Anyone have an Amex Platinum card?

[Super_Geo]

I'm signing up a new account, will gladly give the referral bonus to a fellow Beyonder.
PM me your referral link :love:

[Super_Geo]

Taken by a Beyond OG

[jaylo]

Dangnabbit! Missed this post.

[Super_Geo]

Yeah 40,000 MR is too juicy a referral bonus to let go to waste!

[ee2k]

I have an AMEX platinum card if anyone wants a referral PM me.

[Super_Geo]

BUMP.. moved to the US, so now getting the US Amex Business Platinum as well, if anyone has a US card and can refer the US version of the Business Platinum hit me up for those 25k referral points.

Signing up cause the US Biz Plat gives 1 year of WeWork Platinum access, will be travelling a lot, and the ability to drop in to any WeWork office seems pretty sweet.

[max_boost]

It's metal? Looks so bad ass I want one just for that.

[gqmw]

Love the look. Haven't been able to justify the fee though.

[2Legit2Quit]

Worth while if you travel a lot and take advantage of lounge access/priority boarding but the point accrual is meh compared to the Cobalt or even Scotia Amex Gold. Alongside the $700 fee, although $200 yearly travel credit yada yada, definitely a card that depends on how you'll use it and what you want to get out of it.

[ee2k]

$700 fee, $200 travel credit, promos like the $300 off sum of $900 car/hotel bookings by end of February have now made this card a $200 card. I signed up in November I believe. One more promo like the last one and it'll pay for itself. This is in addition to the 50000 AMEX points it has given me (which are equivalent to 50000 aeroplan miles.)

So yes, if you have travel plans over the coming year you can minimize the cost of this card and make it work for you. I have referred a couple of people already.

[Maxx Mazda]

Worth while if you travel a lot and take advantage of lounge access/priority boarding but the point accrual is meh compared to the Cobalt or even Scotia Amex Gold. Alongside the $700 fee, although $200 yearly travel credit yada yada, definitely a card that depends on how you'll use it and what you want to get out of it.

“Plaza Premium” lounge access with shitty reheated chicken breast and pasta 6 days a week are totally worth the $700/yr fee. :barf:

[ee2k]

“Plaza Premium” lounge access with shitty reheated chicken breast and pasta 6 days a week are totally worth the $700/yr fee. :barf:

If lounge access is the main driver for anyone to get this card, then don't. Many third rate cards give people access to that shitty lounge product. I endured it in Toronto in December where not only was it under renos/temporary location but overflowing with staff unable to keep up.

[roopi]

$300 off sum of $900 car/hotel

This isn't a strictly platinum offer. I was offered this same promo last year and this year on a no fee amex card.

[Jlude]

I just picked up this card last week. I travel a lot, after reviewing the benefits of this card, it was worth it and I’ve always had a single CC (TD Aeroplan VISA) and thought it was time to get a second CC anyway. I didn’t see anything about referrals for this card, I didn’t know that was actually a thing for credit cards. I’ll give the Amex Platinum a year or two and see if it was worth it.

[ee2k]

This isn't a strictly platinum offer. I was offered this same promo last year and this year on a no fee amex card.

The point was to show that the card could pay for itself, not outlining exclusive features if any.

[roopi]

The point was to show that the card could pay for itself, not outlining exclusive features if any.

:thumbsup:

[adam c]

Maybe it's been better but I cancelled my Amex as it was hard to use in Canada and when Costco switched to MC that was the final nail, it's different in the US though as almost everywhere accepts it

[gqmw]

Just got this card - mostly for the welcome bonus + credit. Not sure if I'll keep it beyond Y1. Anyone have some insights on how to maximize the perqs?

[flipstah]

Just got this card - mostly for the welcome bonus + credit. Not sure if I'll keep it beyond Y1. Anyone have some insights on how to maximize the perqs?

Unless they changed the timing, you could technically get two $200 credits within a calendar year (if it resets every January, you sign up now and you can use 2019 and 2020 credit quickly).

