Feb 13, 2019, 7:23 am
Last edit by: mia
https://www.americanexpress.com/ca/e...platinum-card/
- Metal card
- 3 MR/$ on dining, 2 MR on travel & 1 MR on everything else
- Annual fee $699
- Additional Cards $175 annually for Platinum Cards, $50 annually for Gold Cards
Canadian personal Platinum card refresh (February 2019)
Feb 17, 2019, 3:24 pm
#61
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,156
The more I think about this, the more upset it makes me. I've been with Amex since 2000, and most of it with a Platinum Card. Currently, I have both the Platinum Card and the Gold Card. Travel, fuel and groceries went on the Gold card, while most everything else went on the Platinum. Now, the Platinum has been devalued from 1.25 to 1 point per $, meaning that there is no real advantage in earning over the Gold Card. The exception is restaurants. But does that make up forthe loss of 1.25 points elsewhere, plus the loss of the Fairmont benefit, plus all the other consecutive losses of benefits and priviliges we have taken over the years?
They can't even be bothered to give us a free supplementary card like every other market gets; and even the Gold Card gets. So I currently pay $699(-$200)+$175+$150 for my wife and I to each have a Platinum Card and a Gold Card. But now really there is hardly a difference between the Gold and Platinum, and hardly a difference between Gold and Cobalt. I'm now looking at getting rid of both Platinum and Gold and instead getting a Cobalt ($120+$0) plus an HSBC World Elite Mastercard ($149(-$100)+$50) that has NO FX FEES as a replacement strategy. And seriously even considering not even adding the Cobalt, and just going all-in with HSBC.
But its a metal card, so... that makes it all ok.
I love Amex. I'm in many ways an Amex loyalist; but the Platinum Card is no longer competitive. The only place where Amex still holds the lead is lounge access, but I pay to sit up front so I get lounge access without Amex anyway - but even then, most lounges these days are so overcrowded I give them a miss.
They can't even be bothered to give us a free supplementary card like every other market gets; and even the Gold Card gets. So I currently pay $699(-$200)+$175+$150 for my wife and I to each have a Platinum Card and a Gold Card. But now really there is hardly a difference between the Gold and Platinum, and hardly a difference between Gold and Cobalt. I'm now looking at getting rid of both Platinum and Gold and instead getting a Cobalt ($120+$0) plus an HSBC World Elite Mastercard ($149(-$100)+$50) that has NO FX FEES as a replacement strategy. And seriously even considering not even adding the Cobalt, and just going all-in with HSBC.
But its a metal card, so... that makes it all ok.
I love Amex. I'm in many ways an Amex loyalist; but the Platinum Card is no longer competitive. The only place where Amex still holds the lead is lounge access, but I pay to sit up front so I get lounge access without Amex anyway - but even then, most lounges these days are so overcrowded I give them a miss.
The HSBC WEMC also comes with LoungeKey which let you into Priority Pass lounges for US$27/person.
Their points accumulation is somewhat "convoluted" but essentially, $5,000 in eligible travel purchases get you $150 in travel reward credit. It's not the same as Amex Plat that allows you to move your points into several choices of loyalty programmes. On the other hand, if one is collecting points on Aeroplan, it will be a much better deal to use the CIBC Aerogold Visa Infinite Privilege which gives 1.25 pt./$1 spent.
This card also comes with 31 days travel insurance.
I am also unhappy with the reduction from 1.25 pt./$1 to 1 pt/$1 especially on the ambiguous eligibility on restaurant charges outside of Canada. My notification letter clearly stated "on eligible dining in Canada" although some reported here that they received 3X points on restaurant charges outside of Canada with their other Amex cards.
Feb 18, 2019, 3:11 am
#62
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: YYJ
Posts: 111
Of course category bonuses are based on the merchant account category. My point is that even here in Canada some restaurants or bars might be classified as something else because of how the machines are configured or shared and not how it would be reasonable to assume. And I'm not saying lounges or even restaurants that are marketed as belonging to a hotel, but restaurants or bars without any obvious relationship to the hotel above them, with completely separate entrances etc.
