Amex platinum Charge annual fee increase

[greenfrog86]

As a Velocity Gold who flights mostly Virgin (Australia domestic, codeshare partners overseas), I am deciding to give this card (and the free Reserve credit card) the flick. I will admit, I initially got it for the bonus points and all the travel extras, however, I have come to the following conclusions:

1. 3-2-1 points earn (restaurants and travel) is OK. But my wife has the Velocity platinum Amex, which gives the same structure plus 3 points for Virgin, and a free return domestic flight.
2. I will also ditch the free Reserve Credit card and pick up the Edge. gives a different 3-2-1 structure (fuel and supermarket) and has a free flight. Much better value for me then the Reserve.
3. My 1.5 Velocity points to dollar NAB Platinum Alex is fee free (I have a loan with NAB) and gives the best general AMEX spend reward rate out there. I only need to spend $500 of my overseas travel to get free travel insurance
4. Speaking of which, the re-introduction of free travel insurance when using points on the Plat Charge is nice, but they are only bringing back what they "enhanced" last year anyway. I will use NAB Amex to get my free travel insurance and all other platinum insurances.
5. All the gold hotel upgrade cards (e.g. SPG gold, IHG gold etc) are nice...but I have never used them once. In any case, they will drop down to silver etc with each passing year eliminating their value. As a Virgin Gold, I have used the Hilton honours one to great affect.
6. Ditto Marco Polo card. Have used it for lounge access a couple of times - but don't fly One world enough to keep Gold so this will revert to next level down and be useless to me.
7. I rent a car about once a year, so the rental privileges also hold little value
8. Virgin Lounge Access is of no value to me as I am a Virgin Gold member anyway.
9. Priority pass was useful - but I have signed up to the Citibank Select Visa card for the bonus points (and best non Amex reward rate both here and overseas), and this card gives me P pass anyway. $700 annual fee is steep but I am only going for the bonus points and will ditch it after a year and revert to the much cheaper Virgin High Flyer Visa with its 4 cheap flights and 1.25 earn per dollar
10. New $200 travel credit is a con. Worth about $150 after booking fee is deducted...and can only be used on return international travel only. Hotels or domestic flights are out. Platinum travel are far from the cheapest travel agent out there. I usually spend my points when going overseas anyway.
11. Accor free night in hotel is a benefit. Although I have never stayed in one in my life.
12. Don't care for Golf, and I can pick my own wine.

So all up, while the latest enhancements for $300 extra might be so so value, I will do what I should have done when they last "enhanced" the product, and throw it in the bin. I challenge anyone to line up the benefits against the $1200 price.

Some of your comments are not quite true...

The hotel benefits generally allow you to remain at the given level (ie 'gold') for the time that you have the platinum Card (or until the deal expires). They do not drop down a tier after 12 months.

I've been a gold member of SPG for nearly three years without staying enough nights and my Marco Polo gold was renewed for a second year without me flying Cathay once or directing any points/status to them.

 

[ashisb]

If anyone is interested, today I received a renewed Gold Marco Polo card. This is the second renewal I have received (initial was Sep 2011-Sep 2012, then renewed 2012/13 and now again 2013/14). In that time I've never put points into Cathay and I've only flown with them twice.

 

[leyy]

Just a reminder to apply for the additional benefits after October 1st.

Accor Advantage Plus and one of your supp cards can get Priority Pass (these are the main ones)

 

[fersea]

Levy the supplementary card holder is free isn't it? So they get the platinum plus too? That Accor hotel room is in addition to the free flight/hotel with the credit card isn't it?

 

[nemessis]

Called Amex last week told them $1200 was not justified service person quoted $200 towards booking flights as a great benefit my response was that Amex travel was much more expensive anyway asked for a reminder call to cancel just before renewal i'll transfer my points to QFF or something been with Amex for many years but $1200 is crazy.

 

[Isochronous]

I've managed to get 2 SPG Gold cards from the one account.

 

[quokka77]

I thought the Accor advantage plus wasn't available until after your renewal date (at the enhanced price). Followed leyy's tip and I was able to apply via the online form. Will post back if successful or otherwise. (I've got a few more months til my card is enhanced away).

 

[mitwg]

I thought the Accor advantage plus wasn't available until after your renewal date (at the enhanced price). Followed leyy's tip and I was able to apply via the online form. Will post back if successful or otherwise. (I've got a few more months til my card is enhanced away).

