Amex launching a Platinum Card pop-up lounge with free drinks in London

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• Waribai says:

  10 Nov10 November 07:26

  And perish the thought….but is it potentially child friendly in the day time?

  • James says:

    10 Nov10 November 08:06

    It appears so. From the VISTA email:

    “Once inside, relax and enjoy the finest food, drink and festive entertainment, while the little ones learn how to make snow globes or play in our festive family area.”

    • Waribai says:

      10 Nov10 November 12:39

      Thanks, yes found the email. I might even take the little one for brunch with Santa!

• Tim Osborn says:

  10 Nov10 November 07:36

  They told me yesterday in their Vista mail out!

  • Martin Barber says:

    10 Nov10 November 11:33

    Same here.

• Kevin says:

  10 Nov10 November 07:37

  As a UK based Platinum card holder, I received an email yesterday about various UK events that are coming up which included numerous free events including the ones above and more, e.g. Jo Malone, Elemis, Design Museum. Look out for the Vista newsletter. I cannot post a link as seems to include some personal details when I go to it from the email.

• W says:

  10 Nov10 November 07:40

  Great idea! I think I’m in!

• Scott L says:

  10 Nov10 November 07:57

  Anyone know if you are automatically signed up for Vista email updates once you get your Platinum card or do you have to tick a box or something?

  • MarkH says:

    10 Nov10 November 08:28

    +1 would also like to know how to receive them

    My friend gets the vista emails but I can’t for the life of me figure out how to sign up on my OH’s Plat card and my friend doesn’t remember what he did

• Alan says:

  10 Nov10 November 07:59

  I missed this too! Everything in Vista was only in London so I deleted it, despite the fact I’ll actually be down in early Dec! Might see if I can make it along whilst down.

  • Polly says:

    10 Nov10 November 08:16

    Alan..l just suggested a 2nd meet up the following Fri Dec 1st or is that too soon for you!!

    • Alan says:

      10 Nov10 November 22:20

      1st Dec could be do-able – meeting a friend that night for dinner but will actually be not that far away from it during the day so will possibly try and pop along early evening…

      • Rob says:

        11 Nov11 November 10:51

        We’ll pop by on the 1st as well, it is on the way home for us anyway.

        • Alan says:

          11 Nov11 November 11:06

          Excellent! What sort of time were you thinking?

      • Polly says:

        11 Nov11 November 12:19

        Think we are aiming for the 5-7pm slot, so,you should have plenty of time for a catch up before dinner with your friend….
        Harry, any chance you can sneak out of Cornwall on a cheap split train ticket then!!! Kitchen ticket as my OH puts it…

        • Alan says:

          11 Nov11 November 12:22

          Great, I’ll aim to be there for around 5pm if I can 🙂

• Alan says:

  10 Nov10 November 08:12

  OT I’m afraid but can someone give me some advice re@ Amex Gold card and airport lounges?

  We are looking at using some Virgin Miles for a short trip to NY in February (yes, I know it will be very cold). There will be 2 adults and a teenager and we will be flying economy (AKA Cattle class).

  Are there any lounges in Heathrow or JFK that I can use the free Amex lounge pass at? Is it also possible to purchase a 3rd pass for the 3rd member of our party? Would it make sense to upgrade to platinum for a short time to make use of the better lounge pass benefits it offers?

  My wife has a companion gold card and has only recently cancelled her own gold card – to enable churn. Had we thought that we might be taking this trip prior to her cancelling she probably wouldn’t have cancelled it so we had the 4 passes.

  Thanks in advance for any advice offered.

  • Rob says:

    10 Nov10 November 08:25

    Spoilt for choice in Heathrow T3 – Club Aspire and No 1 Lounge, both good. Both reviewed on here if you search.

    • Alan says:

      10 Nov10 November 08:54

      It appears that I can’t get access to No1 lounge with my Gold Card passes, only with the Priority Pass that comes with Platinum. But the Virgin/Avios discounted price at £25 a head isn’t too bad.

      If you pay for No 1 lounge via Virgin/Avios are you guaranteed access to the lounge?

      I’ve read that JFK is a complete dump of an airport so lounge access there might be useful, but I’ve also seen from the Lounge Pass website that the lounge at JFK Terminal 4 often restricts access due to how busy it gets. Has anyone experienced this? Could you use one of the lounges at a different terminal even if flying from 4?

      Sorry for all the questions.

      • Polly says:

        10 Nov10 November 09:52

        Ok alan..just ‘re read this..saw you can buy virgin passes at 25pp. These were the places that were reserved at lgw when we couldn’t get in. So yes in answer to your ? You are guaranteed entry with those purchased ones as you are then in the reserved table headcount. So that’s your best bet. Both directions. Def make sure you use the airside lounge in JFK as security can take up to 2 hrs…just the worst queues. Plan to be there at least 4 hrs before your flight if you don’t have fast track.
        NYC is fab anytime of the year.

