If you use the card to purchase the ticket and you are flying, it registers and EliteAccess should appear on you boarding pass.

Got a new email offer for the card today, this one with an immediate 3000 flex elite miles (and two luggage tags).

I do have a question (Scott) which I can't find the answer to. The online application allows selection of additional cardholders. Do they receive any benefits?

I haven't reread this (and the other related threads) but I recall a question as to what might get people to bite. In response to that, I'd probably get the card if I had the ability to use the Elite miles for a supplemental cardholder. 3K isn't going to do much for me this year, but my spouse is within 3k of Silver and has no current travel plans through the end of the year [no, she doesn't get the flying just for points thing].

I suspect that a fair number of elite customers might pony up if they could redirect the elite miles to someone else in their immediate household.

Hi mbreuer, only the primary cardholder will receive the Presidential Plus card benefits. As for the miles and Flex EQMs earned by the primary and additional cardholders, these may only be credited to the primary cardholder's OnePass account.

I know - it was a suggestion.

Having the card creates an update in your OnePass profile that triggers your Presidents Club membership and your Elite Access privileges. Your Elite Access will be reflected on your boarding pass. It will not show up on your ticket.

And it's WAY better than the AmEx platinum, because you have a true Presidents' Club membership...meaning, you can use any of the Continental Clubs or affililated lounges (Delta or Northwest) whether you are flying on them or not that day. With the AmEx platinum card you can only get access to an airline's club with the card and an itinerary on that specified airline that day. So if you're in Atlanta, and not flying on Delta, the AmEx plat will not allow you entry to the Delta club.

In addition, the Chase Presidential Plus card gives you Presidential membership at Avis, which gives you 2-class upgrades with every rental. Personally, I LOVE this new Continental card. And MasterCard & Visa are equally accepted world-wide. Anyone thinking Visa is accepted at more places than MasterCard has been successfully brainwashed by Visa's advertising. In addition, if you've ever had a dispute...Visa normally sides with the merchant, and MasterCard normally sides with the cardmember...which is why merchants push Visa...it's in THEIR best interest...it's tougher for a Visa cardmember to win a dispute than with Mastercard.

nis4Float - I'd guess you could say I'm somewhat turned off by Chase due to the customer service but it's been stated the support department for the card is based out of Chase's Private Banking division.

If you don't mind, can you comment on how the service has been when you'd had to call in and how quickly Chase was able to rectify problems, if any?

I've heard good things about them and am wondering how 1st hand customer would rate them.

Why So Negative Everyone (okay, most ones...)?
 

I got the card. I am a CO Plat and have *many* Chase accounts. All things considered, they both give me very good service.

I was able to call Chase and upgrade my regular CO Chase card in just a couple of minutes and then recieved the card quickly.

Why did I get the card? For $100 more (make that $75 more after 10/1) than the PC membership I get:

- A few EQM's (may need them this year)
- Avis Pres Club Membership (much better than the Pref. you get with the Amex Plat)
- $3 off the already very well priced premium wines, which I love. I'm out of Austin, so I go through Houston almost every trip. Three glasses a month and I just saved back the $100
- No PC club initiation fee


It's not the deal of a lifetime, but it's not bad. I don't need the Amex Plat (which is now $75/yr more and does not give true PC membership); I have and prefer the Amex hotel (SPG/HH) cards as I feel the hotel points are more valuable for what I get vs. what I spend.

Like I said, it's not the deal of a lifetime, but not at all bad either. Don't quite get why so many have gotten so worked-up about it.

I don't think we're getting all worked up over it...I think some of us feel the card falls short of the benefits it could offer for the price which would make it more appealing.

With plenty of opportunity to survey the competitive field (Amex Plat, DC, Visa Signature, etc.), I would have liked to see CO and Chase come up with a product that exceeded the offerings of the Amex Plat - it would have been a no-brainer to sign up for it even at a slightly higher price, and the card might have been an effective marketing tool to pull Amex Plat customers to the CO product.

Is this card by invite only?

Exactly. I don't understand why Chase can't partner with CO to offer a product that's more attractive than AMEX Plat. Given the right deal, I'd ditch my AMEX Plat. For some reason, few--if any--other cards come close to The Platinum Card.

I guess the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I've never been compelled to get an Amex Plat, but was with this card (for roughly the same price). I don't see what the Amex Plat gives me that I don't already have. It may be that I'm already SPG Plat and HH Gold and would rather have the hotel points the other Amex card gets me.

