Yeah, I heard recently that in the UK they have stopped giving out the Gold card which means the only true good charge card would be the Platinum which is still offered.
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For me, I see nothing on those that is even remotely attractive. Where do people perceive the benefits to be for the money asked?
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I’m with you. However, shiny things (Black, Platinum, Metal etc) have always attracted people and they justify it with airport lounge access, air miles or just cash back. Personally I can’t be arsed with any loyalty, cashback or rewards schemes.
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I have no time for these gimmicks. It’s all a trick to make you spend more money.
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If you travel a lot the plat is an excellent deal, more than pays for itself.
OK, I’ll bite, particularly about travel insurance. My experience is that all travel insurance products including packaged ones such as this only cover standard risks. If the insured has treatment for say high blood pressure then either the premium is upped or exclusions such as (in high blood pressure) strokes apply. Did your parents experience this?
The Amex insurance didn’t in fact exclude pre-existing conditions as long as you hadn’t needed treatment for some amount of time.
It covers sports (I use it for sailing holidays) etc
It is a premium insurance for people who spend a lot of money. I never had any issues claiming - I lost a kindle on an aircraft and rather than force me to jump through the report to the police etc hoops, they just paid me an ex gratia to replace it.
It’s really good insurance.
I’m an extremely careful shopper, I’m the guy that checks all the online reviews, investigates the options, buys only when I’m sure I’ve found the optimum utility. And I’ve been an Amex plat user for many years now. I barely use the card itself, I use other Amex that have better day to day kickbacks, but I still pay for the plat.
If it works for you it really works - but it pays to check the benefits for yourself.
This is the type of thing I’d consider paying for if it matched my needs - which is basically mobile phone / gadget insurance and travel insurance. But I don’t think that the £156pa for a Nationwide can be beaten.
(Although prove me wrong and I’ll take a referral! 
)
The thing is there’s insurance and then there’s insurance.
Most insurance basically tries really hard to avoid paying out.
Not the case with the Amex insurance - if the underwriters start being uppity, you call the plat line and they give them a kick.
I tried Nationwide in 1988. Bunch of complete incompetents. Not that I hold a grudge… 
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Do you get mobile phone insurance etc? Did you claim for your Kindle under the travel policy?
(Disclaimer: I’ve lost at least two Kindles on flights)
Not mobile as such, but the travel covers electronics up to 500 quid per item.
Yes the kindle was travel insurance.
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MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND EXPENSES provides
cover for necessary medical, surgical and hospital costs
during a trip
• £2,000,000
• £1,000 emergency dental treatment
• All necessary repatriation and evacuation costs
Necessary costs to repatriate remains or £2,500 for
local funeral
KEY EXCLUSIONS & LIMITATIONS
• Pre-existing medical conditions
• Medical assistance and expenses benefits
if aged 70 years or over at any time during the trip
• Medical treatment in country of residence
• Sports or activities that may be considered dangerous
• All costs must be approved in advance
by the Insurer
There is. And whether the insurance is free, bundled or expensive, you won’t know how good or bad it is until you claim, unfortunately.
And you can’t always judge by the experience of others, either.
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If you call them to discuss pre-existing conditions they basically ask when you last had treatment.
And the list of sports they consider dangerous is quite small - base jumping etc
But each to their own.
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