"Enhancements" to MR earn on Platinum Card, Reserve & Centurian

[TonyHancock]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

I need to sit down and work the actual numbers out. I don't pay anything to the ATO on credit cards, and about two thirds of my spend is travel related, so in theory I am just the sort of chap Amex wants to have on it's books as a Plat card holder.

........but the proposed arrangements just don't work for me. The bulk of my airline spend is QF and that goes to my Ultimate card for the 2.5 points per dollar...or if it is QF overseas it goes to my HSBC Plat card for the 2 points a dollar.

All of my overseas travel costs go to the HSBC Plat card.* I know both of these cards are direct sweep to QF but that suits me I absolutely need to put QF points towards JASA's and FASA's.

In Australia I use my Citibank Business Gold Visa to pay for IHG stays for the 5 times points, and for anywhere else where Amex isn't accepted. That nets me 1.25 points per $.

I currently use the Amex Plat Charge Card for utility and telco bills and general shopping and for my Hilton Australia stays. (Which are not often!)

By dropping the plat card I will lose out on my DJ spend in Australia and my Hilton Australia charges.

So my initial take is that for the traveller who flies QF and stays in IHG hotels in Australia there are better alternatives providing you don't mind direct sweep.

I'll also get to save $900 per year.

Priority Pass has been of no use this year. I have used it four times in two years. There is no benefit in DJ lounge access I already have that as a DJ Plat. The CX Gold, or whatever it is, is not much use to me, and the insurance that was handy for my JASA's has gone.

I think the time has come to focus on my Everyday Rewards points collection!!!


*The HSBC Plat card is a newish addition for me and apart from the 20,000 points sign on bonus I was attracted by the 2 points per $ overseas spend. Whilst I had not made a firm decision this was the first step on the path to doing away with the Amex plat card following the insurance enhancement.

 

[Keith009]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

I'll actually be better off on the new earn rates as the vast majority of my higher value transactions will now earn me 3 or 2 Points / $ as opposed to 1.5 Points. However slightly annoyed that my Optus bill and council rates will now earn less Points, which means I'll probably switch to another FOP for some of these transactions as they come with a surcharge for using credit cards. Don't really care about ATO as the amounts I put through are insignificant. You win some, you lose some...

I have cancelled my Charge card primarily due to insurance coverage reduction. I can get an annual multi trip insurance policy through work for my partner and I for $200. The complimentary hotel and CX tiers don't hold much value for me as I have same/equivalent status with airlines and hotels in my own right; I don't really hire a lot of cars.

I am still holding on to the Platinum Reserve credit card as it works better on the whole for my spending patterns than before. Plus they gave me a free Gold charge card which i find most handy for hotel pre-auths (one of the reasons why I liked the Platinum Charge card).

Tempted to get one of the Citibank cards for everyday spend (probably Platinum) but am very apprehensive about their poor processes and customer service.

 

[k3nnis]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Hi Keith,

Can I ask what is a hotel pre-auth?

I'll actually be better off on the new earn rates as the vast majority of my higher value transactions will now earn me 3 or 2 Points / $ as opposed to 1.5 Points. However slightly annoyed that my Optus bill and council rates will now earn less Points, which means I'll probably switch to another FOP for some of these transactions as they come with a surcharge for using credit cards. Don't really care about ATO as the amounts I put through are insignificant. You win some, you lose some...

I have cancelled my Charge card primarily due to insurance coverage reduction. I can get an annual multi trip insurance policy through work for my partner and I for $200. The complimentary hotel and CX tiers don't hold much value for me as I have same/equivalent status with airlines and hotels in my own right; I don't really hire a lot of cars.

I am still holding on to the Platinum Reserve credit card as it works better on the whole for my spending patterns than before. Plus they gave me a free Gold charge card which i find most handy for hotel pre-auths (one of the reasons why I liked the Platinum Charge card).

