Finland, Finnair, and credit cards - pre 2020 discussion
Jan 12, 2012, 10:12 am
#31
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: KUO
Programs: HH Diam, AY/AX/KQ/IHG/VISA Plat, SK/Bonvoy/Melia/Strawberry Gold, Radisson Prem, PP Prest
Posts: 2,266
I will not cancel. I consider "member since 92" too valuable to loose. Work related travel is on employerīs expense, so the delays are no big deal and do not have any checked in luggage usually. Apparently I will have to be more active in using the card for leisure travel... The black card should be available in Finland soon and I rest my faith in the travel insurance coming along with that and the €5grand annual fee 
. Black Diners travel insurance demands 100% of the costs to be paid by the very same card and the fine print along with compensations looks much worse.
All in all, the Amex service is going down. Most aggravating factor is the telephone contact nowadays. I hope they could in the future keep the plat line clear of any number tapping and add some priority in answering. 4 to 5% overhead in spending should well cover those expenses.
I do not know if it is a personal perk but my Hilton gold membership has been going on for year after year even though not reaching the 15 stay limit every year. I suspect plat Amex (and once without asking terminated Hilton Gold Amex side card) may have something to do with that... The same thing with black Diners and the AY club membership, which was a nice gesture!
. Black Diners travel insurance demands 100% of the costs to be paid by the very same card and the fine print along with compensations looks much worse.All in all, the Amex service is going down. Most aggravating factor is the telephone contact nowadays. I hope they could in the future keep the plat line clear of any number tapping and add some priority in answering. 4 to 5% overhead in spending should well cover those expenses.
I do not know if it is a personal perk but my Hilton gold membership has been going on for year after year even though not reaching the 15 stay limit every year. I suspect plat Amex (and once without asking terminated Hilton Gold Amex side card) may have something to do with that... The same thing with black Diners and the AY club membership, which was a nice gesture!
Jan 12, 2012, 10:34 am
#32
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,758
The black card has been "available" for years in Finland, although only by invitation. As far as I know, the black AmEx is invitation only worldwide.
Jan 12, 2012, 12:49 pm
#33
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: HEL
Programs: HH Gold, SPG Gold, BW Plt, AY, M&M, FB G, CX Gold, AX Plat, CC gold, Le Club plt, Scandic 2nd floor
Posts: 126
All in all, the Amex service is going down. Most aggravating factor is the telephone contact nowadays. I hope they could in the future keep the plat line clear of any number tapping and add some priority in answering. 4 to 5% overhead in spending should well cover those expenses.!
Jan 14, 2012, 7:28 am
#34
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Finland
Programs: BA Gold, LH Senator, SPG Gold
Posts: 352
I'm really interested to see how they will reply to my query.
We did several RTW trips recently and I gave them an example, the easiest one. We had an incident during that trip where we used Amex insurance.
The example trip included flights booked with credit card, with frequent flyers, and an RTW ticket but the actual trip used only 4 of the total 16 flights. We chartered a plane in Namibia for a day. The safari lodges often included all the meals and safari drives -- if not payable by Amex, they are pretty expensive compared to an ordinary accommodation-only hotel cost that takes Amex. We booked flights and accommodation on the go -- it took a month or two after we returned to know the total cost. A dozen different currencies make it even more interesting to calculate.
Or what about a cruise to Antarctica where accommodation is part of the total cost that includes everything..
If one books an all-inclusive packaged holiday the 75% rule is easy but if one actually travels, it's a nightmare.
We did several RTW trips recently and I gave them an example, the easiest one. We had an incident during that trip where we used Amex insurance.
The example trip included flights booked with credit card, with frequent flyers, and an RTW ticket but the actual trip used only 4 of the total 16 flights. We chartered a plane in Namibia for a day. The safari lodges often included all the meals and safari drives -- if not payable by Amex, they are pretty expensive compared to an ordinary accommodation-only hotel cost that takes Amex. We booked flights and accommodation on the go -- it took a month or two after we returned to know the total cost. A dozen different currencies make it even more interesting to calculate.
Or what about a cruise to Antarctica where accommodation is part of the total cost that includes everything..
If one books an all-inclusive packaged holiday the 75% rule is easy but if one actually travels, it's a nightmare.
Jan 19, 2012, 2:21 pm
#35
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: HEL
Programs: HH Gold, SPG Gold, BW Plt, AY, M&M, FB G, CX Gold, AX Plat, CC gold, Le Club plt, Scandic 2nd floor
Posts: 126
Thanks to Platinum, got a MPC Gold card....
Jan 20, 2012, 6:55 am
#36
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: HEL
Programs: AYPlat, BASilver, SQG
Posts: 456
Is your Platinum through Amex Finland or maybe UK?
