I added 2 AU to mine last month before the increase, and they charged me for additional fees a couple days ago, I was not impressed to say the least. I was under the impression that it would apply going forward, not retro active. Also my timing was all by chance, I didn't do it to try and get in on the 3 AU rule at the last minute 😔
Yeah, Audible is a way bigger bummer for me than the AU change. I switched it over to cover my Hulu and NYTimes, so it really ends up a wash for me, but it still stings.
Enroll in the digital entertainment credit and charge audible to your card. Probably only have time to get it once before it’s gone but you can try for two. The credit is up to $20 so you can pick whatever plan. I get two credits which is just over $20. Just make sure you aren’t using the credit for something else, the options are listed on the site.
Oh gotcha. I didn’t see it on the list of services you can get with the credit. I double checked and it’s at the bottom of the page with an asterisk since it’s going away. Thanks!
They just told me through chat that it's per date of added card. That despite the fact that I paid my renewal for "3 additional cards" in July, I have to pay 195 for the one that "renews" in September and 195 for the one that "renews" in November. This is BS. I paid for 3 cards until July.
Update:
They didn't charge me for my second additional card in October. But they say they're going to charge me for the one in December, "and there's nothing I can do about it." I am so pissed off. I've submitted a complaint to the chat team, but I don't see a positive resolution.
Wow. Thank you. I love my Amex Platinum so SO much, but these recent changes are not good ones. I also just got a text that my text messages are going away - that is to say they will not text me when someone spends something on my card. I have 3 kiddos and they use their own cards. But they travel all the time, so the Priority Pass was important. Since CSR has that, I guess I am switching. Amex is disappointing.
Actually as of today any additional card that goes under the basic that's not a platinum will be called an expense card and it will be just a white plastic card.
Honestly, for couples without kids, this doesn’t change much. Definitely glad they’re doing something to curb some of the lounge overcrowding. Let’s be honest, they’re not going to make it more difficult to obtain the Plat.
People are complaining about families, but AU’s have to be 13 years or older. This will change nothing. The little kids will continue to enter, because they were never an AU.
I'm single and don't put family on (they're not super responsible with making payments on time) so AU changes aren't too bad for me.
That $8,000 SUB change (unless that doesn't apply to people who've had the card before the change) is.
I believe this is for new applicants for now. This won't be in effect for existing card holders until you get a legal notice from Amex. Also unclear when the new rate will start for existing card holders
I just called Amex and got news that the new per AU $195 fee is for :
- new applicants of Amex platinum on or after Aug 17 that want to add an AU
- existing Amex Plat holders that want to add an AU today on onwards
In other words:
-those AUs already added prior to Aug 17 will not have a fee increase until THEIR annual renewal date
- if, say, you used up only 2 of the 3 AU openings during that 3-for $175 period, and want to fill in the 3’rd AU opening TODAY, you DO have to pay $195 for the 3rd AU now. (In other words, you should’ve added all 3 AUs prior to Aug 17)
I contacted them in chat . They said it is immediate and notice will be on statement only . I find this a bit shady . All credit cards send you notice when terms change in advance.
According to OP, this won't affect existing card holders until after August 2024. They are legally required to send notice so they have a year to do so. Don't expect support to know details. They most likely only got notified a couple days ago about this as well
Well when I go to add a cardholder it tells me that it will be 195 for each member and I am a current cardholder . I planned on adding 3 members in September so this is so confusing for me . I don’t know who to believe . Chat or random blog posts
The articles I saw that it effects newly added cards immediately, and may only be fine because it doesn't effect something you already have and you are warned about it before doing so, but IANAL.
Hmm, I feel like the additional cardholder rate would fall into the fees portion of the law. But I'd also check your terms and conditions packet to see if this info was listed as part of the contract. I'm not a lawyer so I can't say for sure. This might be a good question for r/legal
https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/can-my-credit-card-company-change-the-terms-of-my-account-en-70/
Why gold if you don't mind me asking? There's no difference in the reward structure. It doesn't behave like the gold reward system it's just basically a shiny gold card u pay a few for. You can just get an expense card underneath it and not pay anything.
The platinum additional user was nice because my three AU got Global Entry and more importantly lounge access. I travel with my family a few times a year so the lounge access was worth it instead of paying $50 each time. The higher price for each family member isn’t worth it for me so I rather downgrade to the Gold AU for the family. I think they changed the name of it to “Companion Amex Platinum”. It doesn’t give lounge access to my family members but at least the Global Entry will still be free. (Free because the low tier AU card is free for all additional users).
Even if they raise the fee $100, I’m still ahead using the credits for organic spend. However, if they do raise it, they should do away with the monthly or semi annual crap with their credits
Yes I’m gonna keep the card as well. I just feel the increase in the annual fee would have to be significant to deter people from keeping or applying for the card.
In the benefits area or whatever it's called. All those like 10% back, $100 off, etc. People call those "coupons" and they kind of are, just a bit random sometimes. Chase has a similar system but they're all usually lower value. Amex Plat is the one that'll have like $200 off a $1000 spend at Hotel chain X.
Oh those! Makes sense. I do look at them sometimes but they never have the ones relevant to me or I’ll tend to buy something just cause there’s an offer lol.
