Amex Platinum Alternative

Natwest or rbs private banking account. I don't think the credit card alone is a option anymore

The list of benefits are huge.
 
Just look on the Amex site? Several of the products they offer give lounge access.

It's a fairly crap benefit though, I've no idea why everyone gets so obsessed with it. I used the lounge access on my Amex in Vancouver last year and it was just a nicer waiting room. Great..
 
[TW]Fox;27282184 said:
Just look on the Amex site? Several of the products they offer give lounge access.

It's a fairly crap benefit though, I've no idea why everyone gets so obsessed with it. I used the lounge access on my Amex in Vancouver last year and it was just a nicer waiting room. Great..
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really depends on the lounge even the sky lounge at GLA is far superior to any standard waiting area, free wifi free drinks and snacks and you generally find they are a far nice place to wait to board than the rest of departures
 
233 said:
really depends on the lounge even the sky lounge at GLA is far superior to any standard waiting area, free wifi free drinks and snacks and you generally find they are a far nice place to wait to board than the rest of departures
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Yea but really just how much time are you spending hanging around airports? I always time it to minimise the amount of time I spend actually *in* the airport. If you travel a lot for work and have annoying travel schedules I get it but for everyone else just get to the airport later.

By the time you've dropped your hire car, bags, got through security etc you've probably got less than an hour anyway.
 
[TW]Fox;27282237 said:
Yea but really just how much time are you spending hanging around airports? I always time it to minimise the amount of time I spend actually *in* the airport. If you travel a lot for work and have annoying travel schedules I get it but for everyone else just get to the airport later.

By the time you've dropped your hire car, bags, got through security etc you've probably got less than an hour anyway.
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good point,

suppose its a lifesaver for someone who is travelling every week for work, not that great if your only travelling a couple of times a year.

looked at rbs royalties? i'm sure theres something in the blurb about free lounge access

yup in the RBS black freebies £24/month
 
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[TW]Fox;27282337 said:
It's amazing how many people think about it like that. Its the same with mobile contracts - wow free minutes!
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It's a great marketing ploy people fell for. Yeah, I think it really took hold with mobile phones and their 'free' minutes....you mean the ones I pay X / month for ;)

It's what I call the modern definition of Free**







**Not Free
 
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[TW]Fox;27282184 said:
It's a fairly crap benefit though, I've no idea why everyone gets so obsessed with it. I used the lounge access on my Amex in Vancouver last year and it was just a nicer waiting room. Great..
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Free drinks and free buffet, big selection of papers/magazines showers etc...

Tis good if you've got to change flights somewhere.
 
dowie said:
Free drinks and free buffet, big selection of papers/magazines showers etc...

Tis good if you've got to change flights somewhere.
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If you fly frequently enough to be able to get any worthwhile benefit from lounge access then you'll probably have frequent flyer status which will enable lounge access with a host of other relevant benefits.

Then again, if you fly frequently enough you'll realise that the lounges an Amex gets you access to are nothing more than a different waiting room full of people checking in and taking pictures for Facebook.
 
Scuzi said:
Then again, if you fly frequently enough you'll realise that the lounges an Amex gets you access to are nothing more than a different waiting room full of people checking in and taking pictures for Facebook.
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You've obviously been to the Plaza Premium lounge at YVR too :D
 
Yeah, unfortunately unless you can get to the airline lounges they really aren't very nice... Servisair lounges for example... Certainly not worth £450 for the platinum card.

The black account also comes with some fairly high entry criteria... £100k sole income for one..
 
Amp34 said:
The black account also comes with some fairly high entry criteria... £100k sole income for one..
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Actually 100k spending on your card per year IIRC doubt 100k income would be sufficient else every Essex wideboy in the city would have one.
 
Scuzi said:
Then again, if you fly frequently enough you'll realise that the lounges an Amex gets you access to are nothing more than a different waiting room full of people checking in and taking pictures for Facebook.
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Do they not have free food, drink and showers?
 
The best thing for me about the Amex cards is the accumulation of air miles. I rarely pay full price for flights anymore ... :)
 
dowie said:
Actually 100k spending on your card per year IIRC doubt 100k income would be sufficient else every Essex wideboy in the city would have one.
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Says £100k sole income paid into the account on the website. Or 100k of investments with them, or 300k mortgage.

http://personal.natwest.com/personal/current-accounts/compare-current-accounts/black-account.html

The free food at non airline lounges is normally packets of crisps and biscuits. BA lounge at terminal 5 on the other hand has a full range of buffet style cooked food.
 
Freakbro said:
How do you figure they are free if you're paying £24/month for them :p
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My view was that the Travel insurance is worth around £150 to £200 per year to me, Mobile phone insurance for 5 phones around £120 per year, car breakdown cover £100, home emergency cover £100 and lounge access for 2 people so the £24 per month is a bit of a bargain really.

[TW]Fox;27282237 said:
Yea but really just how much time are you spending hanging around airports? I always time it to minimise the amount of time I spend actually *in* the airport. If you travel a lot for work and have annoying travel schedules I get it but for everyone else just get to the airport later.

By the time you've dropped your hire car, bags, got through security etc you've probably got less than an hour anyway.
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This issue is that I have gold status on one airline but they only let me use the lounge if I fly with them and more often than not I look for the cheapest fair so end up on Etihad or Eremites. Its not unusual for me to have a 3 to 8 hour stop in Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi which can be very unpleasant airpots to spend a lot of time. The lounges are quite nice and you can take a shower between flights.

Also the No1 lounge in Gatwick and HLR are very good.
 
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