375.

That'll teach me for reading in a hurry (ironically on board a VA flight)

I'm not sure yet if ill keep the card. The free flight is hard to use when travelling with a family. I'm already VA gold, plus have lounge access via Amex anyway. Can you swap to another Amex without applying?

 

[eastwest101]

Hi all - sorry for the stupid/obvious question, but I have an existing Amex Card (an old legacy Suncorp issued one if I am not mistaken) that is still open, but thinking of closing it soon. Am I right in that if I successfully apply for a new American Express Velocity Platinum card with the $440 annual fee, that because I haven't been out of the Amex ecosystem for at least 18 months, I wont receive this bonus offer:

" the 60,000 bonus Velocity Points offer for “new American Express Card Members only” who apply online by 21 January 2025 and if approved, spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months (note that this offer is not yet live at the time of writing"

But will I have access to domestic Virgin lounges, and all the normal other card benefits, its just the 60K bonus VFF points that I would miss out on right?

 

[Doctore1003]

Hi all - sorry for the stupid/obvious question, but I have an existing Amex Card (an old legacy Suncorp issued one if I am not mistaken) that is still open, but thinking of closing it soon. Am I right in that if I successfully apply for a new American Express Velocity Platinum card with the $440 annual fee, that because I haven't been out of the Amex ecosystem for at least 18 months, I wont receive this bonus offer:

" the 60,000 bonus Velocity Points offer for “new American Express Card Members only” who apply online by 21 January 2025 and if approved, spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months (note that this offer is not yet live at the time of writing"

But will I have access to domestic Virgin lounges, and all the normal other card benefits, its just the 60K bonus VFF points that I would miss out on right?

In the past bank-issued Amex cardholders were eligible for bonus points when signing up with Amex direct. No 18 month waiting period. Maybe call Amex and ask.
And yes you’ll enjoy all the benefits either way.

 

[Warks]

I knew nothing about these changes but just got the letter in the mail today (I'm old school with card statements as I always forget to pay them if they are emailed).
At first I thought, that's not good, no international lounge passes when I'm not flying partner airlines.
Then I thought, okay free lounge membership, that's good. However, I've just gone WP and have been SG for years so no real benefit.
The bonus SCs could come in handy - I just received 50 SCs last week for $25K spend and had no idea that was a thing. Should help me requalify for WP.
The free domestic flight is still there at least but it's not worth that much as the range is quite limited. Cairns is probably the only flight which could pay for the annual fee. Used to be able to go to TSV and AYR as there were direct flights.
Overall, largely meh. With the annual fee increase even more meh.

I've got to get another card with a sign on bonus if I'm going to be collecting Velocity points. Visa or MC of course.

 

[SCM]

No Centurion lounge after 24 April 25 , is a huge loss considering the lack of VA international lounge access

Not sure about other cities, but the AMEX lounge in city is the biggest sh*thole I've ever been to. It makes the Qantas international J lounge actually look good by comparison - and that's really saying something.

 

[grubbidok]

I wonder how many people who have the Amex Platinum Velocity card are already Gold or Platinum with Virgin?
A fair % I reckon so Amex are not giving anything to lots of current users and taking away Centurion access from them and increasing the price by over 17%.
Thanks Amex
The people who got easy status and crowded out the lounges will be replaced by new credit card holders in the continuing crowded out lounges

This is me as VA WP.

Cant see the card being worth keeping anymore. Flights used to marginally cover the old cost but not new, insurance was okay but the Centurion filled a gap due to VAs patchy network was useful.

This seems to actively disincentivise those with status from continuing or applying for the card.

 

[MooTime]

Not sure about other cities, but the AMEX lounge in city is the biggest sh*thole I've ever been to. It makes the Qantas international J lounge actually look good by comparison - and that's really saying something.

Syd & Mel Amex centurion lounge more than adequate.
They've been remodelling recently, not sure when you last popped in.

Yes no amazing views, but near on empty so comfy seating ease to find & plenty food n beverages on offer. Very nice staff.
Can above be said for Q int J?

To take away 2 lousy passes for its own lounge is very stingy in my books. It's turned me away.

 

[SeaWolf]

Yes no amazing views, but near on empty so comfy seating ease to find & plenty food n beverages on offer. Very nice staff.
Can above be said for Q int J?

I agree, I've found the AmEx lounge in Sydney to very pleasant, even if it doesn't have views. I've been the Qantas Business lounge twice now (I don't often fly Qantas) and there's no doubt I'd choose the AmEx lounge in the future. The only downside being that it is far away from the Qantas gates if you're unlucky enough to be flying them.

 

[SCM]

Syd & Mel Amex centurion lounge more than adequate.
They've been remodelling recently, not sure when you last popped in.

Yes no amazing views, but near on empty so comfy seating ease to find & plenty food n beverages on offer. Very nice staff.
Can above be said for Q int J?

To take away 2 lousy passes for its own lounge is very stingy in my books. It's turned me away.

Not my experience - overcrowded, the same garbage food as in every generic lounge (I mean so literally, it's the same catering company that caters this garbage for star lounge as well as plaza and probably others), even if you can get the food - so crowded its gone half the time!

Didn't like anything about it.