Amex Platinum Offer

[Anonymous]

Just got an email offer from Amex for this card.  Outside of the obvious travel related benefits (I rarely travel) is there anything that would really appeal enough to app for this card?  Also, its my understanding that this is a charge card that has to be PIF monthly  with a high AF?  Thanks in advance for all replies.

[arkane]

If you rarely travel then the Platinum card probably isn't for you. Even if you could take full advantage of the $200 Uber credits and $200 airline credit, your net AF is still $150. You're better off with something that's not so heavily travel-oriented if you don't travel much. And yes it's a charge card that has to be PIF every month.

[kerplunk]

I have thought about getting the AmEx Platinum card quite a bit over the past few weeks, but ultimately, I think it only makes sense if you purchase a lot of plane tickets each year to get those 5X points. If you don’t travel constantly for work, I wouldn’t apply. 

The Chase Sapphire Reserve on the other hand appeals to a more casual traveler...

[sdsoccerdad]

Like everyone said, if you don't travel much, I would look at something else.  Earning points with this outside of airfare and amextravel is not that great so I use this with the PRG and Everyday card for the membership rewards.  

For me it's useful.  I have been given room upgrades in Hawaii and DC the past 60 days (upgraded hotel status), made use of the Centurion and Airspace lounges in addition to the flight credits.  If none of this is useful for you, there are a few others that would probably be better for your lifestyle.

[morgacj2004]

A great card if you travel internationally like I do. The lounge access is great. Not a good choice if you rarely travel or only do so domestically.

[wasCB14]

---

@morgacj2004 wrote:
A great card if you travel internationally like I do. The lounge access is great. Not a good choice if you rarely travel or only do so domestically.

---

An overly broad statement, given the number of Centurion and Delta lounges available on domestic itineraries.

[Anonymous]

Its net AF would be $50 since you're getting $200 in airline credit, $200 in Uber credit and $100 Saks. If you travel even once a year, the Hilton Gold status buys you breakfast for 2 so you would break even on the AF if you stayed for about 3 nights

[afbar1114]

Look at your everyday spending. I get way more use on PRG because I use for gas,dinning, and food stores. I also still get a $100 air line credit every year. I got an email this week to upgrade to the platinum card but I can’t justify that $550 AF

[iced]

---

@wasCB14 wrote:

---

@morgacj2004 wrote:
A great card if you travel internationally like I do. The lounge access is great. Not a good choice if you rarely travel or only do so domestically.

---

An overly broad statement, given the number of Centurion and Delta lounges available on domestic itineraries.

---

I like data, so let's break down how right you are.

There's a total of 8 (eight!!1!!one!!) Centurion lounges in the US, and with terminal separation of airlines and the like, even if someone manages to be in one of those 8 locations, there's no guarantee they're reasonably close to it. There's an additional 8 AmEx lounges (but only 1 Centurion) internationally, and 3 of those 8 are in Mexico. I mean it with all objectivity when I say the Centurion lounge access "benefit" is a joke, and not a haha funny joke but a sad trumpet sound joke.

The good news is there are 50 SkyClubs in the US alone, a much better number, but one thing always gets lost in the conversation with "you get SkyClub access with the Platinum!" talks: the cardholder, and only the cardholder, gets SkyClub access. If one travels with a companion, this benefit becomes lounge access for $29.

As a data point for comparison, the United Club card gives free access for the cardholder and up to 2 guests...to all United Clubs worldwide and all Star Alliance lounges worldwide. There's 55 United Clubs and I gave up counting the Star Alliance lounges after I hit 100. I have only been to two international airports that didn't have a *A lounge: IVL and PPP, and both of those are mini-ports with one gate and one runway.

I'm not saying the Platinum stinks (it doesn't). But don't go singing its greatness on lounge access, because that benefit isn't great at all unless you fit a very specific profile for where you go and who you go with.

Edit: Since I know it's coming as a response to this, let's talk about Priority Pass too. It's solid - more so internationally than domestically - but it's also offered on multiple cards. It's not exclusive to Platinum. This puts one again back at the decision based on their travel profile, which is another way of saying there is no such as thing as a single best travel card for all travelers. Does not exist. No such thing as a great card for all international travelers. Also does not exist. Domestic travelers? Does not exist.

I have a CSR. I have a Platinum. I have a United Club. I'm not picking favorites here or espousing one over the other because of the feels it gives me. I'm pointing out cold hard data from having used all 3 of these cards in various travel settings. I have all three of those because none of those three fits all my needs. Clearly, none of them are great for me, but all of them are.

[arkane]

---

@Anonymous wrote:
Its net AF would be $50 since you're getting $200 in airline credit, $200 in Uber credit and $100 Saks. If you travel even once a year, the Hilton Gold status buys you breakfast for 2 so you would break even on the AF if you stayed for about 3 nights

---

Right yes forgot about the Saks credit, but the net AF of $50 is only if you could make 100% use of all 3 credits, so there's a big asterisk.

As far as Hilton Gold and breakfast for 2, I'm sure any potential savings there dwarfed by doing Airbnb instead. Not bashing the Plat, just trying to say don't chase things you don't need or even want just to take advantage of a "benefit", because the real cost to you could be much higher.