Not sure if this has been commented on, but the AMEX Platinum Charge Card (fee £300 p.a) has changed its conditions in a pretty significant way from January 2012.
I received the note last week. There are four main changes, but the one that bothers me is that "To benefit from some features of our travel cover, you'll now need to pay for your travel and accommodation on your American Express Card."
Along with the Priority Pass lounge access, free family travel insurance - annual - was one of the major benefits, but now it only kicks in if I use this card to pay for the travel - which isn't always convenient.
It's more complicated, because personal injury insurance is still covered - I imagine because without including this, many people would be unaware that the cover was now contingent on having paid for the holiday / travel on the card, and then would find themselves without cover when abroad, but personal belongings are now excluded from the policy, as well as missed, cancelled or delayed departure....
this might seem a small matter, but it means (as I understand it) that if you also have the BA Amex card, and you book your flights with BA using that card, then because you have not booked your travel using the Platinum card, you won't be covered for cancelations etc....
The BA Amex card still covers for travel insurance anyway though doesn`t it?
Must say, i just buy a yearly worldwide policy as always some occassions when i find i can`t buy a ticket with my Amex.
ChrisBuda82 - 12/12/2011 14:52 GMT
I buy the Amex travel insurance every year and always make sure I get the Stranded Traveller Assistance very useful when we had the Ash and snow probs. If you buy on a Amex card you get money off to not sure for next year.
Bullfrog - 12/12/2011 15:42 GMT
My 78 year old Dad tells me that the 'travel insurance' which comes with the card is changing from January 25 2012, such that it will no longer cover persons aged over 70.
He says that the Natwest Black credit card covers persons over 80 years old.
Changes:
**Medical assistance and expenses cover will end for anyone aged over 70"
**To benefit from some features of the travel cover, payment needs to be made for travel and accomodtion on the Amex card. If establishments wont take the card, phone through to Amex who will make a note and agree cover
**£50 excess per claim
**Maximum trip length reducing to 90 days from 120 days
Letters and ammended terms are being sent out.
Does anyone have details about the Nat West Black card insurance details.
Thats a shocker. The main benefit for me was the no quibble insurance.
Can you pay on ANY amex card? if so i'm covered, and will carry on with it (50% is on my corporate AMEX, 50% on BA Amex)
If it needs to be on the platinum card only, then i will have to buy annual insurance elsewhere, which means the platinum card becomes a very expensive proposition. I have status on all 3 alliances, so the only other real benefit is the concierge.
Such a shame if this is the case, as I have been with AMEX since 1996. But i wont just accept such a big devaluation of benefit. It will have to go. And I'm sad about that.
The new Ts&Cs do allow for cover to apply to reservations paid for on any AmEx charge card, as well as the British Airways credit card.
However, there's a significant issue in that (apparently) reservations paid for with miles/points etc are not covered.
Binman62 - 13/12/2011 09:04 GMT
This is a further blow and erosion of the benefits of having this card. I have always felt the £300 was worth the price particularly for the insurance which I have sadly benefited from on too many occasions. That, and the free BA Premium plus card, also now withdrawn to new members, and the Priority pass which having used just 1 in two years is wide open to fraud and there is no come back.
I rather think that Amex has lost its way. My recent experience with them and my wife’s BA PP card has been a real eye opener. Having been told in July that she would have to pay a fee as no companion product was held, there followed a protracted debate with them ending in her taking out a Platinum charge card. Having done so, they then advised that they no longer provided free BAPP cards to new Platinum card holders and would be charging the full £150 fee for that on top on the platinum card!!
It was duly cancelled with £250 refunded. We gained over 60,000 reward points gained and £200 in ex gratia payments for them messing us around.
This further change will make me think long and hard about holding my card as it is rarely used but I do use the BAPP card extensively.
I would have thought that in the midst of a deep recession they would be enhancing benefits not reducing them.
"However, there's a significant issue in that (apparently) reservations paid for with miles/points etc are not covered."
You should always check your travel insurance policy when using airmiles. I had a very nasty experience a couple of years back using airmiles, in that they were not covered for changes mid trip, when unable to travel for medical reasons, unless you get a sympathetic ticket desk manager.
The whole issue of airmiles and insurance cover needs to be reviewed and highlighted.
Anyone with queries with the Amex changes, which come into effect on Jan 24, should call 0845 608 0845.
I am currently researching options for my inlaws who are closing in on 80 as they will no longer benefit from the cover after Jan 24.
I think reservations on miles are covered.... in the FAQs
" What if I pay for my travel or accommodation using Membership Rewards or another rewards programme?
If you pay for the travel part of your trip using any kind of rewards programme you'll still have travel cover so long as you use your AMEX card to pay for any costs to do with your travel such as your accommodation... or any taxes or surcharges associated with your travel that aren't covered by your rewards points..."
InterestedObserver - the question I now ask with any airmiles / rewards booking is am I covered for flight changes that would be covered for normal revenue tickets. I have been told NO!
Example, rewards booking, mid trip, change of flight needed for a legit reason (illness etc), you are not covered but are at the mercy of a sympathetic airport/ticket counter manager.
That concerns me. I spoke to my insurance broker who confirmed that he has no way of providing insurance cover for reward airmiles booking.
So that would mean you are not covered by AMEX and you cannot buy cover any other way? It would make it very risky booking anything on miles...
I am wondering if anyone has had the need to make an insurance claim for the cost of ticket changes etc, mid trip and when using reward/airmiles. I do not think it is useful to be told that it is at the discretion of airlines staff.
A couple of years back an agent sold me a business class ticket which turned out to be via a purchase of 3rd party airmiles. I caught a cold not only medically but very nearly financially when I tried to change the ticket..........................
gsbegley - 15/12/2011 00:08 GMT
certainly in the USA to be covered by the Platinum card you must use the card for the service...flight, car rental etc...well worth doing as for the first time in 40 years of driving I had an accident and Amex picked up 95 percent of the bill without a quibble..just rememeber always to use it
VintageKrug - 15/12/2011 12:01 GMT
It's certainly a negative change, but then what's the alternative?
I gave up on Amex covering me for Medical a long time ago. I now buy a policy from Travel Insured International, if you purchase your policy within 7 days of purchasing your ticket it will cover you for any pre-existing condition !! Too keep the cost of the policy down I put the cost of the trip as zero and only purchase the medical portion of the policy.
I have asked on several occasions whether anyone knows of a travel policy that is comparable to the Amex Centurion/Platinum benefits. Even my broker who looks after all Sinclair insurance business, relies on the Amex benefit.
Even with these negative changes, I have still not seen a better "full coverage" policy.
To - 15/12/2011 12:18 GMT , I understand why you put the trip cost to zero, but I wouldnt as fares are expensive, esepcially when more than one of you travelling.
The airmiles issue still remains a problem.
I had this letter this morning too. My response to this has been to use up all my Member Rewards Points, and I'll cancel the card very shortly.
It will also colour my feedback next time we have a company survey about how our travel partner is performing. I have a number of colleagues who have their own Platinum cards in addition to their corporate ones. If enough complain, we might dump them next time round.
@ 22/12/2011 15:59 GMT
and who will you use to replace the travel insurance?
