AMEX Platinum benefits downgraded

[royal65]

For those not aware, the AMEX Platinum benefits have been significantly downgraded. Whereas previously you could book a cabin in one category and pay the price for a cabin 2 categories below. On a cruise I booked last year, this saved me over $900. Now, you receive a set OBC -- $200 I think. Also, there was no charge for dinner in the Pinnacle Grill on the first night and that is now gone. I think these changes were effective for cruises booked after sometime in June. Sorry folks.

[sppunk]

We dropped Platinum with the lounge killing.

[Cruzin Terri]

For those not aware, the AMEX Platinum benefits have been significantly downgraded. Whereas previously you could book a cabin in one category and pay the price for a cabin 2 categories below. On a cruise I booked last year, this saved me over $900. Now, you receive a set OBC -- $200 I think. Also, there was no charge for dinner in the Pinnacle Grill on the first night and that is now gone. I think these changes were effective for cruises booked after sometime in June. Sorry folks.

 

Well that was done very quietly. Another erosion of the platinum card benefits. First the loss of the Admiral's Club Lounge and now this. No effective date.

Here is the description of the benefits on the AMEX website:

 

Valid for new bookings of voyages of at least five nights made through American Express Travel. May not be combined with other offers unless indicated. Blackout dates, category and fare restrictions may apply. Payment must be made with an American Express Card in U.S. Platinum Card Member or Centurion® Member's name. Card Member must travel on itinerary booked. Benefits listed require double occupancy and are non-transferable. If you are a resident of Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands, Cruise Privileges Program benefits may not be available in your home market. Card Members receive $100 USD shipboard credit for inside and outside staterooms; $200 USD shipboard credit for balcony, verandah, and mini-suite staterooms; and $300 USD shipboard credit for suites on Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. Card Members receive $300 USD shipboard credit for all staterooms category C or higher on Cunard Line. Card Members receive $300 USD shipboard credit for all stateroom categories on Oceania, Paul Gauguin, Regent, Azamara, Seabourn, Crystal, Silversea, Uniworld, and Windstar. Centurion Members receive an additional $200 ($500 total) USD shipboard credit on Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn, and Silversea. Centurion members receive up to $500 USD shipboard credit and will be credited to the guest stateroom folio upon checkout. Credits cannot be used for casino charges and gratuities. Unused portion of credit is non-refundable and is not redeemable for cash. Other restrictions may apply, see onboard cashier for details. Cruise Privileges Program benefits not available on Celebrity Xplorer. Additional amenity not available on the Silversea Expedition Fleet: Silver Explorer, Silver Galapagos, and Silver Discoverer. Limit one benefit package per stateroom; three-stateroom limit per Card Member, per sailing. To obtain benefits, travel agents must visit americanexpress.com/asdonline. Participating providers and benefits subject to change.

 

Terri

Edited July 8, 2014 by Cruzin Terri

[POA1]

It looks like you are indeed correct about the 2 category upgrade. (Ironically, the dollar credit is often better on cruises 14 days or less. Example: On our late fall sailing, a VC to VA upgrade is worth $160. I don't recall ever seeing jumps between "big" categories, like Verandah to Suite, or Outside to Verandah. Of course I've been wrong before...)

 

It's an enormous pain to actually find the information on the AX site, but here's the available information as of a few minutes ago:

 

 

• Valid for new bookings of voyages of at least five nights made through American Express Travel.
  
• May not be combined with other offers unless indicated. Blackout dates, category and fare restrictions may apply.
  
• Payment must be made with an American Express Card in U.S. Platinum Card Member or Centurion® Member's name.
  
• Card Member must travel on itinerary booked. Benefits listed require double occupancy and are non-transferable.
  
• If you are a resident of Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands, Cruise Privileges Program benefits may not be available in your home market.
  
• Card Members receive $100 USD shipboard credit for inside and outside staterooms; $200 USD shipboard credit for balcony, verandah, and mini-suite staterooms; and $300 USD shipboard credit for suites on Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.
  
• Card Members receive $300 USD shipboard credit for all staterooms category C or higher on Cunard Line.
  
• Card Members receive $300 USD shipboard credit for all stateroom categories on Oceania, Paul Gauguin, Regent, Azamara, Seabourn, Crystal, Silversea, Uniworld, and Windstar.
  
