Amex to launch Centurion card

[oc7]

Re: Amex Centurion Great product................

This is just such a great product................................. if you have incredibly small genitals

Someone must be jealous!!!

I've had a Centurion Card since May 04.

Since then I've not paid for any travel insurance for myself or my wife (4 os trips).

I've been to Hawaii J class for $4500 for 2 tickets, Mauritius F class for $5500 for 2 tickets, LAX F class for $9000 for 2 tickets, and Fiji J class $2000 for 2 tickets.

I've had a plumber out on a sunday an AMEX paid the 'call out' rate and I've had lunch at the China Club in HKK booking it (via an AMEX paid reverse charges 'phone call) the night before.

So far, I think it's been well worth the $2800 annual fee.

Cheers

 

[oc7]

^^^ sorry about that..

i just wanted to ask how you were able to get the discounted fares?? what does the amex card have to with that . ? and how has the large joining fee been worth it ??

 

[MetroAir]

Because of the companion fares that are offered.

 

[glider]

Does anyone know how much your monthly spend on Amex has to be to qualify for the Centurion?

 

[robertz]

Does anyone know how much your monthly spend on Amex has to be to qualify for the Centurion?

No idea in AUS, but here in the US, you need to spend over US$150K per year to qualify through normal channels.

So thats about $195K aussie dollars, but not 100% sure if the rules are different.

My personal view about the $2800 fee, is keep your current card, put the $2800 in the bank and draw on that for the benefits. Im pretty sure by the end of the year, there still would be a lot left over.

Rob

 

[kito]

Hi all

I reckon amex Aus doesnt not take into account of a straight minimum spend as a prime entry point with regards to the centurion offer to existing plat charge card members as per their US counterpart(USD 250,000) however the total charges must at least be a sizable one i.e. somewhat from 15k onwards per month and a perfect full payment history. The other factors are how you spend with your charge card: hotel, travel, entertainments, restaurants, retail sales and overseas spending may qualify you for one if they see your purchases revolve frequently around those areas over a minimum 12 months. They may not consider business or coporate purchases on charge cards or credit card(s) usage to be a good measurement for centurion qualification here because they have indicated the centurion membership is intended on a personal level at least at this stage.

Thanks
Kito

 

[glider]

How much spending qualifies for Centurion card?

Thanks for the very helpful comments!

I spend that much, but mostly business expenses so the clarification was important.

 

[waltervp]

Have not heard, but just noticed the East Coast - Perth return flights on the Platinum card bonuses are cancelled!!! That was one of the main reason I got it as well! As of June 1. I got the card early June after thinking about it for a while.... My luck... I must be the most negative person on this forum, I am sooo disgruntled with freq. flier points and often feel it is another scam to suck you into more costs... Normally I am the most positive person in the world!
My thought on another card is getting sucked into something else we do not need by advertising features that sound irresistible but as you get used to the card realise it was not what it was hyped up about to be... or drop important bits like East Coast to Perth flights!!!
If I ever have a travel insurance claim and Platinum card cover lets me down I will cry, and vow to eat my credit card and never bother with freq. flier points and fancy credit cards ever again as they cause me more grief in the long run!

 

[Mal]

Have not heard, but just noticed the East Coast - Perth return flights on the Platinum card bonuses are cancelled!!!!

Yeah annoying when they move the goalposts indeed. Especially when they don't write to us and tell us officially (just hide it on the website). Maybe you should write them a stern letter telling them about your displeasure and asking for either the flight to be honored, or your annual fee back. You never know what might happen!

The change was discussed here thanks to some eagle-eyed posters: http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/american-express-rewards/platinum-card-questions-7021.html

(BTW, thanks to Maca44 and jad01 for their detective work with this. )

 

[pax1a]

We use the Centurion Concierge Service a bit and had a great bit of service recently. Was in NY entertaining a customer on a Friday night who made a comment about getting into some flash bar. So phoned Amex in Oz, who phoned back 15 mins latter saying that we were on the VIP list for Lotus, and they also got us on the list at Marquee.

We rocked up to Lotus and there was a huge line of people 100+ with a 2 hour wait. We walked straight to the front of the queue, were greeted by the bouncer who said they were expecting us.

pax

If I ever have a travel insurance claim and Platinum card cover lets me down I will cry, and vow to eat my credit card and never bother with freq. flier points and fancy credit cards ever again as they cause me more grief in the long run!

 

[armanie]

We use the Centurion Concierge Service a bit and had a great bit of service recently. Was in NY entertaining a customer on a Friday night who made a comment about getting into some flash bar. So phoned Amex in Oz, who phoned back 15 mins latter saying that we were on the VIP list for Lotus, and they also got us on the list at Marquee.

We rocked up to Lotus and there was a huge line of people 100+ with a 2 hour wait. We walked straight to the front of the queue, were greeted by the bouncer who said they were expecting us.

pax

I read your post with interest.

I've read other similar posts regarding Centurion's Concierge Service and wonder whether some of them are a bit "exagerated"?
I get the impression some of them are of mythical proportions.

