Agreed Amex has the best drink offering by far but with only 1 main and like 2 sides plus soups, salad and desert, they get put to shame by Delta’s food offering. Luckily they partnered with Delta so cross lounge access makes them a perfect pair at least if you fly Delta.
I love this as a solo traveler. I recently got the platinum card and I've only gotten to use the lounge twice. Both times it was filled with obnoxious children running around and big groups of people with nowhere to sit. I just want to enjoy a free breakfast and a nap without worrying about someone lurking through my bag and in a comfortable area.
I do wish they would allow a little bit of leeway for couples. Like maybe just allow one free guest instead of 2. It kind of sucks for me, cause my wife and I travel together all the time and we usually used the lounge together. She’s a Canadian citizen and doesn’t have a US social security #, so I can’t add her as an authorized user, so we’re just gonna end up paying the extra $50 every time.
☕️ Solo traveler and I've been waiting for this change for a while. Had to just skip the lounge once or twice because lines were out the door. Amex should offer quality "grab n go" options like Cap One does.
Team Delta Reserve. We mainly use the Sky Club, and my wife gets 2 passes a year, the exact number she wanted to use in 2022. I often just zip in for a glass of wine and snack, when time is short. Soon Capital One will have a lounge in the D Gates of Las Vegas, our home airport.
Got the authorized user card for my wife as we travel frequently and 4 lounge visits more than pays this off. In addition I had an offer for 10,000 points to add an authorized user if they spend 2k in 6 months. That made it a bit easier to decide on our case. Be sure to check if you can get a similar bonus!
The Amex Platinum makes less and less sense for me. It was going to be my last big travel card, but looks like I’ll stop at Venture X and go get hotel cards.
Ask Seby, thanks for always keeping me in the know of what changes are taking effect on my card, I sometimes learn more from you than the statement inserts they send us.
☕ Pretty pleased with this change, but I am one of the folks who added 3 AUs for $175 right after getting the card, because it enabled my friend group to hit up lounges whenever we traveled. Went to JFK last week, and the Centurion Lounge line was out the door, didn't bother and went to the Delta Sky Club which also had a line out the door, and I just wanted to run in for a quick bite and drink. Anything to reduce the crowding is great, in my eyes!
When going to these lounges, do we just "show" the credit card along with our ID & plane ticket? Or do they actually swipe/scan the platinum card also? Thanks!
My wife is already authorized since she travel for business at least once per month. For us will just showing 2 cards instead of 1 when traveling together
The hotel at 6:50 is the Barcelo in Aruba. Love it there. If you're apart of the vacation club I recommend going at least once. You pay $100/night for an $800 room.
One thing I do not like that Amex changed about a year ago was that if you are not between connecting flights, you can't get into Centurion until 2 hours before departure. So if you go to the airport early you can't get in at all until 2 hours before your flight leaves. Period. So when you get in, you're lucky to have maybe one hour before you start to head to your gate. I could understand 3 hours but not 2. I like the lounge but this restriction seems cheap to me. I'm rushed enough at a airport and don't like a lounge to make it worse.
☕ Definitely an unfortunate change for those who travel as a couple or with a family. As for solo travelers, this could be great! I guess time will tell how it all plays out, but I know a lot of people were complaining about overcrowding, so hopefully this helps. Great video Sebby!
As a mostly solo traveler this is long overdue. Why should I the cardholder not be able to access lounges because half of the people in the lounge don't have a card and are taking up the space from actual cardholders. Well done Amex.
$30 for a 3 year old. That will be $10 glass of milk and $20 cereal. I haven’t even seen a kids play area in the Sfo lounge. I haven’t seen play areas in any of the lounges that I have visited. Too bad kids can’t have a toddler Amex platinum card. Cup of ☕️
☕ solo disabled traveler here and these changes are favorable for folks like me. Whereas I've been lucky not to encounter long lines to get in, it's sometimes impossible to find a tiny table in the lounge to simply roll up to. If by chance it ever gets to a point where I can no longer travel solo, I'd gladly shell out the extra for either a pass or AU. However, with some airports expanding accommodating services in their terminals & keeping bathrooms more hygienic & gates more relaxing, when I'm flying FC/BC sometimes the lounge is overrated.
The best lounge access cards in this order: 1. AMEX Platinum 2. Capital One Venture X 3. Chase Sapphire Reserve Although the CSR has non-lounge benefits that the two others don't.
