AMEX Platinum Charge Benefits - Q&A

[smartblaa]

Morning AFFers.
Just a quick and curious question for all you Platinum Charge holders today.
I'm familiar with the various advertised lounge benefits; VA, Delta, Priority Pass, AMEX lounges etc.

Has anyone tried and/or been successful with getting into a VA international lounge by flashing the Platinum Charge card?
Keen to hear experiences! Thanks Smartblaa!

 

[Ewing]

Has anyone tried and/or been successful with getting into a VA international lounge by flashing the Platinum Charge card?
Keen to hear experiences! Thanks Smartblaa!

Alas VA don't operate any international lounges.

 

[smartblaa]

Alas VA don't operate any international lounges.

Cheers Ewing, that certainly clears that up!
I'm guessing that the only way to nab lounge access in Australia when flying internationally with VA is to have a premium grade ticket and/or status where they may offer access to other partner lounges?

No AMEX charge privileges that might help then?... Talking specifically about Brisbane, if it helps.
I guess PP in Cairns, and AMEX lounge in Sydney are only the exceptions..

 

[THE TRIMMER]

Have used it at the Lax delta lounge.

 

[smartblaa]

Cheers Ewing, that certainly clears that up!
I'm guessing that the only way to nab lounge access in Australia when flying internationally with VA is to have a premium grade ticket and/or status where they may offer access to other partner lounges?

No AMEX charge privileges that might help then?... Talking specifically about Brisbane, if it helps.
I guess PP in Cairns, and AMEX lounge in Sydney are only the exceptions..

Just to add to this, I've just read that there's a new Plaza Premium lounge opening in Brisbane Airport.

[LINK]ausbt.com.au/brisbane-airport-to-get-plaza-premium-lounge

Looks like we can look forward to International Lounge access using our Priority Pass membership!

 

[kieranchu]

Spoke to travel this morning and got the following:

I am writing to let you know about some important changes to the travel benefits that are part of your Platinum Card Membership.

From 15 April 2016, Le Club Accor Hotels Platinum Status and Accor Plus will no longer form part of your Platinum Card Membership. Please find details below on how to make the most of these benefits before the changes take place.

As part of these changes we have introduced a new partner, Hilton HHonors™, to your collection of hotel loyalty programs, and increased your Platinum Travel Credit to $300. Details are provided below and in the enclosed brochure to help you enjoy these benefits.

Important changes to your Le Club AccorHotels & Accor Plus benefit:
If you are already enrolled in Le Club AccorHotels or Accor Plus and your membership expires on or before 30 April 2016, you will keep your membership for an additional year. If you are not currently a member, enrol via
your Platinum website at americanexpress.com.au/platinum by 15 April 2016 to receive your complimentary year membership before this benefit expires.

If your Le Club AccorHotels membership expires on or after 1 May 2016, AccorHotels will assess your membership and enrol you into the appropriate tier in accordance with Le Club AccorHotels Terms and Conditions. This means that you
may be able to retain your Platinum tier benefits provided you’ve met Le Club AccorHotels’ qualifying criteria available at accorhotels.com/leclub.

To retain your Accor Plus membership after your complimentary year comes to an end, you will need to purchase a membership. For more information visitaccorplus.com/platinumaustralia where you can enjoy a special membership
price.

Hilton HHonors Gold Status
I am pleased to welcome Hilton HHonors Gold status1 to your Platinum Card benefits, where you’ll receive complimentary Wi-Fi when you book at participating properties directly or through your Platinum Travel Service, room upgrades to preferred rooms when available, digital check-in and late check-out (subject to availability) as well as complimentary access to hotel owned-and-operated fitness centres and health clubs.

We’ve increased your Platinum Travel Credit to $300 You’ll now also enjoy an increased $300 Platinum Travel Credit when you renew your Platinum Card Membership after 15 April 2016. You can use this towards eligible pre-paid hotels, flights and car hire when you book online atamericanexpress.com.au/platinumtravel.

If you have any questions or would like any further information, please contact your Platinum Travel Service on 1800 67 3760.

This is one massive downgrade in card value and service. Apparently is going out to card members now.

So my annual fee renewal was due on 8 May 2016 and my accor benefits (carried over from last year) expires 31 October 2016.
Spoke to the Amex Rep this afternoon and they say for this "membership" year I will only get $200 travel credit and not $300 !
My $300 will only kick in next year upon renewal ! I disputed it because its a rort and means I will not get anything for this years renewal. - is anyone in the same situation as me? and Have I been reading the T&Cs wrongly?

 

[Jaian]

I signed up 5 or so weeks ago, and $300 travel credit was in my account on activation.

 

[zig]

So my annual fee renewal was due on 8 May 2016 and my accor benefits (carried over from last year) expires 31 October 2016.
Spoke to the Amex Rep this afternoon and they say for this "membership" year I will only get $200 travel credit and not $300 !
My $300 will only kick in next year upon renewal ! I disputed it because its a rort and means I will not get anything for this years renewal. - is anyone in the same situation as me? and Have I been reading the T&Cs wrongly?

I believe you have read the T&Cs correctly, and I would expect that you would receive the $300. My renewal hasn't come up as yet, but I am also expecting to have a $300 credit.

 

[kieranchu]

I believe you have read the T&Cs correctly, and I would expect that you would receive the $300. My renewal hasn't come up as yet, but I am also expecting to have a $300 credit.

