Review of Canadian Amex Plat
Jun 3, 2016, 10:13 am
#526
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: Amex Plat CAN
Posts: 90
"Worth it" is, as always, highly subjective. I don't travel for work enough to get status anywhere, so getting Plat at Fairmont for cheap, SPG gold for free, Diamond-matched at Hilton, and even the Accor plat has been a boon for me. Lounge access has been a saviour for long layovers.
Fairmont Plat itself is worth at minimum $400 ($100 F&B + optional $100 F&B + free night). Add the $200 travel credit and the PP, and you've already made up for the cost of the card.
FHR is a complex beast. Sometimes I've flat out saved money (e.g. last minute bookings in YVR with third/fourth night free) while getting nice room upgrades, breakfast, and F&B credit. Other times I spent more than what I otherwise would have spent, but got an experience that I never would have paid for by itself.
E.g., I just came back from a vacation in Seoul and booked the Four Seasons city-view exec suite for $750 CAD per night with 3rd night free. Came out to $1500 CAD for 3 nights. I got upgraded to a top floor palace-view exec suite that would have cost $1100 CAD a night if booked direct. If I didn't have FHR, I probably would have spent just $900-1000 CAD for three nights in a basic room at the Conrad or Ritz.
FHR has been by far the most valuable feature of the Amex Plat for me. In the first half of the year I've booked 4 FHR stays and am looking forward to a couple more later this year.
As for the Accor plat, I stayed at the Novotel Taipei airport hotel and got the appropriate platinum benefits. It was a comfortable stay and I was pleasantly surprised by how solid the experience was, considering that it was an airport hotel.
All-in-all, for my usage pattern, I feel that I am way ahead in the cost/benefit of having the card.
Fairmont Plat itself is worth at minimum $400 ($100 F&B + optional $100 F&B + free night). Add the $200 travel credit and the PP, and you've already made up for the cost of the card.
FHR is a complex beast. Sometimes I've flat out saved money (e.g. last minute bookings in YVR with third/fourth night free) while getting nice room upgrades, breakfast, and F&B credit. Other times I spent more than what I otherwise would have spent, but got an experience that I never would have paid for by itself.
E.g., I just came back from a vacation in Seoul and booked the Four Seasons city-view exec suite for $750 CAD per night with 3rd night free. Came out to $1500 CAD for 3 nights. I got upgraded to a top floor palace-view exec suite that would have cost $1100 CAD a night if booked direct. If I didn't have FHR, I probably would have spent just $900-1000 CAD for three nights in a basic room at the Conrad or Ritz.
FHR has been by far the most valuable feature of the Amex Plat for me. In the first half of the year I've booked 4 FHR stays and am looking forward to a couple more later this year.
As for the Accor plat, I stayed at the Novotel Taipei airport hotel and got the appropriate platinum benefits. It was a comfortable stay and I was pleasantly surprised by how solid the experience was, considering that it was an airport hotel.
All-in-all, for my usage pattern, I feel that I am way ahead in the cost/benefit of having the card.
Jun 3, 2016, 11:21 am
#527
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 415
Removal of the Le Club AccorHotels Platinum Tier Membership Benefit
Effective April 30, 2016, enrollment in Le Club AccorHotels' Platinum tier membership will no longer be a benefit on The Platinum Card.
If you are currently enrolled in Le Club AccorHotels' Platinum tier membership and your membership expires on, or before April 30, 2016, Le Club AccorHotels will offer you one (1) additional complimentary membership year in their Platinum tier, with no minimum requirements. To preserve your Platinum tier membership after your complimentary year comes to an end, you will need to fulfil the Le Club AccorHotels qualifying criteria, details of which can be found at www.accorhotels.com/leclub.
If your membership expires on, or after May 1, 2016, you can retain your Platinum tier membership provided you have met Le Club AccorHotels' qualifying criteria. Depending on the number of nights stayed or points earned, Le Club AccorHotels will assess your membership and enroll you into the appropriate tier in accordance with Le Club AccorHotels terms and conditions available on www.accorhotels.com/leclub. If you are not yet a member, Le Club AccorHotels will offer you one (1) complimentary year of their Platinum tier membership if you enroll by April 15, 2016. To enroll, please go to americanexpress.ca/platinum-enroll or call Platinum Card Servicing at 1-800-263-1616 .