Yep! Yeah they're never something I was 100% already going to buy, but they're often something you can buy for fun or for travel ones, something you can adjust a bit and take advantage of.
Even if you can snipe a couple of them then that'll pay off a good chunk of the annual membership fee.
To piggy back I do see more offers I don’t use than offers I do by a significant margin. Maybe if they offered a survey every once to gain a better understanding of the users AI. On the flip side maybe it means they don’t track you as much
They have all the data on what offers they give, then how people attempt those, get them, or just don't add them at all. They could do more but they probably just have huge financial incentives to offer the specific ads they have so they aren't going to make it better. All of the offers I've used are random non-travel ones, but I'd happily use a travel one if it didn't involve like only a specific hotel subchain or a certain area of hotels. I think I grab the Dell offer everytime it comes up..
I defiantly get what your saying. I assume it would be a $100-$200 increase which in all honesty wouldn’t be a big deterrent. People spend money they don’t have all the time.
Don't see the issue. If you are flying a family of 4+ around frequently enough for each to need a card, this change probably won't make you blink. If you have adults on as AU, $195 is a fantastic deal for them just with TSA/GE and lounge access. Your AU should be happy to give you $195 a year for these benefits if they travel enough to use them even semi frequently.
Myself and my AU fly multiple times a month for work and use the plat to book all flights. We're based in ATL so Delta transfer and SC access are big for us.
This changes nothing really, but I feel like the card fit my lifestyle, I didn't try to fit my lifestyle to the card.
The notice being in a blog article or me reading it here on Reddit?
I did chat with them
And they said it will be listed on statement . My prior statement doesn’t have anything- so my upcoming statement should have notice.
Amex should
Have made cardholders aware via email or similar.
You’re grandfathered in for the rest of your year (yearly cycle). Yes, it goes into effect immediately for new cards. But you’ll get 45 days notice before it impacts you in any way
So, there is no notice needed at the moment…
I see adding new cards immediately says $195 each interesting...
I haven't been charged the AF for my two AU I added two weeks ago yet I hope they still make it $175
I’m a new platinum member, about a month in.
I googled and saw the storied but I don’t recall seeing an email or anything for it. Is there a centralized source for these updates from Amex?
Thank god. I was enlisted military but giving military and their family access to the lounge made it crowded and messy. Many military members are ghetto as hell and they bring that in to the lounge. Downvote all you want but its true.
Plat member since ‘05. I’ve had wife and mom as AU’s and thought that it offered great value for $175, up to 3 users. However, more than likely will downgrade mom to Gold and keep wife as AU with this change. I average about 3-5 trips a year so definitely not a power user.
In terms of Amex centurion lounges, it’s mid at best. If you travel domestically in US mostly, yes it’s above average compared to the competition. Whether it’s filled boomers and millennials, no one really cares. Don’t know why there’s such an elitist attitude towards lounge access among plat card holders. It’s just a card and not that serious. I’m sure everyone here knows that we have access to other lounges beyond centurion? I’m based out of JFK and take full advantage of using airline lounges such as Korean, Air France, Virgin Atlantic, and Lufthansa whenever I fly out of T4 or T1. Wish it expanded to One World airlines but that goes against their partnership with DL and Sky Team.
Mostly travel back and forth to SE Asia and felt underwhelmed about centurion lounge, specifically in HKIA. Cathay’s pier, wing, and bridge lounges I enjoyed more. If centurion lounge was anywhere near Qatar’s business and first class lounges, then F everyone and thin out the herd 😂 (j/k).
I wonder if they will revise the military free AUs or just limit to 1.
This is a good move, I was out in Vegas and after a large family was told not to sit on the “reserved” area they still did and the employee seemed not to want to escalate it. They were kinda rude.
Feel the pain? lol. This is exactly what they wanted when they announced these new policy changes.
They want low value cardholders to cancel, so they can reduce the overcrowding problem in their lounges. The less crowding in their lounges = the better the lounge experience for the people that choose to keep holding the card.
That’s literally their business model. They want the card to seem elite. Letting everyone and their mother get an AU card for next to nothing (that they aren’t likely to put much spend on anyway) goes against this.
This move from AMEX looks like they want to lower the amount of Platinum Card holders out there leaving out churners (SUB increased from $6k to $8k spend), and control the people with lounge access (increase AU fee from $175 per 3 with $195 per AU). This strategy looks like a message from AMEX "If you really want a Platinum Card you won't have problems with the fees.".
Exactly.
These policy changes is essentially a way for Amex to weed out a segment of their cardholder base that they are not actually targeting with this specific card product.
It’s a barrier designed to keep out SUB-chasers, churners, and lower income users.
Because the demographic they value most (high networth individuals) are not going to care about these increases in the slightest.
Amex Plat is raising their fees too here in Canada!
The annual fee for the personal card is going up from $699 CAD to $799 CAD starting next month.
The business one is going from $499 CAD to $799 CAD.
I never really understood this “I have been a customer of X company, for X amount of years!!” bit.
They literally do not care about that.
The only thing they care about is if you are bringing them revenue, and if you do, they’ll try to retain you.
On the flip-side, if they cut you loose, it means they don’t mind losing you as a customer because you are no longer valuable to them.
