Great new perk!

from the wsj:

Amex Cardholders Get Access
To American Airlines Clubs
August 14, 2007;

American Express Platinum and Centurion cardholders will have access to American Airlines' 44 airport clubs starting today, adding the world's largest carrier to Amex's airport club access program.

The partnership between American Express and the world's largest airline by traffic will allow entry to American's Admirals Club lounges world-wide when traveling with a same-day ticket on the carrier. Amex's Platinum and Centurion cardholders already have complimentary access to more than 125 other airport clubs run by carriers including Continental, Delta and Northwest.

"Our card members are passionate about travel and enjoy receiving access and benefits through their American Express cards," said Simon Kahn, vice president, Platinum and Centurion Product Management.

Cardholders are allowed to bring a spouse and children or up to two traveling companions as guests to the clubs, which offer amenities such as showers, cyber cafes and complimentary snacks.

I was surprised when I was just on Amex site a little while ago and saw the AA clubs show up.

A related question. Given the $175 fee for a second card, our Amex Plat is only in my name. Has anyone had any luck letting their spouse use the card when traveling alone? If Arlene takes my card, the name on card will not match the ticket. I don't know if they really check or not so I was looking for some anecdotal experience.

Exactly like us Marc....but never tried to use it alone as Tom and I are always together. Hope someone can answer though....good question!

Thanks, Leslie! That is good news. I've been considering dropping the Platinum Amex at renewal due to the price increase, but, since we fly AA most often, this is indeed a good perk.

Dena

That's terrific. I just dropped my Admiral's Club membership - this will help when we travel back from Tahiti on Xmas Eve.

Marc ~ Just saw this thread on flyertalk http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=725154

What a ding dong I am! :rolleyes: Just realized that flyer talk post was started by YOU, Marc! (At least I think so)

Our Am Ex Platinum card is through Delta - is this offer only good on the regular Am Ex Platinum card? If so, we may want to switch card types.

Leslie - thanks for alerting us! This is good news, indeed.

Sue - I'm 99% sure it's only for the Amex Platinum card with the $450 annual fee.

Marc - good question. We do the same thing - one Platinum card. Since I fly more than Gary, it's in my name. Gary hasn't tried using my card for lounge access when I am not there. The lounge access is a wonderful benefit. Between the lounge usage & the cruise credit, I can justify the annual fee.

It doesn't work perfectly - the Delta lounge in New Orleans had Continental listed on the door, so we asked for access on a Continental ticket. No soap - had to be a Delta ticket.

I wonder if that means that AMEX will start allowing you to convert your points to AA Advantage miles? I sure hope so.

Marc, one card for Ida and I too, the shopaholic Ida used it (my card w/out me) for a few times at Costco (they don't accept MC) but now they check and alas, I have to go with her to costco for access to my card...extremely painful shopping w/ida.

PS..thanks Leslie for sharing.

r/wes

Wow that is good news!

Speaking of the Platinum card, has anyone used the new Complementary Companion Domestic Airfare benefit? How does it work -- do they allow the purchased ticket to be the lowest available fare (as long as its over $299), or does the purchased ticket have to be some higher fare coach ticket?

Anne that is what I thought, but wanted to check with the LCT experts first! ;) My renewal fee is not that much, but it may be worth it to switch cards.

Sue, I think Anne is correct!

Nancy

Bonnie, yes that is me.

Sue, if you get the real Amex Platinum (or Fidelity Amex Platinum saving $75), you get $55 off your annual Delta Skymiles Amex Platinum card. I use the Detla card for all my spending for the extra 20,000 miles. I only use the Fidelity card for cruise credit and lounge access (although I still have free access to Skyteam international lounges).

Yes, the platinum card was, for a long time, a no brainer, when it was $300. We did have to rethink when the fee went up to $450, but if you cruise more than once a year it's still worth it, and the airline lounges are a swell bonus.

Marc, How do I switch our AmEx platinum card to the Fidelity AmEx Platinum so we can save this $75. ???? Will we still get shipboard credit for LAMB in December?

Marcie, I would call number on back of your Amex Platinum. I don't know if you need to wait until renewal date. You have to contact Fidelity to get their Amex Platinum and will it be tied to your brokerage account. Only negative is that funds are automatically transferred from your Fidelity cash account the day after the Amex monthly billing cycle close date; i.e., no float period.

As for cruise credit, Ngaire could find out. I assume it is not a problem substituting one card for another.

Thanks Marc but forget it........we don't have any type of Fidelity account.
Lights on but no one's home!

Marcie: TOM is your Fidelity Account and doing A plus job :app: :app: :app: :app:

Isn't it nice to see Joanna and Marcie back making us smile! I guess I have been busy, but boy did I miss you!

I have been in CA (Santa Monica) - CA has great weather!!!!! Returned to "stuff" here humidity being least of problems - - have my 3 grands (girls all teens and pre teens since the 7th of August)so am pooped - they leave Thursday - missed you, too, Cindy!!! LCT may be cliquish, (wink wink)so some say, but a good cliquish - more like a family XXXOOO

Well cliquish or not, I will tell you that David told me that it was the warmest (not to mention the funnest) group of people he had ever met. AND I believe he was a a little concerned going in! A great family....as we get to pick them Joanna!!! Enjoy your days with family, and take care friend.

Glad you're back Joanna...I missed you! Enjoy the rest of your time with your granddaugters.

Nancy

We've used it. Yes it does allow to be the lowest bucket of available fare (but if its less than $299 - they'll bump it up to $299). Note that this is without all the taxes and fees (which must be paid for both passengers) as well as a $10 (I think) per person telephone booking fee. So it's not really buy one get one free - but still a nice savings. Both tickets will also earn miles including status qualifying miles as well as upgrade eligibility depending on the airline's rules.

Note however, that this is limited to 4 tickets per card per calendar year (but if you have another card for your spouse, you'll get 4 more tickets). We have two cards.

Also, while the program says that all the "major" carriers participate, they seem to steer business towards American as long as there is a non-stop between the cities.

See https://www143.americanexpress.com/..._a&benefitId=domesticcompairfareprog for complete rules. The one negative that I've found in trying to use this is that the call center handling these requests need to be upgraded - while the reps are courteous, they seem rather clueless as well as take forever to check availability.

Thanks, Peter. We'd want to do American anyway since we live near DFW. I think we'll give it a try for some trips we have coming up.

Dogonnit, I just purchased 2 tickets last week on American for a short jaunt to Anguilla in November. I didn't realize I could have gotten one free with my Amex Plantinum!!

Anguilla probably would not have qualified - this is only domestic flights - although sometimes airlines' definition of what is domestic seems to vary.

Oops, my dumb, Peter. Anything not to another continent feels domestic to me!

Well, it seems I have an angel looking over me. Today, an lct angel managed to get us upgraded to first class on our flights to and from Anguilla (one of us still waitlisted for just one leg, but looks good for getting it eventually)using some spare coupons that he had. Thank you Mr. Wonderful!

Way to go, Olivia!!

Hmmm - on American with spare coupons - wonder who it is ;) (Hint: Not me)

Isn't there an American Hub in Dallas??

Think Dallas is their biggest hub

American's biggest hub is Dallas because they are based there.

Nancy

PS. Way to go Olivia and whoever was your LCT angel!

I do not think Dallas is this angel's hub city ;)