American Express Membership Rewards - Experiences w/Amex Platinum Card Companion Fares

I’m looking into getting the platinum card and want to know more about the companion fares. The FAQ says that they can’t guarantee that miles will be accrued. Has anyone had problems with this? What are the 6 major airlines?

There are a couple programs . . . The Delta Plat Amex gives you a companion ticket on Delta Only. With this ticket, you accrue miles and MQMs on the ticket you pay for - not the "free" ticket. Also, you can get medallion upgrades etc. This must be booked in L, U or T class. (there are more restrictions BUT, those are the basic ones.)
The regular Amex Platinum Card (gets you into the CRCs) gives you companion free when you buy a Full fare premium cabin ticket. This means you must book and F fare to get your companion. It is generally cheaper to book 2 A fares.
SR

This is from their FAQ. It looks like you can't book premium cabin.

What are the specific requirements in order to use this program?

Airfares must meet the following requirements:

- Roundtrip (multi-city, open jaw, and one-way trips do not apply)
- Domestic travel within most major airports in the 48 states, as well as travel between the 48 continental United States and both Anchorage, AK and Honolulu, HI
- Coach class
- Booked at least seven (7) days in advance
- Saturday night or a two-night midweek stay
- $299 minimum fare if within the 48 United States, else $899 minimum fare for travel between most major airports in the 48 states and Honolulu or Anchorage. (Note: $699 minimum fare for fares between Honolulu and one of the following airports: LAX, LAS, PHX, SEA, SFO)

Here's another thread which will answer all your questions and then some:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=666178

Thanks for the thread. I had a feeling it had bee talked about before.

There are a couple programs . . . The Delta Plat Amex gives you a companion ticket on Delta Only. With this ticket, you accrue miles and MQMs on the ticket you pay for - not the "free" ticket. Also, you can get medallion upgrades etc. This must be booked in L, U or T class. (there are more restrictions BUT, those are the basic ones.)
The regular Amex Platinum Card (gets you into the CRCs) gives you companion free when you buy a Full fare premium cabin ticket. This means you must book and F fare to get your companion. It is generally cheaper to book 2 A fares.
SR

Are you sure about that, RimAir? I used my Amex Platinum to book a trip on Continental from LAX-EWR not too long ago, cheapest fare came out online as $316. Called PTS, and was given the companion ticket free. I don't know much about fares, but doesn't seem like I paid a full fare? Also, both myself and the companion received OnePass points for the travel.

I agree about prices not being high on am ex. I booked an f class international. while it ain't cheap, the primary ticket was less then any full fare by at least 25%. the companion was only $329 which ain't much when the actual ticket is valued at 10 grand. I checked consolidators too. none cheaper (some same price but not cheaper).

So i don't agree with how everyone is saying the tickets are "full fare" and i have no investment in my am ex card. I'd drop it the second if smelled a better deal (actually i'm starting to consider also getting an am ex starwood real soon... sounds better then the plat)

For international business that may be the case, but in my experience the domestic ticket program has a lot to be desired.

There's another option rarely stated here for the expensive, last minute F class international tickets, especially if you only need one ticket.

Buy as many AMEX points as you need at 2.5 cents each and get the ticket that way. It can be an amazing difference between full-fare and what your cost would be for the points! Air France FC to Paris from NY can be over $10,000, but if you can get a 100,000 point ticket, you can snag it for $2,500!

BTW, this tip comes from www.firstclassflyer.com - a very, very valuable subscription service that provides an enormous amount of useful tips. Go to their site - they will be happy to send you a sample issue. Try it!

...Buy as many AMEX points as you need at 2.5 cents each and get the ticket that way.

Recent discussion here...

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=765510

This works best with a program to which Membership Rewards points transfer instantly, and of course there must be award inventory available but often there is "last minute" availability where there was none several weeks earlier.