• Centurion Members receive an additional $200 ($500 total) USD shipboard credit on Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn, and Silversea. Centurion members receive up to $500 USD shipboard credit and will be credited to the guest stateroom folio upon checkout.
  
• Credits cannot be used for casino charges and gratuities. Unused portion of credit is non-refundable and is not redeemable for cash.
  
• Other restrictions may apply, see onboard cashier for details.
  
• Cruise Privileges Program benefits not available on Celebrity Xplorer. Additional amenity not available on the Silversea Expedition Fleet: Silver Explorer, Silver Galapagos, and Silver Discoverer.
  
• Limit one benefit package per stateroom; three-stateroom limit per Card Member, per sailing.
  
• To obtain benefits, travel agents must visit americanexpress.com/asdonline.
  
• Participating providers and benefits subject to change.
  

Edited July 8, 2014 by POA1

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thank you for this information.

[Krazy Kruizers]

POA1

Years ago people were able to book what was known as a "mini" suite and then be upgraded to a deluxe suite.

We never did that -- we just booked the cabin category that we wanted. But I do remember one member her mentioning that they did take advantage of that perk.

[POA1]

POA1

Years ago people were able to book what was known as a "mini" suite and then be upgraded to a deluxe suite.

We never did that -- we just booked the cabin category that we wanted. But I do remember one member her mentioning that they did take advantage of that perk.

Thanks. We didn't remember. We kind of though that the benefits might have been worth more when there was one S category and a whole lot fewer other categories. I guess that's been a decade or so.

 

Glad someone remembered! :)

Edited July 8, 2014 by POA1

[RJ2002]

We dropped Platinum with the lounge killing.

 

Same here...

[sail7seas]

POA1

Years ago people were able to book what was known as a "mini" suite and then be upgraded to a deluxe suite.

We never did that -- we just booked the cabin category that we wanted. But I do remember one member her mentioning that they did take advantage of that perk.

 

When we first started sailing HAL, Statendam was coming soon to the fleet. We sailed her Inaugural Year and booked what was then Category "B",

Verandah Deck, and at the time of our booking we immediately were upgraded two categories to "S" Cabin of our choice. We did that for a number of cruises and then the contract between HAL and AmEx Platinum changed. It was then they started giving the OBC in place of the upgrade to Deluxe Verandah Suites. That free upgrade was worth a lot of money.

 

[sail7seas]

For those not aware, the AMEX Platinum benefits have been significantly downgraded. Whereas previously you could book a cabin in one category and pay the price for a cabin 2 categories below. On a cruise I booked last year, this saved me over $900. Now, you receive a set OBC -- $200 I think. Also, there was no charge for dinner in the Pinnacle Grill on the first night and that is now gone. I think these changes were effective for cruises booked after sometime in June. Sorry folks.

 

For years now, if AmEx Platinum member booked with PCC, we did not get the $300 OBC. HAL would not honor the terms for Platinum members to get that credit unless you booked with outside TA who had paid the AmEx annual fee or with AmEx Platinum Travel.

 

[igraf]

At the risk of posting an advertisement, we switched to the Capital One Venture Visa card. 2% rewards on all purchases that can be redeemed to any travel expense. No rules or restrictions of any kind. No concern over who might not accept the card. The sign up bonus (not sure if they still offer it) covered the annual fee for several years.

 

igraf

 

 

 

 

 

 

For those not aware, the AMEX Platinum benefits have been significantly downgraded. Whereas previously you could book a cabin in one category and pay the price for a cabin 2 categories below. On a cruise I booked last year, this saved me over $900. Now, you receive a set OBC -- $200 I think. Also, there was no charge for dinner in the Pinnacle Grill on the first night and that is now gone. I think these changes were effective for cruises booked after sometime in June. Sorry folks.

[Vineyard View]

We became so frustrated with the return - or lack of - with our Amex points that I recently switched over 200k to an airline partner, where we received 1:1 ratio of points for miles. I just completed purchasing 2 coach seats, used miles to upgrade, and still have enough points to work that with a ticket on an upcoming trip next year. These are for travel SFO - Europe. We are closing our Amex, signing up for the free on via costco, and accumulating miles on our Alaska AL Visa which I have used for many years on international travel with great satisfaction of their customer service. Just sayin....

[Krazy Kruizers]

For those not aware, the AMEX Platinum benefits have been significantly downgraded. Whereas previously you could book a cabin in one category and pay the price for a cabin 2 categories below. On a cruise I booked last year, this saved me over $900. Now, you receive a set OBC -- $200 I think. Also, there was no charge for dinner in the Pinnacle Grill on the first night and that is now gone. I think these changes were effective for cruises booked after sometime in June. Sorry folks.

