My first ever Amex.. An Amex Platinum Card

[ammer]

Hi,
I have been reading about all your exploits for over a year now and have just applied for my Amex. Bloody left it till today so only get 75,000 points instead of 80,000 if I had applied yesterday. I rang yesterday to apply for the Amex Edge but decided today to change to the Platinum. When I phoned to change she said I had been approved for Edge but if I go with Platinum I can have the edge for free. Don't know the benefits of that if any?
So my question is...How do I get the benefits of this card? I have never used an Amex and need to find out where I can pay with it and if it's worth the surcharge if any? Is there an easy way to do this? If the card arrives in time I will put my upcoming holiday flights on it. Still haven't decided if it will be virgin or qantas to the USA in feb for my family of 6, all cheapest economy! Then I can pick a frequent flyer program to join. I'm both excited and nervous about this card and need to justify the $900 fee!

 

[straitman]

Hi,
I have been reading about all your exploits for over a year now and have just applied for my Amex. Bloody left it till today so only get 75,000 points instead of 80,000 if I had applied yesterday. I rang yesterday to apply for the Amex Edge but decided today to change to the Platinum. When I phoned to change she said I had been approved for Edge but if I go with Platinum I can have the edge for free. Don't know the benefits of that if any?
So my question is...How do I get the benefits of this card? I have never used an Amex and need to find out where I can pay with it and if it's worth the surcharge if any? Is there an easy way to do this? If the card arrives in time I will put my upcoming holiday flights on it. Still haven't decided if it will be virgin or qantas to the USA in feb for my family of 6, all cheapest economy! Then I can pick a frequent flyer program to join. I'm both excited and nervous about this card and need to justify the $900 fee!

Hi ammer,

Welcome to AFF.

There is serious value for the $900 you pay for this card but of course the question is regarding the value for you.

Have a look at this thread and you should get a good insight: Platinum Card, what will I get for $900

 

[ammer]

Hi straitman,
thanks for the link. I have searched around a bit here to get some info and that's how I picked this card. Some things are no use for me. The priority pass will be useless. Being a family of 6 I won't be paying for the rest as guests maybe I could use it on my own to get away from them for a while
The insurance looks good but I will need to check if that's all we would need or do I still need other insurance. I hate researching insurance as I'm too dense to understand it all.
If the Westfield Valet Parking is on I'll be shopping there more often. Still reading about it....

 

[Timtammi]

I have found that the AMEX PLAT charge card travel insurance is very good. I have had to claim a couple of times and they have settled quickly and with no fuss. Its much more comprehensive than most credit card insurance and covers the card holder, spouse and dependent children. I just did a quick check to see if there was a limit on the amount of dependent children covered and it appears not so if you have several kids it looks like even better value!

Cheers

Timmi

 

[ammer]

I have found that the AMEX PLAT charge card travel insurance is very good. I have had to claim a couple of times and they have settled quickly and with no fuss. Its much more comprehensive than most credit card insurance and covers the card holder, spouse and dependent children. I just did a quick check to see if there was a limit on the amount of dependent children covered and it appears not so if you have several kids it looks like even better value!

Cheers

Timmi

Hi Timmi,
The insurance is what I was drawn to but now that I've applied for the card in doubting my judgment. I was thinking ,"Great covered for insurance, except maybe for car hire!" but now I'm thinking I will have to check against my last holiday insurance policy. With 4 kids I could be on a winner. Still, we are planning on skiing in the USA in Feb so I'm sure we will need extra insurance for that.

 

[Timtammi]

hmm.. my interpretation of the conditions are that skiing is probably covered but I would check with them before relying on that.

Cheers

Timmi

 

[ammer]

hmm.. my interpretation of the conditions are that skiing is probably covered but I would check with them before relying on that.

Cheers

Timmi

Geeze that would be great! I'll check. Thanks for the heads up.
So much to organize. Last minute holiday decisions are not my strong point. Not having to organize insurance would be great. If it works out this time I know I will love this Card just to save me having to pick travel insurance.

 

[ammer]

My shiny new Platinum Charge Card and Edge cards arrived today. That was quick!
I am trying to figure out the Terms and Conditions of the insurance. Any place I can compare them to? Previously we just took the travel insurance the agents sold and never thought twice about it. I don't even know what is usually covered.

