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
May 13, 2018, 4:58 pm
#376
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SJC/SFO
Posts: 373
Good for you. The Platinum rarely sees the inside of my wallet because I use it online most of the time and only take it with me when I plan to visit a Centurion lounge (rarely) or a FHR hotel (a couple of times per year). I'm annoyed because they're sending me the metal replacement right before the renewal, when I plan to cancel. It is a waste of money, environmentally unfriendly and I'll have to deal with the disposal of it too.
May 13, 2018, 5:03 pm
#377
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
I do not use it Plat often, just for travel. But it anchor my wallet. The cards I use to MS do not stay there long. One to two weeks. Chase CSR is there for all dinning. But this is going to change for Q3-2018 because of the Discover 5% quarter and I get cash back match.
May 14, 2018, 9:38 am
#378
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: HHonors, TrueBlue, Delta SkyMiles, Hyatt Discoverist, Starwood Preferred Guest, American Airlines.
Posts: 2,035
I just received an email that a replacement card is in the mail. My current (plastic) card doesn't expire until 2021 and I had no intention of replacing it with the pretentious, pointless and wasteful metal version. The annual fee is coming up on this account in June and I will be cancelling.
.
.
May 14, 2018, 9:44 am
#379
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
Good for you. The Platinum rarely sees the inside of my wallet because I use it online most of the time and only take it with me when I plan to visit a Centurion lounge (rarely) or a FHR hotel (a couple of times per year). I'm annoyed because they're sending me the metal replacement right before the renewal, when I plan to cancel. It is a waste of money, environmentally unfriendly and I'll have to deal with the disposal of it too.
May 14, 2018, 9:48 am
#380
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: HHonors, TrueBlue, Delta SkyMiles, Hyatt Discoverist, Starwood Preferred Guest, American Airlines.
Posts: 2,035
It isn't a waste of your money, so why the hostility? You see the card timing as suspicious because it came with your renewal, but Amex doesn't have any way of knowing you aren't renewing until you call and tell them. They probably saw it as an opportunity to help a card member out since more like the metal than not.
I have to wonder if some people actually own a metal AMEX Platinum or just make up stories to stir the pot.
May 14, 2018, 12:18 pm
#382
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
May 14, 2018, 1:17 pm
#383
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,790
Not by default though, it has to be requested. It's definitely a nice card aesthetically.
I typically don't carry either my Platinum or the Ritz card unless I'm travelling, but a couple weeks ago I had both of those in my wallet at the same time and I did a double take when I realized how stupidly heavy the wallet was.
I typically don't carry either my Platinum or the Ritz card unless I'm travelling, but a couple weeks ago I had both of those in my wallet at the same time and I did a double take when I realized how stupidly heavy the wallet was.
May 14, 2018, 2:12 pm
#385
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: HHonors, TrueBlue, Delta SkyMiles, Hyatt Discoverist, Starwood Preferred Guest, American Airlines.
Posts: 2,035
You have to request a contactless card most of the time. The exceptions are the Hilton cards and the future SPG cards, and probably most of AMEX's other cards after they get a re-design.
May 14, 2018, 4:52 pm
#386
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
I did NOT request that any of my three Amex cards be provided contactless: Platinum, Delta Gold and Hilton basic no AF. It was their decision to send them that way!
The )))) symbol is on the back of the metal Platinum card.
The )))) symbol is on the back of the metal Platinum card.
Last edited by Points Scrounger; May 14, 2018 at 4:57 pm
May 14, 2018, 6:20 pm
#388
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SJC/SFO
Posts: 373
It isn't a waste of your money, so why the hostility? You see the card timing as suspicious because it came with your renewal, but Amex doesn't have any way of knowing you aren't renewing until you call and tell them. They probably saw it as an opportunity to help a card member out since more like the metal than not.
1. It is a waste of resources that could be better spent on meaningful things (like improvement to benefits, even if minor).
2. Sending out replacement cards when it is clearly not needed (mine expires in 2021) is environment pollution.
3. The metal card can not be shredded.
4. There is no contactless version of the fully metal card. There is a separate contactless version which is partly plastic and partly metal. The fully metal card can not be contactless, as it simply would not work.
5. You say they couldn't know that I won't be renewing. Yes, they could. I'm sure Amex has statistics on how many people renew their cards. Also, common sense dictates that most people cancel their cards *after* the AF is billed, not before.
6. Why do you assume that more people like the metal card? Am I missing something? What exactly is the attraction? As someone in this thread said "it is a payment object" and I will add "and not a piece of jewelry".
Last edited by blaz; May 14, 2018 at 6:40 pm
May 14, 2018, 7:59 pm
#389
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,790
Then that seems like a one off, since neither my metal Platinum card, or any of the other Amex cards I've received since then (Ameriprise Gold, Green, and Delta Gold) have come with contactless.
May 14, 2018, 11:30 pm
#390
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,192
Yes, it is in fact a waste of MY money. The metal card was introduced at the same time as the AF went up to $550, so I'm paying for this nonsense through the AF. But this is not the only reason I object to the metal card:
1. It is a waste of resources that could be better spent on meaningful things (like improvement to benefits, even if minor).
2. Sending out replacement cards when it is clearly not needed (mine expires in 2021) is environment pollution.
3. The metal card can not be shredded.
4. There is no contactless version of the fully metal card. There is a separate contactless version which is partly plastic and partly metal. The fully metal card can not be contactless, as it simply would not work.
5. You say they couldn't know that I won't be renewing. Yes, they could. I'm sure Amex has statistics on how many people renew their cards. Also, common sense dictates that most people cancel their cards *after* the AF is billed, not before.
6. Why do you assume that more people like the metal card? Am I missing something? What exactly is the attraction? As someone in this thread said "it is a payment object" and I will add "and not a piece of jewelry".
1. It is a waste of resources that could be better spent on meaningful things (like improvement to benefits, even if minor).
2. Sending out replacement cards when it is clearly not needed (mine expires in 2021) is environment pollution.
3. The metal card can not be shredded.
4. There is no contactless version of the fully metal card. There is a separate contactless version which is partly plastic and partly metal. The fully metal card can not be contactless, as it simply would not work.
5. You say they couldn't know that I won't be renewing. Yes, they could. I'm sure Amex has statistics on how many people renew their cards. Also, common sense dictates that most people cancel their cards *after* the AF is billed, not before.
6. Why do you assume that more people like the metal card? Am I missing something? What exactly is the attraction? As someone in this thread said "it is a payment object" and I will add "and not a piece of jewelry".