AMEX Priority Pass will exclude Restaurants (August 2019)
#332
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Charleston, SC
Programs: SPG/Marriot Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 412
I rarely used this, but I do hate to see all the features going away for the Platinum card. I hope they have plans to add some enhancements to it in the future. We've lost Marriott lounge access, PP restaurant, Boingo, and now the gift card credit workaround in the last year or so. I understand that some of those things were not advertised features, but it still gives the card less value, and the annual fee certainly is not going to decrease as a result.
#333
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: 48,823
Moderator action
Discussion of the reduction in the number of guests that American Express Platinum with pay for at Plaza Premium lounges has been moved. This is a published benefit of American Express cards issued in Canada, but not in the USA, perhaps because Plaza Premium has no domestic USA lounges. Nonetheless, Plaza Premium seems to accept USA-issued cards.
Amex Premium Plaza Lounge going to one guest without charge
Amex Premium Plaza Lounge going to one guest without charge
#334
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: SBA
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 939
Just got my PP email saying the non lounge experience has been removed effective Aug 1. Of course, the subject line says "change to your membership plan PLUS find out about new lounges added..."
#336
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: SPG Plat
Posts: 459
Is the digital card the same number? Mine follows neither pattern below
Only a single data point, but I labeled my PP cards when I got them.
Amex PP card has 11 digits, formatted as 3 digits, space, 7 digits, space, 1 digit). Mine starts with a 1.
CSR PP card has 16 digits all run together, no spaces. Mine starts with a 7.
I always get these confused with the changing rules. Am I correct now that:
- Amex Plat-supplied PP gets you+2 into the lounge, but as of August no non-lounge stuff?
- CSR-supplied PP gets you+2 into lounge, and as of right now still valid for non-lounge stuff?
It's not just restaurants that are going away. I use my PP every now and then for a Minute Suite which was a very nice thing to have.
Amex PP card has 11 digits, formatted as 3 digits, space, 7 digits, space, 1 digit). Mine starts with a 1.
CSR PP card has 16 digits all run together, no spaces. Mine starts with a 7.
I always get these confused with the changing rules. Am I correct now that:
- Amex Plat-supplied PP gets you+2 into the lounge, but as of August no non-lounge stuff?
- CSR-supplied PP gets you+2 into lounge, and as of right now still valid for non-lounge stuff?
It's not just restaurants that are going away. I use my PP every now and then for a Minute Suite which was a very nice thing to have.
#337
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,628
Amex doesn't want to advertise that another card perk is disappearing. PP wants to make sure there is no confusion when Amex customers get stiffed at the door, hence the email.
#339
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,942
Very disappointed in AMEX for this change.
Will definitely make me reconsider my membership in the next year, especially if the restaurant program with PP continues its expansion.
Still want to reach out to AMEX directly to express my displeasure.
Will definitely make me reconsider my membership in the next year, especially if the restaurant program with PP continues its expansion.
Still want to reach out to AMEX directly to express my displeasure.
#340
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA MileagePlus (Premier Gold); Hilton HHonors (Gold); Chase Ultimate Rewards; Amex Plat
Posts: 6,557
I'm hitting my Amex PP cards for over $150 worth of charges between now and the end of the month. Normally I wouldn't try to run the bill up as much as possible, but I'm pissed at Amex (even though this doesn't really affect me because I also have a CSR). I just paid my AF 2 months ago, but if this and the new restrictions (not new official restrictions, but new practical ones) on airline GCs continue, then I may cancel next year. First UA discontinued its gift registry, and I switched to WN, and bought GCs in January. And then WN GCs no longer work either. Jumping through so many hoops to use benefits is getting ridiculous especially when Chase offers a travel credit for ANY travel expense.
#341
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kan@da
Programs: Anything with sweet spots
Posts: 1,790
Has anyone else been successful in wrangling some kind of compensation?
Last edited by MasterGeek; Jul 19, 2019 at 6:01 am
#342
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 3,618
I wonder if it's worth writing to them. Maybe they'll toss your comment in the trash, but then again, if you cancel next year, you can cite your previous comments and how they weren't addressed as a reason for cancellation.
I'm hitting my Amex PP cards for over $150 worth of charges between now and the end of the month. Normally I wouldn't try to run the bill up as much as possible, but I'm pissed at Amex (even though this doesn't really affect me because I also have a CSR). I just paid my AF 2 months ago, but if this and the new restrictions (not new official restrictions, but new practical ones) on airline GCs continue, then I may cancel next year. First UA discontinued its gift registry, and I switched to WN, and bought GCs in January. And then WN GCs no longer work either. Jumping through so many hoops to use benefits is getting ridiculous especially when Chase offers a travel credit for ANY travel expense.
I'm hitting my Amex PP cards for over $150 worth of charges between now and the end of the month. Normally I wouldn't try to run the bill up as much as possible, but I'm pissed at Amex (even though this doesn't really affect me because I also have a CSR). I just paid my AF 2 months ago, but if this and the new restrictions (not new official restrictions, but new practical ones) on airline GCs continue, then I may cancel next year. First UA discontinued its gift registry, and I switched to WN, and bought GCs in January. And then WN GCs no longer work either. Jumping through so many hoops to use benefits is getting ridiculous especially when Chase offers a travel credit for ANY travel expense.
#343
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: California
Programs: American, SWA, United, IHG,Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,825
#344
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA MileagePlus (Premier Gold); Hilton HHonors (Gold); Chase Ultimate Rewards; Amex Plat
Posts: 6,557
Yep, that's the way to do it. I've said this before many times, mainly in this forum and sometimes in the Chase forum: do not even bother calling and trying to negotiate unless you are willing to walk if you don't get any retention offer. Threatening to cancel if you aren't offered a retention package and then failing to follow through if they refuse to give you one through just devalues future threats made by you or anyone else. I've never called Amex and threatened to cancel because I wasn't at the point where I'd be willing to actually walk if I received nothing. But with all of the changes to the Amex airline fee program that make it more difficult to use the credits, and now this, I think I'm likely to be at that point when my AF comes due again.
Last edited by STS-134; Jul 22, 2019 at 10:19 am Reason: typo: missing word "through"
#345
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: California
Programs: American, SWA, United, IHG,Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,825
Yep, that's the way to do it. I've said this before many times, mainly in this forum and sometimes in the Chase forum: do not even bother calling and trying to negotiate unless you are willing to walk if you don't get any retention offer. Threatening to cancel if you aren't offered a retention package and then failing to follow if they refuse to give you one through just devalues future threats made by you or anyone else. I've never called Amex and threatened to cancel because I wasn't at the point where I'd be willing to actually walk if I received nothing. But with all of the changes to the Amex airline fee program that make it more difficult to use the credits, and now this, I think I'm likely to be at that point when my AF comes due again.