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New Amex Platinum hotel benefits launched – but a shock exit too

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Back in October, I wrote about the new deal that American Express had done with Hilton HHonors to offer status as part of the American Express Platinum benefits package.

It had been slowly rolling out globally but had not yet reached the UK.

However, a development has occurred.

If you go to the Platinum cardmembers website, you now see links for:

Hilton HHonors – Gold status (gets free breakfast)

Shangri-La Golden Circle – Jade status

Melia Rewards – Gold status

I will do another article next week looking at each of these in detail and explaining what benefits they bring.  They definitely add value to the Platinum package.

But here is a shock ….

The following message appears on the Platinum website if you look closely enough:

Enrolment to receive the American Express benefit of 1-year complimentary Le Club AccorHotels Platinum tier membership will end on 15 April 2016; after which Cardmember requests cannot be accepted, and Cardmembers will not be enrolled or upgraded to Le Club AccorHotels Platinum tier.

Yes, after 15th April you will no longer be eligible for free Accor Platinum status.  Your existing status will continue to be valid until it expires, of course.

I never took great advantage of this, but my wife used it successfully at the Sofitel in Sochi.  Even on my last Novotel stay I received two free drinks, an upgrade and bonus points.  

I would rather have Hilton Gold than Accor Platinum, but at the same time I wouldn’t swap Accor Platinum for Melia Gold.  This was, after all, the only top tier status that came with Amex Platinum.

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Category

Accor Live Limitless, American Express Platinum card, Hilton Honors, MeliaRewards, Shangri-La Circle

Comments (126)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Thomas says:
    6 Feb6 February 09:27

    Real shame, personally I had great use out of the Marco Polo match and the Accor – just been renewed on Accor – and I do stay a lot at their hotels, but nowhere near the required nights for Platinum) – ho hum its the way it goes. Would be interesting to know if there is s strategy to these changes, or if they are driven purely by what the different chains/airlines are willing to offer.

    Platinum still holds value, especially with insurance and a few other buts like covered recently on HFP, it does show though how “personal” this can be, dependent on what you can use.

    Regards
    Thomas

  • Geoggy says:
    6 Feb6 February 09:28

    Well that’s the death knell for me.

    I can’t justify the 450 quid fee now.

    Will ditch it on renewal and take out an annual car hire excess policy and be 410 quid better off

  • Ian says:
    6 Feb6 February 09:30

    Am I missing something? Am unable to get past the enrolment page for the new cards – just keeps telling me to complete all details etc.

    • Todderz says:
      6 Feb6 February 09:49

      Same for me…

      • Claire says:
        6 Feb6 February 10:36

        Yes, same here, trying to upgrade my husband’s and it’s saying upgrade to Diamond not Gold though 😀 still can’t get past the enrolment page though.

  • Todderz says:
    6 Feb6 February 09:38

    Ditto – Accor platinum is good, they have a wide spread of properties, and it got me Hilton Diamond which seems the only Hilton status worth having if you like their club lounges.

    Melia? I used them in Cuba but they’ll always be last on my list for anywhere else.

    Top-tier status with Accor was a big attractor for getting the Platinum card. With at best second-tier status available for any hotel scheme it looks much less attractive.

  • Josh says:
    6 Feb6 February 09:53

    Can’t help but think this has to do with the purchase of Fairmont, Swissotel, Raffles…

  • barnaby100 says:
    6 Feb6 February 10:09

    Hilton honors gold was there on the 8th January as I enrolled my daughter for both Hilton and Accor.

    • Rob says:
      6 Feb6 February 11:17

      It wasn’t on the main page yesterday morning – only appeared about 7pm! May have been on the end page form.

  • Kathryn says:
    6 Feb6 February 10:25

    No Accor Platinum ? Not worth paying £450 – after April we will be cancelling AmEx

  • Andrew says:
    6 Feb6 February 10:42

    Looks like the wording of the upgrades is incorrect, it suggests Melia Platinum and Shangri-La Diamond

    “I’M ALREADY A MEMBER OF SHANGRI-LA GOLDEN CIRCLE, PLEASE UPGRADE MY BELOW LISTED MEMBERSHIP NUMBER TO DIAMOND STATUS. MY EXISTING GOLDEN CIRCLE MEMBERSHIP NUMBER IS:”

    “PLEASE ENROL ME AS A MEMBER OF THE MELIÁREWARDS PROGRAMME, AND UPGRADE ME TO THE PLATINUM STATUS.”

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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