Nov 4, 2013, 1:57 pm
Last edit by: Gajan
Between 1 September 2013 and 31 March 2018 the co-branded Gold & Platinum Flying Blue American Express cards also gave you Level Miles for purchases at AF/KL.
The Gold card will give you 1.5 Level Miles & Award Miles for AF/KL purchases; the Platinum card will give you 2 Level Miles & Award miles for AF/KL purchases.
As of 31 March 2018 the Flying Blue American Express co-cards give the main cardholder additional XP's when reaching the membership anniversary:
The Gold card will give you 1.5 Level Miles & Award Miles for AF/KL purchases; the Platinum card will give you 2 Level Miles & Award miles for AF/KL purchases.
As of 31 March 2018 the Flying Blue American Express co-cards give the main cardholder additional XP's when reaching the membership anniversary:
- Silver: 15XP;
- Gold: 30 XP
- Platinum: 60 XP
Co-branded American Express cards: France and the Netherlands
Mar 5, 2021 | 11:33 am
#901
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Paris
Programs: AA LT Plat (4m+), AF Plat, A3 Gold, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat/Ambassador
Posts: 2,721
For those of you who you who pay by bank transfer, from several bank accounts, beware that starting yesterday, Amex has suspended all the cards in this situation.
There has been no warning.
When you call Amex to enquire, the credit department answers the call.
They tell you that payment by bank transfer from an account which is not is your name is now forbidden.
Payments from an account in your name but not registered at Amex is forbidden too.
They tell you that they have identified some "illegitimate" bank transfers and will send you an email with a questionnaire about them (as if they could not have sent the questionnaires without blocking the cards).
Until you answer their email, the card remains blocked. If you dont answer within 10 days, they will suspend the account then cancel your card.
I have been paying by bank transfer for 20 years, using the AC card (additional card) for my own company expenses which the company paid direct to Amex bank account. When making expenses for friends (such as plane tickets or hotel stays), I asked them to pay Amex direct.
Amex knew it. There has never been an issue over the course of 20 years.
I told them about it. They dont care.
I must not be the only one. Am I?
I know I am not. The lady on the phone told me that they had started to send bank transfers back already! Yes, they send the money back before informing their customers about the new rule.
I told them that they should have informed me in advance so I could adjust my spending pattern to the new regulation in order to avoid any problem. The answer was this is what we are doing now!
No. They let me spend in February things that were going to be paid by my company.
They blocked the card then they send very inquisitive questionnaires with threat of account cancellation only because they did not tell in advance that we should stop paying by bank transfer
Thanks to Covid, fewer people will have been caught in the middle of nowhere 1000s of km away from home without a functioning Amex, but still. This is such an irresponsible and disrespectful behaviour, isnt it?
After being a card member for 31 years, I informed them I would kiss goodbye to my card in the coming days.
I know they wont care, but what is the point of holding an Amex card if they can behave in such an irresponsible manner?
So, beware if you are in this situation...
If you are not, don't trust Amex any longer. They can let you dry in the middle of the desert by blocking your card for any reason over which you have no control.
There has been no warning.
When you call Amex to enquire, the credit department answers the call.
They tell you that payment by bank transfer from an account which is not is your name is now forbidden.
Payments from an account in your name but not registered at Amex is forbidden too.
They tell you that they have identified some "illegitimate" bank transfers and will send you an email with a questionnaire about them (as if they could not have sent the questionnaires without blocking the cards).
Until you answer their email, the card remains blocked. If you dont answer within 10 days, they will suspend the account then cancel your card.
I have been paying by bank transfer for 20 years, using the AC card (additional card) for my own company expenses which the company paid direct to Amex bank account. When making expenses for friends (such as plane tickets or hotel stays), I asked them to pay Amex direct.
Amex knew it. There has never been an issue over the course of 20 years.
I told them about it. They dont care.
I must not be the only one. Am I?
I know I am not. The lady on the phone told me that they had started to send bank transfers back already! Yes, they send the money back before informing their customers about the new rule.
I told them that they should have informed me in advance so I could adjust my spending pattern to the new regulation in order to avoid any problem. The answer was this is what we are doing now!
No. They let me spend in February things that were going to be paid by my company.
They blocked the card then they send very inquisitive questionnaires with threat of account cancellation only because they did not tell in advance that we should stop paying by bank transfer
Thanks to Covid, fewer people will have been caught in the middle of nowhere 1000s of km away from home without a functioning Amex, but still. This is such an irresponsible and disrespectful behaviour, isnt it?
After being a card member for 31 years, I informed them I would kiss goodbye to my card in the coming days.
