AMEX Platinum changes - confirmed

[NRB525]

I think I like the digital subscription credit. I already pay $8 per month for NYT, and Audible might be interesting.  

I get the Corporate Advantage credit, which already made the AF livable. 

I think AMEX is on the right track, matching the AF increase with their goal of making the card more appealing as exclusive. True, the budget minded comments here won't get that crowd rushing to apply, but CC AF budget discussions don't fit with the big spenders AMEX is targeting with this card. In other words, "so sorry it doesn't give more than 1 MR except on airfare, enjoy another card if you like"

The language preventing me from getting the SUB on a CS Platinum is disappointing, but with the imminent cut of the 1.25c cash out option that just means I can happily transfer MR to Delta and Hawaiian for about the same value.  The Shop Small 10x points, plus the higher SUB, is interesting to get my fiancé to apply. The higher SUB alone may get her to shift to this card, closing her Bonvoy Brilliant after a time. 

Anyone have any more insight about what makes a "Shop Small" merchant?

[Citylights18]

It may just be me but I feel like AMEX and Chase are trying to discourage use of their premium travel cards unless you really can take benefit from them. Someone who is going to use the airline lounge credits 6-12 times a year. They really are supposed to be just alternatives to airline lounge cards.

Too many people out there want to look like little ballers so they pick the high AF card thinking people will look at them like little ballers. But if you do the math I hardly see how it makes sense to have them. With AMEX in particular you need to have the Gold ($250) and Green ($150) too if you want full use case coverage.

I just have AMEX Green. I use it mainly for collecting MRs through online shopping. Then I move some of the MRs to Hilton when they have a transfer bonus and scalp free nights out of it. Not like big vacations but just a night or two here or there.

[Remedios]

Could you please define "little baller",  how did you determine what makes sense for whom,  and who looks at whom as "little baller"?

[simplynoir]

Maybe this is like Little Rascals or something I dunno

Or perhaps someone spending almost $700 on a card is considering little ballers now

Dunno I'm just throwing wild accusations at this point

[FormerCollegeDJ]

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@NRB525 wrote:

Anyone have any more insight about what makes a "Shop Small" merchant?

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If you go to the American Express website and search for "Shop Small", or if you do an internet search on "American Express Shop Small map", you can see a map of participating retailers.

https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/maps

Assuming you allow the site/browser to find your location, it will default to your current location.  You can also search by city, zip code, or even address.

EDIT: Most but not all retailers shown on the map are official "Shop Small" merchants.  You can check to see if a particular merchant is part of the program by looking at their individual listing to the left of the map.  (Participating merchants have a "Shop Small" icon listed next to their name while non-participating merchants do not.)

[simplynoir]

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@NRB525 wrote:

Anyone have any more insight about what makes a "Shop Small" merchant?

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If you go to your account online there should be a section for Shop Small where you can either type the business name in or provide a location and they'll give all the surrounding businesses that qualify for the bonus category/spend. I couldn't find a way to see that on mobile app though

[coldfusion]

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@summerterrace wrote:

Also the welcome offer language has changed so that you can only get ONE platinum welcome offer.  If you have the Vanilla you can't get the welcome offer on the CS or other versions and vice versa.

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There has been a lot of chatter over the last 24 hours that this isn't the correct interpretation of their comment and that people are being told it is specific to card versions and not the card family.   IOW it was just a rephrasing of the policy already in place where for example once you collected a SUB on a Vanilla you cannot collect another SUB on a Vanilla, but you could collect one on a CS Platinum.

I didn't see anything that I would consider as being definitive evidence that your source was wrong, but there is a lot of confusion at the moment.

[longtimelurker]

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@Remedios wrote:

Could you please define "little baller",  how did you determine what makes sense for whom,  and who looks at whom as "little baller"?

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Someone who buys, or wears/uses stuff from https://www.etsy.com/market/little_baller

[Remedios]

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@longtimelurker wrote:

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@Remedios wrote:

Could you please define "little baller",  how did you determine what makes sense for whom,  and who looks at whom as "little baller"?

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Someone who buys, or wears/uses stuff from https://www.etsy.com/market/little_baller

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Thank you for helping me pick the top for upcoming trip.

I'll make sure to update thread with my airport experience as a little ballerina

[DONZI]

I've not used any of the lounge privs but did notice some reductions coming to that feature set..

It appears the Delta lounges are being excluded very soon and in 2023 (iirc) the potential for Centurion Lounge guests with basic cardmember will be pay/spend-walled.

I'm new to the MR program and Platinum perks so maybe I misunderstand the Delta tidbit on the 'detail' document.