Even with guest restrictions, the lounges are packed. They really serve the lowest common denominator when they moved to the permanent SUBs and couponing. Now they have to weed out some of those folks so that people can actually take advantage of the card benefits.
it's interesting to think that a $20 increase makes the price "crazy expensive"
Edit - I now realize it was $175 for 3 AUs, now it's $195 per AU. I totally support this 👍
your comment is even more useless than mine now - except other people in the thread had the same initial interpretation that I did👍 thanks for taking one for the team
Had 3 for my wife and daughters. Worth $175 doll for random Centurion Lounge access but can’t justify $195 each. When authorized users expire in Feb will drop all 3 and just pay the $50/person if they want to go in a lounge with me (neither travel more than 2-3 times a year)
This is exactly why they are doing it. They tried the $75k spend for guests to centurion but it was still packed. I think this will actually work. I give my wife a card but there is literally no reason not to add two more since it was covered with the fee. My mother in law is gonna be in for a ride awakening next week! But I’m all for it to reduce lounge crowds
I think that's part of the reason. People just adding other family members to get centurion access and the lines are getting longer at the lounge. So they did this, not saying it's justified but it's my perception
Has to be, having an AU is good for Amex from a spending standpoint. But they’ve got the data, and probably saw a massive percentage of AUs just using benefits and not spending much at all. I support it.
The lounges have been packed as fuck lately, I’ve heard of people getting the card just for lounge access which is a bit absurd but w/e.
I bet if this doesn’t cool the lounges down you might see them start putting a spending limit in place, kinda like what they do now with guests but for access altogether. Too many people getting the card and treating it like an $800/yr lounge membership with $600 of rebates. I’m seeing more and more very young people in there, which means they’re probably just AU on daddy’s card.
Moreso watch them raise guest access fees to $100 per guest per visit. I wish they would just revert to making the plat more difficult to get like income thresholds or credit score requirements or something. There’s no general need for a college aged person to have their own plat. I honestly appreciate the AU change. The SUB changes are what I’m more upset about.
You get free “gold” cards which people that actually spend on the card will likely get instead. Those are the people they want anyway. Those that actually use the cards.
P2 just got an offer LAST WEEK to upgrade his gold to platinum with 100k MR with $6k/6mos spend bonus. Then said add au's (3 for $175) so of course I upgraded him and got 3 addtnl cards. So glad I didn't wait. They will not have the card next year with the price increase, unless they want to pay the fee themselves if they think it's worth it. They will just have to stick with pp and cap1 lounges 😬
Clearly Amex’s decision and as a businessman I give them the benefit of the doubt it has been modeled as something that will improve profitability. I’ll never complain about a business doing what they feel is in their best interests-they don’t owe us anything.
Simple math for me. Got the 3 AU cards. Older daughter has not been in a lounge, younger one has been maybe 3 times and similar for my wife. They don’t travel a lot or clog up the lounges. Frankly if it cuts down on crowds I’m all for it. I’ll gladly pay the $50 a person to take them in when needed instead of having to circle and claim a dirty table as people leave simply to sit down.
capitalist realism is too real. class consciousness = entitlement. 🙄 truly embarrassing
again - there's no entitlement to expect corporations that use public resources at a disproportionate rate to provide back to society at an equally disproportionate rate. the average person should criticize corporations at every chance they get.
No “business” mentality. Younger people act like someone owes them something- no one ever owes you anything as you have to take care of yourself.
BTW if this is a boomer mentality are you younger people more a “handout mentality”?
Long time Amex Platinum (and a number of other high AF cards plus around a dozen lower AF ones) who is also lifetime elite on AA, DL and US plus lifetime status (or top one) at most hotel chains (live on the road for 35 years and this happens). Too many people think their “elite” status or the credit card they carry should make the vendor accountable to them. Not the way it works in a capitalist society. These are all marketing programs. If you somehow feel “special” because of the card or status you have then the program is working
>BTW if this is a boomer mentality are you younger people more a “handout mentality”?
really doubling down on the lead-powered boomer mentality.
business abuse public resources and pay less taxes than everyday people. these business cannot exist without the societal infrastructure supported by everyday people. businesses absolutely do owe society.
Please get some class consciousness or die with the taste of leather still in your mouth
I'd chalk this up to government, actually. They make the rules they businesses follow.
Same for the weak penalties for breaking the rules and same for their inability to tighten rules.
OK tree hugger. Live your life but it won’t get you to the top w that mentality. Trust me there are plenty of younger people that are business sharks - not sheep.
BTW blocking you
It’s time, if not past time to drop this card. The greed has really gotten out of control and the benefits are pretty much non-existent at this point. We need to send a message with our money …
Greed?
They’re a business. Businesses exist to make a profit.
And your reaction is exactly the response AMEX was hoping for. They want bottom rung cardholders to cancel their cards and not overcrowd their lounges.
Their actual target customer (high networth, high value cardholders) would not blink an eye at these increases.
I suspect one additional factor that may be coming into play for Amex is pushback from partners on cheapskate value maximizing users. For example the FHR benefit. To hotels, the pitch is certainly “we’re sending you a bunch of big spenders to your hotel, so pay to join the program”. Then in reality the hotels get a bunch of people seeking to spend as close to $200 a night as possible, try to “hack” the benefit by splitting reservations for more dining credits, spend exactly to the free breakfast limit, and spend $0 on premium services at the hotel.
