Burgerwars Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 Link: https://thriftytraveler.com/news/airport-lounges/how-amex-dropped-the-ball-with-centurion-lounges/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP80 Posted July 25 Share Posted July 25 The American Express Platinum card is designed for corporate executive travelers or frequent flyers, average person does not need this card. If I plan to spend a year traveling the world, I will apply for the American Express Platinum. I will happily pay the $695 annual fee to get 175,000 bonus points, and then I plan to cancel my account before my anniversary. I do not need access to any airport lounge set up by any credit card issuer, any airport food and beverage outlet will do, of course, it's just my perspective. Burgerwars 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burgerwars Posted July 25 Author Share Posted July 25 3 hours ago, MP80 said: The American Express Platinum card is designed for corporate executive travelers or frequent flyers, average person does not need this card. If I plan to spend a year traveling the world, I will apply for the American Express Platinum. I will happily pay the $695 annual fee to get 175,000 bonus points, and then I plan to cancel my account before my anniversary. I do not need access to any airport lounge set up by any credit card issuer, any airport food and beverage outlet will do, of course, it's just my perspective. I agree. The $695 would be a waste of money because of how much I travel. Restrictions on how soon you can come, waiting lists, etc., make the lounges less appealing. I'll just stop by the KFC or Starbucks before the flight and consider that my lounge. My home airport (LAX) has the Amex lounge in the Bradley Terminal. Depending on what terminal your flight is leaving from, it could be a huge walk both ways. Not worth it. Just stick around the terminal of your flight. MP80 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP80 Posted July 25 Share Posted July 25 2 hours ago, Burgerwars said: I'll just stop by the KFC or Starbucks before the flight and consider that my lounge. On my last trip before departing from LAX, I had breakfast at Denny’s before checking in for my flight. The Denny's restaurant is located on Century Blvd just a few blocks from the airport. Burgerwars 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burgerwars Posted July 25 Author Share Posted July 25 13 hours ago, MP80 said: On my last trip before departing from LAX, I had breakfast at Denny’s before checking in for my flight. The Denny's restaurant is located on Century Blvd just a few blocks from the airport. When I do travel my usual method of getting to LAX is taking the Flyaway bus from Van Nuys. I think on Century Blvd. as soon as you get off the 405 is a McDonald's. I've done that. Further down Century is some more fast food. There still should be a Taco Bell. On Sepulveda Blvd., just North, there's In-N-Out and more eat places, like Starbucks. Cheaper than in the airport. MP80 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burgerwars Posted July 25 Author Share Posted July 25 Article on downgrading an Amex card: https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/credit-cards/articles/heres-what-happened-when-i-called-amex-to-downgrade-my-platinum-card/ My old, grandfathered in, Amex Gold Card just renewed for another $95 annual fee. Not all the benefits, but sufficient for my needs. If I ever win the lottery, I'm sure I can call to upgrade. MP80 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coopert Posted July 25 Share Posted July 25 I'm sure they will make this a perk if you spend x amount of money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP80 Posted July 26 Share Posted July 26 (edited) The criticism against American Express is that the company doesn't seem to care about members' negative reactions to the increase in annual fees for their (charge cards) credit cards. Here's one unhappy customer of an AmEx card membership pointing to AmEx's increased annual fee resentment... "I'm sorry to all you Amex lovers out there. If you truly can make use of all the coupons they offer on the likes of the Platinum and now the Gold even further then I salute you. This coupon book mentality that Amex has embraced has gotten out of hand. More annual fees and you get the likes of hey white gold and the funniest one of all Dunkin' Donuts credits. Seriously Amex? I am down to 1 Amex card the blue business plus and will scrap that also next year to become Amex free. What's next 250 for the green and monthly McDonald's credit? Maybe a new color to make you feel better about the annual fee increase? LOL!" My inclination to close my American Express Green Card next month is more real than ever. Edited July 26 by MP80 ETA Burgerwars 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoMoreHate Posted July 26 Share Posted July 26 On 7/24/2024 at 6:35 PM, MP80 said: The American Express Platinum card is designed for corporate executive travelers or frequent flyers, average person does not need this card. If I plan to spend a year traveling the world, I will apply for the American Express Platinum. I will happily pay the $695 annual fee to get 175,000 bonus points, and then I plan to cancel my account before my anniversary. I do not need access to any airport lounge set up by any credit card issuer, any airport food and beverage outlet will do, of course, it's just my perspective. You don't have to cancel, just downgrade to gold or green. I've had my Amex since the 1980's and it is currently Platinum, but it has spent most of its 40 year life as a Gold Card. MP80 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP80 Posted July 27 Share Posted July 27 13 hours ago, NoMoreHate said: You don't have to cancel, just downgrade to gold or green. I've had my Amex since the 1980's and it is currently Platinum, but it has spent most of its 40 year life as a Gold Card. Thanks @NoMoreHate! My view on evolving perception has changed and paying an annual fee to any credit card issuer is contrary to today's consumer stance on bank competition, where consumers choose which bank offers higher bonuses and cashback to attract new customers is the popular course for new customers to look forward to. Now systemic evolution on banks pays you to use the credit card they issued, rather than the other way around, paying an annual fee yearly to regain the right to use the credit card. That antiquation of 30 years ago is broken and pioneers a new dichotomy of no annual fee plus cashback policies by Discover and Capital One that other banks continued to emulate. I'll incrementally be closing a credit card that has an annual fee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shifter Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 Just walked by the Centurion lounge in ATL E terminal on the way to our flight and the line was so far you couldn't even see the end. We went to the SkyClub instead which was fine and no line. Burgerwars 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burgerwars Posted August 3 Author Share Posted August 3 On 8/1/2024 at 2:02 PM, shifter said: Just walked by the Centurion lounge in ATL E terminal on the way to our flight and the line was so far you couldn't even see the end. We went to the SkyClub instead which was fine and no line. A while ago I was waiting for a flight at SFO. The Amex lounge was across from the gate I was at, so I sat there and watched. Same thing, but they were also creating a waiting list. I use the $695 I save just to eat elsewhere at the airport. Maybe the average chair in the terminals aren't that comfortable, but I'm not going to live there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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