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
#181
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,537
If you are living there and commuting a lot you probably will want to get an Oyster with a travel card on it, as it can get quite expensive using your contactless card at peak times. Most unmanned machines won't work with signature cards. I've had good luck on sub 20 GBP purchases at unmanned machines with my amex plat, however no luck with any of my other MC/Visa cards.
Monthly and Annual Travelcards are cheaper, yes... But it's somewhat false economy. You don't commute on holidays, so that's 40ish work days a year for most of us we don't necessarily commute. In the summer, you may walk or cycle. Etc...
I'm not convinced Travelcards save the average person that much, tbh.
#182
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,537
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?
The shocking thing is some are contact only, no contactless. Given they have a metal contactless at all. That's an engineering feat. It is impossible to make a contactless card the normal way and have it be metal, so this is impressive!
#184
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat
Posts: 756
I don't believe there are any without EMV.
The shocking thing is some are contact only, no contactless. Given they have a metal contactless at all. That's an engineering feat. It is impossible to make a contactless card the normal way and have it be metal, so this is impressive!
The shocking thing is some are contact only, no contactless. Given they have a metal contactless at all. That's an engineering feat. It is impossible to make a contactless card the normal way and have it be metal, so this is impressive!
I don't really care for it right now since I have no immediate plans to go to Europe, but I'll probably order another replacement with EMV in a few months.
#185
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA 1K, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 7,954
NO checkpoints in the US have backscatter machines any more. When they first started installing body scanners, some were backscatter and some were millimeter wave. All backscatter machines (which used X-rays) have since been replaced with millimeter wave machines, so now not even a low dose of ionizing radiation.
#186
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LON, PDX
Programs: DL PM, AS MVP 75K, HH/SPG/MR Gold, Amex Plat, PRG, CSR
Posts: 2,064
NO checkpoints in the US have backscatter machines any more. When they first started installing body scanners, some were backscatter and some were millimeter wave. All backscatter machines (which used X-rays) have since been replaced with millimeter wave machines, so now not even a low dose of ionizing radiation.
#187
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta SkyMiles, Marriott Bonvoy, Virgin Atlantic FlyingClub, Hilton HHonors, World of Hyatt
Posts: 105
Anyone else notice that their replacement metal card has contactless payment? I had it on my old chip plastic version and I guess there is a contactless metal version now. It looks like the back is a different layer to the metal front but it has the contactless logo on it. I should clarify that it also has EMV just like the plastic version with contactless had.
#188
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,884
#189
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta SkyMiles, Marriott Bonvoy, Virgin Atlantic FlyingClub, Hilton HHonors, World of Hyatt
Posts: 105
Yes, scroll back to post 131 and read forward. What we do not have is any report of someone USING the contactless feature or scanning the card with an NFC equipped smartphone.
#190
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LON, PDX
Programs: DL PM, AS MVP 75K, HH/SPG/MR Gold, Amex Plat, PRG, CSR
Posts: 2,064
Yes, scroll back to post 131 and read forward. What we do not have is any report of someone USING the contactless feature or scanning the card with an NFC equipped smartphone.
#192
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hertz PC, Global Entry, CLEAR
Posts: 285
The weight is really impressive. Would love for someone to put it on a scale to compare with the Centurion card.
#193
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,486
There's not actually an option to do so when you apply for an AmEx. You have to get the non-contactless one first, then wait 10 days before you can request one. I mean, it's nice that they even provide the option, but it's almost as though they're discouraging it.
#194
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta SkyMiles, Marriott Bonvoy, Virgin Atlantic FlyingClub, Hilton HHonors, World of Hyatt
Posts: 105
#195
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: LAS
Posts: 64
Interesting.