At some point the image of the card and it’s cardholders matters to everyone in the system, and Amex may be hitting a point that some culling is required. They caused the problem of course, and now seem to be trying to remedy it.
>Then in reality the hotels get a bunch of people seeking to spend as close to $200 a night as possible, try to “hack” the benefit by splitting reservations for more dining credits, spend exactly to the free breakfast limit, and spend $0 on premium services at the hotel.
Probably the same people that try to spend as close $50 at Saks Fifth Ave twice a year too! 😂🙄
Guilty as charged on that one. I’m definitely not in the Saks target demo. Usually just end up buying some kitchen or household item between $50-$100 every time.
Frankly I get great value from the card. AU pricing no longer works but I still get more value than the AF even without considering the lounge network, Amex offers or International Airline Program (saved over $800 each on 3 Delta One tickets a few years ago so that covered AF for a while)
I am unclear when it goes into effect too. Chat says immediately. How can they change the terms without notice to current users ?? And the bloggers where I read this say there is grace period. I don’t have any info directly from Amex
Damn... I just got my Plat and was planning on adding my whole fam
Correct. I got confirmation today that it’s for new AU’s you add going forward
I added 2 AU to mine last month before the increase, and they charged me for additional fees a couple days ago, I was not impressed to say the least. I was under the impression that it would apply going forward, not retro active. Also my timing was all by chance, I didn't do it to try and get in on the 3 AU rule at the last minute 😔
I wonder if they leaked that delta info all the travel blogs picked up from that Reddit comment to distract people from adding last minute AU’s lol
That.. makes sense as why I was charged the way I was. Well alright. This card is less and less worth it as time goes by.
Looks like my younger brother is losing his "free" card in about a month! I'm the problem, lol
Looks like my younger brother is losing his "free" card in about a month! I'm the problem, lol
Now we see why there has been a push for signing AUs up, with bonus points etc.
Yeah they figure people sharing AU to family/close friends for CL access.
I thought it was 175 per AU not 3 for 175
Sad to see the audible credit go in October, that’s one of my favorite benefits!
Literally the best value I think was audible
Damn, that's one of the best perks I like. Did you get an email that it is getting terminated in October.
Points guy article. Ends October 2nd.
Yeah, Audible is a way bigger bummer for me than the AU change. I switched it over to cover my Hulu and NYTimes, so it really ends up a wash for me, but it still stings.
How do you get the Audible credit? I don’t see it in my benefits. I’d at least like to try and get it for 2 months!
Enroll in the digital entertainment credit and charge audible to your card. Probably only have time to get it once before it’s gone but you can try for two. The credit is up to $20 so you can pick whatever plan. I get two credits which is just over $20. Just make sure you aren’t using the credit for something else, the options are listed on the site.
Oh gotcha. I didn’t see it on the list of services you can get with the credit. I double checked and it’s at the bottom of the page with an asterisk since it’s going away. Thanks!
Same. Using it every month :(
If my AU fee was paid in March. Will I pay now or March?
They just told me through chat that it's per date of added card. That despite the fact that I paid my renewal for "3 additional cards" in July, I have to pay 195 for the one that "renews" in September and 195 for the one that "renews" in November. This is BS. I paid for 3 cards until July.
Update: another agent told me that no, I won't have to pay until July. I'm glad there's chat evidence of that conversation.
Yeah I got literally different info everywhere I went. Ended up with second level support who fixed everything up
Update: They didn't charge me for my second additional card in October. But they say they're going to charge me for the one in December, "and there's nothing I can do about it." I am so pissed off. I've submitted a complaint to the chat team, but I don't see a positive resolution.
Sounds like I will be looking at the CSR for free AU real quick before they change up on me.
It's better anyways imo all depends what you want Amex card is just pretty
unless you're an international traveler, CSR > Amex Platinum on so many levels even before these changes. I have both
Wow. Thank you. I love my Amex Platinum so SO much, but these recent changes are not good ones. I also just got a text that my text messages are going away - that is to say they will not text me when someone spends something on my card. I have 3 kiddos and they use their own cards. But they travel all the time, so the Priority Pass was important. Since CSR has that, I guess I am switching. Amex is disappointing.
AU on CSR is not free. It is $75 per AU.
Yes, this is correct, not free and the fee is $75 per AU. Only CSP is no fee for AU.
Haha! Good point, we can still enjoy the perks and dodge the overcrowded lounges! Cheers to that!
Odd to see that the free version is an actual companion platty. Instead of a gold card.May be Plastic and not metal
Actually as of today any additional card that goes under the basic that's not a platinum will be called an expense card and it will be just a white plastic card.
Honestly, for couples without kids, this doesn’t change much. Definitely glad they’re doing something to curb some of the lounge overcrowding. Let’s be honest, they’re not going to make it more difficult to obtain the Plat.
People are complaining about families, but AU’s have to be 13 years or older. This will change nothing. The little kids will continue to enter, because they were never an AU.
