American Express has added another benefit for Amex Platinum cardholders: a Meet & Greet service for domestic departures. This enhancement brings more convenience to premium cardmembers, especially those who value time and a smoother airport experience.
Meet & Greet Benefit
The new Domestic Meet & Greet service is currently available for departures at Delhi airport. Key features include:
- Personalised welcome for up to four people at the domestic departure terminal
- Assisted check-in inside the airport
- Dedicated porter and buggy transfers
- Detailed terms and conditions provided by American Express
The service is operated by Allways VIP (part of the Plaza Premium Group), the same provider that previously supported Citi Prestige meet & greet services.
Since Amex already operates a lounge in Mumbai, it is likely the Meet & Greet service may expand to Mumbai in future.
Limits and Restrictions
- Complimentary access limit: 4 per year (1 per quarter)
- Up to 4 people per access (1 primary cardmember + up to 3 guests)
- Only applicable when flights are booked through the Platinum Travel Desk
- Offer validity: until 28 February 2022
While the service adds convenience, there are a few important limitations that reduce its usefulness for some travellers:
- Revenue bookings required: Cardholders must book through the Amex Platinum Travel Desk to use the service. Those who travel on award tickets or point bookings cannot access this benefit.
- Currently Delhi-only: The benefit is limited to Delhi airport at present.
- Domestic departures only: The restriction to domestic departures limits the value for travellers who would gain more from international meet & greet services.
Given these conditions, the benefit is most valuable for travellers carrying multiple bags or for those who benefit from using expedited lines for security and check-in. It is less useful for frequent points travellers or those flying internationally from other airports.
One notable advantage over some competitors: Amex counts each person as part of the complimentary access, allowing up to four people per visit, whereas some other providers count each guest separately against a card’s entitlement.
Final Thoughts
Airport meet & greet services are shaping up to be a key differentiator in the super-premium card segment. It is encouraging to see American Express testing and rolling out such services for Platinum cardholders.
That said, the current design of this benefit feels restrictive. Simpler, more generous structures—like those offered by some competitors—tend to deliver clearer value. For example, cards with lower annual fees sometimes offer more uses with fewer conditions, which raises expectations for what a high-fee product should include.
With the current pilot set to end in February 2022, there is an opportunity for American Express to refine and expand the service—more locations, international departures, and flexibility for bookings would make the benefit significantly more compelling at the Platinum card tier.
What do you think of the new Meet & Greet benefit on the Amex Platinum card? Share your thoughts in the comments below.