Time running out to get Amex Platinum if you want free Accor Platinum status

If you have been thinking about getting the American Express Platinum charge card, there is a ‘sweet spot’ for the next 10 days or so.

Six weeks ago, American Express added three new hotel status benefits to the Platinum card:

Hilton HHonors – Gold status (gets free breakfast)

Shangri-La Golden Circle – Jade status

MeliaRewards – Gold status

This is on top of the existing three hotel status cards:

Le Club AccorHotels – Platinum (top tier) status

Starwood Preferred Guest – Gold status

Club Carlson (Radisson, Park Plaza, Park Inn) – Gold status

However …..

According to the Amex website:

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.

If you stay at Ibis, Novotel, Mercure, Sofitel, M Gallery or Pullman hotels on a regular basis, this status is worth having.  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.

This is the only top-tier hotel status that comes with Platinum.  You are guaranteed lounge access at Sofitel hotels, for a start, which is a good benefit.

If you want to grab Le Club Accor Hotels Platinum status, you would need to apply for Amex Platinum within the next 7-10 days.

You need to be 100% certain that you will receive your card before 15th April because you need the card in your hand before you can register it and claim your Accor status.

My full review of Amex Platinum is here.  The application page is here.

You will receive 30,000 Membership Rewards points for signing up and spending £2,000 within 90 days.  These will convert to 30,000 Avios points or various other things.

If, after a few months, you find that the card does not suit your lifestyle, you can cancel it for a pro-rata refund of the £450 annual fee.  You will retain your hotel status cards until they expire naturally, usually after 12 months.

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Want to earn more points from credit cards? – April 2024 update

If you are looking to apply for a new credit card, here are our top recommendations based on the current sign-up bonuses.

In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

You can see our full directory of all UK cards which earn airline or hotel points here. Here are the best of the other deals currently available.

Earning miles and points from small business cards

If you are a sole trader or run a small company, you may also want to check out these offers:

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 12th May 2024, the Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa card is offering a bonus of 30,000 points, convertible into 30,000 Avios. You must have a Limited Company to apply. Click here to learn more and click here to apply.

For a non-American Express option, we also recommend the Barclaycard Select Cashback card for sole traders and small businesses. It is FREE and you receive 1% cashback on your spending.