Amex Platinum Travel Insurance

Hi,
Could any of you experienced travellers please tell me if the travel insurance included with the card is sufficient for use for a trip to the USA. I have a booklet detailing coverage etc but I never was any good with terms and conditions and small print etc. Also heard a rumour that North American car hire SLI AND CDW is now included as standard for card holders ??

Mick.

Yes, travel insurance does cover USA. I'm about to give it a whirl on Weds in BOS for 5 days so will feedback, though hope I won't need to make the call!

[mcmbenjamin]

Has anyone (UK or US based) ever have to use any of the AmEx travel covers and how was it handled by AmEx?

I am just about to due to luggage delays on the way out and luggage destruction on the way back. I will let you know how I get on.

[RichardMannion]

Amex changes its Insurance T&C's on a regular basis, so I would strongly recommend phoning them up and get a copy of the latest. If you turn your copy over, on the back down in the bottom corener you will see the revision date such as 04/06 (April 2006).

The cover is good, and remember you don't actually have to book the travel on the card. Hoevever if you do, additional benefits kick in (the so-called 'Travel Cushion')

Centurion Level insurance includes SLI and CDW for car hire in North America (continent - so covers Canada too). However Platinum includes Top-up Liability (detailed here), Be sure to check the T&C's carefully, especially if you are renting a premium car as the cover only applies to vehicles of a value of $50k or less.

In terms of AmEx dealing with claims efficiently? Well they do very little, it is all passed off to a 3rd part (think it is still AXA) who send you a form to fill in. If you have incurred expense, ask AMEx to apply a temporary credit to your account to cover the item (you will have had to pay for it on your card though). I've claimed a few times for lost items, medical bills and denied boarding, all were dealt with pretty quickly. Just remember to contact them at the first instance to get guidance/approval etc. I remember a few years ago they changed the rules so if you had a medical emergency you had to call through them and get them to arrange the doctor/speciailist etc.

Thanks,
Richard

Just to clarify it's the Platinum charge card (ie fee paying) and not the platinum credit card that is linked on V-flyer that has the insurance cover.

I have claimed twice for cancelled trips,due to a family medical emergency and the sudden illness and subsequent death of my Dad.The trips were not booked on the Plat card.

The first claim was painless the second involving my dad who was booked to travel on the trip was a complete horror to sort out.In the end they did pay but it took a good 6 months and a lot of grief at a time when I really didn't need it.Axa underwrote both claims.

On delayed departures they have always been very fast just get a letter from the airline.

Hi,
Thanks for your help.

Originally posted by RichardMannion
Centurion Level insurance includes SLI and CDW for car hire in North America (continent - so covers Canada too). However Platinum includes Top-up Liability (detailed here), Be sure to check the T&C's carefully, especially if you are renting a premium car as the cover only applies to vehicles of a value of $50k or less.

[|:)]

just a wee update - i received a new 'improved' members pack for my amex platinum charge card today, and one of the new enhancements was inclusive cdw/ldw, sli, pai etc on car hire worldwide including north america (saving me 750usd alone on ldw costs on a month rental on a bmw x3 in california this summer...) - other offers included increase travel insurance benefits and priority pass membership for the supplementary card holder (that means the lovely lady get's one too...) - downside was an increase to £300 annual membership fee (that is if you pay the full fee or have negotiated a reduction... [:w] )

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by hamishbrown

Originally posted by RichardMannion
Centurion Level insurance includes SLI and CDW for car hire in North America (continent - so covers Canada too). However Platinum includes Top-up Liability (detailed here), Be sure to check the T&C's carefully, especially if you are renting a premium car as the cover only applies to vehicles of a value of $50k or less.

[|:)]

just a wee update - i received a new 'improved' members pack for my amex platinum charge card today, and one of the new enhancements was inclusive cdw/ldw, sli, pai etc on car hire worldwide including north america (saving me 750usd alone on ldw costs on a month rental on a bmw x3 in california this summer...) - other offers included increase travel insurance benefits and priority pass membership for the supplementary card holder (that means the lovely lady get's one too...) - downside was an increase to £300 annual membership fee (that is if you pay the full fee or have negotiated a reduction... [:w] )

I was aware that Platinum was getting this refresh soon, but didnt think it was going to be this quick . Germany has only just itself done this refresh. Now they really need to do the refresh on Centurion pretty quickly as Platinum has started to close the gap again.

Thanks,
Richard

[Decker]

Wow - I used to pay for Centurion cover when I was Plat to get this. Nice one Amex.

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by Decker
Wow - I used to pay for Centurion cover when I was Plat to get this. Nice one Amex.

So me being me, I called AmEx and asked what the deal was and they confirmed that Platinum has been refreshed, and that is now currently better than Centurion. Allegedly Centurion is being refreshed in the next two months to bring in some new benefits and correct this discrepancy - poor planning if you ask me.

Thanks,
Richard

[Decker]

Me being a copycat did the same and the gentleman assured me that "in due course" Centurion would be the most exclusive again! Someone somewhere in Amex is really losing the plot with Cent!

[Decker]

Double checking Hamish - worldwide? We only get North America!

Originally posted by Decker
Double checking Hamish - worldwide? We only get North America!

yes, that is what it says in the new pack, or to be exact...

ldw, top-up liability, excess reduction, pai...

as a platinum card member you can politely decline them all, as they are included in your travel insurance benefits...

just to be clear, you can drive away in any car you like, with a maximum replacement value of £50,000 ukp, from any car rental company in the world

about time too that the amex platinum insurance policy was better than the average credit card insurance offering... [^]

A call to Amex today confirmed that the new changes will 'go live' on April 17th. All existing Platinum members will be sent out packs shortly afterwards.

Oh, sounds very nice.

I hope they will upgrade IEC/IDC as well. So far those cards have been following UK cards very closely (of course natural since they are managed by the AMEX UK).

Update: According to Customer Service, the ICC cards will follow most probably in the future but at the moment they differ from UK Platinum. At the same time, they switched the phone numbers and they are now actually promoting us to call directly to UK numbers.

Stupid question time, do you have to rent the car using the Amex card to get the car insurance benifits?

[RichardMannion]

If I recall, yes you do. But then AmEx is abysmal at keeping customers up to date with the insurance T&C's, they change regularly and you have to have foresight to regularly request for the latest policy documents.

Thanks,
Richard

Over the phone the guys said that holiday insurance was valid irrespective of the card used to book the travel. I would wait until the new T&Cs filter through in the next 2 weeks though.

Hi,
To be honest this was the very reason for me starting this thread. Since then I have received the "upgraded" insurance info and t&c's and it states on page 16 that only section 2 (retail insurance)requires the use of the card. The main T&c's for section 1 are;

1.The card is issued

2.The a/c is valid and paid up to date at the time of the incident.

Hope this helps.