American Express Membership Rewards - UK Platinum rollout

Thats right in all terms ironic, Virgin Atlantic has been sending mail out to Silver and Gold Flying club members offering them a UK Platinum card.

No mention of the Clubhouse benefit!

Thanks,
Richard

Confirms my beleif that this product is being heavily downgraded. Benefits have dropped, price has stayed the same, PCS and travel desk are as hopeless as ever, and the Amex website now even has a telephone number for anyone who wants a Platinum Card.

I'm surprised Amex think they can play this game for very long. Gold card is now very run-of-the-mill and I suspect that before long more Plats will be offered Centurion, either to stem the exodus or to get the avg spend back into balance across different products. Trouble is, then they'll have to roll out a new super card...what's next, Titanium?

Hi London Elite,
very well recognized!

The same procedure has been going on in Germany for years, but couldn´t stop Amex´s loss in the local marketshare: Here already less than 10 percent of the whole market - and still dropping!

Here in Germany, Blue- and Gold-Cards are given away at local airports and trainstations - like free candy-bars - for over a year now.
Want Platinum? Just call them!

You´re right, it´s just a question of time, when Centurion will be gone to the dogs too.

It looks like Platinums have lost the lounge access benefit to British Midland too.

And the Priority Pass benefit looks like it has been downgraded to the standard offering where you have to pay per visit.

Sounds like a real bum deal!

Richard

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by RichardMannion:
It looks like Platinums have lost the lounge access benefit to British Midland too.

And the Priority Pass benefit looks like it has been downgraded to the standard offering where you have to pay per visit.

Sounds like a real bum deal!

Richard</font>

If that's the case then there is little point in the card. When did they announce the PP downgrade?

Ye gods!

Knowing Richard's accuracy and reliability, I am loth to get involved. However, I need to make a quick decision as to whether to continue with AmEx. My AmEx subscription (old rate) runs until the end of March and the new rate starts (for me) in April.

So I rang Amex Customer 'Service' who knew nothing (but said the the Virgin review was 'ongoing'), and Priority Pass, who also knew nothing but promised to check and call back tomorrow. This doesn't mean a thing, of course, and Richard's record is unbeatable.

Oh, dear. It looks like consolidation of cards is on the agenda. I have too many anyway, so some personal good may come of this after all.

Concering the PP-subject, I think Richard is reffering to the small-prints on the UK-website ("no. 11" on the charge card comparison chart), but to me that small-print still sounds like the old PP-conditions for plat-holders.

Thanks for that Richard,

Just got my Plat statement yesterday and it had the news on Virgin.
If true about Bmi lounges and Priority Pass then it could well be good bye Plat at renewal time in November

Same here... Richard can you clarify on PP and bmi - I haven't heard this info yet (not totally surprising, it's Amex after all http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif).

I really cannot believe how shortsighted Amex UK are... there is clearly a growing dissatisfaction with the product yet they seem to make it worse almost by the day… how totally stupid http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mad.gif!

lose the PP and BMI then they lose my business too.

The insurance has value but I've been waiting over two months for them to settle some medical bills from france (only 200GBP for gods sake and I have the x-ray to prove it was required!) so I'm close to the end of my AMEX tether.....

To all the unsatisfied cardholders:
You’re a consumer! You’ve got the power!! Vote with your feet!!!

Amex can only reduce or cut card-perks, if most of the cardholders agree.
If the majority of cardholders act like a bunch of deaf, dumb and blind monkeys, nothing will ever change.
Call them and/or cancel your cards.

Don’t you think it’s ridiculous, when anyone can buy a Rolls-Royce, a concord-ticket, a villa, a yacht, or whatever item, people still accept, that they have to wait, to be „invited“ for a p***y piece of plastic (no matter if it’s „platinum“, „centurion“, „plutonium“ , or „whateverion“,.... )?!

Anyone will be “invited”, if you make clear: You don´t need Amex – but Amex needs you!!!

Well I am basing it on the following, on the invite to Platinum that was sent out by Virgin. it had Priorty Pass listed as a benefit worth £69 with a side note of 'A £15 Lounge access fee applies per person'.

I know that a full inclusive UK membership is a lot more than £69, more like £179. Jus t visit www.prioritypass.com. (http://www.prioritypass.com.) Std m/ship is $99 and Full Inclusive is $249.

