AMEX Platinum Charge Benefits - Q&A

[asterix]

Hey, throwing it out to the experts.
I have an Amex Platinum Business card with Priority Pass.

Does anyone know if the Priority Pass account you get with the Platinum Business includes one guest for Priority Pass.

I tried chatting Amex, but they just copied the T&C's in the chat, which makes it sound like all guests have to pay.

Wasn't sure if anyone had any experience on this?

I'm expecting it to be no guests, but happy to be surprised.

thanks!

The Australian AMEX app says "Platinum Charge Card members may bring in one guest at no charge, then be charged the prevailing retail rate for any additional guests. Platinum Business Card Members will be charged the prevailing retail rate for each guest".

 

[sudoer]

The Australian AMEX app says "Platinum Charge Card members may bring in one guest at no charge, then be charged the prevailing retail rate for any additional guests. Platinum Business Card Members will be charged the prevailing retail rate for each guest".

Which matches the Priority Pass fine print for each card

Personal

Priority Pass: These Terms and Conditions govern American Express Platinum Card Members’ participation in and use of the Priority Pass™ program. Priority Pass is an independent airport lounge access program. Your Priority Pass benefit is limited to airport lounge access only. Non-lounge airport experiences in the form of credits for restaurants, cafes and bars are not available. Primary Platinum Card Members and one nominated Additional Platinum Card Member per Account are eligible for Priority Pass membership. At any visit to a Priority Pass lounge that admits guests, you may bring in 1 guest for no charge. You will be charged the prevailing retail rate for any additional guests. Some lounges do not admit guests. By enrolling in Priority Pass, you agree that you will be responsible for any additional accompanying guest visits and that your Card will be automatically charged after you have signed for the additional guest visit and it has been reported to Priority Pass by the participating lounge. Additionally, you acknowledge and agree that American Express will verify your Card account number and provide updated Card account information to Priority Pass. Priority Pass will use this information to fulfill on the Priority Pass program and may use this information for marketing related to the program. Once enrolled, Platinum Card Members whose Card account is not cancelled may access participating Priority Pass lounges by presenting your Priority Pass card and airline boarding pass. In some lounges, Priority Pass member must be 21 years of age to enter without a parent or guardian. Priority Pass members must adhere to all house rules of participating lounges. Amenities may vary among airport lounge locations. Conference rooms, where available, may be reserved for a fee. Priority Pass lounge partners and locations are subject to change. All Priority Pass members must adhere to the Priority Pass Conditions of Use, which will be sent to you with your membership package, and can be viewed at prioritypass.com. Upon receipt of your enrollment information, Priority Pass will send your Priority Pass card and membership package which you should receive within 4-6 weeks.

Business

Priority Pass. These Terms and Conditions govern American Express Platinum Card Members participation in and use of the Priority PassTM program. Priority Pass is an independent airport lounge access program. Your Priority Pass benefit is limited to airport lounge access only. Non-lounge airport experiences in the form of credits for restaurants, cafes and bars are not available. Primary Platinum Business Card Members and one nominated Employee Platinum Business Card Member per Account are eligible for Priority Pass membership. At any visit to a Priority Pass lounge that admits guests, you will be charged the prevailing retail rate for each guest. Some lounges do not admit guests. By enrolling in Priority Pass, you agree that you will be responsible for any additional accompanying guest visits and that your Card will be automatically charged after you have signed for the additional guest visit and it has been reported to Priority Pass by the participating lounge. Additionally, you acknowledge and agree that American Express will verify your Card Account number and provide updated Card Account information to Priority Pass. Priority Pass will use this information to fulfill on the Priority Pass program and may use this information for marketing related to the program. Once enrolled, Platinum Card Members whose Card Account is not cancelled may access participating Priority Pass lounges by presenting your Priority Pass card and airline boarding pass. In some lounges, Priority Pass member must be 21 years of age to enter without a parent or guardian. Priority Pass members must adhere to all house rules of participating lounges. Amenities may vary among airport lounge locations. Conference rooms, where available, may be reserved for a fee. Priority Pass lounge partners and locations are subject to change. All Priority Pass members must adhere to the Priority Pass Conditions of Use, which will be sent to you with your membership package, and can be viewed at www.prioritypass.com. Upon receipt of your enrollment information, Priority Pass will send your Priority Pass card and membership package which you should receive within 4-6 weeks.'

This feels pretty clear cut to me, but I guess @Obzerva is hoping for an unpublished benefit?

 

[Obzerva]

The Australian AMEX app says "Platinum Charge Card members may bring in one guest at no charge, then be charged the prevailing retail rate for any additional guests. Platinum Business Card Members will be charged the prevailing retail rate for each guest".

Thanks, thought that might be the case.

The other interesting thing I noticed reading the difference between the Personal Charge card vs the Business card
Business card makes no reference to Plaza Premium in their benefits on the main Amex site or in their T&C's, however the personal charge card does.

I've used the Plaza Premium in Singapore before off the Business card (last year), but wasn't sure if the lack of listing it for the business card might be leading to a change (if it hasn't happened already)

Post automatically merged: Jan 20, 2023

yeah sudoer, hadn't compared the exact wording to the personal card re priority pass, but looks to make it pretty clear!

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

Wasn’t sure if this was better suited in this forum Airport Lounges but will give a whirl here. For Centurion Lounge access with an Australian Platinum Charge Personal card .. will we need to pay for the 2nd guest brought in by Primary member now based on this news ex. Visiting Houston, USA Centurion

Reminder: Amex to start charging for most Centurion Lounge guests next month - The Points Guy

Most American Express Centurion Lounge guests will be charged at a rate of $50 each starting on Feb. 1, 2023 — except for those who spend $75,000 a year on a Platinum card to earn guest privileges.

thepointsguy.com

The AU site still shows this:

The Centurion Lounge || American Express

american-express-lounge

www.americanexpress.com

 

[bernardblack]

I have seen other US sites discussing this suggesting that the terms are specifically for US-issued cards, and foreign cards will continue with existing access (equivalent to US cards spending $75k+/yr).

