AMEX Platinum Charge Card

[louist]

I was in similar shoes as you. Income also nowhere near 120k when I first got the invitation. Had no problems getting it approved when I replied, though. Think it shouldn't be an issue.

You can probably give it a go the first year (especially since the welcome gift is pretty generous), but as you can see from recent posts, yearly renewal is something many of us are reconsidering!

weird that i just received a pre-approved invitation for the plat charge card and i barely make 80k only... i have been holding plat cc-> plat reserve cc since graduated few years ago, but not spending much on the card, as obviously i don't make much money... hubby uses my supp card as he works on contract basis and doesn't have fixed salary, so this shouldn't count as well...

so now am thinking whether i should mail out the preapproved form? Will i still get rejected if they realize that my income is so low?

 

[cybercom8]

weird that i just received a pre-approved invitation for the plat charge card and i barely make 80k only... i have been holding plat cc-> plat reserve cc since graduated few years ago, but not spending much on the card, as obviously i don't make much money... hubby uses my supp card as he works on contract basis and doesn't have fixed salary, so this shouldn't count as well...

so now am thinking whether i should mail out the preapproved form? Will i still get rejected if they realize that my income is so low?

guaranteed approved...its whether you feel the annual fee is worthwhile

 

[Kentang]

weird that i just received a pre-approved invitation for the plat charge card and i barely make 80k only... i have been holding plat cc-> plat reserve cc since graduated few years ago, but not spending much on the card, as obviously i don't make much money... hubby uses my supp card as he works on contract basis and doesn't have fixed salary, so this shouldn't count as well...

so now am thinking whether i should mail out the preapproved form? Will i still get rejected if they realize that my income is so low?

I got my invitation at about the same annual income as u... & worse... I was only holding the amex krisflyer gold at that time (though was maxing out the pts as much as I could)...

for 1st yr, it's still pretty ok... cuz their welcome gift pretty much covers the 1st yr fee... for subsequent renewals, I think u would have seen the comments of fellow cardholders...

 

[bigfoot]

Wow. Was about to apply for this card. After reading all the comments I think I'll give this a miss.

 

[tanya.h]

Thanks guys for your replies! =)

So I mailed out the invitation form because the welcoming offer of 2N Banyan Tree stay is really tempting and I could use it in my belated honeymoon holidays =) Seychelles it is!

As you all suggested, I will probably cancel the card after 1st year if I couldn't make good use of other benefits... I'm a miles collector and spend ~6k per month together with hubby on our UOB Prvi, ANZ Travel and Citi PremierMiles cards now, and most likely not going to shift to the charge card unless visiting 10+10 merchants.

 

[swatchie]

Thanks guys for your replies! =)

So I mailed out the invitation form because the welcoming offer of 2N Banyan Tree stay is really tempting and I could use it in my belated honeymoon holidays =) Seychelles it is!

As you all suggested, I will probably cancel the card after 1st year if I couldn't make good use of other benefits... I'm a miles collector and spend ~6k per month together with hubby on our UOB Prvi, ANZ Travel and Citi PremierMiles cards now, and most likely not going to shift to the charge card unless visiting 10+10 merchants.

They are giving out BT Seychelles now? I only got BT Koh Samui

 

[ambasnakeman]

i got mine when earning about 50k pa. got a 2nite stay at BT Koh Samui.

used the card for tower club dinner once.

apart from that, never used the card. the reward points aint worth.

 

[AMEXHDR81]

Thanks guys for your replies! =)

So I mailed out the invitation form because the welcoming offer of 2N Banyan Tree stay is really tempting and I could use it in my belated honeymoon holidays =) Seychelles it is!

As you all suggested, I will probably cancel the card after 1st year if I couldn't make good use of other benefits... I'm a miles collector and spend ~6k per month together with hubby on our UOB Prvi, ANZ Travel and Citi PremierMiles cards now, and most likely not going to shift to the charge card unless visiting 10+10 merchants.

Make sure you read the terms and conditions, are you sure the Banyan Tree 2-night offer includes Seychelles? When I signed up last year, it was only for specific Banyan Trees. If I recall, it included Lang Co (Vietnam), Bintan, Shanghai and Koh Samui and certainly not Seychelles.

 

[AMEXHDR81]

In my opinion, I think the best AMEX card deal is the Platinum Credit Card. This comes with Far Card and Palate Premier (a feature I use a lot) and all the membership reward points that the Charge Card gives you for only around S$350/year.

