Amex platinum Charge annual fee increase

[fersea]

Having just received this card today, I am going through and signing up for all the offers.

 

[fersea]

Does anyone know if the $200 travel credit applies to new cardholders or is it only something you get if you are renewing.

I don't quite understand what it means by renewing your fee, presumably if you pay it for the first time you are not renewing.

 

[quokka77]

I would assume you are eligible for the$200 but see how you go and let us know.

 

[fersea]

I would assume you are eligible for the$200 but see how you go and let us know.

I contacted them and they advised that I do get the $200 and they also said that as a platinum card holder the booking fees get waived.

 

[zig]

I contacted them and they advised that I do get the $200 and they also said that as a platinum card holder the booking fees get waived.

That is interesting, and makes it more attractive.

 

[Demonoid]

Well I have finally cancelled the Platinum Charge Card today. As others have noted, I was not offered (nor did I seek) any incentive to stay. I was asked whether I wanted to keep the Reserve Credit Card - said no straight away. Was then offered the Platinum Edge (for the normal fee) but declined - although I will sign up this card soon as its represents perhaps the best value of all AMEX cards. One day (i.e. in 12 months) I may reapply for the Plat Charge if there are at least 80k points on the line - but for now, there are much better value cards out there.

 

[Masonic Phantom]

Well I have finally cancelled the Platinum Charge Card today. As others have noted, I was not offered (nor did I seek) any incentive to stay. I was asked whether I wanted to keep the Reserve Credit Card - said no straight away. Was then offered the Platinum Edge (for the normal fee) but declined - although I will sign up this card soon as its represents perhaps the best value of all AMEX cards. One day (i.e. in 12 months) I may reapply for the Plat Charge if there are at least 80k points on the line - but for now, there are much better value cards out there.

Did you transfer your points out before you cancelled ?

 

[Demonoid]

Did you transfer your points out before you cancelled ?

Absolutely. Virgin 15% offer came just at the right time

Given they are not giving incentives for people to stay (and I assume the $1200 increase was the last straw for many people), perhaps they were of the opinion that too many Joe Blows had the card (and include myself in that category), and they wanted to make it more exclusive (in other words - a complete rip off).

 

[Walter_Plinge]

Well I have finally cancelled the Platinum Charge Card today. As others have noted, I was not offered (nor did I seek) any incentive to stay. I was asked whether I wanted to keep the Reserve Credit Card - said no straight away. Was then offered the Platinum Edge (for the normal fee) but declined - although I will sign up this card soon as its represents perhaps the best value of all AMEX cards. One day (i.e. in 12 months) I may reapply for the Plat Charge if there are at least 80k points on the line - but for now, there are much better value cards out there.

I did the same when my annual renewal hit the card 6 weeks ago. I wasn't offered anything to stay, other than being told I could rejoin any time. In fact the rep didn't sound all that fussed at all. I suspected she was getting a lot of calls like mine. My card was a CPA co-branded card. I would have expected CPA Australia to get a better deal for members. Disappointing all round.

 

[k3nnis]

Mine is up for renewal in June 2014. Let's see what the next round of enhancements bring.

 

[flyer999]

I downgraded to Gold, same attitude, no real interest (and I spent more than $150K last year). Westpac offered first year free on Earth card - same points.

 

[Hammando]

How about priority pass and Accor plat?

Haven't tried to used Priority Pass, but they still send me emails, and Accor still have plat.

 

[k3nnis]

ok thanks. Hopefully they won't cancel marco polo gold after cancelling the plat charge. I will probably cancel my plat charge June 2014. And wait a year and maybe sign up again for the bonus points if it still exists at least 80000 points.

 

[shump]

Cancelled my Platinum charge, Reserve, and old Blue card today - was a member for 13 years in Australia and overseas. Cited increased fee and last year's insurance and points collection devaluation as reasons. Cancellation bloke tried to sell me on the Accor membership and free night being "worth more than the $300 increase in fee" or alternatively a Gold charge card as an alternative.

Interestingly, I stumbled across an old Centurion invitation pack I had kept for novelty from the UK in 2001. Centurion annual fee back then was £650 p.a. Thought that was too much at the time but seems reasonable now compared to our current Platinum annual fee!

 

[fersea]

well done to AMEX. As soon as I spent $500 on the card (happened pretty quickly because AFL members tickets to the Boxing Day test went on sale this week and I put the first three days tickets and the one dayer on the card), I got the 80K rewards points.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

ok thanks. Hopefully they won't cancel marco polo gold after cancelling the plat charge. I will probably cancel my plat charge June 2014. And wait a year and maybe sign up again for the bonus points if it still exists at least 80000 points.

As an ex-Plat...in both my, and my wife's cases,...our Marco Polo Gold expired on 1 Nov...and we are now only worthless green members.

However all of our international trips are J/F Awards and so no real loss.

I was just using it for the occasional domestic Y.

 

[tinkybelle]

my fee is due mid november I have been told by the plat travel team my $200 is avail to use . what hapens if I use then I dont pay the $1200?
anyone done that yet?

 

[fersea]

As a new card member my Marco Polo is now showing Gold. I am flying twice over the next two weeks. Each trip has one flight on Virgin and one on Qantas. Looking forward to lounge privileges in both.

 

[mlob]

I am a newcomer to Amex platinum and I have to say that to date I have been very satisfied. I guess I have been lucky with timing. My husband made his application a month before the fees went up so for $900 we have been able to utilise the increased enhancements as well as the 80,000 points for taking it out in the first place. We have spent about $7500 on the cards in the last two statements and racked up a 140,000 point balance. We had a few air asia flights to pay for and it sent our balance rocketing as well as a few virgin flights helped too. As a supplementary card member I have had no issues with accessing the virgin lounge and queries about our children (ages 2 and 5) being allowed to enter with either of us for future trips have been met with a affirming yes. I realise this could change. I have booked a trip to Uluru for myself and family members and am looking forward to some enhanced benefits I would not have known about if I hadn't been enrolled into the Accor hotels loyalty club. We planned to just keep the card for one year but will be interesting to see of we are seduced into paying a $1200 premium next September. Will have to wait and see.

 

[M@rcoPolo]

I contacted them and they advised that I do get the $200 and they also said that as a platinum card holder the booking fees get waived.

Who told you so? I just called AMEX travel and enquired about the $200 credit and was told I must use it (a) only for international flights and (b) I would be charged a fee of $55 per person ! I was planning to book a return flight to the USA for myself and my partner and suddenly my $200 turns into a $90 credit... doh!