AMEX Centurion

[cove]

Why do you bother with capped cards?
Amex Ultimate gets me about 2.5M a year and Westpac Kris Platinum the same with the choice of Visa and co branded Amex.
Capped cards are a wa** .
You won't get Chairmans Lounge on my thoughts but you will be going best available anyway.
The room upgrades sound nice.

 

[Homer]

Why do you bother with capped cards?
Amex Ultimate gets me about 2.5M a year and Westpac Kris Platinum the same with the choice of Visa and co branded Amex.
Capped cards are a wa** .

Remember people are talking about AMEX Membership Rewards points, which can be redeemed across a whole range of products, using their AMEX *charge* card. The Qantas Ultimate AMEX card (which is a *credit* card) only earns Qantas frequent flyer points - ie a “direct earn” card.

 

[oz_mark]

Why do you bother with capped cards?
Amex Ultimate gets me about 2.5M a year and Westpac Kris Platinum the same with the choice of Visa and co branded Amex.
Capped cards are a wa** .

On the platinum and centurion Amex, it is only the 0.5 point bonus that is capped. Overall earning is uncapped.

 

[Foreigner]

Why do you bother with capped cards?
Amex Ultimate gets me about 2.5M a year and Westpac Kris Platinum the same with the choice of Visa and co branded Amex.
Capped cards are a wa** .
You won't get Chairmans Lounge on my thoughts but you will be going best available anyway.
The room upgrades sound nice.

I see the point about Amex Ultimate. But I don't see any need to get such card and pay another $450 when my SQ amex card continues to offer $1:1.5 KF miles. Without cap.

My problem is with the Visa card, earn for which has reduced to $1:0.5 KF miles. Amex is not as widely accepted, hence my search for alternative card. I know this is an Amex thread...maybe you can PM me suggestion for an alternative Visa/Mastercard.

 

[cove]

SQ earn rate changes on Westpac Platinum Kris Flyer Visa on 15thMarch so enjoy that card for a little longer.
I have always thought the Centurion card went along with QF Chairmans Lounge but maybe I thought wrongly on this.
Amex Platinum concierge turned me off the concierge thingy when they proved to be pretty ordinary so I now do most things by myself.
I think of most destinations in terms of redemption points. Rather than ponying up real money my task this year is to move up the total points earned despite Westpac and others changing the rules.
Amex scores a big tick from me.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

111K? Isn't it an extra 100k?

100% correct - typo - my bad

Why do you bother with capped cards?
Amex Ultimate gets me about 2.5M a year and Westpac Kris Platinum the same with the choice of Visa and co branded Amex.

Yes Westpac SQ AMEX gets you around the cap problem - but points go direct to KF.

My problem is with the Visa card, earn for which has reduced to $1:0.5 KF miles.........maybe you can PM me suggestion for an alternative Visa/Mastercard.

As is the problem for MANY MANY members - if somebody does have a suggestion on an alternative Visa/MC with 1:1 earn that can see points end up in KF please don't PM anybody - please stand up and shout it from the rooftops - MANY MANY of us are going to want to take that card up post mid March.

 

[cove]

I have gone for 2 main systems being QF and SQ.
My point a dollar VISA will go CitiSelect after March15th so in our case that is for QF points.
I will SQ Amex ATO taxes where fee is tax deductible.
I may do VISA for non deductible fees on ATO taxes but that depends on our point consumption as we seem to be burning them very quickly.
Amexing personal taxes at 0.833 cents is still attractive if it is getting you J or F tickets to everywhere.
Sometimes points can be worth north of 5 cents each.
My sleeper programme is Virgin and that may come good with product in 2011.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I have gone for 2 main systems being QF and SQ.

QF very little value to me as 90% of my flights\ MEL-PEK/PVG. Unfortunately lack of Saver Awards now making point utilisation rather difficult.

My sleeper programme is Virgin and that may come good with product in 2011.

One would hope so - especially if they do gain admission to *A.

 

[nlagalle]

Well i got a package in the mail tonight for a Centurion card.. I couldn't believe it!

I cannot justify the $4300 annual fee.. but i have noticed you get the following:

• 
  QP membership for you or your supp holder (don't think it is for both)
  Priority Pass- worded that I think the supp holder gets one too.
  HHonors Diamond VIP
  Club 5C
  Priority Club Platinum Elite

I am impressed with the folder it came in. nice black bound folder with a dummy centurion card in the middle.

 

[Foreigner]

Well i got a package in the mail tonight for a Centurion card.. I couldn't believe it!

