American Express Membership Rewards - Plat & now what???

Hi all,
Finaly after 17 years I've got an AMEX PLT card (green card was good,) but I was sick and tired of speaking with our Indian neighbors. I travel often, but usually use my DC for lounge aces and In went for a P from Amex instead of a CB. Whatbisnthe best way to utilize my $400 Aannual fee + $175 for additional cc??????
Thanks for all your help, in advance.


F.

Hi all,
Finaly after 17 years I've got an AMEX PLT card (green card was good,) but I was sick and tired of speaking with our Indian neighbors. I travel often, but usually use my DC for lounge aces and In went for a P from Amex instead of a CB. Whatbisnthe best way to utilize my $400 Aannual fee + $175 for additional cc??????

Honestly, I have to say that if you don't know what you're going to do to make use of your Amex Platinum, you probably shouldn't have gotten one.

I've also never run into an outsourced call center agent with Amex before, calling with any type of business or personal card running the gamut from Blue cards up to Platinum cards. Not sure where you're finding these "Indian neighbors" with Amex... Of course, that's not to say that Amex CSRs can't be extremely useless wherever they're from. :)

If you travel a lot in coach you may want to look into a Priority Pass. (I'd suggest looking into the Citi Chairman Card which includes such, but it's been put on hold while they revamp the program.)

Best way would be the FHR, I found out that I could save so much if you are frequent traveller, and much better program than CB Diners Hotel Program. You can also get SPG Gold for free, with free prgrams for Hertz and otheer rental comapnies that could save you some money.



Hi all,
Finaly after 17 years I've got an AMEX PLT card (green card was good,) but I was sick and tired of speaking with our Indian neighbors. I travel often, but usually use my DC for lounge aces and In went for a P from Amex instead of a CB. Whatbisnthe best way to utilize my $400 Aannual fee + $175 for additional cc??????
Thanks for all your help, in advance.


F.

:) thanks for your prompt and honest reply
I always travel in coach because it;s on my dime.
looks like I am out of $400 a year.
, oh well

Should have applied for a CB from DC and sticked with golf& BA
Thanks, Frank

thanks JOMOSH
already got a SPG gold card, for the late check-out and free newspaper

F.

:) thanks for your prompt and honest reply
I always travel in coach because it;s on my dime.
looks like I am out of $400 a year.
, oh well

If you do not find that the Amex Platinum benefits are useful, keep in mind that Amex will prorate the membership fee if you cancel/downgrade the card. So you can certainly try it out for a few months then do the above if you don't find the perks useful.

If you are travelling in the US in coach, the DL/CO/NW lounge benefits alone may make the card worth the cost. I certainly found it was when I was mostly traveling in the US with an Amex Business Platinum ($300/yr for mostly the same benefits.) Now that I am travelling internationally more, and booking coach flights for the short-haul segments after using miles for long-haul J, I find a Priority Pass much more useful than the Amex lounge benefit. But again, it really depends on your travel patterns!

Anyways, keep all of that in mind, and after a few months evaluate how much worth you're actually getting out of the card. If you're barely using the lounge benefits and see no use in FHR, then I'd say you should probably downgrade.

If you do not find that the Amex Platinum benefits are useful, keep in mind that Amex will prorate the membership fee if you cancel/downgrade the card. So you can certainly try it out for a few months then do the above if you don't find the perks useful.

If you are travelling in the US in coach, the DL/CO/NW lounge benefits alone may make the card worth the cost. I certainly found it was when I was mostly traveling in the US with an Amex Business Platinum ($300/yr for mostly the same benefits.) Now that I am travelling internationally more, and booking coach flights for the short-haul segments after using miles for long-haul J, I find a Priority Pass much more useful than the Amex lounge benefit. But again, it really depends on your travel patterns!

Anyways, keep all of that in mind, and after a few months evaluate how much worth you're actually getting out of the card. If you're barely using the lounge benefits and see no use in FHR, then I'd say you should probably downgrade.

I;ll just keep my Diner's Club flor lounge access, & use my new (PLATINUM) instead of (GREEN) as a stasus symbnol................

I;ll just keep my Diner's Club flor lounge access, & use my new (PLATINUM) instead of (GREEN) as a stasus symbnol................

Geez, I'd love to have you on the other side of the negotiating table.

I;ll just keep my Diner's Club flor lounge access, & use my new (PLATINUM) instead of (GREEN) as a stasus symbnol................

Sorry, but Amex has discontinued the Stasis Chamber benefit. You're going to have to get freeze-dried on your own.

Just got mine too and signed up for the SPG Gold card and look forward to some of the other benefits the card includes. Gold Status in SPG is worth it as I only stay about 5 nights per year.
-UFFA

Geez, I'd love to have you on the other side of the negotiating table.

I know, my soon to be ex-wife's divorce lawyer is going to habve a field day with me............ miss all those miles collected by us both

i have a platinum card solely for fine hotel and resort benefits.

the program has the potential to save you a LOT of money.

i have a platinum card solely for fine hotel and resort benefits.

the program has the potential to save you a LOT of money.

THANKS

And cruise benefit. 300$ onboard credit. Last year, I went with my friends and got 300$ for both cabin. That paid for the year or two of memebership fees.

I would suggest keep it for a few months..when you tire of their low service, CSR who cannot do anything and their poor concierge service...cancel or downgrade...

In the meantime do a search on "Amex plat vs. citi chairman....this is the probably the best thread for comparison purposes...

chairman doesn't have FHR. and virtuoso does not have a standard universal contract.

regarding cruises though, virtuoso often CAN match amex in terms of suite credit and other things.

to me, FHR is worth $250 - $290 increase over other amex cards.

I've also never run into an outsourced call center agent with Amex before, calling with any type of business or personal card running the gamut from Blue cards up to Platinum cards. Not sure where you're finding these "Indian neighbors" with Amex... Of course, that's not to say that Amex CSRs can't be extremely useless wherever they're from. :)

They outsource quite heavily. I get India nearly 1 out of every 3 times I call for my Blue, and various members of my family also get India quite frequently with their Amex Products (green and gold, personal and business). I have yet to get India with Plat/Cent. I find the Amex India CSRs to be quite hostile and unhelpful...which is why as soon as I realize its them, I hang up and call again. Often times if it's a simple enough question, Centurion CS is more than happy to help as my accounts are linked.

i only get india for plat customer service. which i basically never call. and im going to call account services when i get around to switching from personal to business. :P