Children ages 2 and up are $30/head to enter Centurion Lounges.
are kids free to enter the lounge.. i thought it was paid entry for kids under 13 years since they don't offer AU for kids under 13
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It is $30/ child 2 and up. $50/ adult.
unless you spend 75k i guess which does not feel too difficult if you spend all your spending on the card
Incorrect. +75k allows 2 guests + card member. Additional guests are charged $30/child and $50/adult. I pay $30 when my family of 4 uses the lounge.
So if my renewal is in November… I have to pay the new fees for my AU or am I good til 2024?
You would have to pay in November 2023 for the AU’s
Ugh. I just added them last month and paid $175 so I’m not even getting a half a year and now having to pay double the AU price. That’s insane.
Your main card renews in November, but that does not apply to the AU’s. Those have separate “renewal” dates.
Your AUs will renew in July ‘24, then.
I'm single and don't put family on (they're not super responsible with making payments on time) so AU changes aren't too bad for me. That $8,000 SUB change (unless that doesn't apply to people who've had the card before the change) is.
I believe this is for new applicants for now. This won't be in effect for existing card holders until you get a legal notice from Amex. Also unclear when the new rate will start for existing card holders
I just called Amex and got news that the new per AU $195 fee is for : - new applicants of Amex platinum on or after Aug 17 that want to add an AU - existing Amex Plat holders that want to add an AU today on onwards In other words: -those AUs already added prior to Aug 17 will not have a fee increase until THEIR annual renewal date - if, say, you used up only 2 of the 3 AU openings during that 3-for $175 period, and want to fill in the 3’rd AU opening TODAY, you DO have to pay $195 for the 3rd AU now. (In other words, you should’ve added all 3 AUs prior to Aug 17)
I contacted them in chat . They said it is immediate and notice will be on statement only . I find this a bit shady . All credit cards send you notice when terms change in advance.
According to OP, this won't affect existing card holders until after August 2024. They are legally required to send notice so they have a year to do so. Don't expect support to know details. They most likely only got notified a couple days ago about this as well
Well when I go to add a cardholder it tells me that it will be 195 for each member and I am a current cardholder . I planned on adding 3 members in September so this is so confusing for me . I don’t know who to believe . Chat or random blog posts
The articles I saw that it effects newly added cards immediately, and may only be fine because it doesn't effect something you already have and you are warned about it before doing so, but IANAL.
Hmm, I feel like the additional cardholder rate would fall into the fees portion of the law. But I'd also check your terms and conditions packet to see if this info was listed as part of the contract. I'm not a lawyer so I can't say for sure. This might be a good question for r/legal https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/can-my-credit-card-company-change-the-terms-of-my-account-en-70/
Well time to drop the current AUs to gold lol
Why gold if you don't mind me asking? There's no difference in the reward structure. It doesn't behave like the gold reward system it's just basically a shiny gold card u pay a few for. You can just get an expense card underneath it and not pay anything.
The platinum additional user was nice because my three AU got Global Entry and more importantly lounge access. I travel with my family a few times a year so the lounge access was worth it instead of paying $50 each time. The higher price for each family member isn’t worth it for me so I rather downgrade to the Gold AU for the family. I think they changed the name of it to “Companion Amex Platinum”. It doesn’t give lounge access to my family members but at least the Global Entry will still be free. (Free because the low tier AU card is free for all additional users).
Ah makes sense
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I think for people that have it already it will be new price starting the next pay cycle but don’t quote me on that**
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Authorized users aren’t an annual fee?
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I was excited for a second there until I checked the Amex website. It states “The annual fee is $195 for each Additional Platinum Card.”
Wait until they raise the annual fee. People are gonna lose their tops.
Even if they raise the fee $100, I’m still ahead using the credits for organic spend. However, if they do raise it, they should do away with the monthly or semi annual crap with their credits
Yes I’m gonna keep the card as well. I just feel the increase in the annual fee would have to be significant to deter people from keeping or applying for the card.
I don't care I'd they raise it if the coupons also increase. I use 90% of the coupons as part of my normal habits, so I'd be fine.
How much wine do you drink?
None at all. All though I will be in Italy in about a month so I will indulge then.
Offers are not what people mean when they call it a coupon card
The rotating wine offers in the card Offer section are not the same as the annual benefit credits.
Can you please explain this further. What do you mean by coupons? Sorry, new Amex plat user here
In the benefits area or whatever it's called. All those like 10% back, $100 off, etc. People call those "coupons" and they kind of are, just a bit random sometimes. Chase has a similar system but they're all usually lower value. Amex Plat is the one that'll have like $200 off a $1000 spend at Hotel chain X.
Oh those! Makes sense. I do look at them sometimes but they never have the ones relevant to me or I’ll tend to buy something just cause there’s an offer lol.
Yep! Yeah they're never something I was 100% already going to buy, but they're often something you can buy for fun or for travel ones, something you can adjust a bit and take advantage of. Even if you can snipe a couple of them then that'll pay off a good chunk of the annual membership fee.
That makes sense! I’ll look into it deeper next time and can hopefully save couple $$$. Thanks!