I know they wont care, but what is the point of holding an Amex card if they can behave in such an irresponsible manner?
So, beware if you are in this situation...
If you are not, don't trust Amex any longer. They can let you dry in the middle of the desert by blocking your card for any reason over which you have no control.
They are truly like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Delightful when you spend money and/or upgrade cards.
Slightly annoyed and highly bureaucratic when they have to resolve disputes or provide services that YOU pay for.
And absolute jerks when anything goes wrong in any other way that doesn't benefit them.
Mar 5, 2021 | 12:24 pm
#902
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 8,207
And another great example why whenever traveling you better make sure to carry two independent cards. Generally I have a Visa or Mastercard on me in addition to the Amex - to be covered for surprises like this, as well as the fact that Amex is still badly accepted across Europe.
Mar 8, 2021 | 8:54 am
#903
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: Flying Blue, IB, Miles and More, Delta
Posts: 123
I have VISA, Mastercard and American Express Flying Blue Silver, not in the same place obviously. I am now waterproof against card refusal. 
I learnt the hard way you can't rely on only one card.
I just checked the American Express website. They seem really agressive on their promotion : 150 euros for free for any Air France-KLM ticket besides the traditional 1st year offer (50 euros discount + 6k miles + free first year fee for the Gold), and the promotion stops at the end of March, just before their horrible insurance policy change.
It seems the more they implement non sense policies for their loyal customers the more the marketing team throws freebies to new customers.
I learnt the hard way you can't rely on only one card.
I just checked the American Express website. They seem really agressive on their promotion : 150 euros for free for any Air France-KLM ticket besides the traditional 1st year offer (50 euros discount + 6k miles + free first year fee for the Gold), and the promotion stops at the end of March, just before their horrible insurance policy change.
It seems the more they implement non sense policies for their loyal customers the more the marketing team throws freebies to new customers.
Mar 19, 2021 | 11:46 am
#904
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Paris
Programs: AA LT Plat (4m+), AF Plat, A3 Gold, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat/Ambassador
Posts: 2,721
American Express never ceases to amaze me... mostly negatively.
I have two Amex Platinum FR cards-- the classic Plat and the AFKL one. In November I opened two disputes against Avianca as two refunds on taxes (award tickets) were never credited after 11 months.
American Express asked me to produce proof of purchase, proof of their policy and proof that I was due the money. I provided all of those things and they initiated the dispute. 2 months later the credits were applied definitively as Avianca never replied.
Fast forward to February.
Two more tickets... 3 month delay... no response from Avianca regarding a refund (they say it takes up to 10 months... the truth is that you never know if you will actually get your money back).
I presented exactly the same documentation again but this time I got a letter in the mail with the most ridiculous answer possible.
"Nous tenons vous informer que nous n'intervenons qu' titre d'agents de facturations dans ces situations. Vous devrez contacter le commerant directement pour rsoudre ce litige"
In English- "We inform you that we only act as billing agents in these situations. You will have to contact the establishment directly to resolve this dispute".
I mean, really Amex??? So in essence they are saying "we just take our 3%, screw you". Uh, what about purchase protection? Obligations on behalf of the establishment? I myself have accepted Amex in the past and have had to prove the validity of transactions to Amex...
Thoughts here on how best to address this? Aside from saying "look, you already processed an identical claim TWICE two months ago"....
1200€ a year for this kind of ineptitude? I am really p$ssed off.
I have two Amex Platinum FR cards-- the classic Plat and the AFKL one. In November I opened two disputes against Avianca as two refunds on taxes (award tickets) were never credited after 11 months.
American Express asked me to produce proof of purchase, proof of their policy and proof that I was due the money. I provided all of those things and they initiated the dispute. 2 months later the credits were applied definitively as Avianca never replied.
Fast forward to February.
Two more tickets... 3 month delay... no response from Avianca regarding a refund (they say it takes up to 10 months... the truth is that you never know if you will actually get your money back).
I presented exactly the same documentation again but this time I got a letter in the mail with the most ridiculous answer possible.
"Nous tenons vous informer que nous n'intervenons qu' titre d'agents de facturations dans ces situations. Vous devrez contacter le commerant directement pour rsoudre ce litige"
In English- "We inform you that we only act as billing agents in these situations. You will have to contact the establishment directly to resolve this dispute".
I mean, really Amex??? So in essence they are saying "we just take our 3%, screw you". Uh, what about purchase protection? Obligations on behalf of the establishment? I myself have accepted Amex in the past and have had to prove the validity of transactions to Amex...
Thoughts here on how best to address this? Aside from saying "look, you already processed an identical claim TWICE two months ago"....
1200€ a year for this kind of ineptitude? I am really p$ssed off.
