AMEX Platinum getting heavier soon.

[Anonymous]

And so will the AF at $550.

Now for some positives..

-It'll feature a monthly Uber credit of $15/35 in December. As well as "VIP" status.

-5x on Hotels booked through AX site.

-Metal Card, new design.

-AU Gold cards up to 99 will no longer have an added AF.

Thoughts?

[PointsBonus]

Exciting ! Finally a metal card.

any news on a design ? Pictures ?

[Anonymous]

Here's some more information from the Points Guy blog: http://thepointsguy.com/2017/03/huge-amex-platinum-improvements/

Very exciting enhancements. I use Uber frequently, so that benefit ($200 per year total) will more than offset the extra AF. The 5x MR points on hotels booked through Amex Travel is a nice perk too. My AF won't even go up to the $550 until 2018, as my renewal date is in July.

I am also excited to finally have a metal card... always thought the current plastic Platinum design is pretty ugly. The plastic has already started to peel on my card after only 8 months!

[bz386]

What a joke.

1. Uber is a deplorable company. Nobody should be using their services, I certainly no longer do, so the Uber credit is useless to me.

2. Metal card? Seriously? If I wanted a metal card I would sign up for the joke that is the Barclays "Luxury Card".

3. 5x points on prepaid hotels. The only potentially interesting improvement. I did a couple of FHR bookings and the benefits (early checkin, 4 pm checkout, $100 spa credit, included breakfast) are actually valuable. Still, I might not always want to book that 5 star hotel through FHR or might not always want to book prepaid.

4. $100 AF increase. Great. As if the $450 AF wasn't ridiculous already.

My AF comes up in May. Was already thinking of cancelling, this change makes the decision easy. Bye Amex.

[Discover2016]

Wow! I must say that I am surprised that Amex decided to beef up the Platinum, I felt like they were hesitant. Metal! That I didn't expect.

[Discover2016]

I am confused about the Gold card AU's, does that mean that an AU could be a Gold card on a Platinum account or is that a seperate new perk for the Gold card accounts?

[Anonymous]

I'm excited for the change. I love American Express and use my Platinum card frequently- it helps me stay within my budget knowing I have to pay it off in full each month. Also a frequent Uber user living in a major city, despite their recent (deserved) critism. And I would be lying if I said a part of me doesn't enjoy the "prestige" it sometimes elicisits from people; although I know and many of you know it's easier to get than many other Amex revolvers. A metal card materialistically will make me feel a little better about paying the AF this card requires and the Uber discount actually lowers the AF for me as I'm sure I'll have no difficulty meeting the max $200 credit for rides.

All of that said, I'm sure these changes are smoke and mirrors when it comes to competing with other credit card companies. I'm fairly confident that they could- and should have- offered these benefits with the same AF they had before. I truly believe the reason for the $100 hike in the AF along with the new metal card is simply to make it stand out not as a worthy competitor to the CSR or Prestige card, but a statement to say "I'm also made of metal, and I cost more, therefore I'm more prestigious so pick me!" Had they really wanted to get competitive they would have offered the 5x on hotels on all hotel stays, not just booked through them. They would have kept the AF the same. The Uber thing? Brilliant tactic to attract more millennials to their card and I'm sure they're rightfully sure that the majority of their existing base isn't going anywhere anytime soon- i.e. those who can afford a $450 card and choose to keep one in their pocket, probably won't throw up their hands at a $100 hike in fees, especially when presented with the new benefits that should have existed already at the same price.

But I digress. I know all of us here are typically more aware than the average credit card holder and will make the decision to reap the benefits and keep the card, or to say farewell because the added benefits and higher AF don't benefit them. I'm just hoping the card is in line with something like the Ritz when it comes to the weight of the new metal card. Also hoping they open up a little bit in the future with their benefits. Though I love my Platinum card and Amex in general, there are other cards out there that still offer more for less.

Was hoping for a confirmed photo of the new card! I don't think they'll nix the iconic design but it will be interesting to see what they come up with.

[Discover2016]

---

@Anonymous wrote:
I'm excited for the change. I love American Express and use my Platinum card frequently- it helps me stay within my budget knowing I have to pay it off in full each month. Also a frequent Uber user living in a major city, despite their recent (deserved) critism. And I would be lying if I said a part of me doesn't enjoy the "prestige" it sometimes elicisits from people; although I know and many of you know it's easier to get than many other Amex revolvers. A metal card materialistically will make me feel a little better about paying the AF this card requires and the Uber discount actually lowers the AF for me as I'm sure I'll have no difficulty meeting the max $200 credit for rides.

All of that said, I'm sure these changes are smoke and mirrors when it comes to competing with other credit card companies. I'm fairly confident that they could- and should have- offered these benefits with the same AF they had before. I truly believe the reason for the $100 hike in the AF along with the new metal card is simply to make it stand out not as a worthy competitor to the CSR or Prestige card, but a statement to say "I'm also made of metal, and I cost more, therefore I'm more prestigious so pick me!" Had they really wanted to get competitive they would have offered the 5x on hotels on all hotel stays, not just booked through them. They would have kept the AF the same. The Uber thing? Brilliant tactic to attract more millennials to their card and I'm sure they're rightfully sure that the majority of their existing base isn't going anywhere anytime soon- i.e. those who can afford a $450 card and choose to keep one in their pocket, probably won't throw up their hands at a $100 hike in fees, especially when presented with the new benefits that should have existed already at the same price.

But I digress. I know all of us here are typically more aware than the average credit card holder and will make the decision to reap the benefits and keep the card, or to say farewell because the added benefits and higher AF don't benefit them. I'm just hoping the card is in line with something like the Ritz when it comes to the weight of the new metal card. Also hoping they open up a little bit in the future with their benefits. Though I love my Platinum card and Amex in general, there are other cards out there that still offer more for less.

Was hoping for a confirmed photo of the new card! I don't think they'll nix the iconic design but it will be interesting to see what they come up with.

---

I am also curious to see if they make it like solid metal like the Ritz or plastic/metal hybrid like the regular Sapphire.

[Discover2016]

Hmm the pic from the Point website makes me think its solid metal, notice the Amex text on front of card seems 3 dimensional and engraved.

[Anonymous]

I find value in all my Amex Plat cards (Delta, Personal, and Business) but I really can't believe they've added Uber. If Amex wants to be the goto travel card offer a $200 credit towards Hertz Dream car rentals and believe me you'll WOW me with your travel benefits every time I hit the gas pedal.