American Express Membership Rewards - Amex Platinum Promotion

Just received an offer from Amex Platinum. Sounds too good to be true.Here's the scoop.
25000 miles for signing up
Four free companion trips per year
Access to airport lounges
$300.00 on board credit on cruises of 7 or more days

All this and more for $450 annual fee.
My questions. Are the airport lounges access unlimited? (for specified airlines)
Are 4 free companion trips per calender year, or year of card?
Is there a dollar limit on the cruise price to get the $300 on board credit?
On the surface, the 25000 miles alone is probably worth $300. The rest seems to be gravy. The devil must be in the details.Thanks for your input.

Everything listed is a standard feature of this card, aside from the 25,000 point activation bonus which is a typical offer.

Read about the card here...

https://www143.americanexpress.com/cards/home.do?pmccode=137#CARDS/137/0/0/-1

Everything that American Express offers is accompanied by terms and conditions. Read about the Lounge Access here...

https://www143.americanexpress.com/cards/platinum/benefit.do?benefitTemplate=template_c&benefitId=1

...be sure to click the link to read the footnote at the end of the first sentence, which explains that you must be flying on the airline which operates the lounge.

Read about the Domestic Companion Airfare offer here...

https://www143.americanexpress.com/cards/platinum/benefit.do?benefitTemplate=template_a&benefitId=domesticcompairfareprog

Read reports about redemption experiences here...

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

The four companion tix are per calendar year. But if you get the card in, say, July 2008, you can use up to four in 2008 and another four in 2009. If you don't renew in July 2009, you have to book the last companion ticket before the card expires. If you do renew in 2009, you can continue to book companion tickets drawing from the quota of four for 2009 until the end of the year, but you don't get another four for renewing.

There is also the code BPLAT08, though I'm not sure if it's still working.

There is also the code BPLAT08, though I'm not sure if it's still working.

What does this code offer?

What does this code offer?
$150 off annual fees.

$150 off annual fees.

Thanks for the info. I was able to take the $450 annual fee hit with a little more confidence. I would guess I'm too late for this fee reduction code, but none the less thanks again all.

Thanks for the info. I was able to take the $450 annual fee hit with a little more confidence. I would guess I'm too late for this fee reduction code, but none the less thanks again all.

Could someone direct me to the 25,000 points bonus -- where can I find it -- is there an offer code I can use when I call them? Thanks.

Also, how good is there 24 hour travel agency when it comes to reservations, seat assignments, flight changes, etc.?

Could someone direct me to the 25,000 points bonus -- where can I find it -- is there an offer code I can use when I call them? Thanks.

Also, how good is there 24 hour travel agency when it comes to reservations, seat assignments, flight changes, etc.?

My understanding, and no one jump on me, is that the only way to get that promotion right now is to be mailed a code, or through one of their affiliate links.

I noticed that if you try and apply straight on the Amex site, you don't get the 25k points. But, if you go through one of their affiliate links you do.

I am not trying to peddle my affiliate links on here, so if you end not not being able to get a promo code like the offer above, send me a pm and I will send you a link that will at least gets you 25k points.

Could someone direct me to the 25,000 points bonus -- where can I find it -- is there an offer code I can use when I call them? Thanks.

Also, how good is there 24 hour travel agency when it comes to reservations, seat assignments, flight changes, etc.?


You have to spend $1,000 within the first 3 months to get the points.

You have to spend $1,000 within the first 3 months to get the points.

edited

You have to spend $1,000 within the first 3 months to get the points.

Thanks for the link!

A couple of questions -- can I get a second card for my wife so that when she's traveling on her own she can get club access?

Didn't see anything about that on the application...

I think I'm going to go ahead and get it. Was thinking about it before but never got around to doing it

How good have you found their 24 travel agency as to reservations, changes, etc

Thanks!

A couple of questions -- can I get a second card for my wife so that when she's traveling on her own she can get club access?



yes but there is a fee for additional cards. You can order one online after your approved, or call in.

Thanks for the link!

A couple of questions -- can I get a second card for my wife so that when she's traveling on her own she can get club access?

Didn't see anything about that on the application...

I think I'm going to go ahead and get it. Was thinking about it before but never got around to doing it

How good have you found their 24 travel agency as to reservations, changes, etc

Thanks!

You can get up to 3 additional cards for $175. (Same price whether you get 1, 2, or 3 cards)

Why not apply for the gold (with no annual fee the first year), get 25k points for it, then wait for an opportunity to get more points by upgrading to plat later?

Why not apply for the gold (with no annual fee the first year), get 25k points for it, then wait for an opportunity to get more points by upgrading to plat later?

That sounds like a plan. Do you have a link for Gold with 25K bonus?