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Given that Accor bought Fairmont, I'm more concerned about the possible disappearance of the Fairmont benefit, as that is one of my favourite features of this card.
Jun 3, 2016, 11:43 am
#528
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
Programs: AC SE (*A Gold), Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold, Amex Platinum / AP Reserve, NEXUS, Global Entry
Posts: 5,691
Ah, thanks! I didn't have that notice on my April statement but it was on my March statement along with a note that the IAP program is dropping the "discounted companion ticket offer" from Air New Zealand.
Guess which page I tend to focus on when I receive a statement
Given that Accor bought Fairmont, I'm more concerned about the possible disappearance of the Fairmont benefit, as that is one of my favourite features of this card.
Jun 3, 2016, 12:28 pm
#529
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Toronto
Programs: Aeroplan, Airmiles, RBC Rewards, British Airways Avios, American Airlines Aadvantage
Posts: 47
"Worth it" is, as always, highly subjective. I don't travel for work enough to get status anywhere, so getting Plat at Fairmont for cheap, SPG gold for free, Diamond-matched at Hilton, and even the Accor plat has been a boon for me. Lounge access has been a saviour for long layovers.
Fairmont Plat itself is worth at minimum $400 ($100 F&B + optional $100 F&B + free night). Add the $200 travel credit and the PP, and you've already made up for the cost of the card.
E.g., I just came back from a vacation in Seoul and booked the Four Seasons city-view exec suite for $750 CAD per night with 3rd night free. Came out to $1500 CAD for 3 nights. I got upgraded to a top floor palace-view exec suite that would have cost $1100 CAD a night if booked direct. If I didn't have FHR, I probably would have spent just $900-1000 CAD for three nights in a basic room at the Conrad or Ritz.
FHR has been by far the most valuable feature of the Amex Plat for me. In the first half of the year I've booked 4 FHR stays and am looking forward to a couple more later this year.
.
Fairmont Plat itself is worth at minimum $400 ($100 F&B + optional $100 F&B + free night). Add the $200 travel credit and the PP, and you've already made up for the cost of the card.
E.g., I just came back from a vacation in Seoul and booked the Four Seasons city-view exec suite for $750 CAD per night with 3rd night free. Came out to $1500 CAD for 3 nights. I got upgraded to a top floor palace-view exec suite that would have cost $1100 CAD a night if booked direct. If I didn't have FHR, I probably would have spent just $900-1000 CAD for three nights in a basic room at the Conrad or Ritz.
FHR has been by far the most valuable feature of the Amex Plat for me. In the first half of the year I've booked 4 FHR stays and am looking forward to a couple more later this year.
.
Jun 3, 2016, 5:15 pm
#530
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: SkyTeam Elite, HH Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 262
"Worth it" is, as always, highly subjective. I don't travel for work enough to get status anywhere, so getting Plat at Fairmont for cheap, SPG gold for free, Diamond-matched at Hilton, and even the Accor plat has been a boon for me. Lounge access has been a saviour for long layovers.
Fairmont Plat itself is worth at minimum $400 ($100 F&B + optional $100 F&B + free night). Add the $200 travel credit and the PP, and you've already made up for the cost of the card.
FHR is a complex beast. Sometimes I've flat out saved money (e.g. last minute bookings in YVR with third/fourth night free) while getting nice room upgrades, breakfast, and F&B credit. Other times I spent more than what I otherwise would have spent, but got an experience that I never would have paid for by itself.
E.g., I just came back from a vacation in Seoul and booked the Four Seasons city-view exec suite for $750 CAD per night with 3rd night free. Came out to $1500 CAD for 3 nights. I got upgraded to a top floor palace-view exec suite that would have cost $1100 CAD a night if booked direct. If I didn't have FHR, I probably would have spent just $900-1000 CAD for three nights in a basic room at the Conrad or Ritz.
FHR has been by far the most valuable feature of the Amex Plat for me. In the first half of the year I've booked 4 FHR stays and am looking forward to a couple more later this year.
