American Express Platinum Card

[Renoir]

Steve's thread regarding the good samaritan lending her Amex Platinum card to a homeless man made me think of this.

I also posted this as a follow up, but didn't mean to/want to hijack the thread.

Do any of you think that the American Express Platinum card has lost it's cache or panache? I have seen many more of them in the wild which leads me to believe that Amex has become more liberal with the issuance of them.

Any thoughts?

[Chozn1]

They're not hard to get. I think it's like $350 a year and you're set. I've actually got Delta AMEX Reserve which is a step above platinum. I flash it at an airport and I get into the Crown Room, ect... They threw in platinum cards for my 3 other cards on the account at no extra charge.

[TheVTCGuy]

I've had the Platty for almost 15 years, still use it quite a bit and it comes in very handy, but I think you might be right about the "alure" of it going down a bit. For me, the next step is going to be the AMEX Centurian... Might try to earn it this year!

[figbo]

They gave me the Blue card without asking for it!!

[sleddog]

Originally Posted by figbo

They gave me the Blue card without asking for it!!

Are you sure that wasn't a RED card Raf??

5K annual fee...Am I reading that right??

[Mike B]

Originally Posted by sleddog1000

Are you sure that wasn't a RED card Raf??

5K annual fee...Am I reading that right??

Yes, you are :)

Here is all the info you'd ever want to know about the black AMX card here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centurion_Card

Quite insane really . . . .

[sleddog]

Originally Posted by Mike B

Yes, you are :)

Here is all the info you'd ever want to know about the black AMX card here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centurion_Card

Quite insane really . . . .

Mike...........

Not for me......

[STEELINOX]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

I've had the Platty for almost 15 years, still use it quite a bit and it comes in very handy, but I think you might be right about the "alure" of it going down a bit. For me, the next step is going to be the AMEX Centurian... Might try to earn it this year!

I love my PLAT card !

[sea-dweller]

They have become much more liberal about issuing them. Amex "Black" is now the top tier Amex card ($2,500 annual fee).

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by sea-dweller

They have become much more liberal about issuing them. Amex "Black" is now the top tier Amex card ($2,500 annual fee).

AND... a $5,000 initiation fee!

I'm trying to get them to wave the initiation fee

[sea-dweller]

Any luck ?

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

AND... a $5,000 initiation fee!

I'm trying to get them to wave the initiation fee

[Ed Rooney]

Originally Posted by sea-dweller

Any luck ?

Won't happen.

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by Ed Rooney

Won't happen.

+1

No way, no how are they going to waive the fee for the centurion card . I've been a platinum card holder for 10 years and when they increased the annual fee to $450, I threatened to walk away and they were more than happy to let me go. I pay it since the access to virtually any airline club was worth it alone

There are people out there that would kill for a Centurion card. It's what the platinum card was 20+ years ago - by invitation only.

Like many, I carry only my amex platinum and my chase debit card just in case. Nowadays, its pretty hard to find places that don't accept it.

[Renoir]

Originally Posted by sea-dweller

They have become much more liberal about issuing them. Amex "Black" is now the top tier Amex card ($2,500 annual fee).

It's that annual fee + $5k initial fee....

For the first year that's a Sub C (my wife reminds me)....but she also thinks flashy Italian cars are obnoxious, so what does she know.

[Ed Rooney]

I have a Platinum, and it is meaningless. It has no panache. No one cares what CC you use anymore. Cards like Amex, Visa Signature and World MC actually hurt your credit scores a little bit (important at refi time) because they don't report the true limit.

I usually alternate between Gold Rewards and Platinum depending on if I can get any points bonuses. But I am thinking of moving all of my spending to the Virgin Black Amex. Amex Gold is really the sweet spot for their card range.

[FremStar]

Forget credit and annual fees, isn't cold hard cash still king?

[Renoir]

Originally Posted by sfirempong

Forget credit and annual fees, isn't cold hard cash still king?

Definitely, but sometimes one doesn't want to travel/walk around with a brick of cash and then some.

[FremStar]

Originally Posted by Renoir

Definitely, but sometimes one doesn't want to travel/walk around with a brick of cash and then some.

That's what Debit cards are for

[Zed Homme]

Originally Posted by sfirempong

Forget credit and annual fees, isn't cold hard cash still king?

Cash doesnt get me miles when I spend it... Also, money is inherently dirty.

I also have the Delta Reserve card. However, Ive lost a few of the benefits when Delta introduced the Diamond FF level. I guess I havent lost anything but that status matches a lot of the perks associated with that card. Best part are the 30,000 MQMs one can earn each year as a bonus....

30k miles have a monetary value of $300, so the annual fee almost pays for itself...

