G-BOAC

What an absolutely useless bunch of BS. Pathetic.

As noted above, ditch this and take out comprehensive AmEx insurance and you're going to be better off. Even with the 150 GBP saving on my BA card, I'm not paying net 300 for this crap. As if I need poxy CX status when I have BA GGL. Once in my entire card tenure I've taken a PP guest in. Every single 'best price guarantee' is ultimately going to turn into marketing puff, riddled with loopholes to deny you claims. And they already reduced the insurance benefits this year.

PS Thanks MoneyBagger for the scan!

bestuseofpoints

Will we be able to redeem miles to Le Club Accor?

EDIflyer

Would be sensible if so - depending on the transfer ratio it might not be a totally unreasonable use of MR points.If this was 1:1 this would compare to £8 for 2,000MR for straight AMEX redemptions (pro-rated from £10 for 2,500).

chistery

I think you can only buy EUR or USD vouchers now.

EDIflyer

Ah OK, thanks - the Accor site itself wasn't very clear so had to rely on a 3rd-party site.

chistery

It changed a while ago and generated a few complaints on here. So if you pay in another currency expect delays at check out as they try and work out what to do.

I do like a Sofitel, but they are just so useless at recognising their loyal members. Though I do recommend the Sofitel Vienna, lovely hotel and they are the only Sofitel to give me all the benefits without asking.

EDIflyer

Some clarification from their Twitter team re. duration of benefits:I've replied saying that isn't clear from the documentation!

redshift27

Thanks. Very interesting.

I was struck by the extension of the hotel loyalty cards to the supplemental cardholders, and that the OW lounge access is indeed by virtue of CX Gold.

My chief question concerns the renewability of the loyalty schemes. Hilton Gold has up to now been a one year only deal. This limitation is not mentioned in the table. Does that mean it is changing? Or does that mean that this limitation is being obfuscated? If the latter, is the CX Gold access also for one year only?

My other question is whether I get to keep my CX Diamond card.

EDIT: Hmph. Answered above. Must type faster.

EDIflyer

See my post above, redshift27

redshift27

But do I keep my CX Diamond card?

EDIflyer

LOL that's just showing off

stueys

Lame. For frequent travellers, who are the only people who benefit from the perks, then the benefits aren't worth much. This will be an easy cancellation for me next year.

redshift27

Agree - if you are already BA Silver or above, and have achieved high tiers in one or more hotel loyalty schemes, then there is little to see here.

If you don't travel at all, ditto.

I fall somewhere in the middle. I spend 40-50 nights per year in hotels, for leisure not work. I fly 25-30 segments per year. I can get Platinum in IHG but cannot achieve it in any other scheme. I was BD*G for a while but now I can just about get BA Bronze without silly mileage runs (which I do not have time for). There are some useful perks here with respect to lounge access, seat selection and potential hotel upgrades (and the Carlson Gold 241 weekend rates do offer some very good deals in some cities). I have a lot of Avios to burn and can see a lot of cheap city European city breaks in the next couple of years made more pleasant by OW Sapphire (or even Emerald).

Factor in my £150 discount against the BAPP card (and I wonder if this fee is going up soon - all their other cards have done), and some value in the crippled travel insurance, and it may be worth it ... to be re-evaluated year by year. I won't have to decide until May 2013.

The _Banking_Scot

Hi,

I got my booklet today.

As it says the fee will not increase until the anniversary of my October 2012 card, I assume the fee will not increase until October 2013 and I could cancel in September 2013 and not get charged the £450 fee?

I have dropped down from Hilton Gold to Silver ( i think I got Hilton gold originally through Amex in 2001 when I first got the card- does this mean I could reapply for Hilton ( same with SPG?)

Will need to consider as I could probably get PP and an annual travel policy for myself for less than £450 pa)

Many thanks

TBS

mia

I read it to mean that the new fee will apply on the anniversary which occurs in October 2012.