Thanks,
Richard

Oh and for the BMI benefit:-

Theres no mention of it whatsoever as a benefit on the new updated Platinum invitation pack, and I would consider it a major selling point. The access to the EuroStar lounges is still there tough.

Sorry to be cynical, but will the last Platinum cardholder please switch the light off...

Thanks,
Richard

Thank´s your royal Centurion-Highness for sharing your wisdom with such low-class platinum-plebs like us.

Its a pleasure! I like to keep the people informed and add some spin where possible http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Richard

Does that mean, Swindon is going to be a "hip" place this summer ?

Not decided yet, might issue myself a Platinum card first and use that around Swindon instead. What do you think?

Maybe thre doignt his to drive away the Platinum mbeers and keep only the diehard AmEx people. Who knows?

Richard

Good idea!
In the meantime I´ll check my Amex Prviate Bank statements and see, what I might sacrifice for the other poor Swindon plat-holders.

This is ridiculous. If there are any Amex employees following this, you would be wise to alert your customer retention department.

There are very few people who will continue to pay £245 (if memory serves correctly) for a shiny bit of plastic that offers no more value than any number of upper-tier cards.

If all these benefits go and the price stays, I suspect many will walk to DC or Visa.

You have been warned

Vote with your feet. Dont wait until renewall, cancel your Platinum cards now and tell everyone else you know with one to do the same. We Brits put up with things far too much!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

dnw

Just off the phone from Amex, they didn't seem to know anything about PP or bmi - only the VS lounge.

So Richard’s comment doesn't seem to be accurate, it could be a lack of details on the documentation... but then again good communication isn't Amex' strong point (not sure what it is anymore). So still quite unclear about what's going on... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

The amusing thing is that when Plat starts going south so will Centurion...

edited to say that of course none of the information provided by Amex is typically accurate - Richard is usually better informed... so I might be on my way to saving £245 a year, nice! Thanks Amex!!

[This message has been edited by Canista (edited 03-26-2002).]

Surely the fact that one of the most attractive benefits (VS lounge) has been axed without replacement or compensation is enough reason to leave.

The PP and BD lounges just make the pain even greater.

Holy downgraded benefits Batman!!!

Don't say "downgraded benefits" Robin .... say "....enhanced" (CO speak)


I feel a transatlantic *A flight coming on ( enough points to get bmi diamond club silver ,get lounge access with bmi and then ditch the Amex.( if proposals are true)

I spoke to my contact at AmEx this afternoon. There is a lot of mail floating around AmEx internally about these changes.

Centurion is going to remain Invitation only. The change in Priority Pass is correct, they were not sure on the BD change.

The previous comments is my understanding form the documentation. If you were marketing the card, you would identify BD lounge access if you were going to mention the EuroStar lounge access as it is a major selling point. It may not be going but I would include it on the list if I were producing the glossy brochures!

Not sure if you guys are aware but the loss option for Purchase Protection has now been removed from all card products, so even us Centurion cardholders are losing some benefits.

I don't blame people for the mass exodus, why would you want to keep Platinum. The benefits that are left cannot justify the £245 fee. What is left now? 1 yrs Hilton, Starwood Gold? Concierge? Insurance? Gold Hertz? hmmh. **** they even stoppe ddoing those plastic Platinum luggage tags, times must be tough http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

If I hear anymore I will let you know.

Thanks,
Richard

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by RichardMannion:
The change in Priority Pass is correct </font>

OK, well, BD or no BD, I think this Amex member is going somewhere else.

This is a great shame, I'm (was, sorry) a big Amex fan and alienating members that actually were championing the card is a huge mistake. As far as Centurion is concerned, I cannot see the point of £500+ (or whatever) to get what??

What a stupid approach towards Amex cardholders.

Don't forget to transfer your Membership Rewards points before you return your cards!

PP benefit ?
For EUR 520 annual fee, the french Platinum card did never offer this benefit ...

Thanks to Richard as always for the news - even if most of his recent updates have not been good news ;-(

I know there is mention in other forums that they are monitored by the compnay being discussed, in fact some have active participation be senior staff members.

Does anyone know if Amex monitor this forum? because, if they do, this thread would be an excellent tool for those within Amex who don't like the way they are going to bring the feelings of cardholders to the attention of senior managers.

