American Express Platinum is one of the foremost cards from the privileges perspective around the globe, backed by the well-known American Express customer service. I remember when they launched the card in India about 6-7 years back, it was an invite-only product, with tonnes of privileges, but also some solid signup gifts such as Longines Watches & Membership Reward Points for signup, to justify the INR 50,000 + taxes membership fee per annum.
Amex’s sole competitor in this lifestyle card space was the Citibank Ultima, which till last year, provided 50K JP Miles, 5 JP Upgrade vouchers and JetPrivilege Platinum status, however, the proposition got significantly diluted, and as a result, I personally cancelled my Citibank Ultima credit card recently as well, switching over to a second Citibank PremierMiles in the process.
Anyhow, I was informed on Friday that American Express, for the month of February 2014, has a special promotion running, where they are providing INR 40,000 worth of Taj Hotel Group’s stay vouchers (4 INR 10,000 vouchers, valid for stays at Best Available Rates in India, within 6 months of issuance date). This effectively brings the subscription cost of the card for the first year to INR 16,180 inclusive of taxes.
While I intend to do a full analysis of this card later in the month, the salient features of the card are as follows:
- Access to the Platinum Lounge at Mumbai and Delhi Airports
- An Unlimited Priority Pass for yourself and one supplementary card holder
- Gold Tier Membership to the Taj Inner Circle Program & Highest Tier Membership to the Taj Epicure Plus Dining Program
- Access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts Program, which is a curated list of 700 or so properties which provide additional benefits on booking via Amex
- Access to Delta SkyClubs while travelling in the USA, and 100 lounges apart from the Priority Pass program
Quite simply, this is a lifestyle and privileges card, and not something I’d put a lot of spend on, unless I required an unlimited credit line, or I wanted to make it to being the 201st person to get the recently launched Amex Centurion card in India.
But if you’re interested, you should connect with Amex and apply for this card. Make sure to ask for the promotion details, and remember, the minimum income bar on this card is Above INR 25 Lakh per annum.
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I had Citibank gold but due to address change
My cards went BK
&
I didn’t get to follow
.
.
If Citibank cud give me my old cards
Now the Platinum charge card comes with 60k Taj vouchers as part of a corporate campaign. The minimum income limit now is 50L+/year. This could be a limited campaign.
@Bhas, do you have more details and could email me those?
Hello
This offer is back again or you could choose fitbit Jawbone I think.Not sure this card is so enticing ever since Citi Prestige was released here. The Prestige card matches most of the lifestyle benefits and more important 100Rs spend equates to 4 miles
Still the voucher for 40k is available with the platinum charge card. You can contact directly on this number for more details 8237617617(vishesh)
I received a call from an Amex rep today. They do have the 40K voucher offer but apparently only for those customers who own a BMW or a Mercedes ?! Amusing condition that. So what if I happen to own an Audi or a Jag?
@TravellingToucan that offer has been on since January of this year and only in February/March 2014 they offered it for select other customers as well. I expect it to be a free for all soon again, specially with Citibank launching new products in competition soon.
Dear sir request you to give me a call id your intrested for the plat charge card @8287662777
how is diners black?
I do not have it, so won’t be able to comment. However, HDFC JET World Credit Card is an excellent value for money.
out of curiosity,amex centurion & black is same.
and what are the privilege on it?
Yups, I know. Calling it by the name of BLACK CARD, cause it sounds “TOP END”. I am not aware of benefits offered on this CARD, but people who own it suggests that they do get full value out of it. A couple of Business Class upgrades to First Class on a trans Atlantic Flight will definitely help recover most of Annual Fee.
citi is not sourcing new ultima now.
what is prestige?
Citibank Prestige Card is a Global Credit Card Brand being launched all over the World. In India, it is most likely to replace the earlier Ultima Credit Card, though there are no official confirmation to it, yet.
