AMEX Platinum Charge Benefits - Q&A

[M@rcoPolo]

These are what I have on a new Australian-issued card:

View attachment 66364

Note when you click on Accor Plus under T&C's you get: "ACCOR PLUS. Enrolment is required and available from 1 October 2013 until 30 March 2016."

Also any references to Accor (either Plus or Platinum) disappeared from the AMEX Platinum page altogether (the page available to the general public browsing AMEX cards) so it looks like AMEX is about to pull the plug on Accor Plus & Platinum and replace the benefit with Hilton Gold from April 1st...

 

[netaddict]

+1 - mind you I'd rather keep Accor Plus & Platinum and forgive Hilton Gold

Same, Platinum status returns significant value and the biggest must keep for me. Accor Plus is great too and don't want it to go.

Hilton - well, stayed in 1 Hilton in the last 5 years and it was a horrid experience so Hilton gold has zero value to me.

 

[DC3]

I would be interested in HHonors diamond with an AMEX cc.

 

[netaddict]

Note when you click on Accor Plus under T&C's you get: "ACCOR PLUS. Enrolment is required and available from 1 October 2013 until 30 March 2016."

Also any references to Accor (either Plus or Platinum) disappeared from the AMEX Platinum page altogether (the page available to the general public browsing AMEX cards) so it looks like AMEX is about to pull the plug on Accor Plus & Platinum and replace the benefit with Hilton Gold from April 1st...

The Accor Plus wording has been that was since November 2015 approx. Last chat I had with anyone at AMEX said Accor Plus was at risk as you can tell from the T&C's.

Accor Platinum status wording hasn't changed in the members benefits section once logged in and no staff member has suggested to me ever Platinum status in Accor is at risk besides what's happened in the UK which raises concerns. It's been as is for a long time however yes seems it's no longer offered with the card for new applicants.

Will ask about it next time I talk to Travel and the consultant I use - see if anything come from it as dropping Accor fully and adding in Hilton downgrades the value of the card significantly.

 

[Haplo]

You need to go register, select primary cardholder, then go to the actual enrollment page and you will see Hilton Honors Gold as an option.

My confirmation email come out as a request to upgrade to Diamond.

I have no idea whats next.

P.S sorry cant post image as I am under 10 posts

 

[netaddict]

You need to go register, select primary cardholder, then go to the actual enrollment page and you will see Hilton Honors Gold as an option.

Just tried to do that and can see SPG, Accor Plus, Accor Platinum in the list and so on to enrol into for primary and sup where relevant but no options for Hilton.

 

[M@rcoPolo]

Accor Platinum status wording hasn't changed in the members benefits section once logged in and no staff member has suggested to me ever Platinum status in Accor is at risk besides what's happened in the UK which raises concerns.

Once again, visit the "general public" AMEX Australia site at https://www.americanexpress.com/australia/ then click on Cards > The Platinum Card and you'll notice they pulled all mentions of Accor (including Platinum) from the website. If they were planning to retain Accor Platinum it should be listed there...

 

[Haplo]

Just tried to do that and can see SPG, Accor Plus, Accor Platinum in the list and so on to enrol into for primary and sup where relevant but no options for Hilton.

did you go to the next step and the actual enrolment section?

 

[M@rcoPolo]

did you go to the next step and the actual enrolment section?

I just did and this is the list I see... (no mention of Hilton)

[h=1]Enrol With Partners[/h]Please choose the Platinum partners with whom you want to enrol.


[h=2]Preferred Golf - Complimentary Membership[/h]
[h=2]Shangri-La Golden Circle Jade Membership[/h]
[h=2]Starwood Preferred Guest® Gold[/h]
[h=2]Carlson Rezidor Hotels - Club CarlsonSM Gold Elite[/h]
[h=2]Accor Plus[/h]
[h=2]Accor Hotels - Le Club Accorhotels Platinum Tier Status[/h]
[h=2]Avis Preferred Service membership[/h]
[h=2]Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® Five Stars[/h]
[h=2]Priority Pass[/h]

 

[M@rcoPolo]

I just did and this is the list I see... (no mention of Hilton)

Actually - if I select nothing and then hit "continue" at the bottom of the page it does come up with Hilton Gold, screenshot below, let's try to register and see what happens now...

 

[Princess Fiona]

I would be interested in HHonors diamond with an AMEX cc.

Yes, much more useful

 

[Haplo]

Check confirmation email - it should say diamond

 

[M@rcoPolo]

Check confirmation email - it should say diamond

Yes it does (see below) although I doubt this will be the outcome as the T&Cs for the benefit during the application process clearly specify Gold...

 

[DC3]

I checked the Amex website and Hilton Honor gold is part of the benefit. Its not visible on the front page but you can register it.

... My confirmation email come out as a request to upgrade to Diamond ...

Yes it does (see below) although I doubt this will be the outcome as the T&Cs for the benefit during the application process clearly specify Gold...

Yes, maybe an AMEX website glitch, but interesting to know.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I wonder if you upgrade your Hilton Diamond account to the free Hilton Gold - if it will downgrade you or extend another year to DM....

 

[Ricardo]

Bugger already Diamond with status match from Accor Plat ...

I did read that the UK Amex issued cards are moving away from Accor and going to a Hilton benefit so this may be carried through to Aust cards as well. A shame if it changes as I really liked the Accor Plus program, hopefully they will keep Plat status for Accor.

 

[decs]

Yes it does (see below) although I doubt this will be the outcome as the T&Cs for the benefit during the application process clearly specify Gold...

View attachment 66367

I recently got my Platinum card (<2 months), and experienced the same 'pending' HH Diamond request, however the result was only HH Gold. I was very excited for Diamond but don't really see a lot of value with HH Gold? Maybe that is partly because I am comparing it to my SPG Gold I've had for a while and Accor Plat thanks to this card.

 

[mitwg]

For me, I think Hilton status > Accor status.


Sofitels and maybe some Pullmans are the only hotels that are remotely close to being decent in the Accor chain and a lot of these properties are really dated. Not to mention that they don't do free breakfast even for Platinums (and the Aussie Sofitels didn't allow lounge access either until very recently).


Compare that to Hilton where even Golds get guaranteed breakfast and almost guaranteed access to club lounges, not to mention the usually higher calibre quality of Hilton/Conrads properties compared to Sofitels (very evident in North East Asia especially, Hong Kong or Seoul is an example), I think Hilton is a more valuable benefit overall.

And between Hilton Diamond and Gold, I do NOT think there's much difference at all. This is one of those tiers where the difference is so minimal that I wonder why they have DMs in the first place. In fact, I'd say Hilton Gold is just as competitive as some of the other top tier statues, considering you get breakfast + lounge access + room upgrades (this is usually only offered to other top tiers).

The only difference between Hilton Gold to Hilton DM is the possible upgrade to suites (rare but it does happen) along with guaranteed access to club for DM. It's just that I've never heard any Golds getting denied club access ever.

 

[albyd]

thanks very much to everyone on this thread. I've ended up enrolling for HHonours Gold as my Citi Prestige HH gold now has a stay requirement. Even found out can enrol my supplementary card holder which I didn't know before so now enrolled my wife for SPG, Accor & HHonours.

 

[mlob]

Having experienced both the benefits of Accor plat/ Accor Plus and Hilton Diamond I would prefer the Accor benefits. I like the the free night and the fact that their Properties are more widespread. I have recently started making great use of the dining discount to a great new Accor restaurant opening nearby to me.