Upgraded to Amex Platinum (pics)

[Train]

My question would be, does it actually get you into the airport VIP lounges? Adam Carolla has a Centurion AmEx and says it never gets him into any of them (plus he complains that the card just confuses people when he uses it at regular stores like Home Depot).

If I am paying for it for that reason, it sure as fuck better.

If VIP lounges turn down the card, I am getting a refund and a fifth of captain from Amex. They list it as a perk.

 

[T9D]

I had a Gold Amex when I was 20. But eventually decided to get rid of it.

I have World Mastercard now. Even though it's supposed to be higher than platinum it came with a lame blue color. So I went and got a Platinum card also lol.

You get awesome interest rates and perks. So much much better than a normal card. And I have to say it does make you feel a little better when you whip it out. People actually do respond differently. In a way it is a little bit of an achievement, it says you are actually responsible with your credit and money. Surprisingly most people don't qualify for one. Which is pretty sad how bad most people are with money.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

If I am paying for it for that reason, it sure as fuck better.

If VIP lounges turn down the card, I am getting a refund and a fifth of captain from Amex. They list it as a perk.

I'd be interested to know what your experience is. Carolla flies all the time for performances and says he has never had a VIP lounge accept his Centurion card despite AmEx listing it as a benefit of the card.

EDIT: In looking on the AmEx site, at https://www295.americanexpress.com/cards/platinum/benefit.do?benefitTemplate=template_c&benefitId=1 - it looks like there are a fair number of clubs, but you have to match up the right airline in the right city to have one. E.g., there is an eligible Delta club in my city, Minneapolis, but no other qualifying airport clubs, so I would be able to enter the Delta club if I'm flying Delta, but if I were flying another airline I'd be out of luck.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I had a Gold Amex when I was 20. But eventually decided to get rid of it.

I have World Mastercard now. Even though it's supposed to be higher than platinum it came with a lame blue color. So I went and got a Platinum card also lol.

You get awesome interest rates and perks. So much much better than a normal card. And I have to say it does make you feel a little better when you whip it out. People actually do respond differently. In a way it is a little bit of an achievement, it says you are actually responsible with your credit and money. Surprisingly most people don't qualify for one. Which is pretty sad how bad most people are with money.

nm

 

[T9D]

Yeah but I got rid of my Amex.

You can use your world or platinum cards the same way as just a charge card and just pay them off (non amex cards). Sometimes I run mine up when flipping houses though. After the house is sold I pay it off. Or sometimes I don't mind just leaving it on there for a few months. At such low interest rates it's not much of a fee.

 

[JMapleton]

Interest rate? I thought the regular AmEx cards were charge cards, not credit cards, and that you had to pay the balance every month. (I always pay all my credit cards - I have not paid interest on one in at least 15 years - but I do like the idea of having the ability not to pay the balance in a given month.)

Amex allows you to carry a balance on their charge cards if you request so. I do not know what the interest rate is though.

But Amex probably has more credit cards than charge cards outstanding.

 

[K1052]

My question would be, does it actually get you into the airport VIP lounges? Adam Carolla has a Centurion AmEx and says it never gets him into any of them (plus he complains that the card just confuses people when he uses it at regular stores like Home Depot).

Yes, on American/US Air/Delta. You also get a basic Priority Pass membership too with the regular Plat card. Centurion gets you the top line PP membership. I think it's probably more an issue of airport lounges not seeing many Centurion cards, it is a specified benefit of the card just like Plat.

My partner and I have the Plat card since we travel a lot (probably clear 150 legs this year between us) out of airports that have clubs. Admiral's Clubs are like a 2nd home for us.

 

[evident]

Starwood AMEX>>>Costco AMEX :biggrin:

and unfortunately chase sapphire preferred >>>>> Starwood amex, even though i have both now. if only starwood amex would not charge for foreign transaction fees. they even charge foreign x fees on their own properties overseas.

for those who have the amex gold/platinum, how do you use those points on airline / hotel award programs?

 

[dirtboy]

If I am paying for it for that reason, it sure as fuck better.

If VIP lounges turn down the card, I am getting a refund and a fifth of captain from Amex. They list it as a perk.

