Review of Canadian Amex Plat
May 28, 2014 | 11:24 am
#151
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
Programs: AC SE (*A Gold), Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold, Amex Platinum / AP Reserve, NEXUS, Global Entry
Posts: 5,760
To be honest, with *G status I've only ever used PP on a few random occasions. It's not hard to imagine that some wouldn't even bother enrolling.
I also think you underestimate the number of Platinum card members who have the card purely for pocket bling reasons.
I also think you underestimate the number of Platinum card members who have the card purely for pocket bling reasons.
May 28, 2014 | 1:32 pm
#152
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AC E35K, NEXUS
Posts: 4,368
I thought PP might come in handy outside the MLL-o-sphere, because very little of my travel is within Canada.
So there is some social capital to be had from pocket bling? I had better flash that bad boy more often!
So there is some social capital to be had from pocket bling? I had better flash that bad boy more often!
May 28, 2014 | 2:01 pm
#153
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YYJ
Posts: 2,230
because if it were, Amex would have to pay for it for 100% of their platinum cardholders. I would guess that there is an enormous percentage of plat holders that don't sign up for the PP, thus saving amex money.
FWIW, i find PP to be a very second rate company when it comes to customer service. i called up a month ago to enquire about united lounge access for canadian pp cardholders who acquired it through amex plat. since the pp website states that those who get the pp through US financial institutions are not eligible. the young woman i spoke with was absolutely clueless and basically said that canada was effectively part of the US and thus i would not have access. this was 100% inaccurate as i entered the LAX T7 united loung a couple of weeks ago and was not charged.
i am amazed that these companies can get away with such blatant disregard for any form of customer service.
FWIW, i find PP to be a very second rate company when it comes to customer service. i called up a month ago to enquire about united lounge access for canadian pp cardholders who acquired it through amex plat. since the pp website states that those who get the pp through US financial institutions are not eligible. the young woman i spoke with was absolutely clueless and basically said that canada was effectively part of the US and thus i would not have access. this was 100% inaccurate as i entered the LAX T7 united loung a couple of weeks ago and was not charged.
i am amazed that these companies can get away with such blatant disregard for any form of customer service.
May 28, 2014 | 9:40 pm
#156
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 77
i have two trips later this year and early next year. that's why i will self refer to apply for a platinum card. the airports included are yyz, punta cana, hongkong, bankok, phuket, samui, manila. if i have a AE platinum card, which airport lounges can i use? (what i think is using plaza lounge in canada and using pp lounges in other countries)
May 29, 2014 | 6:10 am
#157
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,795
i have two trips later this year and early next year. that's why i will self refer to apply for a platinum card. the airports included are yyz, punta cana, hongkong, bankok, phuket, samui, manila. if i have a AE platinum card, which airport lounges can i use? (what i think is using plaza lounge in canada and using pp lounges in other countries)
Login to AMEX Platinum website (not the regular AMEX Canada) and it should show you benefits
but in short, you should be able to enter all Plaza Premium lounges (in Canada)
May 29, 2014 | 9:41 am
#158
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: YOW
Programs: AC SE, FOTSG Platinum
Posts: 6,543
No lounge at USM, but as the whole airport is open-air, with a sort of "everyone gets a lounge" policy, I doubt you'll miss the PP access there.
Since that whole airport is owned by Bangkok Airways, definitely worth at least signing up free for their miles club, which gets you a couple of tiny perks like free terminal wi-fi in a couple of locations.
Which airline are you flying through HKG?
Since that whole airport is owned by Bangkok Airways, definitely worth at least signing up free for their miles club, which gets you a couple of tiny perks like free terminal wi-fi in a couple of locations.
Which airline are you flying through HKG?
May 29, 2014 | 2:39 pm
#159
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 77
Toronto to hongkong by air Canada; hongkong to Phuket by air asia; Phuket to samui by bankok airway; samui back to bankok by bankok airway; bankok to manila to boracay and back to hongkong by Cebu.
May 29, 2014 | 7:19 pm
#160
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: YOW
Programs: AC SE, FOTSG Platinum
Posts: 6,543
Single best thing you can do for that trip is to splash out the $100 each way for "preferred seats" (usually bulkhead or exit-row) on the YYZ-HKG legs.
Think of it as about $9/hr for a considerably more comfortable flight.
You can definitely apply the $200 Amex Plat Travel credit towards this.
If you haven't booked yet, also keep an eye on the fact that Premium Economy is only about $150 more than Economy, per leg, if you connect through YVR.
Think of it as about $9/hr for a considerably more comfortable flight.
You can definitely apply the $200 Amex Plat Travel credit towards this.
If you haven't booked yet, also keep an eye on the fact that Premium Economy is only about $150 more than Economy, per leg, if you connect through YVR.
May 29, 2014 | 7:51 pm
#161
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 77
thanks. one question about Amex Plat travel website. how different is it from the regular AE travel website? cheaper? more products?
May 29, 2014 | 8:02 pm
#162
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,795
but in general you can find the rates comparable to AMEX Travel or each hotel/airline's best available rate
AMEX Travel site now shows FHR hotels/rates AFTER you login as Platinum cardholder
May 29, 2014 | 9:04 pm
#163
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,170
Cabin baggage weight may not exceed 7 kgs.
Some of the pitfalls for flying a discount airline.
BTW hope you will be staying a few days in H.K. as there is no interline between AC and Air Asia. You have to go through immigration, collect your bag, clear custom and excise and walk over to Terminal 2 check-in area (from the main building aka T1) to check in for your Air Asia flight. Then re-enter departure immigration and security check.
May 30, 2014 | 8:53 am
#164
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan, Bonvoy, Alaska, Avios
Posts: 1,295
From reviews on Skytrax there are frequently website "issues" that prevent you from pre-paying and saving on luggage!
A review:
A review:
Flew Phuket to Chiang Mai, and got dinged nearly $60 CAD ($55 US) for a 20 kg bag. When I picked myself up off the floor, I asked the desk person if I could avoid this sticker shock on my return flight. Told to go to the website, check in online, and 'pre-register' my bag online. The savings would be 'significant'. So today, I did just that. Only problem - when it came to registering the bag, the website froze me out - even after multiple attempts. Simply couldn't register the bag, let alone pay a lower fee for it. When we got to the airport, I explained the situation. We had checked in online, so it was clear I wasn't pulling anyone's leg about trying to get things done on the website. But the check in person gave me the cow in a pasture stare, and charged me full freight for the bag again. I explained again it wasn't my fault - I'd tried to do what her colleague had recommended - but their website wasn't working. I then told my story to the person who took my money. Same look. So watch out! Bag charges are exorbitant, and going online to lessen the charge brings no joy.
May 30, 2014 | 11:04 am
#165
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,170
Air Asia is a discount airline and usually attracts those who want the "cheapest" air fare. Air Asia would be one of the last airlines on list to fly.
My original post was a courtesy "warning" to the poster flying Air Asia. The discussion should be carried on in the Other Asian airlines forum rather than here which is the Canadian Amex Plat thread.