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 10, 2017, 7:54 pm
#256
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Apr 10, 2017, 9:12 pm
#257
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
I get so irked by the signature requirement. It is such a worthless piece of security, and I can't imagine any rational person feels better knowing he or she has to sign for a purchase. At least at a gas station, I have to put in my ZIP code. I long for the Chip-and-PIN that's so common in Europe--at least a PIN offers some level of security.
Why do the merchant rules require verifying it with what's on the back of the card, then? (Of course, that's mostly a theoretical point as almost no one in the US does.)
Apr 10, 2017, 10:57 pm
#258
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: AA 1MM; DL PM
Posts: 141
I'm not doubting that it does. But it's *something* at least.
Apr 11, 2017, 8:27 am
#259
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: SF Bay Area, CA
Programs: AMEX Platinum, HHonors Gold
Posts: 203
A quick look at the new card:
I created this video shortly after receiving the card.
Interestingly, when I called to request it, AMEX told me they were backlogged and it would go out via First Class Mail and not ship out for like 5 days. But, they still shipped it out the next day and via overnight FedEx.
I created this video shortly after receiving the card.
Interestingly, when I called to request it, AMEX told me they were backlogged and it would go out via First Class Mail and not ship out for like 5 days. But, they still shipped it out the next day and via overnight FedEx.
Last edited by Mediahound; Apr 11, 2017 at 8:48 am
Apr 11, 2017, 9:06 am
#260
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriot LT Titanium/Hertz PC/UA 1MM 1K
Posts: 131
Tried to look back on this question, but hadn't seen anything posted recently on it- I travel a ton (primarily US domestic) - will this card set off the metal detectors at the airports? I have Global Entry/Pre-Check.. Got mine last week and traveling this week through a few airports (EWR/DFW/IAH/FLL). Wondering if I need to take my wallet out now.
Apr 11, 2017, 12:22 pm
#261
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriot LT Titanium/Hertz PC/UA 1MM 1K
Posts: 131
Tried to look back on this question, but hadn't seen anything posted recently on it- I travel a ton (primarily US domestic) - will this card set off the metal detectors at the airports? I have Global Entry/Pre-Check.. Got mine last week and traveling this week through a few airports (EWR/DFW/IAH/FLL). Wondering if I need to take my wallet out now.
Apr 11, 2017, 2:55 pm
#262
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 539
Tried to look back on this question, but hadn't seen anything posted recently on it- I travel a ton (primarily US domestic) - will this card set off the metal detectors at the airports? I have Global Entry/Pre-Check.. Got mine last week and traveling this week through a few airports (EWR/DFW/IAH/FLL). Wondering if I need to take my wallet out now.
Apr 11, 2017, 4:34 pm
#264
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: HHonors, TrueBlue, Delta SkyMiles, Hyatt Discoverist, Starwood Preferred Guest, American Airlines.
Posts: 2,035
There's a reason signatures are waived below a certain amount, because a merchant should be checking signatures above $50 or whatever the merchant deems necessary below that amount for the purpose of additional security to make sure the person using the card is in fact the cardholder.
Apr 11, 2017, 4:42 pm
#265
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: HHonors, TrueBlue, Delta SkyMiles, Hyatt Discoverist, Starwood Preferred Guest, American Airlines.
Posts: 2,035
This. And trust me, I tend to be very skeptical of new payment technology.
Contactless is definitely a convenience thing for me on transit systems, vending machines, and similar that allow it. And while yes, I could get the same function out of Android Pay, something still just feels "weird" about paying with my phone. I don't even think I'll be getting the free $15 out of the Android Pay Amex offer I just got, because I feel that weird about paying for stuff with my phone.
Yes, I could look more into it and go through all the various technical aspects and security things and stuff...but at the end of the day I'm just more comfortable swiping my card vs. a phone. Definitely wouldn't begrudge anyone else for making the opposite choice.
Contactless is definitely a convenience thing for me on transit systems, vending machines, and similar that allow it. And while yes, I could get the same function out of Android Pay, something still just feels "weird" about paying with my phone. I don't even think I'll be getting the free $15 out of the Android Pay Amex offer I just got, because I feel that weird about paying for stuff with my phone.
Yes, I could look more into it and go through all the various technical aspects and security things and stuff...but at the end of the day I'm just more comfortable swiping my card vs. a phone. Definitely wouldn't begrudge anyone else for making the opposite choice.
Apr 11, 2017, 6:02 pm
#266
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA 1K, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 7,969
Could you identify your locale? Contactless payment adoption varies dramatically by region, with some countries having it almost universally now, while others not so much. The US is in the latter category.
Apr 11, 2017, 6:05 pm
#267
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: HHonors, TrueBlue, Delta SkyMiles, Hyatt Discoverist, Starwood Preferred Guest, American Airlines.
Posts: 2,035
Apr 12, 2017, 3:41 am
#270
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SEA town
Programs: Alaska LTG, HHonors-Gld, IHG-Dia, LT MR Ti
Posts: 627
Just called to get my metal card. Was told contactless wasn't available for metal card. Thought this was a bit odd. I'll just wait and re-order in a few weeks. I have a wallet that blocks RF.