Amex Sending Platinum Charge Upgrade offer for JAN 2025 - 150000 MR Points

[bing1309]

He guys I got an upgrade offer for a Platinum charge card, I am requesting your help or suggestions what to do in the 2025 case as per the new pdf.

I need your help in deciding what to do.

 

[vishalgupta2]

Plat charge is never a rewarding card. It's a lifestyle card with Charge system. Of course status symbol and wow factor adds up.

I am not too worried about this as status isn't important to me. I asked coz I wanted to check if I am missing something

 

[BVCBVC is verified member.]

I am not too worried about this as status isn't important to me. I asked coz I wanted to check if I am missing something

There is nothing to miss actually. Reward rate is simple with 1 point per 40 spent. Reward accelerator 5X. More Elite tier memberships, Amex Concierge and access to Amex lounges. There are some more but these are major features.

 

[amit]

waiting for 1.9L offer 😛

 

[BVCBVC is verified member.]

waiting for 1.9L offer 😛

Then annual pricing will be 85K. 😂😂

 

[Rdspam]

waiting for 1.9L offer 😛

I doubt they will beat the 1.5L + 10K offer, at least this year. Even this was a lot considering their usual offers.

 

[drsel]

Then annual pricing will be 85K. 😂😂

It's like buying the points and paying for them

 

[BVCBVC is verified member.]

It's like buying the points and paying for them

That's how it goes for us and Amex. They want money and we want MR points at decent value.

 

[navam]

Never bought MR for cash, what's the price like for 1mr?

 

[malavkarkar]

Never bought MR for cash, what's the price like for 1mr?

I believe you can buy maximum 10,000 points in a year for ₹4,000. Marriott points have higher limit but are also more expensive.

Don't buy points unless you have a trip in sight which is cheaper with points than cash.

 

[ENIAC]

I got a plain 150K points offer no bonus 10k or 5k amazon, will they budge if i ask?

 

[abhinandanchiney]

Never bought MR for cash, what's the price like for 1mr?

The context of this discussion of buying is getting the Platinum charge card as an invited upgrade for 78k INR and getting 150k points

 

[navam]

The context of this discussion of buying is getting the Platinum charge card as an invited upgrade for 78k INR and getting 150k points

Ofcourse, my question was derived from that which @malavkarkar answered 🙂

 

[vikramsrit]

If you have a family (1-2 kids) and are planning to use MR points for Marriott stays, and this is the reason this card excites you - Please do not buy it. There are hardly any marriott hotels where you can book rooms with kids using MR point at any reasonable value. I did this mistake last year, and Plat charge probably is my worst investing mistake. I don't have a lavish lifestyle, but at the same time the fee doesn't matter much to me. It's about the value that you derive from this card - which in my case was very poor. I hold Infinia, BizBlack, M4B and Plat Travel - which I think is the best combination for any kinds of spends.

 

[sourpai]

If you have a family (1-2 kids) and are planning to use MR points for Marriott stays, and this is the reason this card excites you - Please do not buy it. There are hardly any marriott hotels where you can book rooms with kids using MR point at any reasonable value. I did this mistake last year, and Plat charge probably is my worst investing mistake. I don't have a lavish lifestyle, but at the same time the fee doesn't matter much to me. It's about the value that you derive from this card - which in my case was very poor. I hold Infinia, BizBlack, M4B and Plat Travel - which I think is the best combination for any kinds of spends.

I agree overall on your opinion on Plat charge, however while booking hotels, usually book for 2A + 1C (if second child is below 5 yrs). It gives options for base rooms or rooms bookable on points. At the hotel then you can take extra bed as required. This is what I did last month for Courtyard Mahabaleshwar and was able to book at ~0.75 value. On top of it, they gave extra bed free of cost

 

[malavkarkar]

If you have a family (1-2 kids) and are planning to use MR points for Marriott stays, and this is the reason this card excites you - Please do not buy it. There are hardly any marriott hotels where you can book rooms with kids using MR point at any reasonable value. I did this mistake last year, and Plat charge probably is my worst investing mistake. I don't have a lavish lifestyle, but at the same time the fee doesn't matter much to me. It's about the value that you derive from this card - which in my case was very poor. I hold Infinia, BizBlack, M4B and Plat Travel - which I think is the best combination for any kinds of spends.

