American Airlines Admirals Club Lounge Access with American Express Platinum Club
by Mr Credit CardCardholders of American Express’s Platinum Credit Card now can use the American Airlines Club Lounge at airports if they are an American Express Platinum Card holder and if they have bought an American airlines ticket.
If your spouse or children are traveling with you, they can also access the lounge. Alternatively, you can also bring two companion travelers with you.
Presently, cardholders of American Express Platinum Card have access to Continental Airlines Presidents Club, Delta Crown Room ClubŪ, and Northwest Airlines WorldClubs. This is a welcome addition to the airport lounge perks.
January 31st, 2008 at 00:06
I’ve been following your saga of Amex Platinum because I sprung for one last fall. I just attempted to book flights and hotel for a conference in Seattle in April ‘08, using the Amex Platinum Travel Service. I was sort of hoping that this was like a real travel agent, like I used to use ten years ago….you give them the dates and preferences, and they come back with some alternatives. I also was hoping that they would be able to advise regarding various Platinum perks.
1. They charge a $39.00 booking fee for airline tickets. This made their quoted ticket prices higher than the online tickets through the Platinum Travel web site.
2. They couldn’t assist with offering any airline upgrades (from coach to business class)….that had to be done through the airline.
3. They couldn’t advise or assist with the Starwood Gold Preferred Hotel Point plan, or whatever it is called…anything related to that had to be done at the hotel.
4. Bookings you do yourself through the web site give you double the membership award points that you would get if you book through their agency.
5. Their hotel rates were higher than the rate given through the conference hotel booking agency. Their lowest quote was $259, and the conference agency quoted $198. It will be interesting to see if these are subject to the upgrade via Starwood.
So, at least on the planning side, I would say the perks from the Platinum card are minimal, when compared to an Amex Gold card. I guess I might have expected a little more juice; when I first called the Platinum number, I could press 1 for travel, 2 for problems with my credit card statement, and 3 for bookings of private jets and 4 for bookings of yachts. Oh well.
March 26th, 2008 at 17:05
Your take on the amex platinum card is dead on. Just got back from Hanoi, Vietnam. Was very difficult to find any establishment that would accept the card. Most would take master card of visa.
Went to the Amex office and was told that Amex had very limited exposure as they had not found an in-country financial institution (? ) to support their card.
Is the Amex card worth the annual fee charged?
September 3rd, 2008 at 00:29
I went to Dallas Fort Worth, Texas.
I went to American Airlines Admirals Club Lounge Access with American Express Platinum Club, and was flatly DENYED !!!!
I had two AMEX Platinum Cards and both were on the “do not honor” side of the card telling the admittance person which cards to allow.
If they exclude the Gold and Green, OK I can under stand the rule.
But I have 2 Platinum Cards and AMEX says they are the ’sh*t cards’ don’t lket these people in. F*** them !!!!
November 14th, 2008 at 11:36
Mike. I’ve used my Amex Platinum card at DFW to gain access to the lounge twice in the past year. You should have called American Express to sort out the problem.
There are Amex “Platinum” card that do not have the airport lounge access perk (generally the cards without annual fees).
November 23rd, 2008 at 17:41
Same thing happened to me – I am an AA 1,000,000 mile frequent flier and wen tinto the Admirals Club with my AMEX “Platinum Business” card. Not only was I denied access at DFW, The AA employee wasnt even nice about it. He treated me like I squatted down and squeezed out a giant turd on his desk. What a bunch of LIARS. Why do we even bother being the least bit loyal to these pricks?
November 23rd, 2008 at 17:42
Oh and another thing – How the hell are we supposed to know there are different versions of their “Platinum” card – Bait and Switch -
November 28th, 2008 at 18:26
It is important for people to understand this. American Express has two type of cards. Lending cards and charge cards. They are different. Lending cards allow you to pay charges over time, carry interest charges, and have small or no annual fees. Charge cards have a high annual fee but are due in full every month (unless you sign up for a special program). The Platinum card that carries all the special perks, including the airport lounges is the Platinum “charge card”. This is the card with a $450 annual fee. If you have anything else, even if it is called Platinum, you do not have all those benefits and need to read your cardmember agreement for details.
Read your agreements to know what it is that you are paying for, what your responsibilities are, and what benefits you are entitled to.
March 8th, 2009 at 18:02
Amex plays games with its customers. They are quickly losing their ststus with the “status travellers” – We are done with Amex. Amex is a dinosauer and this platinmum crap with the Adrmirals Club is pretty much the nail in the coffin. Diner’s Club is gone, now Amex is going to be right behind it.