I’ve been working to explore the feature set of my American Express Platinum Charge Card, which I finally acquired a couple of months back after all they threw in INR 40,000 worth of Taj Vouchers along with the other goodies. One of the things I’ve been looking forward to using is their Travel Services, which is basically a travel agent on the phone. Now, being American Express and all that, you’d expect that the Travel Counsellors, as they are called, would do a thorough job of researching the properties and flights before they’d send you a quote. My expectation of an offline travel agent, at least some of the good ones I work with, is that they don’t just want…
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American Express adds 7 lounges across India
American Express is trying to step up their product offering in India after a very very long time (say 5 years!). In 2012, they came up with the American Express Jet Airways co-branded credit card, which has been in my wallet since, and now they are adding some serious muscle to their existing offerings. American Express cards did not offer much of Lounge access in India, apart from access to the Mumbai and Delhi Platinum lounge, that too, not for everyone, only Platinum and Centurion Card holders, and Jet Platinum Credit Card holders without any guests. Of course, Platinum Card holders and Centurion Card holders get Priority Passes as well, but this did not have the convenience of having a…
Amex Platinum Reserve and Jet co-brand cards available at INR 5,000 for first year
One of the less widely covered American Express Credit Card on my blog is the American Express Platinum Reserve Credit Card. Originally meant to be the credit card version of the American Express Charge Card, the Credit Card comes with some limited but still useful benefits. While a full review of this product will have to wait, here are some of the benefits of this card: 22,000 Bonus Membership Rewards Points on signup 1 Membership Rewards Point for every Rs.40 spent Access to the American Express Lounges at Delhi and Mumbai Dosmestic Airports Complimentary membership to Taj Epicure Plus Gold Tier in the Taj Inner Circle program Priority Pass, with two complimentary visits per annum Now, the usual fees for…
Last Call: OneWorld Sapphire via American Express Platinum ends March 2014
One of the benefits offered by American Express Platinum Charge Cards in some markets, including India, UK & Canada has been Complimentary Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Gold Status. This equates to oneworld Sapphire status, which provides you with the following benefits: Business Class Priority Check-in Preferred Seating Business Class Lounge Access with one guest Priority Boarding While this is not an advertised benefit, the reason for that is that this benefit is being withdrawn with effect from 31 March 2014. However, American Express has confirmed that for anyone who is holding the card or gets the card before 31 March 2014 and is able to get their completed form across for Cathay Pacific Gold, they will be able to honour…
Free Ticket codes very good reason why you should keep your Jet co-branded credit cards
One of the query I receive frequently from readers has been about the renewal for their Jet Airways co-branded credit cards issued by HDFC Bank, American Express and ICICI Bank. Most readers find it attractive to receive the card in the first year with 15,000 to 30,000 JP Miles as sign-up bonus, and want to cancel it after the first year because the second year renewal benefits are not as good, and they are paying the same amount of fees. While everyone who likes collecting miles across the globe loves to look at the US banks and the ability of US residents to churn credit cards every 3-6 months for big sign-up bonuses, it is a heartbreak indeed that the…
My 2014 Credit Card Strategy
Last week, I wrote about my 2013 Mileage Credit Card strategy, where I told you guys I managed to get something about 264,000 miles basis credit cards issued in India for the full calendar year. For 2014, here are the credit cards I am looking at having in my wallet. Take note that while I intend to publish full reviews for each product at some point of time, it may be a while before I would be able to bring them all in the fold. To make it simple, I’ve updated my Mileage CC calculator for 2014 numbers, so have a look and see which is the best one for you. Here are the cards I already have, and I’ll…
My 2013 Indian Credit Card mileage wins
I know it is a little late in the day to put out a round up for 2013, but I thought I’d do it anyways. I did not get the time to put a post earlier than this, but all I can tell you is we are lucky to be living in times when the mileage earning game is just about getting started in this country. And I am happy to be on board earlier rather than later. For the rest of you, miles and points are not just a silly hobby, but they can finance a lifestyle if you did all the right things. For the longest time, for 10 years or so actually, India just had one major…
INR 40,000 Taj Vouchers for American Express Platinum Charge Card signup
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…
Get 2,000 extra Membership Rewards Points/ JPMiles on taking an Amex referral (India only)
Back in November, American Express India launched a member-get-member promotion, where the referrer and referred new cardholder are both going to get bonus points/miles for signing on for a new American Express Credit Card via this program. Under the program, the referrer will get 3,000 extra JPMiles if they hold the Jet Amex, and 3,000 extra Membership Reward points if they have the Amex Gold Charge Card/Platinum Travel Card/Platinum Reserve Credit Card. A maximum of 5 referrals would be awarded, and you can submit your referrals all the way uptil October 2014. Self nominations do not count. The Referred Member will, on successfully getting an Amex Jet/Platinum Travel/Platinum Reserve Credit Card via the referral scheme, get 2,000 MR/JPMiles within 6-8…
American Express offering 30,000 JPMiles signup bonus for Jet Airways co-branded credit card
Last year, when American Express and Jet Airways launched their co-branded Jet-Airways American Express Credit Card, they offered a special sign-up bonus of 10,000 JPMiles over and above the welcome gift of 20,000 JPMiles which is the standard on-going offer. However, the sign-up bonus was only available to those who paid the INR 10,000 + taxes as first year fees, hence, I chose to pay the fee in spite of being a JetPrivilege Platinum member and eligible for the credit card free of cost. I was getting miles at INR 0.33 per JPmile, and it was hard to beat that value. On my last Jet Airways flight earlier this week, I saw flyers around the cabin talking about the special…
American Express Gold Charge Card changing Membership Reward points earning
It seems there is quite some amount of rework happening with the American Express Gold Charge Card offered in India. The card was being offered for free for the first year, and a fee of Rs. 4,500 (plus taxes) from the second year onwards. One of the key benefits of the card was the ability to earn a 1000 Membership Rewards points bonus by just making 4 transactions for Rs. 250 each per month. However, quite some things seem to have changed now. First, the card does not come free for the first year, but for a fee of Rs. 2,500 (plus taxes). And secondly, the feature to get 1000 bonus points after 4 uses of the card in a…