☕️ went to the centurion lounge in DEI. Sign out front said 30-45min wait but there was no line. Walked up got let in, once inside with my family (utilizes 1 auth user and 2 guest for P1 and 1 guest for P2. All our kids) it was BUSY. We were able to score a table, the food was great and the staff were turning and burning food out. But we didnt get to the lounge side, stuck more on the cafeteria feeling side. Still free food, drink, coffee wasnt impressive. Glad i got to utilize it. For me thats at least a $100 value feeding and drinks for 5 people.
As a solo traveller, I am pleased! Next flight (to France) coming up in February, after this takes effect (Business Class, purchased with points, of course lol). Hopefully Centurion LAX won't be too much of a zoo. 😁 ☕
I miss the days before credit cards gave you access to the lounges. Back in those days, your status with an airline or if you’re flying business or first class gave you access to the lounges. It was much quieter then and far less travelers. For example, the United Red Carpet club would be 1/4 full. You could find a seat away from people. No screaming kids running around. You could actually get some work done. My experience, the food was better then. Now, I’d rather sit outside with the “cattle” than go into the lounge unless I get access to the Polaris lounge. There are also some United lounges that are far better than the Centurion lounges in those cities. Food is much better. Far less people than in the Centurion lounges. Personally, I wish they would go back to the old ways to weed out the crowds. Eliminate credit card access.
I’m mostly a solo traveler my husband and I fly together less than once a year. So we will just pay the $50 vs adding him as an authorized signer on my Amex Platinum. Our home airport only has escape lounges so we can use them with no changes 😉
☕ I am considering working for a lounge to supplement my income and I came across your video. I was already subscribed. I love how thorough you are when you explain things.
Luckily, lounge access isn't one of the main reasons I have the Amex Platinum. Whenever I've traveled, if I notice a Centurion Lounge isn't crowded, I'll go for it, but I've been pretty satisfied by the other lounges I've also gotten access to.
☕Thanks, I started out with a Mercedes Platinum card, but now regular platinum for obvious reasons. For me, this won't really affect me so much. My spouse is an authorized user and she travels a lot so works out. We have no kids so no problem. That said, I am still mystified about why folks complain about crowded lounges. In the past 6 months have been to various Centurian lounges more than 12 times. I have never waited in line for more than 3 minutes, and that was just waiting for people to check-in. One exception was waiting for the lounge to open up. Becaus e me and my spouse travels a lot we find value in it. Also, lets be honest, its nice to be in lounge that doesnt have screaming kids. I know selfish
I am using the two Platinum approach. My wife has one and I have another. I ran the numbers and in our situation, we break even on both cards to justify the annual fees.
Like I said - In our situation - it makes sense to keep them both separate. We each use the $200 hotel credit, the $200 airline incidental credit, plus my wife has Audible (she had it before AMEX offered the credit). Not to mention that a lot of times we double dip into their cash back offers.
Lovin the Morgan Stanley option! Just canned my Platinum and changed to a gold because I was tired of the lame congested lounges. Couldn’t justify the yearly. But, park $25k @ 3.5% (plus $5 month) to get the $695 waived? WIN-WIN!! I’m in! Thanks mate! ☕️☕️☕️
☕️ I have the Morgan Stanley platinum card. If you do a video on this topic, it’s worth mentioning that the CashPlus platinum account reimburses the $695 annual fee. The account has a $55 monthly fee but that can be waived with a monthly direct deposit of $5k and also maintaining an average balance of $25k. The current preferred savings program has 4% interest rate for 2023. The MS route is def not for everyone considering the investment relationship criteria but could make sense for some.
I think the solution if the raise the annual fee would be get a bigger coupon book but only allow people a certain amount of slots 800$ annual but 2x on everything
Last time I was in the Centurion Lounge at SFO was 5 years ago and it was over crowded to the max. Not a single seat available and long wait for shower. I can imagine it is much worse post pandemic.
I think my room is just naturally plain / gray lol. I can add color lights in the back if you think that's better? But it looked really distracting when I was testing it.
☕️ I don’t have a centurion lounge in Boston. Now that they have made those changes I will definitely not be getting the platinum card. I was in Denver a couple of months ago on the United club lounge was packed and people were being directed to the other United Club lounge. I think I have all the cards I’m going to have for a while, but I enjoy watching your videos and learning about all of the updates and offers.
☕Currently not affected. Solo and beginner just starting to travel. Did a couple trips in late 2022 via car. Got my first Amex in Vegas experience which was awesome. Spent almost nothing on food because of the Platinum via the hotel $100 restore fee which the hotel said was available daily for use including the restaurants. Looking to travel at least once via plane this year just have not decided on where (Hawaii or Washington DC). Leaning towards DC because I live in the southwest so weather is almost always nice outside of monsoon season. 😁
☕Good to know that authorized users can also hit the SkyClub. One question: If you've never earned the big welcome bonus on the Platinum, does becoming an authorized user mess you chances up if you want to get your own down the road?
