Amex Plat AUs: "Free Gold" vs "$175 Plat"

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Jan 12, 2020, 6:20 pm

VegasGambler

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Original Poster

Join Date: Oct 2014

Posts: 10,904

Amex Plat AUs: "Free Gold" vs "$175 Plat"

I'm sorry if there's already a thread or wiki for this but I couldn't find it.

My understanding (please correct me if I'm wrong) is that the "free gold" additional card acts as a Plat in terms of earning (5x travel, 1x restaurants).

So.. what benefits does the "$175 Plat" get you that the "Free Gold" doesn't? What do you get in exchange for $175/year? (please tell me that it's more than a shinier looking piece of wallet bling for your AU)

I looked through the Amex T&C and there wasn't much info about the "free gold".

Jan 12, 2020, 6:35 pm

krazykanuck

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jul 2008

Location: IAH

Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond

Posts: 12,792

Quote:

Originally Posted by VegasGambler

So.. what benefits does the "$175 Plat" get you that the "Free Gold" doesn't? What do you get in exchange for $175/year? (please tell me that it's more than a shinier looking piece of wallet bling for your AU)

The main benefit is that the Plat AUs get the same lounge benefits as the main account holder, being Centurion, Delta, Escape, Priority Pass. Both Plat and Gold AUs get their own Global Entry/Precheck credit. Both AUs can charge against the $200 travel credit, though the $200 credit is shared between everybody, so the max the account can get is $200 regardless of the number of AUs.

Also it's worth noting that its $175 for up to 3 Plat AUs, so ~$58/per person if you have 3 people to add. The Morgan Stanley version of the Platinum Card waives the fee for the first Platinum AU.

VegasGambler, trouble747 and akr1970akr like this.

Jan 12, 2020, 6:40 pm

notquiteaff

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Dec 2006

Location: Pacific Northwest

Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...

Posts: 16,854

Lounge access (CL and PP) and hotel elite status, I think.

Jan 12, 2020, 8:11 pm

ymx

Join Date: Apr 2015

Location: BDL, BOS

Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, AA EXP, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hyatt Explorist

Posts: 627

Also each additional cardholder gets Premium Global Assist benefits:

https://www.americanexpress.com/cont..._Rev_09-17.pdf

This includes Emergency Medical Transportation Assistance — a benefit that was invaluable to me when I got a concussion on vacation in the Bahamas and Amex arranged for and paid for all transportation to Miami for ER visit. They had my back and I’m loyal for life because of this.

I gave all my young adult kids the additional cards since they travel internationally in developing countries.

krazykanuck, JHake10, Ted S and 1 others like this.

Jan 13, 2020, 7:06 am

mia

Moderator

Join Date: Jun 2003

Location: Miami, Mpls & London

Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold

Posts: 48,958

USA Supplementary Platinum cardholders receive all of the Platinum benefits, except the Uber credit. The airline reimbursement benefit is capped at $200 per account, not per card. (I also do not recall if the supplementary cardholder receives a separate Saks credit.)

Jan 13, 2020, 9:36 am

TravelingZoomer

Join Date: Jan 2019

Location: SAN, BOS

Programs: AS MVPG100K, BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Plat,

Posts: 2,281

Free Gold however does get free global entry every four years. So if you’re building credit with your kid might as well get them enrolled

Jan 13, 2020, 10:00 am

weaseltown

Join Date: Jul 2015

Location: SEA

Posts: 138

Quote:

Originally Posted by mia

I also do not recall if the supplementary cardholder receives a separate Saks credit.

No, it's like the airline credit in that it's a single per-account credit shared by all cards. Kinda funny that of all the account credits and perks this is the one my AUs fight over.

Jan 21, 2020, 12:31 am

Gig103

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by ymx

Thanks for this, I did not know about these benefits. It does say that "coverage is extended to each of the following members of the Card Member’s family who are traveling on the same trip itinerary as the Card Member" which I know isn't your situation but may be for OP.

My wife has just the Gold card and honestly we only got it for her because she was up for her GE renewal so it was a free $100. I've considered changing it to the Plat for Delta lounge access, since there are no included guests at that lounge, but not at this time. That's the biggest perk we'd benefit from.

Feb 15, 2020, 10:00 pm

LAX

Join Date: Nov 2004

Location: Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia, PA

Programs: OZ Diamond

Posts: 6,138

Is it safe to assume that anything charged on the free Gold AU would count towards minimum spend for the welcome bonus? Plus, is the travel insurance available to Plat extended to flights purchased with Gold AU? TIA.

LAX