Or am I just being naive to think they even care?

For what it's worth I think that I too will be joining the Plat exodus once my current year runs out - I am now only keeping it on now for the CDW cover that I have already paid extra for.

Pity, because I have enjoyed the relationship with Amex (for the most part at least anyway!!)

I'm not sure if any AmEx employee monitors the board as per some of the other Forums (Starwood springs to mind, with Strwood Lurker doing a great job).

Problem is that UK, and USA are two distinct markets for AmEx (Sorry I know there are other countries where AmEx are, but most of the traffic to this site is UK or US related). I can't see a AmEx Uk employee person reading this board, and if they did I'm sure I would have been told about it by my friend at AmEx as I am the one that normally spoils the party for them http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Personally I don't think that AmEx Platinum Uk will do much about it as there are plenty of other people out there that will feel special because there being invited to Platinum. What they never had, they won't miss as such.

All I will say is that UK Centurion are in the process of reviewing the card benefits, and some changes could be on the way, for the better I'm told! Doesn't help you guys with Platinum I know, if it was me I would be looking elsewhere or at the 'green' card as it has some cool benefits for over £200 less (£99 Companion on CO anyone?), and you'll probably find that there are less green cards out there than there are Platinum!

And good point Roger, if you are jumping ship, get those MR points transferred.

Thanks,
Richard

Thanks Richard,

At least I will stillget some benefit this easter weekend as i'm og from GLA-LHR-BRU-LHR-GLA with BD so will use the lounges at the airports.
Hopefully Amex may introduce a new partner otherwise Bye Bye ( Plat and the Gold credit card)- still earning Virgin miles via my BAA Worldcard visa and might keep the BA Amex Premier card ( although will have to pay for it)

Regards

TBS

Any news on a softening of the requirements for Centurion in the USA? I heard the quote spend has gone up from 150K to 200K. How about the introduction/loss of benefits?

Seems we are not alone http://www.amexsux.com/

Amex proves once again that it is very good at shooting itslf in the foot. It creates an exclusive product (Platinum) that soon has a huge demand following. It chucks it out selectively, maintaining high benefits. Then it gets greedy and gives it out, but realises that it has to cut back on some services because (for example) VS gets p*ssed that there are 100s of Platinum card holders plugging up their lounges. They cut benefits, move higher spenders to a new card and let the other one die as no one is fooled for too long.

I'm dead certain that in 2 years' time Centurion will go the same way.

Count me out. Bye bye Platinum

Richard,

Can you please verify your info re. PP. Just spoke to my contact at the UK exec suite and they have no information that this (or BD) is changing.

I'm not doubting the details you have but this seems still unclear. Thanks.

[This message has been edited by Canista (edited 03-27-2002).]

Canista,

I explained above the reasons for the PP and BD chnages, I am basing it on the information conatined within the new invitation I was sent for Platinum.

I found the Exec suite very unhelpful, they didn't have much of an idea on the specifics of the benefits for the cards, but saying that the same can be said for the actual Platinum CSR's themselves. Anyone tried calling BD or PP to verify?

Thanks,
Richard

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by LondonElite:
I'm dead certain that in 2 years' time Centurion will go the same way.</font>

It already did.
As I posted on an other flyer talk topic last year, I accidently found out the numbers of centurion-basic-cardholders for UK, Germany, HongKong and for UK-issued Centurion-Dollar-Cards, by reading the former officially posted numbers of copies for their monthly issued Centurion-Magazines.

The numbers were quite embarrassing!!

As a result these numbers are no longer displayed on the website of the issuer.

But you can believe me, a Marks&Spencer-customer-card is more exclusive :-)

No wonder Amex never wants to comment the total number of Cent.cardholders .

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by RichardMannion:
[B Anyone tried calling BD or PP to verify?

Thanks,
Richard[/B]</font>

Why didn't you ?!

If you like "giving informations" or "adding spin", then make sure you know if it´s true or not.

Well I am honoured, my Marks and Spencers card is more rare than a Centurion Card, life gets better every day!

So what were these figures then axel1, as I have a good idea for the US and a very good indication for the UK? If I am reading this right, you're basing your figures on the magazine distribution figures, right?

Richard

Err because I don't need to phone them. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

At least I provide the intial information. Let me know when you release some hot news on the AmEx products, I'll be the first to congratulate you.

