2013 Centurion Benefits

[Cruiser Elite]

WOW - I wonder what AMEX paid this marketing whizz?

 

[sparoz]

Recently stayed at Four Seasons Maldives Landaa, and Four Seasons Singapore. No room upgrade available at the Maldives, but received my $200 spa benefit. However, this is the room I got for our two night stayed at Singapore:

Room booked: Executive Suite
Room received: Royal Suite + Breakfast + 3 course meal for two + 4pm checkout

The 3 course meal was fantastic, and the confirmed late checkout was great as we had a redeye coming home.

I know this is a FHR benefit which also applies to the Plat cards as well but sometimes you wonder why you get upgrade. Or did the upgrade happen because we just spent a week at Maldives? Sometimes it is hard to quantify the worth of the Cent, it is a 4k room including tax so two nights is over 6k worth of benefit. However, we still only used the room inside the suite so was it really a benefit? Either or, I do appreciate the nice gesture and it is the best upgrade I had from Plat or Cent.

 

[sparoz]

plus:


Just following up from cruiser's post - but I have to admit the most consistent upgrade was from IHG.

 

[Pukka]

I had an upgrade to a bigger Suite on the Trump floor in the Trump Waikiki recently plus breakfast & the usual spa credit late checkout etc.

They let me check in at 8am which was awesome Breakfast was ok but I wouldn't have been paying $50 per head for it, hotel & room very nice but I'd have preferred to be right on the beach.

I must say since I went back to black from plat the upgrades are better and more consistent. I still like the Upper House in HKG that is a great hotel & the free breakfast really is worth having.

 

[amaroo]

Recently stayed at Four Seasons Maldives Landaa, and Four Seasons Singapore. No room upgrade available at the Maldives, but received my $200 spa benefit. However, this is the room I got for our two night stayed at Singapore:

I've got photos of that suite Really enjoyed our two night upgrade!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Screw AMEX - nail in the coffin for my Cent card today.

AMEX FOREX are trialling a new system whereby commercial FOREX can be settled via Amex Card and earn MR pts but after 12mths of promises that I would be part of the trial have been refused participation. Trial is only available to Corporate Card holders.

No idea what 'facilitation fee' would be - we did not get that far - but AMEX have been left in no doubt as to my views of their appreciation of me holding their cards for 30+ years - but Cent will soon be cancelled - ENOUGH is ENOUGH.

BTW - who here is currently using OzForex for their Forex requirements - pm me if you don't mind.

 

[marki]

I use Amex FX via my Cent connection earn 1 point per 20 dollars I think

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I use Amex FX via my Cent connection earn 1 point per 20 dollars I think

YES that is correct - they are bonus pts - 40pts/$1K - the new system is like 1 MR pt/$1.

 

[sparoz]

At the moment I transfer it to AUD account in Hong Kong in AUD so no transaction $ + I get my bonus points. Then I transfer to wherever I need to with rates in HK which are usually lower than anywhere you can find here.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

So the decision is made to cancel Cent and Plat Credit Card after 34yrs continually holding AMEX of some description - no longer will I hold AMEX.

I email RM and request she calculate pro-rata refund of fee due and then get back to me - ahe agrees as renewal date was Mar then I am due 4mths refund - I transfer ALL remaining pts out of MR program to SQ - and I send SMS to ALL my sup card holders instructing them no further use.

5 mins later get an SMS from a niece of mine who is sup holder and who is currently on vacation in USA - 'Will I need to source alt travel insurance whilst here if you cancel or will Cent cover continue?' - D'oh - didn't think of that one.

Another email off to RM requesting put cancellation on hold til niece returns from USA on Nov 10.

I did clearly point out to RM that there has been bucket loads of loyalty at play here with the AMEX / Cruiser relationship - but last few years it's all one way - me to them - not them to me as a customer or to any other customer - benefits / pts earn etc continually watered down and fees keep going up.

Now this is certainly not a DYKWIA moment on my behalf - think about it - I have been a loyal AMEX customer for 34yrs continuously - but that all ceases Nov 10 - you point me to any other business that would or could allow long time loyal customers to walk like this.

 

[RichardKopf]

So the decision is made to cancel Cent and Plat Credit Card after 34yrs continually holding AMEX of some description - no longer will I hold AMEX.