Priority Pass is really nice for long layovers.

[gqmw]

Unless they changed the timing, you could technically get two $200 credits within a calendar year (if it resets every January, you sign up now and you can use 2019 and 2020 credit quickly).

Priority Pass is really nice for long layovers.

They changed it I think. Website says card anniversary date now.

Will maybe make some use out of priority pass, I have MLL access as well. Anyone been to any of their centurion lounges?

[flipstah]

They changed it I think. Website says card anniversary date now.

Will maybe make some use out of priority pass, I have MLL access as well. Anyone been to any of their centurion lounges?

You can use the $200 for seat upgrades as well. It's pretty flexible.

I've only gone to Plaza Premium lounges unfortunately.

[Super_Geo]

Amex Centurion lounges are way better than normal Priority Pass lounges, and only come with Platinum and Centurion cards.
The one at SFO has a proper cocktail menu, decent wine list, and the food is actually pretty good, heads and shoulders above what you'd get at a Plaza Premiere.

The sign-up/referral bonus points get pretty ridiculous if you have people to refer.
I had 175k of referral points last year (wife, in-laws, parents, friends) on the Canadian Amex Business Platinum. 25k points per referral so $250 cash or $500 of flights each.

You get Gold status at Marriott hotels, which gets you a room upgrade at check-in if available and 2pm checkout. If the hotel isn't at capacity I've always gotten an upgrade, which is nice.

The US business platinum gets you 1 year of WeWork, which now makes sense given the shit show that was the WeWork failed IPO. WeWork started the Amex partnership back in Feb and it only runs until the end of 2019. I never could figure out why WeWork gave out a $395/m product as a credit card perk, but now it makes sense... they were trying to pump up their subscriber numbers ahead of their IPO (also why it was slated to end at the end of 2019).

So funny benefit is that when people visit SF there are like 12 WeWorks downtown... I will book a spot at 3-4 of them, they all have free beer on tap, and we do a WeWork crawl and have a pint at each :rofl:

[Super_Geo]

Centurion food and cocktail menu... pretty damn good when it's free!
88095
88094

[flipstah]

lmao WeWork.

Damn Centurion food is WAY better indeed. Plaza Premium food is good but not THAT good.

[pheoxs]

Centurion is the bomb. I cancelled my Amex plat business card, for some reason a lot of lounges wouldn't let me in with that claiming its different from the regular Amex plat which was super annoying. Also after Costco cancelled I found I just didn't use it enough to justify the fees since I don't travel as much anymore.

That being said milking those self-referral bonuses was glorious.

[flipstah]

For anyone who doesn’t travel much the Plat card doesn’t make sense. If you travel 1-2x a month, you make money on lounge visits alone [based on ($699-200)/12]

[kenny]

For anyone who doesn’t travel much the Plat card doesn’t make sense. If you travel 1-2x a month, you make money on lounge visits alone [based on ($699-200)/12]

It's break even if you just travel once in the first year. Use the $200 travel credit, and then the 50k welcome points as a statement credit towards travel ($500 value). Hard to justify for future years though if you don't travel semi often.

[flipstah]

It's break even if you just travel once in the first year. Use the $200 travel credit, and then the 50k welcome points as a statement credit towards travel ($500 value). Hard to justify for future years though if you don't travel semi often.

Oh yes, apologies. My statement is related to year 2+ usage.

[shakalaka]

Funny this cropped up. Was actually looking at their site yesterday and contemplating getting it. But not sure if there's any real benefit for me considering the $700 fee.

I have two Avion's right now - business and personal and put together I have close to 250,000 points that I pan to use for travel etc. I do travel at least 3-4 times a year and my thought process is that Avion is good enough and I pay I think $200 for the both cards per year. I do like the looks of the Plat but that's obviously not enough reason to get it. What really are the advantages that I would get with that vs my Avion's? Other than a cooler card I suppose.