If you're not able to book rooms for 2 adults and 1 or 2 kids, do not disclose the number of guests at the time of booking. Book the room for 2 adults and call/email the hotel and ask them to add a third guest to your room. It works out fine most of the time, as long as we're talking about a kid and not a teenager.

We did two family vacations (6 rooms at Westin Himalayas and 4 rooms at Mulberry Shades) and kids pretty much stayed and dined for free. My brother is headed to Singapore later this year with his friends. So many hotels are not available to book when you add a child, and some hotels only show suites and no base rooms. They added kids (3y and 6y) to the reservation by calling the hotel after booking for two adults.

No harm in trying this, bookings are cancellable anyways.

 

[navam]

If you're not able to book rooms for 2 adults and 1 or 2 kids, do not disclose the number of guests at the time of booking. Book the room for 2 adults and call/email the hotel and ask them to add a third guest to your room. It works out fine most of the time, as long as we're talking about a kid and not a teenager.

We did two family vacations (6 rooms at Westin Himalayas and 4 rooms at Mulberry Shades) and kids pretty much stayed and dined for free. My brother is headed to Singapore later this year with his friends. So many hotels are not available to book when you add a child, and some hotels only show suites and no base rooms. They added kids (3y and 6y) to the reservation by calling the hotel after booking for two adults.

No harm in trying this, bookings are cancellable anyways.

Maybe in India or maybe they changed their policy recently but in 2023 this got me in trouble at sofitel krabi, I did not disclose my kid (honest mistake really, somehow their UI refreshed and i did not double check) and had to spend 15-20 mins arguing at the reception not to mention the bad looks both nights I was there... Mind you this was a 2 yr old kid they threw a tantrum over.
Another reason I stay away from marriot, they just aren't as kid/family friendly (in my limited experience)

 

[malavkarkar]

Maybe in India or maybe they changed their policy recently but in 2023 this got me in trouble at sofitel krabi, I did not disclose my kid (honest mistake really, somehow their UI refreshed and i did not double check) and had to spend 15-20 mins arguing at the reception not to mention the bad looks both nights I was there... Mind you this was a 2 yr old kid they threw a tantrum over.
Another reason I stay away from marriot, they just aren't as kid/family friendly (in my limited experience)

Policy varies from hotel to hotel. Sometimes they would agree to make amendments to your booking, sometimes they won't. If they don't, you will have enough time to book another hotel.

An email from the hotel works as a good enough proof that they're willing to accommodate a child with you in the room. But you always have to disclose beforehand the total number of guests, and some countries take this more seriously because it's a matter of safety for them.

For the times we have traveled with nieces and nephews, we usually book for two adults and call the hotel to add third person and everything works out smoothly. Once they change your booking to 3 guests, the same reflects in the app as well.

Edit: Sofitel belongs to Accor btw. I don't have any personal experience with Accor, but I'm sure they would be more accommodating in general as other brands. Because they know that a bad experience at Sofitel Krabi has the tendency to affect your future plans at a Fairmont in Europe. These brands have excellent customer service in general and they do care about their loyalty programs and its members. What happened with you was an exception and definitely not the norm.

 

[navam]

Policy varies from hotel to hotel. Sometimes they would agree to make amendments to your booking, sometimes they won't. If they don't, you will have enough time to book another hotel.

An email from the hotel works as a good enough proof that they're willing to accommodate a child with you in the room. But you always have to disclose beforehand the total number of guests, and some countries take this more seriously because it's a matter of safety for them.

For the times we have traveled with nieces and nephews, we usually book for two adults and call the hotel to add third person and everything works out smoothly. Once they change your booking to 3 guests, the same reflects in the app as well.

To be fair I did not send an email as I wasn't aware of this mistake till they told me.

 

[BVCBVC is verified member.]

Received tracking details for the card. Card is dispatched.

 

[sid16]

I don't understand how holding a particular credit card shows status. I feel it is a huge gimmick to portray Amex Plat Charge to be a status symbol. I don't think the cashier is going to bow down or salute you when you give it to them to swipe.