Amex Platinum Charge fee up to $1450

[Cruiser Elite]

Anybody ever cancelled a Platinum Card whilst a booking using Travel Credit is still 'alive'?

 

[serfty]

Used Cent Lounge in LAS last Sept and it is so ordinary - we actually spent more time outside than in and those who have been through LAS will know how ordinary terminal is in general.

I went back to the AA lounge in terminal C which has been refurbished. Much nicer. Obviously, food and drink offering in the Amex lounge were better, but the bar was pretty low to start with.

LAS?!

AA does not have a lounge at LAS. "... terminal C ..." - do you mean DFW?

 

[Daver6]

LAS?!

AA does not have a lounge at LAS. "... terminal C ..." - do you mean DFW?

Yes. In my mind I mentioned DFW

 

[Jack_OC]

I'm considering taking out the Amex Platinum, but I won't be eligible for bonus points, so it has to be worth it based on ongoing benefits. The $450 + $400 travel credit + Accor+ ($395, which I currently pay for anyway) covers a fair chunk of the fee, and I wouldn't mind an AFR subscription (although I'd never pay the RRP of $600+ or whatever it is). Needless to say I travel a lot for both work and pleasure, so I think I could make use of the other benefits too.

I have a few questions though, which I can't seem to find answers for:

1. Hotel status. It says it comes with:

• Hilton Honors Gold Status
• Shangri-La Golden Circle Jade Status
• Starwood Prefered Guest Gold Status
• Radisson RewardsTM Gold Status

Does that mean all of the above, or you have to choose one?

2. What is the points earn rate for the companion Platinum Reserve card?

3. Are the Fine Hotels & Resorts benefits worthwhile? How wide a selection of hotels can be booked using this option?

4. Are the "discounted" First and Business fares actually real discounts, or can you get similar fares online anyway?

TIA!

 

[benjy]

I'm considering taking out the Amex Platinum, but I won't be eligible for bonus points, so it has to be worth it based on ongoing benefits. The $450 + $400 travel credit + Accor+ ($395, which I currently pay for anyway) covers a fair chunk of the fee, and I wouldn't mind an AFR subscription (although I'd never pay the RRP of $600+ or whatever it is). Needless to say I travel a lot for both work and pleasure, so I think I could make use of the other benefits too.

I have a few questions though, which I can't seem to find answers for:

1. Hotel status. It says it comes with:

• Hilton Honors Gold Status
• Shangri-La Golden Circle Jade Status
• Starwood Prefered Guest Gold Status
• Radisson RewardsTM Gold Status

Does that mean all of the above, or you have to choose one?

2. What is the points earn rate for the companion Platinum Reserve card?

3. Are the Fine Hotels & Resorts benefits worthwhile? How wide a selection of hotels can be booked using this option?

4. Are the "discounted" First and Business fares actually real discounts, or can you get similar fares online anyway?

TIA!

1. All of the above
2. Same as the Charge card. 3 points for cafe, bar, restaurants etc. 2 points for airlines, 1 point for everything else. 0.5 for Government, utilities, telecommunications and insurance.
3. Can't help on this one
4. Can't help on this one

 

[muppet]

Does anyone have experience with Virgin Lounge access with this card? Do you have to be flying Virgin? Or at all?

 

[Daver6]

I'm considering taking out the Amex Platinum, but I won't be eligible for bonus points, so it has to be worth it based on ongoing benefits. The $450 + $400 travel credit + Accor+ ($395, which I currently pay for anyway) covers a fair chunk of the fee, and I wouldn't mind an AFR subscription (although I'd never pay the RRP of $600+ or whatever it is). Needless to say I travel a lot for both work and pleasure, so I think I could make use of the other benefits too.

I have a few questions though, which I can't seem to find answers for:

1. Hotel status. It says it comes with:

• Hilton Honors Gold Status
• Shangri-La Golden Circle Jade Status
• Starwood Prefered Guest Gold Status
• Radisson RewardsTM Gold Status

Does that mean all of the above, or you have to choose one?

2. What is the points earn rate for the companion Platinum Reserve card?

3. Are the Fine Hotels & Resorts benefits worthwhile? How wide a selection of hotels can be booked using this option?

4. Are the "discounted" First and Business fares actually real discounts, or can you get similar fares online anyway?

TIA!

