Change in Platinum Card Travel Insurance?

[Stephen65]

I just rang ACE and got the same story. I have a trip booked using FF points from 23 June to 18 July. The ACE rep confirmed that this would be covered but that any trip booked after 15 June would need to be paid for entirely on the card to be covered.

I asked him to whom I should direct my negative feedback and he said Amex. He said the change to the terms and conditions are a decision of Amex.

My card's year expires in August and I will be cancelling if this change takes effect.

EDIT: rang Amex directly and they confirmed this is the case. Travel booked by any means prior to the change date will be covered. She indicated that this was one of a number of changes being made to the card and that we would be notified about them by a letter that Amex is in the process of sending to cardholders.

 

[deluxeflyer]

EDIT: rang Amex directly and they confirmed this is the case. Travel booked by any means prior to the change date will be covered. She indicated that this was one of a number of changes being made to the card and that we would be notified about them by a letter that Amex is in the process of sending to cardholders.

I don't like the sound of this.....

 

[Stephen65]

I don't like the sound of this.....

Neither did I. When she mentioned them I pushed reasonably hard for some detail of these changes but she said I should wait for the letter.

Looks like its time for me to go and read my CBA Diamond coverage or think about standalone policies again.

PS: I wonder if the coverage downgrade is also going to be applied to the Centurion?

 

[kpc]

I guess we have to wait and see what changes AMEX have in store,,,,from my point of view, there has to be a lot of positive changes to replace the (likely) loss of travel insurance (as it is currently) for me to even consider keeping the card...and I paid my annual fee of $900 just last month!

 

[Stephen65]

Same here. For me the single largest advantage of the Amex Plat Charge (cost $900) over say the CBA Diamond Amex (free) is the much better insurance coverage. This coverage is worth a lot when you are a family of four making several frequent flyer point funded trips a year. Without it the $900 becomes ridiculous.

 

[kamchatsky]

I don't like the sound of this.....

Maybe they will also drop the annual fee to say $450?!

Hmmm ....


OK, pigs will fly .....

 

[k3nnis]

Hi All,

Does this mean the AMEX Plat EDGE has the same type of insurance as AMEX Plat charge?

Also flights purchased using award points with the AMEX is still eligible? i.e. the taxes that we need to pay on award flights.

 

[Stephen65]

Hi All,
Also flights purchased using award points with the AMEX is still eligible? i.e. the taxes that we need to pay on award flights.

What I was told was that you would either need to pay for the trip using the card or pay for it with MR points. We should wait for the letter to see what the exact requirements are.

 

[serfty]

Hi All,

Does this mean the AMEX Plat EDGE has the same type of insurance as AMEX Plat charge?

Also flights purchased using award points with the AMEX is still eligible? i.e. the taxes that we need to pay on award flights.

You need to check the PDS, but I believe the answer would be no.

Of the mainstream AMEX products, only the Platinum Charge & the [-]Titanium[/-]Centurion have the facet currently where simply having the card was all that was required to activate the insurance.


Posted on a wing & a prayer

 

[MrSpokeyTokey]

What I'd like to know is whether Centurion holders are affected!

 

[zenjabba]

I'm also interested in finding out about Centurion as well.

 

[QF029]

I wonder what would happen if you signed up for the card today, received the bonus points, and then cancelled in outrage when the T&C's change to get the fee refunded?

 

[MrSpokeyTokey]

Gosh! Just rang ACE insurance via the Centurion number.
He said that from 15 June 2012, Centurion card holders will also need to pay for their trip to activate the travel insurance.
Furthermore, the travel insurance is only for the primary holder and their immediate family (spouse & kids).
Supplementary card holders will not be covered for travel insurance.

Grr! Makes you wonder what the $4300/year is for!

 

[11sjw]

I'm also interested in finding out about Centurion as well.

Ring and ask would be the best way to go.

Looking into it more I think the Qantas Card will work for us. Still get 1.5pts/$1 and Travel Insuance is activated if you use the card or QFF points to pay for the travel.

 

[zenjabba]

Ring and ask would be the best way to go.

I did, and same for Centurion... I'll downgrade to a green card moving forward, as I don't need any of the other services. Was a great policy whilst it lasted.

I'm actually looking at external travel policies now, and they are not bad prices... I wonder how Amex think they can charge $4000 odd a year and keep cutting services.

 

[kamchatsky]

I did, and same for Centurion... I'll downgrade to a green card moving forward, as I don't need any of the other services. Was a great policy whilst it lasted.

I'm actually looking at external travel policies now, and they are not bad prices... I wonder how Amex think they can charge $4000 odd a year and keep cutting services.

It is called the W factor.

 

[Stephen65]

Looking into it more I think the Qantas Card will work for us. Still get 1.5pts/$1 and Travel Insuance is activated if you use the card or QFF points to pay for the travel.

I've just had another look at the CBA Diamond policy. It gives you cover for an international journey if you put at least $950 of prepaid travel expenses on the card. So you could prepay $950 worth of say hotel stays on the card, use FF points for your tickets and be covered.

In many cases that'll be easier to activate than a requirement that you pay for your ticket on the card.

 

[Stephen65]

I did, and same for Centurion... I'll downgrade to a green card moving forward, as I don't need any of the other services. Was a great policy whilst it lasted.

I'm actually looking at external travel policies now, and they are not bad prices... I wonder how Amex think they can charge $4000 odd a year and keep cutting services.

I'm surprised. I expected Amex would keep the Centurion coverage the same so as to create a point of distinction from the Platinum and encourage people to upgrade.

 

[kamchatsky]

I've just had another look at the CBA Diamond policy. It gives you cover for an international journey if you put at least $950 of prepaid travel expenses on the card. So you could prepay $950 worth of say hotel stays on the card, use FF points for your tickets and be covered.

In many cases that'll be easier to activate than a requirement that you pay for your ticket on the card.

ANZ Platinum cards have $250 requirement for spend before insurance is activated. But did find QBE harder to deal with in terms of claims.

 

[11sjw]

I've just had another look at the CBA Diamond policy. It gives you cover for an international journey if you put at least $950 of prepaid travel expenses on the card. So you could prepay $950 worth of say hotel stays on the card, use FF points for your tickets and be covered.

In many cases that'll be easier to activate than a requirement that you pay for your ticket on the card.

I was thinking that being able to pay with QFF points is a big win for my family and I as that is how we paid for our upcoming holiday (well 80% of it) and will most likely pay for all flights for PER-HKG for 2013 with points.