American Express Membership Rewards - Platinum for Dummies

i've had the platinum for a couple of years and feel like i'm wasting my yearly fee by not taking advantage of its . . . advantages. any rudimentary advice? for upgrades, for example (hotel and air), do you ask when booking or when arriving? how about restaurants?

i've had the platinum for a couple of years and feel like i'm wasting my yearly fee by not taking advantage of its . . . advantages. any rudimentary advice? for upgrades, for example (hotel and air), do you ask when booking or when arriving? how about restaurants?

Nothing that I know of for air - for hotel, car rental, etc., you have to call. I strongly suggest you look at the amex platinum website & then call the number on the back of your card & speak to a concierge. Ask them to help you set up the hotel & car rental offers.

My most recent benefit of using the card has been

1) upgrade at the four seasons
2) upgrade at Hertz
3) discount at one of the FHR restaurants

cheers,

The hotel upgrades I rec'd during my European vacation last summer have made up the Platinum annual fee. Be sure to use the Platinum Travel Service when booking the hotel.

Be sure to use the Platinum Travel Service when booking the hotel.

...if you'd like to pay a premium for your room.

Nothing that I know of for air - for hotel, car rental, etc., you have to call. I strongly suggest you look at the amex platinum website & then call the number on the back of your card & speak to a concierge. Ask them to help you set up the hotel & car rental offers.

Do you need to make rental car reservations with the Platinum Travel Service to get the special rates for Plat members, or is there a code that I can plug in online? Can I setup my profile online, or do I have to call and ask them to create a profile?

Any responses are greatly appreciated...

Thanks.

There are codes and you can search them on FT.

The caveat is sometimes the prices are higher and sometimes lower than what you could get on your corporate rates.

FHR hotels do cost a bit more (USD$40 to $60) but you usually get your money's worth with the upgrade and free breakfast and gift.

Thinking of using it again for a trip Bali in the near future.

Do you need to make rental car reservations with the Platinum Travel Service to get the special rates for Plat members, or is there a code that I can plug in online? Can I setup my profile online, or do I have to call and ask them to create a profile?

Any responses are greatly appreciated...

Thanks.

No. You just have to get signed up with the rental co & have the correct contract/id/whatever.