If you travel a lot you'll also get some value our of the Priority Pass membership. Keep in mind that one of your supplementary card holders will has have access to this.

You can also have a look here FINE HOTELS & RESORTS Directory to see which hotels are included.

 

[blueythecat]

Re point 4:

I’ve tried to use this discount twice, once it was a good deal and the other time they couldn’t offer me anything better than I could find online.

The agents were very helpful both times though and spent ages working on my itineraries. And the discount was good when it worked too.

So all up I’ve found it a bit hit and miss.

 

[bits]

Does anyone have experience with Virgin Lounge access with this card? Do you have to be flying Virgin? Or at all?

Yes need to be flying Virgin. Just present boarding pass, flash your Platinum Charge card and in you go.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Yes need to be flying Virgin. Just present boarding pass, flash your Platinum Charge card and in you go.

Exactly. It works well.

 

[Jack_OC]

If you travel a lot you'll also get some value our of the Priority Pass membership. Keep in mind that one of your supplementary card holders will has have access to this.

You can also have a look here FINE HOTELS & RESORTS Directory to see which hotels are included.

Yes, unlimited PP access is a nice to have, although I wouldn't put a huge value on it as most of the time I have lounge access anyway (I'm Platinum with both QF & VA, and most international travel is in J).

All things considered, I'm not sure if it stacks up for me right now, given the poor everyday points earn rate, plus the fact that I'm not eligible for bonus points.

Anyway, I will lose my HHonors status next March, and my Accor+ membership will be due for renewal around the same time, so I think I will wait until then and re-evaluate.

 

[calgarychris]

I'm considering taking out the Amex Platinum, but I won't be eligible for bonus points, so it has to be worth it based on ongoing benefits. The $450 + $400 travel credit + Accor+ ($395, which I currently pay for anyway) covers a fair chunk of the fee, and I wouldn't mind an AFR subscription (although I'd never pay the RRP of $600+ or whatever it is). Needless to say I travel a lot for both work and pleasure, so I think I could make use of the other benefits too.

I have a few questions though, which I can't seem to find answers for:

1. Hotel status. It says it comes with:

• Hilton Honors Gold Status
• Shangri-La Golden Circle Jade Status
• Starwood Prefered Guest Gold Status
• Radisson RewardsTM Gold Status

Does that mean all of the above, or you have to choose one?

2. What is the points earn rate for the companion Platinum Reserve card?

3. Are the Fine Hotels & Resorts benefits worthwhile? How wide a selection of hotels can be booked using this option?

4. Are the "discounted" First and Business fares actually real discounts, or can you get similar fares online anyway?

TIA!

1. Covered above
2. Covered above
3. FHR - I've definitely gotten value out of this. Most of the time the hotels are out of my price range, but I've booked a few work trips to what used to be the Langham in Auckland and Shangri-La Sydney and the prices were competitive but with the credit, it was definitely worth it. It's great for short stays where you can get $100 USD credit, which covers food and drink for the day/night. I'd say YMMV but for me I always check for a FHR rate when booking hotels.

4. Never used it

 

[Daver6]

Yes, unlimited PP access is a nice to have, although I wouldn't put a huge value on it as most of the time I have lounge access anyway (I'm Platinum with both QF & VA, and most international travel is in J).

I actually thought the same thing too. Where I value the PP access is actually for the restaurant at some Australian and overseas airports. Lounge food is ok, but when you want a proper meal, the PP really shines. I've made use of this four times in the last 12 months, saving roughly $200 has I just paid for what I ordered.

 

[blueythecat]

I actually thought the same thing too. Where I value the PP access is actually for the restaurant at some Australian and overseas airports. Lounge food is ok, but when you want a proper meal, the PP really shines. I've made use of this four times in the last 12 months, saving roughly $200 has I just paid for what I ordered.

Yes the restaurant access at Australian airports is excellent, even as WP I’ve been known to trade the lounge for a restaurant meal!

It’s an excellent benefit!

 

[Jack_OC]

I actually thought the same thing too. Where I value the PP access is actually for the restaurant at some Australian and overseas airports. Lounge food is ok, but when you want a proper meal, the PP really shines. I've made use of this four times in the last 12 months, saving roughly $200 has I just paid for what I ordered.

Yes the restaurant access at Australian airports is excellent, even as WP I’ve been known to trade the lounge for a restaurant meal!

It’s an excellent benefit!

