u/dev_krn

In the middle of all the Amex devaluations, I decided to get the Amex Platinum Reserve by paying ₹10K + GST.

Applied recently and got approved within an hour after completing Video KYC. Pretty smooth experience.

I already have HDFC Regalia Gold and HSBC TravelOne, so I know the card isn't great purely for rewards. But I have two specific use cases:

1. 19K MR points: With the current referral offer, I can get ~19K MR points and transfer them to Marriott Bonvoy, which I can combine with my free-night award from the HDFC Marriott Bonvoy card.

2. Accor+: I have a 7-night Accor stay in Phuket in October + 3 more Accor nights in India planned. Accor+ and the status nights from Amex should help me reach Gold (already have few nights in account this year) and save on stays/dining.

So, for Year 1, I think I'll comfortably recover the ₹11.8K-ish fee.

But Year 2 is a different story. Without the welcome bonus and my current Accor stays, I don't see enough value yet to justify the fee.

My plan: extract maximum value this year and probably cancel if Year 2 doesn't make sense.

Anyone here finding enough value in Platinum Reserve beyond the first year?

I’ve spent around ₹7 lakh on my Regalia Gold in the last 6 months, but I’m about ₹40K short of the salary criteria.

Has anyone managed to get the upgrade through a deviation/workaround despite being slightly below the salary requirement?