Reduction in Amex lounge benefits

[Daver6]

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TLDR: We (Amex) told you in fine print we can change stuff as we like without compensation.

Centurion Lounge: "Hours may vary by location and are subject to change. Amenities vary among The Centurion Lounge locations and are subject to change. Card Members will not be compensated for changes in locations, rates or policies."

Similar flexibility clauses (for Amex) included for the partner lounges.

I'm not disputing that fine print exists. I am questioning the legality of it though.

 

[Haplo]

The PP change is definitely a cost saving measure by Amex, so now we cant fit a family of 3 using PP so I am fairly annoyed at this.

Sydney and Hong Kong is not much of an issue due to Cent lounge, my only option would be plaza premium going forward.

 

[Doctore1003]

The PP change is definitely a cost saving measure by Amex, so now we cant fit a family of 3 using PP so I am fairly annoyed at this.

Sydney and Hong Kong is not much of an issue due to Cent lounge, my only option would be plaza premium going forward.

Or just pay for 1 person? It’s not a huge amount.

 

[HMcM]

Or just pay for 1 person? It’s not a huge amount.

When you're already paying $1,450 / year for the card and the benefits are quickly falling away, you shouldn't have to be paying for 1 person to get into the lounge.

 

[Doctore1003]

When you're already paying $1,450 / year for the card and the benefits are quickly falling away, you shouldn't have to be paying for 1 person to get into the lounge.

The benefits still far, far outweigh the fees, but I get it, losing a perk you've relied on sucks. I was just pointing out that Plaza Premium isn't your only option, as you said, if you're willing to pay for one person.

 

[Jimbo98]

Regarding the plaza premium lounges looks like 4 people can still enter (primary plus guest, supp plus guest). Is that just for lounges operated by plaza premium or all lounges on their website (e.g. Guangzhou China southern lounge or shenzhen north railway station lounge)

 

[HMcM]

The benefits still far, far outweigh the fees, but I get it, losing a perk you've relied on sucks. I was just pointing out that Plaza Premium isn't your only option, as you said, if you're willing to pay for one person.

Do they? Since last year we've lost the Amazon credit ($84), we're about to lost the dining credits ($400), we've lost the second Priority Pass membership (Conservatively a few hundred dollars worth). ALL Accor+ is okay ($349) if you mainly stay at Accor hotels, but if you're going outside of Asia Pacific it's worthless.

So not too long ago the $1,450 (AF) - $450 (Travel Credit) - $400 (Dining Credits) - $84 (Amazon) would get you down to a $516 fee after the credits you get, that's relatively easy to get value out of.

When you look at the credits the US Plat gets vs not the next to no credits on the Aussie card, it's not clear that there is net value for most people.

 

[Beer_budget]

Do they? Since last year we've lost the Amazon credit ($84), we're about to lost the dining credits ($400), we've lost the second Priority Pass membership (Conservatively a few hundred dollars worth). ALL Accor+ is okay ($349) if you mainly stay at Accor hotels, but if you're going outside of Asia Pacific it's worthless.

So not too long ago the $1,450 (AF) - $450 (Travel Credit) - $400 (Dining Credits) - $84 (Amazon) would get you down to a $516 fee after the credits you get, that's relatively easy to get value out of.

When you look at the credits the US Plat gets vs not the next to no credits on the Aussie card, it's not clear that there is net value for most people.

ALL Explorer has now been aligned with the global program, so that's probably better value than last year. We've never struggled to get our money's worth out of the free night (and tended to do them as part of a two night stay, so the changes to the free night work out even better for our case).

 

[HMcM]

ALL Explorer has now been aligned with the global program, so that's probably better value than last year. We've never struggled to get our money's worth out of the free night (and tended to do them as part of a two night stay, so the changes to the free night work out even better for our case).

When did that happen? When I look at the ALL Accor+ Website it still says :

2 Stay Plus FREE Nights every year across Asia Pacific*
30% off dining and 15% off drinks across Asia Pacific

Only one it says is worldwide is:

15% off on your stays at Accor hotels worldwide

 

[flyguy77]

The benefits still far, far outweigh the fees

I don't think that's really true anymore.

Gradual removal of benefits with nothing new to replace them.

Not to mention that the transfer rates to most partners have been obliterated.

 

[Chrizztofa]

I don't think that's really true anymore.

Gradual removal of benefits with nothing new to replace them.

Not to mention that the transfer rates to most partners have been obliterated.

Agree, but unfortunately I think it's just Amex moving with the market. Most competitors have have done the same - either reducing transfer rates or dropping transfer partners altogether.

Amex's value proposition lies in Membership Rewards and its ability to transfer to multiple different partners. As airlines seem to be increasingly restricting reward seat inventory for partners and preferencing their own members, the ability to move points to multiple programs becomes more valuable. Even after the devaluation, I think only the HSBC Star Alliance card and a couple of the other Amex Qantas/Velocity products earn points at a (slightly) higher rate.

And (if I recall correctly) Amex are the only game in town for unlimited lounge access...MyCard (formerly Citi) have moved away from unlimited Priority Pass for the primary cardholder to providing 15x visits per year while most others only give 2-4 passes per year. While the loss of additional cardholder Priority Pass hurts, many major airports have Plaza Premium which remains uncapped for the primary and additional cardholders (I believe only PER in Australia has a Priority Pass lounge that doesn't have a Plaza Premium or Amex Centurion lounge).

So while it is certainly worse than before, if you're travelling or transiting the Asia-Pacific region fairly regularly it isn't too difficult to get your money back from the flight credit, dining credits, Accor free stays and other discounts. Whether it remains the "best" value for money will really depend on the individual.