 

[Duffa]

My shiny new Platinum Charge Card and Edge cards arrived today. That was quick!
I am trying to figure out the Terms and Conditions of the insurance. Any place I can compare them to? Previously we just took the travel insurance the agents sold and never thought twice about it. I don't even know what is usually covered.

There is a thread on the insurance coverage on this site.
Basically you are covered whether you buy air tickets or not, whether your wife or kids travel with or without you. Handy if you need to get back for work and they stay on for a week or two.
Not sure about skiing though but it should be in the book that came with cards.
The free Edge card gets you a free Virgin flight 1x per year.
Free roadside assist for any car under 10 years - quite limited.

 

[ammer]

There is a thread on the insurance coverage on this site.
Basically you are covered whether you buy air tickets or not, whether your wife or kids travel with or without you. Handy if you need to get back for work and they stay on for a week or two.
Not sure about skiing though but it should be in the book that came with cards.
The free Edge card gets you a free Virgin flight 1x per year.
Free roadside assist for any car under 10 years - quite limited.

Haha, I am The Wife
I read the thread you mentioned thanks. Skiing isn't mentioned in the book, or not that I saw, but it does say it excludes Special Sports, extreme sports where special equipment is required. I'll ring them tonight when the kiddies are in bed.

 

[Duffa]

Haha, I am The Wife

Then you are going to be in BIG trouble if you don't get at least $900 of value from the card!

 

[Timtammi]

In the front of the copy of insurance T and C's I have it defines special sports a bit further:

Special Sports means boxing; cave diving; horse jumping; hunting and hunting
on horseback; professional sports; solo canyoning; solo caving; solo diving; solo
mountain climbing; steeple chasing; any form of motor racing, speed, performance or
endurance tests.

As skiing wasn't specifically mentioned I thought it may be covered but would be interested to hear what they had to say.

Cheers

Timmi

 

[straitman]

In the front of the copy of insurance T and C's I have it defines special sports a bit further:

Special Sports means boxing; cave diving; horse jumping; hunting and hunting
on horseback; professional sports; solo canyoning; solo caving; solo diving; solo
mountain climbing; steeple chasing; any form of motor racing, speed, performance or
endurance tests.

As skiing wasn't specifically mentioned I thought it may be covered but would be interested to hear what they had to say.

Cheers

Timmi

I would ring the number on the back of the card as one option is travel insurance. Get through to the TI company and ask the questions specifically.

 

[ammer]

Then you are going to be in BIG trouble if you don't get at least $900 of value from the card!

Haha, you wish

 

[ammer]

I would ring the number on the back of the card as one option is travel insurance. Get through to the TI company and ask the questions specifically.

Rang them and skiing IS covered.
Started my Amex spending frenzy by paying for our flights to LA for next week. Economy that's what happens when you have 4 kids, be warned!!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Rang them and skiing IS covered.
Started my Amex spending frenzy by paying for our flights to LA for next week. Economy that's what happens when you have 4 kids, be warned!!

Don't worry once they're teens you can unashamedly book yourself in J with the kids in whY like one parent did when going snowboarding in Sapporo with 4 teenagers.

 

[lovestotravel]

Rang them and skiing IS covered.
Started my Amex spending frenzy by paying for our flights to LA for next week. Economy that's what happens when you have 4 kids, be warned!!

I can confirm skiing is covered, and I have it in writing :mrgreen:

Enjoy the points earning

 

[ammer]

Don't worry once they're teens you can unashamedly book yourself in J with the kids in whY like one parent did when going snowboarding in Sapporo with 4 teenagers.

Haha, I like your thinking!

 

[Timtammi]

Good to know, thanks for reporting back Ammer!

Cheers

Timmi

 

[Cynicor]

From my reading of the T+Cs, skiing is covered medically, but insurance for piste closure, damage to hire gear, alternate hire gear and other cki specific items are not included, but can be purchased as a top-up from the Amex travel insurance site. The limits seem to be way too low to be useful for me though, at $200 sub-limit per item. The only ski gear I have under that price is my balaclava and my gloves (just!).