AMEX Launches Platinum Credit Card

[PaulZ]

Amex has finally issued a Platinum Credit Card at a reasonable price - $395p.a. (Similar to the one issued in NZ)

Some of the Card Features:

- Annual Fee - $395 p.a.

- 2 Credit Card's in the Name of the Primary Holder (in order to separate business & personal expenses)

- Up to 99 Secondary Card's for No Fee

- Ascent Membership Rewards Package. Earn 1.5pts per $ up to a max of $100,000 p.a. Then the Earn Rate goes back to 1:1.

- 1 Free Qantas Domestic Economy Flight - Pretty much from and to anywhere in Australia. Clearly if you do a PER trip you have already paid for the annual fee.

- International & Domestic Travel Insurance

- Purchase & Refund Cover

- Magazine

Some of the Features the Platinum Charge Card ($900p.a.) has that the Platinum Credit Card DOESNT HAVE: Concierge Service & Companion Airfare Deal.



What do people think about this deal?

I currently have an AMEX Gold Rewards Maximizer with 2 Sups which cost’s me $216 p.a. I spend around the $100,000 mark p.a. I may miss out on a couple thousand 'bonus' points if I spend over the $100k limit but I do gain the QF flight for $179 p.a. and I would probably get another sup card.

I think I might change! Any suggestions?? :roll:

Is anyone else thinking about upgrading their Credit Card?

[Mal]

It looks like it was launched today... Very nice.

BTW, the terms listed on the page are actually located here: http://www.americanexpress.com/austr...ct/terms.shtml

rather than the (broken) link given.

The free flight offer looks good. With no surcharges/taxes at all to pay, even Bris-Melb would just about pay off the card cost per year.

Think the "companion air" deals on the Plat Charge card are fairly worthless. Concierge is also of limited value, so I wouldn't miss either.

Any ideas what the insurance covers? Full details seems pretty scant when discussing this card on their site.

Now, just wishing for them to "upgrade" my current gold Amex credit card to it. Don't pay any annual fees for it at the moment, so would like a seriously discounted card - Free would be fantastic, but don't think that is possible!

[netaddict]

The Platinum Credit Card from AMEX does look good. I've been taking a close interest in it today and talking to some of the executives at the Platinum Charge Card service. If you have a Platinum Charge Card you can get a Platinum Credit Card Complimentry providing you meet the application criteria.

The card is a good deal overall especailly if your not looking for a dedicated concierge or travel service.

Something to note with the Qantas Return Airfare. From what I was told this afternoon it is basically a Qantas Red e-deal ticket. It means you can't upgrade or do things like that with the ticket. Ultimately will need to wait the fine print comes out to have a closer look.

The customer service team for Platinum Credit Card is based in Sydney and 24/7.

It's worth while considering upgrading the card. Think a lot of people will. From reading another news story on it AMEX are hoping to attract 1.5M people to the card.

[NM]

It's worth while considering upgrading the card. Think a lot of people will. From reading another news story on it AMEX are hoping to attract 1.5M people to the card.

Hmm, good chance they will get me to upgrade. Better look further into it.

[arun]

I have an CPA Amex Gold card which is fee free for the main and supplementary card. So for me personally the return airfare should exceed the card fee. Still it looks like a good one. I might cancel my CBA Platinum and put that $250.00 over here.

[netaddict]

Looks like the finer details of the card are now up on the web:

http://www.americanexpress.com/austr...it/index.shtml

[Mal]

The finer details make good reading.

Amex are going to blitz the "platinum" market with this card. The airfare deal is worth the cost of the card alone... Wonder if it will be sustained, or disappear/water down within a year or so.

Wish amex was more accepted, but it is accepted enough to make things worthwhile.

Like arun I may actually cancel my CBA plat too. I already have a Gold amex credit card (free!). As i posted last night would prefer a heavily discounted plat card from Amex. May wait around for a few months and see if I get any special offers from them.

The travel insurance looks pretty good especially for domestic flight inconvenience. The rewards look pretty good (1.5 points per $ up to $100000).

[Lindsay Wilson]

Read the links posted here and I'm interested in the AMEX Platinum card, like many here.

Time to finally say goodbye to my NAB Mastercard and to upgrade from Amex Gold (Charge Card) to Platinum. I'll give them a ring and see what they say.

[arun]

I called AMEX and asked about the annual fee waiver or reduction in the first year for platinum, considering that I have the CPA gold card (fee free). They refused to budge. So I will wait for a couple of months if I will receive any special offers. I very much doubt if CPA and AMEX will do any deal as the Domestic flight is hard to give away without a fee.

[netaddict]

I called AMEX and asked about the annual fee waiver or reduction in the first year for platinum, considering that I have the CPA gold card (fee free). They refused to budge. So I will wait for a couple of months if I will receive any special offers. I very much doubt if CPA and AMEX will do any deal as the Domestic flight is hard to give away without a fee.

Tried calling up and asking to speak to the department responsible for customer retentions?