Amex Platinum insurance – MASTER THREAD

[Paul]

In February, I was caught up in the BA IT failure debacle and my flight from Salzburg was cancelled. I was able to rebook for an hour later and this was subsequently cancelled too.

Given the news, and scale of the issue I took matters into my own hands when BA offered flights the following day from Munich. Their email and text both suggesting that they would not pay for transport to Munich or overnight accommodation.

I booked Cityflyer to Southampton and got a taxi home. I claimed the costs of flights and taxi from BA but after 8 weeks without a reply, I claimed from Amex Platinum insurance

They agreed to pay for the flights but not the taxi from Southampton to home.

In the end and after 10 weeks, BA paid up for flights, taxi and 2 sets of EU261 cancellation compensation.

I advised Amex to close the claim and asked why the taxi was not covered. They replied as follows

1.6 TRAVEL INCONVENIENCE
For the benefits under this section to apply travel tickets must have
been Purchased in full using:
a) the Card;
b) American Express Membership Rewards® points; or
c) Any travel rewards programmes provided the taxes
and/or surcharges have been Purchased
using the Card.
YOUR BENEFITS

The travel, refreshment and accommodation costs, and the
Purchase or hire of essential items covered under this Travel
Inconvenience Section 1.6 must be charged to Your Card to be
eligible. If You are not a Cardmember and not travelling with a
Cardmember, another payment method may be used. Itemised
receipts must be kept as proof of purchase.

1) You will be reimbursed up to £150 per person for refreshment
costs, or up to £300 per person (including £150 for
refreshments) for additional travel and accommodation costs
incurred prior to actual departure on Your Trip if:
a) Missed departure. You miss Your flight, train or ship
due to an accident or breakdown of Your vehicle, or an
accident, breakdown or cancellation of transportation
on a Public Vehicle and no alternative is made available
within 4 hours of the published departure time;
b) Delay, cancellation or overbooking. Your flight, train
or ship is delayed, cancelled, or overbooked and no
alternative is made available within 4 hours of the
published departure time;
c) Missed connection. You miss Your connecting flight,
train or ship and no alternative is made

Their position is that the taxi was post travel while mine was that it was intrinsic to recovering the travel inconvenience.I had no choice but to travel to a different airport unless happy to delay overnight. This would have been considerably more expensive.

What is the collective view?

[Ingking]

Can anyone advise if a supplementary card holder’s family is covered with the insurance benefits of the card? Thanks

[Mayfield]

Afternoon,
It looks as if my passport is not going to arrive now in time for my flights next week. (Flights to Spain on Ryanair). The cancellation/change date is more expensive than the flight so i was wondering if I may be able to ‘claim’ on my Amex Plat insurance? I doubt it and i wouldn’t know which section would provide cover for delayed passport renewals..

I’d appreciate any thoughts.

Thanks!

[Mayfield]

Ps, i did apply in plenty of time, back at the beginning of March when the PO was advising ‘within 5 weeks’.

[Jimbobbrad]

I am currently sitting out my 2 years until I can sign up for the Platinum charge card and get the bonus in mid August this year.
I’ve today booked a week at a Marriott in Antigua later this year and now need to purchase BA return flights. If I purchase the flights on my Bonvoy Amex will the Platinum travel insurance cover me and my wife when I get the card even though the flights were booked and paid for 3 months before the card was applied for?

My main worry is Hurricane season and being able to abandon the trip and get my money back if a hurricane is forecast days before we travel?

Thanks

[PIL]

Jimbobbrad wrote:

I am currently sitting out my 2 years until I can sign up for the Platinum charge card and get the bonus in mid August this year.
I’ve today booked a week at a Marriott in Antigua later this year and now need to purchase BA return flights. If I purchase the flights on my Bonvoy Amex will the Platinum travel insurance cover me and my wife when I get the card even though the flights were booked and paid for 3 months before the card was applied for?

My main worry is Hurricane season and being able to abandon the trip and get my money back if a hurricane is forecast days before we travel?

