International benefits
Oct 21, 2010, 2:19 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: UA 1K, Hertz 5*, IHG RA, Hyatt Diamond, Amex Plat, SPG Gold
Posts: 717
International benefits
I have a US issued Amex Platinum card and traveling to Asia next week. I saw that there are dining benefits at certain restaurants and hotel restaurants. Would I be able to get those benefits with a US issued card vs Hong Kong issued card?
https://www212.americanexpress.com/d...00defaad94RCRD
Thanks
https://www212.americanexpress.com/d...00defaad94RCRD
Thanks
Oct 21, 2010, 4:00 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2007
Location: YYZ, but my heart is in Asia
Programs: AC-SE, CX-DM, DL-G, Hyatt-DM, Hilton-DM, Fairmont-Plt, Marriott-S, Accor-Plt, SPG-G, IHG-Plt
Posts: 4,396
Well, yes. I have many times utilized these benefits with my Canadian Centurion and Platinum cards.
The restaurants or shops couldn't care less.
The problem is, how do you know which restaurants/shops offer these benefits? There is a booklet for HKG members listing all these benefits. But even the Canadian Centurion concierge could not get me this list.
I got this list from one kind FT member based in HKG. And I have yet to encounter a shop that declines my benefits/discounts because my card is not a HKG card.
The restaurants or shops couldn't care less.
The problem is, how do you know which restaurants/shops offer these benefits? There is a booklet for HKG members listing all these benefits. But even the Canadian Centurion concierge could not get me this list.
I got this list from one kind FT member based in HKG. And I have yet to encounter a shop that declines my benefits/discounts because my card is not a HKG card.
Oct 21, 2010, 4:33 pm
#4
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
https://secure.cmax.americanexpress....ourmet_eng.pdf
https://secure.cmax.americanexpress....d_Dining_E.pdf
Oct 21, 2010, 7:06 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2007
Location: YYZ, but my heart is in Asia
Programs: AC-SE, CX-DM, DL-G, Hyatt-DM, Hilton-DM, Fairmont-Plt, Marriott-S, Accor-Plt, SPG-G, IHG-Plt
Posts: 4,396
I assume it is different than either of these?
https://secure.cmax.americanexpress....ourmet_eng.pdf
https://secure.cmax.americanexpress....d_Dining_E.pdf
https://secure.cmax.americanexpress....ourmet_eng.pdf
https://secure.cmax.americanexpress....d_Dining_E.pdf
And the merchants are somewhat different.
But thanks for these links as I have never seen them! There are a few more that I can use, in conjunction with my Platinum card!!^
Oct 21, 2010, 8:35 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 24
Yes. It is different. The ones that I got were for Centurion card holders. One for shops and one for restaurants. And they are both multi-page brochures.
And the merchants are somewhat different.
But thanks for these links as I have never seen them! There are a few more that I can use, in conjunction with my Platinum card!!^
And the merchants are somewhat different.
But thanks for these links as I have never seen them! There are a few more that I can use, in conjunction with my Platinum card!!^
Oct 21, 2010, 9:59 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: PEK and BOS
Programs: BA - Blue
Posts: 4,530
Interesting...for this to work (for non HK plat card holders), one presumably needs to ask for the discount and have the bill reduced (as opposed to having an automatic deduction on one's statement).
For those that have utilised the benefit: do you just say 'can I have my plat card discount'?
thanks,
tb
For those that have utilised the benefit: do you just say 'can I have my plat card discount'?
thanks,
tb
Oct 21, 2010, 10:57 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, UA Gold
Posts: 609
Interesting...for this to work (for non HK plat card holders), one presumably needs to ask for the discount and have the bill reduced (as opposed to having an automatic deduction on one's statement).
For those that have utilised the benefit: do you just say 'can I have my plat card discount'?
thanks,
tb
For those that have utilised the benefit: do you just say 'can I have my plat card discount'?
thanks,
tb
Especially since the HK plat card looks nothing like the US one... Actually, it looks alot more like the costco "platinum" cash rebate card...
