Ten Years of Platinum - a nice surprise!

[aaron]

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.

To answer this question, no it does not! I have both a personal AMEX Platinum Credit Card, as well as a AMEX Small Business Charge card, and neither of these cards can take advantage of the Priority Pass. I'm a little disappointed

 

[AnonymousCoward]

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.

It's listed here:
https://www.iplatinum.americanexpre...a/FrontServlet?request_type=PlatinumPortfolio

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.

I would imagine that Amex changes their annual fees relatively rarely - well, far less often than exchange rates change

I mean, I remember when we were looking, fairly recently, at USD$0.48 to an AUD, rather than USD$0.95 to an AUD.

Certainly the Plat has become relatively more expensive in the past two years or so. But on the other hand, Amex did add Priority Pass + SPG Gold.

 

[beardoc]

Does anyone with one of these cards have a copy of the PDS for the rental car excess insurance? I'm interested to see if it would include rented vehicles like the car sharing schemes (e.g. Charter Drive - Home) which I'm considering instead of buying a car in the future, but would be interested to know if the rental car excess could cover the $1000 excess for accidents on these casual rental plans.

 

[oz_mark]

Yesterday I received my regular marketing material trying to make me get a platinum charge card. Interestingly, the letter and accompanying material were the same as I got last time, without any mention anywhere of the new upgraded features!

 

[turtlemichael]

There may be a number of reasons why it's excluded - two that immediately arise from the T and C's would probably be that it does not cover rentals over 31 days nor rentals within 250 kilometres of your "permanent or temporary place of residence."

Does anyone with one of these cards have a copy of the PDS for the rental car excess insurance? I'm interested to see if it would include rented vehicles like the car sharing schemes (e.g. Charter Drive - Home) which I'm considering instead of buying a car in the future, but would be interested to know if the rental car excess could cover the $1000 excess for accidents on these casual rental plans.

 

[beardoc]

There may be a number of reasons why it's excluded - two that immediately arise from the T and C's would probably be that it does not cover rentals over 31 days nor rentals within 250 kilometres of your "permanent or temporary place of residence."

Thanks for your help in this!

The car sharing services are meant for city driving (i.e. not far from home) and they're usually for periods of only a few hours - that's what I'm interested to know - whether Amex would define it as a rental for only a few hours, or given you sign up, whether it's deemed to be a "perpetual rental" even though you only book and use cars for the few hours you need them.

 

[turtlemichael]

Thanks for your help in this!

The car sharing services are meant for city driving (i.e. not far from home) and they're usually for periods of only a few hours - that's what I'm interested to know - whether Amex would define it as a rental for only a few hours, or given you sign up, whether it's deemed to be a "perpetual rental" even though you only book and use cars for the few hours you need them.

Clearly it's worth getting hold of the amended T and C's from American Express before entering the arangement and relying on Amex insurance. :idea:

However, having now had a look at the Charter Drive website, it certainly does not seem to have the characteristics of a "rental" to me, at least as defined in the Amex terms. For example, they say amongst other things it has to be from a licensed rental company and the rental has to be on a daily or weekly basis. As I mentioned, the requirement that it is 250 kilometres from home would be a big hurdle in your case if you were substituting for your own car. That is of course unless you have a very long commute each day!

 

[beardoc]

Clearly it's worth getting hold of the amended T and C's from American Express before entering the arangement and relying on Amex insurance. :idea:

However, having now had a look at the Charter Drive website, it certainly does not seem to have the characteristics of a "rental" to me, at least as defined in the Amex terms. For example, they say amongst other things it has to be from a licensed rental company and the rental has to be on a daily or weekly basis. As I mentioned, the requirement that it is 250 kilometres from home would be a big hurdle in your case if you were substituting for your own car. That is of course unless you have a very long commute each day!

Ah, sorry, I misunderstood you - I thought it meant excluding rentals more than 250km from your place of residence. So no good for that. Pity.

Agreed, it would be handy to have the T&Cs - Amex put them up on some other country sites, but not the Australian Platinum site!

Thank you for your help.

 

[PaulZ]

Please find attached the terms and conditions relating to the Rental Car Hire coverage.

The definition of Covered Rental Trip seems to require the rental hire occur within Australia??? Therefore, no good if you hire a car overseas?????????


I am still very concerned that one is not covered for any medical expenses that occur whilst overseas if they occur due to a terrorist act. To me this makes the whole medical insurance worthless. QBE's standard policy provides coverage in such a situation, so it is possible to get. Any thoughts?

 

[turtlemichael]

PaulZ I think you are misinterpreting the rules. The trip needs, in our case, to start and end in Australia. It does not need to be entirely within Australia. The car rental can occur anywhere, beyond 250 kilometres from home. This is made clear by the definition and use of geographical scope.

The fact that the medical insurance does not cover terrorism acts, which I wasn't aware of and haven't looked up, causes me no concern whastsoever. I would be more concerned if the general level and scope of illness and accident cover was inadequate.

 

[wiz]

The definition of Covered Rental Trip seems to require the rental hire occur within Australia??? Therefore, no good if you hire a car overseas?????????

I believe you may have misinterpreted the PDS. Your journey must begin and conclude in your country of residence (Australia), but that does not mean your journey must be solely within Australia. Your final destination may be London for example. As long as you later conclude that journey in Australia, you can be covered for LDW. The PDS further clarifies, "worldwide... provided that the rental takes place further than 250 kilometres from the permanent... place of residence".

 

[PaulZ]

PaulZ I think you are misinterpreting the rules. The trip needs, in our case, to start and end in Australia. It does not need to be entirely within Australia. The car rental can occur anywhere, beyond 250 kilometres from home. This is made clear by the definition and use of geographical scope.

When i read it, it was a brief glance. Having re-read it, you are correct.

The fact that the medical insurance does not cover terrorism acts, which I wasn't aware of and haven't looked up, causes me no concern whastsoever. I would be more concerned if the general level and scope of illness and accident cover was inadequate.

No the general level and scope of coverage for medical expenses whilst overseas is great, all aspects of the travel insurance coverage is great...
However, I cannot use the coverage - if I am walking down the street and a car blows up (a terrorist act) causing me injury, I am not covered.
When i pay for travel insurance (and that is a large part of the cost of the Platinum Charge Card), if want a full coverage. Other providers such as Qbe provide medical coverage resulting from a terrorist act, so I use their annual policy, i feel it prudent to have full coverage.

Of course i am knocking wood that nothing ever happens.. but I don't want to risk it.

Why is AMEX able to remove the minimum $100 spend condition and add features such as rental vehicle insurance, but not cover for terrorism? Shows they are willing to enhance the product, but not in a fundamental area... seems crazy to me...