AMEX Platinum Charge Card now 120,000 points!

[mitwg]

Anyway, reason for the post is that I need to stay at the Hilton at Heathrow on the way back, and US Platinum Card holders get Hilton HHonors Gold. I tried to sign up for this but wouldn't let me,do us Aussies get any Hilton benefits ?
Also, was going to stay at the Sofitel at Heathrow with the Platinum Accor free night benefit, but the website restricts the free night to Asia Pacific Hotels only, not a big one, but still unexpected.

Cheers

Digger

As others have suggested, Hilton status match is probably the best option for you at the moment. Note that even if you 'only' get Hilton Gold, the benefits are almost as good as Hilton Diamond.

The free night offer is a bit tricky and you are indeed correct as it is only valid for properties across the Asia-Pacific region. However there's a reason for this.

As a part of the Amex Platinum, you get the Accor Platinum status, which is a status level in the Accor loyalty program. This is valid worldwide & all supplementary cardholders also get this benefit.

In addition, you get membership to the Accor Advantage Plus program, which is a localised program within the Accor Asia-Pacifics region. This is the program that gives you the free night, along with up to 50% off on meals on the hotel restaurants. This is only available to the primary cardholder.

What makes the above all confusing is that the card you get from Accor is basically an all-in-one membership that combines Accor Advantage Plus with Accor Platinum. However, they are two separate programs and hence separate 'rules' apply depending on where you want to use the benefits.

 

[AccountSignup]

Hilton HHonors is currently offering Diamond status matches, from other hotel program Platinum level memberships. You get two hotel Platinum memberships with the Charge, IHG Platinum and Accor Platinum. You'll need to apply quickly though, as the offer closes on the 11th of Jan. Full details can be found here (Ausbt).

Thanks for the head's up, jumped in to get the status match, huge win!

 

[avante]

I reckon you can do better than HHonors Gold; HHonors Diamond, although not a Plat Charge benefit.

Hilton HHonors is currently offering Diamond status matches, from other hotel program Platinum level memberships. You get two hotel Platinum memberships with the Charge, IHG Platinum and Accor Platinum. You'll need to apply quickly though, as the offer closes on the 11th of Jan. Full details can be found here (Ausbt).

For those still wanting to apply for the AMEX Platinum Charge card 120,000 bonus points offer, you'll also need to get in relatively quickly as this offer closes on the 2nd of Feb! If you'd like a referral mine is here, or my 2-cents worth on the card can be found here.

How did you get the IHG Platinum membership? It's not listed as an enrolment option for me.

 

[blueythecat]

How did you get the IHG Platinum membership? It's not listed as an enrolment option for me.

You make a good point, I can't find it there either.

I'm sure I signed up for it in October, along with Accor Platinum and all the others.

Does anyone know if AMEX removed this benefit from the charge recently or not?

 

[M@rcoPolo]

Just a quick reminder that the referral promo for 120,000 membership rewards ends in less than 2 weeks on February 2nd...

Don't miss out on this awesome offer! Apply HERE by 2 February 2016!



Card benefits

• Receive a $200 Platinum Travel Credit each year, can be redeemed online for airfares, car hire and hotel bookings
• Complimentary access to more than 800 airport lounges in 100 countries, including Virgin Australia Lounges, Delta and American Express lounges
• Complimentary AMEX Reserve Platinum card including a return trip each year to several destinations within Australia and New Zealand
• Dedicated Platinum Concierge Service to take care of travel plans, tickets or dinner reservations
• Earn up to 3 Membership Reward points per dollar
• Transfer your points to a choice of 10 airline rewards programs
• Complimentary enrolment into elite tier of hotel partner programs including Club Carlson, Starwood Preferred, Club Accorhotels and Accor Plus
• Complimentary worldwide Travel Insurance and Purchase Protection
• Enjoy great savings on First and Business Class fare with some of the worlds leading airlines through the Platinum Airline Privileges program

$1,200 p.a. Card fee. The Amex Platinum Card has no preset spending limit. All you need to do is pay off your balance in full each month.


Membership Rewards points convert 1:1 to Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Virgin Australia, Emirates, Ethiad, Virgin Atlantic, Air New Zealand, Thai, Malaysia Airlines and Cathay Pacific / Asia Miles.


