New Platinum Benefit - request

 
Old Mar 16, 2013, 10:06 pm
  #1  
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Suggestion for a New Platinum Benefit

Hello all,

I thought I'd write a thread suggesting a new Platinum benefit and perhaps if you like the idea, you can +1 this thread. Maybe if enough of us do this, Starwood will take notice and consider it.

The idea is simple... Waive the 2.7% foreign transaction fee for Platinum Starwood American Express card holders.

We travel a lot. And we are the most valuable segment of Starwood. To hit use with a foreign transaction fee when we travel abroad is onerous. Although it used to be different, today, we have numberous choices of alternate cards without foreign transaction fees. It's time Starwood and American Express stepped up and matched this benefit so many other cards are offering.

If you like this idea, +1 it or comment below. I hope enough of us can convince Starwood and American Express to change this for Platinums.

Last edited by TravelinSperry; Mar 18, 2013 at 12:06 am Reason: More clear title
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Old Mar 16, 2013, 10:26 pm
  #2  
 
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Bad thread title.
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Old Mar 16, 2013, 11:00 pm
  #3  
 
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Starwood has nothing to do with determining CC benefits, only Amex does. Well, everyone would like that, but it costs Amex money to do that. They probably think the card has enough benefits already so it doesn't need that one, too. The extra Starpoints for using the card at a Starwood hotel overseas offset the extra fee. For non-Starwood purchases overseas, I use my forex-free Amex Platinum, Chase Hyatt Visa, Chase Priority Club Visa, or Citi Hilton Hhonors Reserve Visa card.

Last edited by DCBob; Mar 16, 2013 at 11:09 pm
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Old Mar 16, 2013, 11:10 pm
  #4  
 
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That benefit would be too US-centric.

The SPG Amex is not available in many markets and Plats who would not be able to receive this benefit probably greatly outnumber those who would.
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Old Mar 16, 2013, 11:14 pm
  #5  
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This thread belongs to Amex forum, not here. The foreign transaction fee is charged by Amex, not SPG.
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Old Mar 16, 2013, 11:38 pm
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Originally Posted by TerryK
This thread belongs to Amex forum, not here. The foreign transaction fee is charged by Amex, not SPG.
Yes, as I stated in Post #3. What Starwood could do is to NOT tack on any EXTRA credit card transaction fees to your hotel bill. All Starwood hotels in Australia tack on an extra 1.5% there. This is a line item on your hotel bill and you pay it whenever you use a CC. Not sure if this is done in any other country.
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Old Mar 17, 2013, 3:42 am
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Originally Posted by DCBob
Yes, as I stated in Post #3. What Starwood could do is to NOT tack on any EXTRA credit card transaction fees to your hotel bill. All Starwood hotels in Australia tack on an extra 1.5% there. This is a line item on your hotel bill and you pay it whenever you use a CC. Not sure if this is done in any other country.
In Australia merchants have the right to recover the CC service fee from the customer if they choose to. Trying booking with QANTAS and they also charge a fee for using credit cards.
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Old Mar 17, 2013, 4:19 am
  #8  
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Originally Posted by clublounger


Bad thread title.
What would you title it? It seems I should post in Amex area based on comments here... so if you have a better title... perhaps I can use that and repost?
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Old Mar 17, 2013, 9:01 am
  #9  
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Originally Posted by TravelinSperry
What would you title it? It seems I should post in Amex area based on comments here... so if you have a better title... perhaps I can use that and repost?
perhaps 'suggestion for a new platinum benefit'....your thread title seemed like spg was offering a new plat benefit which had to be requested....
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Old Mar 18, 2013, 12:07 am
  #10  
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Originally Posted by Keyser
perhaps 'suggestion for a new platinum benefit'....your thread title seemed like spg was offering a new plat benefit which had to be requested....
Oh my, i see how it can be interpreted as such now. sorry!
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Old Mar 18, 2013, 2:36 pm
  #11  
 
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I'll give it a +1, very very few cards in Canada with no FX
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Old Mar 18, 2013, 3:03 pm
  #12  
 
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The Platinum benefits in the past two years have screwed me royally. How will the New Platinum Benefits do a better job in screwing me? What am I missing here?
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Old Mar 18, 2013, 3:13 pm
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Originally Posted by alley cat
The Platinum benefits in the past two years have screwed me royally. How will the New Platinum Benefits do a better job in screwing me? What am I missing here?
Can you elaborate?
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Old Mar 18, 2013, 3:40 pm
  #14  
 
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nah. Too many other good cards out there with no foreign fees. I'd like to see incremental benefits for card holders, but this wouldn't be on the top of my list. I'm not sure we'll ever see Plat-specific benefits for AMEX card holders.
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Old Mar 18, 2013, 4:57 pm
  #15  
 
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Originally Posted by alley cat
The Platinum benefits in the past two years have screwed me royally. How will the New Platinum Benefits do a better job in screwing me? What am I missing here?
I guess it could be a new angle of "screwing"? Like, if Starwood promised you a Maserati every time you checked in, but gave you a ford focus, that would be a pretty good spin on your screwing.
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