AmEx Platinum nerfing Boingo access

[iheartwings]

Every so often, I take the time to look at my actual statement for my AmEx Plat, and I just happened to see the following: 

"Effective May 1, 2019, Boingo Preferred Plan will no longer be a benefit on the PlatinumCard®. Card Members who are enrolled in Boingo Preferred Plan as of 4/30/2019, will continue to have access to this benefit until 12/31/2019."

I enrolled in Boingo but have found it hasn't been too useful to me. I don't particularly value this benefit, and I am hoping that this might be the case for many cardholders, which is the reason to get rid of it...

...but, I feel like the question should be asked - what does this mean? Should we expect to see other travel perks nerfed or restricted (as in the AA GC case with the airline credit) in the near future? Or, perhaps, I am just making a mountain out of a molehill. 

[wasCB14]

I've never used it. From what others have said, I got the impression its coverage footprint and speed were inferior to what competitors offered, making Boingo a bit of an antiquated and not-very-useful perk.

[Anonymous]

I never used it as every airport I went to had free wifi access.  But I never use the Uber credit either.  

[NRB525]

I tried using Boingo when I got the SPG in 2015. It was slow, difficult to set up so didn’t use it again.

Either airport Wi-Fi or lounge now.

And if the network available seems sketchy I prefer to use my cellphone as a hotspot instead.

[K-in-Boston]

I've never used it, either.  Usually there's free wifi in the terminal, always free wifi in the lounge, and I have unlimited data essentially worldwide on my phone, so never really needed it.  I do wish they'd add gogoinflight passes to the personal Platinum, though.  That's a major consideration in me keeping my Altitude Reserve since I do usually grab wifi in the air.

I don't see Amex really nerfing any travel perks; I doubt many people actually used this and it's likely due to a contract not renewing.  AA gift cards were always explicitly excluded from the airline reimbursement credit, so it's not really fair to say that it's been taken away.  They just fixed the loophole that still exists for Delta and Southwest.

[Loquat]

---

@K-in-Boston wrote:

I've never used it, either.  Usually there's free wifi in the terminal, always free wifi in the lounge, and I have unlimited data essentially worldwide on my phone, so never really needed it.  I do wish they'd add gogoinflight passes to the personal Platinum, though.  That's a major consideration in me keeping my Altitude Reserve since I do usually grab wifi in the air.

I don't see Amex really nerfing any travel perks; I doubt many people actually used this and it's likely due to a contract not renewing.  AA gift cards were always explicitly excluded from the airline reimbursement credit, so it's not really fair to say that it's been taken away.  They just fixed the loophole that still exists for Delta and Southwest.

---

+1 @K-in-Boston   It was nice that we were able to exploit the loophole but I don't think many will throw their hands up over this as it technically was never intended for GC purchases anyway. 

[Anonymous]

---

@K-in-Boston wrote:

I've never used it, either.  Usually there's free wifi in the terminal, always free wifi in the lounge, and I have unlimited data essentially worldwide on my phone, so never really needed it.  I do wish they'd add gogoinflight passes to the personal Platinum, though.  That's a major consideration in me keeping my Altitude Reserve since I do usually grab wifi in the air.

I don't see Amex really nerfing any travel perks; I doubt many people actually used this and it's likely due to a contract not renewing.  AA gift cards were always explicitly excluded from the airline reimbursement credit, so it's not really fair to say that it's been taken away.  They just fixed the loophole that still exists for Delta and Southwest.

---

I got free gogo wifi through my TMUS, 2 lines for $75. Excellent deal.

It may not be fair to say its "take away", it probably is fair to say airline fee credit is really difficult to use if not for these GC "loopholes". It is not a good development, and will cause real troubles for many if other airlines follow this.

[K-in-Boston]

That’s not a bad deal at all. I don’t pay for our mobile phones (service or devices, fringe benefit) so it’s not an option on my end.

[Anonymous]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

I never used it as every airport I went to had free wifi access.  But I never use the Uber credit either.  

---

Keep in mind that the Uber credit works for UberEats.

Most months you might decide UberEats not worth it with delivery fee, but can be worth it with the additional December $20 and/or if you find a promo code.

[Anonymous]

If uber eats has a pick up option, i would be all over it. The delivery fee is just way too high.