Jul 1, 2021, 1:23 pm
Last edit by: Global Adventurer
*Equinox $25 Credit will not be issued for ANY products you buy online at their merchandise Shop which is coded as "Equinox The Shop". However, it appears that you can purchase Gift Cards straight off the site, but lowest denomination is $100. Gift cards can be used for merchandise and memberships.
USA personal Platinum annual fee increase to $695, July 2021.
Jul 8, 2021, 8:26 pm
#571
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Charleston, SC
Programs: SPG/Marriot Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 412
That's what I'll have to do I'm sure. The rep told me to wait 8 weeks for it to post. I'm starting to get the feeling Amex just wants us to forget to ask and they won't ever have to refund it...
Jul 8, 2021, 9:44 pm
#572
Original Member and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Programs: DL PM/MM, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia, National ECE, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,579
Jul 8, 2021, 9:52 pm
#573
Original Member and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Programs: DL PM/MM, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia, National ECE, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,579
I was paying $300/year for the Platinum Card over 20 years ago, lounge access alone justified the cost. Now it's $695 but I can earn back that and more with various credits and promotions (including AMEX Offers) and get the rest of the benefits for free in effect. I wish they'd just lower the fee a little and get rid of all these gimmicks and stick with non-dollar denominated travel benefits to cull the herd. Apparently though marketing to a larger audience is more lucrative for AMEX, and in the end it has lowered my cost for the benefits, so I'm not complaining too much.
Jul 8, 2021, 11:34 pm
#574
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Rockies
Programs: UA Platinum, HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy occasionally Bonvoyed Mostly
Posts: 428
Jul 9, 2021, 6:12 am
#575
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,895
I was paying $300/year for the Platinum Card over 20 years ago, lounge access alone justified the cost. Now it's $695 but I can earn back that and more with various credits and promotions (including AMEX Offers) and get the rest of the benefits for free in effect. I wish they'd just lower the fee a little and get rid of all these gimmicks and stick with non-dollar denominated travel benefits to cull the herd. Apparently though marketing to a larger audience is more lucrative for AMEX, and in the end it has lowered my cost for the benefits, so I'm not complaining too much.
Jul 9, 2021, 6:37 am
#576
Original Member and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Programs: DL PM/MM, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia, National ECE, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,579
Even though Delta was my primary program (currently it's Southwest because all my flying is leisure and the wife and I were both able to score Companion Passes for our family of four with recent promotions), the Delta Reserve card wouldn't work as my only card since I do sometimes fly other airlines and lounge access on Reserve is only when flying Delta. I am probably a pretty lucrative customer for AMEX, I have the Platinum Card, the Aspire Card, and the Delta Reserve Card, so with this latest fee increase they're getting $1,685 per year in annual fees from me and I am putting $70k/year+ spending on the three cards. I did get rid of my second Delta Reserve Card a few months ago, couldn't justify both now that you can do four MQM boosts per year on a single card, dropped it down to a free Blue Delta card because it is one of my oldest credit accounts. The Reserve Card is the hardest to justify, the Aspire Card pays for itself with the airline and hotel credit plus Diamond status. Hopefully I can get good use out of my Companion Certificate this year.
Jul 9, 2021, 7:09 am
#577
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Global Entry
Posts: 2,862
The way I see it, with changes like a higher AF, Equinox benefits, and limiting Centurion guests, the target audience is smaller, but seeking a higher engagement.
Jul 9, 2021, 7:44 am
#578
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,895
A lot of people seem be suggesting Amex should focus the card more on “travel.” What additional travel benefits could Amex profitably add to the card? Aside from some kind of general hotel/travel multiplier there are already a lot of travel benefits
Jul 9, 2021, 7:53 am
#579
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: Virgin Atlantic Silver, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, AA Platinum Pro
Posts: 1,386
Perhaps the new precedent of subjecting a benefit (Centurion guesting) to a certain level of spend can be expanded to other parts of the card to make it more palatable for general use. Spend $50K and unlock a 3X multiplier on hotels or 2X on all spend, something of that sort.
Jul 9, 2021, 7:53 am
#580
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Mexico City
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold, IHG Silver, Choice Platinum, Wyndham Gold
Posts: 3,849
Yes, more points for metros, subways, buses, ride sharing, taxis, but I guess that's what the Green card is for.
Jul 9, 2021, 8:08 am
#581
Suspended
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Chicago
Programs: ,united 1k, AA EXP, HH Diamond,BA gold, Hyatt globalist
Posts: 974
easy, instead of offering a bunch of credits, offer airline status. Even something like United gold, DL gold and American platinum would be great
Jul 9, 2021, 8:11 am
#582
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
American Express wants $75,000 spend to add free Centurion Lounge guests. Do we think that threshold was set because $75k spend represents a low percentage of Platinum cardholders -or- was it a financial calculation to offset lost guest fees with transaction fees?
Jul 9, 2021, 8:25 am
#583
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: Virgin Atlantic Silver, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, AA Platinum Pro
Posts: 1,386
Jul 9, 2021, 8:26 am
#584
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,895
Why would any airline agree to this (adding millions of customers to their elite customer base)? I guess Amex does offer Delta Platinum to Centurion holders, but that card is much more limited and expensive.
Jul 9, 2021, 8:39 am
#585
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Plainfield, IN
Programs: IHG Platinum / HHonors Diamond / Hyatt Globalist / AA EX Platinum
Posts: 200
Why would they agree? If Amex stopped offering credits, but instead paid an airline some portion of the annual fee for some level of elite status, the airline could probably bring in lots of easy cash. With that being said, I think it would be a bad long term move for any airline to do. If everyone is Elite, then no one really is...AKA the HHonors model, LOL.