Nahhhh, let's be honest. It's the $3 off on the good wine.

Maybe Scott could answer this...

Is there any way to upgrade the PClub membership included with the card to a member+spouse by paying the difference in the annual rate?

I'm looking at enrolling in the club without the card, and it would cost 230 each including the initiation and 225 each to renew next year.

If I got the card for 375 and pay the 175 difference to add a spouse (450-275), I'd be in for 275 each...but I would need to figure out if the extra 100 is worth the EQMs and Avis membership.

If the upgrade to spouse cant be done, I would likely skip the card and join through normal channels.

You can add a spouse for just $150 with this card.

Excellent, thank you :) So I just ask the Chase CS to process that addition during my enrollment?

Anyone (or Scott),

I was a past World MasterCard holder but I have closed the account 4 months ago. Will I get the $75 discount off the annual fee if I apply for this card?

No, I think it's done after through CO CS.

Also, in regards to some of the other Amex bennies that were mentioned such as purchase protection, extended warranty, lost luggage reimbursment, and all that 'other junk' are included, just not well documented until you get your card and Guide to Benefits.

Can anyone share their experience with the turnaround time from application to card in hand? The 50-point credit for Mileathon requires a purchase before November 30. I'm guessing that applying for the card now would be too late... (though maybe a balance transfer would qualify and post in time?) Speaking of Mileathon, why did they put the November 30 restriction when the promotion runs until December 31? Was it to prevent people (like me) from waiting until near the end to see if the 50 points would push them past a significant threshold? :-) The whole waiting strategy is useless anyway because of the slow posting times. It's November 19th and only my activity through September is posted.

I got mine in less than a week. Actual results may vary.

By the way, I've saved at least $60 in wine so far...

Added Benefit for Presidential Plus Card
 

Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum level membership inlcuded.

Where did you see that?

It would be nice, but I also do not see it anywhere that it is included benefit.

It came in the mail yesterday in a dark blue fold over card entitled, "Welcome to a More Luxurious Destination."

It is mailed by CO, not Hyatt or MC.

On the inside it has the details. Look for it at a mailbox near you...

I would like to note that I have had problems with Avis recognizing my enrollment with the card because of my age (under 25). Other than that, it's been worth the $375 so far and to be honest, if I restrict my use of it, the cost is minimal.

Hyatt
 

The CO staff were talking about the card's Hyatt level at one of the IAH C concourse President's clubs yesterday. The card applications were everywhere.

I don't know if I see the point in the card for me. I am platinum with a life CO president's club membership.

I might note that if I was Silver I'd have to consider what the point would be in flying CO with non-FFs getting Elite access. Getting upgraded doesn't happen that much anymore at Platinum so EA is about all Silvers can hope for.

For next year (2008), will the full membership to the PC continue for existing members? Looking at Continental's website, it looks like you get only 2 passes per year going forward. Did they send something in the mail about this change and I missed it?

Fast Track to Diamond
 

And in addition to Platinum status, you now get fast-tracked to Diamond.

Where did you see this? According to this: http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...eppwmcFAQ.aspx

The PC membership continues for as long as you hold the card.

Would've been nice to know that before my stay 2 days ago at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. Oh well.

BTW, club level at the Hyatt is much nicer in terms of food and drink offerings than Club level at the Conrad in HKG.

Applied on Nov. 19 and received card today (Nov. 26). No mention of Avis President's Club or Hyatt Platinum / fast track to Diamond and no luggage tags. I'm expecting a 2nd package from CO instead of Chase which should contain some or all of those along with the actual PC card.

I currently have the other Chase CO card which has easily been worth it for the 5% discount. I upgraded to this card because I was considering a President's Club membership anyway and because I think the 50 Mileathon points will push me over a threshold that will result in a nice number of bonus miles. The EQM benefit isn't valuable to me. I can't imagine it would be that useful unless you're wealthy or you're putting all of your business purchases on it. This card will pretty much just be used for CO purchases so I doubt I'll even reach the initial $25k for 2k EQM. I'm Platinum so EliteAccess isn't useful for me. Even if I didn't have status, I rarely have more than a small carry-on/backpack and I try to get on the plane last. Plus I actually use the non-Elite security lines at IAH in terminals C & E because they are often faster (at least around 7 AM when I normally fly). Anyway, I'll wait to see if the other benefits come soon and to see if I actually use the PC enough to justify the cost. Does anyone know how cancellations would work? Would the annual fee (I did the $375 - $75 offer) be refunded partially based on how long I had the card?