I see that you are still taking great pleasure in replying to my posts, all I can say is that I now enjoy replying. Life is too short to be dull.

Richard

There´s hardly anything you lets us know, that can´t be found on an amex-website or by simply calling Amex-CS.

If this forum is your playground, where you can show off with you little black plastic toy, then keep on playing.

I´m getting bored.

Well I've just spent the last 5 minutes llooking on the AmEx website and I couldn't find any of this information http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

And the comments above from various other people answer the element of info from the AmEx CSRs.

I will contiune to play in the playground as there plenty of others that like the information supplied. You too had a shiny black toy, but chose not to continue with it. ANyway my one is a little bit more dull now due to the number of times it has been used, as contrary to your popular belief, I am a heavy user of my card. I didn't get one just because I screamed long and hard enough.

Lets have a quick consensus here for the others, if Centurion was available straight out but with its usual £650 fee, who here would pay the annual fee?

You're getting bored? Why don't you get an AMEx card as that will really give you something to do on a daily basis http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Richard

Hi,

Thanks for all the information Richard. I do appreciate it a great deal .
I have not received the Virgin mailshot regarding Amex Plat yet ( being up in Scotland and Silver probably puts me lower down the mailing list) so all this is new information which I do not find on the Amex site.
I will phone bmi British midland diamond club tonight and see what they say about Plat lounge access.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by RichardMannion:
Why don't you get an AMEx card as that will really give you something to do on a daily basis
Richard </font>

My Answer: I have grown up and got a life!!

My question to you: "Who", or should I say "what", are you without your Amex-card ?

Bye bye and good luck

Axel

Come on! Let's stop this personal thing before it gets boring. Er, it's already boring, so stop NOW!

I have learnt much from Richard's posts, including this topic. I called AmEx again today, and the (different) person knew no more than yesterday's, except to confirm the end of the VS lounge facility. He undertook to get somebody to get back to me in writing about my other concerns (PP restrictions, bmi lounge access and odd item in my online account).

The PP person I spoke to yesterday, who promised a call today, hasn't called yet.

Oh, and it seems that I can cancel my Plat within three months of the new subsctiption year and get a 100% refund, so I have some breathing space at least.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Roger:

Oh, and it seems that I can cancel my Plat within three months of the new subsctiption year and get a 100% refund, so I have some breathing space at least. </font>

This is accurate, what a nice touch from Amex http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

I have to agree with Roger....thanks for the information Richard, albeit fairly depressing.

This board is not for personal stabs.

[This message has been edited by LondonElite (edited 03-27-2002).]

call me devil's advocate but if AMEX significantly reduce the benefits (and I would say that providing a £60 PP benefit instead of a £160 one or whatever it is constitutes a significant reduction) then I would expect my WHOLE platinum fee back.

Two letters from Amex today, the first addressed to my wife, who hasn't had a credit card of her own in the 17 years of our marriage but is VS silver and has a plat supp card on my account. The letter is the flying club invite for plat membership and invites her to 'apply for one of the least publicised and most exclusive levels of cardmembership in the world'.

Surely we have a law against untrue advertising claims?

The second letter from Amex was in reply to my complaint about the loss of Clubhouse access. The letter (in a Centurian envelope no less!!) is quite clear saying the 'decision was made by Virgin and we are unable to negotiate further. However you can can still enjoy free access to British Midland and Eurostar lounges.....' No mention of free access with PP.

I will be penning a suitable reply and will keep the board informed.

Nick

[This message has been edited by Nottingham Nick (edited 03-27-2002).]

Nick,

If you look through the pack sent by AmEx to your wife you will be able to confirm to everyone that I am not making this up. There is no mention of British Midland lounge access in the letter that comes with the glossy brochure (with the Platinum Card on the front). And the Priority Pass mentions the value of the benefit as £69.

Richard

Richard,

I have the glossy brochure entitled ' your questions answered' The question 'does the Platinum card make financial sense?' Lists the cost of the benefits provided by the card.
It lists the value of Priority Pass as £159.
Partner airline lounge access £100+
Having said that it lists lots of other benefits including 'Free Year end summary of charges' value £40 - I have never had that - Do I have to ask for it?

It also says that the insurance benefits of the plat card are - up to £860.00???

I can see no mention of reference to BMI, but the other letter I received from Cust services does state quite clearly that this is a benefit.