The only Platinum Charge-Card specific features that you miss are Priority Pass, Tower Club Access and Travel Insurance. But you can easily buy travel insurance separately, Tower Club access ceases to be interesting after a few visits and Priority Pass is also something you can buy separately.

 

[limster]

i got mine when earning about 50k pa. got a 2nite stay at BT Koh Samui.

I find it hard to believe that Amex offered you Platinum Charge when you have 50k p.a. salary. Maybe there was a typo in your post and you are actually earning 50k per month?

 

[fern76]

In my opinion, I think the best AMEX card deal is the Platinum Credit Card. This comes with Far Card and Palate Premier (a feature I use a lot) and all the membership reward points that the Charge Card gives you for only around S$350/year.

The only Platinum Charge-Card specific features that you miss are Priority Pass, Tower Club Access and Travel Insurance. But you can easily buy travel insurance separately, Tower Club access ceases to be interesting after a few visits and Priority Pass is also something you can buy separately.

This card only gives 10 times, no 10 + 10 at selected merchants right?

I have had this card for quite a few years and have seen the perks get worse and worse even though the annual fee has gone up by 40%!

They used to send out free hotel night's stay. I used those in Banyan Tree Macau where the rack rates are USD1000 a night and there were others in Tokyo etc. Of course, there was also a free welcome gift to stay at the Banyan Tree Bintan (which sucked).

Even the FAR card has restrictions and there are some restaurants at which it can't be used.... And I don't even want to talk about no more automated MPC and OW sapphire status!!! I used to pay the annual fee and feel happy when I got free upgrades on CX (at least it feels like the annual fee paid for itself) but now....

AMEX has just gotten cheap on its Plat Charge Card members. They must be bleeding customers and are lowering the income requirements (no offence to anyone) to capture people who will pay the annual fees. And then they send out promotional material regarding high end events (eg: Paddock Club) for these card members. Do they really think many will jump at it?

My renewal is in Nov and I really need to reconsider renewing it. I only use it mainly for HN Millenia Walk (which has now shrunk in size and there are only so many electricals I need).

I wanted to cancel it when the annual fees went up but saw they had a new Jap mgr in charge and they were promising some new revamp etc but it was all a crock of BS. Also, the CSOs who help me with concierge issues have always been very good (they once waived a $700 charge for shoes I bought online as their partner Borderless Buys had screwed up) but there is only so much customer loyalty I have.

AMEX needs to up its game seriously.

 

[tanya.h]

They are giving out BT Seychelles now? I only got BT Koh Samui

Make sure you read the terms and conditions, are you sure the Banyan Tree 2-night offer includes Seychelles? When I signed up last year, it was only for specific Banyan Trees. If I recall, it included Lang Co (Vietnam), Bintan, Shanghai and Koh Samui and certainly not Seychelles.

Yes I signed up mainly because of the Seychelles resort

The offer I received includes:

2D/1N Capella or St Regis Singapore. (I've stayed both at my corporate rate before so won't be interested in them)
3D/2N at one of these Banyan Tree Properties
- Angsana Ihuru
- Angsana Velavaru
- Banyan Tree Bintan
- Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul
- Banyan Tree Lijiang
- Banyan Tree Seychelles (yeah!)
- Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund
- Banyan Tree Tianjin Riverside
- Banyan Tree Ungasan

I've only stayed at Banyang Tree Lijiang before and loved it. So hopefully Seychelles resort would be even better!

 

[wxswoong]

It has been a very busy year for me. Except for the increased on card fee, I didn't realized there are so many changes to this card.

Amex Platinum Charge card was my dream card when I first came across it still requires $300k to qualify, I tell myself to work towards it.. I received the card when I made still below $300k but near $250k. Honestly, I will not renew it anymore. Yes, this card has been cheapen. $1712 is too expensive. And yes, a couple of my staff received the invitation but non of them make above $100k.

