Marriott employee here. Even if u book it through 3rd party or in any other way, just call the actual hotel and add your bonvoy number to the reservation. The desk should be able to do that for you. This way if they have the availabity for an upgraded room, you will get it. You can also ask the desk at check-in for a complementary upgrade that you are eligible for as a gold member.
Thanks for the clear descriptions! Having a general description of different features of the Plat card like this is really a life (money) saver... especially with the little tricks to save or maximize!
This very helpful! Would love to see a video how to use these cards with families. Such as getting the companion card versus the additional card members. I am trying to understand how utilize the card for lounge access and additional clear. I keep going back and for between this and CSR
CLEAR tip while flying through Denver...don't use it. With the newly constructed security screening, Clear has it's own dedicated security line that DOESN'T jump you out into the front of the regular TSA pre line and you still have to do the facial recognition. It actually takes longer to go through the CLEAR lane...and you still get random ID checks.
Honestly got the Platinum cause they offered a 175K sign up bonus, and I was already planning some big purchases anyways. The clear credit and TSA bonus are rather decent as well. I primarily used it to check if it was worth it for some luxury traveling, but it seems likely I will either downgrade or cut it entirely after 1.9 years during the next renewal.
Hi Ben!! I was just wondering if you’re gonna create a video, and you can call it, “14 Things You Must Do Before You Cancel The American Express Platinum PERMANENTLY.” Once the annual fee increases announcement, don’t you like a lot of people are going to get off the AmEx Platinum train?” I’m just asking for a friend. Keep up the great work! 👍🏾
Thx for your videos. Very helpful. You mentioned perhaps booking through portals may not get the hotel to recognize your status. Even through the Amex portal for Hilton or Marriott?
I'm not seeing "any Amex card" in the terms. Just platinum or Centurion cards. "To receive this benefit, you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber and/or Uber Eats apps and your eligible Platinum Card or Centurion Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account." Maybe that's brand new?
If you want the "exclusive" Centurion lounges, sure. If you like free room upgrades to some "luxury hotel" chains (a bit more than CSR, I think), then its good as well as some bonus benefits while staying at those brands. But if you don't do a lot of luxury traveling, and just stick to non branded hotels, then CSR is a better catch all travel card (with the same or better protections), than the Plat. Its also cheaper, and the bonuses to the plat don't make up for it.
Do you get more credits, or do you just unlock the privilege to redeem your points to your investor account at 1.1x CPP? I thought that was really the only difference.
I wasn’t aware there were different versions of the card when I signed up. It does make sense now, but am I incorrect when I say it’s only an “additional” benefit if you have those specific versions? I think another member mentioned this as well. So if I have a Schwab investment account and then signed up for Platinum I only get more for my Schwab investment account? I have a Morgan Stanley account and apparently there’s also a version of the card for those customers too? It’s very confusing. Also this is a purely vanity comment, but I want both the garden graphic card and the “abstract” graphic card. Apparently I cannot do that. At the end of the day the complimentary status and the travel credits are the reasons I keep the Platinum. For example thanks to following Ben, I get all of my guest passes to Delta lounges comp’d.
no, since that is not a charge from any specific airlines, so you can only use it for lounge guest fees if you for example chose Delta as your airline and took a guest to the Delta skyclub, or chose AA as your airline and paid to get in to the Admirals Club
Why? That really depends on what you want to buy. If you were looking to buy something that Saks sells at a similar price to elsewhere, then buy it st saks and use the credit. I often let my wife use it for make up, which she would be buying anyway
NOOOOOO, I upgraded my gold to a second Platinum and forgot to enroll Saks 5th. I just bought $35 socks and actually paid $35. Now I have to buy $50 in fancy popcorn and have it shipped to my house.
the US Amex Platinum is way more powerfull than the German & EU version. we dont have 75% of the US Card Benefits. maybe i have to applay for a US Amex 😂
