American Express Platinum makes a big change to its travel insurance – but hasn’t told us (or you)

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• Indiacharliepapa says:

  6 Apr6 April 08:44

  I had to check the date on this article as this is something I’ve experienced recently when trying to make a claim (I am the supp cardholder). As far as I was concerned medical and car hire etc were covered regardless but personal belongings (the only thing I’ve ever claimed) required use of “the” card. I’ve had this confirmed on the phone when calling to make a claim. The caveat I thought was any part of the travel or accommodation can be booked on the card so I’ve always put any non-ba flights on there or part of a hotel stay.

  To be fair to them they haven’t winced once at any claim and have always paid out promptly. We will see what else changes.

• Rob says:

  6 Apr6 April 09:13

  This only works if you have the old Gold charge, not Gold credit.

• Andrew Farr says:

  6 Apr6 April 09:13

  I would be very careful with the Travel Insurance perk with the Plat Card. My understanding is that it does not include pre existing medical conditions. So if for example you have high blood pressure and you became ill whilst abroad if Amex deem it to do with high blood pressure that you may well have a major problem.

  • RussellH says:

    6 Apr6 April 12:10

    Agreed. I looked in to this when I first discovered this site, and rapidly dismissed the Plat Amex because the travel insurance would have been useless anyway, then just on pre-exixting conditions, now on age as well.

    We have now discovered a scheme that covers us as long as one’s GP has not specifically advised against travel (if in any doubt, you are required to see your GP no more than 7 days before departure). Only applies to those in receipt of certain public sector pensions, policy through Axa.

    • Thomas Howard says:

      7 Apr7 April 13:20

      Have you got any details? Which public sector pension scheme? I have a relative that’s had a stroke that might be interested.

• Martin Clarke says:

  6 Apr6 April 09:18

  Mmmm. This makes a significant difference I could pay for everything on the AMEX platinum, and therefore miss out on half an Avi us per £1 spent, but this seems a bit harsh considering I’m paying £450 for the platinum and £195 for the BAPP.

  This really reduces the benefits from the platinum card; in my experience it’s really nice having Marriot gold and Hilton gold but I’m absolutely sure these are not worth £450 a year!

  • Anna says:

    6 Apr6 April 09:26

    I’m sure it won’t be long until hotel status is withdrawn when you cancel the Plat card. I was fortunate enough to get the HH visa just before it was pulled so (for now) I can continue to get HH gold via spend.

    • Lady London says:

      6 Apr6 April 12:32

      I think hotel status should be OK. Remember Amex customer profile is one hotels would normally like to have. It would be more trouble than it’s worth to anyone to cut existing hotel membership early.

      Priority Pass is different in that Amex pays PP money for that. So will cut as soon as card is cut.

  • RIccatti says:

    6 Apr6 April 22:02

    Marriott Gold is not as valuable as Starwood Gold was.

    • Rob says:

      6 Apr6 April 22:12

      Marriott Gold is virtually useless. Starwood Gold was virtually useless UNTIL Marriott bought them and matched it to (what is now) Marriott Platinum which got you lounge access and decent upgrades.

      • Crafty says:

        7 Apr7 April 14:46

        Gold does get 15% F&B discount versus 10% for a standard BV member. In nice hotels this saving can rack up.

      • Darren says:

        8 Apr8 April 21:06

        I was SPG Gold before Marriott bought them out. I have stayed as a Gold elite member, are you saying I should have been matched to Platinum?

        • Alan says:

          8 Apr8 April 21:12

          No, only proper Golds got that, credit card ones still stuck at Marriott Gold

        • Rob says:

          8 Apr8 April 21:49

          Did you earn SPG Gold or was it a credit card freebie? Credit card freebie SPG Golds are now back at Marriott Gold.

      • Darren says:

        9 Apr9 April 08:56

        Credit card, fair enough.

• George K says:

  6 Apr6 April 09:38

  Could a plat card holder paying with a Lloyds AMEX, benefit from the insurance cover in the past (or even currently?)

  • the_real_a says:

    6 Apr6 April 15:57

    No and No

• Fraser says:

  6 Apr6 April 09:48

  You list the cards which are excluded, but what about paying for business trips on the green corporate Amex? Is the Platinum cover still valid?

  • Rob says:

    6 Apr6 April 12:16

    Never was, as that is a corporate card.

• Freddy says:

  6 Apr6 April 09:50

  From my work dealings with Chubb I think people will be disappointed in the event they have to make a claim. I’d certainly not rely on this policy

  • Qwerty Bertie says:

    6 Apr6 April 10:01

    That is more concerning than what this article is about! Annoying terms areone thing, but if we can’t rely on it when terms have been followed that is much worse. I wonder if there is are any stats out there to compare Axa vs Chubb. I haven’t made any claims on this insurance, but have dealt with Axa elsewhereand found them reliable. I’m concerned to hear it is no longer them behind it…especially as I associate Chubb with low to medium quality locks!

    • Freddy says:

      6 Apr6 April 10:22

      My main gripes with Chubb were extremely slow, difficult to get hold of, and lack of any common sense. This was a general theme in every case I’ve had cause to contact them – wouldn’t want to experience similar when abroad and needing medical treatment!

    • Lady London says:

      6 Apr6 April 12:12

      Maybe Chubb us even worse than Axa but I always check the underwriter of any policy I am considering and will try to avoid if Axa. Its the underwriter that determines if your claim is paid and Axa seems more miserable than some.

    • Froggee says:

      6 Apr6 April 13:16

      Chubb the lock company is different to Chubb the insurer. The one experience I have had of Chubb albeit vicariously was exceptional where they were amazing when the poo hit the fan. They did the important stuff well which was they insisted on air lifting the individual out of the country they got ill in so they could be treated in a top notch hospital. They also did the small stuff well which was have a claims manager keep the individual’s family well-informed of everything that was happening which gave them immense comfort all was under control (which it was). However this was before Chubb merged with a more aggressive insurer so could have all changed!

• Travel Strong says:

  6 Apr6 April 09:54

  OT but Amex Question:
  Are there still caps on the cards you can hold? I can find old references to “max 2 charge cards + 2 credit cards” per customer… but no recent talk about it.

  • Qwerty Bertie says:

    6 Apr6 April 09:56

    No quantifiable caps that the public are aware of. People have exceeded the 2 + 2. At one point I had 1 + 4.

  • Doug M says:

    6 Apr6 April 12:04

    I’m 1 + 3 at the moment, so no fixed policy I’d guess.

  • Lumma says:

    6 Apr6 April 13:06

    I had 4 credit cards recently before cancelling gold. They only initially gave me a £500 limit on the fourth (rewards credit card) before I rearranged the limits.

    First time I’ve been accepted immediately though rather than the wait a few days for a decision and have the cards arrive in the post

  • Racer says:

    6 Apr6 April 19:46

    I have 3 credit cards and 2 charge charges without any issue.

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