Changes to the American Express Platinum Card

[MarkintheHV]

Looks like Authorized users are now $195/per AU.  New AU cards are now called "Companion Platinum Card" that is white.Also minor changes to entertainement credit.

https://thepointsguy.com/news/amex-platinum-increase-authorized-user-new-fee/

[JoeRockhead]

Interesting, I guess that's one way to make a card that's supposed to be more exclusive, more exclusive. Just price a segment of your cardholders out of the club. That's a steep hike in AF for AUs

[MarkintheHV]

Looks like the spend for the bonus has increased from 6k in 6 months, to 8k in 6 months

[hwwilliams]

They also replaced Audible with The Wall Street Journal in the entertainment credit.

[Zoostation1]

Seems to me they like they are trying to reduce lounge crowding by making it less practival for families traveling to make usage of the lounges (in favor of business travelers who are far more likely to be traveling alone).

[CBetc]

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@Zoostation1 wrote:

Seems to me they like they are trying to reduce lounge crowding by making it less practival for families traveling to make usage of the lounges (in favor of business travelers who are far more likely to be traveling alone).

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Probably. Honestly, there's a solid market for either of these groups... but they're separate groups and probably should be catered to separately, even with the limited space available in airports.

Like, I'd kill for a place focused on family groups.... AND for a place focused on single business overnight travellers that need a place to crash quietly after a red-eye. 

[jcoop269]

There's far more to it than this it would appear.  So I just decided finally accept the upgrade from Gold to Platty, and when I did, I was given the option to make my one additional card (my wife's) either an additional user ($195 annual fee) or a companion card (NO ANNUAL FEE, but several less benefits).  The whole thing is confusing because apparently this is also how they handle the Gold card now too.  If you add an additional user to your gold account, for some strange, unknown reason, they get the platinum companion no fee card despite the main account card being a gold card.  The also have a site for this not that pairs up a bunch of different options for companion cards...I find it rather annoying and confusing, but whatever I guess.  With my upgrade to Platty, my wife is getting the companion rather than me spending another $200 a year just so she can occasionally use perks that usually only I use.  

[TrapLine]

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@JoeRockhead wrote:

Interesting, I guess that's one way to make a card that's supposed to be more exclusive, more exclusive. Just price a segment of your cardholders out of the club. That's a steep hike in AF for AUs

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Funny, just thinking the same thing.

[IsambardPrince]

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@MarkintheHV wrote:

Looks like Authorized users are now $195/per AU.  New AU cards are now called "Companion Platinum Card" that is white.Also minor changes to entertainement credit.

https://thepointsguy.com/news/amex-platinum-increase-authorized-user-new-fee/

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For $195 each they could at least make a nice joke out of them. Add some weight and call it the Weighted Companion Card for all of the Portal fans.