Thanks

Yes, it will cover you. I had a similar scenario where flights were booked with Amex (not platinum) and the insurance covered the a claim for delayed baggage. I was told on the phone that what matters is for the holiday to booked with an AMEX card (not necessarily with Platinum).

[confused]

Does the platinum cover travel insurance for family members who are Siblings and parents, even without supplementary card? It’s not clear on their documentation.

[FazzyBear]

Mayfield wrote:

Ps, i did apply in plenty of time, back at the beginning of March when the PO was advising ‘within 5 weeks’.

What was the outcome? I’m in a potentially a similar situation with my Sons passport.

Thanks

[FazzyBear]

FazzyBear wrote:

Mayfield wrote:

Ps, i did apply in plenty of time, back at the beginning of March when the PO was advising ‘within 5 weeks’.

What was the outcome? I’m in a potentially a similar situation with my Sons passport.

Thanks

Sods law – message next day informing me that it is ready for printing.

• This reply was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .

[babyg]

Anybody done an AMEX Plat claim when their flights were paid entirely by a BA voucher?

BA didnt load the bags, so we are on holiday without bags for at least 2 days.

[Man of Kent]

I haven’t seen this mentioned anywhere but just had an email from Amex highlighting a new feature that the Travel Insurance that comes with the Platinum Card provides access to a call back or video consultation with an English speaking doctor while you are overseas. You need to register through the Axa Insurance portal first.

[ClaireF]

I have high blood pressure so appreciate I would not be covered as this is a pre existing medical condition. Rather than take out a family annual policy I am wondering about doing an individual policy for myself to use if I had any problem whilst away (in usa) and use the platinum for anything else including medical hover for husband and 15 year old daughter (they do not have any excluded conditions) Anyone done similar and did they have any issues in making a claim. Thanks

[JDB]

ClaireF wrote:

I have high blood pressure so appreciate I would not be covered as this is a pre existing medical condition. Rather than take out a family annual policy I am wondering about doing an individual policy for myself to use if I had any problem whilst away (in usa) and use the platinum for anything else including medical hover for husband and 15 year old daughter (they do not have any excluded conditions) Anyone done similar and did they have any issues in making a claim. Thanks

You can do that, but in the event of a claim you would be required to disclose any other policies that might cover the claim so they can share the loss.

[JoshE]

Good morning all

My family and I were looking forward to finally getting some quality holidays this summer with the (temporary?) relaxation of COVID barriers. We were planning on Guernsey (one week today) and Mexico at the start of August.

The very large fly in the ointment is that we still have not received the passport for our eldest son back – despite sending off and being received in April, and having chased up (to the extent possible) with the passport office.

I have an Amex platinum card with the associated travel insurance cover. I’m assuming that this would not help with meeting the holiday costs if / when the passport doesn’t get back in time, but if anyone has any more positive views / input please let me know?

[FazzyBear]

JoshE wrote:

Good morning all

My family and I were looking forward to finally getting some quality holidays this summer with the (temporary?) relaxation of COVID barriers. We were planning on Guernsey (one week today) and Mexico at the start of August.

The very large fly in the ointment is that we still have not received the passport for our eldest son back – despite sending off and being received in April, and having chased up (to the extent possible) with the passport office.

I have an Amex platinum card with the associated travel insurance cover. I’m assuming that this would not help with meeting the holiday costs if / when the passport doesn’t get back in time, but if anyone has any more positive views / input please let me know?

If you can eventually get through to someone at HMPO, they can expedite your passport application if you can prove you need it to fly away within the next two weeks. I was in a similar situation but luckily it came through just before the 2 weeks.

[JoshE]

Thanks for the input. The major issue is getting through directly to HMPO. All of the numbers we try are not manned and they don’t respond to emails. Will keep trying though.

[Man of Kent]

JoshE wrote:

Good morning all

My family and I were looking forward to finally getting some quality holidays this summer with the (temporary?) relaxation of COVID barriers. We were planning on Guernsey (one week today) and Mexico at the start of August.

