Amex Changes Mercedes-Benz Platinum Card Bonus Terms - Prior Platinum Cardholders Excluded
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Update: Beginning March 22, 2014, American Express Card Members will no longer have access to American Airlines Admiral Club and US Airways Club airport lounges through Airport Club Access / Airport Lounge Program. This means that Card Members will no longer be able to gain complimentary access to the American Airlines airport lounges (known as Admirals Club lounges) or the US Airways Club airport lounges as a benefit of their Platinum Card Membership.
TPG reader Debbie wrote to me that she was interested in applying for the Mercedes-Benz Platinum Card from American Express, which comes with all of the same benefits that I value with the personal Platinum Card (American, Delta, US Airways and Priority Pass Select lounge access and $200 yearly airline credit) as well as a 50,000-point bonus when you spend $3,000 within the first three months.
However, reading through the terms, she noted that "This offer is not valid for existing Platinum Card members from American Express. You are eligible to receive points for only one Card account."
You might recall that during my last major round of credit card applications back in March, I had decided when making my current credit card inventory list, to replace my then-current American Express Platinum card with the Mercedes-Benz version and score an additional bonus in the process.
Back then, the terms simply stated that the "Welcome bonus offer not available to applicants who have had this product within the last 12 months." I confirmed on this Flyertalk thread that those with a regular Platinum had been getting the bonus with no issues, though, so it was as if Amex considered the two cards as separate products.
However, instead of switching and foregoing the sign-up bonus, I applied for the Mercedes card as a new applicant, and then once I got it, I canceled my old Platinum card over to it, scored the new bonus, and was off to the races.
Since then, though, it looks like Amex has started cracking down more on applicants who want to score bonuses both on the personal Platinum and Mercedes-Benz versions and it has amended to terms to include previous cardholder-ship of the regular Platinum Card as an exclusion to getting a new bonus on a second Platinum card.
That's unfortunate, and I would love to hear any recent reader experiences to the contrary, but it just goes to show that if you find a great credit card deal, you should get in on it while you can since issuers can change the rules whenever they please and that can leave you without the chance of any bonus at all.
For more details on the Platinum Card and its benefits, check out these posts:
-The Amex Platinum Card Review
-Is the Amex Platinum Worth the $450 Annual Fee?
-Maximizing the Amex Platinum $200 Annual Airline Rebate
-Understanding the Amex Platinum Lounge Access Benefit
-The Amex Platinum Fine Hotels & Resorts Program
-My Experience Getting Refunded for the Global Entry Application Fee With My Amex Platinum Card
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.