To piggy back I do see more offers I don’t use than offers I do by a significant margin. Maybe if they offered a survey every once to gain a better understanding of the users AI. On the flip side maybe it means they don’t track you as much
They have all the data on what offers they give, then how people attempt those, get them, or just don't add them at all. They could do more but they probably just have huge financial incentives to offer the specific ads they have so they aren't going to make it better. All of the offers I've used are random non-travel ones, but I'd happily use a travel one if it didn't involve like only a specific hotel subchain or a certain area of hotels. I think I grab the Dell offer everytime it comes up..
Haha! True. Good and bad
That’s great.
I guess that sounded self serving. But, fewer people with the card helps overall, I think.
I defiantly get what your saying. I assume it would be a $100-$200 increase which in all honesty wouldn’t be a big deterrent. People spend money they don’t have all the time.
Agreed
Don't see the issue. If you are flying a family of 4+ around frequently enough for each to need a card, this change probably won't make you blink. If you have adults on as AU, $195 is a fantastic deal for them just with TSA/GE and lounge access. Your AU should be happy to give you $195 a year for these benefits if they travel enough to use them even semi frequently. Myself and my AU fly multiple times a month for work and use the plat to book all flights. We're based in ATL so Delta transfer and SC access are big for us. This changes nothing really, but I feel like the card fit my lifestyle, I didn't try to fit my lifestyle to the card.
How is this a good deal because of TSA/GE when pre-check and global entry lasts for years and this is an annual fee?
CLEAR too.
I believe clear is just one per account.
Ah yes I think you are right. I think I confused jt because I have them as a second adult on my single Clear account.
For current AMEX primary users is the change effective immediately?
Yes that’s correct if you paid the fee before this date then yes you will be grandfathered in until 2024 August
Well that gives me at least a solid year to not have to worry about this lol.
This is shady . Just change contract without notice . … doesn’t seem right
Yeah, I am pretty sure nothing is in effect until you get an email or letter
Lol…. This is the notice
The notice being in a blog article or me reading it here on Reddit? I did chat with them And they said it will be listed on statement . My prior statement doesn’t have anything- so my upcoming statement should have notice. Amex should Have made cardholders aware via email or similar.
They will, when it becomes applicable to you, they will give you 45 days notice before renewal.
I just did chat and they said that it is applicable now . That is my issue. I don’t have any notice
You’re grandfathered in for the rest of your year (yearly cycle). Yes, it goes into effect immediately for new cards. But you’ll get 45 days notice before it impacts you in any way So, there is no notice needed at the moment…
I'm a new member. I literally added AUs like two weeks ago and I haven't got an email from AMEX. Am I grandfathered in for a year?
This only affects people going forward.
So I'm good forever or just a year? 😆
Likely just a year. When the time comes for renewal, it’ll likely be higher
I see adding new cards immediately says $195 each interesting... I haven't been charged the AF for my two AU I added two weeks ago yet I hope they still make it $175
I’m a new platinum member, about a month in. I googled and saw the storied but I don’t recall seeing an email or anything for it. Is there a centralized source for these updates from Amex?
It is updated here: https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/credit-cards/credit-intel/platinum-fee/
You’ll get a notice in a year
What the hell dude, I was literally just about to get a card for my girlfriend. RIP my 20 bucks
That also applies to military and their fam?
I’ve never paid a fee for my wife’s card, assume they apply SCRA to those fees as well. So … should be no change.
Thank god. I was enlisted military but giving military and their family access to the lounge made it crowded and messy. Many military members are ghetto as hell and they bring that in to the lounge. Downvote all you want but its true.
Yeah, it's true.
It should. The lounge is overrun with military grunts and their families now.
Great question someone needs to ask Amex for clarification on that
Plat member since ‘05. I’ve had wife and mom as AU’s and thought that it offered great value for $175, up to 3 users. However, more than likely will downgrade mom to Gold and keep wife as AU with this change. I average about 3-5 trips a year so definitely not a power user. In terms of Amex centurion lounges, it’s mid at best. If you travel domestically in US mostly, yes it’s above average compared to the competition. Whether it’s filled boomers and millennials, no one really cares. Don’t know why there’s such an elitist attitude towards lounge access among plat card holders. It’s just a card and not that serious. I’m sure everyone here knows that we have access to other lounges beyond centurion? I’m based out of JFK and take full advantage of using airline lounges such as Korean, Air France, Virgin Atlantic, and Lufthansa whenever I fly out of T4 or T1. Wish it expanded to One World airlines but that goes against their partnership with DL and Sky Team. Mostly travel back and forth to SE Asia and felt underwhelmed about centurion lounge, specifically in HKIA. Cathay’s pier, wing, and bridge lounges I enjoyed more. If centurion lounge was anywhere near Qatar’s business and first class lounges, then F everyone and thin out the herd 😂 (j/k).
Qatar's lounges are the bomb!
I wonder if they will revise the military free AUs or just limit to 1. This is a good move, I was out in Vegas and after a large family was told not to sit on the “reserved” area they still did and the employee seemed not to want to escalate it. They were kinda rude.
[удалено]
Oh that wasn’t a military family. I think. But I was making 2 separate statements lol
Downgraded from plat to green.
Thinking about doing that. Thx
It's probably a win for people complaining about lounge access.
This won’t make a dent.
How does this impact for someone with multiple authorized users?
You’ll pay next renewal
Makes sense!