Maybe different brochures to different people?

Nick


[This message has been edited by Nottingham Nick (edited 03-27-2002).]

Morning all!

Thought I would venture over to this board to find out some more info about the Flying Club Plat offer.

I can confirm Richard's assessment of the benefits (from the mail-out). His interpretation was the same as mine.

The main benefits (that I could see) were as follows:

- free travel insurance (the £860 seems to be calculated on the premise that you can have up to 5 supplementary cards and each person enjoys the same insurance coverage - even if they are not travelling with you. So £160 x 5 = £860).

- the PP is valued at £69 - and you have to pay £15 for each lounge use.

- Eurostar lounges were listed as Paris, Kent and London.

- the 'Partner Airline Lounge Access' - valued at £100+ (sic) was outlined in the separate pamphlet (with the plat card on the front) - but there is no explanation of which airlines participate. No mention of BD.

BUT - for new applications there was the advantage of 8000 FC points (for the application) + another 8000 membership rewards points (which can be transferred to FC if you want). So that = a 'free' BD (off-peak) European flight.

I think if I add up the insurance (for two people) + the 'free' flight (or at least the value of the miles) then it might be worth it for one year.

Oh - but the feeling of 'being special' - well - that's priceless! (Or is that a MasterCard slogan?)

Cheers

WG

It's getting worse!

PP called back. They say they checked and have no info about changes. They did say that the changes would come from AmEx, though.

So I called Amex. Pointless, really. I explained that I needed to have the information today as my current subscription expires in three days. The person I spoke to said she doubted anybody would respond in less than ten days.

She told me that I could use Virgin lounges with my PP card (hello?) and that the offer being made to Virgin Flying Club members had nothing to do with AmEx (hello, again).

As the person did not (want to?) understand the query, I asked to speak to a supervisor, but one was not available. One will call me at some unspecified time in the future, possibly today.

But will I still be an AmEx cardholder? The scissors are very close.

The Goons: 'I don't come here to be insulted.' 'Where do you go to be insulted?' Answer: just call AmEx customer 'service'.

Looks like a discrepency on the PP vlaue. Nottighanm Nick's brochure says 159gbp, Richard's brochure says 69GBP. I guess they've misprinted at some point and one if them is the later version and correct?

Interesting about the 100GBP 'other' airline lounge access. Probably means BMI but who knows they may be lining something else up. Maybe Priority Pass are going to line up VIrgin Clubhouses (although I doubt it)

Bottom line, if the lounge access becomes severely restricted and starts costing money for each visit I'll dump AMEX. I can get into BA lounges now and it wouldn't take much to get my BD account up to scratch, just means I have to collect BD miles instead of UA for a while.

I wonder when the select few ( http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif ) existing customers are going to be told. Shouldn't take them long if we're that exclusive....NOT!!!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by matthewuk:
Looks like a discrepency on the PP vlaue. Nottighanm Nick's brochure says 159gbp, Richard's brochure says 69GBP. </font>

The letter from Flying Club states PP is valued at £69. The enclosed pamphlet states:

'To recreate the Platinum Card's offering one would expect to pay:

- ... travel insurance upto £860
- ... membership rewards etc etc
- ... PP membership £159'

So yes - there is a difference, but then the pamphlet mentions nothing about the 8000 FC miles, so perhaps you 'trade' one against the other?

WG

Another conversation with the dreaded AmEx customer 'service' produces a little more information. It's all very simple.

AmEx were continuing to offer free PP membership as a Plat benefit, so the benefit is unchanged. Ah, but what about that £15 per visit? Yes, PP were changing their offer - globally, not just to Amex - and that's a PP thing, not an AmEx thing. Got that? Nothing's changed, but it's changed.

When would the change take effect? They didn't know, but members would be advised on their statements.

Anyway, PP doesn't know anything about such a change, and their website makes no mention of it.

What a mess.

(Part of a much longer conversation, including my comment that my renewal rate was £20 more than last year - almost 10% - and the card now offered reduced benefits. He did not agree that the benefits were reduced, blah blah etc etc.)

Time to start considering the options.

Since getting my BA Amex Card (Premium Plus) I've stopped using my Platinum Card. As a Platinum Card member I get my BA Card FOC. If I cancel everything then I have to pay £120 p.a. for my BA Card. If my reading of the rules are correct I can downgrade to Green, paying £35 per year for that card, plus an additional £30 for the BA Card. Anyone agree?

