If you’ve carried the Amex Platinum card in your wallet long enough, then you’d know that one of the perks that the card offers is the ability to earn status with hotel loyalty programs. Over the years, I’ve made good use of my Amex Platinum card to leverage my complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status to get upgrades and free breakfast globally. With this new development and another hotel chain joining the fray, it sure makes things interesting, but there’s a huge catch. Initially, I somehow missed this new announcement but thankfully was alerted by a friend who is an Accor loyalist.
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New Amex Platinum Card Benefit: Hotel Program Status Match
The biggest catch here is that while US Amex Platinum cardmembers can match status, it’s only valid at properties in certain countries, as per this press release.
Launching in phases across Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, the partnership is designed to elevate the travel journey, from booking and planning to on-property recognition and rewards, across Accor’s portfolio of more than 45 brands worldwide, including Raffles, Fairmont and Sofitel.
American Express Consumer, SBS and Corporate Platinum® Card Members will be eligible to receive ALL Accor Gold status which includes free Wi-Fi, welcome amenities, late check-out, complimentary room upgrades (subject to availability) and bonus ALL Accor points.
There’s also a mention about adding Accor as a points transfer partner in the near future.
The partnership expands the flexibility and value of American Express Membership Rewards®, giving eligible Card Members a new option to transfer points to the ALL Accor loyalty program. Point conversion ratios will vary by location.
Transferred points may be redeemed within the ALL Accor program across its vast global hotel network of 45 hotel brands, dining, experiences and more than 110 partners, in accordance with ALL Accor program terms and conditions.
Further country specific details will be made available throughout the year. You can sign up for the status match here.
The Biggest Drawback
I’m a bit perplexed with this announcement. While US based cardmembers can match status, if you look at the list, then you’ll see that it has one name missing, which is the US itself! Also, it leaves out major emerging markets like India and China. So, for the moment, I wouldn’t assign much in terms of added value that this benefit brings in. However, it may be useful in very niche cases for people traveling to countries in the list.
Gold Is Not Good Enough
Even once you get Gold status, the issue remains that it’s not necessarily Accor’s top drawer status. Accor has 5 status levels:
- Classic
- Silver
- Gold
- Platinum
- Diamond
If you have a look at this table here, you’ll see that things start getting interesting once you reach Platinum or above. However, even at Platinum and Diamond levels, free breakfast comes with a lot of caveats.
With Gold status, you get the following benefits:
- Premium Wifi
- Welcome Drink
- Priority Welcome
- Late check-out or early check-in
- Guaranteed room availability
- Room upgrade
The Pundit’s Mantra
Overall, this doesn’t move the needle for me as an Amex Platinum cardmember. In my opinion, Hilton Honors gold status still remains the most useful if you compare the different hotel status options that the card offers on a compliemtnary basis.
What do you think about this new move by Amex and Accor? Tell us in the comments section.
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Adding this as a transfer partner is the best part. There are places like Israel where this could come in very handy, and Accor points are kind of tough to get in some cases. The dumb part is that they are rolling it out in phases…Why? Just turn the switch on.