Tempted to get one of the Citibank cards for everyday spend (probably Platinum) but am very apprehensive about their poor processes and customer service.

 

[Keith009]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Hi Keith,

Can I ask what is a hotel pre-auth?

The authorisation hold a hotel puts on your card, covering your room charges and incidentals, when you check into a hotel. The funds are held in "reserve" until actual payment is made upon check out. I prefer to use a charge card for this to avoid inhibiting credit limits, as the extra on hold for incidentals can be substantial depending on the hotel. Idea is to use the Gold charge card for the pre authorisations and the Reserve for the actual payment.

 

[Flashback]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

I did forget one important point in my original post, which I've only just remembered: as part of the conversation about the changes to the Plat cards, my account manager did mention that there are some other "product changes" coming through shortly which she thought I would (genuinely) like but she couldn't tell me about quite yet.

In addition to this and similar to yesterday where they 'revealed' these changes through the T&Cs posted for the credit card, the Plat Charge website doesn't seem to say much about lounge access, however the T&Cs at the bottom indicate that we will now have access to Virgin lounges when traveling on Virgin, just by showing our card...

As someone has mentioned earlier, there will also be the opportunity to purchase points in some circumstances.

------------------
EDIT: My mistake, these changes are in the 'Platinum Travel' section and I was looking under rewards. Their websites show all the Terms on the bottom of each page, regardless of whether the main content is actually on that page or not :shock:

Travel changes are

• Introducing the NEW Platinum Fare Guarantee Enjoy travelling even more knowing you paid the best available fare in First and Business Class to international destinations. With our Platinum Fare Guarantee+ if you find the same fare for less elsewhere, we'll match it.
• Experience Virgin Lounge Access Beginning immediately, you'll enjoy access to Virgin Australia lounges too. Every time you fly Virgin Australia, the doors will open for you at their lounges throughout Australia++.

I hope that the 2 changes mentioned there are not the "product changes" that were coming through that you may be interested in. If so, nothing to see, move along....

 

[auriga]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Don't like these changes at all!
Definitely will need to consider alternative cards now.

 

[wafliron]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Its not clear - I've already complained to Amex that this website is not clearly worded and should be revised to clearly state what the points earn is...

I get your point re the 1pt/$1 - maybe it is one point thereafter and no bonus points for anything else

Completely agree that the website isn't clear . That being said, the fact that my account manager told me 1 pt per $1 uncapped (excl. ATO/utilities/etc), as per my post which started this thread, gives me confidence that 1pt per $1 is the correct interpretation.

Tempted to get one of the Citibank cards for everyday spend (probably Platinum) but am very apprehensive about their poor processes and customer service.

Do it - and I'd suggest the CitiBusiness Gold instead of the Platinum. Their application process can be a bit ****ty at times, but ongoing customer service is fine.

I hope that the 2 changes mentioned there are not the "product changes" that were coming through that you may be interested in. If so, nothing to see, move along....

They're not

 

[Deleted member]

So which is the best card for ATO payments. ?

 

[serfty]

Depend on where you want to put your points ... Westpac Earth Platinum Amex still gives 1½ ppd - but you need to want to earn on QFF.

Of course, there's the Visa's & Mastecards that cost 0.48¢ per ATO $ that can earn 1:1.

 

[aschmid]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

I think the whole change is to flush out all the average transactors and people with their own ABNs to pay ATO bills etc. They want Amex Plat Charge card to be used for frequent travellers, and reinstate its "class" above other average CCs. In Asia they see Amex Plat Charge card as high status hence they probably want to reinforce it.

I actually think this change is to flush out the business transactors that are putting business expenses through the personal AMEX cards racking up an enormous amount of points. The personal cards are not intended for business transaction and hence the drop in utilities and ATO to 1:0.5.