Now this is certainly not a DYKWIA moment on my behalf - think about it - I have been a loyal AMEX customer for 34yrs continuously - but that all ceases Nov 10 - you point me to any other business that would or could allow long time loyal customers to walk like this.

I understand your disappointment. Many of us are disappointed. but what were you expecting? That they should make some special offer to you and not everyone, because of your tenure as a client? Wouldn't that put them in a position to make the same offer to all clients? Their FX business would soon be well in the red.

A couple of years ago, I was promised a Cent business card but they kept putting the release off. When they were released, the card never came. i complained, but they explained that they wouldn't offer a second Cent card to a member in Aust. I didn't like it, but I understand.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

what were you expecting? .

I was only expecting them to fulfil what they had promised me on maybe 10 or 12 occasions.

Their FX business would soon be well in the red.

At no stage was there ever an indication that there was not going to be a 'fee' involved to secure these points - it will not be a 'freebie' - AMEX will certainly not be in the red with this new program

 

[M@rcoPolo]

BTW - who here is currently using OzForex for their Forex requirements - pm me if you don't mind.

Been using OzForex for quite a while - great service and FX rates, love their service

 

[marki]

So the decision is made to cancel Cent and Plat Credit Card after 34yrs continually holding AMEX of some description - no longer will I hold AMEX.

I email RM and request she calculate pro-rata refund of fee due and then get back to me - ahe agrees as ......

Now this is certainly not a DYKWIA moment on my behalf - think about it - I have been a loyal AMEX customer for 34yrs continuously - but that all ceases Nov 10 - you point me to any other business that would or could allow long time loyal customers to walk like this.

I often get moments like this especially the costs involved give an unpleasant distaste. Though it is under constant review and will be waiting for the evidence regarding my situation to cancel out from centurion. At moments notice whenever a point is reached where enhancements become disenchantment

 

[Pukka]

I understand your disappointment. Many of us are disappointed. but what were you expecting? That they should make some special offer to you and not everyone, because of your tenure as a client? Wouldn't that put them in a position to make the same offer to all clients? Their FX business would soon be well in the red.

A couple of years ago, I was promised a Cent business card but they kept putting the release off. When they were released, the card never came. i complained, but they explained that they wouldn't offer a second Cent card to a member in Aust. I didn't like it, but I understand.

I dropped the Centurion 8 years ago when I left the UK they told me you'll never be offered it again etc and I wasn't bothered as I thought the card was overrated & was happy enough with plat'; then they offered it to me again without the joining fee last year so I thought I'd give it another go. I've actually had way more hotel upgrades than I had last time, Qantas club is good Hertz & Marco Polo status useful, I've used the restaurant booking service a few times, insurance is good and it's all been useful so far, Is it worth $5k? Probably not because I don't travel enough but I'm not really into justifying every last cent so for now I'm happy but they do have a habit of downgrading everything so we will see.

 

[sparoz]

I guess Cruiser just expect a little bit of customer service and respect from Amex being a loyal customer for 34 years. People get frustrated, because we don't treat our customers the same way Amex sometimes treats us. They have been pretty good lately to me however, but the Australian Cent do lack value compare to the ones around the world. My brother just been offered Cent in Hong Kong and just the Private Clubs and Golf Clubs entries alone is already worth the fee each year. We are probably the only Cent card in the world where the members have to justify the card every renewal.

 

[Diesellife]

The Hong Kong cent also has a private boat for rental. Only about 150 aud per day!
Then there are gym membership at the ritz Carlton.
Free peninsula nights per year

 

[Brooke01]

I am still p*##@d that there has been no update on Centurion card holders getting the additional benefits that Plat Charge card holders have recently had. Seriously, how can these benefits not filter through to Cent card holders ?????

 

[sparoz]

The Hong Kong cent also has a private boat for rental. Only about 150 aud per day!
Then there are gym membership at the ritz Carlton.
Free peninsula nights per year

Wonder if we can access to these benefits whilst in HK. I am pretty sure we are getting the free Peninsula night as well this year.

 

[sparoz]

I am still p*##@d that there has been no update on Centurion card holders getting the additional benefits that Plat Charge card holders have recently had. Seriously, how can these benefits not filter through to Cent card holders ?????

Didn't realise the plat have an upgrade?