As an example, 120,000 Membership Rewards points would be enough to fly:

- First Class One Way from Sydney to Amsterdam with Singapore Airlines
- First Class Return from Sydney to Tokyo with Japan Airlines
- First Class Return from Sydney to Shanghai with Air China
- Business Class Return from Sydney to Singapore / Hong Kong / Bangkok with Singapore Airlines

Apply HERE by 2 February 2016!

 

[kaktusdigital]

here's my referral link for those interested in applying before Feb 2nd.

https://www316.americanexpress.com/...3EE28827A&mgmerSource&MGMURN=AAAABgwBEhMVCg==


Once you've signed up you can request for a free reserve companion card. I've uploaded the application form to drop box here:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7604486/Platinum Reserve Credit Card - App_Dec 2014 (1).pdf

Also a link to the most current free hotel stay (if you prefer that over the free flight) associated with the Reserve card.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7604486/PRCC_HotelNightStayOffer.pdf

 

[blueythecat]

Only one week to go folks! This offer closes on the 2nd of Feb 2016!

If you want to apply for the Platinum Charge in the near future I would definitely recommend you get your application in before the current 120,000 bonus points offer closes on the 2nd of Feb.

If you are interested in applying my Referral Link is HERE. If you are not sure if this card is for you or not, here is my previous "review" or thoughts on the card and the current bonus points offer, which hopefully you'll find useful:

This is an interesting and in some ways daunting offer. The $1200 annual fee, seems massive (to me at least), but then again 120,000 MR points is super super massive! I deliberated in this one for a good couple of weeks (normally I see - I apply!), but after crunching the numbers for the 5th time I decided to jump in and test the waters (thanks to AMEX's pro-rata refunds this is an option).

If you're also keen to apply here is the UPDATED REFERRAL LINK: OFFER NOW Expires 2 February 2016. You receive 120,000 Membership Rewards points if you spend $1000 in the first two months - updated referral link HERE!

As very recent applicant - only received the card this week - here are my brief thoughts on why I think the massive 120k points on offer justifies the $1200 annual fee:

• 120,000 Membership Rewards points - pretty simple really - based on my numbers I value this at easily $3000+(annual fee covered right there!)
• Points can be transferred to massive variety of partners - Qantas FF, Virgin Velocity and some more valuable ones via SPG (AAdvantage, BA Executive Club & US Airways Dividend Miles)
• $200 Annual Travel Credit with American Express Travel - value $200 (clearly)
• Free domestic / international flight (NZ) if you apply for a FREE Platinum Reserve companion card - ring AMEX after approval to arrange an application for this (value to me $400+) - Destinations List Here (Platinum Reserve)
• Unlimited Virgin Australia / Priority Pass Lounge Access - again subjective value $200 (I should be able to make use of this half a dozen or more times over the year).

Very happy to take any questions on how I decided this offer was value, if you'd like to know more, either post back here or PM me if you want more info.

Quick Card Summary (as per the other posts):

• 120,000 Membership Rewards bonus points after spending $1000 in first two months after card activation
• A $200 Platinum Travel Credit each year, can be redeemed online for airfares, car hire and hotel bookings
• Complimentary access to more than 800 airport lounges in 100 countries, including Virgin Australia Lounges,Priority Pass, Delta Skymiles and American Express Lounges
• Dedicated Platinum Concierge Service to take care of travel plans, tickets or dinner reservations
• Earn up to 3 Membership Reward points per dollar
• Transfer your points to a choice of 10 airline rewards programs:
  • Qantas Frequent Flyer, Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer, Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Air New Zealand Airpoints, THAI Royal Orchid Plus, Malaysia Airlines Enrich and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
• And the best bit, transfers to AAdvantage, BA Executive Club & US Airways Dividend Miles, amongst others are possible through SPG (Starwood Preferred Guest)
• Transfer your points to leading hotel programs:
  • Hilton HHonors, Priority Club Rewards, Starwood Preferred Guest
• Complimentary enrolment into elite tier of hotel partner programs including Club Carlson, Starwood Preferred, Club Accorhotels and Accor Plus
• Complimentary worldwide Travel Insurance and Purchase Protection
• Enjoy great savings on First and Business Class fare with some of the worlds leading airlines through the Platinum Airline Privileges program

All up I rate this as a very good offer, certainly worth applying for - I put my money where my mouth is on this one. As I said up front, I value this offer at $3000+. As another basic example, the 120k points redeemed for Virgin economy SYD-MEL flights is worth $2200 (and this option isn't even trying!!!). Of course for supreme value you could try your luck at a Singapore Airlines Suite - AMEX points is the only way I'm ever seeing the inside of one of those!!!

