Change in Platinum Card Travel Insurance?

[kamchatsky]

The letter with the amended insurance terms arrived today !!

Open the mailbox and get your surprises people...

Here some bullet points:

-You will need to pay for your travel charges with your AX Charge Card
-Supplementary Card holders will NO LONGER be included under the travel insurance cover (exc. Spouse & Children)
-Travel Cancellation Cover now only covers cxl due to unforeseen event
-Claims of Medical Emergency Expenses, Resumption of Journey Cover, Baggage/Money/Doc Cover, Travel Cxl Cover now have a deductible of 250$ !!

So I assume that there will be a mass exodus of AFFers from this card?

 

[awilcockson]

Bye Bye Amex!

 

[Stephen65]

The letter with the amended insurance terms arrived today !!

Open the mailbox and get your surprises people...

Here some bullet points:

-You will need to pay for your travel charges with your AX Charge Card
-Supplementary Card holders will NO LONGER be included under the travel insurance cover (exc. Spouse & Children)
-Travel Cancellation Cover now only covers cxl due to unforeseen event
-Claims of Medical Emergency Expenses, Resumption of Journey Cover, Baggage/Money/Doc Cover, Travel Cxl Cover now have a deductible of 250$ !!

I was reading a FT thread describing a very similar change to coverage made in January to the UK Plat charge card so I was expecting something like this.

However their new deductible is only 50 pounds and it doesn't apply to medical expenses. Looks like Amex Australia has gone out of their way to screw us even more.

So I assume that there will be a mass exodus of AFFers from this card?

I have a few points to transfer and a holiday to go on that's covered by the old policy but then I am gone from Amex entirely.

 

[awilcockson]

I have a few points to transfer and a holiday to go on that's covered by the old policy but then I am gone from Amex entirely.

Me too.

And I will never, ever have another Amex product. Very poor form Amex.

 

[skywalkerLAX]

So I assume that there will be a mass exodus of AFFers from this card?

Those eligible might want to look into transferring their account to another country if that suits their spending patterns.

I personally do not see the value anymore in a 900$ card given the cutbacks, maybe local alternatives would be the Westpac Singapore Airlines Card Duo, the Platinum Edge or simply the Gold Charge Card.

 

[Netty]

This is bad. Almost all of my Trips to Europe are using QFF Points. Obviously these 'free' trips won't be covered anymore. See Ya!

 

[skywalkerLAX]

I was reading a FT thread describing a very similar change to coverage made in January to the UK Plat charge card so I was expecting something like this.

However their new deductible is only 50 pounds and it doesn't apply to medical expenses. Looks like Amex Australia has gone out of their way to screw us even more.

I have a few points to transfer and a holiday to go on that's covered by the old policy but then I am gone from Amex entirely.

Also, let's not forget that the UK Card has an annual fee of 'only' 300 GBP.

 

[kamchatsky]

Those eligible might want to look into transferring their account to another country if that suits their spending patterns.

I personally do not see the value anymore in a 900$ card given the cutbacks, maybe local alternatives would be the Westpac Singapore Airlines Card Duo, the Platinum Edge or simply the Gold Charge Card.

I have all three Amex Plat cards. Looks like I will say bye bye to Amex Plat Charge and also the "free" Reserve CC. I intend to keep the Edge card for now.

The question is given I will have used my card for almost half a year will I get $900 back, or pro-rata?

 

[Stephen65]

Those eligible might want to look into transferring their account to another country if that suits their spending patterns.

I personally do not see the value anymore in a 900$ card given the cutbacks, maybe local alternatives would be the Westpac Singapore Airlines Card Duo, the Platinum Edge or simply the Gold Charge Card.

Problem with getting a different country's Amex card is that you have to settle your account in a foreign currency and so pay forex charges on the AUD you convert to pay the account.

I can get the Amex Edge or Reserve CC's cheaply through my professional association but I am so annoyed by this that I want to divest myself from Amex forever. In any event I don't see anything that those cards have that I can't get through a top tier bank issued card like a CBA Diamond which is free and now appears to offer better insurance coverage than any Amex card.

