Apr 17, 2017, 12:45 pm
Last edit by: C W
General Information:
Please note this thread only currently applies to US-issued personal Platinum cards. There have been no official announcements of foreign-issued metal cards. It also applies to all co-branded personal Platinum cards such as Mercedes and Morgan Stanley.
All new and and replacement cards are now stainless steel, as of March 30, 2017.
Amex Press Release
This thread is for discussion of the physical metal card. Please see this thread for all other new Amex Platinum features:
USA: New personal Platinum benefits; Higher annual fee ($550)
Contactless
There are contactless (NFC) and non-contactless version of the Platinum Card.
If you previously had a contactless card and requested a replacement you will receive a contactless replacement.
If you previously had a non-contactless card and requested a replacement you will receive a non-contactless replacement unless you ask specifically for contactless.
Some reps do not know about contactless, HUCA or speak to a supervisor. If you are told you cannot request a contactless card because you requested another replacement within 10 days, ask to speak to fraud prevention and they will override this restriction.
When you apply for a new Platinum account you will be sent a non-contactless card by default.
The contactless and non-contactless cards are physically different. Detailed description and photos in Post 204.
Welcome Kit
Some members have received a Welcome Kit with a wooden display for the card that can be repurposed as a phone stand.
Pictures and description in Post 282.
All new cardmembers should receive the Welcome Kit whereas replacement cards generally seem to arrive in an envelope.
Please note this thread only currently applies to US-issued personal Platinum cards. There have been no official announcements of foreign-issued metal cards. It also applies to all co-branded personal Platinum cards such as Mercedes and Morgan Stanley.
All new and and replacement cards are now stainless steel, as of March 30, 2017.
Amex Press Release
This thread is for discussion of the physical metal card. Please see this thread for all other new Amex Platinum features:
USA: New personal Platinum benefits; Higher annual fee ($550)
Contactless
There are contactless (NFC) and non-contactless version of the Platinum Card.
If you previously had a contactless card and requested a replacement you will receive a contactless replacement.
If you previously had a non-contactless card and requested a replacement you will receive a non-contactless replacement unless you ask specifically for contactless.
Some reps do not know about contactless, HUCA or speak to a supervisor. If you are told you cannot request a contactless card because you requested another replacement within 10 days, ask to speak to fraud prevention and they will override this restriction.
When you apply for a new Platinum account you will be sent a non-contactless card by default.
The contactless and non-contactless cards are physically different. Detailed description and photos in Post 204.
Welcome Kit
Some members have received a Welcome Kit with a wooden display for the card that can be repurposed as a phone stand.
Pictures and description in Post 282.
All new cardmembers should receive the Welcome Kit whereas replacement cards generally seem to arrive in an envelope.
American Express personal Platinum (USA) metal card
Apr 3, 2017, 6:00 pm
#167
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LON, PDX
Programs: DL PM, AS MVP 75K, HH/SPG/MR Gold, Amex Plat, PRG, CSR
Posts: 2,064
I mean this totally earnestly:
Do you actually leave your wallet in your pants going through security? I can't remember ever doing so. Most checkpoints have backscatter machines now anyway
Apr 3, 2017, 6:05 pm
#168
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,508
People with PreCheck can go through the regular metal detectors and not the backscatter machines. ^
Also, for a few years (?) after 9/11 they were also asking for your ID when you exited the metal detector, meaning you either kept your wallet on you or you kept your ID in your hands until you completely went through.
Also, for a few years (?) after 9/11 they were also asking for your ID when you exited the metal detector, meaning you either kept your wallet on you or you kept your ID in your hands until you completely went through.
Apr 3, 2017, 6:06 pm
#169
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: DC Metro
Posts: 53
I'm not much of a contactless payment user so I may be missing something, but if you're going contactless why wouldn't you use Apple Pay (or the Android equivalent) over a contactless card? Everything I've read indicates paying with phone is much more secure than the card since it generates a one time use CC# for each purchase.
