Amex Plat benefits

[Neil]

The offers for signing up/recommending someone changes all the time, so it just depends on how soon you want to do it, or if you are prepared to wait for a better sign up bonus.

The VS card has a recommend bonus of 3000 miles for the person who recommends, there is also a bonus miles sign up offer for the new card holder of 12,000 bonus miles if you spend £1500 in the first 90 days, if applied for before 31st August (this in addition to the 6k first spend bonus).

The offers for signing up/recommending someone changes all the time, so it just depends on how soon you want to do it, or if you are prepared to wait for a better sign up bonus.

Yes, but I was just trying to work out what was a good, or likely bonus. Is 60K the most people have seen? Does that occur often? Does it ever go below 40K?

The VS card has a recommend bonus of 3000 miles for the person who recommends, there is also a bonus miles sign up offer for the new card holder of 12,000 bonus miles if you spend £1500 in the first 90 days, if applied for before 31st August (this in addition to the 6k first spend bonus).

Well for the recommended, thats not any different from just applying straight from their website at the moment.

I'm considering both of these at the moment, and was seeing if there's any great value in the the recommend scheme. To me, from a miles perspective, the VA bonus for recommend isn't worth the effort. Of course, I'd hazard there would be a few people wanting the 22K bonus for recommending me an amex platinum here... Now thats worthwhile, and worthwhile for me to recommend to my girlfriend (though I'm wondering if you can do that for someone living at the same address).

Well for the recommended, thats not any different from just applying straight from their website at the moment.

I'm considering both of these at the moment, and was seeing if there's any great value in the the recommend scheme. To me, from a miles perspective, the VA bonus for recommend isn't worth the effort. Of course, I'd hazard there would be a few people wanting the 22K bonus for recommending me an amex platinum here... Now thats worthwhile, and worthwhile for me to recommend to my girlfriend (though I'm wondering if you can do that for someone living at the same address).

If however you wish to use Quidco to claim back the dosh they're offering as a cashback (£40) I don't think you can use the referral scheme.
DL

I'd hazard there would be a few people wanting the 22K bonus for recommending me an amex platinum here... Now thats worthwhile, and worthwhile for me to recommend to my girlfriend (though I'm wondering if you can do that for someone living at the same address).

Yes, many people have recommended their partners at the same address, got the card and cancelled one or both soon after.

You can also get one year of Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Gold membership from the Platinum card at the moment, but you have to know about the offer and phone Amex and ask for the letter, unless you are one of the few that received it without asking.

The VS card has a recommend bonus of 3000 miles for the person who recommends, there is also a bonus miles sign up offer for the new card holder of 12,000 bonus miles if you spend £1500 in the first 90 days, if applied for before 31st August (this in addition to the 6k first spend bonus).

Well for the recommended, thats not any different from just applying straight from their website at the moment.

I'm considering both of these at the moment, and was seeing if there's any great value in the the recommend scheme. To me, from a miles perspective, the VA bonus for recommend isn't worth the effort. Of course, I'd hazard there would be a few people wanting the 22K bonus for recommending me an amex platinum here... Now thats worthwhile, and worthwhile for me to recommend to my girlfriend (though I'm wondering if you can do that for someone living at the same address).

IIRC both the recommend-er and the recommend-ee for the VS AX card get the additional 3000 miles? So it is better than just applying for the card afresh.

I'd hazard there would be a few people wanting the 22K bonus for recommending me an amex platinum here... Now thats worthwhile, and worthwhile for me to recommend to my girlfriend (though I'm wondering if you can do that for someone living at the same address).

You can also get one year of Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Gold membership from the Platinum card at the moment, but you have to know about the offer and phone Amex and ask for the letter, unless you are one of the few that received it without asking.

Wow! That's worth having - essentially one year of free Oneworld Sapphire FF membership!

IIRC both the recommend-er and the recommend-ee for the VS AX card get the additional 3000 miles? So it is better than just applying for the card afresh.

Ah, you are first person to explicitly state this. Still, barely worth it...

I'd hazard there would be a few people wanting the 22K bonus for recommending me an amex platinum here... Now thats worthwhile, and worthwhile for me to recommend to my girlfriend (though I'm wondering if you can do that for someone living at the same address).

You can also get one year of Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Gold membership from the Platinum card at the moment, but you have to know about the offer and phone Amex and ask for the letter, unless you are one of the few that received it without asking.

Wow! That's worth having - essentially one year of free Oneworld Sapphire FF membership!

As everyone here only flies VS that Sapphire is no use to you !!!!

As everyone here only flies VS that Sapphire is no use to you !!!!

Well not quite true. Lots of us use other airlines too.

My last three international flights were on other carriers due to VS being more expensive !

