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 27, 2017, 9:18 pm
#601
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 1,084
Amex limits other thing as well. Their insurance only covers a person who lives in The US. So if you’re an American expat, for example, you won’t be covered.
Oct 28, 2017, 5:58 am
#602
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: BNE
Programs: NZ*G, QF Bronze, VA Red
Posts: 563
However, unlike Visa and MasterCard where the rate paid is usually higher than the rate paid for a domestic card, AMEX treats cards the same no matter which AMEX entity issued it, meaning if my contracted merchant commission were 1.5% (which it is), then the commission on that transaction is 1.5% regardless if the card is issued by American Express USA Inc, American Express Australia Pty Ltd, or American Express UK plc (examples, not real entity names).
Basically it means that since outside the home country AMEX cannot rely on getting 3% from the merchant, they likely choose not to treat the transaction the same as a domestic one and therefore don't give you bonuses.
Also fun fact: I dunno why you're complaining about a $550 annual fee. For us in Australia it's $1200 annual fee and less benefits! Though I suppose the travel credit kind of makes up for it.
Oct 28, 2017, 6:18 am
#603
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
I'd imagine they'd have some sort of idea how often a card's used domestically vs. internationally, though, and would be able to adjust the card's benefits to take that into account while being able to offer them everywhere. Chase probably doesn't get 3% in most other countries, for example, yet I've been getting the full 3x on my CSR for every travel/dining transaction I've made in the UK thus far.
Oct 28, 2017, 7:57 am
#604
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA 1K, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 7,970
The Chase United Presidential Plus card also gives 2x miles for qualifying categories (car rental and hotel) worldwide.
May 14, 2018, 8:53 am
#605
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,643
if I book two rooms with FHR/The Hotel Collection via the AMEX prepaid portal using my platinum card, do I get the platinum benefits on both rooms (eg, resort/F&B credits, upgrade opportunities, and other plat perks)?
trying to figure out the best way to bring my sister and brother in law out for a meetup in Napa and weighing some hotels versus VRBO options.
trying to figure out the best way to bring my sister and brother in law out for a meetup in Napa and weighing some hotels versus VRBO options.
May 14, 2018, 9:16 am
#606
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, UA Gold, Marriott LTT, Avis President's Club
Posts: 1,539
AMEX FHR isn't a pre-paid rate. You'll pay at the hotel (where I have swapped the card out for a more rewarding hotel spend card). My understanding that the rate code is like a corporate rate and includes the benefits and therefore you should be good. However, I'll let others clarify.
May 14, 2018, 9:37 am
#607
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,790
AMEX FHR isn't a pre-paid rate. You'll pay at the hotel (where I have swapped the card out for a more rewarding hotel spend card). My understanding that the rate code is like a corporate rate and includes the benefits and therefore you should be good. However, I'll let others clarify.
May 15, 2018, 2:34 pm
#608
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 134
Question about the viability of using the Plat for everyday spend. My main issue is that I'm just plain wondering how useful it is.
1x is just about every category, but 5x in airline, and and 5x hotels booked through Amex portals.
Is there something I'm missing? It seems like even their gold card is a better everyday card than this, and the obvious overall winner is the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
1x is just about every category, but 5x in airline, and and 5x hotels booked through Amex portals.
Is there something I'm missing? It seems like even their gold card is a better everyday card than this, and the obvious overall winner is the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
May 15, 2018, 3:20 pm
#609
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 11
My Platinum sits in my wallet most of the time. The only time I use it is if I am booking airfare, using uber eats, redeeming my $200 airline credit, getting into a lounge or booking a hotel that isn't Hilton (I have Amex Hilton Aspire too).
May 15, 2018, 6:09 pm
#611
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 156
Question about the viability of using the Plat for everyday spend. My main issue is that I'm just plain wondering how useful it is.
1x is just about every category, but 5x in airline, and and 5x hotels booked through Amex portals.
Is there something I'm missing? It seems like even their gold card is a better everyday card than this, and the obvious overall winner is the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
1x is just about every category, but 5x in airline, and and 5x hotels booked through Amex portals.
Is there something I'm missing? It seems like even their gold card is a better everyday card than this, and the obvious overall winner is the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
May 15, 2018, 7:02 pm
#612
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,854
I suspect they wouldn't mind earning some $$$ from me actually using the card, but frankly other than for airfare I have very little incentive to use it. Unless I am traveling, I don't even carry it in my wallet.
May 15, 2018, 9:17 pm
#614
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,791
They can, but that argument only really works if you're getting better usable offers on a Platinum card vs. other Amex cards. Personally I can't say I get better offers on my Plat than I do on my other Amex cards, including my no annual fee cards. Most of the decent ones I see cross-posted across my Platinum and Everyday cards.
May 16, 2018, 12:08 pm
#615
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Everywhere and Nowhere
Programs: DL GM
Posts: 515
Question about the viability of using the Plat for everyday spend. My main issue is that I'm just plain wondering how useful it is.
1x is just about every category, but 5x in airline, and and 5x hotels booked through Amex portals.
Is there something I'm missing? It seems like even their gold card is a better everyday card than this, and the obvious overall winner is the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
1x is just about every category, but 5x in airline, and and 5x hotels booked through Amex portals.
Is there something I'm missing? It seems like even their gold card is a better everyday card than this, and the obvious overall winner is the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Don't get me wrong, even with the high annual fee the Platinum is still well worth it for me for SkyClub access alone, but it serves absolutely zero purpose for daily spend. If it weren't for lounge access, I wouldn't even carry it in my wallet. Now, if they ever go to 5x for hotels booked direct, rather than from the Amex portal, Amex would see my spend on that card multiply exponentially. With the SPG/Marriott benefits getting destroyed, Amex could sure get back in my good graces by just going 5x MR for direct hotel bookings. Just ballparking it, I'd have earned nearly 50K MR from hotel bookings alone last year if there was 5x MR for direct booking.