AMEX Platinum Charge Benefits - Q&A

[sudoer]

Did you ask for this over the phone or email?

Over the phone using the number on the back of the card > Lifestyle Services.

Coincidentally I spoke to the same person both times - Debbie. She was based onshore and remembered me on the second call (about a week later) after pulling up my profile. She was great at her job and secured terrific outcomes both times, if someone from Amex is reading I hope the kudos makes it back to her somehow. I did get an NPS survey a few days after the first call and gave plenty of positive feedback.

Both were easily the best Amex Lifestyle Services interactions I've had to date.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

I don't believe this is specific to platinum, but thought this audience would have good insights. I was just reading this from Point Hacks, is it worth considering? I have very limited (i.e. no) experience with Marriott/United redemptions, but the cheaper SQ redemptions are tempting, or am I missing something (e.g. availability with United)?

 

[ChrisFlyer]

I don't believe this is specific to platinum, but thought this audience would have good insights. I was just reading this from Point Hacks, is it worth considering? I have very limited (i.e. no) experience with Marriott/United redemptions, but the cheaper SQ redemptions are tempting, or am I missing something (e.g. availability with United)?

It's not necessarily cheaper redemptions on SQ, as SQ keeps the best seats for its own KrisFlyer members (and now, Velocity). It's that you need fewer points through many other programs to book comparable flights on partners. Really requires number crunching before diving in!

 

[andye]

I don't believe this is specific to platinum, but thought this audience would have good insights. I was just reading this from Point Hacks, is it worth considering? I have very limited (i.e. no) experience with Marriott/United redemptions, but the cheaper SQ redemptions are tempting, or am I missing something (e.g. availability with United)?

SQ is a direct transfer partner of Membership Rewards earning Amex cards so you would lose value redeeming on SQ via Bonvoy.
Other direct partners are:
CX decent value if you have faith in them lasting
VS has a few sweetspots.
EY is ok for some mid-range VA flights.
VA points are so easy to earn elsewhere I usually avoid even if there is a bonus transfer offer
QF (Charge only) is similar to VA
Very little value in the other direct transfer airlines (EK TG NZ MH)

Transferring to Bonvoy opens up a whole host of programs including many with minimal taxes (eg AA UA AS), good for short-haul (BA) or with good partner awards (eg AC) or restricted access to F awards (eg LH). Bonvoy seems less good value for hotels than previously but Ive not examined hard for sweetspots.

 

[Daver6]

I just used Amex FHR to book a night at the Ritz in Perth (couldn't let the Amex Travel 500/150 offer go to waste). Looks like the option to enter your hotel loyalty number is back now on the AU FHR site and working well. My booking immediately showed in my Marriott Bonvoy account as an upcoming stay.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

I just used Amex FHR to book a night at the Ritz in Perth (couldn't let the Amex Travel 500/150 offer go to waste). Looks like the option to enter your hotel loyalty number is back now on the AU FHR site and working well. My booking immediately showed in my Marriott Bonvoy account as an upcoming stay.

Has your credit from the offer posted? I booked FHR for an overseas hotel mid last week, and received the confirmation email of using the offer, but no credit just yet.

 

[http_x92]

4/09 - Booked Hilton Melbourne Queen Street with the Hotel collection rate. Entered my Hilton number on the Amex Travel Booking. Used the Travel Credit
4/09 - Few seconds later booking shows up on my Hilton Account page.

Amex Offer still pending, will see if I get the Hilton points and nights.

 

[muppet]

Has your credit from the offer posted? I booked FHR for an overseas hotel mid last week, and received the confirmation email of using the offer, but no credit just yet.

Mine posted six days after the eligible transaction.

Post automatically merged: Sep 8, 2022

4/09 - Booked Hilton Melbourne Queen Street with the Hotel collection rate. Entered my Hilton number on the Amex Travel Booking. Used the Travel Credit
4/09 - Few seconds later booking shows up on my Hilton Account page.

Amex Offer still pending, will see if I get the Hilton points and nights.

I’ll add to this that I did the same, stayed last week and received all HH benefits as if booked direct including points.

 

[sudoer]

Entered my Hilton number on the Amex Travel Booking.

At what point of the booking process? Does the Amex AU booking engine now have a field to enter HH numbers?

 

[Daver6]

Has your credit from the offer posted? I booked FHR for an overseas hotel mid last week, and received the confirmation email of using the offer, but no credit just yet.

Not yet. Received the email. I wouldn't expect it to show up for another week or so. I'm not concerned. I can follow up manually if need be. Also being a FHR booking I can cancel the booking if need be.

 

[muppet]

At what point of the booking process? Does the Amex AU booking engine now have a field to enter HH numbers?

At traveller details just above credit card details, where it used to be in the past.

 

[Ktan89]

I thought the T&C says that you can't use it on FHR?
Can someone confirm they got the credit by booking a FHR stay?

 

[Daver6]

I thought the T&C says that you can't use it on FHR?
Can someone confirm they got the credit by booking a FHR stay?

I've had success with past offerings like this. This booking triggered the email to say I've used the offer and fully expect to the get cash back.

