BSAChris

Hi - I’m one of the people jumping off the Delta loyalty train. Question for AA and other OneWorld partners - is there any value as an AA flyer to using my non-branded Amex Platinum? I don’t see a way to use amex points with AA, so that’s my main issue - I like the card for lounge access, but if its useless with AA & partners maybe I don’t need it now. Thanks

elCheapoDeluxe

With AA it is not esepecially useful (you can still have AA selected as your airline for reimbursing incidental travel charges). But - there is some value in accruing points in an alternate program. I still accrue a lot of Chase points even though AA is not a partner, because I have plenty of AA/AS miles but it is nice to have points you can use for Hyatt or UA or other partners. I don't need EVEN MORE AA/AS miles.

BSAChris

that’s a fair point - I’m not looking for another “marriage” to an airline, so keeping points for other airlines would be good. My main routes out of ORD are to Dublin and Heathrow, and EI & UA will take the Amex miles.

maat777

I have both an AX Business Platinum and a Citi Executive AAdvantage card. I find the AMEX card does next to nothing for me specifically related to my AA travel and I therefore use the benefits there in parallel to the AA card. The AMEX card is handy for the Pre Check credit, the airline credit (noted above by elCheapoDeluxe) and the lounges are obviously better than Aadmirals Clubs (Flagship and int'l OW partner lounges excluded). As you probably know the AMEX points accrued have to be used carefully to maximize redemption value, but this won't likely come via an AA transfer. I believe sometimes BA or other OW partners airlines accept mile transfers at decent redemption values but you'd have to check the other AMEX threads or sites to be sure. The AA card has many advantages, primarily in being a key earner of miles and status now that AA is officially a bank first and airline second. In summary, I you may want to look into splitting your expenses between an AA card and the AMEX card.

IADCAflyer

I use the Centurion Lounges as an Amex Plat. They're better than the Admirals Clubs, but depending on the crowding at your favorite CL, the delta has gotten smaller.

The boost of the CL over an AC is the free premium booze. And the food is one to two notches better. Thats. about. it.

S80

Amex Plat gives better value (imo) for charging AA flights to it vs the Citi Exec. For lounges, with the Exception of ORD and JFK, all AA hubs (PHL, MIA, CLT, DFW, PHX, and LAX) have a centurion lounge. ORD and JFK only have ACs that are accessible (PP and/or Centurion lounges are in other inaccessible terminals). (In addition, BOS has a (pretty bad) PP lounge, but it is a heck of a walk from the AA gates).

As you mentioned, Amex points can't be transferred to AA (and they also can't be transferred to United), but they can be transferred to Avios (BA, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling, Qatar, and soon Finnair) for bookings on OW partners.

IADCAflyer

JFK has a CL.

Antarius

The Amex Plat is a nice card to have for perks, albeit not 100% necessary. I find value in Precheck, Clear, $200 FHR credit, subscription credit for NYT etc., I use the $200 airline credit on UA as I am based out of a UA hub (parents, sister, sister in law are all in different UA hubs), so I can burn it there on drinks, seats, baggage etc. for the family. Overall, it is a card that elevates my travel experience, therefore I carry it. The miles are useful for various transfers, albeit not AA.

I also carry the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which is the most useful card that I have. The 1:1 transfer to Hyatt is brilliant as is the 1:1 for UA, allows for diversification of options in case AA isn't available or their mile price is bonkers. If I had to keep one of the two, it would be this one.

Don't carry any AA cards. IMO, there's minimal value in putting spend on them.

It does, but as S80 mentioned, they're not readily accessable. CL is in T4, which is a pain (and time consuming) to get to from T8.

S80

Yes, but in T4. I'm not sure you can get through with an AA boarding pass.

IADCAflyer

I've done it.

ZenFlyer

+ Qantas

Trouvaille

I have both the Amex Plat and the AA Executive Card.

With the delta devaluation, I’m downgrading the plat to either the gold or green.

The latest limitations don’t align with a $700 AF. I may get the Citi card with PP — or just buy separately.

VegasGambler

I find that the Amex Plat is the best card to buy airfare with. As I transition to having almost all my travel be award travel, I'm considering dropping it too.

If you want a card just for PP, I would suggest the CSR. The AF is lower, and a large chunk it is offset by the statement credit for travel, and their PP includes restaurant access, which I actually find to be at least as valuable as the lounge access (I would usually rather have a real meal in an airport restaurant than sit in a lounge and snack). And they have good travel insurance, making it a decent replacement for the Amex Plat. I'm currently carrying both but this might be the last year of that.

ericcheung

The business plat I think is a better coupon book than the personal plat, but all based on your spending patterns. The business plat doesn't have the same airfare bonuses but does have other bonus categories and a large purchase bonus. For an AA flyer, 1.5x MR might not sway you from 1x AA plus 1x loyalty points from an AA card. $400 from Dell, $200 airline which I put into United's travel bank, $120 cell phone credit cover the annual fee. In exchange I get access to the Centurion lounges when I need to, plus escape lounges and Plaza premium lounges. It's worthwhile to me, chasing some coupon redemptions in exchange for food and beverage at the Centurion lounge.

njvandy

Amex Plat trip delay/disruption insurance is the major benefit for me. The insurance they just added to the Citi Exec card is not nearly as good. The $200 airline incidental credit is increasingly hard to use since they cracked down on small airfare upcharges.