American Express Membership Rewards - AMEX PLATINUM VS GOLD

I had a platinum card for 2-3 years and I gave it up and returned to the gold card. has anyone done a cost-benefit analysis of Gold Vs Platinum?

Most of the services cannot be compared in a cost-benefit analysis.
How can you estimate the benefit of getting more cash with one card as with the other ?

The fee of my (french) Platinum card is 3,400 FRF (about $480). The fee includes up to 7 cards :
- the main Platinum card + an A.C (additionnal) card for me
- one supplementary Platinum card for my partner
- up to 4 supplementary gold cards (value 2,200 FRF or $312) for family members.

The fee for one Gold card (1,100 FRF) + 5 supplementary cards (550 FRF each) would be 3,850 FRF. And I would'nt have an A.C card !!

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I can withdraw 40,000 FRF ($5,670) every 7 days (Gold card 12,000 FRF or $1,700)

Car upgrades by Hertz (nothing for Gold)

I can use the Platinum services 24x7 .
etc...

So... If you use your card only as a charge card (and not as a service card), the green card is also a good deal !

[This message has been edited by ahrz (edited 02-10-2001).]

Now I can only talk about the Canada card, but Platinum still has value, if you travel. It lost value when it lost its agreement with Canadian Airlines, but they (I hope) can regain much if they can make a deal with Roots. Canada3000 and Royal do not give much if you are in Calgary, and are tall. But Roots might.

Platinum does give some nice hotel upgrades and some nice restaurant tables (but as with the hotel upgrade - it is only if the hotel/restaurant has spare space that day).

I like what they used to be and I expect they will add some good benefits. Given the way MC/Visa/Diners have been trying to add a higher tier, Amex Platinum is too proud not to want to be better than them (as in the past). They are trying, and I do not think they will rush into anything. As I have found their past value highly useful/valuable, I am giving them until September.

I forgot to add....the concierge service is very useful and the value of this is "priceless".

ahrz: How do you get the Hertz Upgrades? Do you use your Hertz Gold Card and when checking in, you get the upgrade? I do have Platinum (now Centurion) and never get upgrades in the US with Hertz. What CDP Number do you have?

Hertz#1 Club Gold card with CDP 969790 (Amex Platinum)

Thanks for your replies. I would appreciate feedback from US card holders also as there may be differences in fees etc as comapred to Canada & Europe. I was not aware that the platinum card is now being called the centurion card.

The top card is now Centurion. PLAT is below that. I have a US PLAT, and it is worth it if you travel, especially if you use PTS.

I see no point in a US Gold card. Save the $20 and go with green, or get PLAT to use the services.

My biggie is airport club access.

MSP2000 :
Centurion is a new card, with more services (and a higher fee) than Platinum, available by invitation only to some existing Platinum cardmembers.