Reduction in Amex lounge benefits?

[sxc]

Looks like pointhacks jumped the gun and sent out a newsletter with links to embargoed news. The title in the newsletter says

"American Express slashes lounge access on Platinum cards"

https://www.pointhacks.com.au/news/american-express-slashes-lounge-access-on-platinum-cards

but the link is broken for now.

They also sent out a broken link to the RBA credit card surcharge announcement which now works - so seems like this Amex news is going to break some time today.

 

[muppet]

Hard to paste the email due to formatting, but from 8 July, for some Centurion Lounges (Sydney, Melbourne, the U.S., London (LHR), Tokyo (HND) and Hong Kong) the guest access is reduced to 1 guest, they must be on the same flight and only 5 hours during layovers.

From October, Plaza Premium is down to 1 guest and Additional Priority Pass membership for additional cardholder will end.

 

[airlinemn]

And no more priority Pass for the second card holder.

It’s honestly a bit of a scam that they can do this after you’ve already paid for the annual fee for the year.

AMEX benefits are only going one way now and it’s not up.

 

[ms1]

 

[ms1]

And no more priority Pass for the second card holder.

It’s honestly a bit of a scam that they can do this after you’ve already paid for the annual fee for the year.

AMEX benefits are only going one way now and it’s not up.

My feelings exactly. It's a shame there's not much by way of compeition.

 

[playbargain]

Email just received. Only Primary holder is now eligible for Priority Pass. Existing additional membership will be cancelled in Sep.

What an other blow to the benefits.

 

[sxc]

It’s honestly a bit of a scam that they can do this after you’ve already paid for the annual fee for the year.

Is it correct that if you cancel your card mid-year you will get a pro-rata refund of the membership fee?

 

[bobbinbrisco]

all these enhancements for oz with the highest annual fee in the world

 

[markis10]

In Haneda last week the line at 7AM for the centurion lounge was very long, no doubt its being well used.

 

[Aeryn]

You can thank stupid RBA surcharge ban and interchange reduction, with card revenues down they have to cut costs and some benefits to be able to fund any rewards. Im sure research showed that big spenders valued points more than lounge perks given most big spenders on travel would have status and hence airline lounge access anyway.

 

[Arowana]

Email just received. Only Primary holder is now eligible for Priority Pass. Existing additional membership will be cancelled in Sep.

What an other blow to the benefits.

This is the tipping point for me that now brings me to the end of my Amex relationship, I have decided to dump the card, the priority pass for the additional card holder was a key benefit.

 

[muppet]

You can thank stupid RBA surcharge ban and interchange reduction, with card revenues down they have to cut costs and some benefits to be able to fund any rewards. Im sure research showed that big spenders valued points more than lounge perks given most big spenders on travel would have status and hence airline lounge access anyway.

I don’t believe the RBA regulates Amex fees does it? so it hasn’t impacted.

 

[simong]

I need to gather my full thoughts after reading that email, but it has to be up there with one of the most hostile corporate emails ever received!

 

[moa999]

all these enhancements for oz with the highest annual fee in the world

And as of October one of the lowest interchange fee afaik.

 

[Doctore1003]

I don’t believe the RBA regulates Amex fees does it? so it hasn’t impacted.

The RBA got powers to regulate Amex last year but by that time the current review was underway. The RBA said today it will review Amex next, along with mobile wallets and BNPL. So expect the Plat Card benefits to take another hit soon.

 

[Aeryn]

I don’t believe the RBA regulates Amex fees does it? so it hasn’t impacted.

They have secured the power to do so later this year, and RBA announced today they are looking at Amex next. So Amex would also know this and and getting ahead of the RBA changes, by making tweaks RBA cant interfere with like foreign currency fees outside Aus.

 

[Hunter4vr]

This is absolute bs, now I don't know what to do, there's always 3 of us travelling and we are able to get into many PP lounges thanks to the supp card having a membership. Now this won't be possible unless we get a second card with Priority Pass or just pay for the 3rd person.

 

[bits]

Tightening up lounge access will help with overcrowding, so the changes do have a silver lining

 

[SeaWolf]

Tightening up lounge access will help with overcrowding, so the changes do have a silver lining

I don't use the AmEx lounges all that often, but has that been a problem at SYD and MEL?

 

[bits]

I don't use the AmEx lounges all that often, but has that been a problem at SYD and MEL?

Sydney is a zoo. But at least Sydney has Plaza Premium, and The House as alternative options