I was originally going to post about how shit Etihad Airways is because they removed my name off my connecting flight back to Kuwait. They “assumed” I wouldn’t be able to make it to the gate in time and now I’m stuck in their airport for 5 hours waiting for the next flight out. But, I figured everyone had already heard a ton of horror stories on Etihad and you wouldn’t be interested in hearing another. I mean even Anderson Silva trashed them on his Instagram account after his last visit to Kuwait.
So instead I’ve decided to turn this post into a positive one and talk about my love for my AMEX card. I’ve had it for as long as I can remember and I love it for multiple reasons. Firstly getting an AMEX card was a fairly simple process, I don’t remember the exact steps since it’s been 6 or more years since I got the card but I do remember their requirements were really simple, something like just prove you work and that was it. They then give you a ridiculously high limit, mine has always been like $12,000 from day 1. But the biggest advantage of the card for me is lounge access while traveling. For example I’m now stuck at the shitty Abu Dhabi airport for 5 hours and Etihad couldn’t give me access to the lounge even though they fucked up because the lounge was “full”. Not that I really care for their lounge since it’s small and overpacked always but I just wanted them to compensate me in someway for ruining my return flight. Since I couldn’t get access to their Premium Lounge I decided to check the airport website and see what other lounges were available here. I ended up finding one called Al Reem tucked away on the far side of the airport that allows access to AMEX card holders. I’m here chilling in the lounge now and it’s actually better than the Etihad Premium Lounge. It’s quieter, a lot less people and there is even a bar.
I travel a lot and always in coach when traveling around the region so the AMEX card really makes the airport experience a lot more comfortable. I use it mostly at the Kuwait Airport, Beirut Airport, Dubai Airport (all terminals), Bahrain and now I’m using it in Abu Dhabi. If you’re flying out with FLyDubai from the Sheikh Saad Terminal in Kuwait, the AMEX card also gives you access to the business class side of the airport which is a much more superior experience compared to the regular side.
Other than lounge access, my AMEX card also gives me 30% off on MyUS shipments and I also earn points on the card which I can convert to air miles for my favorite airlines or buy products from the AMEX store. If all that isn’t enough, my AMEX card has even given me access to early bird or reserved seating for concert tickets in the States using TicketMaster.com.
There are some downsides of course compared to the credit cards from your bank. You have the yearly card fee which you have to pay while my MasterCard with NBK is free. The interest rate is also higher with AMEX, my MasterCard I think is 1% a month while AMEX is like 2.3%. Then you lose a bit of money with the exchange rate whenever you settle your bill since you have to pay using US dollars. But those downsides are worth it for me which is why I love my American Express card. For more details you can visit them in Salhiya or check out their website [Here]
40 replies on “Why Etihad Airways Sucks and American Express Kicks Ass”
If the main use is for lounge access then you can get a wide range on the diners which is also provided by nbk. 1st year is free and then they charge and you don’t have to worry about paying in dollars.
On the flip side it is not generally accessible at knet if the machine is not provided by nbk.
Yeah considered that before but American Express offered more benefits in addition to the lounge access. I don’t know of any website that accepts Diners nor of any shops.
Question, whenever I use my NBK prepaid online visa, the places I shop at always charge me a bit more than the original amount. For instance, let’s say I bought a $25 item from Amazon. I’d have to put an a few extra dollars in my prepaid visa for them to accept the order or otherwise it would get declined. Is this because of the exchange rates as you mentioned above? Or is there a service charge from NBK?
I don’t have a prepaid card but my guess is the exchange rate. NBK/Visa/Mastercard/Knet don’t have a service fee for using the card.
I also run through the same issue and believe it is an exchange rate issue and don’t bother much about it 🙂
Also is the American express card considered to be an American credit card? Cause some sites require a US based card, so does qualify as one?
No, it is not considered a US based credit card. Its an AMEX Middle East issued card.
thanks.
I hate Etihad with a passion.
Hi Mark – what shipment service provides a discount for the Amex card?
My Bad – just saw the link to the service. Thx
What kind of items do they sell at the AMEX shop?
Scroll down to merchandise rewards
https://tinyurl.com/z6jyvsu
Etihad has a long way to go in terms of service. Their ads say one thing and their service on the ground is totally a different experience – nothing new in this world but given they were rated airline of the year, I’m left wondering. I thought I was the only one but seeing this I guess my experience has not been solitary.
