Amex Platinum - Changes to travel insurance

mikelivingstone

Just had a letter from American Express saying they are changing the insurance cover that comes with the Platinum card.

Just to set the scene, this used to be a very comprehensive policy to the extent that you didn't need to buy other cover.

Now they will only apply the insurance if you pay for the travel with your American Express card - the only exception being where the retailer doesn't take Amex.

This causes me an big issue, as in essence it means you will need to prove the retailer wouldn't take Amex before making a claim if you didn't use the card (sometimes the Amex card won't go through because the lines are busy so I've switched cards) and also it forces you to use Amex which might not be good value as some agents will charge 5% extra for using Amex - so not good value on a £10,000 holiday, where you could buy insurance for say £200, but the Amex fee is £500.

Time to spend the Amex points I have and then cancel my card.

Maz945

A great shame. Some "marketing" idiot with Amex probably introduced this so they can make more money. But paying £300 for the Platinum Card and now they've put these restrictions on will mean members will leave in droves.

I bet they change this policy shortly.

chattychappy

Par for the course with Amex, I'm afraid. How much notice did they give you? Just a month? I abandoned them after they kept fiddling around with benefits. It seems like a good concept - a single product with a bundle of benefits suited to a business traveller (or whatever).

But I found the insurance was not as flexible as insurance I could get if I shopped around. Priority Pass was great, but increasingly I travelled business class or had a frequent flyer card so got a more convenient airport lounge anyway. Finally, the forex loading made it a very expensive card to use overseas.

I found them high-handed. If you sign up for independent insurance, you get it for a year. With Amex then can always change it on a month's notice. This left one of my travellers uninsured because the letter came to me whilst I was away and they left before I returned.

I won't ramble on - but I think Amex still believes in marketing a "posh" card and has a certain arrogance in doing so. But after a while people get savvy and break it down to specific tangible benefits. It might work for some, but for many it won't. In the end, it is still a company that operates through a bunch of call centres and if you get stuck or want something as a one off there are no guarantees.

chattychappy

Maz945 wrote: »

I bet they change this policy shortly.

Unfortunately they are too arrogant to do that.

sampinkfish

Yes, the insurance change destroys the value of the card. It also means that if you use a card, such as zero or metro that does not charge for international use, for an onward flight or accommodation most of your insurance disappears. The other problem is the rules governing, whether or not you are insured, are extremely difficult to understand/use so you not/never sure if you are covered. This effectively makes insurance cover dangerous and useless.

I have found an alternative and similar insurance at half the price from Direct Travel - so i will be cancelling my card as soon as i have spent my points - i suspect, as soon as others discover they have effectively removed the insurance from the value bundle, they will vote on this change with their feet.

wingooner

This is a bad move by Amex. My travel is normally paid for by my company thru a travel agent, and if they don't pay by Amex, which of course they don't (its invoiced) then there is no cover.

The priority pass cards for me and my wife are useful but I am not sure they are worth £300.

I have told Amex of my concerns and suggest everybody else does as well. If you work for a large company perhaps you can get them to complain as well.

grambo

I (mainly) used this card for the airport lounge access and great travel insurance, having claimed several times found the product to be excellent. Since the insurance changes the card I can no longer justify the charges.

Does anyone know of any other product/card that would also give me the airport lounge access?

thegoodman

It's a show off card. I bet still a lot of people will keep it.
I have Amex card type of thing

chattychappy

grambo wrote: »

Does anyone know of any other product/card that would also give me the airport lounge access?

Consider just paying-as-you-go. Many "generic" lounges (eg servisair in the UK) are in such a scheme. They just don't want to advertise the fact at the point of entry in case it spoils their image (and attracts the wrong types).

Here is one such scheme: http://www.loungepass.com/ though I've not tried it. I've heard that some airlines will give you lounge access if you pay at check-in.

You can get PP directly - but it is expensive that way because the majority of people that google them out are heavy users. Many people that get PP via Amex (etc) like the idea but are not frequent flyers.

I'm sure you know that if you fly enough with mainstream airlines then usually they'll give you a card that gives you access to their lounges even when in economy.

sampinkfish

I am still very annoyed by this change

My Priority Pass has an expiry date of the 16th Jun 2014 - i plan to cancel the card before the next £300 is due and carry on using the pass. It is the same with the Hilton and SSG stuff.

Concerning the insurance - the best i could find is Direct Travel at more than half the price.

OllyM

sampinkfish wrote: »

I am still very annoyed by this change

My Priority Pass has an expiry date of the 16th Jun 2014 - i plan to cancel the card before the next £300 is due and carry on using the pass. It is the same with the Hilton and SSG stuff.

Concerning the insurance - the best i could find is Direct Travel at more than half the price.

They cancel your Priority Pass membership at the same time - when you visit a lounge they swipe your card so they'll turn you away.