Would a rate the Platinum Charge as a keeper or a earn and churn - well whilst I originally said and earn and churn, the more I use the card the more I like it and the more I think I'll keep it! Of course if you decide you don't like it, AMEX will refund the annual fee pro-rata upon cancellation.

Referral link is HERE, for anyone kind enough to use my link, my heart felt thanks, the points will be put to good use by my wife and I on a belated baby moon!

Footnote:

Here is an interesting article on why you might want to consider an AMEX card in the near future - it predicts that earn / burn rates on VISA/MASTERCARDS will be reduced after the RBA brings in interchange rate reforms.

 

[ninja-tim]

Don't know if this has been discussed, can't find search button for this thread.

Can a Bussiness Platinum cardholder create a referral link for a normal/personal Platinum card?

 

[Winston1]

Don't know if this has been discussed, can't find search button for this thread.

Can a Bussiness Platinum cardholder create a referral link for a normal/personal Platinum card?

I would imagine so. Give it a go.
Worst case the applicant gets his bonus & you don't.

https://www316.americanexpress.com/...mgmerHub&sourcecode=MULT000372&CPID=100189307

 

[blueythecat]

I can confirm that this did NOT work for me, sorry to give the bad news :-(

 

[Winston1]

I can confirm that this did NOT work for me, sorry to give the bad news :-(

I guess the other option is to use one of the referrals off this forum.
Though, if the applicant signs up using a form that states 120 points, amex cannot reneg on that. So if that's your only means of referring, I don't see a downside..

Anyhow, it's been a little while since I've posted my referral here, so I'll post it again.

Link:https://www316.americanexpress.com/i...wMHxofCg%3D%3D


Charge card
$1200 Annual Fee
Offer expires 31 October 2015


A quick recap of the main benefits.

$200 Platinum Travel Credit

Complimentary worldwide Travel Insurance and Purchase Protection

Complimentary flight with companion Platinum Reserve or Platinum Edge Cards

Lounge Access

American Express Lounges

Priority Pass

Virgin Australia Lounges

Delta Skymiles

Complimentary night’s stay each year with Accor Plus
Complimentary enrolment into elite tier of hotel partner programs

Accor Plus

Club Carlson

Starwood Preferred Guest

Shangri-La Golden Circle Jade Membership

Le Club Accorhotels

Extensive list of transfer partners

Qantas Frequent Flyer

Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer

Emirates Skywards

Etihad Guest

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

Air New Zealand Airpoints[SUP]TM[/SUP]

THAI Royal Orchid Plus

Malaysia Airlines Enrich

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles[SUP]TM[/SUP]

Hilton HHonors[SUP]®[/SUP]

Priority Club® Rewards

Starwood Preferred Guest Starwood preferred Guest is a particularly good transfer partner as it allows for further transfer onto other great programs. See below for airline partners of Starwood.

List of Starwood transfer partners

Air Berlin topbonus	1:1
Air Canada Aeroplan	1:1
Air China PhoenixMiles	1:1.6
Air France and KLM Flying Blue	1:1
Air New Zealand Airpoints	ADD no ratio¹
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan	1:1
Alitalia MilleMiglia	1:1
All Nippon Airways ANA Mileage Club	1:1
American Airlines AAdvantage	1:1
Amtrak Guest Rewards	1:1
Asiana Airlines Asiana Club	1:1
British Airways Executive Club	1:1
Cathay Pacific Airways Asia Miles	1:1
China Southern Airlines Sky Pearl Club	1:1
China Eastern Airlines Eastern Miles	1:1
Delta Air Lines SkyMiles	1:1
El Al Matmid Club	ADD no ratio²
Emirates/Sri Lankan Airlines Skywards	1:1
Etihad Guest	1:1
Hainan Airlines Fortune Wings Club	1:1
Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles	1:1
Iberia Plus	1:1
Japan Airlines JAL Mileage Bank	1:1
JetPrivilege	1:1
LATAM Airlines LANPASS	1:1.6
Lufthansa Miles & More	1:1
Qatar Airways Privilege Club	1:1
Saudi Arabian Airlines Alfursan	1:1
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer	1:1
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards	ADD no ratio³
Thai Airways International Royal Orchid Plus	1:1
United MileagePlus	1:1
VARIG Smiles	2:1
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club	1:1