Mar 24, 2021 | 4:15 am
#905
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: mostly not far from AMS, otherwise NUE
Programs: FB Silver, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,422
Has anyone managed to successfully complete their Know-Your-Customer procedure where they ask you for documentation that you're real? I've already upload scans of my passport, ID card and bank statement, which are all perfectly legible, several times, but they keep coming back telling me to upload it again because it's not legible. Now I've apparently failed sufficiently for them to actually f*ing send someone to my house to look at my passport. I was this close to cancelling the card.
Mar 24, 2021 | 4:28 am
#906
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: BRU, POA
Programs: FB PfL, Latam Black, Azul Diamond, LH MM, Iberia plus, HH: Diamond, Bonvoy: Plat, ALL: Gold
Posts: 1,404
Has anyone managed to successfully complete their Know-Your-Customer procedure where they ask you for documentation that you're real? I've already upload scans of my passport, ID card and bank statement, which are all perfectly legible, several times, but they keep coming back telling me to upload it again because it's not legible. Now I've apparently failed sufficiently for them to actually f*ing send someone to my house to look at my passport. I was this close to cancelling the card.
Mar 24, 2021 | 5:40 am
#907
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Paris
Programs: AA LT Plat (4m+), AF Plat, A3 Gold, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat/Ambassador
Posts: 2,721
Mar 24, 2021 | 6:57 am
#908
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: BRU, POA
Programs: FB PfL, Latam Black, Azul Diamond, LH MM, Iberia plus, HH: Diamond, Bonvoy: Plat, ALL: Gold
Posts: 1,404
Mar 24, 2021 | 9:46 am
#909
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CW
Programs: Marriott titanium, KL/AF FB Ulti
Posts: 748
Same issues here for NL, sudden re-identification was needed. My last try worked.
Mar 24, 2021 | 3:25 pm
#910
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum, Le ClubAccor Gold
Posts: 915
On a positive note, i have an offer for the next few months with 50€ cashback every 150€ spend at some shops (fnac/Darty/carrefour etc...) - usable 5 times (French afkl plat card)
good way to get back 40% of the yearly fee
good way to get back 40% of the yearly fee
Mar 25, 2021 | 4:21 am
#911
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: CDG & ORY
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate
Posts: 283
Mar 25, 2021 | 12:38 pm
#912
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 8,207
Has anyone managed to successfully complete their Know-Your-Customer procedure where they ask you for documentation that you're real? I've already upload scans of my passport, ID card and bank statement, which are all perfectly legible, several times, but they keep coming back telling me to upload it again because it's not legible. Now I've apparently failed sufficiently for them to actually f*ing send someone to my house to look at my passport. I was this close to cancelling the card.
Wij hebben uw documentatie geanalyseerd en zijn verheugd u te kunnen meedelen dat de door u opgestuurde documenten voldoen aan de kwaliteitseisen. U kunt uw kaart hierdoor gewoon blijven gebruiken zoals u gewend bent.
Mar 25, 2021 | 2:26 pm
#913
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: mostly not far from AMS, otherwise NUE
Programs: FB Silver, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,422
Well, the reminders came by e-mail, so you'd probably have gotten those.
Apr 11, 2021 | 4:10 pm
#914
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: Flying Blue, IB, Miles and More, Delta
Posts: 123
I don't see any change regarding AF cards about their travel insurance on the promotional pages.
You still see the 2 millions euros ceiling for the medical insurance but you have to go very deep inside the website to see any kind of fine print about the new travel insurance conditions.
I find pretty dishonest not explaining clearly it only applies to AF-KLM tickets. I hope nobody will get the Platinum AF-KLM card thinking they will be fully covered for any short trip abroad like if they had the classic Platinum card.
You still see the 2 millions euros ceiling for the medical insurance but you have to go very deep inside the website to see any kind of fine print about the new travel insurance conditions.
I find pretty dishonest not explaining clearly it only applies to AF-KLM tickets. I hope nobody will get the Platinum AF-KLM card thinking they will be fully covered for any short trip abroad like if they had the classic Platinum card.
Apr 11, 2021 | 4:39 pm
#915
Join Date: May 2012
Location: AMS
Programs: BA, KL PFL, LH *G, Hilton LTD, Marriott
Posts: 1,362
Has anyone managed to successfully complete their Know-Your-Customer procedure where they ask you for documentation that you're real? I've already upload scans of my passport, ID card and bank statement, which are all perfectly legible, several times, but they keep coming back telling me to upload it again because it's not legible. Now I've apparently failed sufficiently for them to actually f*ing send someone to my house to look at my passport. I was this close to cancelling the card.