Ten Years of Platinum - a nice surprise!

[beardoc]

Should we challenge the calculations? Hmm, nah :mrgreen:

Yes, the ability to double count charges is true salesmanship to yourself!

 

[simongr]

In a manner only an accountant could do .

Should we challenge the calculations? Hmm, nah

There is however the domestic funding committee approval to be obtained - unless I don't advise the committee of the expenditure...

 

[thegurio]

There is however the domestic funding committee approval to be obtained - unless I don't advise the committee of the expenditure...

This could result in removal from the board however...

 

[wiz]

And if we know that you can get an Amex Rewards Maximiser fee waived if you spend more than $8,000 a year on the card, and the Amex Platinum Credit Card annual fee waived for more than $30,000 per year spend, then how much are you going to have to spend to get the annual fee waived on the Platinum Charge Card?

An assured fact is that you will not be able to get the Platinum Charge Card fee reduced or waived. Amex will not budge on this policy, even if you're pushing through $100k. They are, however, usually willing to offer you in-kind benefits in lieu of a reduction, such as complimentary accommodation arrangements or extra points upon renewal. As previously mentioned by 'tgh', there is a special department that deals with this. You will need to discuss this with them when that time of year comes around.

As a yearly holiday traveller , it is hard to see the any travel insurance value in either Amex plat.. or for that matter maquaries new card. ALL three cards exclude pre existing conditions.
How many perfectly healthy humans don't have a pre existing condition.....

You'll find that all paid travel insurance policies also exclude pre-existing medical conditions by default. You can only get cover for a pre-existing condition if you disclose it to the insurer on your application, after which they will assess your circumstances and decide whether the condition will be included. In most cases it will be, but at an additional fee. You should also remember that the Platinum Charge Card insurance still covers you for other incidents (medical or otherwise) not relating to a pre-existing medical condition (e.g. if you have an accident requring hospitalisation).

OK that is a little more useful to know. I am wondering though whether one would get the free flight with the free credit card?

You sure do. Amex even promote this as an added benefit of being a Platinum Charge Card holder.

Does anyone know if these benefits apply to AMEX Platinum Business Cards or just the personal ones? I couldn't find anything on the AMEX Small Business page.

I'm confident that the same benefits apply for the Platinum Business Charge Card. You should give the concierge a buzz.

 

[simongr]

You sure do. Amex even promote this as an added benefit of being a Platinum Charge Card holder.

Thanks for that - application will be submitted next week

 

[beardoc]

Now, the final question is, can I upgrade from a Platinum Credit Card and get a pro rata refund on the annual fee of the Platinum Credit Card?

What if I do an upgrade from the QANTAS Ultimate, instead?

 

[AviationNZ]

Can anyone actually find the forms for both the Priority Pass & SPG Gold. I had a look at the 'Forms for Download' page but couldn't see it them there. Most of those forms are to do with supplementary cards, etc...

Thanks

 

[plop11]

give the number on the back of your plat charge card a call, and travel service will just email the enrolment form to you

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Now, the final question is, can I upgrade from a Platinum Credit Card and get a pro rata refund on the annual fee of the Platinum Credit Card?

I wasn't able to, after the fact. I ended up being charged the next year for my Amex CC card, which I got reversed. I mentioned the pro rata thing at that point, and they said "no"

You may have better luck mentioning this at the time you do apply for a charge card, as you obviously have some more leverage at that point.

Good luck
AC

 

[AnonymousCoward]

You should also remember that the Platinum Charge Card insurance still covers you for other incidents (medical or otherwise) not relating to a pre-existing medical condition (e.g. if you have an accident requring hospitalisation).

The policy you get is reasonably generous. I made back my annual card fee in a single travel inconvenience payout, when my bag took 4 days to turn up.

 

[beardoc]

I was browsing the Platinum Card site and noted that they actually give you Priority Pass Membership to both you and your main platinum supplementary cardholder - then I realised that for some reason I was looking at the UK site.

I started making comparisons - and I realised that Australia was getting dudded a little bit. The AUD900 fee I'm sure was largely due to the state of the Australian dollar in the past, but now it's near on par with the American dollar, it's a little unfair.

UK
GBP300 annual fee (approx AUD620)
Priority Pass for you AND your main supplementary cardholder.
Airline Upgrades/Free companion tickets (only if booked through Platinum Travel)
Starwood Preferred Guest Gold/Hilton HHonors® Gold/Sofitel Privilège/goldpoints plus™ from Radisson SAS
Hotels and Resorts program
Usual travel insurances/travel inconvenience insurances and cancellation charges protection (can't see an excess on the travel insurance policies either - might be wrong here).

https://www.iplatinum.americanexpress.com/prospect/uk/FrontServlet?request_type=PlatinumHome

USA
USD450 annual fee (approx AUD470)
Airline Lounge Access program which focuses on the US airlines (no priority pass)
Airline Upgrades/Free companion tickets (only if booked through Platinum Travel)
Usual travel insurances/travel inconvenience insurances (can't see an excess on the travel insurance policies either - might be wrong here)
Hotels and Resorts program

https://www143.americanexpress.com/cards/home.do?source=cmhp_inav-personalcards#CARDS/137/1/0/0

Australia
AUD900
Priority Pass for ONLY the main cardholder
Airline Upgrades/Free companion tickets (only if booked through Platinum Travel)
Starwood Preferred Guest Gold (Australian site mentions Priority Club but offers no benefits)
Hotels and Resorts program
Usual Travel Insurances

https://www.iplatinum.americanexpress.com/prospect/australia/FrontServlet?request_type=PlatinumHome

Seems like the UK Platinum is the best deal of all - far in excess of the Australian dollar card. The Australian dollar card seems overpriced and not terribly good compared to the UK card.

