Centurion here I come.....

[Cruiser Elite]

Arrived back in Oz this morning after a week in China and waiting for me is a nice big Silver envelope with Centurion emblazoned on the back.

Yep finally got my second invite to join - I turned down a previous invitation in August 2009.

Things must be really tough in AMEX - you should see the deterioration in quality of the 'invitation package' from Aug 09 to Mar 11 - I will photograph both invites and post pics to show you guys.

And yes I will take up the invitation and assess it over a 12 month period - I will keep you guys posted as to exactly what - if any - special offers are offered my way.

 

[lovestotravel]

Have they dropped the price or upped the benefits..........

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Have they dropped the price or upped the benefits..........

Have no idea as yet my friend - landed at Tulla at 10am and was in office at 11.30 - have not had time to call them to discuss.

Clearly they have dropped character requirements for entry though.

 

[yohy?!]

Let us know how much heavier the card feels in your hand than a plastic one

 

[Diesellife]

Congratz cruiser elite!!! I noticed that you have been looking for the 2nd invite for quite sometime now.

Please take some pictures for both 09 and 11 invitation package. Im interested in the comparison too... haha

 

[Stephen65]

I would refuse on principle - why should we pay A$4300 for a card that Americans get, with superior benefits, for US$2500?

 

[lovestotravel]

I would refuse on principle - why should we pay A$4300 for a card that Americans get, with superior benefits, for US$2500?

Why should I spend A$120,000 on a car here that is only US$55,000

:evil::evil::evil::evil::evil:

 

[FuzzyAUS]

Arrived back in Oz this morning after a week in China and waiting for me is a nice big Silver envelope with Centurion emblazoned on the back.

And yes I will take up the invitation and assess it over a 12 month period - I will keep you guys posted as to exactly what - if any - special offers are offered my way.

Welcome!!!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I would refuse on principle - why should we pay A$4300 for a card that Americans get, with superior benefits, for US$2500?

Stephen I understand that line of thinking - trust me I come from humble beginnings - if I could I would slice a 5c piece in half - but I am going to take up the Cent offer for 12 months and just see how much value I can wring out of it.

I am only actually up for an extra $3,300 as the Cent will replace Plat Charge which currently costs me $900 and Plat Credit which I think is extra $100 also is it not?

 

[hummel]

Why should I spend A$120,000 on a car here that is only US$55,000

:evil::evil::evil::evil::evil:

You shouldn't! Our car prices are just craz..... whoops! Don't want to open that can of worms anymore :mrgreen::mrgreen:

 

[simongr]

Plat Credit which I think is extra $100 also is it not?

Its not - it is free. In fact it has a negative cost as you get the free flight/hotel night

 

[WA flyer]

I just received an invitation myself this week.
They would have to offer me a huge points bonus to justify me paying such a high fee. I managed to get the ultimate for free and will be bargaining hard when the $900 on the charge card becomes due!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Received my Cent Card.........Received my Cent Card

Does the heading sound like an echo?

Today received my Cent Card in the mail...................and in the second package I received - a second Cent Card - 2 cards - 2 different numbers - jeez Amex must really want me.

Phone up Cent - er sorry - software glitch - we have been doubling up on card replacement requests a bit this week - just keep first card - destroy second one - nah - cannot bring myself to do that - might just get some mileage out of it first.

 

[edman]

I just received an invitation myself this week.
They would have to offer me a huge points bonus to justify me paying such a high fee. I managed to get the ultimate for free and will be bargaining hard when the $900 on the charge card becomes due!

Was recently offered half price if I upgraded, via CSR when ringing to discuss account matters, if that is of any assistance. Said they would "most likely" be able to that annually but would have to ring each year to get it.

 

[beardoc]

Stephen I understand that line of thinking - trust me I come from humble beginnings - if I could I would slice a 5c piece in half - but I am going to take up the Cent offer for 12 months and just see how much value I can wring out of it.

With CX Diamond status you should do well now!

 

[wozza62]

As a Centurion card holder for a few years now it has it's benefits such as higher points than other cards and comprehensive travel insurance cover.
I do laugh sometimes at the Invitation only offers you get sometimes though. Recently it was an exclusive 12 course dinner in London at about $1200 bucks a head. I really don't know why Amex thinks that Centurion cards holders are idiots and will pay any price to be included. On the plus side they did send me a nice Cab/Sav a few weeks back.

 

[samiam]

I really don't know why Amex thinks that Centurion cards holders are idiots and will pay any price to be included.

Ummm... $4500- comes to mind

Note: this reply references the collective, not the singular

 

[Homer]

I do laugh sometimes at the Invitation only offers you get sometimes though. Recently it was an exclusive 12 course dinner in London at about $1200 bucks a head. I really don't know why Amex thinks that Centurion cards holders are idiots and will pay any price to be included. On the plus side they did send me a nice Cab/Sav a few weeks back.

Um, that was a dinner at Fat Duck. It isn’t in London, but it’s not far. I’ve tried to get in there twice in the last 12 months or so and haven’t been able to. If we weren’t going to be in Canada in July then I would have seriously considered taking up the offer. The previous, similar offer I can recall was an all-day affair at El Bulli which, again from memory, was around $3K per person. I missed out on that because we were away when the invitation arrived and it sold out in the first day but it would have been absolutely sensational and, well now at least, unique.

I don’t think AMEX considers their cardmembers to be idiots. I think they understand that some appreciate the finer things in life and obviously enough of them do because the offers sell out. On the “1,200 bucks a head” aspect, I agree it isn’t cheap but it’s not difficult to spend around half that per head at Quay if you know your way around a wine list. For what it was I thought it was a pretty fair deal.

 

[wozza62]

Ummm... $4500- comes to mind

Note: this reply references the collective, not the singular

I guess it depends on your situation. Some view the cost as excessive, to me it's a business expense. The real cost as someone else described is only $3400 when you deduct what the platinum card would have cost. Which last year I got back and then some when a rather expensive watch I had went missing from my room in Cairo.

 

[Robert K]

You have to make a gazzilion dollar to qualify for the card, so $7500 a year for a card with so many perks wouldn't make a dent in their wallets.

There are things money can not buy, like a table at famous restaurants.