I tried to gain access to a Plaza Premium Lounge at HKG last week but was told that the AMEX Platinum Charge card does not get me access anymore and needed my Priority Pass card. Seems like this https://www.ausbt.com.au/flash-your-amex-platinum-centurion-card-for-plaza-premium-lounge-access no longer works.

Checked on the AMEX site for lounge access and it seems the Access & Guests section has been updated some time in the past 2 weeks to state you need Priority Pass to access them now (it was AMEX Platinum Charge/Centurion Card only two weeks ago and I managed to enter the Plaza Premium arrival lounge at HKG with my Platinum card earlier this month).

Anyone else notice this??

The same also applies for the ANZ Visa Black card which suddenly has been locked out of many lounges it said it has acces to.

I've always carried my PP card (particularly now as it has the food allowance in SYD/BNE/MEL). So no, didn't realise...

I have had similar issues in the past, so I keep a digital copy of my AMEX complementary priority pass membership on my Iphone wallet, and this has worked as a back up as needed.

Hi Geoli, just to provide an update here.

I raised this issue with both Plaza Premium and American Express Global to see if the rules had changed, which caused both companies to investigate.

Following that investigation, it was identified that in mid-February, an Australian traveller presented an AMEX Velocity Platinum Card for lounge access in Hong Kong, which was declined at reception as this card does not include Plaza Premium access as a benefit. If this was you, you may have simply handed over the wrong card that day (easy to do when tired and travelling!), although if not, this may have been a different traveller.

Both companies have also confirmed that Plaza Premium lounge access continues to be available to eligible AMEX cardholders: the full global list can be found here on the PPL website, which continues to include Australian Platinum Charge Cards and Centurion Cards.

Separately, American Express has also confirmed that there's currently a problem with the Lounge Buddy system they use to provide lounge access information on their website (such as for the Plaza Premium lounges,), which has been flagged and will be "addressed ASAP".

Hope that helps!

PS: On future trips, continue presenting your AMEX Platinum Charge Card instead of the Priority Pass card at Plaza Premium lounges: in many of them, presenting your AMEX card gets you access to the full bar inside (and sometimes even free spa treatments), whereas those entering via Priority Pass only get basic alcohol in some locations and generally no free spa treatments.

Thanks Chris. I only read your update just now (difficult to follow closely whilst travelling to several cities) but am pleased to confirm that I successfully gained access to the HKG Plaza Premium Lounge near gate 1 on 12 March before my flight to Singapore. The staff did mention the rules were quite complicated but he checked and confirmed that Australia-issued Platinum/Centurion Cards are on the ”Global” list of eligible cards.