AMEX Launches Platinum Credit Card

[cpl]

I have had a chance to have a chat to a rather cute Amex rep here in WA She convinced me to add the Gold Busineess Charge Card to my collection. (looking at her from 10 mins as she filled out the form was worth it )

I just got a letter telling me I was pre-approved for the gold charge card. The charge card comes with a fee-free gold credit card but also with a $200 price tag. As my gold amex is fee-free anyway I cannot see any advantage in getting the charge card... my travel is insured through employer. And the bottom line is that $200 equals about 50 cold beers at my favorite bar!!! 8)

 

[oz_mark]

I have had a chance to have a chat to a rather cute Amex rep here in WA She convinced me to add the Gold Busineess Charge Card to my collection. (looking at her from 10 mins as she filled out the form was worth it )

I just got a letter telling me I was pre-approved for the gold charge card. The charge card comes with a fee-free gold credit card but also with a $200 price tag. As my gold amex is fee-free anyway I cannot see any advantage in getting the charge card... my travel is insured through employer. And the bottom line is that $200 equals about 50 cold beers at my favorite bar!!! 8)

I've had this offer before as well. Didn't quite see the point of it.

 

[ioki]

was browsing FT and came across a thread about someone accessing a lounge in mexico with his amex platinum card and another entry in it led to the following URL:

http://www.americanexpress.com.bh/m...fits/platinum/additional_benefits_airport.jsp

am wondering if the amex plat credit card here count as a key to these lounges/clubs

 

[infinitevisa]

was browsing FT and came across a thread about someone accessing a lounge in mexico with his amex platinum card and another entry in it led to the following URL:

http://www.americanexpress.com.bh/m...fits/platinum/additional_benefits_airport.jsp

am wondering if the amex plat credit card here count as a key to these lounges/clubs

unfortunately Australia and New Zealand is the only 2 countries that AMEX did not provide the lounge service although annual fee already been paid.
Most probably all cardmemebr should send mail to AMEX for a stronger request for the lounge services.

 

[straitman]

was browsing FT and came across a thread about someone accessing a lounge in mexico with his amex platinum card and another entry in it led to the following URL:

http://www.americanexpress.com.bh/m...fits/platinum/additional_benefits_airport.jsp

am wondering if the amex plat credit card here count as a key to these lounges/clubs

unfortunately Australia and New Zealand is the only 2 countries that AMEX did not provide the lounge service although annual fee already been paid.
Most probably all cardmemebr should send mail to AMEX for a stronger request for the lounge services.

infinitevisa,

Thanks for the info and welcome to the site.

I was just about to send AMEX off an email to ask this. Maybe it will still be a good idea however a slight difference in wording.

 

[Jobu]

1. Has anyone use the free flight service yet?

2. What happens to balance transfers that are on special rates (eg: 0% for 6 months) on your existing Amex credit cards when you sign up to the plat card? Do they retain these special rates when transferred over?

Cheers,

JOBU

 

[Jobu]

When you fill in the online application, and click that you are a current member, the following text comes up:

Please note: If you are a current Credit Card member, this card will be cancelled & the balance will be transferred to your new Platinum Credit Card upon approval.

Interesting - I just had a look at the ICAA application for Amex Plat and it has a box which says:

Please tick if you would like to cancel your existing American Express Credit Card and have the balance transferred to your new Card upon approval.

Not sure if this is new - but this is quite handy for me, and I'm sure others too.

JOBU

 

[netaddict]

1. Has anyone use the free flight service yet?

Yes, booked a flight Sunday for Monday - worked perfectly execpt for the time it takes an AMEX Plainum rep to transfer you to Qantas. A delay I wasn't happy with. Was on hold for over 10 minutes.

2. What happens to balance transfers that are on special rates (eg: 0% for 6 months) on your existing Amex credit cards when you sign up to the plat card? Do they retain these special rates when transferred over?

I'd say you'd loose them.

 

[ioki]

unfortunately Australia and New Zealand is the only 2 countries that AMEX did not provide the lounge service although annual fee already been paid.
Most probably all cardmemebr should send mail to AMEX for a stronger request for the lounge services.

but if you happen to be passing through one of those location in say the middle east and you flash your aussie amex platinum card, surely they would still let you in? if not, how would they verify that the card is an aust/nz card?