That sounds like a plan. Do you have a link for Gold with 25K bonus?

Try this...

http://www201.americanexpress.com/sbsapp/FMACServlet?request_type=alternateChannels&lpid=223&eep=23150&psopen=OPEN_Google_GoldBrandedBusiness

Where in the first link does everyone see the 4 free ticket details?
:confused:

Where in the first link does everyone see the 4 free ticket details?
:confused:

Welcome to Flyertalk. I suggest you re-read the second message in this thread, link here...

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=9916618&postcount=2

Companion tickets are a standard feature of the American Express Platinum card. The tickets are not "free", you must purchase one ticket and pay taxes and a booking fee for the second, but you may save compared to the cost of two tickets.

I received a targeted offer a while back from Amex for the Platinum card. It was pitched as "Four domestic airline tickets". I get "FREE TICKETS" offers all the time, always with so many strings attached that they're not worth the hassle. So I didn't pay much attention to this one, either.

Anyway, while filtering through my bills, I took a little time to read the fine print, and discovered that what they are actually offering is 100,000 MR bonus points upon spending $1000 with the card by the end of the summer. Annual fee is $450.

I don't know squat about the Membership Rewards program (right now I'm racking up points on a Citi AAdvantage Amex, trying to reach lifetime gold before AA goes bankrupt), but it seems like they're giving me enough points to cover 2 years of the annual fee right out of the chute. Am I missing something? Should I jump on this offer?

...what they are actually offering is 100,000 MR bonus points upon spending $1000 ... Annual fee is $450.


100,000 has been the highest reported bonus, and it is good value. You can read about Membership Rewards airline redemptions here...

http://www.membershiprewards.com/catalog/search/?category=Frequent%20Flyer%20Programs

Am I missing something? Should I jump on this offer?

I don't think so.
Without question or hesitation. That's what, 33k SPG points or almost three nights in the HKG W. Do it.

... discovered that what they are actually offering is 100,000 MR bonus points upon spending $1000 with the card by the end of the summer. Annual fee is $450.



Planning apply for a Amex Plt card this week. Any one has a link for the 100K MR point promotion?

I was wondering for a long time why Platinum is not promoted at all over here in Germany. Last Saturday I was called by Amex and asked if I want to have a try. The deal is:

- no sign up fee (normally 250 EUR)
- annual fee of 500 EUR (regular)
- 30.000 extra points on first purchase

Since I can cancel at every time, I thought to give it a try. The points are not too bad...

Cheers
Marc

That's not bad at all. I'd jump on platinum for the right number of points or a reduced fee. I've been delayed so much lately that club access could be worth it.

I was wondering for a long time why Platinum is not promoted at all over here in Germany. Last Saturday I was called by Amex and asked if I want to have a try. The deal is:

- no sign up fee (normally 250 EUR)
- annual fee of 500 EUR (regular)
- 30.000 extra points on first purchase

Since I can cancel at every time, I thought to give it a try. The points are not too bad...

Cheers
Marc

Bump.

Has anyone seen any premium bonuses as of late? Thanks.

Man, I've just paid £300 fee for the UK one again this year (I swear it moves back a month each year) - does anyone think its worth cancelling to get them to call me with one of these offers or do us brits never see them? (I put about £4-6k a month through the card)

In the us at least, cancelling is a rite of passage. should be done often just to see what offers one gets. And that definitely not just for credit cards.

Just got the 25K mile promotion... again ... funny thing is that on the envelope they promote it as a $250 gift card... inside they clarify that you can use the 25K miles for a gift card...

Is the American Airlines lounge access new? I don't recall this previously... just might tip the balance for me...

I have the 25k offer too. Would really like to hold out for a bigger one. Has anyone seen anything better lately? Thanks

I was wondering for a long time why Platinum is not promoted at all over here in Germany. Last Saturday I was called by Amex and asked if I want to have a try. The deal is:

- no sign up fee (normally 250 EUR)
- annual fee of 500 EUR (regular)
- 30.000 extra points on first purchase

Since I can cancel at every time, I thought to give it a try. The points are not too bad...

Cheers
Marc

Hi Marc,

doesn't it among on the impossible to get the plat in Germany ? Always heard about the nighmares. Is that really true ? Don't really know except the 60k Euro min income and so on. Also can you use it pretty much everywhere now ? I always had cash or EC Card when I lived in Germany.

Thanks, Flo

I applied in early June for the Platinum card mainly for the lounge access but also found the Hertz and National rental car memberships to be beneficial and worth a $100 a year in savings.

Thanks for all the good information.

We just got the 25k bonus offer too. I came here (of course) to see if this is a good offer. Why am I not surprised that there is an entire thread on it! You guys are the best!

