Card Promotions Amex Platinum Card Benefits, Offers & Discussion

Enjoy a world of travel benefits and 150,000 bonus Amex Membership Rewards Premium Ascent points...​

Learn more and apply for this card:

American Express® Platinum Card

The American Express (Amex) Platinum charge card is one of the best publicly-available cards in Australia for travel benefits.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

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What are the main benefits of this card?

1. Signup bonus: 150,000 Amex Membership Rewards Points (worth 75,000 Qantas Points, Velocity Points, Avios or Asia Miles, among other options) when you apply by 28 January 2025 and spend at least $5,000 within 3 months
2. Earn 2.25 Amex Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on everyday purchases, uncapped. You can transfer these points to 12 airline & 2 hotel programs, including Qantas Frequent Flyer.
3. Enjoy unlimited access to many airport lounges, including Virgin Australia and Priority Pass lounges
4. Gift Priority Pass membership to one additional cardholder
5. Receive complimentary elite status with hotel loyalty programs including Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, Radisson Rewards & Accor Live Limitless
6. Complimentary international travel insurance
7. Receive a $450 annual travel credit, plus airfare discounts, $400 worth of annual dining credits, subscriptions to The Australian & Wall Street Journal, plus many more exclusive benefits!

Why we like the American Express Platinum Card

Packed full of travel perks, the American Express Platinum Card is one of the best publicly-available cards in Australia for frequent flyers.

With a $1,450 annual fee, this metal card is not for everyone. But the return on investment for the high annual fee is strong, as it comes with a lot of useful benefits! This includes an annual travel credit, dining credits and unlimited access to Virgin Australia, Delta, Lufthansa, Priority Pass, Plaza Premium and Amex Centurion airport lounges.

There are also some great hotel perks including a free annual hotel night, Accor Plus membership, Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits and complimentary elite status with Hilton, Marriott and Radisson.

For points collectors, this is one of the most lucrative cards available in Australia. You’ll earn 2.25 Amex Membership Rewards Ascent Premium points per $1 spent on eligible transactions. Points transfer to most frequent flyer programs at a 2:1 rate, although there are some exceptions (e.g. it's 3:1 to KrisFlyer and Emirates).

You can convert your Amex points to around 12 airlines including Qantas, Virgin Australia, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates and Etihad! Plus, you can transfer points to two hotel loyalty programs for even more redemption possibilities.

To sweeten the deal, new cardholders who apply by 28 January 2025 can also earn 150,000 bonus Amex Membership Rewards points when spending at least $5,000 on the card within 3 months of approval. See our card guide for the full details:

American Express® Platinum Card

The American Express (Amex) Platinum charge card is one of the best publicly-available cards in Australia for travel benefits.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

AFF members are welcome to discuss this card in this thread.

 

[netaddict]

Noticed that AMEX Platinum has added Shangri-La Golden Circle Jade Membership benefit. Quick phone call to travel and it was added in the last week.

Can register via the AMEX website once logged in. Available to Primary & Supplementary Platinum Card Members.

Jade Membership benefits include:
• 11am early check-in / 4pm late check-out (subject to availability)
• Priority upgrade to the next available best room category
• Complimentary breakfast for two
• VIP welcome amenities (choice of 3 - see next slide)
• 25% bonus on Golden Circle points
• 72 hour room availability guarantee (restrictions apply)


On a side note, looks like the IHG gold benefit has been removed - not that this is a great loss.

 

[Foreigner]

Few other hotel programs for time being...Accor, Carlson. Also car rental programs. Most require enrolment as for Golden Circle.

Hilton goes with Citi's program.

 

[Isochronous]

Matches a Citi Prestige benefit. Good news.

 

[gvix]

• Priority upgrade to the next available best room category

This is a bit misleading from AMEX. From the Golden Circle website:

• Priority upgrade to the next available best room category, if the reserved room type is not available at check-in

This means two completely different things and de-values the benefit considerably, IMO.

 

[wooley]

This is a bit misleading from AMEX. From the Golden Circle website:

• Priority upgrade to the next available best room category, if the reserved room type is not available at check-in

This means two completely different things and de-values the benefit considerably, IMO.

Most definitely, considering that would be expected if your room type wasn't available...

 

[tinkybelle]

thats a bit odd! but the breaky isn't a bad benefit.
better than nothing.