[pheoxs]

Funny this cropped up. Was actually looking at their site yesterday and contemplating getting it. But not sure if there's any real benefit for me considering the $700 fee.

I have two Avion's right now - business and personal and put together I have close to 250,000 points that I pan to use for travel etc. I do travel at least 3-4 times a year and my thought process is that Avion is good enough and I pay I think $200 for the both cards per year. I do like the looks of the Plat but that's obviously not enough reason to get it. What really are the advantages that I would get with that vs my Avion's? Other than a cooler card I suppose.

If you do get it make sure to use someones referral code. Its free $ for them so might as well.

I'm not sure specifically on the Avion's point value but it might be worth checking what the points are worth for both cards and see which gives more.

Platinum also has a pretty sick concierge service that can do a lot for you (at no charge) Lets say you forgot your wife/moms birthday or something but are busy (or feeling lazy). You can just call the # and say here's their address I wanna spend 100$ on chocolates or flowers or whatever and they go research places and book it all and have it delivered. I've also used it for concert tickets for big events that I know will sell out. You can set it up ahead of time and they'll have a bunch of their staff all try at once you scoop you tickets and charge your card. And they have some good pull at restaurants too, so you can sometimes get them to book reservations at places that won't let you book personally over the phone.

[Super_Geo]

Funny this cropped up. Was actually looking at their site yesterday and contemplating getting it. But not sure if there's any real benefit for me considering the $700 fee.

I have two Avion's right now - business and personal and put together I have close to 250,000 points that I pan to use for travel etc. I do travel at least 3-4 times a year and my thought process is that Avion is good enough and I pay I think $200 for the both cards per year. I do like the looks of the Plat but that's obviously not enough reason to get it. What really are the advantages that I would get with that vs my Avion's? Other than a cooler card I suppose.

The Business Platinum is $499 and way better value. You get 75,000 bonus points for signing up w/ a referral (only 40k w/o a referral), which is worth $750 cash or up to $1500 of flights. No WeWork for the Canadian card. Card is metal ;) PM me if you want a referral link for the business platinum card.

[shakalaka]

The Business Platinum is $499 and way better value. You get 75,000 bonus points for signing up w/ a referral (only 40k w/o a referral), which is worth $750 cash or up to $1500 of flights. No WeWork for the Canadian card. Card is metal ;) PM me if you want a referral link for the business platinum card.

Reading online and comparing though, it doesn't look like the business plat has the same benefits as regular plat? If I do go this route (getting a plat) I would cancel one of my Avion's. If I get a business plat, I would cancel my business Avion, if I get a personal plat, I would cancel the personal Avion. Not a big fan of keeping too many cards.

Also looking at the cobalt it may actually be the best card to be honest but it's just not cool looking. lol

[Super_Geo]

I have a Cobalt and love it. 5% cashback at restaurants and grocery stores, or 10% towards flights.
Hack: buy pre-paid gift cards at Safeway (prepaid visa, home depot, amazon, etc), pay w/ Cobalt, collect 10% back towards flights :angel:
In fact that's mostly how I convert CAD to USD... I buy $500 USD pre-paid Visa debit cards at Safeway here, pay with the Cobalt, pay the 2.5% FX fee and the 1% card fee... still well ahead!
Except when you're at the bar... you don't want to look like a degenerate paying w/ a gift card, so I always bust out the metal card for that :rofl:

Between the Cobalt, Business Platinum and US business platinum, I've collected just over 1MM Amex points between my wife and I over a year. We travel a lot so the perks are absolutely worth it for us.

[shakalaka]

That certainly makes sense. Cobalt is also metal eh? Reading the footnotes though, it appears that you earn 5 points for every $1 spent in a year until you reach 30,000 points. After that it's all 1 point per $1, correct?