      • Alan says:

        10 Nov10 November 10:11

        Thanks Polly. I’ll look into how I can purchase the lounge access at JFK, although it will grate a bit to have the free passes from Amex and not use them! I would, however, prefer to guarantee access rather than be refused as they were “full”.

        If we were able to use the other lounges at different terminals then, I guess, the chances of them all being full is less likely?

        All these horror stories regarding JFK (looong delays at security on arrival and departure, not enough seats anywhere after clearing security etc) are actually putting me off the idea of going at all!

  • Polly says:

    10 Nov10 November 08:30

    My advice fwiw
    Just use one gold pass on way out and pay for guesting the other 2 in..maybe in NYC the same process..it will cost. Weigh that up against one months fee on plat but losing out on 52k avios later due to churn interruption…
    If you refer your wife for plat it interrupts your churn schedule of course….

    • Alan says:

      10 Nov10 November 08:41

      Thanks Rob & Polly.

      Do you happen to know, off-hand, how much it would cost to get the others in?

      The churn loss would be annoying but it wouldn’t be the end of the world. I am probably one of the lower earners on here so the cost implication is probably top of my priority list (hence why I churn gold and not platinum).

      • Polly says:

        10 Nov10 November 09:28

        Ok if that’s the case refer your wife for plat with you as supp…about 2 weeks before you go…priority pass are issued usually well before the plat weirdly. You might even get a referral bonus! If pp cards have not arrived then get the digital cards on you pp app. We did that for my daughter travelling. Then cancel on your return with a guilty conscience!
        ‘re entry refusal. It’s happening at all airports now in small print only if availability. Unfortunately some airlines are block booking tables for guests so you might not get in. We were refused at lgw recently on easy jet but got in with lounge key. V annoying. Am sure pp are getting many calls in complaining about this issue. It’s happening more and more. If you are refused am sure amex will give you some MRs to compensate. Must follow that up myself actually. Good luck

      • Anna says:

        10 Nov10 November 13:36

        I thought visits were £15 after the free passes had been used? That’s what we were charged at MAN this year, or is it different abroad?

        • Rob says:

          10 Nov10 November 15:35

          £15.

      • Alan says:

        10 Nov10 November 18:09

        Thanks

  • Anna says:

    10 Nov10 November 09:21

    You might be lucky with the weather. We went in February once and it was stunning, clear blue skies and sunshine and everything had a photogenic sparkle and crispness.

    • Alan says:

      10 Nov10 November 22:21

      Ditto, really enjoyed NYC when it was cold TBH – been luck with nice clear days 🙂

  • Jon says:

    10 Nov10 November 12:10

    I was in the same boat earlier this year, and ended up in the Wingtips lounge at JFK T4 on the way home, before a 9:30pm flight. The lounge was pretty poor all round. Modest selection of self-service food, which was largely a basic salad bar and one hot dish. Small selection of drinks (including budget brand spirits), and tiny toilet block.
    My advice would be not to pay for this lounge, or even use a limited supply of lounge club passes.

  • Leo says:

    10 Nov10 November 12:28

    I would use the Aspire lounge in T3 LHR with your LC passes – or use one and guest in the other 2 as previously suggested – cost of guest is $27 so less than virgin route. I don’t think there’s that much difference between No 1 and Aspire in T3. Virgin shares T4 at JFK with Delta. You can’t use the Delta SkyClub if flying Virgin Metal. The Wingtips lounge isn’t highly thought of but I think it was refurbed fairly recently. It’s your pay-in only lounge option. You can’t access other terminals once through security.

    • Alan says:

      10 Nov10 November 18:11

      Thanks everyone

• Polly says:

  10 Nov10 November 08:14

  Could we do an alternative meet up the following Friday too on Dec 1st? For those of us who can’t make earlier date? Nice to put a face to some names…Rob are you around the 1st as well? Nice after work drinkies again for you!
  My OH got the Vista email too..he is currently the card holder! Wonder if the supplementary holder can get in showing our card?

  • Genghis says:

    10 Nov10 November 08:23

    I can make 1 Dec

    • Polly says:

      10 Nov10 November 08:37

      Genghis you might have to guest me in if supps can’t get access! Next year l will be the main card holder…l am missing Jo Malone and Elemis too. They won’t let supps in l know…

  • Rob says:

    10 Nov10 November 08:24

    It’s on the way home for me, so unless I have to go off reviewing something it should be possible.

  • Barry cutters says:

    10 Nov10 November 08:29

    I will be there on 1st too

    • Ben says:

      10 Nov10 November 09:08

      I wonder if I would be able to get in with a cancelled card? Or will they run it through the computer?

  • Alan says:

    10 Nov10 November 22:22

    Good idea – hopefully could make it early doors (as in 5pm), although depends on timing for dinner with friend that evening!

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