Have never heard of anything such with Amex Finland....
Its only SPG Gold (which is renewed regardless of use) and that's it.
Hertz No. 1 Gold etc. you can get easily from elsewhere as well.
The offerings in Finland are very very limited....
Have never heard of anything such with Amex Finland....
Its only SPG Gold (which is renewed regardless of use) and that's it.
Hertz No. 1 Gold etc. you can get easily from elsewhere as well.
The offerings in Finland are very very limited....
Jan 20, 2012, 8:00 am
#37
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: HEL
Programs: HH Gold, SPG Gold, BW Plt, AY, M&M, FB G, CX Gold, AX Plat, CC gold, Le Club plt, Scandic 2nd floor
Posts: 126
Is your Platinum through Amex Finland or maybe UK?
Have never heard of anything such with Amex Finland....
Its only SPG Gold (which is renewed regardless of use) and that's it.
Hertz No. 1 Gold etc. you can get easily from elsewhere as well.
The offerings in Finland are very very limited....
Have never heard of anything such with Amex Finland....
Its only SPG Gold (which is renewed regardless of use) and that's it.
Hertz No. 1 Gold etc. you can get easily from elsewhere as well.
The offerings in Finland are very very limited....
From AX Finland you got nothing, ever.
Jan 22, 2012, 11:01 pm
#38
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,790
AEXP insurance
Hi all,
I just registered to follow up on the Amex insurance changes that are now in effect. There aren't many sites you can discuss this change on..
Effectively I just lost my travel insurance. To me it seems that Amex (or rather its insurance partner, whoever that is at the moment) can finetune its T&C to its liking however and whenever it pleases.
What's the point of having an insurance that only works in certain conditions - if your trip is paid with an Amex card for atleast 75% of its worth. How the heck do they even define a "trip", in my opinion it'll include trains, buses, taxis etc too.
So fellow FT amex cardholders, what do we do? go on strike?
I just registered to follow up on the Amex insurance changes that are now in effect. There aren't many sites you can discuss this change on..
Effectively I just lost my travel insurance. To me it seems that Amex (or rather its insurance partner, whoever that is at the moment) can finetune its T&C to its liking however and whenever it pleases.
What's the point of having an insurance that only works in certain conditions - if your trip is paid with an Amex card for atleast 75% of its worth. How the heck do they even define a "trip", in my opinion it'll include trains, buses, taxis etc too.
So fellow FT amex cardholders, what do we do? go on strike?
Jan 23, 2012, 12:30 am
#39
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: KUO
Programs: HH Diam, AY/AX/KQ/IHG/VISA Plat, SK/Bonvoy/Melia/Strawberry Gold, Radisson Prem, PP Prest
Posts: 2,266
But, an effective measure would be to keep the card and reduce its use to minimum. That way Amex will receive least revenue. I have been doing that for a while now. And certainly have let the Amex customer "service" know why that is.
Edit: Where I think Amex Finland does its best to devalue the card, is the desperate and cheap pushing of Gold card to every passer by at Helsinki airport. Perhaps they would need some refocusing of the putative clientele. But with the current state of affairs, I am afraid Amex is a dying brand.
Last edited by TTL; Jan 23, 2012 at 12:54 am
Jan 23, 2012, 1:00 am
#40
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Programs: BA Gold (OWE), Bonvoy Gold, HH Diamond, PriorityPass, AX Plat
Posts: 526
Hi all,
I just registered to follow up on the Amex insurance changes that are now in effect. There aren't many sites you can discuss this change on..
Effectively I just lost my travel insurance. To me it seems that Amex (or rather its insurance partner, whoever that is at the moment) can finetune its T&C to its liking however and whenever it pleases.
What's the point of having an insurance that only works in certain conditions - if your trip is paid with an Amex card for atleast 75% of its worth. How the heck do they even define a "trip", in my opinion it'll include trains, buses, taxis etc too.
So fellow FT amex cardholders, what do we do? go on strike?
I just registered to follow up on the Amex insurance changes that are now in effect. There aren't many sites you can discuss this change on..
Effectively I just lost my travel insurance. To me it seems that Amex (or rather its insurance partner, whoever that is at the moment) can finetune its T&C to its liking however and whenever it pleases.
What's the point of having an insurance that only works in certain conditions - if your trip is paid with an Amex card for atleast 75% of its worth. How the heck do they even define a "trip", in my opinion it'll include trains, buses, taxis etc too.
So fellow FT amex cardholders, what do we do? go on strike?
Welcome to the Forum! There are lots of other things to discuss as well
But, an effective measure would be to keep the card and reduce its use to minimum. That way Amex will receive least revenue. I have been doing that for a while now. And certainly have let the Amex customer "service" know why that is.
