Question
Hi everyone,
Just thought of creating this thread for French visa cards users since the benefits of their various cards differ from one country to another.
I thought we could gather here country specific information like:
Are there any airlines affiliated VISA cards in France?
What are the benefits of the PREMIER / INFINITE VISA cards?
Do INFINITE VISA card holders enjoy top-tier complimentary status with partner airlines?
Overall VISA/Amex comparison for use in France...
Answer
How good is the VISA INFINITE Card concierge service?
The Travel service with the Premier card is a joke. I never managed to book anything with them. They never have any information, always end up saying they will call you back and never will... They were supposed to send me their travel brochure 3 years ago. I have called 3 times to receive it and am still waiting for it... I hope the concierge service with the INFINITE card works better (couldn't be worse anyway). Any experience with it?
Answer
I've just received my VISA Infinite card and am so far happy with it.
The concierge sevice, in my limited experience, seems to be very efficient and helpful. I called at midnight and asked them something that they were not able to do right away. They said they would call me back the following day and they did and solved my problem!
As for some of the perks:
- AVIS: upgrades and discount prices
- Sixt: Upgrades and discount prices
- Europcar: free enrollment for the Privilege Ready card
- National/Citer: enrollment for the Emerald card program
- Sofitel: Sofitel Privilege card
- Le Meridien: Meridien Moments Gold for one year (extended to the following year if 10 stays or 25 nights are booked during the first year of enrollment)
- Hilton: Gold VIP Hilton HHonors card for one year (extended to the following year if 16 stays or 25 nights are booked during the first year of enrollment)
- Radisson: Gold points program Silver Status
- Thalys: 30% rebate on return tickets in Confort 1 or 2 class AND access to the VIP Cybelys lounge in Brussels on weekdays
- Eurostar: discount weekends in LONDON AND access to the Eurostar lounges in Paris and London
- Malaysia Airlines: Companion ticketin Economy, Business and First Class
- SWISS: Access to the SWISS International Airlines lounge in Roissy, special rates and discount companion ticket
- Jaguar: Free car service for 3 years
There are many more perks but those are the main ones. I'd be happy to answer questions from fellow flyertalkers
:-)
Answer
- Eurostar: discount weekends in LONDON AND access to the Eurostar lounges in Paris and London
Very good benefit. But I assume there is an annual fee for this card? In any case it's no good for me as I reside in the UK.
Answer
There is indeed a fee for this card but it depends on the bank that issues it and it is possible to negotiate it.
It is usually around 280 euros/year which makes it cheaper than the Platinum Amex charge card in France (no MR though and limited lounge access compared to PP). You can get 50% off a companion card as opposed to a complimentay companion card with the Platinum Amex card.
Not sure it makes sense to compare it with the Platinum Amex card anyway...