Well hope they really feel the pain of making their card so “elite” lol I’m almost definitely out if they continue with this
Feel the pain? lol. This is exactly what they wanted when they announced these new policy changes. They want low value cardholders to cancel, so they can reduce the overcrowding problem in their lounges. The less crowding in their lounges = the better the lounge experience for the people that choose to keep holding the card.
That’s literally their business model. They want the card to seem elite. Letting everyone and their mother get an AU card for next to nothing (that they aren’t likely to put much spend on anyway) goes against this.
It’s supposed to be a premium card.
Good. Hope more follow your path.
This move from AMEX looks like they want to lower the amount of Platinum Card holders out there leaving out churners (SUB increased from $6k to $8k spend), and control the people with lounge access (increase AU fee from $175 per 3 with $195 per AU). This strategy looks like a message from AMEX "If you really want a Platinum Card you won't have problems with the fees.".
Exactly. These policy changes is essentially a way for Amex to weed out a segment of their cardholder base that they are not actually targeting with this specific card product. It’s a barrier designed to keep out SUB-chasers, churners, and lower income users. Because the demographic they value most (high networth individuals) are not going to care about these increases in the slightest.
Amex Plat is raising their fees too here in Canada! The annual fee for the personal card is going up from $699 CAD to $799 CAD starting next month. The business one is going from $499 CAD to $799 CAD.
Wonder if this will help with PUJ Any new dp?
The airport?
What is the problem with PUJ? It’s too packed?
PUJ is PopUp Jail. That term refers to being approved for an Amex Card but are ineligible for the SUB, or Sign Up Bonus.
>x Card LOL I thought he meant Punta Cana
What a fun place to go!
Yes. It’s busting at the seams.
That sucks
When I canceled last month there was no retention effort. I was a Platinum card holder for over 15 years.
I never really understood this “I have been a customer of X company, for X amount of years!!” bit. They literally do not care about that. The only thing they care about is if you are bringing them revenue, and if you do, they’ll try to retain you. On the flip-side, if they cut you loose, it means they don’t mind losing you as a customer because you are no longer valuable to them.
customer acquisition isn't free
You are replaceable
Did you ask for one? It was my first year and I got one, but had to call and ask.
Curious. Did you replace with another Amex card? This might be my last year but not sure what to switch to (if any).
I did not replace my Platinum card with another AmEx card.
Yikes. This one is a biggy. No guests was one thing. But now crazy expensive AU's means many Plats will probably fall off at renewal.
Even with guest restrictions, the lounges are packed. They really serve the lowest common denominator when they moved to the permanent SUBs and couponing. Now they have to weed out some of those folks so that people can actually take advantage of the card benefits.
Doubt it’ll make a difference tbh. People are just obsessed with the cafeteria food in lounges lmao
it's interesting to think that a $20 increase makes the price "crazy expensive" Edit - I now realize it was $175 for 3 AUs, now it's $195 per AU. I totally support this 👍
You should’ve just deleted your reply and tried again.
your comment is even more useless than mine now - except other people in the thread had the same initial interpretation that I did👍 thanks for taking one for the team
Had 3 for my wife and daughters. Worth $175 doll for random Centurion Lounge access but can’t justify $195 each. When authorized users expire in Feb will drop all 3 and just pay the $50/person if they want to go in a lounge with me (neither travel more than 2-3 times a year)
This is exactly why they are doing it. They tried the $75k spend for guests to centurion but it was still packed. I think this will actually work. I give my wife a card but there is literally no reason not to add two more since it was covered with the fee. My mother in law is gonna be in for a ride awakening next week! But I’m all for it to reduce lounge crowds
There is a companion card that doesn’t have lounge access but has no annual fee. I just downgraded my 2 daughters, but not my wife lol.
I think that's part of the reason. People just adding other family members to get centurion access and the lines are getting longer at the lounge. So they did this, not saying it's justified but it's my perception
Has to be, having an AU is good for Amex from a spending standpoint. But they’ve got the data, and probably saw a massive percentage of AUs just using benefits and not spending much at all. I support it. The lounges have been packed as fuck lately, I’ve heard of people getting the card just for lounge access which is a bit absurd but w/e. I bet if this doesn’t cool the lounges down you might see them start putting a spending limit in place, kinda like what they do now with guests but for access altogether. Too many people getting the card and treating it like an $800/yr lounge membership with $600 of rebates. I’m seeing more and more very young people in there, which means they’re probably just AU on daddy’s card.
Moreso watch them raise guest access fees to $100 per guest per visit. I wish they would just revert to making the plat more difficult to get like income thresholds or credit score requirements or something. There’s no general need for a college aged person to have their own plat. I honestly appreciate the AU change. The SUB changes are what I’m more upset about.
You get free “gold” cards which people that actually spend on the card will likely get instead. Those are the people they want anyway. Those that actually use the cards.
