jayzee9
Mar 16, 05, 7:46 pm
I have noticed some post recently about the Amex International Dollar Card. This card seems to offer a few more benefits than the US Platinum Card with only $5 more fee. The additional benefits seem to include Free additional Cards (up to 2 Plats and 3 golds). Also, you get the Priority Pass Card. The Australian version also seems to include travel medical insurance.
Can anyone point me to a thread about these cards? If not, can you help answer the following: Are there any downsides to having these cards and living in the US? Can you still use all the US benefits, pay online, use US cust service? Can I transfer my current Plat to a IDC?
I also saw a posting that the IDC Centurion can be directly applied for and the annual fee is less than the US Centurion.
Thanks in Advance.
Jayzee9
The European IDCs are managed in the UK. I do not believe that electronic payment is possible (at least not when I discussed this with them several months ago), and customer service is in the UK, with UK telephone numbers, etc. The MR partners are also based on the UK program, not the US program (i.e., the airlines are CO, DL, VS, BD). I am unsure if they will issue an IDC to a US address, though others have posted that they have retained such cards in the US after obtaining them abroad.
I have noticed some post recently about the Amex International Dollar Card.
(...)
I also saw a posting that the IDC Centurion can be directly applied for and the annual fee is less than the US Centurion.
The International Dollar Centurion has the same benefits as the UK Centurion (no airline benefits...). The criteria to get it are the same as for the UK Centurion. You may "ask" for an application form if you meet the criteria.
The IDC Centurion (like other IDC cards) is not intended for people residing in the US. If you already hold an IDC, and move later to the US, you might keep your account.
The annual fee of currently US$ 1,000 includes up to 7 cards (main card, A.C. card, 1 supplementary Centurion, and up to 4 supplementary Platinum/Gold/Green).
No direct debit, but settlement by hand delivery at Amex offices, by US$ cheque or by wire transfer to American Express Bank (New-York).
The cards are still in black plastic as of march 2005, titanium cards should be issued at a later time (maybe in conjunction with an annual fee increase...who knows).
An International Card also exists in EURO, with exactly the same benefits as the IDC, and an annual fee of currently EUR 1,000 .
Settlement by EURO cheque drawn on a bank of the EURO zone, hand delivery, or wire transfer to American Express Bank (Frankfurt/Main, Germany).
Existing IDC account holders may also apply for a "companion" EURO card account (of the same or lower level) at a 50% reduced annual fee (means, IDC Centurion may apply for an Euro Centurion account at EUR 500 annual fee, or a Platinum Euro account at EUR 200, etc.).