Change in Platinum Card Travel Insurance?

[skywalkerLAX]

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?

Are you serious?? Amex put up a stink because you put 6K on your card? I'm aware that the soft-limit of the card is a product of the spending history but 6k... That's ridiculous!

 

[Netty]

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?

What kind of upset? Was it overdue or is this a new account? I've put up to $ 40,000 on the Plat Charge Card some months and have never had a call.

 

[straitman]

What kind of upset? Was it overdue or is this a new account? I've put up to $ 40,000 on the Plat Charge Card some months and have never had a call.

I think you have it right. When I first got card they contacted me in a similar manner when I ran up a similar amount over a few days in the first month. I paid most of it off immediately and have not had an issue since.

 

[Stephen65]

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?

I am surprised they gave you the card in the first place if a $6K transaction was going to cause them any sort of concern. Perhaps it was what you spent it on that alarmed them rather than the amount.

I think you have it right. When I first got card they contacted me in a similar manner when I ran up a large amount in the first month. I paid most of it off immediately and have not had an issue since.

I wanted to put a large transaction (about $40K IIRC) through in my first month so I rang them in advance and sounded them out because I was pretty sure that would be over my initial soft limit. Their proposal was that I pay $20K into the card and then they would authorise the $40K. It all went through and since then they have authorised larger transactions with no issues.

 

[Deleted member]

Just got off the phone from AMEX (and thier Insurance people) it would appear that I and Mrs GPH (and any dependant children under 25YO) are covered by the travel insurance "IF" I pay for tyhe travel with my Platiunum card OR I use FF miles that can be demonstrated that at some point in the past I have transferred sufficient points across to (in this case) Qantas for the travel. Supplementarey card holders are excluded. all this ticks over on the 15th June. so on the surface NOT a lot of changes, BUT should I choose to fly with another airline I need to pay with the card

 

[awilcockson]

Are you serious?? Amex put up a stink because you put 6K on your card? I'm aware that the soft-limit of the card is a product of the spending history but 6k... That's ridiculous!

What kind of upset? Was it overdue or is this a new account? I've put up to $ 40,000 on the Plat Charge Card some months and have never had a call.

Ridiculous indeed. After being sucked in with the "this is our super special no credit limit card", I was amazed to get a phone call 1 day after receiving my first statement telling me that "they were uncomfortable with the outstanding balance of my card" and "wondering when I was going to pay it off?".

My opinion of Amex was instantly tarnished, and this latest episode is the final nail in the coffin.

fwiw, I have a $12K credit limit on my EDR card ...

 

[Stephen65]

Just got off the phone from AMEX (and thier Insurance people) it would appear that I and Mrs GPH (and any dependant children under 35 YO) are covered by the travel insurance "IF" I pay for tyhe travel with my Platiunum card OR I use FF miles that can be demonstrated that at some point in the past I have transferred sufficient points across to (in this case) Qantas for the travel.

So if you need to make a claim while still overseas when you ring them up you better be able to demonstrate the source of the FF points you used to buy the tickets? I don't want to be standing in the foyer of an overseas hospital arguing over the phone about where the QFF points I used for our tickets came from. Am I supposed to take printouts of my card and QFF account transactions with me in case I need to do this?

Or do you ask for a letter of confirmation of cover before you leave Australia?

 

[exp1k]

I don't quite understand the problem about flights booked with miles. Don't you always have to pay taxes when you book an award flight?
Just pay the taxes with your AMEX and you should be covered. Or is this excluded?

 

[awilcockson]

Don't you always have to pay taxes when you book an award flight?

Not with xASAs.

Besides, the wording specifically says the entire airfare must be paid with the card. If 95% of the cost is covered by points, then you aren't paying the entire fare on the card ... too much wiggle room for getting out of a claim if you ask me.

 

[Deleted member]

So if you need to make a claim while still overseas when you ring them up you better be able to demonstrate the source of the FF points you used to buy the tickets? I don't want to be standing in the foyer of an overseas hospital arguing over the phone about where the QFF points I used for our tickets came from. Am I supposed to take printouts of my card and QFF account transactions with me in case I need to do this?

Or do you ask for a letter of confirmation of cover before you leave Australia?

This did cross my mind.
Unless there is some full proof way of ensuring this up front, maybe an email contact to Amex ? I agree that arguing from the hospital foyer is an act of futility, mind you if I pay the bill with Amex and they reimburse me, maybe I can earn some Amex points while making a claim?

It's all a bit of a concern to me.

 

[Deleted member]

Not with xASAs.

Besides, the wording specifically says the entire airfare must be paid with the card. If 95% of the cost is covered by points, then you aren't paying the entire fare on the card ... too much wiggle room for getting out of a claim if you ask me.

No apparently the points transfer works as well. As explained to me by the guy from the insurer

 

[turtlemichael]

Many questions arise for me which will I guess depend on the wording and it's interpretation. However, a bit of early speculation in true AFF fashion never goes astray.