PS: At this point in time I am extremely glad I turned down the Centurion last year. To pay $4300 for downgraded insurance cover would have made me livid.

 

[skywalkerLAX]

I have all three Amex Plat cards. Looks like I will say bye bye to Amex Plat Charge and also the "free" Reserve CC. I intend to keep the Edge card for now.

The question is given I will have used my card for almost half a year will I get $900 back, or pro-rata?

I tested the waters... called and gave them some friendly words for consideration. They only offered a pro-Rata refund, no consolation offer like MR points or credit to keep the card. Seems like they deliberately want to lower their member base of the Platinum Card. Strange...

 

[kamchatsky]

I tested the waters... called and gave them some friendly words for consideration. They only offered a pro-Rata refund, no consolation offer like MR points or credit to keep the card. Seems like they deliberately want to lower their member base of the Platinum Card. Strange...

I guess it makes sense. Most people would have used the benefit of the card anyway. I certainly did when I made my claim on travel insurance earlier this year. It more than covered the annual fee a number of times over.

For 1 AFFer leaving there is probably another 9 (or more) Amex Plat card holders not aware or don't care about the change.

 

[exp1k]

Isn't it nice of AMEX to offer those who cancel now a "golden handshake" with all these MR bonuses in March?

 

[Stephen65]

This is bad. Almost all of my Trips to Europe are using QFF Points. Obviously these 'free' trips won't be covered anymore. See Ya!

Same here - to date QFF points but soon to include a *Alliance award trip. In both cases we would no longer be covered.

Apparently the Qantas/Amex card covers flights on QFF points as well as those paid for by the card so that's one option. Otherwise I'll have to ensure my CBA Diamond cover is triggered by prepaying at least $950 of expenses on it or get a standalone policy.

 

[Ricardo]

This is just another devalue of this particular card in my opinion. I mean last year or when ever they adjusted the payment due dates and tightened up on so called 'late fees', give 80k bonus points for new members and ignore those of us who have been members since 1999, then decide oh well no more insurance unless you pay using the card, I am going to write in yet again and express my opinion. It must be costing them more in claims or something?? Anybody seen the Amex share price in the US of late ???
So I will be checking very carefully at renewal time as to what my position will be, oh and I got an offer Sept last year for a Cent card.........

 

[oz_mark]

Everyone is simply stating they will cancel the card but have people thought through the other aspects of this card?
The extra years warranty on items purchased, the ability to send FF points to any program, etc.

Of course one need to look at this as a package. However, travel insurance was a major factor in the decison to have the card, and since many of the benefits are attainable through other means, for me, holding the card becomes a weaker proposition.

 

[straitman]

Timing is everything :!:
My new card arrived in the mail today. I think at this stage I'll continue with it until the change occurs but I will watch closely what occurs.
I'm thinking that my use will pretty much stop immediately though.

 

[skywalkerLAX]

I think this more about the principle that Amex milks this cow and cuts back the actual benefits more and more...

Do you guys really purchase that much travel with different cards even though you have the Amex Plat?

 

[Netty]

Isn't it nice of AMEX to offer those who cancel now a "golden handshake" with all these MR bonuses in March?

Can you please explain? I haven't got the time to go back through this entire thread right now, however, your MR Bonuses comment caught my eye.

 

[awilcockson]

Do you guys really purchase that much travel with different cards even though you have the Amex Plat?

As I stated earlier, I would happily put my travel on the card except that:

1. I wouldn't be covered for reward flights,
2. My corporate travel policy means I can't put my flights on my personal card, and
3. Even if I could, Amex got upset when I ran up $6K of debt on my Plat Charge Card! so how am I supposed to pay for a $12K J return to Europe?

 

[Deleted member]

As I stated earlier, I would happily put my travel on the card except that:

1. I wouldn't be covered for reward flights,
2. My corporate travel policy means I can't put my flights on my personal card, and
3. Even if I could, Amex got upset when I ran up $6K of debt on my Plat Charge Card! so how am I supposed to pay for a $12K J return to Europe?

They got upset with $6,000.00 ?!!! thats strange. we regularly put amounts like that through, no issues !!