Am Express Platinum Perks

[FrankR]

Having a problem with travel Agent (a real Jerk) When I booked back in March for Jan 8 cruise on Diamond Princess I purchased a suite so that I would get the Platinum perks ($300. on board credit, etc) Now he tells me that I can not get them because I am booked in some kind of a company group at a much lower rate and that if I want to get my perks he will move me with the same room to another promotion at an additional cost of $1600.00 The price I paid was only a few hundred less than the brochure price and a little more than another price from a different agent. This will be our 34th cruise and we never have had any problems also when he made the final payment on my credit card it was $55.30 more than stated on the invoice sent to me in March when I made the deposit. Any suggestions would be appreciataed do I contact Princess or American Express

contact me directly if you want

okorganist@aol.com

[Toto2Kansas]

This peaked my interest so I went to the AMEX site and there is one word in there that can make this not work for you, even if you have gotten the $300 cabin credit in the past. It seems it depends on how this booking is made. The 'group' thing is where the travel agent has a large number of cabins on a certain sailing purchased so they pass the savings on to you. But then, I am sure you know that after your 33/34 cruises.

 

The word that gets them off the hook is here:

From the AMEX online site.

 

Reserve a qualifying cruise on any of our world-class Cruise Privileges partners and receive:

• A $300 per stateroom shipboard credit or a two-category stateroom upgrade (depending on the cruise line and category booked)

 

• Additional exclusive amenities unique to each cruise line

[comettgirl]

Is it too late to cancel with this Agent, get a full refund and rebook the cruise with another agent? Of course that will not work if the price has gone up or the type of room you want has sold out. Maybe you can switch weeks if you don't HAVE to go on that particular one. You should be well within any penalty stage even if you have made your final payment, or have I miscounted on days? As long as the calander is in your favor, in theory it can work.........

[cynbar]

We generally use the American Express Platinum travel agents -- they are very efficient, have competitive prices, and are quite adept at making sure we get all the AmEx travel benefits on our Princess cruises. Perhaps you could speak with them for the definitive word.

[FrankR]

Final payment was due on the 10th of October. It is when I made the final payment that I discovered I would not teceive the perks, Being booked into this special group with no perks was never mentioned but the price I paid was no great special price it was only a few hundred less for the cabin than the brochure price and I had other prices lower but booked with them because I had used them before with no problems. I am a bit new to the American Express Platlinum card. My only experience with it was on an AAA group similar to this situation on the Rotterdam trans atlantic to Europe in the spring I was allowed to use the Platinum perks but could not also use an AAA $100. shipboard credit.I guess the best thing to do in the future is use the American Express Platlinum Travel Agency and will be sure and receive all ther perksThanks for your input

[hillslife]

We have the Platnimun Am Ex but earn Delta FF Miles...is this a different card? Would we be eligible for the cabin credit also? :confused: Thanks for your tips on this.

[cynbar]

Not sure if yours is the same card --- we have the American Express Platinum and earn American Express points, which can be converted to a lot of things including Delta miles, but we don;t get automatic Delta FF miles. Anyway, AmEx Platinum has an arrangement with some of the cruise lines for special perks, such as upgrades and shipboard credit, as long as you use the card for payment. We've never had any problems getting these, but from the post above, it sounds as if there are exceptions. We almost always book through the Platinum travel agency, unless we're traveling in a group coordinated by someone else, and they make sure we get our expected perks. A call to AmEx should clear it up.

[lindaa]

I also had problems with AMEX Platinum Travel getting the "benefits" that were supposedly included on a recent cruise we took with HAL. HAL said it was AMEX fault and that I needed to contact AMEX to resolve. Very frustrating to say the least. I have been a satisfied Platinum customer for many years, but there is definitely something going on with the cruise specialists.

 

To get things straightened out I would suggest going over the agent's head to find out what is going on. That is what I intend to do.

 

And a word of warning...I recently booked another cruise on Princess, but I went to an AMEX authorized travel agent that can handle all of the Platinum benefits. I wanted to "eye to eye" the agent and I have been very pleased. What I didn't know the first time is that the reservation paperwork from the cruise line should indicate the onboard extras. Don't wait until you get on the ship to make sure all is as it should be. It will be too late.

[FrankR]

The American Express Delta or Hilton Platinum do not have the same perks as the American Express Platinum Card and the dues are $395.00 per year.The only reason that I upgraded to the Platinum was for the Cruise benefits. The agency that I used is an American Express agency or so they say and use the logo but as I have found out it is not the one and only Platinum agency in fact when you use the Platinum Agency you sometimes get other perks including credits on your dues but they do not have a special website and you must call them on the phone This has been a real learing experience. I appreciate all of your help thank you