Originally Posted by
Dreps
The reason we have the Platinum card is the cruise benefits. We usually cruise once each year on a cruise line that provides a $300 credit if you have a Platinum card. The only condition is that the total cruise must be paid for using an AMX card--though it doesn't have to be the Platinum card.
Actually, I believe the $300 credit is only on suites. On regular staterooms you get a two-category upgrade. That's usually "worth" about $100 per person, but I use that word very loosely because I would never pay a dollar extra to be, say, one deck higher and 100 feet closer to the middle of the ship.
Originally Posted by
anaugle
In my experience, FHR's rates are slightly higher than what you could get on the hotel's website for the cheapest room.
Actually, I have found on many occasions over the years that the FHR rates in Las Vegas are
better than what you can get on the website. Of course the best example was the $0 rate for 2 nights at Wynn this past Spring, but it's happened other times as well.
But for me and probably most others, the greatest benefit is the lounge access. I don't think it's worth it so much if you only fly one airline, but since I'm a CO and AA flier, the Platinum card saves me a lot of $ vs. buying two club memberships. There are also ways around the "you must be ticketed on that airline to go into their lounge" policy.