As for the Accor plat, I stayed at the Novotel Taipei airport hotel and got the appropriate platinum benefits. It was a comfortable stay and I was pleasantly surprised by how solid the experience was, considering that it was an airport hotel.
All-in-all, for my usage pattern, I feel that I am way ahead in the cost/benefit of having the card.
Fairmont Plat itself is worth at minimum $400 ($100 F&B + optional $100 F&B + free night). Add the $200 travel credit and the PP, and you've already made up for the cost of the card.
FHR is a complex beast. Sometimes I've flat out saved money (e.g. last minute bookings in YVR with third/fourth night free) while getting nice room upgrades, breakfast, and F&B credit. Other times I spent more than what I otherwise would have spent, but got an experience that I never would have paid for by itself.
E.g., I just came back from a vacation in Seoul and booked the Four Seasons city-view exec suite for $750 CAD per night with 3rd night free. Came out to $1500 CAD for 3 nights. I got upgraded to a top floor palace-view exec suite that would have cost $1100 CAD a night if booked direct. If I didn't have FHR, I probably would have spent just $900-1000 CAD for three nights in a basic room at the Conrad or Ritz.
FHR has been by far the most valuable feature of the Amex Plat for me. In the first half of the year I've booked 4 FHR stays and am looking forward to a couple more later this year.
As for the Accor plat, I stayed at the Novotel Taipei airport hotel and got the appropriate platinum benefits. It was a comfortable stay and I was pleasantly surprised by how solid the experience was, considering that it was an airport hotel.
All-in-all, for my usage pattern, I feel that I am way ahead in the cost/benefit of having the card.
I decided the thing that makes the card worth it is the 25k referral bonus. Added with the other perks, this is definitely where its at.
Jun 5, 2016, 12:13 pm
#532
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kan@da
Programs: Anything with sweet spots
Posts: 1,790
"Worth it" is, as always, highly subjective. I don't travel for work enough to get status anywhere, so getting Plat at Fairmont for cheap, SPG gold for free, Diamond-matched at Hilton, and even the Accor plat has been a boon for me. Lounge access has been a saviour for long layovers.
Fairmont Plat itself is worth at minimum $400 ($100 F&B + optional $100 F&B + free night). Add the $200 travel credit and the PP, and you've already made up for the cost of the card.
FHR is a complex beast. Sometimes I've flat out saved money (e.g. last minute bookings in YVR with third/fourth night free) while getting nice room upgrades, breakfast, and F&B credit. Other times I spent more than what I otherwise would have spent, but got an experience that I never would have paid for by itself.
E.g., I just came back from a vacation in Seoul and booked the Four Seasons city-view exec suite for $750 CAD per night with 3rd night free. Came out to $1500 CAD for 3 nights. I got upgraded to a top floor palace-view exec suite that would have cost $1100 CAD a night if booked direct. If I didn't have FHR, I probably would have spent just $900-1000 CAD for three nights in a basic room at the Conrad or Ritz.
FHR has been by far the most valuable feature of the Amex Plat for me. In the first half of the year I've booked 4 FHR stays and am looking forward to a couple more later this year.
As for the Accor plat, I stayed at the Novotel Taipei airport hotel and got the appropriate platinum benefits. It was a comfortable stay and I was pleasantly surprised by how solid the experience was, considering that it was an airport hotel.
All-in-all, for my usage pattern, I feel that I am way ahead in the cost/benefit of having the card.
Fairmont Plat itself is worth at minimum $400 ($100 F&B + optional $100 F&B + free night). Add the $200 travel credit and the PP, and you've already made up for the cost of the card.
FHR is a complex beast. Sometimes I've flat out saved money (e.g. last minute bookings in YVR with third/fourth night free) while getting nice room upgrades, breakfast, and F&B credit. Other times I spent more than what I otherwise would have spent, but got an experience that I never would have paid for by itself.
E.g., I just came back from a vacation in Seoul and booked the Four Seasons city-view exec suite for $750 CAD per night with 3rd night free. Came out to $1500 CAD for 3 nights. I got upgraded to a top floor palace-view exec suite that would have cost $1100 CAD a night if booked direct. If I didn't have FHR, I probably would have spent just $900-1000 CAD for three nights in a basic room at the Conrad or Ritz.