The other Aust travel site we don't name here said a few days ago they'd sought clarification from Amex regarding this but I didn't see a response.

[update: I just checked now and they seem to have received confirmation that it doesn't affect AU-issued cards.]

 

[Daver6]

Given that there has been zero comms on this from Amex AU, I would still expect the guesting for AU cards to remain unchanged.

 

[jbmemories]

Each region is treated differently with different promotions, offers and legislations to follow for operating in said region(s).
We may get trickled down later or just not have it at all. Considering the AF here in Aus is quite high with 'income requirements', may drive the aus to elsewhere.

 

[unfunkable]

Hi All
Very new to platinum, and I was doing some reading on lounge access.
Does my supplementary card holder get access to Sydney Centurion lounge if they are flying AIR ASIA from Sydney? What would be the best way for them to get any lounge acess? Could I do something with the priority or plaza aspects of the lounge benefits?
Thanks!

 

[asterix]

Hi All
Very new to platinum, and I was doing some reading on lounge access.
Does my supplementary card holder get access to Sydney Centurion lounge if they are flying AIR ASIA from Sydney? What would be the best way for them to get any lounge acess? Could I do something with the priority or plaza aspects of the lounge benefits?
Thanks!

At Sydney International airport, if they have their supplementary AMEX Platinum Charge they can access the AMEX Centurion lounge and the Plaza Premium lounge using their AMEX Platinum Charge card. If you've enrolled them in Priority Pass they can also access The House lounge using their Priority Pass physical card or app.

 

[unfunkable]

At Sydney International airport, if they have their supplementary AMEX Platinum Charge they can access the AMEX Centurion lounge and the Plaza Premium lounge using their AMEX Platinum Charge card. If you've enrolled them in Priority Pass they can also access The House lounge using their Priority Pass physical card or app.

Thanks! Then the person can also bring in 2 guests as per :
"Platinum Card Members have unlimited complimentary access to all locations of The Centurion Lounge and may bring up to two (2) companions. "
Is this correct as well?

 

[andye]

Thanks! Then the person can also bring in 2 guests as per :
"Platinum Card Members have unlimited complimentary access to all locations of The Centurion Lounge and may bring up to two (2) companions. "
Is this correct as well?

Yes correct

 

[unfunkable]

Yes correct

Thanks again, and finally (maybe :-D ) - would this be the same for virgin? It says, access to Virgin lounge if flying on any virgin flight

 

[RealtimeY]

Only one guest on the same VA flight

 

[bernardblack]

Yeah, the above are correct, but to drill-in on Priority Pass:

You need to affirmatively register them by calling Amex. And you can only register the main cardmember plus one specific nominated supplementary, for Priority Pass access through Amex Platinum.

Centurion/Amex Lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges and Virgin Lounges (when flying Virgin) - and also Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta, and supposedly Lufthansa Business Lounges in FRA/MUC when flying Lufthansa/Swiss/Austrian - just require your Amex Plat card.

 

[unfunkable]

Only one guest on the same VA flight

Cheers thanks for that. So, my SUPP holder + her husband is fine. Kids under 13 are free?
I read this page, but nothing about kids.

The Ultimate Guide to Virgin Australia Lounges

This guide takes a look at the Virgin Australia lounge network, and the services and amenities that are on offer.

www.pointhacks.com.au

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Thanks! Then the person can also bring in 2 guests as per :
"Platinum Card Members have unlimited complimentary access to all locations of The Centurion Lounge and may bring up to two (2) companions. "
Is this correct as well?

Just for clarity, two guests are allowed at Centurion and Plaza Premium. The Priority Pass membership only allows for one complimentary guest though (if you go to The House). There's no issue in bringing an additional guest (that is, a second guest - so primary cardholder, plus one free guest and one paid guest), but Priority Pass does charge a fee that gets billed to your Amex card. Off the top of my head it's in the region of $32-36 USD, can't remember which.

 

[andye]

Cheers thanks for that. So, my SUPP holder + her husband is fine. Kids under 13 are free?
I read this page, but nothing about kids.

The Ultimate Guide to Virgin Australia Lounges

This guide takes a look at the Virgin Australia lounge network, and the services and amenities that are on offer.

www.pointhacks.com.au

You would be able to get children into the Amex lounge but in lounges worldwide children are usually treated as counting to guest numbers. However QF and VA will often let children of own status holders in as extras (eg I have been able to get children into QF lounge with QF but not BA status). I think unlikely you would get extra children into VA lounge with an Amex Plat

 

[albyd]

I flew VA with kids on the weekend. Only one accompany kid as guest. They ‘found’ an extra lounge pass for the other kid as apparently, I’m silver. Not sure what I’ll do next time. Can’t give minors supp cards and they wouldn’t let me use my ‘a/c’ card for the other kid to get in. Guess that’s the way it is now - esp if the airline has recently gone broke. I’d rather it fly safely than get into the lounge but don’t think it’s worth the asking price for a child to get admission otherwise.

 

[unfunkable]

Ahh. Ok thanks . What if my wife has her card and I have my supp card . Can we then bring in our 2 kids to VA lounge (1 kid as guest each ). We are actually flying soon with VA to melb so would love to use this

 

[andye]

Ahh. Ok thanks . What if my wife has her card and I have my supp card . Can we then bring in our 2 kids to VA lounge (1 kid as guest each ). We are actually flying soon with VA to melb so would love to use this

That would be fine. It's one of the good perks of multiple supps for non-priority pass lounge access