Edit: Where I think Amex Finland does its best to devalue the card, is the desperate and cheap pushing of Gold card to every passer by at Helsinki airport. Perhaps they would need some refocusing of the putative clientele. But with the current state of affairs, I am afraid Amex is a dying brand.
But, an effective measure would be to keep the card and reduce its use to minimum. That way Amex will receive least revenue. I have been doing that for a while now. And certainly have let the Amex customer "service" know why that is.
Edit: Where I think Amex Finland does its best to devalue the card, is the desperate and cheap pushing of Gold card to every passer by at Helsinki airport. Perhaps they would need some refocusing of the putative clientele. But with the current state of affairs, I am afraid Amex is a dying brand.
Unfortunately the credit card market is really lousy in Finland and there aren't any great alternatives now when Amex has joined the race to the bottom...
Jan 23, 2012, 2:45 am
#41
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,790
insurance
Thanks guys!
I'm not sure 550e a year for *not* using the card is worth it. Priopass and spggold are good, but maybe not that good.
I totally agree re service - I called the concierge recently for a restaurant reservation (romantic evening with the lady) and some of the suggestions I got I wouldn't go to even if the meal were free!
Do you guys have separate travel insurances as well or how do we sort this insurance thing out?
I'm not sure 550e a year for *not* using the card is worth it. Priopass and spggold are good, but maybe not that good.
I totally agree re service - I called the concierge recently for a restaurant reservation (romantic evening with the lady) and some of the suggestions I got I wouldn't go to even if the meal were free!
Do you guys have separate travel insurances as well or how do we sort this insurance thing out?
Jan 23, 2012, 2:56 am
#42
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 179
I think I pay a little bit less than 100e for my travel insurance per year from Tapiola (covers max 3month long trips). What additional stuff you get with extra 450e you spend on AMEX plat?
I'v AMEX Gold, MC Gold and S Visa. All "free" (except see my previous post about AMEX) and would not pay for any of them since I don't see any extra value in them. But maybe I've overlooked something useful?
I'v AMEX Gold, MC Gold and S Visa. All "free" (except see my previous post about AMEX) and would not pay for any of them since I don't see any extra value in them. But maybe I've overlooked something useful?
edit: hmm... I think also my Master Gold has a travel insurance.
Jan 23, 2012, 3:38 am
#43
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: KUO
Programs: HH Diam, AY/AX/KQ/IHG/VISA Plat, SK/Bonvoy/Melia/Strawberry Gold, Radisson Prem, PP Prest
Posts: 2,266
The benefits were Plat card for self + spouse + Gold cards for 5 kids with the same charge, 2 PriorityPass prestige cards (free entrance to PP lounges for self + spouse, unlimited number of occasions) and the hotel loyalty card benefits (for me HH Gold, for someone else SPG Gold).
The travel insurance used to be the thing. All the cardholders were covered irrespective of travel arrangements and payment types. The insurance benefits were also outstanding compared to rival cardīs insurances. Of course, if you pay your travel with Plat card, this will not change - although I have not yet gone through all the fine print in the new terms and conditions.
The travel insurance used to be the thing. All the cardholders were covered irrespective of travel arrangements and payment types. The insurance benefits were also outstanding compared to rival cardīs insurances. Of course, if you pay your travel with Plat card, this will not change - although I have not yet gone through all the fine print in the new terms and conditions.
Jan 23, 2012, 5:52 am
#44
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,790
The benefits were Plat card for self + spouse + Gold cards for 5 kids with the same charge, 2 PriorityPass prestige cards (free entrance to PP lounges for self + spouse, unlimited number of occasions) and the hotel loyalty card benefits (for me HH Gold, for someone else SPG Gold).
The travel insurance used to be the thing. All the cardholders were covered irrespective of travel arrangements and payment types. The insurance benefits were also outstanding compared to rival cardīs insurances. Of course, if you pay your travel with Plat card, this will not change - although I have not yet gone through all the fine print in the new terms and conditions.
The travel insurance used to be the thing. All the cardholders were covered irrespective of travel arrangements and payment types. The insurance benefits were also outstanding compared to rival cardīs insurances. Of course, if you pay your travel with Plat card, this will not change - although I have not yet gone through all the fine print in the new terms and conditions.
You can get both the HH and SPG gold cards. The SPG Gold doesn't expire but HH is more aggressive - I lost both the Gold status and all my points when I didn't use it for over 6 months.
Jan 23, 2012, 8:25 am
#45
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: HEL
Programs: HH Gold, SPG Gold, BW Plt, AY, M&M, FB G, CX Gold, AX Plat, CC gold, Le Club plt, Scandic 2nd floor
Posts: 126
My HH gold is expirint next month and I do not want my points to get lost...
What is stop service / key chain??