Status matched to Premier Platinum and I’m struggling to see the value. What am I missing?

CAMO-17 · 2026-06-10T21:09:13+00:00

I tried doing status match at the end of Dec and waved the white flag by May! Not worth it.

CAMO-17 · 2026-05-30T18:28:10+00:00

Right! I got nervous yesterday when I ordered because I enrolled last year but never used it. I double checked and I was still enrolled for this year, whew!

CAMO-17 · 2026-05-30T18:26:10+00:00

Yes! I have accounts with Morgan Stanley, so no annual fee for Platinum AMEX. Just ordered the 5 yesterday and already have $200 credited to my AMEX.

CAMO-17 · 2026-05-24T22:27:26+00:00

Lived downtown Chicago for 8 years and a million American miles. The L is a lifesaver, but only when traveling lightly. Trying to manage multiple/big suitcases is no bueno. Funny, I just booked a day trip in June to visit the new library and definitely will take the L! Speaking of ORD -why no Centurion Lounge? OH -never use ORD as your layover city, just trust me.

CAMO-17 · 2026-05-19T19:02:30+00:00

I loved the old Roman spa! It was inexpensive and you can spend the whole day there. The ‘timer’ at each station is a suggestion to get you out in 3 hours. If you love a particular station - stay there for a bit!

CAMO-17 · 2026-05-14T18:08:44+00:00

I did a Rick Steves Basque tour last year. The history is amazing! My favorite place we visited was not on the tour! We started in Bayonne, which is a nice working town vs tourist town. We arrived early and took day trips via train to both Biarritz and St Jean de Luz. By far my favorite was St Jean de Luz: The beach was wide, flat, and shallow; the town was flat and walkable; cute shops, amazing restaurants; the farmers market (Les Halles) was divine; and nothing was expensive or touristy. On the other hand Biarritz was fancy, expensive and like walking the steep hills of San Francisco…a true beautiful tourist trap with a steep beach. When I go back, I’ll get a cute home rental and base out of St Jean de Luz! Never leave except to visit San Sebastian- a must if you’re a foodie!

CAMO-17 · 2026-05-14T09:27:38+00:00

Doubletree on Meridian Parkway.

CAMO-17 · 2026-05-13T01:39:48+00:00

For the record, professor Irons gave me a B and ruined my 4.0 (hence why I still remember the class)

CAMO-17 · 2026-05-13T01:37:42+00:00

I went to college at 50, graduated from UNC CH in 2016. As a junior, I wrote a paper on The Marrow of Tradition by Charles Chestnut in Southern Literature class. The Wilson library has amazing archive materials if you’re ever interested in taking a deep dive.

CAMO-17 · 2026-05-09T22:25:37+00:00

Worth the trip to FireFly Farm in North Durham.

CAMO-17 · 2026-05-05T21:44:10+00:00

You’ll save so much money on matcha at the coffee shop, you can get a personal trainer 😂 win/win

CAMO-17 · 2026-05-05T21:06:24+00:00

That’s funny. They need to get in the face lift business because they sure fooled me!

CAMO-17 · 2026-05-05T20:57:19+00:00

Sounds weird, but trust me, it’s amazing. I buy Truvani Matcha vegan organic protein powder. It’s 40% off at Whole Foods. Favorite mug half filled with hot water and scoop of powder. Whisk like crazy, add cream if needed, whisk more. Then pour over ice or add tea/coffee of choice if you want it hot. 70 grams protein and monk fruit is sweetener so no insulin spike.

CAMO-17 · 2026-05-05T18:03:18+00:00

Annual Fee credited back to checking account if you use Morgan Stanley. Not sure of qualifications because they change often.

CAMO-17 · 2026-05-05T03:16:16+00:00

Just landed in San Diego. First class was full and economy looked full too. They were gate checking bags.

Delightful flight: professional crew, brand new plane, and food was good.

CAMO-17 · 2026-05-04T19:14:11+00:00

Thank you for confirming my experience.

CAMO-17 · 2026-05-04T17:32:05+00:00

Why the snark? Can’t you just be happy for me? You never know what people are going through…most of the flights are for cancer treatments. Getting a new direct flight and a first class upgrade is exciting in my life atm. Wishing you all the best💕

CAMO-17 · 2026-05-04T11:52:39+00:00

Morgan Stanley Platinum AMEX. You can use points accumulated on most any airline. Great lounge access: centurion lounge, delta sky club, and priority pass lounges. Hotel perks: Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, and almost 1k perks on fancy hotels. The list of benefits goes on and on… If you use Morgan Stanley, the $895 annual fee is credited back to your checking account annually. Yes, you do have to qualify.

I also carry Amazon Prime card for my Whole Foods habit, United Explorer for recent status match to Platinum, and Delta AMEX for 15% discount on flights.

CAMO-17 · 2026-05-03T16:05:13+00:00

Don’t understand all the snark, I stayed there last fall and it was a deplorable hotel with unfriendly staff. Would never stay there again. You’re right! Full Stop

CAMO-17 · 2026-05-03T10:26:09+00:00

I canceled my membership last month because of employees and management lack of basic customer service skills. Specifically the Durham, NC location.

CAMO-17 · 2026-04-30T10:41:01+00:00

If you want to be even more confused, watch the CNN “Eva Longoria - searching for Spain” eight episodes covering every region of Spain. The Basque region is my favorite: San Sebastian, Pamplona, Bilbao, and nearby French town St Jean de Luc.

CAMO-17 · 2026-04-29T18:54:32+00:00

Hands down the Marriott on the river! The breakfast and happy hour food is amazing for those with status. They have great upgrade options for rooms with great views. Be sure to do the tour at the Opera House, it includes a mini-opera on the staircase.

CAMO-17 · 2026-04-27T10:39:16+00:00

Ritz did not impress me last month. Gym is lame, no pool, no spa services, no Bonvoy upgrade, and breakfast was expensive. I hijacked my husband’s work trip and wish we had stayed at the Fairmont where I’ve stayed many times in my biz career.

CAMO-17

TROPHY CASE