To stop Richard thinking he is going mad and to clear up the confusion of the Priority Pass value, I have re-read all of the stuff that was enclosed in Sue's invitation, and have found on the second page of the letter the part Richard is referring to. It clearly says that you get ' Free membership to the Priority Pass Programme (membership normally costs £69). But it also says in the glossy brochure that I spoke of yesterday that this item is valued at £159 - go figure!!

Sorry for the mix up

[This message has been edited by Nottingham Nick (edited 03-28-2002).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Gaza:
Time to start considering the options.

Since getting my BA Amex Card (Premium Plus) I've stopped using my Platinum Card. As a Platinum Card member I get my BA Card FOC. If I cancel everything then I have to pay £120 p.a. for my BA Card. If my reading of the rules are correct I can downgrade to Green, paying £35 per year for that card, plus an additional £30 for the BA Card. Anyone agree?</font>

Same scenario as me. And yes, that's exactly how I read the BA Card's Terms and Conditions. Section 3 in this URL http://www10.americanexpress.com/sif/cda/page/0,1641,12707,00.asp

It states Premium Plus Two: A Premium Plus Card issued to a Cardmember who holds an AMEX charge card or credit account card, other than a Platinum card or Centurion card, excluding Corporate cards.

(the Premium Plus 2 is the one which costs £30 - also the Ts and Cs say you are only charged the NEXT YEAR if you change your AMEX card)

All this suggests ANY AMEX card will do.

What are the free options (UK) anyone?

[This message has been edited by matthewuk (edited 03-29-2002).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by matthewuk:
Same scenario as me. And yes, that's exactly how I read the BA Card's Terms and Conditions. Section 3 in this URL http://www10.americanexpress.com/sif/cda/page/0,1641,12707,00.asp

It states Premium Plus Two: A Premium Plus Card issued to a Cardmember who holds an AMEX charge card or credit account card, other than a Platinum card or Centurion card, excluding Corporate cards.

(the Premium Plus 2 is the one which costs £30 - also the Ts and Cs say you are only charged the NEXT YEAR if you change your AMEX card)

All this suggests ANY AMEX card will do.

What are the free options (UK) anyone?

[This message has been edited by matthewuk (edited 03-29-2002).]</font>

I can give you two reasons why Iäll be keeping my Amex Platinum card:

1. It's Easter Monday and I'm in the Finnair lounge at Helsinki, having just caught the Ferry back from Tallin. As always, I was relying on cards this weekend to obtain cash. Unfortunately on Saturday, a cash machine decided to eat both my Barcalys Delta card and my Barclays Visa - the only two cards for which I had pins (or at least for which I knew the pins). Of course I had no cash left. It's late on Easter Saturday - no banks are open, and neither is the Amex office for emergency cash. So I call Barclays (to get the pin for my third Barclays card), and am told that it is for emergency lost / stolen cards only. Well, yes I have lost two cards, but how do I get money ? They suggested I try the embassy !! I tried Calling Intelligent Finance. AT least they tried to help me - the phone rep was very undersatnding, but his computer system simply does not let him give out pin numbers over the phone. They suggested I'd be able to obtain money from "X" (can't remember the name) in Estonia, but of course, being Easter, all bracnhes were closed. Got on the phone to Amex (which I'd completely forgotton about !!) - they issued me with a pin in two minutes and I had cash in five minutes. Not difficult to do, but no-one else was able to offer me this service !!

2. I was in (my native) Australia over New Years this year. Me and some friends decided to go to Surfers Paradise for new years. I spent a day talking to hotels, travel agents and surfing the web trying to find three rooms. No luck. Not even camp sites were available. A quick call to plainum services in the UK (!!) and I had three rooms at the Surfers Paradise Marriott (one of the hotels which we had tried !!) for only AUD180 per night. I can pretty much guarantee that no-one else was paying this low rate on new years eve ....

This is just two of a number of examples where Amex has come through for me. They always seem to able to get me reservations at good restaurants in London, and good seats at the Theatre. Just my opinion ... but they do tend to come through where others don't ...

