AMEX Platinum Charge Benefits - Q&A

[0x012fd0aa]

Thank you @sudoer, @wsthong, @N0mad, @_TheTraveller_, and @0x012fd0aa for your informative and quick responses: much appreciated.
My progress so far: I rang the Amex Concierge Team (I forget their actual name but it was something like that) and spoke to a very helpful lady. After explaining the benefits of my new card to me, she forwarded me on to another team who dealt with setting up a Priority Pass account. This lady (the PP one), told me that the physical card takes 4-6 weeks to be posted out (a very long time), however a ditigal copy will be available for me to use in a fortnight (which is just before I go oversesas). She did say that I'll need to call back in a fortnight to get my PP number.
If my PP number arrives in time and if I have any trouble using it digitally, I'll let you know.

Yes I think you need ask them for membership details. Back in the days I need to use the PP member number from Amex to ask PP customer service whose response is very prompt.

I personally haven't used the physical card yet. Digital is usually fine. I do remember someone said in certain airports you need physical cards.

 

[Mur@no70]

I had the same time frames given to me when I recently applied for the PP card - the physical turned up in about 20 days

 

[daft009]

And tricks to get the platinum airline discount but use my reserve travel credit $400?
Already used my $450 platinum credit

If I search using the reserve card then the airfares are full price.

 

[Myrna]

Yes, once you have the Platinum card activated, there is an Amex Platinum benefits page with several "enrol now" buttons for activating different benefits (Accor Plus, Hilton status, Marriott status, Priority Pass, etc). The membership takes a couple of weeks to activate. If you are in a hurry I believe you can call Amex a few days later and request your Priority Pass membership number which will allow you to login to the Priority Pass digital app, which then gives a digital card you can use to enter lounges.

To request a Priority Pass membership for ONE supplementary cardholder (in addition to your primary cardholder membership) you should call Platinum Services.

Note that Amex Priority Pass memberships only provide complimentary access to Priority Pass lounges - and not Priority Pass affiliated restaurants/cafes.

We have activated Plat card but could not find the Amex Plat benefits page with 'enrol now' buttons for activating hotels and PP card etc. Could you please send a generic link? Thanks!

 

[Ko0l]

We have activated Plat card but could not find the Amex Plat benefits page with 'enrol now' buttons for activating hotels and PP card etc. Could you please send a generic link? Thanks!

One App

Or after logging in go to More > Benefits and help > Platinum benefits > Travel > Enrol.

 

[Ko0l]

And tricks to get the platinum airline discount but use my reserve travel credit $400?
Already used my $450 platinum credit

If I search using the reserve card then the airfares are full price.

Last I've tried calling amex to try to do this and they said its no longer possible.

 

[Myrna]

One App

Or after logging in go to More > Benefits and help > Platinum benefits > Travel > Enrol.

Thanks Ko0l. I tried that and somehow now got stuck at enrol in Hilton. A red error flag wanted an existing membership number which I did not have and it would not let me proceeed - arrrgh! I enrolled in Marriott and Accor and it is pending.

 

[sudoer]

A red error flag wanted an existing membership number which I did not have and it would not let me proceeed - arrrgh!

Sign up to Honors directly with Hilton - it's free. Then provide that number.

 

[Myrna]

Sign up to Honors directly with Hilton - it's free. Then provide that number.

Thanks for the tip! Will do.

 

[Steady]

I have just gone through the last 12 months of posts to see if it was covered but it has lead to more questions, I have selected a few quotes for reference.

I am eligible for amex signup bonus again at the end of this week and have been planning on applying for this card for the points anyway. I now need to book some flights to Tokyo after VA cancelled what I had booked. I was thinking I could use the $450 travel credit towards the booking (looks like they will be SQ J)

Member month has just launched and from my reading the following promos are taking place this month:

• Discounts on flights booked with NZ, EY, HA, JL, LA, MH, QF, SQ, VA, AC via Amex Travel
• Discounts on QR, EK and UA also available for Platinum and Centurion only (presumably via IAP)
• Velocity +??% transfer (TBC)
• Bonvoy +50% transfer
• Hilton +30% transfer
• Amex offers for Net-A-Porter, Mr Porter, Country Road (exact offers TBC)

Does Member month occur every August? Is there a typical discount each year?

The way the promo is worded, discounts from the airlines in the first dot point appear to be available to non-Plat/Centurion card holders also, i.e. cardholders that don't have IAP access.

Discounts from airlines in the second dot point are specifically limited to Plat/Centurion members.

What is IAP and does that in itself provide discounts that are better than member month through amex travel? can the $450 credit be used via IAP?

Trying to book 4 x SQ J fares AU-EU, comes up with the discounted price.

Every time I get to the checkout page

• The price of your trip has increased. Please continue with your purchase or search again to modify your selections.

Which reverts back to the standard fares, about $12K more

Is it a fixed discount that is offered - is it always available or only during promotions?

Is there anything else I should know or consider when booking these flights - I would normally book direct, how much of a hassle is it with booking through Amex when something goes wrong or needs to be changed?

