Centurion Card - Is it worth it?

[11sjw]

Hi,

I've receieved the offer phone call and had to ask for a call back due to timing issues.

In short can those who have one comment on whethr or not it is useful above and beyond the Platinum Charge Card (my current card).

Thanks,

11sjw



P.S. Mods I did search but found nothing that addressed the entire offering rather select components of it.

 

[TonyHancock]

There are a few discussions here, here, here and here. It comes down to whether the benefits from Centurion are greater than the those of Platinum. For me the gap is just not wide enough in benefits. Others might think differently.

 

[Stephen65]

Didn't they send you a written invitation? Just a phone call?

 

[11sjw]

Didn't they send you a written invitation? Just a phone call?

No, just a phone call. I was somewhere in the vicinity of Tom Price at the time. Large mining vehicles certainly hindered the reps chance of persuading me.

 

[Stephen65]

That's another downgrade in invitation quality then.

Originally Centurion invites came in a really nice wooden box couriered to you including the card and all you had to do was activate it if you wanted it. Then the invitation got downgraded to the sort of glossy envelope and letter that you typically get from banks offering you cards.

Personally I could never see how I was going to get an extra $3400 worth of value out of the Centurion as compared with my Platinum card so declined when offered.

 

[Foreigner]

As far as offer by phone, that's unheard of, till here. I had two offers last year within weeks of each other, both by post. I ignored them.

Could be an idea for Amex to offer the card but fees to be paid in reward points rather than $$$. I certainly would be tempted.

 

[11sjw]

If they pony up say 600k+ points I'd try it for a year.

Thanks to Tony Hancock for providing the links. Not sure why my search turned up dud threads. Man, Bossreggie was going a bit nuts in some of those threads :shock:

I'll listen to what the young lady has to say but the comments in here generally lean to a decline which I tend to agree with bar the possibility mentioned above.

 

[exp1k]

Could be an idea for Amex to offer the card but fees to be paid in reward points rather than $$$. I certainly would be tempted.

You can. I got a black envelope a few weeks ago telling me about some 10% off offer when paying by points.
It costs about 300k points or something crazy like this to pay the annual fee in reward points.

 

[flyer999]

I received an offer and did a cost benefit analysis. NOT worth it to me. Platinum worked out to be more cost effective.

 

[nlagalle]

I still personally cannot justify it. But each to their own.

 

[pshepvic]

I think it's the sort of card that if you try to justify it by trying to get $3400 extra value, then it may fall short. You need to work out if all the other benefits than you can't put a price on are what you need, and are something you are willing to pay for.

For example, the benefit of booking a table for 4 at the list of restaurants on the day is available on both Platinum and Centurion - however there is a table for both at each restaurant. The ratio of cardholders to tables though, is certainly more in your favour as a Centurion card member. There are other benefits with similar things to consider. Others to consider - companion fares with Plat are up to 31% discount, but on Cent are up to 46%. Hotel and car rental benefits are better with Cent. It's quite hard to put a price on these things, so therefore you need to work out the value of the card to you, and not just try to find $3400 worth of features. For most people, the value won't be there, but for a few, it is.


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[haydensydney]

Historically i've been all for it, but at this stage I would recommend against getting it. The 'your invited' special events are of a far less quality these days and most a open to plat and cent anyway. Dont ever use priority pass anymore. Never travelled with CX so using Marco Polo is useless (and we hate Qantas so of no use domestically either). Concierge is useless these days and only a few of the staff are exceptional with the rest average call centre employees with feigned interest in really going that extra mile. Restaurant tables are good, but its a bit hit and miss when you can actually succeed with a booking. Travel services aren't of much use because I'm a self planner: they have delivered on one hard travel request in the few years I've had the card (apartment in Budapest) - other than that, nothing to rave about cost savings wise. Often the companion fare savings are still more expensive than two J / F tickets that you can get from other airlines yourself online (during sales).

As much as it pains me to say it, the proposition is a joke in comparison to what was offered five years ago. I feel like we just pay the yearly fee because of nostalgia and to avoid the hassle of having to downgrade to plat. Im not the happiest centurion camper at the moment - if you cant half tell

 

[Simo]

I got offered the card a few years ago and I can not see the value in it.

I once used a service that was a concierge type service and got ripped off IMHO.

 

[Deleted member]

Got a box with offer and facsimile card last year. First response was warm glow. After looking at the deal on offer. No possible way could I justify it. Research and feed back from AFF'rs played a big role in my decision to decline this offer.

 

[Deleted member]

Just as a matter of interest. Has anyone here had multiple offers or a centurion and knocked them back....consistently. And if so when ( if ) did they stop offering?

 

[11sjw]

Just had the call back from the Sales Rep (still no package at all). Some Centurion benefits I wasn't aware of:

1. QP membership. They tried to tell me it was worth $800 odd annually. I argued and told them that maybe in the first year witha nomination fee but after that it is $250-$300/yr. Note that this could be passed onto a supplementary card holder.
2. 2 x Priority Pass Memberships. The limited nature of their usability in Aust was pointed out and she was "unaware of this"
3. 1 free domestic or Intl flight. I knew the domestic part. Flights with any of 7 airline partners.


I did ask if there were any bonus points on offer but apparently due to the exclusivity they don't do bonus points.

 

[haydensydney]

One free flight?

Any more detail on this because I haven't heard about this benefit to date...?

 

[mini2]

One free flight?

Any more detail on this because I haven't heard about this benefit to date...?

Probably via getting the Plat Reserve for free.

 

[Extasea33]

Pros and Cons in my case;
I usually travel to Europe and the UAE a number of times a year and so get value out of the concierge, comp limo transfers, avoiding immigration cues and one point of contact if something doesn't go like it should. The hotel status always helps when in large cities although many people seam to get this benefit in other ways for free. At four seasons hotels i also seam to score upgrades when booking through Cent.
The lounge memberships are not valuable, nor is the airline status which you quickly get flying to Europe in the pointy end.
I have also claimed on insurance a few times for medical expenses and lost Mont Blanc pens (the damn things always grow legs) and have never been knocked back by ACE.
However like Hayden mentioned things aren't as good domestically with useless invitations, and Stores like Henry Bucks no longer offering shopping benefits.
The hotel vouchers i received last were useless in Australia, and i think there was something from Orient express, which might be great as a retiree but who honestly has time for this.
I am also thinking, that when i wind back on the travel i will drop back to Platinum.

 

[nlagalle]

Just had the call back from the Sales Rep (still no package at all). Some Centurion benefits I wasn't aware of:

1. QP membership. They tried to tell me it was worth $800 odd annually. I argued and told them that maybe in the first year witha nomination fee but after that it is $250-$300/yr. Note that this could be passed onto a supplementary card holder.
2. 2 x Priority Pass Memberships. The limited nature of their usability in Aust was pointed out and she was "unaware of this"
3. 1 free domestic or Intl flight. I knew the domestic part. Flights with any of 7 airline partners.

I did ask if there were any bonus points on offer but apparently due to the exclusivity they don't do bonus points.

A single year of QP membership is $470 not including the membership fee. That doesn't take into account corporate memberships. also i was told you could gift it to a supp holder too.

Also I believe the Priority Pass membership can also be for a supp card holder too.

Also get platinum with Priority Club and SPG.

It still doesn't add up to $4200 worth..