American Express Membership Rewards - To all Plat and Business Plat Owners

What are some of the things you like about the card?

Also what benefits do you try and take advantage of most often to make it worth your while for paying the 450$.

Airport Lounges? Priority Pass? FHR?

Just want to know what everyone thinks of the card. :)

Also what benefits do you try and take advantage of most often to make it worth your while for paying the 450$.

Airport Lounges? Priority Pass? FHR?

Just want to know what everyone thinks of the card. :)
$200 airline credit and airport lounges, along with the signup bonus makes it a good deal for me.

The $200 airline reimbursement every CALENDAR year! :D
The 100,000 signup bonus.
The $25 premium car rental coverage.
Global Entry!

I'm sure the lounge access is very important to most too.

The protection (peace of mind) from AMEX :D:D:D

Amazing customer service every time I had to call them
No foreign transaction fee
$200/year airline credit
Airport Lounges and Priority Pass (well worth it if you travel often)
20% MR points back when you pay with points at amex travel or via concierge/travel services
Purchase protection and return protection are nice (only in the U.S.)
Global Entry and companion 1st/biz class tickets when you travel internationally


I have to say the concierge hasn't been all that useful from my experience, and the $175 additional plat card is a bit expensive, but the additional cardholder gets his/her own priority pass ($27 each if you bring guests), so if you travel with someone more than 3 times that alone pays for itself. We always make a quick stop to have some drinks and quick bites.

You may also wish to review this thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-express-membership-rewards/1299510-platinum-american-express-benefits-worth.html

Global Entry and companion 1st/biz class tickets when you travel internationally


Has anybody on this site actually been able to use the companion ticket offer? I tried to once and it seemed like it was a complete scam. I think my write up on that experience is in one of my prior posts. I'm still curious if anybody has first-hand experience on making use of that feature.

The International Airline (companion) Program is extensively discussed in this thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-express-membership-rewards/739396-international-airline-program-iap-2-1-platinum-centurion-members-details.html

The thing I love most about my Plat is the 100,000 point sign-up bonus it came with. But seriously, I've had it for about a year and have found the benefits to be less valuable to me than I hoped. I'll cancel it when the fee comes up soon.

I did get $400 in AA gift cards, which is nice, but I don't travel more than a few times a year and haven't used any of that yet. I used Priority Pass 3 or 4 times on a RTW trip I took last month, and really liked it, but at such a low level of usage, it's hard to justify re-upping for another year. Used it to rent a car, too, and felt good about the coverage it offered. I haven't bothered with Global Entry, because again, I don't travel that much. I'm not enough of a high roller to take advantage of FHR or free companion ticket.

It seems like a great card for those who travel frequently. If you take only a couple trips a year like me, it's nice to have when you're traveling but ultimately not worth the fee, at least IMO. A 50K+ sign-up bonus does make it worth it for a year, though, since you can recoup so much of the fee through the airline reimbursement and MR points are still fairly valuable.

I've had the card for over 20 years--obviously, long before I came to FT. And, with no MR signup bonus. Nevertheless, I've been happy to pay the annual fee every year, even more so recently as some benefits have been added, including Gold status with SPG, the airline reimbursement fee, the rental car protection, and the Global Entry fee reimbursement.

I agree, however, that this is not necessarily a card that someone who travels infrequently might take for any reason other than a really good signup bonus for the purpose of transferring MR points to another program.

Lounge, airline reimbursement for me. Def worth it.

It seems like a great card for those who travel frequently.

this is not necessarily a card that someone who travels infrequently.

My thoughts exactly. The only reason I got this card was for the 100,000 points signup bonus and because it offered the airline reimbursements and Global entry that would offset the $450 fee.

Which of these Priority Passes tiers (https://www.prioritypass.com/Join/What-it-Costs.cfm) is the one that Amex plat users get?

Also, all United lounges state that "Members holding a Priority Pass Select membership card and Priority Pass cardholders in the U.S. that receive their membership through a U.S. financial institution will not be allowed access to this Lounge." To what level is this enforced? And how do they check?