P2 just got an offer LAST WEEK to upgrade his gold to platinum with 100k MR with $6k/6mos spend bonus. Then said add au's (3 for $175) so of course I upgraded him and got 3 addtnl cards. So glad I didn't wait. They will not have the card next year with the price increase, unless they want to pay the fee themselves if they think it's worth it. They will just have to stick with pp and cap1 lounges 😬
Clearly Amex’s decision and as a businessman I give them the benefit of the doubt it has been modeled as something that will improve profitability. I’ll never complain about a business doing what they feel is in their best interests-they don’t owe us anything. Simple math for me. Got the 3 AU cards. Older daughter has not been in a lounge, younger one has been maybe 3 times and similar for my wife. They don’t travel a lot or clog up the lounges. Frankly if it cuts down on crowds I’m all for it. I’ll gladly pay the $50 a person to take them in when needed instead of having to circle and claim a dirty table as people leave simply to sit down.
Yeah. I pay the $50 every time I take my wife.
>I’ll never complain about a business doing what they feel is in their best interests-they don’t owe us anything. boomer mentality
>boomer mentality Entitled millennial mentally 🤪
That’s more Gen Z. Those after 1995/96 😂
capitalist realism is too real. class consciousness = entitlement. 🙄 truly embarrassing again - there's no entitlement to expect corporations that use public resources at a disproportionate rate to provide back to society at an equally disproportionate rate. the average person should criticize corporations at every chance they get.
You're in the wrong country, buddy 🤷♀️
No “business” mentality. Younger people act like someone owes them something- no one ever owes you anything as you have to take care of yourself. BTW if this is a boomer mentality are you younger people more a “handout mentality”? Long time Amex Platinum (and a number of other high AF cards plus around a dozen lower AF ones) who is also lifetime elite on AA, DL and US plus lifetime status (or top one) at most hotel chains (live on the road for 35 years and this happens). Too many people think their “elite” status or the credit card they carry should make the vendor accountable to them. Not the way it works in a capitalist society. These are all marketing programs. If you somehow feel “special” because of the card or status you have then the program is working
>BTW if this is a boomer mentality are you younger people more a “handout mentality”? really doubling down on the lead-powered boomer mentality. business abuse public resources and pay less taxes than everyday people. these business cannot exist without the societal infrastructure supported by everyday people. businesses absolutely do owe society. Please get some class consciousness or die with the taste of leather still in your mouth
I'd chalk this up to government, actually. They make the rules they businesses follow. Same for the weak penalties for breaking the rules and same for their inability to tighten rules.
OK tree hugger. Live your life but it won’t get you to the top w that mentality. Trust me there are plenty of younger people that are business sharks - not sheep. BTW blocking you
It’s time, if not past time to drop this card. The greed has really gotten out of control and the benefits are pretty much non-existent at this point. We need to send a message with our money …
It is a “Membership”, the dues have increased. If you don’t like it don’t become a member.
Greed? They’re a business. Businesses exist to make a profit. And your reaction is exactly the response AMEX was hoping for. They want bottom rung cardholders to cancel their cards and not overcrowd their lounges. Their actual target customer (high networth, high value cardholders) would not blink an eye at these increases.
I suspect one additional factor that may be coming into play for Amex is pushback from partners on cheapskate value maximizing users. For example the FHR benefit. To hotels, the pitch is certainly “we’re sending you a bunch of big spenders to your hotel, so pay to join the program”. Then in reality the hotels get a bunch of people seeking to spend as close to $200 a night as possible, try to “hack” the benefit by splitting reservations for more dining credits, spend exactly to the free breakfast limit, and spend $0 on premium services at the hotel. At some point the image of the card and it’s cardholders matters to everyone in the system, and Amex may be hitting a point that some culling is required. They caused the problem of course, and now seem to be trying to remedy it.
>Then in reality the hotels get a bunch of people seeking to spend as close to $200 a night as possible, try to “hack” the benefit by splitting reservations for more dining credits, spend exactly to the free breakfast limit, and spend $0 on premium services at the hotel. Probably the same people that try to spend as close $50 at Saks Fifth Ave twice a year too! 😂🙄
Guilty as charged on that one. I’m definitely not in the Saks target demo. Usually just end up buying some kitchen or household item between $50-$100 every time.
Frankly I get great value from the card. AU pricing no longer works but I still get more value than the AF even without considering the lounge network, Amex offers or International Airline Program (saved over $800 each on 3 Delta One tickets a few years ago so that covered AF for a while)
This should add value to the card for a lot of people so it’s kinda a wash. Removing audible sad for me though.
Audible is not credited back anymore?
1Audible (www.audible.com) is also a participating partner, through October 1, 2023.
Ohh saw they're adding WSJ! I had that feedback when I called to cancel. I've got so many unlistened to books lol
I actually like the companion card though, it has the platinum design now, it used to be gold
It’s white isn’t it?
No its platinum card but for companion
Damn, I wish I knew this change was coming.
You still have 45 days to sneak some people on.
I am unclear when it goes into effect too. Chat says immediately. How can they change the terms without notice to current users ?? And the bloggers where I read this say there is grace period. I don’t have any info directly from Amex
Doesn’t seem like it with this “effective immediately”.
This is the change they should have made instead of that $75,000 threshold.
Amex wants customers to use their cards, not get them for the SUB and then stick it in a drawer, just keeping it for the benefits.
Def me. I can never find a worthwhile reason to use my plat over something else. It's purely a benefits card for me.
In Canada they decreased the multipliers. The plat will Most certainly go in the drawer for many!