I have been a Platinum Card holder since 1992. Every year, I reconsider whether I continue to get value from the card to justify the $300 annual fee. Every year so far, I have decided "yes", for the following reasons:

1) Contrary to what people say, the International Airline Program, which requires the purchase of a full-fare ticket in order to receive a second ticket free, is NOT the only travel-related benefit of the card. The airline club memberships and premium memberships in car rental programs are worth at least $100-$150 to me, particularly the Hertz Gold Program, which includes a discount and regular upgrades. In addition, hotel reservations made through Platinum Travel often come at "American Express Rates", which I have not been able to duplicate elsewhere. Recent example: one night at Novotel at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow, $147 vs. about $200 everywhere else I checked. On the occasions when I have stayed at hotels in the Fine Hotels and Resorts program, the benefits have been even more pronounced. The most exceptional instance was at the Palace Hotel in Beijing, where, for the "run-of-the-house" rate of $240/night I was upgraded to a $1400 duplex suite at no extra charge. Spectacular!

2) While basic AmEx customer service can be accessed 24/7 with a collect call around the world, the 24/7 availability of Platinum Travel is a godsend when my plans change enroute. Recent example: called in the middle of the night from Central Asia, had my collect call accepted, spent 20 minutes making travel arrangements. That alone would have been a $100 phone call if I hadn't been able to call collect. And I would have had to have a 24-hour travel agent, since I couldn't easily access the Web from where I was staying. It is also very useful, if one travels internationally a lot, to have the Emergency Evacuation Insurance. While I have not had to use it, I have fallen seriously ill and once had a brief hospitalization in a Third World country, and the knowledge that I had this "lifeline" in addition to my other insurance was reassuring.

3) AmEx really delivers in a crisis. Again, regular Customer Service makes this promise, but the special treatment I received last year when mugged and injured overseas was exceptional. A new card in three HOURS, help with credit authorization for the rest of my journey with my new card, and the offer of cash and legal assistance if I needed them (I didn't), were really impressive. Contrast with Visa, which said, "We'll cancel your card, get in touch with us when you get well and get back and we'll see about issuing you a new card". This one experience alone was worth a few years of annual fees to me.

4) That being said, I am irritated that AmEx constantly bombards me with junk mail about various flight/baggage/insurance etc. programs, and crappy catalogs and offers that I have no interest in. It's not very classy given the image of the Card they are so keen on projecting. In addition, I have found Customer Service for routine problems to be no better and no worse than standard Green Customer Service. And their touch-tone menu is a nightmare! They should learn from Diners Club on this one. These are the only issues that make me rate AmEx Platinum 4 instead of 5 stars.

It IS hard for me to imagine leaving home without it.



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