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American Express Platinum closes its “UK Hotel Collection” of special deals

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American Express Platinum and Centurion cardholders get a number of decent hotel deals, mainly through the Fine Hotels & Resorts programme (late check-out, upgrade if available at check-in, free breakfast, bonus amenity).

A relatively new venture over the last 5-6 years is the Amex Platinum UK Hotel Collection (PDF document, this is the 2016 version – there is no 2017 version.  Mobile users should click here instead.)  It showcases 31 top properties, both city and country, such as Chewton Glen, Gleneagles, The Grove, Coworth Park, Lucknam Park and Cliveden (photo below).

Unlike many hotel promotions, this scheme manages to tick all my boxes:

Your upgrade – it is guaranteed AT TIME OF BOOKING

Late check-out – GUARANTEED for 2pm, except at two properties

Breakfast – included for two guests per room

And a special amenity, which is often a food and drink credit so as good as cash

Rates are guaranteed to be no higher than the Best Flexible Rate offered by the hotel itself.  This means, if you need a cancellable rate, you will get value here as your only alternative is Best Flex from the hotel without these benefits.  If you are happy with a cheaper, non-refundable rate, you’d need to weigh up the benefits of this programme versus the extra cost.

Unfortunately, American Express is closing the UK Hotel Collection on 31st March as you can read here.  It isn’t clear if 31st March is the last day to book or the last day to stay.

It is a shame to see the end of this offer, although Amex did a bad job of promoting it.  There has always been quite a lot of churn in the portfolio since it launched and the total number of hotels kept getting smaller.

It would have been better if all of the hotels had been folded into Fine Hotels & Resorts instead although I can imagine that some would not want to do the 4pm guaranteed check-out required by FHR members.

If you are planning a UK break over the next few weeks and have an American Express Platinum card, you may still be able to squeeze in a booking.  You can find out more here.


Hotel offers update – April 2024:

Want to earn more hotel points?  Click here to see our complete list of promotions from the major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.

Want to buy hotel points?

  • Hilton Honors is offering a 100% bonus when you buy points by 14th May 2024. Click here.

Comments (101)

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

  • Oli says:

    OT: HSBC Premier Elite 20k for £12k bonus…

    After waiting quite a while, I’ve now had an “official” rejection from someone in the UK come through saying that I won’t get my bonus until my card anniversary. She did give a number to call back on and discuss though, which I will do today.

    I know quite a few people here were successful – what were your main points other than the mis-selling/rip-off/etc.?

    • New Card says:

      and Good Luck!

      If not successful – first ask to speak to a Manager; and if that doesn’t work, ask for a Deadlock letter so you can complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service…

    • Sue says:

      Has it been 60days from when you spent £12k? I opned my account in May last year and met the required spend in November. The anniversary points posted January 2018. I had not conatcted them about it at all previously.

  • Scott says:

    On my Gold (*supp) and BAPP

  • Tom Cook says:

    Ta – only on my Plat not SPG / BAPP

  • Cate says:

    Thank you New Card.

  • New Card says:

    Another OT – Rob, is there any update on when the new Virgin Money CCs are likely to be announced? I recall a while ago you mentioned early February…

    • Rob says:

      I did. We are down there tomorrow as it happens but I’ve had to sign something which says I can’t tell you what they tell me, so actually I may become even less speculative! The blanks are printed and waiting for Virgin Money to press the button.

      • New Card says:

        Thanks for the update – will be interesting to see what their offering is…

  • Rob says:

    Not yet posted but an article is done for later in the week. Could work for some but tricky unless in the US.

  • Rob says:

    Thanks.

  • Scott says:

    IAG has a far lower proportion of slots at LHR than its equivalents do at CDG, AMS or FRA (where AF/KLM and LH Group have over 70% of slots).

    LHR is unique in having a locally based full service carrier competing on long haul against the incumbent. None of the other major European hubs have this. A key reason BA is lukewarm about a third runway at LHR is because it knows it wont sustain the same proportion of slots when it opens, it doesn’t have the capital to expand by 50%.

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

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