Feb 18, 2019, 1:36 pm
#63
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: YSC (and all its regularly scheduled flights)
Posts: 2,520
They are only saying it is “in Canada” since they can not guarantee that restaurants outside of Canada will be coded properly as restaurants. The Colbalt card has the same wording, but the vast majority of my out-of-Canada restaurant charges have had the bonus points posted correctly. (Only ones that haven’t are ones that are on the restaurant floors of Japanese department stores, and some Starbucks within tourist attractions)
Counting down to my (non-)renewal date.
Dr. PITUK
Feb 18, 2019, 3:04 pm
#64
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,156
The reality is that one would not know if the "restaurant" is coded to be eligible for the 3X MR points. One would only find out when one receives the statement and there is no recourse to Amex. Amex only needs to tell you that the merchant code of the establishment is not eligible. The same goes for 2X Travel point accrual.
Furthermore, I am sceptical about 3X dining at foreign restaurants since Amex made a special effort to state that 3X is dining in Canada only.
Furthermore, I am sceptical about 3X dining at foreign restaurants since Amex made a special effort to state that 3X is dining in Canada only.
Feb 18, 2019, 4:02 pm
#65
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 22
Got my new metal platinum in the mail today. Honestly a bit disappointed -- presentation was poor in a plain white envelope (although I guess if you're new to platinum versus just getting a replacement they will probably send it in that little wooden insert). Also, it's a lot cheaper-feeling that I expected. I have metal business cards so I had some expectations -- it almost just feels like plastic and you could in fact bend it if you tried. Compared to the Centurion card it's pretty flimsy.
I guess these are pretty silly things to critique lol but I just expected a bit more.
I guess these are pretty silly things to critique lol but I just expected a bit more.
Feb 19, 2019, 8:37 am
#67
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Prince Edward Island
Programs: Air Canada P25K, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Gold, MGM Gold
Posts: 1,582
Got my package today and threw it directly in the trash. The playing cards aren't even attractive. I expected them to at least look like a deck of platinum cards. Is their marketing department completely asleep?
Last edited by Low Roller; Feb 19, 2019 at 10:31 am
Feb 20, 2019, 11:24 pm
#68
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: Amex Plat, National EE, Hertz 5*, SPG Gold, Fairmont Plat, HH Gold
Posts: 119
Got my new metal platinum in the mail today. Honestly a bit disappointed -- presentation was poor in a plain white envelope (although I guess if you're new to platinum versus just getting a replacement they will probably send it in that little wooden insert). Also, it's a lot cheaper-feeling that I expected. I have metal business cards so I had some expectations -- it almost just feels like plastic and you could in fact bend it if you tried. Compared to the Centurion card it's pretty flimsy.
I guess these are pretty silly things to critique lol but I just expected a bit more.
I guess these are pretty silly things to critique lol but I just expected a bit more.
Feb 21, 2019, 6:21 pm
#70
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Ontario, Canada
Programs: Amex Plat, Fairmont Plat
Posts: 16
Feb 22, 2019, 8:42 pm
#71
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: YVR
Programs: Starwood Plat (sigh) FPC Platinum (sigh)
Posts: 65
The new refreshed card is . . . not my idea of shangri-la
I've been with Amex for over 40 years, and the majority of that with the Canadian Plat, but this may require a rethink. Essentially have taken away 0.25 points/dollar on most purchases while increasing on some and giving us a metal card (eventually - my card is good until 2022). Fairmont was the best benefit of the Plat from my point of view and now that's gone, so it's hard to justify the expense. I've been super loyal to Amex for a long time but there are now many other options.
True, the FPC benefit is replaced by Shangri-La Jade, but. . . there are - what? 7? - Shangri-La Hotels in North America? Oh, and the late check out benefit is specifically *excluded* at the only two properties in Canada? If I travelled more in China - if I was reasonably sure I wouldn't just be arrested to piss off Ottawa - this might be more of a benefit.
They're lovely hotels, but who the hell stays there with any frequency? (That's a rhetorical question. If you do, good for you, I'm happy for you, really. But I'm betting the number of folks who stay regularly at Shangri-La < people who stay(ed) at Fairmonts. By an order of magnitude.)