☕️ Thanks for the update I have zero status so now I guess it will be better for me. I get my money back always but I’m not really a traveler. I use Uber & WM, my big perk for me is the phone insurance Thanks for your hard work ❤cheers 🍻
I think the changes only benefits solo travelers. Couples and families will have to pay the additional $175 for AU or pay the guest fee. The guest fee is reasonable but I do feel like they don’t care about families which is why the change benefits solos.
If you did not already know, new members of the milatary get an AMEX Platinum card handed to them and AMEX waves all the fees, and the card can be used worldwide.
☕Love your channel. I've learned so much from following you. I'm going to check out your ask sebby business channel as well. FYI I go to the lounges mainly for the free coffee as well...often it's the only food item their that I enjoy.
🍷I don't drink coffee, but I travel solo and enjoy a glass of wine! I love the changes, and the overcrowding is annoying even in Delta Sky Club. Fortunately, I have the card for other reasons and this is the cherry on top.
$50 for extra guest isn’t too bad. I wish I could’ve abused that bring 2 extra people into the lounges. I was wondering what that $75000 bar was doing in the app. I thought that timeframe was to indicate how much time left I need to spend if I want to keep the lounge pass.
I was late for my flight in Dallas because amex lounge was overcrowded and it was very noisy inside. When i went back to general waiting area i was surprised how quiet it was 😂
☕I'm mostly a solo traveler for work so changes don't effect me much, but do plan to travel with family a couple times this year so if I want to use the louge it will cost $60 for 2 kids, not sure it's worth that.....
I paid top prices for first class and told I was not allowed in. I felt like it was like trying to get into Studio 54 in the 1970's. I went to this incredible small boutique restaurant at the airport and had a mind blowing taco salad that made my being rejected for the lounge ok.
☕️ I'm new to the Amex platinum business card. It's $50 for Sky Club access. I used it for the first time today. I felt that it was overrated. Super crowded, only certain drinks were complimentary. I don’t think I would go again.
After receiving the news update about the new changes for entering the _Priority Pass lounges_ with the AmEx Platinum, I called up my bank and _canceled_ my _AmEx Platinum card._
The first thing people need to do is ask themselves if there is a good worthwhile Centurion lounge in your home airport. If the answer is yes, then ask: how often do I fly per year? If the answer is 2 times or less, perhaps reconsider if the Amex Platinum coupon book is worth your time. ☕️
☕When I reached out to Amex to try and get an exemption for my gf as an occasional additional guest, they told me the $200 flight credit could apply to the lounge. If this is accurate then you can use that to get 4 guest visits.
This works if you are traveling with Delta and go to Sky Delta lounge and you selected Delta as the ancillary. I would assume it works also with United lounges if you selected United. But doubt it would work with Centurion since is not affiliated with any airlines.
Hey Sebby! Could you make a video on the new Morgan Stanley high yield savings option. I have the old setup with the Platinum Cash Plus and the Access Investing and tried figuring it out is MS but could not figure it out. Keep up the good work.
My issue with the food is that dishes that should be hot are not kept hot. I can’t be the only one with this complaint. I agree lounges are too crowded, so I’m ok with the fees.
☕Finally got to use my lounge access last year 2 years after getting the Amex Platinum. It was a Priority Pass lounge and it was nice. We are probably going to do the $175 AU option and upgrade the gold cards for my wife, my mom and our adult kids. Just waiting for the yearly fee to come around before we upgrade.
Make sure that each person has a card. A couple of times we used one card and brought the other in though we had two cards and couldn’t understand why we were charged $Aud 44 for the lounge. It was only with our last flight in September that we finally figured it out.
I just got the Amex platinum but I didn’t know i was going to have to pay $175 to get another car for my husband. Chase you get it for free and access to the lounges. Spending another 695 a year to get 150k points may make sense but it gets expensive getting all these cards. I worry about cancelling them after I use the 150K miles which is all i really care about.
I never understood why people are upset with the “coupon book”. I get a lot of them are unusable because it’s for luxury hotels and expensive products but Amex does it purposely to target the rich (or big spender) person that is likely to buy that stuff anyways.
☕️ I got 3 additional cards for wife, dad & FIL. FIL will just pay for the MIL when they go to lounge themselves. Dad and wife had the additional cards anyway for the global entry access and when dad flies alone. Alcohol and lunch or dinner are totally worth it. Even with taking one extra person. We would end up spending about the same at a food place inside the airport. The 175 for 3 people to have access is perfect for us.
