lacuadra

Need to add, most of US airports are old and space it at a premium. Not sure what they can get at OHare airside. They got LGA and SFO though not sure where and if convenient to AA/US/UA passengers.

Some remodeled airports like Miami or LAX are so disconnected and that presents s challenge. Some have very big ties with a particular airline. Here AA "owns" concourse D and E. Doubt they will get access to build anywhere convenient to 75% of passengers , and soon.

And managing all of those Cent lounges will be very very expensive. But I give them the benefit of the doubt And again I point out that they are saving, for now, a ton of money in lounge access fees to AA ( UA is offset by the $200.00 credit)

Finally, Amex should go back and reinvent this card. This cant be a "mainly lounge benefit card" anymore.

jsnydcsa

Lounge access (AA, US, DL) was the primary reason for keeping Plat. Recently, I did do Global Entry and the airline credit. So, I can see how these "saved" $ (though GE is not a recurring annual fee) does almost "pay for" the annual fee.

That said, the loss of lounge access (I frequently travel w/ spouse and kids) is the real hit for me that will likely have me dropping Plat.

fishy21

SFO will be at the UA domestic terminal. So AA/US/DL won't be able to utilize.

mikeef

So a couple of things, in no particular order:

1) I'm mostly an AA flyer, so the Amex Plat downgrade there really hurt me. When I fly Delta, it's 50/50 just me, but it's no more than a few times per year. Chances are, I'll downgrade the Amex Plat and use miles to buy an AA membership, no Executive Membership needed.

2) Is there any reason not to downgrade to the PRG, take whatever offer they are offering, use the first year free and then downgrade again to keep my MR intact?

3) I've seen several reports in both this thread and the Delta forum thread about all the screaming children running around in lounges. I may be lucky, but I can't think of a time that I ever saw a kid either yelling or running around in a club.

Mike

sdix

SFO is the old Red Carpet lounge outside of security. It is accessible to anyone. Now how convenient of course depends on how much time you have. You can get across SFO pretty quickly by going down to the garage level and walking directly to whichever terminal you want. However for the average traveller it's not convenient. Even if on UA - unless they open the back door and put a screening person there the idea of hanging in the lounge until flight time is stressful.

mia

If you "downgrade" your existing Platinum Card to Gold you will not be eligible for a one year fee waiver on the Gold card. If you apply for a new personal Gold card you will not be eligible for a bonus because you have had another charge card within the last 90 days.

nall

I get them stopping people from switching in-between the regular and MB Plat, but really, if I have a Plat, and signup for a PRG, or vice versa -- no bonus?

So lame.

mia

There is no substitute for reading the terms of a specific offer, but language similar to this has appeared in most offers for personal American Express charge cards for several months:

This slightly different language has appears in business card offers:

Bear in mind that "had" refers to holding a card account and does not refer to the application date. You must have cancelled the conflicting cards more than 90 days (or a year) prior to submitting a new application.

edgewood49

I was told that if I chose to "downgrade" to Gold my first year would be waived. Interesting.

If you look at the new pending changes with PLT then revisit Gold, then Gold looks better and better, but then so do mainstream bankcard offers.

Hmmm

mia

Everything is negotiable, but typically new account perqs, such as fee waivers, don't apply when downgrading. American Express will automatically refund any unearned annual fee on the Platinum Card, and that amount might offset the Gold card's fee, but that's not a waiver.

edgewood49

True was just relaying a suggestion AMEX made to me. I do charge a lot monthly hence their various offers. I am waiting this out until I can see a clear direction of which way their heading with all of this.

I think most will agree there are many changes coming this year to travel, FF programs and how we "earn" those points. There is a "food fight" going on up here in the NW with AS and DL that's something ! CITI and AA/USAir are locked in sync as is UA and Chase.

So let the games begin!!

scubadu

I wouldn't be so sure that the "games" will go in a direction that most FTers will be very a happy about.

There will a good deal of gnashing of teeth and tearing of clothes...

Regards

edgewood49

"games" was a tongue & cheek comment Oh I agree this may not look good by year end. But it's been a great ride so far one has to admit. As one that has been traveling for business for 35 years I have seen most everything possible so far.

Armani

I am curious regarding whether Amex had any role in this policy change or was it totally Delta. Did Amex try to reduce the amount they pay Delta per member/guest visit or did Delta try to increase it more than Amex was willing to pay.

websteth

I got the impression from American Express that it was mostly Delta's decision. I was told that it was based on comments given to Delta from people that use the SkyClub. I think American Express basically had to accept that it was just the card holder that gets in for free now or loose it all.