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Fun fact a few days ago it was announced that they are going to stop sending out physical copies of the Departures magazine. It will be a digital publication going forward.
@red259 wrote:Fun fact a few days ago it was announced that they are going to stop sending out physical copies of the Departures magazine. It will be a digital publication going forward.
And there was much rejoicing!
@NoHardLimits wrote:
@red259 wrote:Fun fact a few days ago it was announced that they are going to stop sending out physical copies of the Departures magazine. It will be a digital publication going forward.
And there was much rejoicing!
Watch they will send us a 20 lb physical goodbye edition.
@NRB525 wrote:Yeah, the Departures mag is not for everyone. But that doesn't negate my observation: Lifestyle perspective is a part of Platinum. Not so much with Gold. The bulk of Platinum cardholders are interested in the lifestyle aspects.
That's as may be, but I am still exceedingly skeptical that they'll purge the Platinum from a lot of the good travel benefits that it has to turn it into a "lifestyle" card. We're not going to be inside hiding from coronavirus forever; we're already seeing travel rebound significantly. A lot of Platinum's use case is centered around travel benefits; hotel status, lounge access, freebies on the FHR travel portal.
Seems to me the Gold is the one that's being stripped of the travel benefits: it lost the $100 airline fee credit next year, all it gives now going forward for travel is 3x flights, the same car rental insurance/trip interruption insurance as Green and a watered down version of FHR. It is arguable that Green is the better overall travel card at this point than Gold (basically you trade 1x in dining for a much wider "travel" vs. "just flights" category and more specific travel related credits).
@notmyrealname23 wrote:
@NRB525 wrote:Yeah, the Departures mag is not for everyone. But that doesn't negate my observation: Lifestyle perspective is a part of Platinum. Not so much with Gold. The bulk of Platinum cardholders are interested in the lifestyle aspects.
That's as may be, but I am still exceedingly skeptical that they'll purge the Platinum from a lot of the good travel benefits that it has to turn it into a "lifestyle" card. We're not going to be inside hiding from coronavirus forever; we're already seeing travel rebound significantly. A lot of Platinum's use case is centered around travel benefits; hotel status, lounge access, freebies on the FHR travel portal.
Seems to me the Gold is the one that's being stripped of the travel benefits: it lost the $100 airline fee credit next year, all it gives now going forward for travel is 3x flights, the same car rental insurance/trip interruption insurance as Green and a watered down version of FHR. It is arguable that Green is the better overall travel card at this point than Gold (basically you trade 1x in dining for a much wider "travel" vs. "just flights" category and more specific travel related credits).
Definitions of Lifestyle are difficult to pin down
The travel aspects can enhance "lifestyle". If it seemed I was implying the travel benefits of the Platinum might be cut, sorry, no, I don't expect them to cut.
We will have to wait and see how AMEX updates the Platinum.
Being reported at several websites that beginning Feb 2023 AmEx Platinum card holders will no longer be allowed 2 free guests in Centurion lounges. Guests will be $50 per person unless a card holder spends $75k per year on their platinum card.
https://thecenturionlounge.com/info/terms/
This along with the rumored increased annual fee sounds like AmEx is positioning the platinum card to be more exclusive...
It seems like it is being reported by several websites that there is a rumor from a commenter on a post about another rumor on DoC? I don't see any changes in the Amex terms you linked other than additional guests beyond the current allowance.
Edit: I see DoC has two different rumor articles going on. The more recent one in the list concerning overall changes points to the rumor from a commenter. Then there is another one showing a screenshot where this was added to the terms but has since been removed:
If it turns out to be true and they make it similar to the current Delta Reserve policy, that doesn't seem like much of an incentive to put $75k of spend on the card.
@K-in-Boston wrote:It seems like it is being reported by several websites that there is a rumor from a commenter on a post about another rumor on DoC? I don't see any changes in the Amex terms you linked other than additional guests beyond the current allowance.
The terms were changed last night in the document I posted. They apparently have removed that language now.
Here is a copy of the wording that was there:
Yep, I was just editing my post above to add that in. Hopefully not something that is changed. 😐
If this happens: NOT good.
Increasing AF and restricting guests to the Centurion Lounge is huge mistake.
I shall be downgrading if that happens.