I agree that in some AP countries the card is still "by invitation only" and kind of a status symbol but that long gone in the US and Europe as well as here in Australia. Reversing that trend would be really hard especially since AMEX has spend heaps amount of money to get their "Platinum Card" into mainstream advertising channels.

 

[moa999]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

If they want Frequent Travellers, they need to dump the 3% Intl surcharge.

 

[kamchatsky]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

If they want Frequent Travellers, they need to dump the 3% Intl surcharge.

Why would they want that? That is one of the main areas where there is high margins. Yes you can use 28 degrees but then you get no points anyway.

 

[exp1k]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Citibank doesn't charge this on some cards and you earn tons of points on international spend.
Amex still earns the merchant fees, so reducing the 3% surcharge may lead to more spend and overall to more income for Amex.
If they reduce the fee, I would put all my international spend on my Amex. As it is, I only use Amex for selected international purchases.

 

[kamchatsky]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Citibank doesn't charge this on some cards and you earn tons of points on international spend.
Amex still earns the merchant fees, so reducing the 3% surcharge may lead to more spend and overall to more income for Amex.
If they reduce the fee, I would put all my international spend on my Amex. As it is, I only use Amex for selected international purchases.

Which Citibank card does this? The Citibank Plus Visa Debit card does not earn points and is not credit card.

 

[Cynicor]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Fairly sure all citi CCs charge a fee, but I agree with your post. Why use the Amex overseas when it costs you about 4% of the transaction. Need to be getting great value for your points at that level. At least citi give bonus points on top.

 

[greenfrog86]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Citibank doesn't charge this on some cards and you earn tons of points on international spend.
Amex still earns the merchant fees, so reducing the 3% surcharge may lead to more spend and overall to more income for Amex.
If they reduce the fee, I would put all my international spend on my Amex. As it is, I only use Amex for selected international purchases.

Which Citibank cards don't charge an FX fee? To my knowledge they have only removed that for their transaction account product which does not earn points for spend (ie there isn't a cost to them of giving out points).

I'm yet to see a card that earns points and also offers no fx fee - even some of the most elite products in Australia for high spenders have fx fees for all purchases... Sometimes they might be slightly lower than for less premium cards however (as the interchange is higher for premium cards).

 

[kamchatsky]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Just got letter from Amex for my Platinum Charge card. Usual devaluation points earning that we have talked about.

Just to confirm about hotel status for Plat Charge card holders:

- Priority Club Gold (basic and first supplementary card holder)
- Starwood Gold (basic and first supplementary card holder)
- Club Carlson Gold Elite (basic and supplementary card holder)
- Le Club Accorhotels Platinum (basic and supplementary card holder)

Car Hire:
- Hertz #1 Club Gold
- Avis Preferred

Valet Parking discount on Westfield Bondi Junction and Doncaster.

The Plat Card can also access the following lounges:

- Virgin Australia Lounges
- American Express Lounges
- AA Admirals Club
- US Airways Club
- Delta Sky Club

+ Priority Pass lounges (with Priority Pass card)

 

[k3nnis]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Thanks edison. Do the hotel programs require requalification? or do we retain status as long as we still have the plat charge?

 

[kamchatsky]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Thanks edison. Do the hotel programs require requalification? or do we retain status as long as we still have the plat charge?

Just reading the fine print:
- Priority Club Gold (basic and first supplementary card holder): Must qualify to retain Gold for subsequent year (20K points or 15 nights)
- Starwood Gold (basic and first supplementary card holder): Status remains as long as Platinum card is in good standing
- Club Carlson Gold Elite (basic and supplementary card holder): Doesn't say much apart from you must be enrolled to the program and all Club Carlson/Amex T&Cs apply.
- Le Club Accorhotels Platinum (basic and supplementary card holder): After 5 years of consecutive Platinum status, annual renewal will require at least 1 paid stay at eligible Accor Hotels during preceding 5 year period.

Hope this helps.

 

[k3nnis]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Thanks edison. Does it mention anything about CX Gold?