Originally Posted by
Adelphos
Remember that the AMEX Platinum is one of the easiest AMEX cards to get approved for (and probably one of the easiest travel cards to be approved for). It is charge card, after all. And the $550 fee more than justifies lounge access without any additional card spend - the airlines all sell lounge memberships in that same ballpark. The fact is that the card isn't as high end, nor is the clientele as specific, as you may imagine, and AMEX is probably fine with that
It's a question about what business American Express wants to be in. Are they a premium credit card or a lounge membership?
I would strongly argue they are not in the lounge membership business. Remember the card has some other perks, which most people are likely to redeem at least some amount. Is the smart business model here to crowd lounges, expand expensive airport real estate, to make $100 a year for "lounge members" while alienating your big-spenders and turning it into a family food lounge?