What is the best signup bonus atm, I see a few posts where the amount can be variable, any tricks I should try to get the higher amount?

Cheers

 

[CallMeHoju]

can the $450 credit be used via IAP?

Yes, it's booked the same way through AMEX Travel but discounted compared to the standard AMEX Travel price (which may be different to the airline itself or other agents).

Is it a fixed discount that is offered - is it always available or only during promotions?

I'm not aware of any logic to how the discount is calculated, but it's always available. For some flights it'll be higher and less for other in my experience.

What is the best signup bonus atm, I see a few posts where the amount can be variable, any tricks I should try to get the higher amount?

Try private browser / different devices. Recently I've seen both 200k and 275k within a short time frame just visiting on different browsers.

 

[RealtimeY]

What is IAP and does that in itself provide discounts that are better than member month through amex travel? can the $450 credit be used via IAP?

See here for IAP Book Business & First Class International Flights | Amex Travel AU

Basically, in my experience it's 5-10% off premium cabin base fares with international airlines when booked through Amex Travel. The discount varies depending on airline, and tends to be closer to 10% when booking higher cabins.

One example I looked at recently was 5% off EK saver F, 10% off EK flex F.

SQ had something like 10% off discount J fares plus a GDS surcharge that made it more like 8% off.

Here's an example with VA that is 33% off VA's published fare.

how much of a hassle is it with booking through Amex when something goes wrong or needs to be changed?

I've actually found their phone travel service quite pleasant to deal with. They are based in Aus and UK (after hours) and have always been helpful.

 

[Steady]

~8% off is definitely worth waiting a week or so for, and I will use the credit and meet the $5k spend all in one go.

 

[N0mad]

I have just gone through the last 12 months of posts to see if it was covered but it has lead to more questions, I have selected a few quotes for reference.

I am eligible for amex signup bonus again at the end of this week and have been planning on applying for this card for the points anyway. I now need to book some flights to Tokyo after VA cancelled what I had booked. I was thinking I could use the $450 travel credit towards the booking (looks like they will be SQ J)



Does Member month occur every August? Is there a typical discount each year?


What is IAP and does that in itself provide discounts that are better than member month through amex travel? can the $450 credit be used via IAP?

Is it a fixed discount that is offered - is it always available or only during promotions?

Is there anything else I should know or consider when booking these flights - I would normally book direct, how much of a hassle is it with booking through Amex when something goes wrong or needs to be changed?

What is the best signup bonus atm, I see a few posts where the amount can be variable, any tricks I should try to get the higher amount?

Cheers

in addition to what Hoju said, you can also try a VPN in different states.

However, if you are just coming upto the end of your 18 months be prepared for a rejection on this card particularly if you have closed other cards recently. Lot's of churners getting declined of late on this card. there is another thread on this, if you look out for it.

 

[Steady]

in addition to what Hoju said, you can also try a VPN in different states.

However, if you are just coming upto the end of your 18 months be prepared for a rejection on this card particularly if you have closed other cards recently. Lot's of churners getting declined of late on this card. there is another thread on this, if you look out for it.

Yes I am days away from the 18 months but haven't actually closed any other cards recently - was about to though. Maybe I should no close them and cross my fingers.... I will go and look at the thread you mention

 

[sudoer]

However, if you are just coming upto the end of your 18 months be prepared for a rejection on this card particularly if you have closed other cards recently. Lot's of churners getting declined of late on this card. there is another thread on this, if you look out for it.

This - one definitely can't assume an approval from Amex these days.

My P2 got declined twice so far this year. She hasn't had an Amex card in nearly 2.5 years, had no cards open, comfortably met the previously advertised income threshold, and had only opened/closed 4 cards in the prior 12 months...

 

[mjs16]

This - one definitely can't assume an approval from Amex these days.

My P2 got declined twice so far this year. She hasn't had an Amex card in nearly 2.5 years, had no cards open, comfortably met the previously advertised income threshold, and had only opened/closed 4 cards in the prior 12 months...

Opening/closing 4 cards in the prior 12 months would be the problem. Credit card companies these days are much tighter in handing out approvals, even though you may meet the income requirements.

With AMEX, loyalty seems to be more important (which is probably not unreasonable) so rejections for people who are serial churners should not be a surprise, particularly for the Platinum card.

 

[N0mad]

Yes I am days away from the 18 months but haven't actually closed any other cards recently - was about to though. Maybe I should no close them and cross my fingers.... I will go and look at the thread you mention

if it was me, i'd be leaving the other cards open.

 

[Doctore1003]

if it was me, i'd be leaving the other cards open.

Agreed.
I don’t think other card credit limits are as important when applying for a charge card that must be paid off each month.

 

[rhett]

Is Amex still offering the $400 travel credit on the companion Platinum Reserve for those that have held both cards since before they abandoned it for new customers? I haven't yet received my $400 travel credit since the last time I redeemed it very early in July 2023, and I had expected it to appear by now.