Amex Platinum survey

[jj]

when it offers access to second rate lounges (save the small number of its own brand ones) and only offers status in the most boring mass market hotel chains as the principal benefits, the facts speak louder than the marketing guff.

Quite. My relationship with my Platinum card is purely transactional: does it save me money over the course of a year? It’s just a coupon book in a posh frock.

Amex could chase after aspiration things, but clearly doesn’t think they appeal to its millennial target audience. As you say, there is certainly nothing aspirational about the hotel statuses it offers or vile third party lounges in European cities (I will never forgive or forget the lump of dried soup powder I ingested in Geneva, when I could have eaten in a decent restaurant for the effort of an expenses claim).

[aq.1988]

I upgraded to Amex Platinum last year from Gold during the 75/100k offer.

So far, in return for my £650, I’ve earned the 75k bonus, plus a 35k retention offer, so that has easily justified the fee for the 1st year.

I also managed to get 90k from 5 referrals, but I could have done referrals from my Gold, and probably got around 60-70k for those, so that’s at least 20k of value. Unfortunately, did all the referrals before any of the triple point offers.

In terms of the other benefits, I’ve used £300 UK dining credits, but only value that at max £200, as I wouldn’t ordinarily eat there. Only used the £150 overseas credit last year (probably value that at about £80), and have been unable to use it this year, and unlikely to be able to.

Used £150 worth of HN, but value that about £100.

Have not used the PP, as all my travel has been in J this year, and have upcoming F/J flights. Only my wife has used it, so maybe value that about £20 this year.

As I have no hotel status, the Hilton Gold status is useful, as that is saving me 60k HH (30k MR), plus free breakfast on an upcoming stay.

I think I can maybe justify the Platinum for another year, as I’ll get the last 25k of the bonus, and I’d hope for another 35k retention offer. I think going forward, without a retention offer, it would be a struggle to justify the cost.

Even though I’ve placed some value on the credits, I’d much rather save £300, and do without them, but obviously that won’t happen. A coffee chain credit would be worth £0 to me, so definitely hope that’s not one of the future benefits.

Funny thing, in most Amex marketing, they promote the other benefits, like the lounges, dining credit, priority tickets, etc., but ignore probably the most valuable benefit of Amex, and that’s the airline points, as that’s what most of us are interested in, and that’s what my family and friends I have referred are interested in. But, I guess Amex don’t want to promote them as they pay more per point transferred to airlines than anything else.

[tw33ty]

@jj sounds like you were at one of the swissport run lounges at Geneva airport, terrible aren’t they! Some of the worst lounges I’ve ever been to.

[jj]

@tw33ty, yes the Horizon lounge run by Swissport in GVA. Filthy, appalling food, and, bizarrely, overcrowded. I attach very little value to the Platinum lounge access, as restaurants are preferable to the provided lounge in most airports.