I recently got back from South Africa and France, and before I left I got a Platinum card. On the trip I met other such people with Platinum cards.

My wife and I flew business class and had no problem with lounges. Some of the others did not and reported that despite the claim they could get into lounges, many places were refusing to allow Platinum card holders in.

I did use my Platinum card to get into a couple different lounges, however, my access was not necessarily free. The domestic US carriers let me in for free, but I had to pay for drinks. At the international lounges they swiped my card and let me in, but I typically paid a $30-35 per person fee.

 

[ThinClient]

how do I get platinum card

 

[silverpig]

I recently got back from South Africa and France, and before I left I got a Platinum card. On the trip I met other such people with Platinum cards.

My wife and I flew business class and had no problem with lounges. Some of the others did not and reported that despite the claim they could get into lounges, many places were refusing to allow Platinum card holders in.

I did use my Platinum card to get into a couple different lounges, however, my access was not necessarily free. The domestic US carriers let me in for free, but I had to pay for drinks. At the international lounges they swiped my card and let me in, but I typically paid a $30-35 per person fee.

Well any airline worth it's salt gives you lounge access if you fly business class.

I definitely rely on my airline status for lounges more than I rely on my platinum card.

Also, AMEX platinum is $699/yr in Canada! You get a $200 travel credit every year though, so it's more like $499 so long as you go on one trip. Also, I got 50k points for signing up, so my first year is essentially free.

I'll re-evaluate next year.

 

[sjwaste]

Platinum's a good product if you travel and attach value to its particular benefits. I picked up the last time they did a 100k MR offer, but I've kept it for the lounge access and FHR program, which are great for the net $250 annual fee (net of the $200 airline credit). This year, I used the Global Entry credit to cover two NEXUS applications, although I think they've closed that loophole.

It's good for me because I'm a US FF, and although my status doesn't get me lounge access (no domestic programs do for domestic lounges), the Platinum annual fee is cheaper than an actual US Club membership.

 

[sjwaste]

Yes, on American/US Air/Delta. You also get a basic Priority Pass membership too with the regular Plat card. Centurion gets you the top line PP membership. I think it's probably more an issue of airport lounges not seeing many Centurion cards, it is a specified benefit of the card just like Plat.

My partner and I have the Plat card since we travel a lot (probably clear 150 legs this year between us) out of airports that have clubs. Admiral's Clubs are like a 2nd home for us.

All they have to do is swipe the card. If you have a Plat/Cent and aren't getting in, you're doing it wrong. Well not you, but whoever we're talking about.

 

[Jadow]

they don't have free companion ticket any more.

 

[Craig234]

50,000 points is worth $250.

 

[SSSnail]

Ahhh, delicious necro.

It's been a few years, so, does OP still live with parents? I'm not going to ask if he's still a virgin, too obvious.

 

[sjwaste]

50,000 points is worth $250.

To who? You can redeem them for a penny each for travel, so that's at least $500 right there. And if you're not completely awful with them, you can redeem them for at least 2 cents a piece when transferring to an airline and redeeming.

I'd gladly buy 50,000 MR for $250.

 

[sjwaste]

they don't have free companion ticket any more.

It was never free. It essentially only applied to full fare J. Who buys that to begin with?

 

[JMapleton]

To who? You can redeem them for a penny each for travel, so that's at least $500 right there. And if you're not completely awful with them, you can redeem them for at least 2 cents a piece when transferring to an airline and redeeming.

If you transfer directly to airline programs you should be able to redeem them for much more than a penny. You can get a penny a point on some gift cards.

 

[halik]

Are all VIP lounges open bar? The one I went to in Atlanta was.

I would only need about 4.5 visits to a VIP lounge to recoup the $450

I hardly ever travel by plane though, so no.

The AA admirals one in Chicago sure as shit wasn't, neither the drink or food were free. We did get free food and booze in Amsterdam, though it's kind of hard to enjoy free Guinness at 6am. Couldn't find a lounge at Heathrow or Madrid though.

Got TSA Nexus app paid for as well and the buyer protected paid out ~$400 for a broken iphone that I couldn't return to the seller. Worth the $400 to me for sure.