1. How do I identify where points come from when they will always, for me, be a combination of MR and QF points.

2. What if I transfer MR points to an airline FF scheme and they give me a bonus eg the current 30% VS offer.

3. Is a "trip" only the airfares? Does it include hotels, restaurants, other transportation?

4. What if a taxi which does not accept credit cards has an accident and I am injured?

5. What if I get food poisoning in a restaurant that does not accept Amex?

Like most people I will need full transparency before I take the risk of travelling with Amex insurance. If don't have insurance my card which says I've been a member since 1982 will be chopped up.

 

[Deleted member]

So the short answer is what are my alternatives?
I need at least 1.5 points per $spend , with a high annual limit ($200,000 + PA)
Some ancillary benefits would be nice like the priority pass etc. a Low annual fee ( so I can afford my annual travel insurance policy again) would be good as well.
Bear in mind I transfer my points to QF so needs to be qantas compatible.
Any ideas?

 

[Deleted member]

Many questions arise for me which will I guess depend on the wording and it's interpretation. However, a bit of early speculation in true AFF fashion never goes astray.

1. How do I identify where points come from when they will always, for me, be a combination of MR and QF points.

2. What if I transfer MR points to an airline FF scheme and they give me a bonus eg the current 30% VS offer.

3. Is a "trip" only the airfares? Does it include hotels, restaurants, other transportation?

4. What if a taxi which does not accept credit cards has an accident and I am injured?

5. What if I get food poisoning in a restaurant that does not accept Amex?

Like most people I will need full transparency before I take the risk of travelling with Amex insurance. If don't have insurance my card which says I've been a member since 1982 will be chopped up.

I agree. Time for a change I think

 

[exp1k]

4. What if a taxi which does not accept credit cards has an accident and I am injured?

Taxis will be excluded anyway as you usually pay a taxi only after the trip is over. Whenever an accident occurs you won't have paid for the trip yet.
Unless the accident occurs while you get out of the taxi after having paid.

What is the exact wording about having to pay for the entire trip using amex? When I book an award flight, the flight is usually free (i.e. the fare is zero) and the total cost are the taxes and surcharges, which I pay using my amex card.

 

[turtlemichael]

Taxis will be excluded anyway as you usually pay a taxi only after the trip is over.

I pre-pay the taxi at the booking desk at the airport. They don't take Amex. The question is what is meant by "trip". If it all travel, for example, I would not be covered for getting to my hotel. Therefore thc insurance is less than complete and useless. I'll want to know the answers to such questions before June 15.

 

[turtlemichael]

I'm not certain that the revised terms and conditions, now on the website, have been linked yet.

https://secure.cmax.americanexpress...Platinum/au/en/Benefits/PDF/Insurance_TCs.pdf

 

[TtiGeR]

Just called AMEX and the service rep was very understanding. She said she already had a long document today with all customers' feedback, disappointment and concerns about the new insurance policies. She said that cardholders should ring them to let them know that this is not good and their senior management does take (large amount of similar) feedback seriously. She said the reason that the change was made is that all other Platinum cards (issued by banks) do not offer travel insurance as comprehensive as the Plat Charge card prior to the change. On the other hand, she agreed that no other Platinum card has a comparable annual fee in the market.

She recommended:
1. Book & pay your next holiday in advance. So you will at least be covered for another family trip.
2. Call, write, email them your concerns. The more cardholders complains, the more likely they will do something.

Even if you have only 5 minutes, please do give them a call and express your concerns. Also please do tell other cardholders you know. Lots of people simply ignore bank letters.

 

[TtiGeR]

I'm not certain that the revised terms and conditions, now on the website, have been linked yet.

https://secure.cmax.americanexpress...Platinum/au/en/Benefits/PDF/Insurance_TCs.pdf

I believe it is the new one. It has the same date as the hard copy I received today.

 

[moa999]

Its a definition with so many holes that they could drive a Mack truck through.

From the T&Cs
Activation: Cover is effective when You pay the full fare for a Trip on the Amer Plat Charge or with Amex MR points.
Trip is defined as Domestic (>150km from residence) or International. Both state : "for which the full fare has been charged to an Amex Plat Account (or paid for with the equivalent Amex MR points).

Full fare is not defined anywhere in the T&Cs... What if you change routing somewhere and pay a change fee where Amex is not accepted. What about the taxi examples described above.

The letter goes further on the points but this is not incorporated in T&Cs "You will also be covered if youve transferred your MR points to an airline rewards partner program or used points to pay for full fare through one of our travel agent partners"
This is listed on the front page and the changes in details.

Changes in details also states "full fare (internation/domestic flights or cruise) potentially suggesting that only the air/sea component is considered full fare but again this isnt in the T&Cs so isnt worth the paper it is printed on.

Frankly very disappointing these changes from ACE/ Amex.... and provide me with no confidence that this is a policy I would be able to rely on.

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At a minimum clarifications needed on:
What is "full fare"
How are transferred points covered. Say I have 30k QFF points, transfer 100k from Amex, in the meantime earn another 10k, then 2 months later redeem a trip for 80k points plus $400 on Amex. Is this covered or is there some FIFO/LIFO style treatment? What if the award costs 110k points.