Hi all,
I'm in the process of trying to understand whether the AMEX platinum charge card is worth the $1200 fee and was wondering whether anyone has one and has used the "Platinum Airline Privileges Program" feature?
Essentially it gives the card holder access to discounted business class flights, does anyone have an example of a time they used this?
(Also, as a side note which Priority Pass membership level do you get? The Priority Pass website says theres three different tiers)
Cheers
Thanks for the info
I don't have the Platinum charge but have some experience with Priority Pass.
I think the Piority pass you get is essentially the Prestige level, with unlimited entry for you and a guest but AMEX also includes a second membership for the supplementary card holder. (So 2x Priority Pass memberships mean you can take a group of 4 in for free)
If you are based in Sydney and do a lot of travelling that alone is worth it. My wife and I ate and drank ourselves silly at Movida and Bar 2020 (spent all up $140+) for free.
Having said that I get this with my $250 Visa Signature card with a boutique bank so probably won't be getting a Platinum AMEX for a long while!
Thanks for your insight! Which bank do you have your Visa with if you don’t mind me asking?
It's a boutique bank for Medical/Dental (and maybe Vets) professionals so not sure if they accept general applications. It's actually 400 annual fee unless you have a loan or specialist memberships.
BOQ Specialists?
I am in Medical line, what’s the name of this bank?
@Hunter80:
AMA or RACGP $150 discount to $250. Or if you hold a loan. BOQS specialty is higher leverage loans as far as I can see. Rates otherwise about the same.
@knobbs:
At $400 I would say nothing special. But at 250 for most medical professionals (or if you have a loan), it's not bad for the Priority Pass benefits.
Really this card doesn't have any other killer incentives from the financial viewpoint (points earn is decent though for a Visa)
It's secret weapon is the personalised service of the bank (but then again, if all you have is a credit card there's really no need!).
@RJW: Yeah we looked at BOQS for a loan when we got ours this year. Just didn't offer anything that sood out from the crowd (partner is medico). Is it just customer service you are referring to when you say 'personalised service'? Or is there something else we should be looking into?
@knobbs:
Yup mainly customer service (e.g. if I ring up now I could probably get connected to a local customer service rep within 20s).
I agree their rates don't stand out. However they do offer a lot for things like high leverage that basically would be impossible with any other bank.
Edit - scratch that, I was getting the personal and business versions muddled up. Do note that they have different perks.
I think they are opening a Melbourne based lounge early 2018.
Fingers crossed!!! I am very jealous of the Sydneysiders with their collection of Priority Pass restaurants. Luckily Melbourne has a couple now but only on the International side of things.
@RJW … no need to be that jealous ! That "collection of Priority Pass restaurants" has only recently become available, and there's still no Sydney lounge (either airside or landside) for us ordinary PP holders (sigh).
@FlyGuy: Some of their lounges are very poor. EG KLIA2 the 2 airside lounges - Free but very limited range of drinks, and terrible food. I would prefer the $36 per person in a nice restaurant.
True. I have Plat. Gives me Unlimited Amex Lounge (Plus 2 people in Sydney) Plus unlimited PPass everywhere for me and one guest.
Plus a supplementary card holder has equivalent (Amex lounge & PPass WITH guests).
Also I get a total of $700 travel credit (including the free companion Amex Plat. Reserve Credit card).
It is a bit of optional luxury that I really enjoy as a frequent traveller.
Has anyone been denied entry into airport lounges (using priority pass)? I'm thinking whether it's worth getting platinum charge for lounge access and hotel membership status. I'm not eligible for sign up bonus as I already have plat edge and explorer
Never, and I travel a lot. And the platinum charge is recognised as being something special. EG AMex lounge Sydney if the lounge is full, other types of card holders have to wait, but platinum holders are sent next door to a combined airlines lounge.
I have a plat. Charge, I opened it even though I wasn't eligible for the sign up bonus. I travel often, and just 1 trip to US could justify the high annual fee. Was in 6 cities, therefore, 12+ lounges (including transits).
Was denied entry to Alaska lounge in LAX though with PP. but the KAL lounge was a short walk away.
One thing you may have to consider is to close off one of your cards. Platinum charge only comes with $300 travel credit. You need to apply for a Platinum reserve (this is a credit card) to get the other $400 credit. But you can't usually have more than 2 credit cards with AMEX.
I was turned away from Sydney AMEX lounge last night dispite having a platinum charge. I asked him if I'm able to get a pass to the adjacent lounge and he said no. Took down my details for the waiting list.
However, called me in about 15 mins to say that I can get in.
Was it full?
See https://www.pointhacks.com.au/credit-cards/american-express-…. A pretty good review on the Plat Charge card with embedded links to the questions you have asked.