I forgot if Amex charged foreign exchange fees? I know my penfed travel amex doesn't?
Oct 22, 2010, 1:03 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Singapore
Programs: AmEx Centurion, SPG Platinum; LH Senator; Sixt Platinum; HHonors Gold
Posts: 310
Yah, I'm curious about that too, how do you ask?
Especially since the HK plat card looks nothing like the US one... Actually, it looks alot more like the costco "platinum" cash rebate card...
I forgot if Amex charged foreign exchange fees? I know my penfed travel amex doesn't?
Especially since the HK plat card looks nothing like the US one... Actually, it looks alot more like the costco "platinum" cash rebate card...
I forgot if Amex charged foreign exchange fees? I know my penfed travel amex doesn't?
Oct 22, 2010, 6:15 am
#10
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
The Hong Kong card depicted on the page linked in post #1 is a Platinum credit card. Similar style is also used in the USA for Platinum Business credit cards. However, the Platinum charge cards issued in both countries are very similar. See here the Hong Kong Platinum charge and business cards side-by-side:
https://www212.americanexpress.com/d...00defaad94RCRD
Oct 22, 2010, 8:28 am
#11
Join Date: May 2007
Location: YYZ, but my heart is in Asia
Programs: AC-SE, CX-DM, DL-G, Hyatt-DM, Hilton-DM, Fairmont-Plt, Marriott-S, Accor-Plt, SPG-G, IHG-Plt
Posts: 4,396
Interesting...for this to work (for non HK plat card holders), one presumably needs to ask for the discount and have the bill reduced (as opposed to having an automatic deduction on one's statement).
For those that have utilised the benefit: do you just say 'can I have my plat card discount'?
thanks,
tb
For those that have utilised the benefit: do you just say 'can I have my plat card discount'?
thanks,
tb
I have been to a couple of restaurants (those appear in the list that mia posted above), without knowing there was discount. The waiter asked me if I had an Amex Platinum card when I asked for the check. ^ I said I didn't but I had a Centurion card with me. He told me the Centurion card would work too!^^
So you don't really have to ask. The restaurants would see this as a chance to promote their business and hope that you will return.
Oct 22, 2010, 7:13 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 24
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Yah, I'm curious about that too, how do you ask?
Especially since the HK plat card looks nothing like the US one... Actually, it looks alot more like the costco "platinum" cash rebate card...
I forgot if Amex charged foreign exchange fees? I know my penfed travel amex doesn't?
At least in those "gourmet club" restaurants you don't have to ask. They are so used to the plat cards that they'll apply the discount for you automatically, unless, of course, that the waiter has too much time and pays attention to the back of your card...
I seldom have to ask in other places too.
Originally Posted by bbmatt
Interesting...for this to work (for non HK plat card holders), one presumably needs to ask for the discount and have the bill reduced (as opposed to having an automatic deduction on one's statement).
For those that have utilised the benefit: do you just say 'can I have my plat card discount'?
thanks,
tb
For those that have utilised the benefit: do you just say 'can I have my plat card discount'?
thanks,
tb
Especially since the HK plat card looks nothing like the US one... Actually, it looks alot more like the costco "platinum" cash rebate card...
I forgot if Amex charged foreign exchange fees? I know my penfed travel amex doesn't?
I seldom have to ask in other places too.
Oct 26, 2010, 12:21 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SXSW
Programs: DL Plat; HH Diamond; SPG & Hyatt Plat
Posts: 996
I was definitely disappointed when I saw several lounges in China and Hong Kong that accept Cent/Plat for access, but only if the card is from HK, Taiwan and Canada. Strange that it would matter.
Oct 26, 2010, 10:37 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA 1K, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 7,969
Not strange at all. Unlike merchants that may offer a discount at their own expense to cardholders in order to attract customers, the lounges get paid by Amex for each visitor. If Amex US doesn't have a contract with those lounges, then the lounges won't get paid for visitors using those cards. It makes perfect sense that the lounges would have it down to a science as to exactly which cards to accept.