Hi,

I flew bmi British-Midland GLA-LHR-BRU-LHR-GLA over easter and the staff at the glasgow lounge have not heard anything about Amex and Bmi cancelling the lounge access policy for Platinum holders.

On the other hand she did say that the staff were generally the last to know.

Hope everyone had a good easter and got lots of eggs!! ( I did- about 12 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif... They were mini ones made from belgian chocolate courtesy of Hilton Brussels!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Regards
TBS

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by axel1:
..you can show off with you little black plastic toy...</font>

Not meant for you axel1, but it amazes me that people base their self-worth, and "status" on a piece of plastic.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by DelrayChris:
Not meant for you axel1, but it amazes me that people base their self-worth, and "status" on a piece of plastic.</font>

Certainly!
I was a nobody until I got my Centurion card!

Actually, come to think of it, I'm still a nobody, but, erm, er, oh well........

Ken.

"Hey! I'm Zahpod Beeblebrox man!"
"the Zahpod Beeblebrox?"
"No, just a Zaphod Beeblebrox, haven't you heard I come in six-packs?"
"I heard you were dead..."
"Yeah, I just haven't stopped moving yet!"
-From the HHGTTG, by the late great Douglas Adams

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by DelrayChris:
Not meant for you axel1, but it amazes me that people base their self-worth, and "status" on a piece of plastic.</font>

Exactly. On the other hand, you have to hand it to Amex for encouraging these people to think such thoughts!

Having had my Platinum Amex since '95 I decided to cancel it. Called Amex today and is was done and dusted in minutes.

Me:"I'd like to cancel my account"
Amex:"No problem, I'll do that for you now."
Me:"Great. Thank you"
Amex:"Goodbye. Thanks for calling Amex."

Absolutely no attempt to persaude me to stay or swap Platinum for Green. I'll probably apply for a Green card just before my BA Card is due for renewal to keep the cost down.

Before cancelling I transferred my Reward Points to Hilton. Does anyone know what will happen to the points that I am entitled to for this months statement? Will I be able to transfer these?

In light of Gaza's reply, can I just remind the last Platinum card member in the Uk to switch the light out please http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Shows how much they care about Platinum cardmembers if they have let a member of 7 years (long before Centurion was even launched) go that easy without even asking to why he was leaving. Appalling custoemr service, and as I have said previously I would too would have cancelled my Platinum card at the end of March if I still had one.

Richard

As it seems any AmEx card whether credit or charge is enough to get a fee-free BA AmEx Premium Plus card, I'm contemplating cancelling my UK Plat in favour of a credit card.

I already have an unused gold credit card, but that would be too expensive £40 p.a.) to continue. It seems the regular green credit (not charge) card at £12 or the Blue at £12 would be better deals.

Of these, the green credit card offers MR points (not sure about the MR fee) and the Blue offers 1% cashback, normally 2% in November-December. Probably academic, as the miles are probably worth more, taking into account companion ticket voucher and WT+ upgrade.

Don't forget that the MR Classic fee is £23.50 per year for non Platinum/Centurion accounts.

On the points/cashback thing it depends on how much you're spending and what you plan to do twitht he points. For example, spending 50k in a year on a MR card will net you a Premium Economy flight to NYC whihc has a value of around £1200 (50,000 miles reward at 1:1 ratio) or you could earn £500 in cashback. All I would say on the cashback is to read the T&C's very clsoely as I am sure there are some capping rules and sneaky clauses as such, like if you miss a payment they can hold back the cashback entirely as such.

Thanks,
Richard

That's right, Richard, and thanks for confirming the £23.50 fee for MR.

I should have made clear in my earlier post that the 'miles' I mentioned were BA Miles (@ 1.5 per £) with the BA Amex Premier Plus card.

Until Richard B makes us a better offer with the Virgin credit card, £50,000 with the BA Amex card potentially nets 75,000 BA Miles. Assuming the companion voucher and WT+ upgrade, 40,000 BA Miles would produce 2 WT+ tickets to New York, with 35,000 miles left over towards another ticket.

This implies spending on the BA card with a £30 p.a. fee by taking out an Amex green credit card or Blue card at £12 p.a., making £42 if I understand the position correctly.

This is the one instance I can find where something connected with BA offers me more than VS, so we do need the Virgin credit card to come out with a competitive mileage offer!

[edited to clarify fees]

[This message has been edited by Roger (edited 04-14-2002).]