[DAVIDSW]

To me centurion is a waste. You can charge the same amount on your Platinum as long as it is within your spending pattern

[Renoir]

Originally Posted by DAVIDSW

To me centurion is a waste. You can charge the same amount on your Platinum as long as it is within your spending pattern

Very true...I think the only real benefit is there truly is no spending limit, I read that someone bought a plane with one, plus upgraded concierge, which to me is useless.

[rsg]

Originally Posted by DAVIDSW

To me centurion is a waste. You can charge the same amount on your Platinum as long as it is within your spending pattern

x2

[Renoir]

It's a 5k initial fee, plus 2.5k for the first year, then the annual fee is 2.5k.

[mpkRolex]

Originally Posted by Renoir

Steve's thread regarding the good samaritan lending her Amex Platinum card to a homeless man made me think of this.

I also posted this as a follow up, but didn't mean to/want to hijack the thread.

Do any of you think that the American Express Platinum card has lost it's cache or panache? I have seen many more of them in the wild which leads me to believe that Amex has become more liberal with the issuance of them.

Any thoughts?

Even I got one last year so they sure have been very liberal with issuing them I will be enjoying my free companion ticket this year

[ObscureLight]

Platinum cards are a joke now, I got offered one February of this year before the CARD act went through, I was only 18. The centurion however is good if you know how to use it. The concierge service is perfect for very liberal spenders as the concierge will use Amex's leverage as a company to get you what you need. Unless you're spending close to 7 digits a year I'd say don't bother with the centurion

[Lamone]

AMEX Paltinum cars aren't what they used to be, beside from the "useless" Centurion.

[Ed Rooney]

The thing about the traditional amex charge cards is that the colors are not tied to your purchasing ability. Anyone is welcome to apply for the green, gold, plum, red, zync or platinum cards, provided they meet a basic income requirement. The colors represent your benefits package and how much annual fee you are willing to pay for them. A basic green cardholder might be approved for far more than a platinum. You can dig deeper on flyertalk.

I just looked at the Delta Reserve amex card, and I don't get it. I wouldn't call it a step above platinum. It's the same thing as platinum, except revolving credit, delta points instead of MR, and just Delta lounges. Platinum gets into delta, usairways, american and continental lounges, and I can transfer MR pts to delta skymiles or most other major FF programs. I would only get it if I lived near a major delta hub and flew delta 15+ times per year.

[Renoir]

Originally Posted by Ed Rooney

The thing about the traditional amex charge cards is that the colors are not tied to your purchasing ability. Anyone is welcome to apply for the green, gold, plum, red, zync or platinum cards, provided they meet a basic income requirement. The colors represent your benefits package and how much annual fee you are willing to pay for them. A basic green cardholder might be approved for far more than a platinum. You can dig deeper on flyertalk.

Absolutely, my Dad has a green card because he's old school and thinks it's just status and refuses to pay the higher fee, plus wouldn't use the benefits, and he has never been declined a purchase for high dollar amounts...member since 1967

[Chozn1]

Originally Posted by Ed Rooney

I just looked at the Delta Reserve amex card, and I don't get it. I wouldn't call it a step above platinum. It's the same thing as platinum, except revolving credit, delta points instead of MR, and just Delta lounges. Platinum gets into delta, usairways, american and continental lounges, and I can transfer MR pts to delta skymiles or most other major FF programs. I would only get it if I lived near a major delta hub and flew delta 15+ times per year.

I always fly out of Atlanta, so it makes sense for me. Also, the points apply directly to Medallion rather than simply FF miles, or so it was explained to me. This means my chances of getting bumped to first class are higher which is a HUGE deal to me. You leap frog a lot of people if there's availability.

I already have a Premier Rewards Gold card for my personal. The Reserve card will be for business and pretty much all I'm going for is airfare points out of it and my spending will be relatively high on the card. The Delta Platinum card will not get you into airport lounges and the points aren't the same (again, this is the way it was explained), so I'm not to keen on it.

[Brit78]

Originally Posted by Chozn1

I always fly out of Atlanta, so it makes sense for me. Also, the points apply directly to Medallion rather than simply FF miles, or so it was explained to me. This means my chances of getting bumped to first class are higher which is a HUGE deal to me. You leap frog a lot of people if there's availability.

I already have a Premier Rewards Gold card for my personal. The Reserve card will be for business and pretty much all I'm going for is airfare points out of it and my spending will be relatively high on the card. The Delta Platinum card will not get you into airport lounges and the points aren't the same (again, this is the way it was explained), so I'm not to keen on it.

I also have the Delta Reserve Amex. The benefits are huge if you are stuck near a Delta hub, CVG for me. Plus the mileage and medallion qualification kickers are great. I've already put over $80k on the card this year and have gotten god knows how many miles. They do come in handy when personal trips come up Also, their fraud/dispute department is tops in my book. I've had to dispute two large purchases and the people at Amex were excellent to deal with, resolving issues for me quickly.