Ongoing Statement Credits
Recent examples (many of these allowed gift card purchases)

Qantas – spend $250	get $50 back
Milan Direct - spend $300	get $50 back
Ecruising - spend $500	get $100 back
Dan Murphy - spend $100	get $15 back
Portmans - Spend $100 or more	get $20 back
BP - Spend $50	get $10 back
The Iconic - Spend $100 or more	get $30 back
Sydney Airport Tax & Duty Free - Spend $250 or more	get $30 back
Jacqui E - Spend $100 or more	get $20 back
Harvey Norman - Spend $300 or more	get $30 back
Australia Zoo - Spend $150 or more	get $25 back
Domayne - Spend $500 or more	get $50 back
ISubscribe - Spend $100 or more	get $20 back
Wheel & Barrow Homewares - Spend $80 or more	get $20 back
French Connection - Spend $70 or more	get $15 back
Hoyts - Spend $20 Or More	Get $10 back
Hilton and Double Tree Hotels - Spend $250 Or More	Get $50 back
Expedia Hotels - Spend $500 or more	get $50 back
Netflix - Spend $17.98 or more	get $17.98 back
Harris Farm Online - Spend $100 or more	get $50 back
Vintage Cellars - Spend $100 or more	get $15 back.
Staples - Spend $80 Or More	Get $20 Back
Sportscraft - Spend $90 or more	get $30 back
Saba - Spend $90 or more	get $30 back

There have been of course many other brilliant Statement credits over the last year including Shop Small which is due again soon.
See HERE (New statement credits) for the AFF thread relating to Statement Credits

 

[ninja-tim]

I can confirm that this did NOT work for me, sorry to give the bad news :-(

You mean Plat business referring normal Plat cards?


Kinda OT, I read somewhere that having both Plat cards (normal + Business) gets your half annual fee for both, i.e. Pay for 1 and get the other free? Can anyone confirm this?

 

[blueythecat]

You mean Plat business referring normal Plat cards?

Yep that's right in my experience, seems a bit silly on the part of AMEX's, but that's the way it is.

 

[dadevo]

Hi Everyone

it may be here somewhere but I cant see it ..... what is the points earn rate on this card for ATO payments?

All my current cards have had the points for ATO taken away

If not this card ant suggestions?

Thanks

Mark

 

[kaktusdigital]

Hi Everyone

it may be here somewhere but I cant see it ..... what is the points earn rate on this card for ATO payments?

All my current cards have had the points for ATO taken away

If not this card ant suggestions?

Thanks

Mark

its .5 points per $. I think the ANZ black pays 1 point per $. but only until the 27th of Feb

 

[dadevo]

yes - I have an ANZ black and also a NAB platinum which has also downgraded!

at .5 points with a 1.5% fee so an equivalent $0.03 per point I am not sure it is worth it?

 

[ninja-tim]

Westpac Black Amex or Amex Red Velocity card is paying at 0.75 KF miles/$ (roughly).

 

[blueythecat]

yes - I have an ANZ black and also a NAB platinum which has also downgraded!

at .5 points with a 1.5% fee so an equivalent $0.03 per point I am not sure it is worth it?

Certainly not worth it for me!

 

[speightsah]

What hotel memberships does this card come with?

 

[blueythecat]

What hotel memberships does this card come with?

With the platinum charge you get the following hotel memberships: Club Carlson, Starwood Preferred Guest Gold, Shangri-La Golden Circle Jade Membership and Le Club Accorhotels Platinum.


You also get complimentary membership to the Accor Plus program which entitles you to one free night in a range of Accor's Australian and Asia Pacific hotels. I can be difficult to book their most sort after hotels - so get in early if you want one of these.


You might want to consider reading some the really good reviews on the card in this thread if you want some more info on the card. I'll shamelessly give mine a plug, it's HERE.