@jatlink129 from the US Priority Pass list, what the amex plat gives you is the "prestige" membership, unlimited and $27 for guests. I believe.

Re: United lounge access, I have no idea, would love to find out.

Everything a USA Platinum cardholder needs to know about the Priority Pass membership is in this thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-express-membership-rewards/1192087-us-centurion-platinum-members-receive-priority-pass-select.html

The membership is Prestige level, but the cards are marked "Select" which means "not valid at United Club". This restriction was imposed by UA at the time of their merger with CO. It applies to all Priority Pass memberships issued by all USA financial institutions. The club knows that Select cards are not accepted, and if they were to swipe the card it will be rejected.

I have had the Business Plat for 10 years and dropped it, when my grandfathered rate went away. I then changed to the Personal Plat. Same price but you will get 3 additional cards for the price of one with the business.

The only real benefit of the Plat over other AMEX cards, worth paying for IMO is the Airport lounge access.

I'm not enough of a high roller to take advantage of FHR .

You don't need to be a high roller to take advantage :) I am not a high roller, I used FHR couple of times. it just takes some research to find the deals.

The last time I used it. it was in ATL, IC Buckhead. I only needed a one night stay. it came up with $169 for the room and the FHR comes with $100 food credit. It's not really $69 a night after the credit but I (and my wife) did enjoy the nice upgrade to a corner room and the room service of a nice meal all for what we would have paid for another hotel anyway.

Now, every time I need a hotel, I always check FHR. do I use it every time? No way, but there are good deals.

I take clients out for lunch/dinner in multiple cities and have found the dining concierge very helpful. Rather than take a chance on the web, I call Amex and their suggestions have always been spot on.

Is the Global Entry reimbursement per account or per cardholder? If I add my wife for the $175 add'l card fee, can she also apply for GE and get the fee reimbursed if I do it as well?

This 200 $ airline refund is only for US holders??
Can I use it ( Italy ) when I fly in the US?

In Italy now we pay SEVEN hundred EUROS, i.e. Almost 850$ - a bit crazy really. Its becoming difficult to jusitify that kind of money

This 200 $ airline refund is only for US holders??

Correct, this benefit is offered only on card accounts issued in the USA. Cards issued in other countries include benefits, such as travel insurance and free supplementary cards, which are not included with the USA version.

SPG Gold
airport lounge access
good experience with travel disruption claim- may be all AMEX but I use the plat for travel

Now, every time I need a hotel, I always check FHR. do I use it every time? No way, but there are good deals.

would love to be able to book via FHR online but for some reason, they don't permit this outside the US. I check for the 'deal' and then have my Virtuoso agent match or do better than FHR. Works for me as I never make non-refundable no change bookings.

Is the Global Entry reimbursement per account or per cardholder? If I add my wife for the $175 add'l card fee, can she also apply for GE and get the fee reimbursed if I do it as well?

Per cardholder. So, yes, your wife would be reimbursed as well.

I have had the Business Plat for 10 years and dropped it, when my grandfathered rate went away. I then changed to the Personal Plat. Same price but you will get 3 additional cards for the price of one with the business.

The only real benefit of the Plat over other AMEX cards, worth paying for IMO is the Airport lounge access.

Flight cancellation and baggage insurance are coming in handy lately. $3000 reimbursed thus far this year alone.

CLARIFICATION; MY CARDS ARE ISSUED IN CANADA (except a Gold Amex from Thailand which I sometimes talk about but not in this thread)

i had this but then got out cuz i realized amex MR are worthless compared to chase UR and spg

I have churned this, i.e. one year I got it, then dropped it and wife got it, next year she will drop it and I will get Bus Plat.

Uses:

a) Lounge access; wife travels frequently and Priority Pass gets her into lounge at home airport.
b) No forex fee used to be a nice benefit, but many other cards have that now.
c) $200 airline fee, since it's per calendar year if you churn it annually that's $400 per card-year. Have used for change fees, seat fees, and did buy and resell gift cards once.
d) Got NEXUS card with $50 fee, Amex reimbursed $100 for Global Entry!
e) Excellent customer service
d) 100K MR signup the first time; second time 50K but 20K referral fee for referring my wife, and 20K more VERY hard-earned points after winning protracted battle to get the first 50K.