 

[mini2]

I'd rather HHonors Gold than this but it's still good nonetheless..

 

[Isochronous]

Noticed that AMEX Platinum has added Shangri-La Golden Circle Jade Membership benefit. Quick phone call to travel and it was added in the last week.

Can register via the AMEX website once logged in. Available to Primary & Supplementary Platinum Card Members.

Jade Membership benefits include:
• 11am early check-in / 4pm late check-out (subject to availability)
• Priority upgrade to the next available best room category
• Complimentary breakfast for two
• VIP welcome amenities (choice of 3 - see next slide)
• 25% bonus on Golden Circle points
• 72 hour room availability guarantee (restrictions apply)


On a side note, looks like the IHG gold benefit has been removed - not that this is a great loss.

Where on the AMex website can I sign up for SHangri-la status once logged in?

 

[mitwg]

This is a bit misleading from AMEX. From the Golden Circle website:

• Priority upgrade to the next available best room category, if the reserved room type is not available at check-in

This means two completely different things and de-values the benefit considerably, IMO.

The wording on Shangri-La's website is correct mostly. I've been floating between Diamond and Jade tiers over the past few years and I can't say I've received too many upgrades, although I've also had some spectacular upgrades before as well (e.g. $1000 a night room to a $5000 a night suite @ London).

In saying the above however, they do treat their elites pretty well. The welcome amenities are always promptly delivered and even the hotel staff tend to make exceptions. I've had a housekeeping request denied on the phone, only to be called back after around 30 seconds to confirm that they can do it because they realised I was a GC member.

I don't view Shangri-La to be in the same league as MO or FS across the entire chain but there are several standout properties which are essentially best in the city, easily on par with any MO/Peninsula/FS and out of these four chains, only the Shangri-La has a loyalty program that is accessible (i.e. excluding the FS cards etc.).

I feel the loyalty program seems to cater for a different type of crowd, when I compare it to the HHonors or SPGs or IHGs for example.

 

[mini2]

Just got an e-mail, another $50 credit for $240 spend at Langton's. I wonder what's the voucher code for Cent

EDIT: open up the Platinum link, change platinum to centurion and it's a pair of Riedel glass worth $100 a pair...I think the plat offer might be better then.

 

[Foreigner]

I reckon the best benefit is the 'no limit' on the platinum card.

 

[M@rcoPolo]

I reckon the best benefit is the 'no limit' on the platinum card.

Not quite "no limit"...

No pre-set spending limit does not mean unlimited spending. Your purchases are approved based on a variety of factors, including current spending patterns, your payment history, credit records, and financial resources known to us.

 

[Foreigner]

Not quite "no limit"...

No pre-set spending limit does not mean unlimited spending. Your purchases are approved based on a variety of factors, including current spending patterns, your payment history, credit records, and financial resources known to us.

Thanks...that's the reason i had 'no limit' in quotation marks. Not to be taken literally.

 

[Arowana]

The best benefit Amex used to have was.the Marco polo gold status,mine expired end of July..it's unfortunate Amex had to enhance this benefit for us. Still not happy about this one.

 

[M@rcoPolo]

The best benefit Amex used to have was.the Marco polo gold status,mine expired end of July..it's unfortunate Amex had to enhance this benefit for us. Still not happy about this one.

+1 and also Accord Advantage Plus being 'enhanced' comes October

 

[gmatch]

+1 and also Accord Advantage Plus being 'enhanced' comes October

Is this for sure??

 

[M@rcoPolo]

Is this for sure??

From AMEX Platinum Charge T&Cs: Enjoy complimentary membership in the Accor Plus program until 30 September 2015

 

[coolkid101]

just got off the phone with Amex. she's confirmed the Accor benefit will lapse at the end of September and not be renewed
in it's place will be a promotion from Shangri-La. I asked if she's just referring to the Jade membership upgrade already available but she wasn't able to tell me. also told she's not allowed to tell me details of this new promotion.
if you've taken the accor one you also cannot take the shangri la one until the new membership year.

From AMEX Platinum Charge T&Cs: Enjoy complimentary membership in the Accor Plus program until 30 September 2015

 

[mini2]

Already got the Shangri-la card and my Accor isn't due to expire till November. Hopefully it's something new.