American Express Membership Rewards - Adverse changes in UK Platinum insurance coverage - from 15.11.03!

Got home tonight to find a bundle from AmEx featuring revised T+C's for the Platinum Card and a reprinted 'Insurance Terms abd Conditions' booklet.

The booklet has been rewritten so is difficult to compare with the old version BUT it is clear that there are some significant differences. I need to read the whole booklet, but wanted to note these now.

The new T+C's take effect on 15 November 2003, so I have just 18 days left with current T+C's - NOT sufficient notice!

The most crucial is that qualifying flights need to have been paid in full using an AmEx card!.

Under Travel Accident, a 'Covered Trip' means ... a trip ... where the entire fare has been charged to an American Express card account ...

Under Travel Inconvenience, 'Covered Flight' means a flight ... where the entire fare has been charged to an American Express card account ...

There is currently no such restriction. This is one reason why I have maintained my plat account.

In addition to trips booked using AmEx, I currently have trips booked for after 15.11.03 on bmi paid for with the bmi MasterCard and Ryanair using a debit card - and of course you can't buy a Ryanair flight with an AmEx card! So does this mean that these trips are not covered? They were when I booked them!

Also, insurance cover will be restricted to family residents at the same address and dependents under 23. Currently, this is extended to '... all supplementary holders ...'.

There are doubtless more such changes.

I'm not happy. My membership year is April to March and I feel strongly that any changes should be announced well in advance and in any case should coincide with the membership year. 18 days' notice is just not acceptable!

Roger

Thanks for posting this. I got the same bundle last night but could not bear to read it....argh!

This is indeed not a very good change. Although it's probably not going to achieve anything, I'm going to call and complain.

Same with Centurion Card - got the package last night and couldn't be bothered to read it. You know you're in trouble when the cover letter reminds you of all the great benefits of the Centurion Card!

You'd have thought they would change their website:

Comprehensive Worldwide Annual Travel Insurance


Whenever Platinum Cardmembers travel, they travel with something Invaluable - total peace of mind. That’s because, however they book their travel, Platinum Cardmembers are covered by year-round, global Travel Insurance.

Uniquely, your children (under 21, living at home and in and in full-time education) and five free Supplementary Cardmembers will be covered too - whether they’re travelling with you or not.

Here are just a few of the many ways in which you will be covered:


Medical Expenses
Cover for up to £2,000,000 for medical or hospital treatment abroad – including an air ambulance home if necessary.


Winter sports cover
Automatic cover for up to 17 days of winter sports – including snowboarding and off-piste skiing.


Missed departure
Up to £500 for missed departure on an outbound journey.

It then goes on the state the additional benefits when booking with the Platinum card. Can't believe they would do this - the insurance policy is now basically worthless to me because, in any event, I am still going to have to get an annual policy from elsewhere.

After phone discussions with AmEx today, I am assured by senior people that it's all a misunderstanding and in fact there are some enhancements - these including delay cover on the return journey and cover for loss of ski passes after injury.

AmEx have received dozens of calls protesting at the apparent changes regarding use of an AmEx card to pay. They say these only refer to the enhanced cover, and that regular cover continues if other cards are used. I am covered for my bmi and R**n**r flights.

They say that supplementary cardholders will be covered no matter where they live.

No names, but the senior person is said to have stormed into the Marketing department with old and new T+C's intent on resolving the matter. I wonder if we will have another mailing to reassure us?

Thanks for the update

I'll give them a call later to add fuel to the flames.

I went through the new policy guide over the weekend and noticed some changes.

However the point I want ot make is that you only have to book on the card if you want the Enahnced Travel Cover, the 'travel cushion' as AmEx soemtimes calls it, this is where we are talkign about Denied Boarding benefit and the like.

THe normal travel cover, section 2 off the top of my head, is there regardless of how you paid for the holidy/flight.

Thanks,
Richard

Did anyone get to the bottom of this? Are cardmembers worse off after these 'enhancements', or is Richard right (perish the thought that you might be wrong!) that the changes are more to do with the travel cushion?

The principle reason I have the plat card is for the travel insurance coverage for my family. If I am worse off I can't see many reasons for keeping it.

Thanks

sleepy