FHR has been by far the most valuable feature of the Amex Plat for me. In the first half of the year I've booked 4 FHR stays and am looking forward to a couple more later this year.
As for the Accor plat, I stayed at the Novotel Taipei airport hotel and got the appropriate platinum benefits. It was a comfortable stay and I was pleasantly surprised by how solid the experience was, considering that it was an airport hotel.
All-in-all, for my usage pattern, I feel that I am way ahead in the cost/benefit of having the card.
Jun 5, 2016, 2:56 pm
#533
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Toronto
Programs: Aeroplan, Airmiles, RBC Rewards, British Airways Avios, American Airlines Aadvantage
Posts: 47
FHR is pretty decent. I used it at the Four Seasons Beijing. That was quite an experience my family won't soon forget. We got a room upgrade too and the General Manger of the hotel personally came to our room to see if everything was okay.
I decided the thing that makes the card worth it is the 25k referral bonus. Added with the other perks, this is definitely where its at.
I decided the thing that makes the card worth it is the 25k referral bonus. Added with the other perks, this is definitely where its at.
Jun 5, 2016, 4:35 pm
#534
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: SkyTeam Elite, HH Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 262
I also refer family.
I haven't bothered yet getting into websites where you can maybe get people to PM you for referrals.
Jun 5, 2016, 8:45 pm
#535
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,784
Most people I know (friends/family/coworker) aren't interested in what I can share/offer, either in travel or finance
They just admire or say "oh cool" and move on ... their loss
I agree though, Aeroplan is not for everyone, but it's a known fact, many people just stick with CC from their banks
Jun 7, 2016, 6:42 am
#536
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: Amex Plat CAN
Posts: 90
Part of the Reason why the benefit is highly subjective is that it's hard to put a hard dollar figure on it. In my example, I would not argue that I "saved" $1950 ($1150 x 3 - $750 x 2) for the room that I got. I would not have spent an extra $1950 to get that room, so that is an invalid point of comparison.
What I can say is that I happily paid $500 more for that room vs an Executive floor room at the Conrad. So maybe the dollar figure worth of the benefit FOR ME was somewhere between $500-$1950? If someone else was doing the analysis, depending on their particular valuation of the importance of the hotel experience, it could have a null valuation since they would never book those rooms. Or it could have a negative valuation, as you implied, since it requires spending much more money for something that you may consider extraneous to the travel experience.
Jun 7, 2016, 10:55 am
#537
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kan@da
Programs: Anything with sweet spots
Posts: 1,790
Can you use the $200 travel credit towards CAR RENTAL booked through the Amex Travel website (https://travel.americanexpress.ca) ?
Jun 7, 2016, 11:20 am
#538
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,519
Can you use the $200 travel credit towards CAR RENTAL booked through the Amex Travel website (https://travel.americanexpress.ca) ?
Jun 7, 2016, 11:33 am
#539
formerly BackSlash3
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: YYZ Realistically, YKZ Aspirationally
Programs: AC P25, Marriott Gold, IHG Diamond AMB
Posts: 452
Luxury Hotel stays, do you value it?
If the answer is no, then take the $200/night room and save your money for things you do value. If the answer is Yes then learn the programs, chase the status and consider it value gained when you get to stay in a $1000/night room for the $500/night that you wouldn't normally spend but could stretch to afford to get the otherwise unaffordable experience.
Jun 7, 2016, 12:46 pm
#540
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kan@da
Programs: Anything with sweet spots
Posts: 1,790
I think it's more a question of "Do you aspire to stay in a room that you can't afford?"
If the answer is no, then take the $200/night room and save your money for things you do value. If the answer is Yes then learn the programs, chase the status and consider it value gained when you get to stay in a $1000/night room for the $500/night that you wouldn't normally spend but could stretch to afford to get the otherwise unaffordable experience.
If the answer is no, then take the $200/night room and save your money for things you do value. If the answer is Yes then learn the programs, chase the status and consider it value gained when you get to stay in a $1000/night room for the $500/night that you wouldn't normally spend but could stretch to afford to get the otherwise unaffordable experience.