AMEX Platinum Charge Benefits - Q&A

[dylarr]

Anyone have any idea if the online chat customer support is based in Australia or overseas? Are you likely to get better service by phoning?

The chat is offshore (Manila). The call centre agents are both Manila and Sydney based. My experience with chat is mixed, but overall I find phone agents more helpful and I tend to call up for more complex issues.

Just in case someone else has a similar issue, what resolved it was using the link on the DHL website to "Go straight to the top and tell Gary Edstein, Senior Vice President Oceania.". I sent them an email last night, they responded within an hour and managed to get the package located and delivered this morning.

Wow - gotta give DHL credit, this is how you look after your customers. I literally didn't believe DHL would have a link encouraging users to complain directly to an executive so I had to look on their website and see it for myself, and sure enough... there it is:

 

[sudoer]

Am I missing something obvious? Is the main reason to use the US FHR site so you can input your loyalty number at the time of booking? Is there any other advantage?

Found another benefit to the US FHR portal - you can also nominate an entirely different Amex to pay with, so no need to stuff around with payment methods in the Hilton app. This shows up for both "Pay Now" and "Pay at Hotel" payment methods, and opens up bonus points possibilities on Marriott FHR bookings if you hold a Bonvoy Amex card.

 

[http_x92]

Found another benefit to the US FHR portal - you can also nominate an entirely different Amex to pay with, so no need to stuff around with payment methods in the Hilton app. This shows up for both "Pay Now" and "Pay at Hotel" payment methods, and opens up bonus points possibilities on Marriott FHR bookings if you hold a Bonvoy Amex card.

View attachment 277034

Can confirm this is possible as well, although if paying with your US Amex Hilton or Marriott card you need to use the US Billing Address that you used in your GT card application on the FHR booking

 

[rhett]

Finally got AMEX to speak with Accor and they say it should be sorted in 24-48 hours. Also did say I was the first one to have an issue...

I had this same issue with Amex/Accor Plus not renewing back in November 2021. If they claimed to you that you’re the first one having the issue then that’s absolute nonsense. Concerning that six months later Amex still hasn’t sorted Accor out.

 

[muppet]

Cross posting from the VA promos thread - VA are doing 20% off for Plat/Centurion holders through Amex IAP

Virgin Australia - Promo Codes (ongoing)

Click here for a list of current Virgin Australia discount codes: https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/virgin-australia-discount-codes/ A while back VA had a discount code that could be used for (almost) any domestic booking. Are there any discount codes that work at the moment? Thanks!

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Did this promo end or did I break my Plat account?

 

[DC3]

Finally got AMEX to speak with Accor and they say it should be sorted in 24-48 hours. Also did say I was the first one to have an issue...

So, all fixed now?

 

[RealtimeY]

I'm about to book a multi-city trip on CX, and am getting same price from both CX and Amex travel. Is there any benefit at all to booking with Amex travel?

 

[sudoer]

Is there any benefit at all to booking with Amex travel?

Maybe more chance of getting your money back when CX go belly up?

 

[muppet]

I'm about to book a multi-city trip on CX, and am getting same price from both CX and Amex travel. Is there any benefit at all to booking with Amex travel?

By booking with Amex you can guarantee yourself hours on hold should you or CX make any minor changes.

 

[http_x92]

Also just realised that I lost my Accor Silver membership but my Marriott Gold membership is still there. Wonder what happened... did this happen around 2019 as well?

 

[sudoer]

Also just realised that I have lost my Accor Silver membership but my Marriott Gold membership is still there. Did this happen around 2019 as well?

Accor Silver is a benefit of Accor Plus. So if your Accor Plus membership lapsed, your Silver probably has too.

 

[http_x92]

Accor Silver is a benefit of Accor Plus. So if your Accor Plus membership lapsed, your Silver probably has too.

Ah I see, no biggie then. Will probably stick with Hilton/Marriott anyway unless I go around regional Australia.

 

[dylarr]

For those interested, there's an updated PDF of the Platinum Card Insurance Terms and Conditions on the Amex website now. This went into effect on 15 March 2022 and specifically calls out COVID. There's other changes as well just skimming both side by side but I haven't looked deeply enough to see if significant or not.

https://www.americanexpress.com/content/dam/amex/au/benefits/Platinum/PlatinumInsurance.pdf

For those utilising Platinum Card Insurance, here's a fairly big change that came into effect on 15 March 2022 that I just found out about whilst calling Chub for clarification:

I had a question about benefit activation where the vendor does not accept American Express as historically you've still been able to receive coverage if you can show that American Express was not accepted when you made payment.

