American Express Membership Rewards - Should I go Platinum?

I'm looking at the Plat. card AmEx just sent me, and wondering, "should I activate it?" I'd like to call on the collective expertise of the FlyerTalk forum to help with this question.

Some background info: I'm 27, I'm still a grad student in the US, but I finish my PhD in a month, and then I'm off to bigger and better things in Geneva, Switzerland. My salary as a student isn't very impressive, but I'll be doing much better in a month. (Note, I'm not sure -why- I was offered the Plat. card... I'm not much of a big spender.)

I will do a lot of international travel now, which is why I'm considering the Plat. card. I think I'll end up flying on Continental quite a bit (e.g. Geneva to Newark).

However, in looking carefully at the Plat. benefits, many (for example retail benefits) seem to apply only within the US.

Does it make sense to get a Plat. card if I'm not going to be living in the US? Should I talk to AmEx and ask for a Swiss (or French... I'll probably live on the French side of the border to start) Plat. card, if such a thing exists?

Also, I don't think I'm set to get any fancy deal with bonus member reward points right now... should I push for this too?

Thanks in advance for your help.

-N

Considering a yearly membership to the CO President's Club costs $375/year.....the Amex Platinum is a good deal (remember, you'll get lounge access on CO/DL/NW flights), Hertz #1 Club Gold membership, Starwood Preferred Guest Gold and other "benefits".

Despite some of it's misgivings (yes, Concierge can be spotty at times), I am quite happy to have the Plaitnum Charge card in my business/personal travels.

you should get it. consider getting the business platinum for small business. the fee is $300 and has almost the same benefits as the consumer one. you just don't get some retail benefits (sacks 5th ave., etc.). in europe it's going to be much more difficult (and expensive) to get an amex plat.

If you will be doing a lot of international travel, you might consider getting the AmEx Platinum international dollar or euro card, both issued out of the UK. With this card you would get the Priority Pass (lounge access) program and the travel insurance on the UK-issued cards is superior to the U.S.-issued cards.

You would be covered if you needed emergency medical or dental in any country other than your country of residence and the country in which you are a national, up to ca. $2 million. Also it offers travel inconvenience insurance for lost/delayed luggage or delayed/cancelled flights. And if you have a non-refundable ticket that needs to be cancelled due to illness, it is covered.

Susan

Don't be impressed that they "invited" you to get the card -- pretty much anybody who pays their bills on time is worthy of an invite. I suspect Amex targets younger prospects because they are more likely to be wowed with the privelege of forking over a few hundred bucks to carry such a high level card.

It doesn't seem to me that the Amex Plat would be worth it for you. Can you imagine that you will be getting hundreds of dollars worth of services back from the card to justify the annual fee? Do you think you'll be hitting those airline lounges frequently enough to make it worthwhile?

If you travel enough on Continental to qualify for their OnePass Platinum status, you'll be eligible to use those lounges for free anyways. When traveling on an international ticket such as Geneva-Newark, Platinum elites get complementary access to Continental, Delta, Northwest, KLM, Air France, Alitalia, and any other Skyteam airlines' lounges. (This is a new benefit.) At Geneva's airport, you should be able to get into Air France's lounge.

Another big minus is that if you use a US issued Amex in Europe, you will be hit with a 2% foreign currency transaction fee on all your charges, as opposed to the 1% fee of some other Visa/MC cards. You should find a locally issued card to bypass this fee entirely for when you are in Switzerland.

I carry the Amex Starwood Platinum which costs $30/yr (first year free). Although it says Platinum Amex on the card, it does not have the benefits of the Amex Platinum charge card. But it is considered by most to have a far superior rewards program.

Wont they do some kind of global transfer? Ive read here on another post about a member moving and they swtiched the card from country to country.

Wont they do some kind of global transfer?
Yes:

Global Card Transfer (http://www.americanexpress.com/canada/en/global_card_transfer_en.shtml)

Thanks for all the good information and advice. I'm going to activate the card. (If nothing else, I'll be able to evaluate first-hand if the benefits are worth the membership fee).

Once I've settled in in Europe, I'll likely do the card transfer.

I'll report back!

Thanks again.

I hear the concierge service is up for bids. Maybe the companies bidding will read some of these comments and provide superior service? The concierge service currently leaves a lot to be desired...

Considering a yearly membership to the CO President's Club costs $375/year.....the Amex Platinum is a good deal (remember, you'll get lounge access on CO/DL/NW flights), Hertz #1 Club Gold membership, Starwood Preferred Guest Gold and other "benefits".

Despite some of it's misgivings (yes, Concierge can be spotty at times), I am quite happy to have the Plaitnum Charge card in my business/personal travels.

Let us know, I have received multiple invitations via mail and email

So far I've not taken the bait