Longtime lurker of the money board but I had to finally join to chime in on this nonsense. This post will be long.

I have been an AMEX member since the beginning of 2011. It has been the single best decision I've probably made in the past 5 years. I'm 29 so that flare should probably be tempered.

2011-2012 I had the Gold Premier Rewards. I funneled every expense I could through that card. My total personal spend for 2012 brought me over 100,000 points for the year because of the multipliers. Along with the 25K Bonus and 15K spend bonus, I haven't paid for my last 4 domestic flights. I'm going to Las Vegas and NYC in the next couple months. All free.

I decided to upgrade to the Platinum last year and it was an awesome decision. I am not "wealthy" but I have a good credit score. I'm just single and travel. I do make a low six figure income but my spend is exasperated because my lack of obligations.

Couple Points about the Platinum:

1. It pays for itself 5 times over if you travel 3-4 times a year. I've probably sat and drank more free booze in Delta and Centurion (Las Vegas) lounges than I care to admit.

2. They reimburse you $200 a year for baggage fees and drinks (in my case). It just rolled over on Jan 1 so my limit is reset.

3. I'm upgraded at every hotel I visit- mostly starwood locations or those booked through AMEX. I've booked through AMEX Fine Hotels quite a few times. You're treated like royalty relative to just a plain customer. MGM Grand upgraded me to the Penthouse Suite last year when I had only booked Tower Suite. Maybe that's just good luck.

4. Not everyone can get the card. Generally, from what the rep told me, the only way you can upgrade is if you meet a spend threshold but there's no minimum spend if that makes sense. Targeted offers are different, I have no experience with that. Just upgrading.

It's not just you decide to pay $450 and they give it to you. That's a bunch of bullshite. Generally people that say that were either turned down or they got on through someone else's credit. It's still viewed as one of the top 2-3 most prestigious domestic cards in the U.S. without being tied to some Brokerage Firm.

5. Concierge has done more shite for me than I care to admit. I sat in Jim Beam box last year in Yankees Stadium because I called up concierge. When I go to a new city, I get them to send me an event guide. I tell them what I like and they filter everything into a report. No more playing Google. Any restaurant I want to go to, I'm never locked out. Even those last minute ones in NOLA that used to make me wait a hour.

6. I've never used Global Access but apparently it's reimbursed. Also, you get companion tickets if you book international business. I've never used them but I will soon as some family will be relocating oversees.

Basically, the $450 is pretty much nothing considering I was paying $175 for Rewards Gold with none of the associated benefits.

Someone mentioned Delta Reserve earlier. That's garbage and I'd throw that away. You're only getting access to Delta lounges for the same fee and not the same level of benefits of the Platinum.

This post was edited on 1/14/14 at 1:35 pm

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Posted by htownjeep

Republic of Texas

Member since Jun 2005

7613 posts

Posted on 1/14/14 at 1:59 pm to Platinum

quote:
4. Not everyone can get the card. Generally, from what the rep told me, the only way you can upgrade is if you meet a spend threshold but there's no minimum spend if that makes sense.

What did someone say that set you off? I don't recall anyone talking about the quote above (although I think it's overstated). Nobody said everyone can get the card. I think it's understood on this board that a decent credit score is required as well as a decent income etc. But it really isn't too difficult to get an AMEX Platinum. Have a decent job and a 700-ish credit score and voila.

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Posted by hiltacular

NYC

Member since Jan 2011

19691 posts

Posted on 1/14/14 at 4:00 pm to Platinum

quote:
6. I've never used Global Access but apparently it's reimbursed. Also, you get companion tickets if you book international business. I've never used them but I will soon as some family will be relocating oversees.

Basically, the $450 is pretty much nothing considering I was paying $175 for Rewards Gold with none of the associated benefits.

Can you expand on point 6? Did i read that if you book business class overseas you get a +1 essentially

Did anyone address the OPs issue of having both the gold/platinum open? If I upgraded to platinum would it "cancel" my gold? Not sure I want to pay for both.

Amex sent me an offer for the platinum card (I'm a gold card holder now) so I'm assuming I would get approved.

Another question, how can i maximize points/fees based on sign up date? Is it better to sign up early in the year or late?

This post was edited on 1/14/14 at 4:03 pm

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Posted by BACONisMEATcandy

Member since Dec 2007

46644 posts

Posted on 1/14/14 at 6:31 pm to Platinum

quote:
Someone mentioned Delta Reserve earlier. That's garbage and I'd throw that away. You're only getting access to Delta lounges for the same fee and not the same level of benefits of the Platinum.

That would have been me and I have stated numerous times on here that I am the exception to this rule and not the standard. I agree that most people are benefited more by getting the Amex Platinum over the Delta Amex. I fly Delta exclusively, I stepped on 72 of their aircraft last year and 0 for any other carrier. It benefits someone like me to have the Delta reserve over the Platinum Amex.

The other benefits are why I go with the Delta Reserve (MQM boosts, Free Checked Bags, Upgrade Tiebreaker, etc...)

quote:
Also, you get companion tickets if you book international business. I've never used them but I will soon as some family will be relocating oversees.

These companion tickets are generally for full fare business and 1st class tickets on certain routes. For example I can buy a discounted 1st class (A) Fare Ticket for roughly $900 but a Business Elite full (J) Class ticket would cost me $2600. Guess which one I am buying?

I'm sure there are exceptions to this rule but I would not include this as a perk unless you are buying these fares anyway because your company is paying for it (and the flexibility).

quote:
carries the Platinum over the Centurion because there are no additional benefits besides personal concierge.

That's not true. You get "status" with most airlines, hotels, and car rental carries (also get access to Amex's luxury car rentals). So what you posted is entirely false.

quote:
You only get this if you managed to apply separately twice and not upgrade. Technically he has 2 accounts and will be paying for 2 Fees- which is ridiculous as he will be carrying two balances.

Like anything there are exceptions to the rule. I might be advantageous to someone out there.

Also you cannot "carry" a balance with either of these cards as they are charge cards and not credit cards. They have to be paid in full each month. I am aware that is not what you meant by it but don't want others confused

quote:
They will take it off the top. 450-175 and you pay the difference.

As well as prorate the one month.

quote:
I'm a huge AMEX Platinum advocate. I've had more shite taken care of for me in the past year and less headaches than I've ever had to deal with.

For example, me and the GF went to New Orleans this past August. We booked some Hotel called Le Richelieu near the French Quarter through Travelocity's Express Hidden Deals. Non-Refundable.

We showed up at the M-Fer and it looked nasty, straight out the 70s. I took a dump in the place, turned in our keys and called the Omni Royal Orleans and rebooked our rooms. They would not offer a refund.

Next day I called AMEX, told them about the issues and how it was "non-refundable". We booked another hotel. I got the entire charge refunded in about 3 days.

AMEX doesn't take shite from other businesses. The fee associated with the Platinum is expensive but it's times like this, I feel like I'm packing a hammer in my pants.

You could post the same thing if you carried almost any of their card... it is not exclusive to platinum.