"Enhancements" to MR earn on Platinum Card, Reserve & Centurian

[nlagalle]

Looking on the Amex website, it doesn't sound like these changes apply to the Platinum charge card only to the Platinum credit cards. Have I misunderstood?

I noticed the same thing too. The plat card points earning remains unchanged but the credit card has from Oct 1.

 

[cove]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Not having bothered with Amex Platinum for about 10 years let me just say that there are alternatives. On travel insurance look at Chubb through a broker and on credit cards obviously we need to be watchful for changes but there are plenty of alternatives that have their strong and weak points.

 

[greenfrog86]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

I noticed the same thing too. The plat card points earning remains unchanged but the credit card has from Oct 1.

The Platinum Charge page on their website has not yet been updated, however the Terms and Conditions you can see for the Platinum Reserve (ie linked to from the Reserve page) include the Platinum Charge as part of the changes...

Go to this page MerchantGeo and in the bottom left side (just under the map) you will see a 'terms and conditions' link. You can also click on the 'Major Cruise and Tour Operators' button which gives a list of what Amex thinks some of these companies might be, and in the bottom T&Cs section you can see the 'American Express Platinum Card' listed as one of the cards impacted.

Only a matter of time until the whole changes are clearly laid out I would guess...

 

[simonsyd]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

The Platinum Charge page on their website has not yet been updated, however the Terms and Conditions you can see for the Platinum Reserve (ie linked to from the Reserve page) include the Platinum Charge as part of the changes...

Go to this page MerchantGeo and in the bottom left side (just under the map) you will see a 'terms and conditions' link. You can also click on the 'Major Cruise and Tour Operators' button which gives a list of what Amex thinks some of these companies might be, and in the bottom T&Cs section you can see the 'American Express Platinum Card' listed as one of the cards impacted.

Only a matter of time until the whole changes are clearly laid out I would guess...

These terms and conditions refer to dining and tour operator bonus points which it looks like will also apply to plat / centurion members. There is no word of decreasing points earn to 1 point per dollar anywhere I can see as yet (hopeful).
There would be absolutely no reason for most to hold the plat card with this enhancement. Luckily my membership year is up in early October so if this change does occur I'll bail!

 

[k3nnis]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

So really what are the features that plat charge have over the plat reserve assuming plat charge will reduce to 1 point per $ for everything else?
Besides CX Gold, SPG Gold and a few other small things?

 

[M@rcoPolo]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

I don't think this applies to Platinum Charge - if you try a card comparison it's quite clear P. Charge accrues in Ascent Premium ad P. Reserve in Ascent... below from T&C's... so indeed it looks like business as usual for Platinum Charge!

As a member of ​

Ascent Premium

- our highest tier of rewards, you’ll earn 1.5 Membership Rewards​

[SUP]1[/SUP]

points for every dollar you spend, up to $200,000 per year reverting to 1 point per dollar thereafter. Enjoy complimentary and unrestricted membership of Priority Pass​

[SUP]9[/SUP]

that gives you a virtual key to the world's largest independent airport lounge program at 600 VIP lounges in 300 cities within 90 countries.
Transfer your points to a choice of 8 leading airline rewards programs​

[SUP]1[/SUP]

- and, of course, that includes Qantas​

[SUP]6[/SUP]

. You will also receive substantial savings on international First and Business class flights​

[SUP]8[/SUP]

when you and a companion travel with one of our 13 major partner airlines.

As a member of Rewards Ascent, you will earn 1.5 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent until 01 October 2012 after which you will earn up to 3 points per $1 spent listed ​

here

. Earn rate threshold is 150,000 points per year, reverting to 0.5 to 1 point per $1 spent thereafter​

[SUP]5[/SUP]

. You will also enjoy complimentary membership to Priority Pass, giving you access to over 600 VIP lounges in 300 cities worldwide, with 2 complimentary lounge visits per year​

[SUP]4[/SUP]

.
​

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

I noticed the same thing too. The plat card points earning remains unchanged but the credit card has from Oct 1.