Noticed something in this thread, does business card come with free additional cards? Would be nice to get one for wife when we churn again since she's the one who uses the lounge.

Correct, this benefit is offered only on card accounts issued in the USA. Cards issued in other countries include benefits, such as travel insurance and free supplementary cards, which are not included with the USA version.

Thanks mia! Didn't know that!!

Have to say that travel insurance is a big save - don't travel all that much but I certainly save a couple of hundred € there

Have used it once (for delayed baggage). Was paid quickly - no probs

^

Thanks mia! Didn't know that!!

Have to say that travel insurance is a big save - don't travel all that much but I certainly save a couple of hundred € there

Have used it once (for delayed baggage). Was paid quickly - no probs

^

15 days wasn't enough for me on the travel insurance so I had to purchase a policy (through my Diners) for many years. With Centurion it's now 30 days so it saves me about $400 a year.

...does business card come with free additional cards?

No, USA Business Platinum additional cards are $300 each, compared to $175 for three supplementary personal Platinum cards. The best value in this regard is the Morgan Stanley co-branded Platinum which includes one supplementary card at no additional charge, but I believe you must be a client to obtain the card.

Any reason why AmEx doesn't offer any bonus points for purchases like the Preferred Rewards Gold? Strikes me as odd that the higher-tier, much more expensive card doesn't offer at least the same bonuses.

Any reason...

Previous discussion:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-express-membership-rewards/1133174-why-dont-platinum-cards-get-2x-gas-groceries.html

Everything a USA Platinum cardholder needs to know about the Priority Pass membership is in this thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-express-membership-rewards/1192087-us-centurion-platinum-members-receive-priority-pass-select.html

The membership is Prestige level, but the cards are marked "Select" which means "not valid at United Club". This restriction was imposed by UA at the time of their merger with CO. It applies to all Priority Pass memberships issued by all USA financial institutions. The club knows that Select cards are not accepted, and if they were to swipe the card it will be rejected.

Mia, just thought i'd point to a recent post of mine
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileageplus-consolidated/1327598-frustration-priorty-pass-united-club-access-process.html#post19119857

Card WAS swiped and yet i went through. Definitely a mishap on UA'a part but still :p

I have the Platinum Delta Amex. Do I have access to the FHR benefits?

I have the Platinum Delta Amex. Do I have access to the FHR benefits?

No - it is not true Platinum.

True Platinum MUST have the following characteristics:

1. It has to be a charge card (pay in full each month)

2. An extremely high annual fee

For me it's the ability to get upto 60,000 MR points as an "advance" which needs to be earned within a year. I find this feature so useful in topping up my frequent flyer accounts just when I need it.

Additionally, the feature that allows you to purchase unlimited MR points at $25 for 1000 points is awesome. I routinely transfer points to my SQ KrisFlyer account for redemptions and this perk makes an F ticket unbelievably affordable. Have a look at this example :

Cost of a commercially purchased F seat from SFO-BKK-SFO on SQ ~ $12,000

MR Points needed to be transferred to SQ to redeem a round trip F award on above route = 182,750

point cost = $0.025 x 183,000 = $4575 (assuming 0 point balance in SQ)

Net savings = $7425

That's big! Business class works out even more affordable

* Effective $250 annual fee after burning off the $200 "airline incidental" credit (which I actually use towards airline tickets)
* Lounge network - DL for domestic travel and priority pass for lounge access when traveling domestically in South Africa
* Lounge network for my parents - They have the same benefits as I do for an additional $175/year
* Points advance of 60k / year in the event there're good transfer opportunities to airlines. BA and DL have had 40%-50% bonuses for transferring AMEX points
* Global Entry!!!

Note that I hardly use the card to make charges. PRG and Chase Sapphire does a better job there.