 

[infinitevisa]

unfortunately Australia and New Zealand is the only 2 countries that AMEX did not provide the lounge service although annual fee already been paid.
Most probably all cardmemebr should send mail to AMEX for a stronger request for the lounge services.

but if you happen to be passing through one of those location in say the middle east and you flash your aussie amex platinum card, surely they would still let you in? if not, how would they verify that the card is an aust/nz card?

Definitely they can tell as the first 4 digit of your card is representing which country the card was issued, 3760 is representing Australia, unless AMEX want to extend this services to us otherwise got no way to access it.

 

[Jobu]

2. What happens to balance transfers that are on special rates (eg: 0% for 6 months) on your existing Amex credit cards when you sign up to the plat card? Do they retain these special rates when transferred over?

Actually answered my own question - I looked at the application form and it says the following in the T&C:

If you hold an existing American Express Australia issued Credit Card and you have requested us to close your existing Credit Card account, any outstanding balances, including balance transfers on the existing Credit Card will be transferred to the new Credit Card. From the date of transfer, each component of these balances will attract the current interest rate for these componenets, except for existing balance transfers which will retain their existing balance transfer interest rate.

Nice.

JOBU

 

[oz_mark]

Definitely they can tell as the first 4 digit of your card is representing which country the card was issued, 3760 is representing Australia, unless AMEX want to extend this services to us otherwise got no way to access it.

And the average person at the front door of the club would know this? Do they look that closely at the card?

 

[oz_mark]

Yay, my brand spanking new AMEX platinum credit card turned up yesterday. It does look nice

 

[oz_mark]

Looking at my account online today I noticed that my Rewards Maximizer Card had been cancelled and the balance transferred to the Platinum Card. When I called up for an explanation I was told that if you hold a Platinum Credit Card you are not allowed to have any other AMEX cards, something which I've yet to find documented on the AMEX web site. You can apparently have both a Gold Rewards Maximizer and a "regular" or "blue" card in your own name but if you have a Platinum card, AMEX will allow only the one card in your name.

Do you know when in the scheme of things the Maximizer was cancelled? Was it at approval (as per the web site), or was it after you activated the new card, or was it sometime later?

I only ask cause both my accounts are still active. Mind you the web site doesn't seem to cope with me having two rewards accounts!

 

[straitman]

Looking at my account online today I noticed that my Rewards Maximizer Card had been cancelled and the balance transferred to the Platinum Card. When I called up for an explanation I was told that if you hold a Platinum Credit Card you are not allowed to have any other AMEX cards, something which I've yet to find documented on the AMEX web site. You can apparently have both a Gold Rewards Maximizer and a "regular" or "blue" card in your own name but if you have a Platinum card, AMEX will allow only the one card in your name.

Do you know when in the scheme of things the Maximizer was cancelled? Was it at approval (as per the web site), or was it after you activated the new card, or was it sometime later?

I only ask cause both my accounts are still active. Mind you the web site doesn't seem to cope with me having two rewards accounts!

I have an AMEX Platinum Card and an AMEX Corporate Card both in my name. The comment about the web site not handling/coping with several cards is very relevant though. :? :? :?

 

[Jobu]

I only ask cause both my accounts are still active. Mind you the web site doesn't seem to cope with me having two rewards accounts!

Hmm... you have two seperate rewards accounts?

I have one (ascent) which I paid a fee ($55 from memory) to link it to my corporate charge card, therefore both are linked and earn points to one account - easier to manage that way.

JOBU

 

[oz_mark]

I only ask cause both my accounts are still active. Mind you the web site doesn't seem to cope with me having two rewards accounts!

Hmm... you have two seperate rewards accounts?

I have one (ascent) which I paid a fee ($55 from memory) to link it to my corporate charge card, therefore both are linked and earn points to one account - easier to manage that way.

JOBU

At the moment, the website leads me to believe I have two, but I can't really get much detail for either of them. zI think something has gone bungo and if it doesn't fix itself in the near future I will have to get onto them.

My corporate card, which is displayed on the site under card is not linked to anything rewards wise at the moment, as far as I can tell.