Platinum Card:Cruise / Ticket benefits?

goody16 · May 7, 11, 2:53 pm

I am trying to decide whether or not to get the Platinum and I would like to know if anyone has experience with these benefits:

1.) I heard from a colleague that he receives $300 ship credit and a bottle of dom perignon per cruise ticket when buying with Platinum.

2.) Do you have exclusive access to concert tickets? Is this a valuable benefit?

Are there many other "hidden" benefits to the platinum card?

Thanks.

wripro · May 8, 11, 1:17 pm

On the luxury cruise lines you will get a $300 onboard credit but only Silversea gives your the bottle of Dom Perignon. Others will give a bottle of wine, a bridge tour or other amenities instead in addition to the OBC. More mass market lines will usually give a cabin upgrade instead of the $300 OBC. If you cruise more than once a year the card pays for itself. Even with only one a year you have paid for two thirds of the fee.

**mia** · May 8, 11, 4:49 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by wripro

If you cruise more than once a year the card pays for itself. Even with only one a year you have paid for two thirds of the fee.

This assumes that the price you pay when booking through PTS is no higher than you would pay if you booked elsewhere -and- that you cannot obtain the same amenity booking elsewhere.

DCAproducer · May 8, 11, 4:57 pm

I've had the Amex Plat card for a few years now and here's why I think the card's worth it:

1) Airport Club Access + Priority Access Membership
2) Fine Hotels & Resorts **This is a great program if you do your homework
3) Entertainment access. This is the concert tickets. It's not for all shows, but works on Amex sponsored events. You still pay full price for tickets, but you get access to good seats. I bought front row Dave Matthews tickets last year. It was great.
4) Concierge can be helpful with dinner reservations and travel arrangements.
5) $200 airline fees reimbursement
6) Various other little business things
7) No foreign transaction fees
8) Membership Rewards

Here's what's not worth it:
1) Business Class Companion Tickets. You have to buy non-refundable, often full fare tickets, which are usually more than (2) discount biz tickets.
2) Cruise program
3) Some of the supplemental purchase protection/insurance. Read the small print, you don't really get much coverage

Just my 2 cents.

**mia** · May 8, 11, 5:06 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCAproducer

1) Business Class Companion Tickets. You have to buy non-refundable, often full fare tickets, which are usually more than (2) discount biz tickets.
2) Cruise program
.

Tickets purchased through the International Airline Program are fully refundable and flexible. The "discount" tickets to which the fares are typically compared are non-refundable.

It would be helpful if you would explain your conclusion about the cruise program.

**peteropny** · May 8, 11, 5:31 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by mia

This assumes that the price you pay when booking through PTS is no higher than you would pay if you booked elsewhere -and- that you cannot obtain the same amenity booking elsewhere.

As long as you have the Plat AMEX - you can book through any agent (not just PTS) and actually pay with any other AMEX to get the benefits. We got the Plat AMEX pretty much b/c of this since we cruise on Regent once a year - and have done exactly this 5-6x without any problems in getting the $300 Shipboard Credit (additionally our agent usually has more credit along with Regent - it's actually getting ridiculous in trying to spend the credit now that it's all-inclusive including shore excursions). Our agent has a record of our Plat AMEX number but we pay with our DL AMEX.

wripro · May 9, 11, 10:53 am

Peteropny is correct. You can use any TA, get your best price, then have him/her call Amex Platinum to get a tracking number for the OBC and amenities.

GNVGator · May 11, 11, 6:21 pm

I believe the only "big" cruise lines included in the $300 OBC is Norwegian, Holland, and Celebrity. Even then you have to book a suite to get the $300OBC, for a lower stateroom you will get a same class upgrade (i.e. low end balcony to high end balcony). The other amenities included are a free dinner for 2 at one of the pay for restaurants, and a bottle of champange/wine.

Also just got back from a Holland cruise and my Amex TA told me that there is a one time annual benefit of $100 Amex statement credit for booking the cruise, never bothered to ask what type of cruise qualifies.

Lastly, not sure if this is a plat benefit or just a benefit for booking with Amex, if the room you book is in excess of $1,200 a person or $1,950 for single ocupancy you get a free seven night stay at Pueblo bonito resort in cabo/matazlan. Used the cert last year and it was great. Hope this helps

Go gators

acker · May 12, 11, 5:57 am

If you pay for your cruise with your Amex Plat - don't have to use Amex travel agent, you can work with any TA - Crystal Cruises provides $550 in on board credits per stateroom. Have used it numerous times. I think they frame it $300 cruise excursion credit and $250 on board credit but it basically is $550 in on board credits. We don't take excursions so I know it's good for any charge on board. Just make sure you tell your TA that you'd like to take advantage of the cruise credit Amex Plat provides. They'll do the rest.

Acker

goody16 · May 12, 11, 3:49 pm

Thanks to all for the replies! Anyone have any experience with the second question? I heard that you get exclusive access to concerts. Is this a useful feature or only for few, specific events?

longleaf · May 12, 11, 5:57 pm

Does the card holder have to travel on the cruise to get the perks for tickets purchased using your AMEX Plat card? A relative was wanting to book a cruise this month...and i wonder if i can get her and her husband a few extra perks if i use my card to book it for them.

wripro · May 13, 11, 11:07 am

I believe the cardholder has to travel.

GNVGator · May 13, 11, 12:31 pm

Cardholder does not have to travel. But if the cardholder paid for the trip, the person traveling needs to have at the very least a supplementary plat card, or their own plat card

Also, to answer the second question. I believe in terms of concerts, it's the same access as Gold card, called "Gold card seating" or something. But I do get emails every week for some invite dinners or VIP sports packages for basketball or PGA championship etc...

acker · May 13, 11, 3:43 pm

In January my husband + I were on Crystal along with my brother & sister-in-law. We paid for their tickets, they don't have a Plat Amex, and they got the $550 also. So, not certain that the cruise-takers need to have a Plat card, I think as long as it's paid with a Plat Amex they'll be all set.

So, we got $1100 worth of on board credits just for paying with our Amex.

soarhigher · May 13, 11, 7:18 pm

acker - but you and your husband were on the same itinerary, correct?
I've done this with the FHR to get credit for family and friends I am traveling with, but when I booked a trip for my friend to vegas (i believe it was the Wynn) he did not get the room credit w/o having to plea a bit due to not being an amex plat cardholder. This is the only time I have tried booking for a friend to get credit so I don't know if it was a mistake or not.
Wynn has messed up my reservation before stating I could not have a late checkout after confirming a late checkout prior to arrival.