Unfortunately for those that have the American Express Platinum card and like to frequent the American Airlines and US Airways Airport lounges will be out of luck starting March 22, 2014. As of that date, free access will not be granted to those two clubs as one of the perks of the Amex Platinum card. I am currently an Amex Platinum card holder and American Airlines is typically my airline of choice, so I am definitely not too pleased with this, especially due to the hefty fee that comes with the Platinum card.
After March 22, 2014, as a benefit of Platinum Card Membership, Card Members will continue to receive access to the following airport lounge networks:
- Participating Delta Sky Club® lounges
- Priority Pass(TM) Select: When you enroll in Priority Pass(TM) Select, you can access over 600 participating airport lounges worldwide – no matter what class or airline you fly
- Airspace Lounges in New York (JFK), Cleveland (CLE) and the Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) airports (learn more at airspacelounge.com)
- American Express is also excited to announce that Platinum/Business Platinum Card Members now have complimentary, unlimited access to the Centurion Lounges as a new benefit. This benefit began on September 30, 2013. The current lounges are in the Las Vegas McCarran airport and the Dallas/Fort-Worth airport. The lounges are the first of several American Express airport lounges that will open in major U.S. cities, and offer complimentary gourmet food, signature cocktails and curated wines, high speed Wi-Fi, a computer bar, and more. For more information, visit thecenturionlounge.com.
Fortunately, many readers have received targeted emails from American Express letting them know that due to the situation, they will receive a $200 or $500 (readers have received both thus far) credit that can be used on American and US Airways. This credit can be used towards:
- Membership fees in the Admirals Club program and US Airways Club
- One-day passes to Admirals Club lounges and US Airways Club lounges
- Other American Airlines and US Airways incidental fees like baggage fees or flight change fees (assuming it will work exactly the same as the annual $200 reimbursement benefit)
As I mentioned earlier, I am an American Express Business Platinum cardmember and the only email I received was letting me know of the loss and reminding me that I can use my annual $200 incidental benefit towards lounge access. I did not receive any targeted email giving me an extra $200-$500. I also have American Airlines set up as my airline of choice for my $200 reimbursement in incidentals. From what I have read from other reports, there doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason why some were targeted and others were not. I actually have yet to call American to see if they can extend this promotion my way, but I’ve heard that others did not have much luck.
UPDATE: I was able to get a $100 incidental credit and when I mentioned that others were getting $200-$500 in credit, the representative was not able to see that promotion available for me, but was able to give me a $35 goodwill credit.
My annual fee is due in January and I was contemplating canceling the card anyways. With this perk gone, chances are VERY high that I will no longer be a cardmember. If they decide to extend the $200 or $500 credit my way though, I will most definitely change my mind!
Keep an eye out from American Express labeled “Important information about your Platinum Card(R) Account”.
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They would only offer me $100. My platinum card renewal isn’t until August 2014.
Whew! Almost panicked when I read your email. I use the lounges on my trips to South America. My Priority Pass will save me.
Will Admirals Club and US Club members have access to each other once this change happens?
Got the same e-mail you did. Nada on the additional credit.
Oh, yeah, I am NOT happy about this. The Admiral’s Clubs have saved my cookies working before and after flights more times than I can remember. I don’t really like the thought of dropping an additional several hundred dollars for a separate Admiral’s Club membership. I’m definitely not going to get an additional credit card that carries a $450 annual fee.
I was hoping that there may be a “back door” so to speak through Priority Pass, but I can’t find any American lounges or Admiral’s Clubs listed in their directory.
I’ll still fly American. I’m to vested in the AAdvantage program. But I’m going to be bitter about this for a long time.
I know it’s just coincidence but the timing of this announcement along with the new management changeover feeds my fear that the new management will bring AA down to US Air standards rather than rise to American’s standards that I’ve come to expect as an elite.
=M=
“The priority pass also gives you access to US Airways lounges and American Airline domestic lounges.”
Just to clarify, this doesn’t include all lounges. At the Dallas airport, for example, access to the Admiral’s Club is not included with Priority Pass.
@tim a – correct it is participating lounges. I will clarify. Thanks for pointing out!
Hi, Tim,
“Just to clarify, this doesn’t include all lounges. At the Dallas airport, for example, access to the Admiral’s Club is not included with Priority Pass.”
DFW has the AMEX Centurion Lounge in the already very nice Terminal D, so it’s not all bad here. A few extra minutes on the SkyTrain if your gate is one of the other American terminals here.
Priority Pass also does not include the Admiral’s Clubs in Austin or LAX. The LAX really hurts, as Terminal 4 there is one of my least-favorite anywhere. I’ve worked many an hour at the LAX Admiral’s Club both before and after flights. That’s a perk I’ll miss for a lot of reasons.
=M=
I keep wondering if I should call and mention. I think it’s pretty shady that they aren’t offering SOMETHING to each member. I just got the card and I am pissed.
@heather – absolutely call
The only thing constant in this world is change.
The Priority Pass is a smaller version called Select that excludes lots of lounges.
I see lots of people canceling the card because the one time credit is just that, one time credit !
I just spoke with a Platinum Card customer service manager and she essentially said they will not compensate me and they don’t care if I cancel my cards. I understand American’s new agreement with Citi, so I can’t blame them, but WOW American Express hit an all time low here. No compensation and not replacement benefits to their BEST customers.
I got an e-mail from them today, and I was not offered the $200 or $500 that other members were offered. I just got my card this past summer… probably not going to renew it again. They should offer something to everyone, especially on a card with a $475 annual fee.
I became depressed when this news happened. We are primarily American Airlines customers and now we can’t get access to the lounges unless we pay the membership fee. I have three children spread out through the US and now they can’t get access. This is upsetting. Also, I got no additional offer from AMEX.
Just called AMEX platinum. They offered me $500 towards Baggage charges, inflight services, food and lounge fees on either American or US airways from March 22,2014 until December 31, 2014. Since I am not a road warrier, this will cover any lounge fees I may have at AA and US Air. I still have the $200 towards baggage fees on Delta. So, all in all not a bad deal..perhaps better for me as it covers baggage and other incidental charges and change fees
This is a robbery. American Express is defaulting its customers. American Express pretend to save and make some profit out of saving in their payments to American Airlines for this benefits but this was the only reason for me to have a platinum card. Now without this Benefit, it does not make any sense to be a Platinum Card member, pay the hundreds of dollars on annual fees and get nothing back. I do not care about american express magazines, when I purchase tickets with amercian express they start bugging me with fees and nonsense insurances so I only have it for the AA Clubs. Now I will return it and save my buck.. Bye Bye AMEX PLATINUM!