Also, CO Insider already make this clear in his FAQ, but I just wanted to reiterate that the annual 5% discount does not reset if you switch cards according to the terms they sent. If I do end up canceling, I'm pretty sure it will be when that benefit runs out.

Ouch. I just found this in the terms.

That's not typical for other banks is it? I'm pretty sure I've canceled Amex cards in the past and they do partial refunds of annual fees. If this is true, I've probably made a mistake and this will surely be my last Chase account.

Also, I forgot to mention in my previous post. When you call in to activate the card, they try to see you 3 "exciting" benefits: Payment Protector, Fraud Detector, and ID Protection. At least it's all automated so I don't have to be an a'hole. You can hang up when they start pitching the benefits. There's nothing useful afterwards. Chase mails a lot of crap out like the $15 fake checks for one of the above named benefits. Amex sends a fair amount of junk too so I don't hold this against Chase.

As is being discussed at the Hyatt forum, Weatherboy has provided no evidence for this claim despite being asked repeatedly. ;)

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...=1#post8794560

Well, WeatherBoy was mostly right. A very nicely printed card arrived today signed by Mark B. detailing my new membership in "Hyatt Gold Passport" at the platinum level. Benefits include:
5 points per eligible $ spent
15% point bonus when choosing Hyatt Gold Passport
Exclusive reservation line
Extra award every 3rd stay
guaranteed bed choice
Web check-in beginning 9am day of arrival
Passport Plus awards

Unfortunately no mention of fast track

I signed up for the card in October and I did not receive any offer for Hyatt. I did get the lugguage tags though. Is this Hyatt offer for those that signed up for the card in November? Can anyone provide the link?

Now they're giving it away?
 

Seems like there are lots of Platinum type statuses being given away by different companies. Obviously if we're flooded with new Platinum level people (who didn't earn it via travel) then the status is going to be valueless due to the overwhelming numbers. Does anyone have any indication as to why the travel industry is doing this?

Don't get confused by (or mixe up) the word "Platinum" in various programs...
Hyatt Platinum is the second tier (the same as AAdvantage Platinum)- unlike SPG platinum (or Continental Platinum) - you can achieve Gold Passport Platinum with just 5 stays.
It's nice perk to get free, but not so significant.

Hyatt - Gold(general member), Platinum(5 stays/15 nights), Diamond(25/50)
Starwood - Preferred(general), Gold(10 stays/25 nights), Platinum(25/50)

AAdvantage - General, Gold, Platinum, Exective Platinum
OnePassl - General, Silver, Gold, Platinum

I received an email from Continental today (a day after activating the card). Below is the unformatted text. I wonder how they could have "automatically enrolled" me. I checked my existing Hyatt account and I was still gold.

I'm wondering the same thing - I've never had a Hyatt account before. So does a new one get created for me?

[[*]What if I'm a lifetime member of the Presidents Club? Lifetime Presidents Club members are not yet included in this offer, but we're working on it. In 2007, we'll introduce a special low rate for lifetime Presidents Club members.


Anything on this, yet?

I don't think anything on the card you received has been at all in dispute. The misinformation that has been disseminated by one person and one person only is the claim that the new program allows top-tier status (diamond) at Hyatt with 6 stays and then renewable annually with 6 stays. Much time has been wasted on the phone by poor trusting flyertalkers as a result of one, and only one, person's efforts to put out this claim, apparently with no evidence whatsover, not even a pointer to where he supposedly heard or read it. The person disseminating the information says he's just passing on what he heard elsewhere, but after diligent searching I can find no one, in any thread, besides that person, has said anything about Diamond. It looks like even poor Gleff took the bait:

"a friend emails that the card comes with complimentary Platinum status with Hyatt and fast track to Diamond status (top level Hyatt status in just 6 stays). This benefit isn't mentioned anywhere on the card website, and I haven't verified it, but if true would be a real world-class offering that on the whole would seem to justify the price for a Continental flyer."

Three guesses who emailed Gleff with the claim about diamond?

Lifetime member can get Presidential Plus card with $100 annual fee. ($275 discount.)

I got mine in May this year with CO Insider's help - you need separate invitation for lifetime member to enroll with discounted fee.
There is another thread I complained about not offered discounted rate as lifetime, then Scott helped me and I got invitation with discounted fee a few days later. (Here is the thread - see post number 63 and 64)