Earn 5 points for every $1 at (i) restaurant, quick service restaurant, coffee shop and drinking establishments in Canada, (ii) stand-alone grocery stores in Canada, (iii) delivery of food and groceries in Canada as a primary business, up to a combined maximum of $30,000 in net purchases posted to your account annually on these categories. Once the maximum is reached, you will no longer earn at 5 points for every $1 regardless of credits, returns and adjustments. Earn 1 point for every $1 thereafter. Calculation resets to zero each year on the Cardmembership anniversary date. Earn 2 points for every $1 at or for (i) stand-alone automobile gasoline stations in Canada, (ii) travel services or travel bookings including air, water, rail and road transport, lodging and tour operator sales, (iii) local commuter transportation in Canada including subway, streetcar, taxi, limousine and ride sharing services. Purchases at merchants where these categories are not their primary business such as general merchandise retailers do not qualify. Merchants are typically assigned codes and categorized based on what they sell. Earn rate of 1 point for every $1 applies when the merchant code is not in an eligible category, using a payment account or service of a third party, a card reader attached to a mobile phone, or online retailer that sells goods of other merchants, or the merchant category is otherwise not identified.

But looks like you earn 2 points for every $1 on gas and travel bookings regardless though. Worry about switching to Plat for Business would be if it doesn't get accepted everywhere, then it would be am accounting nightmare.

[pheoxs]

But looks like you earn 2 points for every $1 on gas and travel bookings regardless though. Worry about switching to Plat for Business would be if it doesn't get accepted everywhere, then it would be am accounting nightmare.

That's also why I cancelled mine. For a lot of things Amex was great but a lot of places don't accept it. Gets tiring having to use a personal card and keep track of expense reports for reimbursing myself. I think Amex is better in the US but Canada is still hit or miss. Especially when I pickup a lot of supplies at local shops (small scale manufacturing)

[Super_Geo]

That certainly makes sense. Cobalt is also metal eh? Reading the footnotes though, it appears that you earn 5 points for every $1 spent in a year until you reach 30,000 points. After that it's all 1 point per $1, correct?


But looks like you earn 2 points for every $1 on gas and travel bookings regardless though. Worry about switching to Plat for Business would be if it doesn't get accepted everywhere, then it would be am accounting nightmare.

Oh shit, the $30k limit is new! I forgot about that, I think it came into effect back in August.
Cobalt isn't metal, Plat/Biz Plat is though.

Tbh I just used the Canadian biz plat for the sign up bonus, once I hit the spend (it was $7k in 3 months when I got it), I haven't really used it at all, and will cancel it before the year is up. I then referred my wife, which was worth 100k points (25k referral plus 75k sign-up), transfers 1:1 to Aeroplan so ends up being pretty damn good for paying $499!

[shakalaka]

That's also why I cancelled mine. For a lot of things Amex was great but a lot of places don't accept it. Gets tiring having to use a personal card and keep track of expense reports for reimbursing myself. I think Amex is better in the US but Canada is still hit or miss. Especially when I pickup a lot of supplies at local shops (small scale manufacturing)

I guess another option is I just keep my Avion Business and also get the Plat Business and use it everywhere I can expect for where I can't then just stick to Avion business. At the end of the year drop the statements of both cards to the accountant for write-off purposes.

Looking at all this now though is making me realize how shit Avion is with 1 point per $1 spent and 1.25 for travel. That's nothing special. So I feel like I gotta do something about my personal card as well as technically that gets used for way more $ than business.

- - - Updated - - -


Oh shit, the $30k limit is new! I forgot about that, I think it came into effect back in August.
Cobalt isn't metal, Plat/Biz Plat is though.

Tbh I just used the Canadian biz plat for the sign up bonus, once I hit the spend (it was $7k in 3 months when I got it), I haven't really used it at all, and will cancel it before the year is up. I then referred my wife, which was worth 100k points (25k referral plus 75k sign-up), transfers 1:1 to Aeroplan so ends up being pretty damn good for paying $499!


That's definitely smart. I am looking at more long term solutions though as in something I switch into and can just stick with for a while kind of a thing.

