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Couldn’t find an existing thread on this. Have a few questions about lounge access using American Express Platinum cards.
1. I’ve never had a personal Platinum charge card only a Platinum cashback and Platinum business – are the Plat cards metal or plastic? It seems maybe that supp cards can be issued in plastic? If so, do they look any different to the cashback cards?
2. What are the chances of me getting into a lounge using a plastic cashback card?
3. Am I any more likely to get in at Brussels as compared to St Pancras?
4. (bonus) how different are the UK Plat cards to those issued in other countries?Thanks,
1. Personal cards are metal, but there may still be some valid plastic ones kicking around. It was opt-in when they transitioned over. The design didn’t really change when they moved to metal, the old plastic card looked very different to the cashback card – no chance that you would confuse them if you had both in your wallet
2. Doubt it, but I can’t say I’ve tried
3. No idea
4. In appearance? Generally, the card looks the same internationally. Last year Amex issued some ‘art cards’ in the USA that had some decorative additions. Some cards issued by a partner will have the partner’s name on it (e.g. Morgan Stanley Amex Platinum in the US).None of those cards will get you access. You need platinum personal charge or credit card.
4. You can find out the issuing country on the back of the card. Some have tried using US issued cards and were rejected.
Hi
Plastic or metal makes no difference what you need is a Personal Platinum of higher to get in Eurostar lounges. This is same in all the lounges.
They wont let you in with cashback or business cards even if platinum, in my experience, having never tried with cashback car myself.
3 – yes. From a sneaking in perspective. Last night there was 1 lounge attendant on the desk who also had to cover checking the F&B areas. I use F for food generously there of course. Every time she stepped away from the front desk, she’d then do a sweep of the bar and lounge seats, pointing at people saying “Did you check in with me?” Sure enough most of the people she pointed at were ineligible for entry and asked to leave. But with only one of her on hand, and those passengers already having poured and started drinking a beer, there were no moves to move them. It wasn’t all mistaken entry either; one pair entered without checking in and filled their bags with bottles and cans before scooting off when she landed her gaze on them.
To clarify, I’m not asking whether they are supposed to give me access, I’m asking whether I’ll get away with gaining access.
plastic charge cards are fine, is what I have and have no issues at st pancras, Paris or Brussels
all lounges are pretty thorough in checking though, point above being an exception I think, so you will struggle without the correct card, particularly at st Pancras
To clarify, I’m not asking whether they are supposed to give me access, I’m asking whether I’ll get away with gaining access.
much more militant about checking now that the trains and lounge is full
I think you have very little chance of getting in, and zero chance of being able to stay in if you manage to sneak in momentarily; whilst Blair Waldorf Salad has highlighted the potential weak point at Brussels (and I’ve used it quite a few times myself and would concur), I actually regard them as looking much more closely at the cards that the staff at St P do.
If you’re desperate to gain access to the lounge then your best bet is to take out the Platinum (credit) card, milk the £50 HN credit and £150 Dining credit quickly, and then cancel after 1 month for a pro-rata refund.
Pretty much zero chance. They check the card very carefully, and are adept at weeding out freeloading chancers.
Remember that this benefit is good until the card expires, so 1 month of Plat membership is good for 3 years or so ….
A friend of mine lost his Plat card just before he was planning to cancel and so accidentally ended up with a card with 3 years of expiry left.
My nem platinum card has an expiration date of 2027.
I’m quite surprised by this. It is a clear contractual requirement per the Amex Plat terms that state:- “You must destroy all cards when the agreement ends.”
How does encouraging people who have no entitlement to blag entry to the Eurostar lounge help the real cardholders?
I’m quite surprised by this. It is a clear contractual requirement per the Amex Plat terms that state:- “You must destroy all cards when the agreement ends.”
How does encouraging people who have no entitlement to blag entry to the Eurostar lounge help the real cardholders?
It’s quite hard to destroy the metal cards though – I certainly wouldn’t try and put them through my shredder!
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