Amex BA Premium Plus - new fee policy or a mistake???
Feb 18, 2017, 1:17 pm
#106
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: London
Programs: BA
Posts: 2,368
Rang today to downgrade my BAPP to the regular BA card. Told by the cherry CSA that the reason Amex have ended the discount was due to a ruling from the FSA (presumably he meant the FCA). No idea if there is any truth in that, but interesting nonetheless.
Onto an Amex Gold for me. Last had one 2 years ago so I will get 20k MR and saved £120 on my summer holiday car rental last night. Cheaper rate from Hertz than I had via Auto Europe plus the a free 2nd driver came to a save of £120 which would justify keeping the card next year when I have to pay an annual fee.
Feb 22, 2017, 7:01 am
#108
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,330
Just to clarify - I had a Plat from around 2012/13 - There was no benefit in relation to the Plat for me, right? i.e. I should have been paying the £150 for each year I had it?
Not paying it anymore, it's just not worth the cost to get the voucher when you can buy ex-EU (or even ex-UK - see recent AA MAN-SAT flights for £1k) fares for not a lot more than the taxes and fees on a redemption with BA and use the miles saved (and earned) to pay for hotels.
Not paying it anymore, it's just not worth the cost to get the voucher when you can buy ex-EU (or even ex-UK - see recent AA MAN-SAT flights for £1k) fares for not a lot more than the taxes and fees on a redemption with BA and use the miles saved (and earned) to pay for hotels.
Feb 22, 2017, 7:41 am
#110
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: London
Posts: 3,459
Very useful post Globaliser. My posts above should be read in the light of this post. It appears that Amex wrote to some cardholders stating that there would be change in their terms and conditions in 2011 (and I commented on it at the time 
. It's not clear what it was, or why it didn't apply to everyone, or why Amex is now writing to everyone on the basis that only Plat/Cent get the £0 reduction.
. It's not clear what it was, or why it didn't apply to everyone, or why Amex is now writing to everyone on the basis that only Plat/Cent get the £0 reduction.I have dug out some discussion in 2011 of the letters which were then sent changing the T&Cs (of selected cardholders, it seems) to remove the fee reduction for holding certain other Amex cards. I found it in two separate threads:-
From http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...er-thread.html:-
From http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...t-sign-up.html:-
Are there any other Platinum credit card holders reading this thread who were moved off the £30 fee onto the £150 fee back in 2011?
From http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...er-thread.html:-
From http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...t-sign-up.html:-
- 3 posts starting here
- 10 posts starting here
- 1 post here
- 8 posts starting here
- 2 posts starting here
Are there any other Platinum credit card holders reading this thread who were moved off the £30 fee onto the £150 fee back in 2011?
Feb 22, 2017, 9:10 am
#111
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: London
Programs: BA CCR/GGL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,483
It's too late for me - I rang them up and said they could take their £195 charge and....... downgraded to the fee-free card.
However, what I couldn't find was the definition of a "Companion Card". However, these terms and conditions seem to indicate that it is ANY AmEx non-corporate card, not just charge cards - "Any other non-corporate AMEX Card held by a Cardmember."
Clearly they can change the rules, but I think they are just making it up as they go along. In the current terms it doesn't get mentioned at all, but I guess the fee-free option isn't available to newer Platinum Charge Card holders.
However, what I couldn't find was the definition of a "Companion Card". However, these terms and conditions seem to indicate that it is ANY AmEx non-corporate card, not just charge cards - "Any other non-corporate AMEX Card held by a Cardmember."
Clearly they can change the rules, but I think they are just making it up as they go along. In the current terms it doesn't get mentioned at all, but I guess the fee-free option isn't available to newer Platinum Charge Card holders.
Mar 7, 2017, 2:49 pm
#113
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA IHG
Posts: 1,370
I have received an update from our Back Office, they have confirmed that the letter was sent in error. A correction letter will be sent during March, 2017 to mention that the previous letter was sent in error and a confirmation that there will not be any changes on your account.
Mar 7, 2017, 5:14 pm
#114
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: Just a lowly Blue ;(
Posts: 1,780
Mmmm, I've had a Platinum and Gold card and always had to pay the fee...
I recon the "mistake" was due to the huge amount of people downgrading or cancelling. Probably cancelling, it must be better to make a % on peoples spend than nothing at all.
I recon the "mistake" was due to the huge amount of people downgrading or cancelling. Probably cancelling, it must be better to make a % on peoples spend than nothing at all.
Mar 8, 2017, 4:07 am
#117
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Then you would not have been grandfathered in at the zero cost. I believe you either had to have held an appropriate companion card at the time the BAPP was introduced (2001) or within a few years after. New grandfathering stopped in 2005 I believe.
Mar 10, 2017, 12:27 pm
#118
Join Date: Jul 2005
Programs: BA, BMI, IC
Posts: 63
It was all a mistake...
Letter today from Amex saying all a mistake and letter raising charges shouldn't have been sent
I've always paid reduced fee due to holding a companion blue, then red, credit card.
Also credited 10,000 avios in recognition of poor customer service/complaint handling (particularly guff information on original phone call, failure to follow up call as promised, failure to answer specific queries in e-mail response to my gentle nudge afterwards).
So, if anything, certainly proves it's worth persevering...
I've always paid reduced fee due to holding a companion blue, then red, credit card.
Also credited 10,000 avios in recognition of poor customer service/complaint handling (particularly guff information on original phone call, failure to follow up call as promised, failure to answer specific queries in e-mail response to my gentle nudge afterwards).
So, if anything, certainly proves it's worth persevering...
Mar 14, 2017, 9:36 am
#119
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: UK
Programs: Bonvoy Gold, AA Plat, Volare Premier, VS Silver, National Emerald Elite, Hertz President Circle
Posts: 2,526
I received the letter, never called and waited for the fee to be charged. A few days ago I was charged £30 for the new year. Not sure if I was incorrectly targetted or if they backpedalled on this but nothing happened in the end.
Mar 14, 2017, 10:58 am
#120
Join Date: Jun 2003
Programs: BA, IHG, 5C
Posts: 4,413
The letter states a policy change from 16th March (unless yours was different). So I'm afraid your experience is not informative.