 

[Maca44]

I rang today to cancel my Amex Platinum Credit Card mainly because if I reverted to the Rewards Maximiser at $200 cheaper than the Plat CC I still get 1.5 ff points on spend, and can possibly pick up a discounted flight to the destinations Amex offer for around $200 in any event. When they looked at my monthly spend and the fact that I have held an Amex card since 1984 they wanted to negotiate, however, because the Platinum Credit Card incorporated the free QF flight they would move on waiving the annual card fee. They did however offer me a $100 voucher which, after I refused was increased to a $200 voucher at Harvey Norman, which I accepted. I have some electrical purchases to make so I didn't just take this offer without a reason. So with the $200 voucher my $395 annual Plat CC fee has in some way been reduced to $195, and I still get the free flight. Even though I asked on several occasions about reducing the annual fee they would not move.

 

[tgh]

I have almost convinced myself to shell for the plat credit card... just can't spin myself up to the nine hundred bucks although the charge card does offer some good stuff.
I was wondering about the priority lounge access for the supp card holder.. and that bit of info in the post above has nailed the charge card argument for me..thanks

I really didn't/don't want to have to play hard ball and threaten to cancel my membership just to get the credit card discounted ...but it looks like thats the only way they negotiate....
I'm hoping they call me when my current month spend blows their 25k limit out the window .. and I can say .. well how about a card than can cope with my spending levels..

 

[simongr]

There is however the domestic funding committee approval to be obtained - unless I don't advise the committee of the expenditure...

There was some push back by the boartd over the weekend - negotiations continue...

 

[NM]

There was some push back by the boartd over the weekend - negotiations continue...

There is nothing worse than a hostile board :evil:

 

[oz_mark]

I was browsing the Platinum Card site and noted that they actually give you Priority Pass Membership to both you and your main platinum supplementary cardholder - then I realised that for some reason I was looking at the UK site.

I have noticed that I have ended up in the content for different countries while browsing the Amex site, so something isn't quite right in however they publish their information.

I started making comparisons - and I realised that Australia was getting dudded a little bit. The AUD900 fee I'm sure was largely due to the state of the Australian dollar in the past, but now it's near on par with the American dollar, it's a little unfair.

Seems a bit harsh to charge us more for less benefits (or maybe they have taken a leaf from the Qantas fare book...)

Australia
AUD900
Priority Pass for ONLY the main cardholder
Airline Upgrades/Free companion tickets (only if booked through Platinum Travel)
Starwood Preferred Guest Gold (Australian site mentions Priority Club but offers no benefits)
Hotels and Resorts program
Usual Travel Insurances

As for Priority Club, I wonder if they meant it to say you get a gold membership, at least in the first year. The footnotes say the following, but there is no reference to why this is said.

1. You must requalify each calendar year for the next year’s Gold Elite status

 

[beardoc]

I have noticed that I have ended up in the content for different countries while browsing the Amex site, so something isn't quite right in however they publish their information. Seems a bit harsh to charge us more for less benefits

Yes - I'm wondering if it's worth a letter to Amex Customer Relations about the apparent lack of benefits compared to the UK. It's over six times the cost of an Australian Gold Charge card (the British Platinum Charge Card is just over three times the British Gold Charge Card), so even the

As for Priority Club, I wonder if they meant it to say you get a gold membership, at least in the first year. The footnotes say the following, but there is no reference to why this is said.

I thought that too - but I fail to see that if you get it in one year, then why not every other year that you pay an annual fee? It's not like that on the other cards internationally.

I hate the feeling that we're not getting as good a deal as the UK.

 

[tgh]

i gess itz markit forsez....or sqeeky wheels get looprikayted..

However you spin it .. the lucky ****ry seems to pay more for almost everything.

whooeee i got edited by the thought plice... sorry .. i did deliberatly mispell country...

 

[Johan]

I beg to differ. THe difference is slightly smaller, as the AU Plat charge card comes with the Plat Credit Card which comes with a free flight. So, Unless the British card comees with a free flight (I'm not sure), then the diffference is about $30 (If you value the free flight at $250)... eg A$900 - $250 = $650 for the AU one net of free flight vs $620 for he UK one

Of course, the UK one also comes with more hotel programmes, etc... but at least it's not a $300 difference.

 

[beardoc]

I beg to differ. THe difference is slightly smaller, as the AU Plat charge card comes with the Plat Credit Card which comes with a free flight. So, Unless the British card comees with a free flight (I'm not sure), then the diffference is about $30 (If you value the free flight at $250)... eg A$900 - $250 = $650 for the AU one net of free flight vs $620 for he UK one

Of course, the UK one also comes with more hotel programmes, etc... but at least it's not a $300 difference.

Although is the free Platinum Credit Card a recognised benefit of the Platinum Charge Card, or just something they are doing now? If it's not defined (and I can't see anything where they mention it) I would think it's very easy to discontinue it.

I think the biggest difference is the lack of the second unlimited Priority Pass that is present in the UK card, and the Hotel Program Automatic Gold status.