True

but this page seems to refer to new T&C for Ascent Premium (which is only available for Plat Charge and Centurion):
American Express Australia - Membership Rewards Program - FAQ

Edit: if this comes in for Plat Charge, then I see little reason to keep paying $900/year for it (especially after the insurance devaluation). If things are costing Amex too much, then put up the annual fee by a bit - it hasn't gone up in years, and I'd say that it's fair enough to do that given inflation. Eroding benefits just makes card holders feel shafted.

 

[k3nnis]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

So can someone from AMEX confirm for us if Plat charge is changing or stays the same?

 

[lovestotravel]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

So great for restaurants and travel!

cough for everything else

However, as Amex have been lowering and lowering their merchant fees (for most business) over the past 2 years, this was bound to happen

 

[greenfrog86]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

So can someone from AMEX confirm for us if Plat charge is changing or stays the same?

I called Amex today and she said she could only talk to me in detail about the Plat Reserve as official notifications have started going out and couldn't give details on the Plat Charge 'for compliance reasons in case anything changes between now and the final wording being issued'.

She confirmed all the Reserve changes and took on some feedback about how the PDFs they have uploaded look shabby and the T&Cs have basically given away their plans for all other cards too.

It was pretty clear from the conversation that there will be changes for the Platinum card, however the changes are being done across the card portfolio in stages - we have seen this through the Edge card starting everything, now the Reserve and eventually the Platinum card... *sigh*

 

[k3nnis]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Ok so that sounds convincing the plat charge will change too. I wonder if centurion will change as well?

 

[serfty]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Ok so that sounds convincing the plat charge will change too. I wonder if centurion will change as well?

More than likely - read post #44.

 

[Cynicor]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

So $900 for PP, 1 year of CX Gold and SPG gold (from which I have not seen any benefit, and was earned last 2 years anyway.) Also ability to transfer to QF as needed.

Any other benefits? The concierge and travel team are, generally, a waste of time.

Might see if there is an association price for the charge card vs the reserve, and then downgrade. Only just did the upgrade last year...

 

[greenfrog86]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Ok so that sounds convincing the plat charge will change too. I wonder if centurion will change as well?

As I indicated before, they are doing it in stages.

Given the T&Cs already released it is likely that Centurion will also change, however this is likely to be last...

If you're a Cent holder then you could try calling your account manager

 

[kpc]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

As AMEX often monitors these threads (tho. they never post), we should make our displeasure known here, esp. if the points reduction extends to the Plat charge card (on top of the recent downgrade in travel insurance) as well. I will have no reason to keep the Charge card if the point changes described above extend to this card as well:evil:

 

[perthtraveller]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

As AMEX often monitors these threads (tho. they never post), we should make our displeasure known here, esp. if the points reduction extends to the Plat charge card (on top of the recent downgrade in travel insurance) as well. I will have no reason to keep the Charge card if the point changes described above extend to this card as well:evil:

Damn right displeasured! Will be emailing my account manager once I get official notification. I'm going to have 5 very annoyed referees who have recently signed up to the Charge on the basis they would be earning 1.5 points per dollar for ATO and other purchases. I'll definitely be trying me darn hardest to negotiate a retrospective reduction in their annual fees and hopefully get something for my devaluation too (probably won't get anything as my annual fee was already reduced by $500).

Was going to switch my spend back to AMEX once my Citi Plat cap is reached (currently earning an effective 2.2 KF points per $1) but might have to upgrade to the Citi Select now. AMEX sucks. Yet another weekend of card portfolio planning...

 

[k3nnis]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

are there any other cards out there besides non branded AMEX to transfer to hotel programs like hhonors,spg?

 

[kpc]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

are there any other cards out there besides non branded AMEX to transfer to hotel programs like hhonors,spg?

Diners ...but let's not go there:shock:

Disclosure: I do have a fee free Diners card...

 

[k3nnis]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

lol. But not sure with their transfer rates....I have a westpac altitude plat at the moment as backup but can't transfer to hotel programs...

 

[kpc]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

lol. But not sure with their transfer rates....I have a westpac altitude plat at the moment as backup but can't transfer to hotel programs...

See: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....club-just-lounge-access-36676.html#post577769