AMEX Platinum - Additional Cardholder lounge access?

Collosseum67

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Anyone know whether "additional cardholders" on AMEX Platinum Charge Card can bring in guests to the Centurion lounges?

I understand the primary cardholder can bring in 2 guests?
 
My experience is that the lounges are unable to differentiate between a primary and a supp (or they behave as if they cant)
 
I gave a mate a supp Plat on my account (with a locked down $100 monthly spend limit lol) and in the last few weeks he's accessed SYD and HKG Centurion lounges as well as some Plaza Premium lounges. He was able to guest his wife into all of them.
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My experience is that the lounges are unable to differentiate between a primary and a supp (or they behave as if they cant)

Even if they could differentiate, the T&C state that supp cardholders get access to Amex and Plaza Premium anyway. It's the VA lounge where it can be an issue I believe.
 
I gave a mate a supp Plat on my account (with a locked down $100 monthly spend limit lol) and in the last few weeks he's accessed SYD and HKG Centurion lounges as well as some Plaza Premium lounges. He was able to guest his wife into all of them.
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Even if they could differentiate, the T&C state that supp cardholders get access to Amex and Plaza Premium anyway. It's the VA lounge where it can be an issue I believe.
How do you put a limit on the card? I have a supplementary card for one of my sons but wasn’t aware you could out a limit on it.
 
It's the VA lounge where it can be an issue I believe.
Every member of my immediate family (spouse, adult children, parent) have supp cards and they've each used their cards to enter the Virgin lounges on several occasions -- often with guests. They, and their guests, have never been denied access.
 
Every member of my immediate family (spouse, adult children, parent) have supp cards and they've each used their cards to enter the Virgin lounges on several occasions -- often with guests. They, and their guests, have never been denied access.

Yes, access for supp holders is nearly always granted, but that isn't consistent with the T&C, and I have read reports on this forum and other social media of denials happening occasionally.

Travel with Virgin Australia domestically within Australia, and present your physical Personal or Business Platinum Card with same-day boarding pass to gain access to Virgin Australia Lounges. Access is complimentary for the Personal and Business Primary Platinum Card Member and a guest.

The above is very clear, and notably different language compared to the access rules for Centurion and Plaza Premium lounges.
 
Note that (although it wasn't something the OP specifically asked) Priority Pass is only for the primary plus one specific nominated supplementary. And it needs to be separately enrolled, unlike Centurion/Plaza Premium/Virgin (and likely Delta/Lufthansa in various locales) for which the Amex Plat card itself is sufficient.
 
I am more-so referring to Centurion lounges as well as some Plaza Premium lounges ? Because my parents are going overseas and I was hoping they would use their supp cards to access some lounges ?
 
I'm unsure if AMEX lounges have access to that info, but AMEX primary and supp card holders can equally use Plaza Premium and AMEX lounges in my experience (my wife has supp card and she accesses all these lounges when she travels on her own and with guests allowed) - your parents should be fine, just remember to check the AMEX lounge info link and check on guest access requirements - if it's a Plaza or AMEX lounge, then showing AMEX card should be sufficient (if Priority Pass, then it won't be)
 
Lounge access is detailed here https://www.americanexpress.com/au/credit-cards/membership-benefits/travel/airport-lounges/

In summary:
- Centurion lounges: Cardholders (regardless Primary or Supplementary, can bring in kids <= 17 yrs, and 2 guests per cardholder). Note: if you have a Platinum Account Card (AC) in your name, in theory you should be able to use that card to guest in 2 more people (ie let them swipe your primary card and your AC card and you should be able to bring total 4 guests).

- Virgin Aust: 'Primary Cardholder' + 1 guest, subject to having VA boarding pass. It refers to Primary Cardholder but in practice this is irrelevant as they don't know supplementary cardholders' cards are supplementary. When I travel with my wife (supplementary cardholder) we both just flash our own platinum cards and go straight in. No need to stuff around with guesting. VA doesn't swipe your card anyway, they just eyeball it and only care that you have a VA boarding pass.

- Priority Pass: Primary cardholder gets one PP card and can nominate ONE supplementary cardholder to have their own PP card. All PP cardholders can bring in one guest.

- Plaza Premium: All Platinum cardholders (primary and supplementary) can bring in 2 guests (if you are accessing via your Platinum card). Note: Plaza Premium lounges can also be accessed via Priority Pass, in which case the PP guest policy applies - ie 1 guest. Again, if you an AC card, should be able to use that for its guest allowance.
 
I am more-so referring to Centurion lounges as well as some Plaza Premium lounges ? Because my parents are going overseas and I was hoping they would use their supp cards to access some lounges ?
PS I notice your new to AFF as a poster, so not sure if you're new to having an AMEX Plat card, but fyi, if your parents are both supp card holders (and under a certain age), then they will also probably be covered under the card's travel insurance (provided you're comfortable with that - there's a whole thread on this topic from memory) - to activate insurance, they just need to ensure outbound flight is paid for on AMEX card (or AMEX points have been used to make the booking + taxes on AMEX)
 
PS I notice your new to AFF as a poster, so not sure if you're new to having an AMEX Plat card, but fyi, if your parents are both supp card holders (and under a certain age), then they will also probably be covered under the card's travel insurance (provided you're comfortable with that - there's a whole thread on this topic from memory) - to activate insurance, they just need to ensure outbound flight is paid for on AMEX card (or AMEX points have been used to make the booking + taxes on AMEX)
Just a point on amex, it doesn't matter which card the expense is charged to, as long as it is on the overall account then all main and supp cardholder is covered. I had previously paid for my parents flight on my primary card (they got supp card) and it was accepted.
 

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