AMEX Platinum Concierge Gone

[mrtupperware]

I noticed the plat concierge benefit isn’t on the website any more (tickets for shows, restaurants bookings etc) is gone. Amex also confirmed this over the phone (now available only to Centurion)

Has there been an announcement? Or any communication about this?

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

Another "Enhancement "

 

[0x012fd0aa]

I asked for travel advice 2 months ago by email. and it is a very basic/helpless response... not as good as before I reckon

 

[Human]

I'm a "lowly" Platinum card holder (not Centurion) and I called them last weekend about getting tickets to Gaslight in Melbourne for next year. They emailed back with a comprehensive response including dates, which seats were available and offering to purchase the tickets for me.

So it appears to be business as usual from my perspective.

 

[Steamrollersam]

I got help for restaurant bookings in Sydney over the weekend and in Japan two weeks ago, and Bruno Mars concert tickets last month.

 

[mrtupperware]

Interesting, I called them for Coldplay tickets and they said it was cancelled

 

[aus_flyer]

I've been emailing Amex Travel all week and they haven't replied

 

[lovestotravel]

I've been emailing Amex Travel all week and they haven't replied

They are hopeless, I like spamming them with my "resend my itinerary" from Virgin Australia, after about 50 attempts they usually forward it to me

 

[dcooper]

Well just received the email about platinum concierge only now for travel. Well it seems as if platinum customers are not important customers but have to cop a $1450 fee…

Time to look around.

What are your thoughts?

 

[n7of9]

I just opened a Westpac Black Velocity for the sign on bonus. I've had the card previously, but this time they are really pushing the concierge service and I was pleased to see that all offerings are available on a dedicated website, which for me makes it easier to peruse. I wonder if it's in response to Westpac knowing the AMEX concierge service was being enhanced?

Points earn rate is poor, but an extra 30K VFF on year 2 will definitely sway me to keep the card for 14 months.

 

[Dasha]

Yep, just got the same email. not really happy about the annual fee now that the benefits are being digitised into DIY. The benefits are truly being watered down now with no Shangri La Jade status either. Pay more get less. Did they employ somone from Woolworths ?

 

[Franko Costa]

I find them very slow and not that great so doesn't bother me

 

[masco131]

They have no competitor in the Aussie market tbh. The closest rival is CITI but have more or less non-existent transfer partners. I have never used the concierge, so it does not even bother me a bit.

 

[dcooper]

The concierge service was amazing if you knew how to extract value out of it. I’ve had dinner reservations done across the world, gifts delivered and even them being able to help me on a trip to find a restaurant or recommend things to do. The app doesn’t provide that same level of service. Anyone can download the app it’s not protected behind a login so a green card has the same access as a platinum card member. Amex on my opinion has lost its way. The biggest question we should have is what’s next? The email announcing this change was not great and was arrogant, the app notifications work of MST time so you get alerted late to special events and then they are sold out. Amex has truely lost its way.

 

[tmdl]

The concierge service was amazing if you knew how to extract value out of it. I’ve had dinner reservations done across the world, gifts delivered and even them being able to help me on a trip to find a restaurant or recommend things to do. The app doesn’t provide that same level of service. Anyone can download the app it’s not protected behind a login so a green card has the same access as a platinum card member. Amex on my opinion has lost its way. The biggest question we should have is what’s next? The email announcing this change was not great and was arrogant, the app notifications work of MST time so you get alerted late to special events and then they are sold out. Amex has truely lost its way.

I agree, I found them very good to do a few things like book a specific room in a resort and get dinner reservations at Dinner by Heston in London back in 2017.

I found the service to be lacking after COVID lockdowns and they couldnt book anything and often referred you to the restaurants website to book direct and I even got told to book directly with the hotel.

They must be adding some other perks as this is a big part of WHY amex was so good

 

[albyd]

I think Amex have been milking it in AU for some time and as competition continues to fall away (like Diners who weren't really competition but were the only other Charge card) they don't need to do quite as much to retain that leadership.

I'm not quite so sure we'll get anything to replace it - certainly not anything better ... hope I'm wrong and will be corrected.

 

[tmdl]

I think Amex have been milking it in AU for some time and as competition continues to fall away (like Diners who weren't really competition but were the only other Charge card) they don't need to do quite as much to retain that leadership.

I'm not quite so sure we'll get anything to replace it - certainly not anything better ... hope I'm wrong and will be corrected.

I just wonder how many value the concierge service has in regards to the annual fee. Amex removed Shangri La Jade membership but replaced it with Accor Plus which I prefer

But surely they cant remove a big perk and then leave a gaping hole with no other added benefit?

 

[0x012fd0aa]

I just wonder how many value the concierge service has in regards to the annual fee. Amex removed Shangri La Jade membership but replaced it with Accor Plus which I prefer

But surely they cant remove a big perk and then leave a gaping hole with no other added benefit?

Why can't they if no one else doing such life style concierge anyway...

 

[muppet]

I just wonder how many value the concierge service has in regards to the annual fee. Amex removed Shangri La Jade membership but replaced it with Accor Plus which I prefer

But surely they cant remove a big perk and then leave a gaping hole with no other added benefit?

I think AccorPlus arrived a few years before Shangri-La Jade was cut? I think AccorPlus added in 2018 but Shangri-la Jade ended in 2021.

AccorPlus coincided with an increase in the annual fee from $1200 to $1450… so we paid for that addition.

 

[tmdl]

Why can't they if no one else doing such life style concierge anyway...

Very true

Post automatically merged: Mar 15, 2024

I think AccorPlus arrived a few years before Shangri-La Jade was cut? I think AccorPlus added in 2018 but Shangri-la Jade ended in 2021.

AccorPlus coincided with an increase in the annual fee from $1200 to $1450… so we paid for that addition.

You may be right, I cant remember but the perks are definitely getting worse