Amex Concierge Service For Platinum Card Holders

Amex Platinum concierge can get you things you might not otherwise be able to get on your own. Like tickets to a sold-out show or a table at that restaurant that says "sorry we are fully booked" when you call. If you are striking out trying to reserve things on your own, try giving Amex concierge a call.

The value of the concierge service ultimately comes down to how much your time is worth.

Yes, you can go ahead and do it for yourself while for others it's far easier to outsource those activities and focus on other things. You pay for convenience.

From what I've heard, some things such as getting reservations into popular restaurants is where the concierge services comes in handy.

So yes, you could contact a flower shop directly for example, but that would mean having to research one that is open at that time, and maybe call multiple until you find one that has the flowers you want, and can deliver by your deadline (all of this work the concierge does for you in the background.
Also, yes you can call them (even from abroad) and ask for suggestions on what to do / to book you something and yes, sometimes they do help getting into places (especially restaurants). I, for one, had tried to book for dinner at a 2-Star Michelin restaurant and it was crazy, all booked for months, until I called concierge and they told me they have tables reserved at the restaurant in advance every night just for the concierge to give to amex platinum / centurion members.
Anything that isn't illegal is fair game to ask, pretty much.

Amex launched this feature in 1984. Before the consumer Internet was a part of people's lives, the service was very useful as one could call the service and they would call the restaurants and book one a table. Same goes for the Platinum Travel Service - before the internet, one would have to visit a travel agent or phone around to compare routes and prices, whereas now we just check Google Flights. In the mid 80s to late 90s these were the two best features of Platinum Card imo.

Today, they are useful, just not as useful. One can use apps that check restaurant tables and book them in major cities. One can research destinations and flight schedules online. If one is vey busy, or hates computers, they are still useful as before. These days I hardly ever use them as it can be done myself online. I wanted a reservation at a hard to get NYC place in 2018 and the restaurant did its bookings through one of the online apps. It was full on the night I wanted, but I could get a table on another night on my trip, so I booked it. I then tried to get Platinum to get me the table on my first choice night, and they took the info and called me back a couple of hours later to say they checked on the app the restaurant used, and there were no tables that night. True, I knew that already from using the app myself...they said that restaurant was not one that kept tables for them, so they had to use the same app I did. If I didn't like computers ands couldn't use the app myself, calling Platinum would have been my only way of getting the info. Some restaurants they can get one into if full, just not the one I had in mind. Platinum is good for providing recommendations of out of town restaurants if one is travelling, and booking them for you, if you don't want to research which restaurants are good in a city online or in the travel section of a bookstore. So, yes, it is a useful perk, just not one I use as much as I used to in the pre-internet 1990s. I don't send flowers much, nor do I need concert tickets, so my main use of the service was always for restaurant reservations, usually out of town.

They can help you track down things you want to buy, like "I saw the movie X and the main character in one scene was wearing this cool looking watch that was square and had yellow hands. I want one. Can you find out what watch this is and where I can buy the same one?" I did something like this once, and they were indeed able to get me the info and supply the name of a merchant in my city that sold it and accepted Amex cards for payment. Of course today one can Google "watch from movie X" and probably get a hit with a pic and name of the watch, but Platinum offered this service before Google, and not everyone today uses a computer. I asked them how they found the watch btw and they said they called the film's maker and the press office person checked with the prop department and somebody there knew the name of the watch and told the press person who told Amex who told me - in pre-internet days, that was how to get things done - working the phones.

Check out this link for Amex Global Dining Benefit:

https://www.americanexpress.com/ca/en/b ... index.html

Amex Concierge will make the reservation for you at restaurant(s) on this list.

When dining, you may receive a Complimentary Amenity (for up to 4 people) that can be one of the following:

• drink or amuse-bouche

and/or other amenities!

American Express Platinum Card Travel Service got me international flight tickets cheaper than I was able to find anywhere else, including from the airline carrier themselves. There is definitely some value in calling them if you have some time.

Altera wrote: ↑ American Express Platinum Card Travel Service got me international flight tickets cheaper than I was able to find anywhere else, including from the airline carrier themselves. There is definitely some value in calling them if you have some time.

You called Concierge to book or through the amex travel site?

I mean...I hear people call them in to request services that Charlie Sheen goes for. lol

Jokes aside, I've gotten tables at fully booked restaurants before, very useful especially when 'Dine Out' events are happening (e.g., Vancouver).

I've also used them to make reservations at Michelin-starred restaurants last minute while on the road.

I've used concierges to plan out travel when I missed a flight or train too and these guys definately can help. My rule has always been to travel with a card that has concierge, you never know where you get stuck.

PS: Visa infinite has similar concierge available.

For concert or event tickets where we get access to presale but have to go on ticket master, can we just call concierge ahead I’d the release time, tell them how many tickets we need and our budget instead of hammering the refresh button online when presale starts?

I once needed a table for 6 on a Saturday - it wasn't any kind of upscale restaurant but when I called they said they couldn't get me a table, it was too many people, Saturdays are tough, and so on. Basically they said I was SOL. Called the Amex Concierge and I had a table reservation in less than 5 minutes.

mxc2700 wrote: ↑ I once needed a table for 6 on a Saturday - it wasn't any kind of upscale restaurant but when I called they said they couldn't get me a table, it was too many people, Saturdays are tough, and so on. Basically they said I was SOL. Called the Amex Concierge and I had a table reservation in less than 5 minutes.

Did you have this success with one of the restaurants on their global dining collection or was it with just a local restaurant in your area that wasn't necessarily one of the "high end" establishments?

Jagstyles wrote: ↑ Did you have this success with one of the restaurants on their global dining collection or was it with just a local restaurant in your area that wasn't necessarily one of the "high end" establishments?

Forgot to mention earlier with the Global Dining Collection link, Oliver & Bonacini (O&B) has a few restaurants that are not 'high end':

https://www.oliverbonacini.com/restaurants/

Jagstyles wrote: ↑ You called Concierge to book or through the amex travel site?

I called the dedicated line for Platinum Card Travel Service, it’s different than the concierge phone number.

I'd be curious to know if the service can get tickets to the Disney World halloween event, it sold out to the public before it was released to the general public on the days I'll be in Orlando

This would get me to sign up for platinum as I've been on the fence about it

Their concierge and international airline program are the same? Read that if we purchase premium economy tickets with their preferred airline then would be upgraded to business class. Their rates are the cheapest than any other even for economy class. Just read such comments, anyone had real time experience?