Apr 3, 2017, 6:06 pm
#170
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LON, PDX
Programs: DL PM, AS MVP 75K, HH/SPG/MR Gold, Amex Plat, PRG, CSR
Posts: 2,064
People with PreCheck can go through the regular metal detectors and not the backscatter machines. ^
Also, for a few years (?) after 9/11 they were also asking for your ID when you exited the metal detector, meaning you either kept your wallet on you or you kept your ID in your hands until you completely went through.
Also, for a few years (?) after 9/11 they were also asking for your ID when you exited the metal detector, meaning you either kept your wallet on you or you kept your ID in your hands until you completely went through.
Apr 3, 2017, 6:08 pm
#171
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LON, PDX
Programs: DL PM, AS MVP 75K, HH/SPG/MR Gold, Amex Plat, PRG, CSR
Posts: 2,064
Apr 3, 2017, 6:09 pm
#172
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,508
Apple Pay doesn't need a data connection at all. Android Pay, however, does need to phone home occasionally for new tokens. I think you can use it for up to 24 hours before you have to connect to WiFi or cell data. No idea about Samsung Pay or the others.
Apr 3, 2017, 7:11 pm
#173
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,277
Apr 3, 2017, 7:40 pm
#174
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: DC Metro
Posts: 53
Apr 3, 2017, 9:55 pm
#175
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 264
AMEX metal arrived today, and it's pretty nice. The envelope inside the UPS envelope was pretty heavy. Delivery method was UPS Next Day Air Server.
Card was requested 03/30/2017, and was subsequently delayed with no timeline. AMEX sent an email SA night with UPS tracking#.
Card was requested 03/30/2017, and was subsequently delayed with no timeline. AMEX sent an email SA night with UPS tracking#.
Last edited by radiolarian; Apr 3, 2017 at 11:41 pm
Apr 3, 2017, 11:43 pm
#176
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat
Posts: 756
So what's the deal with some of the metal cards are EMV capable and some aren't? I ordered on 3/30 like most people did and got the non-EMV version, while I am seeing some DPs on that others did get the EMV.
Was it completely randomized distribution? Should I contact Amex and ask for another one?
Was it completely randomized distribution? Should I contact Amex and ask for another one?
Apr 4, 2017, 2:11 am
#177
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LON, PDX
Programs: DL PM, AS MVP 75K, HH/SPG/MR Gold, Amex Plat, PRG, CSR
Posts: 2,064
So what's the deal with some of the metal cards are EMV capable and some aren't? I ordered on 3/30 like most people did and got the non-EMV version, while I am seeing some DPs on that others did get the EMV.
Was it completely randomized distribution? Should I contact Amex and ask for another one?
Was it completely randomized distribution? Should I contact Amex and ask for another one?
Apr 4, 2017, 6:56 am
#178
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
So what's the deal with some of the metal cards are EMV capable and some aren't? I ordered on 3/30 like most people did and got the non-EMV version, while I am seeing some DPs on that others did get the EMV.
Was it completely randomized distribution? Should I contact Amex and ask for another one?
Was it completely randomized distribution? Should I contact Amex and ask for another one?
Hopefully when my card comes it will be both EMV and contactless. That was my intent - definitely do not want to give up EMV just to get contactless.
Apr 4, 2017, 7:54 am
#179
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 53
Just to be clear, the contactless cards have the contactless symbol on the back correct? I ordered a contactless card (plastic) and it arrived today, however there was no EMV symbol anywhere. I contacted customer service and they said that a contactless card was issued, but I don't think it is as there's absolutely no indication of it anywhere. So I ordered a metal card with contactless. I'll wait and see. In the mean time I shredded the new card since there's no added value for me.
Apr 4, 2017, 8:11 am
#180
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
Correct, and I had the same experience, three attempts to physically receive a contactless card. In the first instance I think the CSR did not know the difference between EMV and contactless, but in the second instance I think the order was simply fulfilled incorrectly - it appears the system is set to "replace" a card with the same features, and a feature change would be a different path.