[bjstare]

If the focus is just getting a cool card, why not do something like this? https://lioncreditcard.com/

[Disoblige]

If the focus is just getting a cool card, why not do something like this? https://lioncreditcard.com/
That sounds sketchy as fuck.

[ExtraSlow]

Endorsed by DJ Mustard!

[flipstah]

Endorsed by DJ Mustard!

I refuse to support a financial institution that has a condiment as their 'face'

[ExtraSlow]

They aren't a financial institution, they are card cloners.

[Strider]

If the focus is just getting a cool card, why not do something like this? https://lioncreditcard.com/
What is this? a shitty knockoff of a Magnises card?

88113

[TheGeneral]

What is this? a shitty knockoff of a Magnises card?

88113
Ha, that was exactly what I was going to post. Beat me to the punch!

[Super_Geo]

What is this? a shitty knockoff of a Magnises card?

88113

:rofl::rofl:

[bjstare]

What is this? a shitty knockoff of a Magnises card?

88113

:rofl: perfect

[Neil4Speed]

Just got it, I feel like there should be a "unofficial" training manual to make use of all the perks. I am such a sucker for the metal card.

[Zhariak]

What the heck is a magnesis card? I've never heard of it...

[pheoxs]

What the heck is a magnesis card? I've never heard of it...

It was basically a fraudulent company that was trying to give incredible (bullshit) perks to card holders so they could act like ultra wealthy wanna-bes

Did you hear about the Fyre festival disaster? Yeah it's the same guy that ran that.

Short story:
They basically made a super fancy black metal card and marketed it as ultra-exclusive (with a 250$ membership fee)
It was marketed as a charge-card like amex but they actually just applied for a regular card at Wells fargo in your name and then routed all your charges onto that.
They marketed ultra exclusive perks that they didn't actually have (i.e. meet and greet with Taylor swift or tickets to the emmys... but they never had either and people would never be able to claim them)

Anyways, long story short, shitty company but somehow they got away with it. Then the founder got arrested for Fraud in relation to Fyre festival.

[jwslam]

coles notes
Thanks for the summary.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to pheoxs again.

[hurrdurr]

I have a Cobalt and love it. 5% cashback at restaurants and grocery stores, or 10% towards flights.
Hack: buy pre-paid gift cards at Safeway (prepaid visa, home depot, amazon, etc), pay w/ Cobalt, collect 10% back towards flights :angel:
In fact that's mostly how I convert CAD to USD... I buy $500 USD pre-paid Visa debit cards at Safeway here, pay with the Cobalt, pay the 2.5% FX fee and the 1% card fee... still well ahead!
Except when you're at the bar... you don't want to look like a degenerate paying w/ a gift card, so I always bust out the metal card for that :rofl:

Between the Cobalt, Business Platinum and US business platinum, I've collected just over 1MM Amex points between my wife and I over a year. We travel a lot so the perks are absolutely worth it for us.

I'm not following how you collect 10% back towards flights. I don't see anything in the terms and conditions about this, US only redemption perhaps?

[Zhariak]

It was basically a fraudulent company that was trying to give incredible (bullshit) perks to card holders so they could act like ultra wealthy wanna-bes

Did you hear about the Fyre festival disaster? Yeah it's the same guy that ran that.

Short story:
They basically made a super fancy black metal card and marketed it as ultra-exclusive (with a 250$ membership fee)
It was marketed as a charge-card like amex but they actually just applied for a regular card at Wells fargo in your name and then routed all your charges onto that.
They marketed ultra exclusive perks that they didn't actually have (i.e. meet and greet with Taylor swift or tickets to the emmys... but they never had either and people would never be able to claim them)

Anyways, long story short, shitty company but somehow they got away with it. Then the founder got arrested for Fraud in relation to Fyre festival.

lollllllll

I heard about that, didn't know that was the card... Thanks for filling me in haha.