I cannot justify the $4300 annual fee.. but i have noticed you get the following:

• 
  QP membership for you or your supp holder (don't think it is for both)
  Priority Pass- worded that I think the supp holder gets one too.
  HHonors Diamond VIP
  Club 5C
  Priority Club Platinum Elite

I am impressed with the folder it came in. nice black bound folder with a dummy centurion card in the middle.

I got mine last week. With that sort of cost, I'm not even half interested in taking up the offer.

The card cannot be applied for. Amex determines who deserves it...those whom it, Amex, values most, I assume. So why such exhorbitant charge!

 

[PaulZ]

I got mine yesterday.

I have put it with the other 5 offers/packs I have received in the last 18months.

In the bin.

$4,300 just rediculous. (At least the fee has remained constant!)

 

[Foreigner]

For what it's worth, I called Amex today asking if they would consider reduced fee as introduction to Centurion. No go. They reckon it's much more than the platinum card. One they pointed out in particular was the 500k cap (vs 200k for platinum).

Considering I would use all of that 500k points, how much could the extra 300k valued at?

 

[pangwen]

At my (personal) guideline rate of 3c/point based for Qantas domestic J, it would be worth about $9000.

 

[Foreigner]

At my (personal) guideline rate of 3c/point based for Qantas domestic J, it would be worth about $9000.

Not sure if I'd been thinking thoroughly...I assume I'll still get the $1:1point for the extra300k but would miss the 0.5point bonus on that 300k. Correct?

 

[equus]

At my (personal) guideline rate of 3c/point based for Qantas domestic J, it would be worth about $9000.

At 3c per point, the "extra" from Centurion over Platinum is only worth $4,500 at that rate, and probably really only $3,000.

Both cards earn unlimited points at 1 point per dollar. The difference is in the 0.5 point per dollar bonus - with a cap of $200,000 for platinum, and $500,000 for Centurion. So the difference is an extra $300,000 at 0.5 points per dollar - or 150,000 points.

I am not sure if you should be factoring a difference of 150,000 or only 100,000. The Platinum Credit card you get with the Platinum Charge card is good for $100,000 with 1.5 points per dollar as well. Presuming that you "upgrade" from the platinum package to the Centurion, you are really only getting an extra 100,000 points potential.

 

[Foreigner]

At 3c per point, the "extra" from Centurion over Platinum is only worth $4,500 at that rate, and probably really only $3,000.

Both cards earn unlimited points at 1 point per dollar. The difference is in the 0.5 point per dollar bonus - with a cap of $200,000 for platinum, and $500,000 for Centurion. So the difference is an extra $300,000 at 0.5 points per dollar - or 150,000 points.

I am not sure if you should be factoring a difference of 150,000 or only 100,000. The Platinum Credit card you get with the Platinum Charge card is good for $100,000 with 1.5 points per dollar as well. Presuming that you "upgrade" from the platinum package to the Centurion, you are really only getting an extra 100,000 points potential.

That very much sums it up though I think the difference is going to be 150,000 points as it's likely the platinum credit card can still be kept with its benefits. Maybe other Centurions can confirm if that's how it works. @ (arbitrary) 3 cents, that's $4,500.

 

[simongr]

If you are putting $500K through your Amex card then surely you can avail yourself of some of the other services/benefits of the centurion card like the companion flights etc. and the car pick ups if you book travel through them?

 

[cove]

If you don't need your hand held Amex Ultimate is uncapped at 1.5 points on everything and 2.5 points on QF purchases.
Centurion and Platinum both have a sound position in the market because of our different needs.

 

[Foreigner]

So today I have received the second Centurion pack by post. The first invitation received last month had until June 16 for acceptance. This one has until July 8.

 

[Pukka]

That very much sums it up though I think the difference is going to be 150,000 points as it's likely the platinum credit card can still be kept with its benefits. Maybe other Centurions can confirm if that's how it works. @ (arbitrary) 3 cents, that's $4,500.

I used to have a Centurion in Uk but when I moved to Australia I downgraded to the platinum and get my limit of 1.5 points on the charge and credit cards for $900. If you use the points for flights it really is a bonus. I must admit I've been ridiculing the cost of Centurion card over here compared to UK but the points are way better than in the UK; it was 1.5 per GBP spent over here it's 1.5 per A$ even taking into account the record Au$ exchange rate that's still fairly generous. Still say the Platinum card is the best value if you just use it to get the points. All that waffle about we can get you tickets for the best shows & sporting events etc is a joke. All they do is ring up some tout (scalper) and charge you ridiculous amounts for the privilege.