roundtree

Based on the language in the terms, isn't this more accurate?

• 1 base point for spend a dollar
• 4 bonus points for buying airfare using American Express travel

mia

It could turn out that way, but I expect not for three reasons:

1. The four bonus points can be earned when buying directly from an airline. There is no requirement to use American Express Travel.
2. The way I described is how the Gold cards with airfare bonuses work. They would have to reprogram the software to eliminate the one point bonus for using American Express Travel only if paying with a personal Platinum card.
3. American Express Travel = Orbitz. They pay for that bonus point.

roundtree

Well, I hope that's the case. It certainly makes the airline option even more attractive that I initially thought.

bodiddely

Quick PSA for anyone who has a Business Gold Rewards card - I was able to change my 3x bonus category via chat just now (airfare had been my selected category), citing the new 5x on the Platinum. Ordinarily you may only change once per year (Dec 1 - Jan 31).

JHake10

It would be nice if AMEX broke down how many points per charge you will receive like Chase.

I have two charges from United. One is airfare and the other was Internet I purchased on a flight. They both came though as United. Would both of these charges get 5x?

Edit: Just found out where to see points activity which doesn't break down points per transaction but by card with bonus points listed separately.

DCEsquire

Thanks. Appreciated.

radiowell

I celebrated this offer by spending around $1,000 on an airline, but with $700 airfare, $100 award fee/tax and $200 change fee. I am guessing the first two will count for the X5, but not sure about the change fee (coded differently; I already used up $200 credit). Will try to report back.

bodiddely

Interesting datapoint on the 1.5x earnings on purchases of 5k+ on the Business Platinum. I made a qualifying purchase on Thursday, 10/6, which posted today 10/8, along with the bonus MR points (the extra .5 points per dollar, not the full 1.5). My current statement cycle does not end for a few more weeks. A welcome change from waiting until after the closing of the next statement!

eajusa

Anytime I used a targeted Amex 2X MR offer, I would get the extra point a few days after the purchase and the other point after the statement closing. However, this is the first time I've heard Amex do this with bonus points that are a permanent feature of a card. For example, on PRG you get the 2 points per $ for dining, gas, and groceries after the statement closing.

steve4

One additional benefit for both personal and business cardholders I just noticed under the terms is a 20% discount on airfare from Delta Airlines which I think is a big benefit. I'm surprised this hasn't been advertised more on the blogging sites.

Here is what it states:

20% Discount on Delta Commercial Flights
For air transportation provided by Delta, Delta Private Jet Cardholder is entitled to a 20% discount off published fares for select fare classes in effect when booked.

I'm not sure what "select" fare classes are eligible though.

bodiddely

The key term there is "Delta Private Jet cardholder" - requires paying upfront for $50k plus for Delta private jets or airfare. The discount is not applicable to all Platinum card members. More details on the AmEx/Delta private jet program here: http://thepointsguy.com/2016/09/instant-diamond-medallion-status-delta-private-jets/

tmiw

The wording about Delta Private Jet probably means that only a small subset of Platinum cardholders would be able to benefit from the discount. Still, I'd have expected at least a passing mention of it.

bgriff

I agree with those who have noted that this is not a good way to get the Platinum card to be top of wallet (or indeed, for many people, even "in wallet"), so seems like a questionable choice on Amex's part, though I'm certainly not complaining.

Indeed, this is even worse for Amex than what I shared on the "how will Amex respond to CSR" thread -- I was going to keep the Platinum card for SkyClub/Centurion/FHR anyway, but was thinking about cancelling my PRG card thanks to the CSR.

For my spend patterns, the only reason I could think of to keep the PRG was that I occasionally have large amounts of airfare spend, and appreciate having large and diversified MR and UR balances, so 3x points on airfare with the PRG was the main way I stood a chance of accumulating large MR balances.

But now, the Platinum that I was going to keep anyway offers an even better way to accumulate large MR balances on my airfare spend. I'll continue not to use the Platinum for anything else. And 2x on gas and groceries with the PRG is definitely not worth the annual fee.

maygarish

Has anybody yet utilized the 50% rebate with the business platinum?

Where would I find the data points for rebate timeline with the previous 30% bonus?

Thanks!

mia

The few that we have would be in this thread (I recently updated title):

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...demptions.html