I finally decided to bite the bullet and upgrade my Gold to Platinum. I've received several promotions offering 25,000 bonus MR points. I'm really interested in the 100,000 point offer (of course). I spoke to a CSR who said that she couldn't offer that bonus and that the best way to find it would be to either get the "RSV Code" or even the 800 number from the offer. Mia or Greg can you help a brother out?:)

Hi Marc,

doesn't it among on the impossible to get the plat in Germany ? Always heard about the nighmares. Is that really true ? Don't really know except the 60k Euro min income and so on. Also can you use it pretty much everywhere now ? I always had cash or EC Card when I lived in Germany.

Thanks, Flo

Getting a Platinum card in Germany is quite easy. If you are a new customer, Amex probably enforces the 60K € income requirement.

An existing Gold card holder with good payment history will become sooner or later a Platinum card offer.

Amex card acceptance in Germany improved a lot, even some supermakets (REWE group) accept Amex cards now. But for everyday purchases, the Maestro debit card (formerly known as EC card) remains the first choice.

Well, my offer expired 8/31 and I didn't take it. Holding out to see if a better one comes my way.

Anyone have any news on recent offers?

Thanks

its all true, i applied for it under that promotion and got the points, havent used the free companion tickets yet, but probably will in November when me and my friends hit up vegas!

Still seeing the 25,000 point bonus here

http://www.milecards.com/airportloungeaccess.html

Also has a list of the lounges w/ Plat access

The 25,000 points is still listed but the 4 companion tickets have changed to 1 overseas companion ticket. (You have to buy unrestricted First or Business) I think I'll hold off till they come back with the 4 continental US companions.

# International Airline Program: Receive a complimentary overseas companion ticket on one of 17 participating airlines when you purchase a qualifying ticket through Platinum Travel Service.I

The 25,000 points is still listed but the 4 companion tickets have changed to 1 overseas companion ticket. (You have to buy unrestricted First or Business) I think I'll hold off till they come back with the 4 continental US companions.

# International Airline Program: Receive a complimentary overseas companion ticket on one of 17 participating airlines when you purchase a qualifying ticket through Platinum Travel Service.I


The 4 companion tickets is a benefit of the card, not a promotion. It is under the 2 for 1 domestic airline program.

Find cardmembers' success stories (and failures) in:http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=666178

The 25,000 points is still listed but the 4 companion tickets have changed to 1 overseas companion ticket. (You have to buy unrestricted First or Business) I think I'll hold off till they come back with the 4 continental US companions.

# International Airline Program: Receive a complimentary overseas companion ticket on one of 17 participating airlines when you purchase a qualifying ticket through Platinum Travel Service.I

If Amex Plat has dropped the domestic companion ticket benefit, that would be big news. I wonder if the fact the benefit's missing from the linked page is simply an indication that the page is old, not that the benefit has changed from 4 domestic companion tix to 1 overseas companion ticket.

My mistake. Digging further into the benefits the 4 domestic companion tickets are still listed. They just are not one of the highlighted benefits. Unusual considering it is one of the main draws for the card.:confused:

I received an email invitation to apply for the Platinum card for a 25,000-point bonus. I deleted my email and changed my mind a week later (after I had emptied my deleted mail).

I thought, “of course Amex would be able to honor the offer even if I deleted it." After all, if it was based on my Gold card account, they should have a record that I qualified for the offer. If it was unrelated to my existing relationship with Amex, they would know of their existing offers and certainly make it happen for a customer who 1) reports he would like to accept the offer, 2) has been a Gold member in good standing for 10 years, and 3) charges about $70-100k a year on his Amex. I was wrong!

I spoke with two people. The first was downright rude. He told me that I never received such an email. I could handle that if he had said that he showed no record of my being sent such an offer. But he told me I never actually received such an email—that I was apparently dreaming or crazy, or something. It was quite amazing.

I asked to speak to someone else (someone who had a clue). Two people later, I was transferred to a lady who said she is aware of that offer and she could apply it to my upgrade. Since the last guy’s behavior was so insulting, I asked her for a discount of the first year’s fees. She said they didn’t do that which I suspected wasn’t true, but I signed up anyway.

At the end of the year, I will compare my experience between Amex Plat and Merrill +. I am hoping Merrill is comparable based on my benefit needs since it has no fees.

Had a new offer in the mail yesterday. This one was no up-front bonus, but 3X MR for the entire first year, on all "everyday purchases" only. To me, this sounds worse than the 25k bonus up front. Figure you have to spend ~1k/month on these everyday purchases to be equivalent with the 25k upfront offer.

Can anyone convince me to take this offer?