And I think this really sums up the Canadian Amex Plat today - it's irrelevant for most of us.
Feb 22, 2019, 9:17 pm
#72
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: Amex Plat, National EE, Hertz 5*, SPG Gold, Fairmont Plat, HH Gold
Posts: 119
Agreed, the loss of the Fairmont benefit coupled with the earnings devaluation really brings into question the value equation of the Amex Plat.
True, the FPC benefit is replaced by Shangri-La Jade, but. . . there are - what? 7? - Shangri-La Hotels in North America? Oh, and the late check out benefit is specifically *excluded* at the only two properties in Canada? If I travelled more in China - if I was reasonably sure I wouldn't just be arrested to piss off Ottawa - this might be more of a benefit.
They're lovely hotels, but who the hell stays there with any frequency? (That's a rhetorical question. If you do, good for you, I'm happy for you, really. But I'm betting the number of folks who stay regularly at Shangri-La < people who stay(ed) at Fairmonts. By an order of magnitude.)
And I think this really sums up the Canadian Amex Plat today - it's irrelevant for most of us.
True, the FPC benefit is replaced by Shangri-La Jade, but. . . there are - what? 7? - Shangri-La Hotels in North America? Oh, and the late check out benefit is specifically *excluded* at the only two properties in Canada? If I travelled more in China - if I was reasonably sure I wouldn't just be arrested to piss off Ottawa - this might be more of a benefit.
They're lovely hotels, but who the hell stays there with any frequency? (That's a rhetorical question. If you do, good for you, I'm happy for you, really. But I'm betting the number of folks who stay regularly at Shangri-La < people who stay(ed) at Fairmonts. By an order of magnitude.)
And I think this really sums up the Canadian Amex Plat today - it's irrelevant for most of us.
Fairmount with 5 nights, the certificates alone are worth the cost of the annual fees.
In the past i've always used my 1 free night certificate at Fairmont Pacific Rim, and coupled it with the suite upgrade certificate to land me a really nice room/suite easily worth $700/nt plus the $200USD worth of food and spa certificates.
I agree without the Fairmont Benefit, and now with lower point earning potential, this card is starting to lose its appeal......I was really hoping that for being a premium travel card, they would waive the foreign exchange fees on this card...then I think it would even out some of the other lost benefits.
Feb 23, 2019, 12:21 am
#73
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
Programs: AC SE (*A Gold), Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold, Amex Platinum / AP Reserve, NEXUS, Global Entry
Posts: 5,691
Methinks you’ve perfectly described why that benefit disappeared.
Feb 23, 2019, 9:10 am
#74
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,156
The Fairmont programme has been transitioned to Accor after Accor bought it. It would have been nice if Accor rejoins Amex Plat. Up until a few years ago, Amex Plat cardholders used to get Accor Platinum status. Then they parted ways. Agree that Shangri-la Jade is a weak offer. I have stayed at two Shangri-la properties, the one at Kowloon, Hong Kong and the one at Santosa, Singapore. Unimpressed with both and never stay at another Shangri-la again. Overall, I am unhappy with the point accrual change. I no longer use my Amex Plat to pay for most of my travel purchases because of its inferior travel insurance package in comparison with travel insurance by some other credit cards. For foreign purchases, I now use a credit card that does not charge a FX fee. In any case, the eligibility for the 2X travel accrual is ambiguous and the 3X dining accrual is equally unclear. The few times that I used the Amex Concierge service, I have them to be very good. I still like the Hertz 4-hour "extension". There are still some good features but definitely not as good as before. Don't understand the rationale why airline staff when not flying as a revenue passengers are allowed to use the Canadian Plaza Premium Lounges causing significant crowding issues.
Feb 24, 2019, 8:29 am
#75
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Ontario, Canada
Programs: Amex Plat, Fairmont Plat
Posts: 16
Got my first statement today since the changes. New reward earnings are as on Feb 13 as expected. However I did get the 3 MR / $1 on some restaurant purchases in the US from earlier in the month (prior to the 13th) which is a nice surprise. Ended up getting an average 1.4 MR / $1 earnings given my focus on dining and travel spend - would have been over 2/$1 had I had the new earning rates across my entire billing cycle.