[MoreCowbell]

Does anybody here have the Platinum Card? Is it worth it?

I have an Amex Rewards Gold and an Amex Small Business Card. 90% of the money I spend is on Amex. I rarely carry cash and use the card every chance I get.

The Platinum card offers "Free Companion" tickets. Is this worth it? It also has some other cool features(like the Airline Clubs) but I am unsure if it is worth the $395 annual fee. Any opinions?

Any ways to get around or reduce the fees?

[achien]

Only if you are a very travelled consultant...

[VQMotoring]

I got a black card:



Nothing special, only the looks and the attention.. Thats about it!

[VQMotoring]

Originally Posted by MoreCowbell

Does anybody here have the Platinum Card? Is it worth it?

I have an Amex Rewards Gold and an Amex Small Business Card. 90% of the money I spend is out on Amex. I rarely carry cash and use the card every chance I get.

The Platinum card offers "Free Companion" tickets. Is this worth it? It also some other cool features(like the Airline Clubs) but I am unsure if it is worth the $395 annual fee. Any opinions?

Any ways to get around or reduce the fees?

The annual fee should actually be $150. I think when i had the platinum, thats what i got charged.. Let them offer it to you for a while and they will offer it for less.
I think the card is pretty cool if you use it. The main thing that i like about my card is: if i want to go to a restaurant that is fully booked "no seats" or a club that you have to RSVP etc... you just call your AMEX rep and they will get you in within minutes.. Other than that, i just like the bonus points and discounts here and there.

good luck with that

[gonzo]

The Centurion (black) may be of interest. I disagree with the no benefits comment. 250,000 expenditures per calender I believe. $1200 fee?

[darkcloud]

I get the Platinum packet all the time and just tear it up and throw it away. The $395 fee is a turn off and I don't travel enough to get the benefit of the card. I'll stick to my Gold and Blue cards. I'll only pick up another AMEX when I get offered the Black card like VQMotoring just for the looks haha.

[Revlis]

I had a platinum when I was working for Booz|Allen|Hamilton. Was very handy and like others have mentioned. Having access to a concierge, club rooms, etc was very handy and appreciated when traveling 40% of the time. Well worth the extra money.

Now though, they offer the Platinum card to everyone, just like they do the Gold Card. It's no longer a sign of good credit or anything else. They just want your $$$ and the Platinum card is running about $350 a year plus $150 I think it is for an additional card.

Now apparently if you want to impress folks you need a black card so you can post it up and attempt to impress some folks on the web... The Platinum and Gold cards just don't do it.

[Gort]

My employer gives me an AMEX Platinum and covers the fee. The airline club feature is one I use all the time and their phone in concierge has gotten me into many a restaurant. Haven't tried the companion ticket thing yet.

[VQMotoring]

Originally Posted by darkcloud

I get the Platinum packet all the time and just tear it up and throw it away. The $395 fee is a turn off and I don't travel enough to get the benefit of the card. I'll stick to my Gold and Blue cards. I'll only pick up another AMEX when I get offered the Black card like VQMotoring just for the looks haha.

Agree brother,, its all looks...

[MoreCowbell]

How does the companion feature work?

[NPDAN]

Originally Posted by MoreCowbell

Does anybody here have the Platinum Card? Is it worth it?

I have an Amex Rewards Gold and an Amex Small Business Card. 90% of the money I spend is on Amex. I rarely carry cash and use the card every chance I get.

The Platinum card offers "Free Companion" tickets. Is this worth it? It also has some other cool features(like the Airline Clubs) but I am unsure if it is worth the $395 annual fee. Any opinions?

Any ways to get around or reduce the fees?

I live off of my platinum card...

[CnoteMD]

I think the Amex Platinum is a great card. The concierge service alone is probably worth the fee.

My wife had hotel reservations for a medical convention, but the hotel got things messed up and expected her to check in a day later. The whole city was booked up. After one call to Amex, they found a room in a nicer hotel, closer to the convention, and arranged for a car service to pick her up. She was at the other hotel with a complimentary room upgrade within 15 minutes.

We have also gotten tickets to sold out broadway shows (and they were very good seats).

The complimentary plane ticket works on any coach ticket over $250 within the US, or any first or business class international ticket. You buy one ticket, and they give you a 2nd one for free. The card also gives you access to most of the Airline Clubs, higher level memberships with all the major rental car agencies, and upgraded status with Starwood Hotels.

There are many more benefits available, but to long to list (and easily found on thier webpage).

Titanium centurion FTW....

[Neurorad]

Originally Posted by CnoteMD

The complimentary plane ticket works on any coach ticket over $250 within the US, or any first or business class international ticket. You buy one ticket, and they give you a 2nd one for free. The card also gives you access to most of the Airline Clubs, higher level memberships with all the major rental car agencies, and upgraded status with Starwood Hotels.

1 companion ticket/year? Any airline?

I like Starwood...

[CnoteMD]

Originally Posted by Neurorad

1 companion ticket/year? Any airline?

I like Starwood...

I don't remember exactly which airlines, but there is a choice of several different ones. You can use this benefit 4 times per year.

[MoreCowbell]

Originally Posted by CnoteMD

I don't remember exactly which airlines, but there is a choice of several different ones. You can use this benefit 4 times per year.

I would assume that they are not good for the cheapest available(deeply discounted) tickets. You likely have to buy a full price / refunable ticket.

[schneid4323]

by dad got a black, its sweet for clubs and shit makes it so easy to get a table.

[Gort]

Originally Posted by MoreCowbell

I would assume that they are not good for the cheapest available(deeply discounted) tickets. You likely have to buy a full price / refunable ticket.

It includes American and Delta for the clubs (not United or US Scareways). The companion ticketing thing does have restrictions on the purchaser's fair rate, but I don't recall what they were. It's on the AMEX website.

[timn]

www.fatwallet.com - finance forum is your best friend for this.

[nightkhan]

i get those platinum offers every week. pretty tempting with the concierge and airline tickets, but the annual fee is the only thing keeping me away. $150 for the gold is enough.

my brother and my dad have the centurion...now that's a card i'd shell out some dough for. they use it all the time for hotel upgrades and vip services.

[BiggieJ]

the platinum is a good card. lots of cool benefits like free memberships to VIP cards for travel like hertz and starwood hotels and such. who wouldnt want the black card but thats by invite only after spending 250k a yr on your card.

the free companion tix which now incl domestic flights incl coach class (it used to be only business class and up for int'l flights) is not all that cool. im sure during holidays maybe you can save some money but in my experience buying a discounted tix is about the same as two full price tix anyhow. but its a "free" feature on your card so its cool to have.

ill be flying to boston and i can use their delta lounge when i there so ill let you know how that goes. its free alcohol so ill try to drink 350 worth and then the card would have paid for itself.

[achien]

Originally Posted by BiggieJ

...
ill be flying to boston and i can use their delta lounge when i there so ill let you know how that goes. its free alcohol so ill try to drink 350 worth and then the card would have paid for itself.

Airport louges in NA and Europe , you have to go to Asia Airport lounges (they have seperate sections for Business and First Class) to get five-star services.