Mar 2, 2017, 8:48 am
Last edit by: Centurion
American Express press release is HERE.
American Express product site is HERE.
Price change dates for new and existing accounts:
Unpublicized change to Priority Pass benefit:
Terms of the Uber benefit:
*If you do not see a $15 credit appear and you receive a message your card may be the registered payment to another Uber account and you must delete your card from all Uber accounts and reenter your card on the Uber account your want the credit benefit.
Metal card availability:
American Express product site is HERE.
Price change dates for new and existing accounts:
When is the fee increasing for Platinum Card Membership?
Beginning on March 30th, 2017, the new annual fee for Platinum Card will be $550. For Existing Platinum Card Members, the annual fee will take effect on their annual renewal date on or after September 1st, 2017.
Beginning on March 30th, 2017, the new annual fee for Platinum Card will be $550. For Existing Platinum Card Members, the annual fee will take effect on their annual renewal date on or after September 1st, 2017.
Unpublicized change to Priority Pass benefit:
At any visit to a Priority Pass Select lounge, you may bring in two guests for no charge.
Only Basic Card Members on a Platinum Card account are eligible for Uber VIP and monthly ride Credits. To receive this benefit, you must have downloaded the Uber App version 3.219 or later for iOS or version 3.126 or later for Android and your eligible Platinum Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account. If you are assigned a new Card number, you must update your method of payment in your Uber account. Cards added to your Uber account through a third party such as Apple Pay or PayPal will not be eligible. A Platinum Card account may receive this benefit on one Uber account. If the same Card is added to multiple Uber accounts, only the first Uber account to which the Card is added will receive the benefit. Uber VIP is available in select cities and is governed by Uber’s terms and conditions. To redeem monthly ride Credits, you must select to use the Credit in your Uber app prior to completing the Uber ride. The discount will not apply to previous Uber rides. New and existing Uber users are eligible. Uber will apply discount at the point of sale. There is no limit to the number of rides you may apply the Credit to each month, up to a total of $15 in Credits per month. Each year in December, you may apply up to $35 in Credit. The discounted cost of a ride will be displayed on your post-ride email receipt. If you are eligible to receive additional Membership Rewards points on your ride, points will be awarded on the balance of the cost of the trip after Credits are applied. Credit may be applied to all Uber car types and cannot be applied to other Uber services. Credit may only be applied to rides within the United States. Monthly ride Credit expires at 11:59 PM local time on the last day of each month. Unused Credit will not carry over to the following month. Credit will be applied for the month in which the ride is completed. If ride is eligible for another promotion that you have added to your Uber account, the promotion will be applied before the Credit. Certain Uber-branded credits may be applied to your ride balance prior to this Credit.
Metal card availability:
How can Platinum Card Members get the new metal Card?
The new metal Card will be issued to Platinum Card Members 60 days prior to their Card expiration date or can be requested beginning on March 30th, 2017 by calling the number on the back of the Card or requesting a replacement card after you sign in to www.americanexpress.com and click on replace lost damaged card.
The new metal Card will be issued to Platinum Card Members 60 days prior to their Card expiration date or can be requested beginning on March 30th, 2017 by calling the number on the back of the Card or requesting a replacement card after you sign in to www.americanexpress.com and click on replace lost damaged card.
USA: New (2017) personal Platinum benefits; Higher annual fee ($550)
Oct 25, 2017, 2:46 pm
#586
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: New England
Programs: UA 1P, Hyatt Diamond, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,502
It's comments like this I have a hard time understanding (unless your area doesn't have Uber), especially from people on flyertalk who in theory travel more often than your average person. You never take an Uber to or from an airport? or to get home after a late night out?
I live in one of the most car necessary cities in the US, drive everyday, and I still find it relatively easy to use $15 in Uber credits a month organically. I mean $15 isn't even a one way ride from Downtown to my house.
I live in one of the most car necessary cities in the US, drive everyday, and I still find it relatively easy to use $15 in Uber credits a month organically. I mean $15 isn't even a one way ride from Downtown to my house.
Oct 25, 2017, 3:12 pm
#587
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
I take that back. Yes the Uber credit might be useful but it expires every month! In the months that I don't travel, those credits are essentially wasted. Uber is not a reliable way for me to get to the airport. I live about an hour away from a major airport and most drivers simply refuse to take the trip.
However, I'd venture that Amex targets the Platinum card at people who either a) travel at least once a month and/or b) live/work/play in major metropolitan areas where Uber has indeed become a regular part of everyone's routine. I'd imagine that the people who have no use for Uber credits are the exception rather than the rule in Amex's target audience.
This is even without including the UberEATS loophole.
Oct 25, 2017, 10:06 pm
#589
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,628
I use my Uber credit each month.