Agree - I previously had unlimited PP access, and I used this a few times when flying VA out of SYD in the evening - MoVida certainly trumps the VA Lounge food! That said, I have another free PP card with two visits per year, and you can also get unlimited PP access via Citi Prestige (which is how I had it before) - it has a fee of "only" $700, and comes with other benefits that can be very valuable too.

I certainly see how this benefit would be really useful if you were traveling through certain airports at appropriate times on a very regular basis, but for me it was really just an occasional thing - I think I only used it maybe 3-4 times in total, over a couple of years.

 

[Bell21]

I've been wondering if some members are potentially missing the true Value of the platinum card --- I'm somewhat of an unabashed fan of the card but it's partly because almost every benefit is a 'direct cash benefit' for us

I see the true Value as the ability to transfer to Qantas and the other 9 airlines (creating ultimate use of flexible points) whilst simultaneously linking reward programs across cards

Unfortunately the change in spg/marriott transfer rates hurts it value somewhat

Also are you sure @Jack that you wont get bonus points? (There are mixed accounts)

Lastly a small additional bonus (at least for me) is the card appears to eliminate the requirement for separate domestic car travel insurance to reduce car hire massive excesses

 

[opusman]

Lastly a small additional bonus (at least for me) is the card appears to eliminate the requirement for separate domestic car travel insurance to reduce car hire massive excesses

Only if you're away from home though - rentals in your home city aren't covered

 

[Bell21]

Only if you're away from home though - rentals in your home city aren't covered

True!

 

[Jack_OC]

I've been wondering if some members are potentially missing the true Value of the platinum card --- I'm somewhat of an unabashed fan of the card but it's partly because almost every benefit is a 'direct cash benefit' for us

I see the true Value as the ability to transfer to Qantas and the other 9 airlines (creating ultimate use of flexible points) whilst simultaneously linking reward programs across cards

Unfortunately the change in spg/marriott transfer rates hurts it value somewhat

Yes the flexibility (especially the unique QF plus other airlines part) would be great. However, in practice for me, all that matters is QF, VA/SQ, and I already manage to accrue decent tallies for all 3 via a combination of flying, credit cards and other stuff. Sure it would be nice to have all points in one pot until I use them, but that wouldn’t happen even if I had this card, as the fairly substantial amount of points I earn through flying will always be split between these programs.

Another reason the points would still get split up between programs is that I wouldn’t use the Platinum charge for a lot of transactions even if I had it. I can already earn at least 1.5 Velocity point/$ (which = 1.11 KF mile) on any transaction with the Velocity Platinum Amex (and 2.5 Velocity pts/$ on Virgin transactions), plus 3 Velocity/KF pts/$ at supermarkets and 2 Velocity/KF pts/$ at petrol stations with the Plat Edge. And then there are the transactions where Amex isn’t accepted at all.

Consequently, if I had the Platinum charge card, I would only use it at restaurants, hotels, overseas and on transactions with airlines other than VA. Don’t get me wrong, those transactions add up to a fair bit, but the point is that I wouldn’t get full benefit of the flexibility from the Platinum charge card unless I was using it for almost every transaction.

Also are you sure @Jack that you wont get bonus points? (There are mixed accounts)

You mean people getting bonus points even if the T&Cs say they are not eligible? That would certainly change everything, but I guess I’d only find out after applying and meeting the minimum spend requirement?

Lastly a small additional bonus (at least for me) is the card appears to eliminate the requirement for separate domestic car travel insurance to reduce car hire massive excesses

This is an interesting one. I currently pay $450+ for an annual domestic/international policy with QBE, which includes hire car excess coverage (again domestic and overseas). The reason I have a paid policy was to ensure certain pre existing conditions are covered (and the relevant conditions are automatically covered by this policy, but not with the existing cc policies I had). I’ll look into this further, as if I could ditch the paid travel insurance that would tip the balance.

Thanks for the tips!

 

[Bell21]

My pleasure - your point re already earning points in qf and va/kf is well made - I guess it just shows that each member has a somewhat different business case on the card!

Are you aware though that you can do free and uncapped transfers between the different amex reward programs, which significantly increases the value of the platinum? (I don't know if it's always been that way though)

Reading the forums, some members appear to have got lucky with bonus points, but it sounds like a lottery dip

I hope the travel insurance angle works out for you!