 

We had assumed that cruises booked before July 1 were to get the free Pinnacle dinner.

Not so -- we booked a cruise for this fall back in the spring of 2013.

American Express just informed our TA that there will not be any free dinner for anyone no matter when you booked your cruise.

[POA1]

We had assumed that cruises booked before July 1 were to get the free Pinnacle dinner.

Not so -- we booked a cruise for this fall back in the spring of 2013.

American Express just informed our TA that there will not be any free dinner for anyone no matter when you booked your cruise.

Thanks for the heads up. Our reservation for November / December still shows the Pinnacle Dinner, but maybe they haven't gotten around to us yet. :mad:

[Cruzin Terri]

We had assumed that cruises booked before July 1 were to get the free Pinnacle dinner.

Not so -- we booked a cruise for this fall back in the spring of 2013.

American Express just informed our TA that there will not be any free dinner for anyone no matter when you booked your cruise.

 

That's interesting because I booked my cruise through the AMEX PTS and the TA said it would not affect my upcoming cruise.

We leave on August 25.

I will have to find out if that has changed.

Terri

[sail7seas]

That's interesting because I booked my cruise through the AMEX PTS and the TA said it would not affect my upcoming cruise.

We leave on August 25.

I will have to find out if that has changed.

Terri

 

 

It is possible your cruise is prior to the effective date of the new contract and they are abiding by the terms of the still current contract.

 

[Cruzin Terri]

It is possible your cruise is prior to the effective date of the new contract and they are abiding by the terms of the still current contract.

 

 

I am going to make a call now and find out. Will report back in a few minutes.

Terri

[sail7seas]

Good luck. Will be interesting to hear what they say.

[mikeange]

We've lost the lounge benefits with Continental/United and American. We are now losing the cruise benefits for a small onboard credit.

 

Amex is now specializing in what I call unbenefits; benefits that sound good on paper for marketing purposes but cost Amex next to nothing and/or are probably little used by cardmembers.

 

For example, the companion air program. Buy a full fare business or first class ticket and get a free companion ticket. That can be beaten almost all the time with a regular non-refundable ticket. Or, stay at one of the Leading Hotels of the World, which are admittedly all fine properties but extremely expensive, and get a Free early checkin/late checkout!! Another one is the purchase protection that so many other cards give.

 

I booked in June the October Noordam transatlantic and it wasn't until I directly questioned the issue did I find out of the changes to the program. And this was after having booked a 19 day western-Med with the same Amex travel consultant on the Nieuw Amsterdam for last fall.

 

It is becoming increasingly difficult to justify the cost of the card.

Edited August 14, 2014 by mikeange

[Cruzin Terri]

I called AMEX Platinum. The representative I spoke to emphatically said that the new benefits are for those cruises booked AFTER June 1, 2014. If your cruise was booked prior to June 1, 2014, you will receive the old benefits. This applies whether you booked with the AMEX PTS or with a Travel Agent.

 

Terri

[Krazy Kruizers]

We book through a TA we have used for about 25 years.

We are still getting the $300 shipboard credit -- just no dinner.

And as I said -- we booked months ago.

[Cruzin Terri]

We book through a TA we have used for about 25 years.

We are still getting the $300 shipboard credit -- just no dinner.

And as I said -- we booked months ago.

 

KK,

This came from AMEX Platinum Travel Service. I would ask your TA to go back and check again. The agent was emphatic that it applied to everyone not only those who booked through AMEX Platinum.

 

The new benefits are effective to anyone who booked a new cruise after June 1. I booked my cruise last year and am cruising on August 25. I will get a Pinnacle Dinner. That is what I was told five minutes ago.

Terri

[Krazy Kruizers]

I'll have to call our TA when she gets back in the office. She left at 11 to start a vacation -- staying home. And I don't like disturbing her at home unless it were a real emergency.

We have plenty of time to get it straightened out.

[sail7seas]

Thanks Cruzin Terri.

[sail7seas]

I'll have to call our TA when she gets back in the office. She left at 11 to start a vacation -- staying home. And I don't like disturbing her at home unless it were a real emergency.

We have plenty of time to get it straightened out.

 

 

 

Please let us know how this settles out.