Heavens people even use BA!

Other travel benefits of the AMEX Platinum card:

1. Save up to $200 US (don't know what UK max would be) on airline incidental fees per year towards checked bag fees, airline meals, movies, etc. You have to register which airline you want it to be credited against.

2. Also - no foreign transaction fees so if you travel a lot that could add up to a nice savings.

2. Also - no foreign transaction fees so if you travel a lot that could add up to a nice savings.

Can you confirm this as true as my amex platinum card charges 2% on foreign transactions, Im not sure thats correct at all!

cheers

Alex

2. Also - no foreign transaction fees so if you travel a lot that could add up to a nice savings.

Can you confirm this as true as my amex platinum card charges 2% on foreign transactions, Im not sure thats correct at all!

Indeed, there's even a calculator online to show you how much the fee will be. Spend $1000 today and you'll be charged 2.99% conversion fee of £18.23

Other travel benefits of the AMEX Platinum card:

1. Save up to $200 US (don't know what UK max would be) on airline incidental fees per year towards checked bag fees, airline meals, movies, etc. You have to register which airline you want it to be credited against.

Can this be confirmed ? - I have flights from LAS-HNL, HNL- LAX booked (and possibly an inter-island hop) for which HA are going to sting me for baggage charges, as these flights will be in economy.
DL

Other travel benefits of the AMEX Platinum card:

1. Save up to $200 US (don't know what UK max would be) on airline incidental fees per year towards checked bag fees, airline meals, movies, etc. You have to register which airline you want it to be credited against.

Can this be confirmed ? - I have flights from LAS-HNL, HNL- LAX booked (and possibly an inter-island hop) for which HA are going to sting me for baggage charges, as these flights will be in economy.
DL

Both benefits are for the US Platinum card, not the UK one.

US Platinum card benefits

[Neil]

It is important not to confuse the two cards, as both the US and UK ones have quite different benefits.

Full details of the UK cards benefits are here.

2. Also - no foreign transaction fees so if you travel a lot that could add up to a nice savings.

Can you confirm this as true as my amex platinum card charges 2% on foreign transactions, Im not sure thats correct at all!

Indeed, there's even a calculator online to show you how much the fee will be. Spend $1000 today and you'll be charged 2.99% conversion fee of £18.23

Please remember that transaction fees and conversion fees are two totally different things !

One on my (not AMEX) cards I queried this as I had been charged and was told that they did not charge a tranasction fee but they did charge a conversion fee. Bit cheeky if you ask me !

If you try and buy a ticket on United.com it will only accept your booking with a US address.

On several occasions I have bought tickets with a UK-issued and UK-addressed Mastercard with no problems.

on United.com ?

(sorry for delayed response, didn't see your post until just now)
Yes, as far as I can remember -- bought tickets on united.com, whilst in the US, for domestic travel, several times.

Incidentally, just to be clear, I don't dispute your point at all -- I agree that in general the amex platinum is very reliable when travelling internationally.

You can also get one year of Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Gold membership from the Platinum card at the moment, but you have to know about the offer and phone Amex and ask for the letter, unless you are one of the few that received it without asking.

@locutus Do I need to ask for anything specific or just for this offer letter? Thanks.

You can also get one year of Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Gold membership from the Platinum card at the moment, but you have to know about the offer and phone Amex and ask for the letter, unless you are one of the few that received it without asking.

After speaking to PTS they kindly sent me a letter inviting me to apply for the marco polo gold card hurray!

Unfortunately I also discovered that you its only for centurion card holders only thats why I never got the offer in the first place ?|

cheers

alex

Odd. So they sent you the letter knowing that as a Plat holder you wouldn't be eligible?

Phone Amex back. That doesn't sound right.

So i phoned amex (leeds) and the rep phoned several depts whilst I was on hold and eventually got the answer from the MR dept, He came back and said they would send me the pack in the post and I would find out from that pack whether I was eligble.

Yes I agree that they knew that I wasnt able to get this upgrade without another card, but I assumed they were being polite by sending me this without telling me that I dont earn enough for the centurion which im sure ticks some people off when told this is the case.

btw it comes in a nice long black envelope which i was hoping would be an invitation to centurion but alas NO!

cheers

alex

Any luck Alex?

Platinum Travel are now emailing the form for Platinum card holders to get a years Gold Marco Polo status. I phoned them yesterday, they sent me the form within a few hours, as the postal one hadn't arrived. The other condition with it was

Your form must be received by us by 15 February 2012 or your enrolment will not be approved.

Locutus

I tore it up when i got it because i didnt have a centurion?

Should i rephone for this centurion-turned-platinum offer?

cheers

alex

Yes, phone back and ask for the Platinum form to be emailed to you.