Definitely, Citi has not replaced Ultima Magnetic Strip Card with Chip Cards, suggesting a dead end for it soon.
@Mayank, the Prestige card already exists in the USA and some other markets. It will replace the earlier Ultima and compete with Amex Plat, while the new Ultima to be released this year will fight it out with the Amex Centurion.
So basically Prestige in India will be used to bump off current Ultima users, & Ultima will be relaunched a bit later with a new face? Citibank suggests that there will be no Ultima going forward.
@Mayank yes. They can’t tell you about the Ultima because that card is going to be in very very limited nos. here on and a very high fee
In case they price it alongside AMEX Centurion, It will be beyond my reach. Also, if I would ever have that kind of money to spend on Card Annual Fee, it will be only AMEX BLACK.
I did not receive any Incentive / Gifts on joining AMEX PLAT, other than the regular Memberships that comes with it. Citibank Ultima stands withdrawn & will be replaced by Citibank Prestige Card sometime in April 14.
@Mayank this promotion was only for applications made February 2014 and onwards. Did you join in this time? I am aware of the launch of Citibank Prestige and relaunch of Citibank Ultima as well.
other than this subject, if one take tajGold directly with Taj @11250 which comes with one night free is it not worth it?
i understand Taj4000 offer was only for feb and now it is over
@agarwal I am told after special approvals they can still get it done
AJ: Any detailed analysis on this card?
@Parag will happen but not in the next few days I’m afraid. However, with this offer, I am happy to take this card because it comes with SPG Gold, Carlson Gold, Cathay Gold, Taj Gold, 40K Taj Vouchers, 2 unlimited Priority Passes & unlimited visits to Amex Lounges. so for that cost, I’m happy to take it.
Generally the difference between the promotional rate and BAR is about 20%+ and BAR does not include BF [unless a club room] whereas the promotional rate generally includes breakfast and provides other inclusions like sightseeing, other meals, airport transfers etc.
Eg. as per their website, Kumarakom has BAR for a superior charm room @12167 per night which is 44k incl tax for 3 nights whereas an extended stay scheme for same room incl BF/ 20% disc on food works out to 37000 for 3 nights. Adjusting @1200 per day per person for BF for 2 persons reduces this cost by 7200 ie. we are comparing 44000 for 3 nights with 30000 [and we still have the benefit of 20% discount on food which would be worth another 2k to 3k over 3 days]. Probably BAR is not double but is certainly very expensive hence usable only if you want the option of cancellation.
Also, since I am a Gold member of Taj Innercircle, I get 10% off on Taj Holidays which makes the promotional rate even more attractive.
@SmartXplorer, Agree, but i think the value of anything that is coming complimentary to take the edge off a 50K fee is to be looked in a different light than buying those vouchers. I am a Taj Gold as well, and I’m sure it won’t be difficult to swing breakfast to complimentary on these stays, and maybe an upgrade as well. So, as compared to the times before where for the longest time Amex offered nothing to join the Platinum charge card, now they are offering a huge number of vouchers (40K), which might just have cost them 10-15K, but I have to look at them from the perspective of a user, not a sourcing person.
Not a great promotion. The best available rate is generally about double the promotional rate. Does not include breakfast. Hence you end up saving only 20000 instead of 40k.
@SmartXplorer That would be the difference between the Best Available Rate and the Rack Rate in case of the Taj hotels. Are we on the same page? the only rate lesser than BAR at Taj is early bird ones where you prepay and hence get another 10% off as per my info.
WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF PAYING THEM INR 16,180 EXTRA,
WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF PAYING THEM INR 16,180. WHEN OTHER CARDS ARE FREE.
@agarwal, like I’ve stated earlier, this is a lifestyle & privileges card and comes with a lot of benefits. you are invited to check the benefits yourself on the American Express India website.
Thanks for the heads up. Looking forward to the full analysis.
I contacted citi for Ultima card but they informed they have stopped issuing Ultima in India.