Another benefit lost - platinum

[dcooper]

An excerpt from my statement

Notice of Changesto Your PlatinumCard Benefits- Access to American Airlines Admiral's Club Loungesand
US Airways Club
Effective March 21, 2014 Platinum Card Members will no longer receive complimentary access to American Airlines’
Admirals Club lounges and to US Airways’ Club locations as a Card benefit.
Card Members who qualify for Admirals Club lounge access under American Airlines' access policies and/or those who
qualify for US Airways Club access under US Airway's access policies will continue to receive such access in
accordance with those policies.
You will continue to receive complimentary access to Delta Sky Club’, American Express lounges, Virgin Australia
Domestic lounges as well as access to more than 600 VIP lounges worldwide with Priority Pass0 membership. For details
and terms and conditions visit: americanexpress.com.au/platinumlounges

 

[mitwg]

I was expecting this to happen since they told the US cardmembers about this a while ago. However at the same time, I think the US guys got some statement credit or something as a form of compensation whereas I am not too sure if that will translate the same for AU cardmembers.

Personally, I don't see this as a big loss since I'm OWE/*G anyway but it is disappointing to see benefits watering down especially when the annual fee has just increased.

 

[maninblack]

Card Members who qualify for Admirals Club lounge access under American Airlines' access policies and/or those who
qualify for US Airways Club access under US Airway's access policies will continue to receive such access in
accordance with those policies.

Really!

 

[casanovawa]

So which Amex plat card do these benefits apply to??? Wonder if they apply to an ANZ Amex Plat card???

 

[fersea]

I was expecting this to happen since they told the US cardmembers about this a while ago. However at the same time, I think the US guys got some statement credit or something as a form of compensation whereas I am not too sure if that will translate the same for AU cardmembers.

Personally, I don't see this as a big loss since I'm OWE/*G anyway but it is disappointing to see benefits watering down especially when the annual fee has just increased.

whilst we we have Marco Polo gold we have admirals club and I think most US airways are part if priority pass so not really a loss for the primary cardholder but a loss for the supp card holder who doesn't get MPG.

 

[serfty]

So which Amex plat card do these benefits apply to??? Wonder if they apply to an ANZ Amex Plat card???

Amex Platinum Charge Card (+Centurian)

 

[amaroo]

I saw a couple of Centurian lounges (from the outside) in LOTFAP over the past month....given there is no AA lounge in LAS it looked OK - but no where near 5K worth!

 

[mitwg]

I saw a couple of Centurian lounges (from the outside) in LOTFAP over the past month....given there is no AA lounge in LAS it looked OK - but no where near 5K worth!

You actually get lounge access as a plat charge holder

 

[amaroo]

You actually get lounge access as a plat charge holder

What's that worth these days? .

Is it still $900 bucks pa? Thats what the invitation said about 20 years ago.....threw it in the bin.

 

[mitwg]

Its $1200 atm, recently gone up from $900. I downgraded from the Cent late last year and to me, the card does pay for itself through the FHR benefits alone (maybe I'm crazy) and I don't really care about the remaining benefits other than concierge bookings for partner restaurants.

But I figured if I'm going to spend $10-20k each year on hotels, the FHR benefits easily outweigh the annual fee alone.

 

[serfty]

You actually get lounge access as a plat charge holder

Of course, that ends on 21 March.

Not all is lost at LAS however, since "The Lounge at LAS" locations are Priority Pass lounges and platinum card holders get complimentary included PP membership. (you must take steps to enrol though)

 

[Mal]

I tried out an Amex lounge in Mexico city. While some drinks were self service, unless you had a Cent card the fees for everything else was pretty high. £15 for a glass of champagne for example.

 

[pugwombat]

D'oh! I've been spending all this dosh on my regular CommBank Amex card and getting nothing but CommBank points in return. I did get a coffee maker a few years ago... and a small cashback... but at least $80k is going through in airfares and I get nothing much at all for these. If only I'd discovered this years ago.