AmEx Adds Airfare Bonus on Platinum Card, but Doesn’t Add Much Buzz

In a brewing battle of pricey credit cards, The Platinum Card® from American Expresshas beefed up a key feature,giving it a little more firepower as it does battle with a new card fromChase that has madecredit card optimizers positivelygiddy.

Cardholders will now get 5points per $1spent on airfare under certain circumstances, up from a maximum of 2 points per dollar before. Initialresponse online was somewhat tepid amongcurrent and would-be cardholders, however,and American Expresspromised “further enhancements” were coming.

The American Express announcement is the latest move in the rarefied air of premium credit cards, which typically carry a $450 annual fee but offer a plethora of features that appeal to frequent travelers and the well-heeled. In August, Chase introducedtheChase Sapphire Reserve℠, whosegenerous rewards and perkscreated so much buzz that The New York Times ran a story on the phenomenon and Bloomberg Businessweek magazine put it on the cover.

“Consumers’ reaction to Chase’s card demonstrated that there’s a large number of Americans who are happy to carry a premium card if the card’s ongoing rewards rates are good enough,” says Sean McQuay, credit card expert at NerdWallet. “American Express is beginning its fight to regain the crown by improving the card’s basic rewards structure, and I don’t expect this to be the last move.”

AmExprobably isn’t the only issuer taking a freshlook at premiumbenefits. Citi, for example, could decide to join the premium-card one-upmanshipby boosting rewards and benefits on theCiti Prestige® Card, McQuay says.

“Americans will be the clear victors, with more and better credit cards to choose from,” McQuay says.

The new airfarerewards

Word that The Platinum Card® from American Express would be boosting travel rewards had dribbled outdays before the official announcement. The confirmed details show that the new bonusis somewhat limited in scope.

Beginning Oct. 6, consumers with The Platinum Card® from American Express receive 5Membership Rewards points per $1spent on airfare booked directly with airlines or through the company’s own online travel agency, American Express Travel. Previously, the card offered 2 points per dollar on travel booked through AmEx. In both cases, other spending earns 1 point per dollar.The new bonus is not capped, but it applies only to airfare. The Chase Sapphire Reserve℠ and the Citi Prestige® Card, by contrast, give bonus rewards on a wider array of travel expenses, as well as on dining.

The change goes into effect automatically; cardholders don’t need to take any action.

AmEx promises more

“Travel is an important part of our cardmembers’ lives, and it’s becoming even more so for a new generation who are global and drawn to the access, experiences and service that come with American Express membership,” Denise Pickett, president of U.S. consumer services for American Express, said in a statement.

Pickett alluded to more goodies to come for holders of its premium cards. “You’ll see further enhancements for Platinum and Business Platinum card members and new programs that leverage the expanded network of small business merchants who now welcome American Express,” she said.

Instant reaction

McQuay says that the rewardsboost is a nice start, but thatThe Platinum Card® from American Express would better compete with the Chase Sapphire Reserve℠ if it also had a higher sign-up bonus and expanded its annual airline fee credit.

– Chase describes its sign-up bonus this way:New! Earn 100K bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,500 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards® .
It also gives cardholders a $300 annual credit against any travel expense.
– The AmEx card’s bonus: Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases in your first 3 months. Terms Apply.
It provides a $200 annual credit for incidental airlinefees, such as for checked bags or seat upgrades. It doesn’t apply to airfare or to other travel expenses.

In online communities of credit card optimizers, many noted that the new offering did them little good because they rarely pay for flights, instead using accumulated points or miles.

Others bemoaned the fact that the AmEx card offers only one bonus reward category, airfare, while other cards have several. For example,theChase Sapphire Reserve℠ gives users 3points per $1 spent on dining and travel, and 1point per dollar on everything else. And its points are worth 1.5 cents apiece when redeemed for travel through Chase.

On Twitter, many comments were lukewarm,like that of @jammy_sod to the American Express account: “this is great news but please also look into matching or exceeding other benefits of Chase sapphire reserve. Thanks.”

A Twitter user identifiedas Jake Counselbaum wrote, “Good stuff! But I think I’m still more tempted to reach for my new Chase Sapphire Reserve.”

User “Jairo C” tweeted, “so no increase to the travel credit and no flexibility to use on ticket purchases?”

Business card gets a boost

AmEx also enhanced the business version of the card, The Enhanced Business Platinum® Card from American Express OPEN. Cardholders won’t get the 5Xmultiplier like do on they consumer card, but they will receivehalf of their points back when they redeemthem through American Express Travel for airfare booked on theirpre-chosen airline or for a first- or business-class ticket onany other airline. Those carrying the business version also earn 1.5 points per dollar spent on purchases of $5,000 or more.

Gregory Karp is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email:gkarp@nerdwallet.com. Twitter:@spendingsmart.

The article AmEx Adds Airfare Bonus on Platinum Card, but Doesn’t Add Much Buzz originally appeared on NerdWallet.