Credit Card Offers 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:



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!

amex-explorer-card-art.pngWhy 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:


AFF members are welcome to discuss this card in this thread.
 
Some friends will visit me, and we need to plan a trip.
Online chat refers to calling the number on the card for the platinum travel services to speak to a consultant. But it is just the same Amex Travel that makes/changes bookings.
They don't even have a 'travel concierge' to sell things now...
 
Online chat refers to calling the number on the card for the platinum travel services to speak to a consultant. But it is just the same Amex Travel that makes/changes bookings.
They don't even have a 'travel concierge' to sell things now...

Platinum Travel Services is still a thing (or it was in July when I last made a booking)

Here's the details from the itinerary they sent me

Platinum Travel Service
GPO Box 458
Sydney Australia 2001
Phone : 1800 673760 Fax 1800 673766
Reverse Charge from overseas +(61) 2 9271 3760
Email : [email protected]
 
Platinum Travel Services is still a thing (or it was in July when I last made a booking)

Here's the details from the itinerary they sent me

Platinum Travel Service
GPO Box 458
Sydney Australia 2001
Phone : 1800 673760 Fax 1800 673766
Reverse Charge from overseas +(61) 2 9271 3760
Email : [email protected]
Thanks.
The email is not working but I will try call them.
 
I haven't seen the platinum travel service mentioned much on here, so here are a few of my learnings having dealt with them a few times now and generally having only positive experiences with them.

First off, don't bother with emailing them, calling is just easier. If you wish to speak to a particular consultant just ask for a call back and they'll get in touch with you. Always follow the prompts for travel --> phone bookings.

The good
  • On shore agents and always a high level of service
  • Available after hours (goes to Europe)
  • Airfares per GDS, and access to IAP and FHR rates
  • No booking fees
  • Can book multi-city/mixed cabin fares that won't price online, although they might get a bit confused depending on how bizarre your routing is, I find if I can get it to work on ITA matrix, I can get it to work with them. Fares can be charged in AUD even ex foreign ports.
  • Can book multiple tickets within a PNR for interline benefits
  • Full PNR details including air travel/hotels confos appear on TripCase
Not so good
  • Can't service bookings made via Amex travel online
  • Must pay airline card surcharge, whereas the surcharge is not applicable with Amex online
  • Can't prepay hotels in AUD like you can online
  • No way to directly reach a particular consultant who you've been dealing with, so either call and ask to be transferred/called back or just deal with a new person each time.
And a warning about Amex online travel - they are closed after hours. Do not attempt to cancel hotels last minute, especially when you might be (I was) overseas and they are closed in Australian time.
 
Last edited:
Platinum Travel Services is still a thing (or it was in July when I last made a booking)

Here's the details from the itinerary they sent me

Platinum Travel Service
GPO Box 458
Sydney Australia 2001
Phone : 1800 673760 Fax 1800 673766
Reverse Charge from overseas +(61) 2 9271 3760
Email : [email protected]
Called them and they are happy to help.
 
Has anyone else received info about a general solution to the problem of lost Radisson status? Or has it just been on a case-by-case basis for people who specifically raised it either with Amex or Radisson?
 
Has anyone else received info about a general solution to the problem of lost Radisson status? Or has it just been on a case-by-case basis for people who specifically raised it either with Amex or Radisson?
I haven’t done anything as yet and am still showing as a Club member so I don’t think a global solution has been found.
 
Wrt travel insurance on the platinum charge in case a claim is made , what evidence is requested to prove eligibility ?do they ask for a statmeent evidencing travel purchase and MR statement?
 
You can actually go to the claims portal and click through to the form to see exactly what is asked depending on the type of claim. It's quite a slick process e.g. it will pick up flight details and the fact that it was cancelled or delayed from an upload of your boarding pass.
 
Wrt travel insurance on the platinum charge in case a claim is made , what evidence is requested to prove eligibility ?do they ask for a statmeent evidencing travel purchase and MR statement?
Depends which Plat Card - Biz Plat Card Ts & Cs differ to personal - Biz Card coverage almost identical to Cent cover - definitely give Ts & Cs for your particular card a read 👍
 
Came across a new benefit today, via Amazon Prime:
Enjoy a $0 delivery fee on eligible DoorDash orders and other DashPass benefits with a FREE 2 year DashPass membership for new and current Prime members in Australia.
I know AmEx has had DoorDash statement credit offers in the past as well.
 

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