American Express Membership Rewards - American Express Platinum Credit Card?

I'm considering applying for an AmEx Platinum credit card as a safeguard for UAL going out of business. Has anyone had first hand experience with their miles reward program and has anyone been able to us the "purchase one 1st or Business Class international ticket and receive a complimentary companion ticket on participating airlines." It's a heftly yearly price for the card but that free companion ticket will definitely balance out the cost. Thanks for any input... Sandy

A search in the AMEX forum will provide some threads that have good info on the AMEX MR program including the 2for1 international program and the free access to CO/NWA clubs, as well as other benefits. There's info also on the points transfer promos that AMEX has, including the recent 25% CO and 15% DL promos.

My experience with American Express is as follows:

- too high an annual fee
- hardly anywhere you can use it!

If you really want to keep the miles flowing, I'd recommend a Mastercard or Visa program.

I have had the AMEX platinum card for many years. If feel it has been worth it for the following reasons:

1) The flexibility of earning and safely banking points that can be used on so many different airlines.

2) The companion business class tickets are nice, but I've only used this feature once.

3) Their concierge service has gotten me a rental car and hotel room after I had tried and been told were completely booked.

4) A friend of mine was evacuated by medical jet by AMEX (the coverage is included with the platinum card)from Mexico after having a serious accident. He thinks they walk on water.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Sandy R:
I'm considering applying for an AmEx Platinum credit card as a safeguard for UAL going out of business. Has anyone had first hand experience with their miles reward program and has anyone been able to us the "purchase one 1st or Business Class international ticket and receive a complimentary companion ticket on participating airlines." It's a heftly yearly price for the card but that free companion ticket will definitely balance out the cost. Thanks for any input... Sandy </font>

I am going to move this to AmEX where Sandy will most likely get many more answers with good detail....

squeakr
Moderator, United Forum

I was a platinum card member for years and then a few years ago became a centurion card holder. I've taken advantage of the 2-1 offer many, many times.

I don't think there is a simple answer as to whether it is worth it. In my case, it is. I travel internationally, paying the full first or business class fare. So I can then take my wife with me, essentially free. On that basis, it's a steal.

But for others, who aren't going to be paying full first or business, or who don't have a spouse who wants to go along - or maybe want an excuse not to take the spouse - it's not a big deal.

In terms of availability, I've never had a problem, but I am usually in a position to plan ahead and don't have to make last-minute reservations. Others may be able to comment on the availability of the 2-1 ticket at the last minute.

One final comment: several years ago I was at a United breakfast for frequent flyers and the question came up why United wasn't part of this program. The United guy said that when Amex started it, the other airlines were promised that United and American would NEVER be allowed in.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Ericka:
My experience with American Express is as follows:

- hardly anywhere you can use it! </font>

Isn't this a bit of an exageration?

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

In terms of availability, I've never had a problem, but I am usually in a position to plan ahead and don't have to make last-minute reservations. Others may be able to comment on the availability of the 2-1 ticket at the last minute.

One final comment: several years ago I was at a United breakfast for frequent flyers and the question came up why United wasn't part of this program. The United guy said that when Amex started it, the other airlines were promised that United and American would NEVER be allowed in.</font>

What airlines DO participate in the "free" companion tickets ?. I just received an good offer to upgrade to Plat from Gold at no cost for the first year and will probably do so only for the priority pass that comes for free... On all the other extra's in the mail I cannot find a lot on the amex website(s)..

I hope that KLM or LX are included !..??

Peter_A

http://www10.americanexpress.com/sif/cda/page/0,1641,2731,00.asp

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by phoenixitc:
http://www10.americanexpress.com/sif/cda/page/0,1641,2731,00.asp</font>

THX ! (fast!) I got stuck on the local sites...Now I only need to find the full fair basis for these tickets and the restrictions ...

PA

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by padams:
THX ! (fast!) I got stuck on the local sites...Now I only need to find the full fair basis for these tickets and the restrictions ...

PA

</font>

OEPS already found one , "..must use a US issued Plat AMEX ..." mine wil be swiss ...

Will sign-up and see what's real and what's marketing .


Peter_A

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Colo1K:

The companion business class tickets are nice, but I've only used this feature once.
</font>

If you use this feature once and save an extra ticket - you've covered well over 10 years of annual fees for the card. If you're really going to use this feature, it's a no-brainer to get the card.

It's important to note that the buy-one-get-one fares are only on full fare J (and sometimes F). Many major companies have highly discounted negotiated rates with major airlines - sometimes our company rate is about 1/2 off the regular int'l J fare - so the Amex discount isn't a savings.

If you don't have access to big-company travel benes, and you do go overseas (2 people together) in paid J, this card will be real savings.

Will the Platinum travel service book a J or F ticket with an origination outside the country that your account is billed in? (eg travel from Austria if account is billed to UK)?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by virtualtroy:
Will the Platinum travel service book a J or F ticket with an origination outside the country that your account is billed in? (eg travel from Austria if account is billed to UK)?</font>

No. To quote from the terms of the programme:

All travel must originate in the UK at a designated carrier gateway city.

To follow up to myself: on the other hand, the terms of the programme seem frequently to be inaccurate, or at least to refer to (presumably) the most restrictive limitations imposed by any of the partner airlines. e.g.:

Companion tickets do not accrue frequent flyer mileage.

... which is contradicted by my experience with Alitalia, where both tickets issued on a Companion fare are booked in fare class Z which does earn FF mileage.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by NYBanker:
If you use this feature once and save an extra ticket - you've covered well over 10 years of annual fees for the card. If you're really going to use this feature, it's a no-brainer to get the card.</font>

Isn't that a bit of an exageration? You have to pay "Full Fare" business class to get the companion ticket offer. Often you can get two discounted tickets cheaper than a single full fare ticket which makes the offer irrevelent. (Unless someone else is paying for the ticket, in which case it makes very good sense)

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Ex Amex Card:
Isn't that a bit of an exageration? You have to pay "Full Fare" business class to get the companion ticket offer. Often you can get two discounted tickets cheaper than a single full fare ticket which makes the offer irrevelent. (Unless someone else is paying for the ticket, in which case it makes very good sense)</font>

The two cheaper discounted tickets are also more flexible if only one of the 'companions' needs to change travel dates.
I guess the only purpose of the companion ticket is to put the cost for the partners flight on company expenses.

I personally like the cruise benefit with Platinum. $300 per cabin shipboard credit. Three cruises this year ($900 total credit) more than makes up for the annual fee.

marc