I have a car. It is 5 years old this month, and just hit 20K miles. Shorter hops where I'm going to be paying too much for parking y/o having a few adult beverages make the calculation very simple. (Also, trips greater than an hour around here might only be 20 miles or less depending on the time.)
I have never used Boingo.
Oct 25, 2017, 10:50 pm
#590
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,789
Shouldn't. Upgrade/downgrades reflect the original account open date. I'd do it, that's a solid upgrade offer. If anybody disagrees with me I'm sure they'll chime in
Oct 26, 2017, 4:19 am
#591
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: AA (Exec Plat), ANA (Plat), Club Carlson (Gld), Hilton (Diamond), IHG (Plat), SPG (Gld)
Posts: 447
First, I have taken Uber trips of far greater than an hour before. Heck, I know people who regularly take Uber from MCO to TPA and back. Drivers who refuse a trip get dinged on their own profiles. Granted, you need to be starting in an area well-serviced by Uber.
However, I'd venture that Amex targets the Platinum card at people who either a) travel at least once a month and/or b) live/work/play in major metropolitan areas where Uber has indeed become a regular part of everyone's routine. I'd imagine that the people who have no use for Uber credits are the exception rather than the rule in Amex's target audience.
This is even without including the UberEATS loophole.
However, I'd venture that Amex targets the Platinum card at people who either a) travel at least once a month and/or b) live/work/play in major metropolitan areas where Uber has indeed become a regular part of everyone's routine. I'd imagine that the people who have no use for Uber credits are the exception rather than the rule in Amex's target audience.
This is even without including the UberEATS loophole.
I just don't get why Amex promotes this as travel card and then tells you that most of the perks are only good when traveling in the US.
Oct 26, 2017, 2:30 pm
#592
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 1,084
Oct 27, 2017, 5:32 pm
#594
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, UA Gold, Marriott LTT, Avis President's Club
Posts: 1,539
This may be true but while I am in that target demographic because I travel monthly and use Uber monthly the credits are still worthless. The reason is they are only good in the United States and 90% of my travel is international and that is where I use Uber. So while I am spending over the $15 per month that Amex provides with Uber since Amex has limited this benefit to the US just like so many of there other features it makes the card much harder to justify. It is the same reason I have a problem with so many of the Amex offers i am targeted for especially with hotels since i travel primarily internationally and the Amex offers are all US and Puerto Rico only.
I just don't get why Amex promotes this as travel card and then tells you that most of the perks are only good when traveling in the US.
I just don't get why Amex promotes this as travel card and then tells you that most of the perks are only good when traveling in the US.
- AMEX MR are paid for by interchnage rates (~3% in the US)
- Interchange is capped in most other countries (why reward cards in other places aren't as lucrative)
Obviously other banks such as Chase pay the same rewards worldwide. I guess they assume most transactions would be in their users home markets, while AMEX doesn't want to take on that cost.
I don't agree with it either. But then again most places I travel to don't accept AMEX anyway.
Oct 27, 2017, 7:07 pm
#596
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Newton Centre, MA, USA
Programs: DL 2MM Gold, AA Plat Pro; Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium (via SPG), IHG Plat
Posts: 2,192
My understanding of this is:
Obviously other banks such as Chase pay the same rewards worldwide. I guess they assume most transactions would be in their users home markets, while AMEX doesn't want to take on that cost.
I don't agree with it either. But then again most places I travel to don't accept AMEX anyway.
- AMEX MR are paid for by interchnage rates (~3% in the US)
- Interchange is capped in most other countries (why reward cards in other places aren't as lucrative)
Obviously other banks such as Chase pay the same rewards worldwide. I guess they assume most transactions would be in their users home markets, while AMEX doesn't want to take on that cost.
I don't agree with it either. But then again most places I travel to don't accept AMEX anyway.
Oct 27, 2017, 7:11 pm
#597
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Oct 27, 2017, 7:19 pm
#598
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Newton Centre, MA, USA
Programs: DL 2MM Gold, AA Plat Pro; Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium (via SPG), IHG Plat
Posts: 2,192
Ah, I've always found bonus categories to be close to a scam and in general a PITA. (I tend to use one credit card for one kind of spend - meals out, household, gas, travel, etc. Switching cards to get a little bit of extra bonus spend every 3 months doesn't make sense to me.) Besides, this thread is about Personal Platinum cards which don't have bonus spend except for the 5x airline and prepaid hotel which AFAICT is worldwide.
Oct 27, 2017, 7:31 pm
#599
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Correct, read back to see that the initial complaint is about the inability to use the Uber credit for trips outside the USA, which lead to a mention of a similar restriction on the Premier Rewards Gold bonus categories. That's the nature of conversation.
Oct 27, 2017, 9:03 pm
#600
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, UA Gold, Marriott LTT, Avis President's Club
Posts: 1,539