New platinum card holder questions
Mar 22, 2018, 8:22 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: California
Programs: UA GS MM SPG Platinum (Lifetime Platinum)
Posts: 428
New platinum card holder questions
Hi All,
I searched through a couple pages and couldn't find answers to the Four questions I have as a new Platinum card holder.
I kept getting the 60K point pre-qualified offer (currently have SPG card with annual spend of $50K+) and decided to bite the bullet for the bonus and Centurion access (I frequent LGA, SFO and IAH).
1. What is my credit limit? Do I just constantly check spending power
2. I was going to pay my federal tax bill of 10K to knock out the 5K in 3 months, will that count?
3. Most importantly, if I book through Amex Travel will I get the 5pts plus receive my 5pts for being Platinum as well as night credits? Same with United PQMs and PQDs through Amex travel.
4. What qualifies as incidentals on airlines? Food and drink purchased in Coach? Upgrades made after initial purchase? Anything with United on the statement?
Thanks!
I searched through a couple pages and couldn't find answers to the Four questions I have as a new Platinum card holder.
I kept getting the 60K point pre-qualified offer (currently have SPG card with annual spend of $50K+) and decided to bite the bullet for the bonus and Centurion access (I frequent LGA, SFO and IAH).
1. What is my credit limit? Do I just constantly check spending power
2. I was going to pay my federal tax bill of 10K to knock out the 5K in 3 months, will that count?
3. Most importantly, if I book through Amex Travel will I get the 5pts plus receive my 5pts for being Platinum as well as night credits? Same with United PQMs and PQDs through Amex travel.
4. What qualifies as incidentals on airlines? Food and drink purchased in Coach? Upgrades made after initial purchase? Anything with United on the statement?
Thanks!
Last edited by CashN; Mar 22, 2018 at 8:41 pm
Mar 22, 2018, 9:34 pm
#2
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
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It has no pre-set limit. Your spending ability depends your profile. However, without checking it, it should align with your SPG card.
It depends on if your charge is considered cash advance or not.
(If you are paying a processing fee for the tax, you can assume that it is a purchase.)
Both yes.
Practically, anything beyond the ticket purchase.
For detail regarding UA, check out this:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...s-ua-only.html
(If you are paying a processing fee for the tax, you can assume that it is a purchase.)
For detail regarding UA, check out this:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...s-ua-only.html
Mar 22, 2018, 9:41 pm
#3
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,413
Mar 22, 2018, 9:54 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: California
Programs: UA GS MM SPG Platinum (Lifetime Platinum)
Posts: 428
It has no pre-set limit. Your spending ability depends your profile. However, without checking it, it should align with your SPG card.
It depends on if your charge is considered cash advance or not.
(If you are paying a processing fee for the tax, you can assume that it is a purchase.)
Both yes.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...s-ua-only.html
It depends on if your charge is considered cash advance or not.
(If you are paying a processing fee for the tax, you can assume that it is a purchase.)
Both yes.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...s-ua-only.html
When i read the articles by the Points Guy it made it sound like they treat the Amex travel site like Orbitz and Expedia where SPG will not give you elite qualifying nights or points. This is great news!
Mar 22, 2018, 11:29 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
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Amex Travel is essentially an online travel agency just like Expedia or Orbitz, and when it comes to online travel agencies, there are very different rules for airline bookings versus hotel bookings. With the airlines, it usually doesn’t matter where you book a flight — you’ll earn miles and get your elite benefits just as if you’d booked directly with the airline (with a few possible exceptions if you find yourself with a “special fares” ticket). So there’s not much downside to booking airline tickets with Amex Travel, and with the personal Platinum, you can even book directly with an airline and still get the 5x anyway.
Mar 23, 2018, 1:00 am
#6
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
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The exceptions would be (1) an IAP booking where you get a discount not available from the airline, or (2) where AMEX can book an itinerary the carrier doesn't sell (for example, I was able to book a discount CI J fare HKG-TPE-SFO with the first segment on CX . . . itinerary was not offered by CI).
Mar 23, 2018, 4:51 am
#7
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
It's different if you make a Fine Hotels & Resorts booking, but currently those do not earn the card bonus which applies only to prepaid stays booked through Amex Travel.
The airline bonus rules are different for personal vs Business Platinum cards. Which did you open?
Last edited by mia; Mar 23, 2018 at 5:27 am
Mar 23, 2018, 4:41 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: California
Programs: UA GS MM SPG Platinum (Lifetime Platinum)
Posts: 428
This is correct. American Express Travel is operated by Orbitz, and Starwood will treat it the same as it would a booking made through Expedia (which owns Orbitz).
It's different if you make a Fine Hotels & Resorts booking, but currently those do not earn the card bonus which applies only to prepaid stays booked through Amex Travel.
The airline bonus rules are different for personal vs Business Platinum cards. Which did you open?
It's different if you make a Fine Hotels & Resorts booking, but currently those do not earn the card bonus which applies only to prepaid stays booked through Amex Travel.
The airline bonus rules are different for personal vs Business Platinum cards. Which did you open?
I have one more year until lifetime Plat so I guess next year it won't matter. I'm guessing I will have to call each time after Amex travel to add my SPG number...
Mar 23, 2018, 5:12 pm
#9
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
I suggest you review these threads in the SPG forum:
Frustrated that Orbitz booking means no SPG credit
FAQ: Starwood and 3rd party bookings: any benefits? stay credits?
There may be more recent threads.
Frustrated that Orbitz booking means no SPG credit
FAQ: Starwood and 3rd party bookings: any benefits? stay credits?
There may be more recent threads.
Mar 24, 2018, 11:04 am
#11
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Mar 24, 2018, 11:34 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: California
Programs: UA GS MM SPG Platinum (Lifetime Platinum)
Posts: 428
Mar 24, 2018, 11:40 am
#13
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
It's the method of booking, not the method of payment, that matters for SPG status credits, benefits and rewards. If you book a prepaid stay through any online travel agency the rules disqualify the stay. If you book through spg.com you can pay with any card, but if you pay with American Express Platinum you will earn only one MR point per dollar. If you pay with the SPG credit card you would earn two Starpoints per dollar.
Mar 25, 2018, 6:56 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Houston
Programs: UA - 1K, Marriott - Gold, Hilton - Gold, Global Entry,
Posts: 630
Jun 27, 2018, 11:42 am
#15
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: United Kingdom
Programs: Skywards Blue :-(, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold, GHA Platinum
Posts: 2,530
I did not want to create clutter by opening a new thread . So I thought I will ask my query here..
I applied for Amex Platinum (UK) last week and was accepted .
I had asked for Mrs.ukdoctor to be the supplementary card holder .
My amex platinum card arrived yesterday and the priority passes for both me and Mrs. ukdoctor arrived in separate envelopes today..
However Mrs. Ukdoctors card has not arrived yet.
Is this normal for Amex UK to dispatch the main and supplementary card at different times. ??
In my amex online account I can see the last digits of her card number .I assume this means that she has been accepted. ?
I applied for Amex Platinum (UK) last week and was accepted .
I had asked for Mrs.ukdoctor to be the supplementary card holder .
My amex platinum card arrived yesterday and the priority passes for both me and Mrs. ukdoctor arrived in separate envelopes today..
However Mrs. Ukdoctors card has not arrived yet.
Is this normal for Amex UK to dispatch the main and supplementary card at different times. ??
In my amex online account I can see the last digits of her card number .I assume this means that she has been accepted. ?
