Amex Platinum Card

[raptor600]

Why on earth is the information on the site so vague?!

"Receive emergency help 24/7, virtually wherever you are in the world."

What does that mean? Does it mean I get break down cover in my car included? Does it mean someone comes out and fixes a burst pipe...do I have to still pay for the call out and repair or is it free?

I've read EVERYTHING on their site and (unless I am going mad) can't find out what it actually means.

Has anyone here got a card? Is it worth the fee?

Alternatively, has anyone got a Gold Card? What are the best benefits there?

Would be interesting to hear peoples thoughts

[JDFR]

I've been through all the Amex cards, from Gold to Centurion and back again.

Short answer is:

Centurion - used to be worth it, not since they raised the fee
Platinum - used to be worth it, not since they dramatically changed the insurance
Gold - never really worth it
Green - meh

The only Amex cards I have are the BA Amex and Virgin Amex and they are purely for earning airmiles/upgrades.

Depending on how much you earn, the HSBC Premier Bank Account will give you everything the Platinum does and more.

[GCH]

My platinum charge card to me is worth every penny of the (admittedly hefty) fee - the benefits, insurance and piece of mind to me more than exceed the high fee, but that is for me - your circumstances may be different.
The 24/7 assistance is exactly that- if you need assistance with anything, they will help you if it is possible to do so- and they really do go the extra mile if needs be.

If you don't travel frequently (I do), have no need for the concierge/fine dining (I use it a lot) or various other things that it comes with, then perhaps not for you.
There are plenty of alternatives out there- some better than others!

[JDFR]

I also travel a lot and the insurance changed so that it is only valid for trips booked on the card. That made it useless to me.

[AlanQ]

The insurance still covers you as long as you try to pay for the trip on the card. If the company doesn't take Amex you still get the same level of cover as before. Still a pain but overall I think its worth it - just!

[GCH]

Also worth mentioning you dont have to pay on the platinum if you have other amex cards.... as long as it is on an amex you are fine- and if they dont accept amex, you are covered also.

[anonymous-user]

JDFR said:

I also travel a lot and the insurance changed so that it is only valid for trips booked on the card. That made it useless to me.

I seem to recall the insurance is valid if you book the trip with an Amex card. Not necessarily the Plat.

ETA: in fact, I know you don't have to book with the Plat. Last summer 66 major broke her arm in Canada. Cost us just over £3k. Amex Plat covered it. Flights were booked on BA Amex.

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 10th January 22:33

[prand]

Greg66 said:

I seem to recall the insurance is valid if you book the trip with an Amex card. Not necessarily the Plat.

I got an invitation to join this elite bunch last week through the post. I also thought all these exciting promises seemed too good to be true, I don't travel enough or do exciting expensive things to make this worthwhile. When I noticed an annual fee then it went straight in the bin.

I also figured that if they were asking me to join up then they were certainly desperate and scraping the barrel, so it couldn't possibly be the great "platinum" experience I had heard about! (or at least something similar to what Groucho Marx once said about refusing to be a member of a club that would accept him!)

[David Beer]

JDFR said:

I've been through all the Amex cards, from Gold to Centurion and back again.

Short answer is:

Centurion - used to be worth it, not since they raised the fee
Platinum - used to be worth it, not since they dramatically changed the insurance
Gold - never really worth it
Green - meh

The only Amex cards I have are the BA Amex and Virgin Amex and they are purely for earning airmiles/upgrades.

Depending on how much you earn, the HSBC Premier Bank Account will give you everything the Platinum does and more.

[David Beer]

JDFR said:

I've been through all the Amex cards, from Gold to Centurion and back again.

Short answer is:

Centurion - used to be worth it, not since they raised the fee
Platinum - used to be worth it, not since they dramatically changed the insurance
Gold - never really worth it
Green - meh

The only Amex cards I have are the BA Amex and Virgin Amex and they are purely for earning airmiles/upgrades.

Depending on how much you earn, the HSBC Premier Bank Account will give you everything the Platinum does and more.

[JDFR]

Greg66 said:

I seem to recall the insurance is valid if you book the trip with an Amex card. Not necessarily the Plat.

ETA: in fact, I know you don't have to book with the Plat. Last summer 66 major broke her arm in Canada. Cost us just over £3k. Amex Plat covered it. Flights were booked on BA Amex.

Edited by Greg66 on Thursday 10th January 22:33

Sorry, my bad English.

Before it used to be on any trip, any where. Then booked on an AMEX which ruled out any corporate travel HSBC cover me just fine and for all trips.

[Zigster]

Travel insurance isn't a particularly valuable benefit. I get cover (incl winter sports) for my whole family for £60 per year. And I don't have to worry about what card I used or whether I'm travelling.

[raptor600]

Thanks for the replies everyone - think I will stick with the Platinum Cashback card.

[oyster]

Zigster said:

Travel insurance isn't a particularly valuable benefit. I get cover (incl winter sports) for my whole family for £60 per year. And I don't have to worry about what card I used or whether I'm travelling.

1. Most travel policies have much lower claim limits than Amex - especially for things like lost/late luggage.
2. I insure my BIL's family and children on my card and my brother. The value of that lot on separate policies would be £200ish.

[GCH]

swerni said:

The thing that really pisses my off is the 3% charge on spending abroad.

Yes- I agree, by far the worst part, especially for a card aimed at travellers. Worth noting the US platinum ($450) has no foreign spend fee, so why they havent introduced that in the UK I have no idea...