I gotten a reply in writing after asking them to look into it further and it says:

To clarify you have $200.00 travel credit to use until 13[SUP]th[/SUP] April, 2017 and your annual fee is due on 15[SUP]th[/SUP] May, 2016 . You will not be getting the $300.00 until 13[SUP]th[/SUP]April next year when you have a year to redeem it to 13[SUP]th[/SUP] April 2018.

Which means they are short-changing us for one year. Pay membership fee in advance and "increased benefit" comes in later. What a joke.

 

[ninja-tim]

Have been looking into booking my annual trip down to stay at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne and I'm disappointed to find they have been dropped from Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts :-(

Just a couple question about FHR:

1. How do you find the list of hotels (+perks) on FHR? is it the same as the FHR (U.S.) website? or do you have to call platinum travel?
2. How do you book? Call platinum travel?

 

[Daver6]

I gotten a reply in writing after asking them to look into it further and it says:

To clarify you have $200.00 travel credit to use until 13[SUP]th[/SUP] April, 2017 and your annual fee is due on 15[SUP]th[/SUP] May, 2016 . You will not be getting the $300.00 until 13[SUP]th[/SUP]April next year when you have a year to redeem it to 13[SUP]th[/SUP] April 2018.

Which means they are short-changing us for one year. Pay membership fee in advance and "increased benefit" comes in later. What a joke.

I bet you if you take to Twitter with this it will be resolved in your favour.

 

[kieranchu]

I bet you if you take to Twitter with this it will be resolved in your favour.

Problem is i dont have a twitter account and dont really want to sign up for one just because of this.

I think this will affect everyone and there are many in the same situation as myself - anyway I am sick of ringing them and spending an average of 30 mins on each call requesting for something of which I was entitled in the first place and because the policies implemented are not well thought off and clearly not in the best interest of their existing card members.

I'll continue to bombard the customer rep with emails until they decide to escalate it for me. Their customer service rep is shocking sometimes. Last issue I had - took 7 phone calls and over 2 weeks to resolve.

 

[kieranchu]

Just a couple question about FHR:

1. How do you find the list of hotels (+perks) on FHR? is it the same as the FHR (U.S.) website? or do you have to call platinum travel?
2. How do you book? Call platinum travel?

Book it from the Amex Travel website (AU) - after login in as a platinum charge member. - another bugbear is that the travel credits which they grant you - cant be used for FHR bookings ! If you book travel using the travel credits at say an Accor or other hotel chain hotels - those hotels will likely to refuse to extend any elite perks to you - I had experienced a couple of times - even going as far as ringing the GM of the hotel to let them know of my frustration.

 

[zig]

I gotten a reply in writing after asking them to look into it further and it says:

To clarify you have $200.00 travel credit to use until 13[SUP]th[/SUP] April, 2017 and your annual fee is due on 15[SUP]th[/SUP] May, 2016 . You will not be getting the $300.00 until 13[SUP]th[/SUP]April next year when you have a year to redeem it to 13[SUP]th[/SUP] April 2018.

Which means they are short-changing us for one year. Pay membership fee in advance and "increased benefit" comes in later. What a joke.

Thanks for posting. That explanation is just ridiculous.

 

[decs]

1. How do you find the list of hotels (+perks) on FHR? is it the same as the FHR (U.S.) website? or do you have to call platinum travel?

This has the current hotels listed by country: FINE HOTELS & RESORTS International Platinum - 2016

 

[Ewing]

another bugbear is that the travel credits which they grant you - cant be used for FHR bookings !

I use mine for flights (well, flight). Hotel bookings through Amex tend to be FHR only.

 

[ninja-tim]

Book it from the Amex Travel website (AU) - after login in as a platinum charge member. - another bugbear is that the travel credits which they grant you - cant be used for FHR bookings ! If you book travel using the travel credits at say an Accor or other hotel chain hotels - those hotels will likely to refuse to extend any elite perks to you - I had experienced a couple of times - even going as far as ringing the GM of the hotel to let them know of my frustration.

When you do search hotels on the Amex travel website, it obviously comes up with a whole list of hotels (non-FHR). Do I just book the FHR hotel I want and will the perks be automatically applied when I check-in at the hotel?

 

[mlob]

When you make the booking on the Amex travel website just make sure you are booking the FHR rate. You may notice that a FHR hotel may appear twice. One will have it and mention the FHR benefits and rate , the other doesn't. I have only ever booked Hyatt through FHR. Hyatt knew our booking was FHR and applied all the FHR benefits. We paid the account upon departure in that instance. We also received our Hyatt status benefits as well.

If still in doubt. Give Amex travel a call and they may clarify.

 

[Ewing]

When you do search hotels on the Amex travel website, it obviously comes up with a whole list of hotels (non-FHR). Do I just book the FHR hotel I want and will the perks be automatically applied when I check-in at the hotel?

As mlob said you need to choose the FHR rate. It'll be a whole separate hotel with only FHR.

In my experience, FHR rates won't show if I have less than about 10,000 MR points in my account.

 

[dcooper]

I just went to use my travel credit online and the hotels I looked at were nearly 100 a night dearer than the rates that the travel team can get. I rang to ask why and they basically use three different suppliers. Why should the rate be any higher than what I can get through the travel team? Once again the platinum status of members means nothing