denisiel

Hi, I've got the full $200 on Amex Platinum. I used to do gift registry, Can someone please help with the options. I do not have any more trips planned for 2017. Thanks in advance!

pallhedge

Your only options are to switch your preferred airline to one that still works (check the other threads in this forum) or hold out hope that UA will suddenly start working again (inadvisable).

lbotez

I really like my Amex Platinum card. But I hardly use it anymore. I use the Chase Sapphire Reserve instead for most transactions. Amex needs to make the Plat card more attractive. Sorry but Uber isn't it. The Plat card should give you 3X for travel categories and 2X for restaurants like the Chase card and no hassles with the travel credit. As UA is my chosen airline this year, I used the 35% return on the UA travel this year twice (forced to book with Amex Travel), but booking anything direct with United only gives you 1%. This year, I used the $200 travel credit on economy plus upgrades (mainly because I didn't get around to doing it until recently). Plus I like the gold status on SPG/Hilton, but not sure it's worth the extra money or the hassle involved to get the credits.

The card used to be more valuable. Amex needs more lounges, better benefits and not so many restrictions.

Next year I'll change it to AA or DL, since there is no way to buy gift cards on UA anymore. If they take away that privilege on the other airlines, I'll probably close the account.

moe8555

More lounges? What exactly did you have in mind? UA and AA in addition to the existing Delta, PP, Escape, and Centurion? It certainly blows the CSR and every other premium card away in this category.

rendanator

Anyone come up with any creative ways to use this credit for United for end of 2017 and 2018? Now that Gift registry is dead, doesn't seem like there are any easily redeemable methods left.

747FC

To what do you refer when you say "UA and AA?" Since when will my Amex Plat bring me into those lounges?

krazykanuck

What I believe they're saying is, "what do you expect? UA and AA lounge access in addition to DL, PP, etc..." and pointing out that the Platinum card currently grants access to the greatest number and variety of lounges of the 3 main premium US issued cards (vs the CSR and Prestige)

mia

In context it seems Ibotez means that American Express should open more Centurion lounges. AA and UA are no longer interested in diluting their relationship with their own co-branded card issuers by allowing any other access.

JHake10

I think people see the AMEX Plat (Personal/Business) and CSR have similar AFs and think they are the same. While there may be overlap, these are pretty different products. Your AF for AMEX goes to perks such has their own lounge network, hotel status, Uber, and others. While the AF for the CSR goes to higher point earnings, and redeeming those points at a higher value.

Additionally, you mention your 35% rebate which means you have the business card. When using your points back on that, it works out to $0.0154 per point, which slightly edges the CSR at $0.015 per point. I agree its annoying AMEX makes you book airfare through them for the 5x (Business only). However, there typically isn't any disadvantage to doing this (like there are with pre-paid hotels).

For my UA credit, I charge in a UA Club membership and affectively get 200 off the top, which I think is a good value for me. YMMV.

danhunterpost

I reviewed a few pages but didn’t see this there or in the wiki. Did I miss somewhere simple?

If I needed to purchase lounge access for myself or a companion would that qualify for me to be reimbursed on my PRG? What about onboard food and drink?

Any recent experiences with E+ being reimbursed?

Thanks.

JHake10

All of those fall under incidental charges and are eligible. Another poster up thread provided the below snippet. Bolding mine for your situation.

lbotez

first: I did mean the Amex Centurion Lounges. Most are quite nice, somewhat crowded, but some of my favorite lounges. There just aren't enough of them.

In regard to the 35% rebate; I had no idea the personal Amex Plat card didn't have that. Honestly? And it's $550 a year??? Seriously, Amex needs to get their heads examined. And the Uber benefit I could care less about...

CSR I can get 3X for restaurants and travel and then get 1.5X for using the rewards for airfare.

JHake10

I wish they had more/larger spaces too. I'm sure getting commercial space at airports is tough. SFO is always crowded when I'm there. The points rebate (originally 50% but reduced to 35%) is business only. Another business only feature is the GoGo WiFi passes. The personal platinum 5x category is with airfare purchases directly from airlines which makes things a bit easier (business is amex portal only).

No doubt the CSR is easier to earn and burn, I also have one.

krazykanuck

Completely agree with you. Besides the relatively high pre rebate annual fee and the fact that both come with a priority pass membership they are very different products targeting different markets.

Anyway back to the topic at hand I hope United gets the gift registry back up and running at some point otherwise I'll switch my card back to Delta for 2018.

suzuko98

Just wanted to say- I had $175 remaining on my plat amex airline fee reimbursement. Flew from EWR to SFO and used $75 for baggage- was reimbursed. Then decided to splurge/test on a purchase of an economy plus subscription for up to 8 pax. ($899) Since I had my family of 4, the cost to pay for E+ would have been $530 I figured why not just purchase a subscription. I am probably going to fly again next year. Anyway- I also received a $100 credit in addition to the baggage credit. Next year my intention is to upgrade my subscription and pay the difference via citi prestige to include hawaii since I will be headed there.