The very large fly in the ointment is that we still have not received the passport for our eldest son back – despite sending off and being received in April, and having chased up (to the extent possible) with the passport office.

I have an Amex platinum card with the associated travel insurance cover. I’m assuming that this would not help with meeting the holiday costs if / when the passport doesn’t get back in time, but if anyone has any more positive views / input please let me know?

I believe that if you are within 2 weeks of travelling and you still haven’t received it you can contact your local MP’s office who can contact the Home Office direct to expedite the application.

[ThriceForgiven]

Potentially silly question on the Travel Inconvenience / Baggage delay benefit as I’m seeing all the horrors of travel news…

Insurance T&Cs state up to £300 if my baggage doesn’t arrive within 4 hours. Are the £300 a) to be claimed against itemised replacement purchases submitted to AMEX via receipts, or b) does AMEX provide you with a £300 credit for you to spend as you see fit?

In the case of a), does AMEX then check your itemised purchases/validate whether you actually needed to buy the items?

I’m taking a weekend trip soon and if the worst were to occur, I can still make do without my baggage, but I would like to avail myself of the £300 benefit. I’d rather receive a £300 credit, but if I guess if it comes to it I’d need to go on a clothing shopping spree? How do people normally use this benefit?

[PIL]

This is what I did and got reimbursed
1) Contacted the helpline to open a case number
2) Been shopping (family of 3)
3) Submitted evidence to airline and claimed the maximum amount from them
4) Submitted all evidence to AXA (amex partner for travel insurance) and got the remaining monies paid.
In total that was £900 of clothing and essentials (even suncream!)

[Noodles34]

I appreciate that this may be obvious but just some general help and advice. I have an existing annual insurance policy but it does not cover Mexico, which is where i am going. I am assuming that my Business Platinum does cover for my wife and I? Even though i have not used the card to pay for the trip etc? Anything else i need to know?

[PIL]

Noodles34 wrote:

I appreciate that this may be obvious but just some general help and advice. I have an existing annual insurance policy but it does not cover Mexico, which is where i am going. I am assuming that my Business Platinum does cover for my wife and I? Even though i have not used the card to pay for the trip etc? Anything else i need to know?

I would highly recommend calling them and they will confirm whether you are covered or not.

[kwho]

Hello

Have a query on ANEX Platinum Business delayed baggage policy. It says that:

Baggage delay. £300 per person if Your checked in baggage has not arrived at Your destination airport within 4 hours of Your arrival;
b) Extended baggage delay. An additional £300 per person if Your checked in baggage has still not arrived at Your destination airport within 48 hours of Your arrival.

CURRENT SITUATION: Bags were delivered to the destination airport within 4 hours of my arrival, but following day still no sign of the bag (it’s now 30 hours). IB Helpline not able to say much more than tracking info.

Are they really saying that if bags arrive within 4 (or 48) hours of the destination airport they won’t pay out? Surely they cannot expect me to return (or hang around) the airport hoping for bags to arrive?

Any thoughts?

[AlanC]

If I take my 89 year old healthy but with dementia dad on a trip with us is there any aspects of the trip ne is covered for? Obviously not medical but surely delayed or baggage?? Cheers

[CarpalTravel]

AlanC wrote:

If I take my 89 year old healthy but with dementia dad on a trip with us is there any aspects of the trip ne is covered for? Obviously not medical but surely delayed or baggage?? Cheers

The age and medical limitations appear to relate to “Medical Assistance and Expenses benefits” only, the rest of the coverage is intact.

Well worth reading through the documentation, it is pretty clear.
https://icm.aexp-static.com/Internet/internationalcardshop/en_gb/pdf/platinum-card/UK_Platinum_Charge_Insurance_Documentation_v1_0.pdf

[Jonno34]

I am semi retired and spend quite a bit of time in a second home abroad. Longer times than are covered by the insurance. This is not an issue. What would be useful would be something that recognised a second home so that round trips booked from that base were covered. I did speak to someone at the insurance service but they did not seem to understand what I was talking about.

Has anyone got any work arounds for this please.