 

[JFi]

At what point of the booking process? Does the Amex AU booking engine now have a field to enter HH numbers?

I can't speak for the OP but I've used the "Requests" field in the past and have points credited and see it in the app too.

 

[PointsDude]

I've had success with past offerings like this. This booking triggered the email to say I've used the offer and fully expect to the get cash back.

Seconding this, I also stayed at Hilton on Little Queen St and the $150 was posted to my account after about a week from when I made the booking.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

I thought the T&C says that you can't use it on FHR?
Can someone confirm they got the credit by booking a FHR stay?

I suspect they just haven't updated the T&Cs since FHR was redesigned to allow for prepaid rates via Amex. You could never use the offer for FHR in the past as it had to be paid at the hotel, which wasn't Amex Travel. Now, prepaid FHR is processed at Amex's end in the same way as other travel bookings... but to some hotels, appears as an Expedia booking (happened to me at Four Seasons recently, took them about 15 mins at checkin to work it out).

 

[sudoer]

Dropped Mrs sudoer off at SYD T1 today, after she checked in we wandered down to the Aerotel & Plaza Premium landside lounge to have a stickybeak. Turned out that starting from today, the lounge is now open til 10pm (extended from midday)

They were more than happy to welcome us in with the Amex Plat, although they did request my wife's boarding pass to scan into the orange machine, as well as her supp card as the name needs to match the BP. A departing boarding pass was fine though, so this isn't a terrible option as a place to hang around if someone is dropping you (or a supplementary cardholder off) off at the airport. Beats the landside food court.

It's quite a small space and the food is pretty basic e.g. cheese & crackers, some pastries, fruit, and salad - but the staff were super friendly and attentive, and the space faces north so would have good natural light during the daytime. The toilets and showers looked reasonable too.

One staff member mentioned that due to understaffing the lounge is looked after by Aerotel reception staff, which limits how much they can do with food options. They're working on hiring more staff and then plan to offer more substantial options for the afternoon/evening.

Wines were difficult to make out as they were along the back counter - the only label I recognised was Penfolds. The only beer option was Cascade Light, and they only had some basic spirits from what I could see, e.g. Gordons Gin and Famous Grouse Scotch. Alcohol wasn't self serve.

All in all, I wouldn't go out of my way for this lounge, but it's a reasonable option if you have some time to kill while waiting landside for a departure, or if you're getting off an international morning departure and want to freshen up before heading to your next destination.

 

[Daver6]

Dropped Mrs sudoer off at SYD T1 today, after she checked in we wandered down to the Aerotel & Plaza Premium landside lounge to have a stickybeak. Turned out that starting from today, the lounge is now open til 10pm (extended from midday)

They were more than happy to welcome us in with the Amex Plat, although they did request my wife's boarding pass to scan into the orange machine, as well as her supp card as the name needs to match the BP. A departing boarding pass was fine though, so this isn't a terrible option as a place to hang around if someone is dropping you (or a supplementary cardholder off) off at the airport. Beats the landside food court.

It's quite a small space and the food is pretty basic e.g. cheese & crackers, some pastries, fruit, and salad - but the staff were super friendly and attentive, and the space faces north so would have good natural light during the daytime. The toilets and showers looked reasonable too.

One staff member mentioned that due to understaffing the lounge is looked after by Aerotel reception staff, which limits how much they can do with food options. They're working on hiring more staff and then plan to offer more substantial options for the afternoon/evening.

Wines were difficult to make out as they were along the back counter - the only label I recognised was Penfolds. The only beer option was Cascade Light, and they only had some basic spirits from what I could see, e.g. Gordons Gin and Famous Grouse Scotch. Alcohol wasn't self serve.

All in all, I wouldn't go out of my way for this lounge, but it's a reasonable option if you have some time to kill while waiting landside for a departure, or if you're getting off an international morning departure and want to freshen up before heading to your next destination.

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I've been pondering this lounge a little. When coming back to PER via the east coast from an international trip I usually make bee line to the domestic QF J lounge for a shower. Those showers are pretty dire. I've been wondering if it would be better stopping off her for a shower first. One downside is I'd need to either lug my checked bag with me or walk down to the QF re-check facilities and then back up to the other end for this lounge.

Did you get a look at the showers by any chance?

 

[RealtimeY]

I recently contacted the concierge to make a restaurant booking in Japan. Initially I called during business hours and was informed that their instructions were to only attempt to book online, and they could not do anything further. Sent me a link to Pocket Concierge and that was that.

I thought I'd try calling after hours (10pm), got a person from London who knew immediately what I wanted, and what the process was. She attempted to call the restaurants but failed to get through, so passed the request onto the Japanese concierge team. Even though the bookings ultimately didn't go through (as they were outside of the restaurant's current booking windows), I was pretty happy with how it was handled.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Can someone provide some insight into how the FHR $100 credit works? Do you have the meals/spas charged to the room and amex sorts it out or how does it work?

I'm aware that it's USD so I'm curious how it works locally. As for "breakfast for two" any experiences what that generally entails when there is no buffet?