I think its the $200 credit for bookings that wasn't supposed to be available until after renewing. The accor advantage was supposed to be available from 1st Oct.

 

[leyy]

Levy the supplementary card holder is free isn't it? So they get the platinum plus too? That Accor hotel room is in addition to the free flight/hotel with the credit card isn't it?

Yes the supp card is free.

So they also get an additional Priority Pass (which is unlimited access for the supp card holder + 1 guest)

The Accor Advantage plus is in addition to the complimentary flight/hotel (from the reserve card), Accor Advantage plus gives you 1 comp night at one of their hotels and also 50% off all F&B which is pretty sweet.

 

[fersea]

I have jumped into the Amex Platinum pool. The reason was a little complicated because my girlfriend and I are going around the world next year and I was going by points and it was going to be a better deal for her to go by points too but she was about 85000 points short. So we thought that $1200 to get my 80000 points back (I had enough to "lend" her the 80k) was not too bad when considering the other benefits and that we will be on a lot of flights next year.

Anyway, my girlfriends supplementary card arrived today but my card and the welcome pack is still to come.

The supp card looks just like a normal card. Can it be used for Virgin lounge access.

 

[k3nnis]

Officially no. But it should work. Although now you can bring in a guest with the primary plat charge card.

 

[quokka77]

Has worked for my partner (supp card allowing Velocity lounge access).

On a different note, I got the new Accor plus registration details (via Amex Charge) in my email a few days ago. Still waiting on the card itself to arrive. Any suggestions on best hotel to redeem the one night certificate on the Eastern seaboard or NZ? They don't accept it at Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour, unfortunately (although they do give a 10% discount).

 

[k3nnis]

Pullman Hyde park but not sure if it's anygood ? Or Sofitel Sydney wentworth or even mgallery Sydney rocks?? Maybe someone can shed some light on these properties?

 

[quokka77]

Of the 3 you mention k3nnis, the Mgalleries at the Rocks is best rated at tripadvisor (~25 of 187 properties), followed by Sofitel (40/187) and Pullman Hyde Park lagging behind.

Regarding the value of this card (to me) post-enhancement:
- Travel insurance: not entirely sure, but maybe $300 to $400, based on international trip with the family, solo o/s trip on points, upcoming domestic car hire
- Accor plus: not sure, need to see what I can get, but I'd reckon around $150 of value
- Other hotel status upgrades, bonus points: probably about $60 of value thus far
- Platinum edge card: $195 annual fee
- Lounge access (velocity, marco polo, priority pass): about $50 (we now have virgin status independent of the card, and now usually fly J cabin on long haul anyway)
- Hertz and Avis status: I think got me a reduction on cost of car seats for my kids overseas, but I'm not sure how much, might actually have been quite a bit ($50??)
- Extra points on overseas spend: $100 (after taking into account the cost of fx and 2ppd vs non-points-earning and worse-insurance but better-fx options)
- 300000 MR points cap (vs 150000 available through Edge card): I will bizarrely run into this at some point this year, would not have thought this possible.

It's actually pretty marginal value for me at $900 per annum. I'm thinking unless I can get an affiliate Charge card at a reduced fee and some kind of sign-on bonus, the Charge will be taking an extended period of absence from my wallet early next year.

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks quokka. I'm not sure which accor brand gives lounge access by having accor plat? If I recall it was Pullman?

 

[lovestotravel]

Finally pulled the pin on this card today

Sticking with the Platinum RESERVE card for now as it provides some good value with a free $500ish flight, good points earning on travel/restaurants which are my main two spends.

 

[k3nnis]

I thought it's only 1:1 with restaurants and travel with the edge?

 

[fersea]

Is the Platinum Edge included with the charge card? The 3 points for petrol and 2 points for supermarkets is attractive.

 

[Masonic Phantom]

Is the Platinum Edge included with the charge card? The 3 points for petrol and 2 points for supermarkets is attractive.

No,... it the RESERVE.

 

[Demonoid]

Finally pulled the pin on this card today

Sticking with the Platinum RESERVE card for now as it provides some good value with a free $500ish flight, good points earning on travel/restaurants which are my main two spends.

I am pulling the pin next week - they just tacked on the 1200 fee to my statement so will quit before I pay it and get refunded

Were you offered any incentive to stay?