Amex Platinum - no more free Travel+Leisure magazine

[Mal]

Just got my December T & L.... its the final one, and the editors note clearly states that the magazine is closing due to AMEX stopping its distribution as a platinum credit card benefit.

Hmm, Oh well. Like I said - it was a good flick through magazine and was handy to have on my desk at work (along with other travel guff that made people forget what they were there to see me about!)

Pity it's gone, but something that people will get over quickly.

I wonder how much Amex were paying them ? Maybe my estimation of 1/2-2/3rds of the subscription being Amex is actually a lot lower than reality...

 

[docjames]

I noted when reading it on the plane on friday that the editors column has declared the magazine will be ceasing production, due to the lack of Amex "sales" it has insufficient circulation to maintain publication.

 

[nlagalle]

Yes I read this last night that the December issue would be the last.

I was one of the people that enjoyed reading it too. I found some of the articles good reading, although I noticed that the page count dropped late last year which i think eroded the mag a bit.

Oh well, maybe another reason to add to the list of giving Amex the flick...

 

[Myrna]

This explanation is from littlenomads.com in October 2009:

"Rumours can now be confirmed that the Australian Travel + Leisure magazine is to be cancelled after December 2009 print run. After speaking with American Express they have confirmed that their members will receive another magazine in its place, still to be decided!
As an avid reader of this magazine it will be shame to see this magazine as it was great travel magazine covering great travel stories and articles from around the world. In today’s online world its getting easier to find out about destinations however the print magazine is great spot for travel enthusiasts to be swept up and read about destination that they may not thought of visiting. Thank you to the many journalist and travel writers that have kept me informed and entertained over the years through your writing.

Margret Simons of Crikey comments “The magazine brand was actually owned by American Express. Fairfax published the magazine under licence, and it was then distributed to the charge card’s “platinum” clients. Therefore Fairfax never put any effort into developing the magazine as a news-stand presence, which meant it had no chance of surviving once Amex, intent on cost cutting, withdrew its support”
​

Now for the RANT, Once again it was obviously a business decision made by someone to cancel. At this stage I would be thinking that AMEX were wanting to cut their costs and are looking for cheaper option to replace the magazine for their cardholders. However did they ask the cardholders … I don’t remember seeing or reading any news about the decision, except for the rumours then the article on Crikey.com
As a AMEX cardholder if I don’t get a equivalent offering or better deal, sadly I may just have to give up my luxury item of holding your card and receiving the benefits."

 

[Flashback]

Interesting it says Charge Card holders. Lots of us with mere credit cards receive it.

 

[Mal]

Interesting it says Charge Card holders. Lots of us with mere credit cards receive it.

Which makes the circulation stats from March (90,323) fairly pitiful for Amex.

Are there really only ~ 90,323 people in Australia who have a Centurion/Plat Charge/Plat Credit card ?

I thought it was much more widespread than that!

 

[gibspmuh]

Which makes the circulation stats from March (90,323) fairly pitiful for Amex.

Are there really only ~ 90,323 people in Australia who have a Centurion/Plat Charge/Plat Credit card ?

I thought it was much more widespread than that!

Those numbers don't surprise me that much, given it's only the personal cards that received the magazine, rather than anyone with a business or corporate platinum (which I'd guess makes up a larger percentage of cardholders). Keeping in mind even the Platinum Credit Card comes with a $395 per year price tag, which isn't a big issue to us in here, but for the average punter it seems to be enough to hold them back (well if my friends are anything to go on anyway ).

 

[serfty]

... Keeping in mind even the Platinum Credit Card comes with a $395 per year price tag, which isn't a big issue to us in here, but for the average punter it seems to be enough to hold them back (well if my friends are anything to go on anyway ).

Of course, that $395 includes the return O class domestic flights - anything from CBR-SYD-CBR to PER-SYD-PER. http://www.americanexpress.com/australia/pdfs/platinum_credit_terms_condition.pdf#page=18

 

[ejb]

Those numbers don't surprise me that much, given it's only the personal cards that received the magazine, rather than anyone with a business or corporate platinum (which I'd guess makes up a larger percentage of cardholders). Keeping in mind even the Platinum Credit Card comes with a $395 per year price tag, which isn't a big issue to us in here, but for the average punter it seems to be enough to hold them back (well if my friends are anything to go on anyway ).

Business Plat card also got the mag.

ejb

 

[Richarde]

I am not an AMX Platinum card holder but a Travel & Leisure subscriber since inception.

I received a letter last week from the publishers advising the magazine would be folding as American Express had cancelled its arrangement to distribute the magazine free of charge to its Platinum card holders.

The letter asked for my current amex card details so a refund of my subscription could be credited.

Richarde