This clause was removed from the new Terms and Conditions released on 15 March 2022. This means that payment must be made using your American Express Platinum card in order for the benefit to activate. If the vendor does not support American Express payments, you cannot utilise the Platinum Card Insurance.

 

[sudoer]

I had a question about benefit activation where the vendor does not accept American Express as historically you've still been able to receive coverage if you can show that American Express was not accepted when you made payment.

This clause was removed from the new Terms and Conditions released on 15 March 2022. This means that payment must be made using your American Express Platinum card in order for the benefit to activate. If the vendor does not support American Express payments, you cannot utilise the Platinum Card Insurance.

Good shout, although I never realised this was even an option.

Separately, a quick mention for those living in or visiting Sydney, Amex has a 'lounge' pop-up at Cruise Bar Rooftop for Vivid which overlooks the Opera House.

It looks like all Amex holders can get in with one guest so it might be a bit of a shambles, but Plat cardholders can bring 2 guests with "priority express entry", and a complimentary drink voucher for each person on arrival. There's a separate section for Centurion holders but if you hold a Centurion I imagine you couldn't give two coughs about a free drink in a crowded bar.

Supps appear to get the same access - I will be testing this out with my partner and brother this weekend.

Experiences

American Express Card Members can enjoy access to some of the best Entertainment, Sport, Music events with American Express Experiences

www.americanexpress.com

 

[yangry]

Good shout, although I never realised this was even an option.

Separately, a quick mention for those living in or visiting Sydney, Amex has a 'lounge' pop-up at Cruise Bar Rooftop for Vivid which overlooks the Opera House.

It looks like all Amex holders can get in with one guest so it might be a bit of a shambles, but Plat cardholders can bring 2 guests with "priority express entry", and a complimentary drink voucher for each person on arrival. There's a separate section for Centurion holders but if you hold a Centurion I imagine you couldn't give two coughs about a free drink in a crowded bar.

Supps appear to get the same access - I will be testing this out with my partner and brother this weekend.

Experiences

American Express Card Members can enjoy access to some of the best Entertainment, Sport, Music events with American Express Experiences

www.americanexpress.com

I've checked with Amex (via online chat) and they confirmed that supps would have their own access to the lounge.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Does anyone know if we can get access to the US AMEX IAP with an Oz amex plat?

 

[sudoer]

Does anyone know if we can get access to the US AMEX IAP with an Oz amex plat?

I understood IAP to be a global program - I don't think there's any difference between the Oz and US versions? (happy to be proven wrong)

You can log in to the US Amex Travel site and search & pay in US dollars if there is any difference.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

I understood IAP to be a global program - I don't think there's any difference between the Oz and US versions? (happy to be proven wrong)

You can log in to the US Amex Travel site and search & pay in US dollars if there is any difference.

Just had a go now and it worked! Yesterday it didn't seem to work when I tried to login with my plat account directly from the US site. Today I logged in via the Oz side then changed countries then went through book travel and it worked.

Fantastic.

 

[0x012fd0aa]

Good shout, although I never realised this was even an option.

Separately, a quick mention for those living in or visiting Sydney, Amex has a 'lounge' pop-up at Cruise Bar Rooftop for Vivid which overlooks the Opera House.

It looks like all Amex holders can get in with one guest so it might be a bit of a shambles, but Plat cardholders can bring 2 guests with "priority express entry", and a complimentary drink voucher for each person on arrival. There's a separate section for Centurion holders but if you hold a Centurion I imagine you couldn't give two coughs about a free drink in a crowded bar.

Supps appear to get the same access - I will be testing this out with my partner and brother this weekend.

Experiences

American Express Card Members can enjoy access to some of the best Entertainment, Sport, Music events with American Express Experiences

www.americanexpress.com

I got 2 guests last night but only 1 drink voucher on my platinum card.

 

[sudoer]

I got 2 guests last night but only 1 drink voucher on my platinum card.

Did you question it / show them the Amex website? Was it busy?