I had a similar experience with Emirates, but guess what – they put me up in a hotel, gave me breakfast and lunch in a top hotel and I was chauffeured back (economy class booking) – that’s service and I’d be glad to pay the 10% extra!
The bright side is Abu Dhabi has a small airport which is convenient to walk through as opposed to Dubai and Etihad (for now) has cheaper connects so they’ll get a bulk of the customers.
Visa signature is the best. Alshaya points+miles+airport lounges around the world.
Be careful with the LoungeKey access that you get with the Signature card. I’ve had them charge me for the people traveling with me even though I had used a separate card to get them into the lounge. Like my wife and I both use our NBK Signature card for the LoungeKey to get into the lounge and use another bank’s cards to get our kids in. Then in the credit card statement we find $27 charges from LoungeKey which even the bank isn’t able to verify. Also, they charge a flat $27 for your guests lounge which is sometimes more than the lounge’s entrance fee for non-members so always check before you sign.
I was told that to add miles to the signature card, I have to pay 100KD fee, but will be waived off if the annual spend is over KD 7,500/-
Yes, that’s the deal.
Ok so my dad has Amex and he says that not many places in Kuwait except Amex including Mideast issued ones.
Etihad did that to me too. They just “assumed” and put me on a flight for the next day from the origin point Doha, which was 24 hours later. The next day after I reached Abu Dhabi, I missed my connection flight and finally reached my destination 36 hours late. The whole trip was fucked up.
Luckily, I was able to claim from the travel insurance for the hotel bookings and airmiles from Etihad equivalent to a return trip after a series of emails.
Lesson learnt was never have a connection flight less than 3 hours while travelling with Etihad!
Thats what upset me, why assume I wouldn’t be able to make it and boot me off the flight? I was like I’m right here at the gate, there is still 20 minutes for departure and as soon as my plane landed there was a guy holding a sign for Kuwait and I made him walkie talkie you to tell you I’m gonna run to the gate. They were like sorry but they already removed you from the passenger list.
Then for my 2:30AM flight they were still boarding people at 2:33AM. Like what a big fuck you in my face.
you don’t need to be in love with amex to enjoy lounge access
here’s your lounge access solution
http://www.prioritypass.com
Well lounge access is just “one” of the benefits.
just checked the prices for priority pass, jeez $250 a year and for only 10 lounge visits… no thanks.
well its a viable option for people who don’t have an amex card. most of the people living here must already have a credit card affiliated with a local bank here. instead of spending the extra 450$ a year on an amex (plus the huge interest) they could opt for a priority pass, works out much cheaper. yes i agree there are other benefits as well to an amex. this is just a easy solution if you’re into lounge access
wow 450 for Amex? its like just 100$ or 150 max.
just checked my old statements, I’m paying $120 a year for my Amex.
wait which amex card is this again? 150 max with lounge access is steal
it’s 120 not 150. It’s just their regular gold card
https://tinyurl.com/hm78hak
cheers!
how much do you pay for your yearly fee?
100-150 something like that. But you’re not just paying for lounge access of course, you’re paying for all the cards benefits.
$??
$120
Mark, another great benefit of Amex is they give upto 9 free supplementary so my family can also use the lounge for free.
Love Amex.
You’ve got either a lawsuit or a compensation flight in their ‘The Residence’ coming your way.
Neither. They cannot sue passengers for negligence of service. But again as has been my experience they suck at taking care of passengers after they’ve goofed up. I have my experience to prove it. It took me 6 months of emails to get compensation.
amex maybe a gd card, but as far as limits and lounges nbk miles card is way better plus there is no interest if u dont spent your limits and everytime u pay you get points to use for discounts in tickets, shopping, restaurants. the only things u pay for is a yearly payment 100 kd and if u took from the limit money they take 10% from your jawhara account to the miles account and 1% interest for them.
You’re basically paying three times the cost of the AMEX card for the same benefits (lounge access, points, miles etc.) so I wouldn’t consider that a way better option. Plus you’re going to have to have an NBK account, AMEX doesn’t care what bank you currently have…
KFH Signature card is free (If you use it for a couple hundred a year)
Same benefits as NBK + %2 cash back for any non local currency purchase (Online or abroad)
No interest rate
Salary as low as 900 KWD (NBK Asked for 3,000 KWD or block some cash on my account)
with KFH if you over spend instead of charging you. The card get blocked. So you won’t get random intresents charges.