 

[cybercom8]

I find it hard to believe that Amex offered you Platinum Charge when you have 50k p.a. salary. Maybe there was a typo in your post and you are actually earning 50k per month?

my friend was unemployed for years when amex offerred her the pre approved plat charge card so its not hard to believe actually

 

[swatchie]

Yes I signed up mainly because of the Seychelles resort

The offer I received includes:

2D/1N Capella or St Regis Singapore. (I've stayed both at my corporate rate before so won't be interested in them)
3D/2N at one of these Banyan Tree Properties
- Angsana Ihuru
- Angsana Velavaru
- Banyan Tree Bintan
- Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul
- Banyan Tree Lijiang
- Banyan Tree Seychelles (yeah!)
- Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund
- Banyan Tree Tianjin Riverside
- Banyan Tree Ungasan

I've only stayed at Banyang Tree Lijiang before and loved it. So hopefully Seychelles resort would be even better!

Nice! But Seychelles is a pain to get to. Stayed at the FS once and it was beautiful! Enjoy yourself!

 

[chopra]

Nice! But Seychelles is a pain to get to. Stayed at the FS once and it was beautiful! Enjoy yourself!

cool to know that.

 

[AMEXHDR81]

Yes I signed up mainly because of the Seychelles resort

The offer I received includes:

2D/1N Capella or St Regis Singapore. (I've stayed both at my corporate rate before so won't be interested in them)
3D/2N at one of these Banyan Tree Properties
- Angsana Ihuru
- Angsana Velavaru
- Banyan Tree Bintan
- Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul
- Banyan Tree Lijiang
- Banyan Tree Seychelles (yeah!)
- Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund
- Banyan Tree Tianjin Riverside
- Banyan Tree Ungasan

I've only stayed at Banyang Tree Lijiang before and loved it. So hopefully Seychelles resort would be even better!

Interesting! So they have improved the opening offer by adding more BT resorts. In 2013, I chose Lang Co in Vietnam and enjoyed it very much, but I guess that's no longer on the list.

Looking at the new list, I would probably choose Seychelles too!

 

[AMEXHDR81]

AMEX has just gotten cheap on its Plat Charge Card members. They must be bleeding customers and are lowering the income requirements (no offence to anyone) to capture people who will pay the annual fees. And then they send out promotional material regarding high end events (eg: Paddock Club) for these card members. Do they really think many will jump at it?

My renewal is in Nov and I really need to reconsider renewing it. I only use it mainly for HN Millenia Walk (which has now shrunk in size and there are only so many electricals I need).

I think you are spot on that they must be bleeding customers and desperate to get people to sign up by sending pre-approvals to more and more people. No company can up its prices by 42% and expect demand to remain at the same level: basic economics there.

I'm very curious to hear what you decide to do in the end. Please let us know! I reluctantly chose to renew my Amex Platinum Charge card this year, barely justifying it by the one-off 40,000 MR points they offered me (after asking and making a bit of a fuss) and the $400 voucher for pre-paid hotels/tours. I figured that combined, the 40,000 points and $400 voucher make up for the extra $500 in fee.

But, I am actively looking for alternatives for next year, including downgrading back to the Platinum Credit Card and looking at some of the other premier credit cards offered through the banks (OCBC, UOB, StanChart, DBS, HSBC, ANZ, Citi all offer their own variations of the Mastercard World Elite or Visa Infinite).

I have been getting hassled by UOB for their Priority Banking Visa Infinite for some time now and have just sent in my application. It comes with a ridiculous $1,900+ annual fee but they say it will be waived in the first year so I figured I would try it out. The benefits are pretty bad though compared to Amex Platinum Charge: 50% off Grand Hyatt dining (only at lunch), Hilton Hhonors Gold, China Club & Tower Club access and a few other bits and bobs.

 

[ambasnakeman]

majority of the 10x partners are no longer in the group, leaving a few exquisite brands, which i may not fancy for everyday frequent wear.
the options last year was hell greater.
they still have the best CSO service for the premium paid.
but in terms of rewards, certainly doing bad...i think other cards are offering better now.

 

[lordlad0]

It has been a very busy year for me. Except for the increased on card fee, I didn't realized there are so many changes to this card.

Amex Platinum Charge card was my dream card when I first came across it still requires $300k to qualify, I tell myself to work towards it.. I received the card when I made still below $300k but near $250k. Honestly, I will not renew it anymore. Yes, this card has been cheapen. $1712 is too expensive. And yes, a couple of my staff received the invitation but non of them make above $100k.

i believe the invitation criteria now is based on credit rating rather than annual earnings....which kinda made sense from their point of view...

a person that earns 500k annually but did not pay his credit bills in full is worse customer than someone that earned significantly less but pay his bills in full on time monthly.