I just wonder whether others have had "amazing" results from the Centurion Concierge service.

armanie

 

[Aircrash 1]

It's all true.

They will do anything legal for you (at a price )

 

[armanie]

It's all true.

They will do anything legal for you (at a price )

Hi Aircrash 1,

I would love to hear specific examples.

I've read stories on the net, such as the one where some lady read a magazine at an int'l airport and when she arrived home she rang up Amex Centurion. She wanted an item advertised in the magazine, however, she could not remember the name of the magazine. In any case, she described the the magazine and item advertised, and Amex tracked it down and delivered to her door.
Then there was another story whereby Amex delivered sand from the Dead Sea to some lady because her child was doing a school project about it.

Call me sceptical, but I think these stories are urban myths (perhaps started by Amex?).

armanie

 

[Russell Allen]

The Centurion has real social benefits in the US and UK as there are more opportunities to go out, travel, behave like Lord Muck of the Manor.

In Australia, I have found no real benefits especially living on the Gold Coast as you can pretty much get a booking anywhere at a moments notice. That said it is much better than Platinum (silver as I like to call it given its benefits) as most cash drawing facilities were limited and restricted to business hours with the silver. Also, lost cards were replaced during business hours only with silver. Rubbish, given their rep.

The whole Centurion mystique existed in the last decade when only a select few (Oprah etc) had access to one. Now you only need to spend $120K and the computer automatically sends you an invite. Exclusive? Not likely. You can buy an M3 and get invited straight away. If you're that way inclined of course.

 

[Aircrash 1]

Well there is lots of examples, but here's one tangible.....

Australia to Tahiti, 50,000 Amex points rtn J class.

How? Current Centurion promo, transfer points into Virgin Flying Club get a 20% bonus.

Redeem points for J class through Flying Club on NZ Aus to NZ 30,000 rtn, NZ to Tahiti 30,000 rtn.

50,000 Amex points @ 1:1 Virgin Flying Club + 20% bonus = 60,000 Virgin Flying Club Points.

Valid till end Sept 06.

Anyone got a better deal?????

 

[oz_mark]

Well there is lots of examples, but here's one tangible.....

Australia to Tahiti, 50,000 Amex points rtn J class.

How? Current Centurion promo, transfer points into Virgin Flying Club get a 20% bonus.

Redeem points for J class through Flying Club on NZ Aus to NZ 30,000 rtn, NZ to Tahiti 30,000 rtn.

50,000 Amex points @ 1:1 Virgin Flying Club + 20% bonus = 60,000 Virgin Flying Club Points.

Valid till end Sept 06.

Anyone got a better deal?????

While this is a good promo, I don't think it is actually specific to Centurion.

 

[Aircrash 1]

I forgot to add that entry level with Flying Club for Centurion is Gold.

 

[maninblack]

Take it from one who knows. I have tested the system thoroughly. The benefits of Centurion are minor. Companion deals are at full fare which no-one ever pays in the real world, most of the other offers are either very marginal or available to the GP anyway. Yes the concierge can organise things for you at a price and that may occassionally come in handy, but rarely. Their travel service is pretty ordinary, in fact, hopeless. They try hard but just don't have the knowledge or personality. I would say that if you have platinum already and are offered Centurion, don't waste the money.

Consider this. Lets say you spend $300k per year on your Amex. Amex would therefore earn about $6-9k in commissions from your purchases and then they have the cheek to charge YOU $2800 for a $600 travel insurance policy which is the only tangible thing you really get from Centurion.

 

[siri]

Black card and Platinum main value is companion air ticket. If you book bus. class tickets wife can go almost free on a same flight bus. class too. Most airlines are US related, others are Cathay, Malaysia air, and some others.

Amex travel got bulk buying power and they use it very effectively... Companies who spend US$ 80 million for just travel VP's get these cards automatically.. Since Amex know you one of the decision makers in the company.

If you could not aim for black (US$ 150K mininimum spending..) try the platinum providing you pay your bus. class travel with the card... Wife/GF goes free.. well almost..

 

[maninblack]

Give you the clue. Most of the "exclusive" Centurion offers are not exclusive at all eg; cheap Business class on Tahiti Nui is available to the GP as are many of the travel offers such as the Hayman ones. Fine hotels program is bollocks, better value can be had straight from the hotel in most cases, program with Four Seasons only applies to a limited few of their hotels, if you travel business class you don't need Priority Pass anyway etc..

Companion fares are charged at full price, are of limited availibility and can often be matched by discounted fares and deals through Qantas holidays and the like. For example almost no companion seats are available to Vancouver for the Christmas hols on AC. I tried to book a trip to Tahiti earlier this year through Centurion and they could not get me a single cent advantage on Hotels or aifares over any other agent, in fact they couldn't even get me into the hotels we wanted that they have "arrangements" with.

Companion airlines are constantly chopped around and CX by the way is only available to HKG not through to Europe. They do now have SQ so thats a plus. See how long that lasts or whether you can actually get a seat.

As for MetroAirs comments, "I've been to Hawaii J class for $4500 for 2 tickets, Mauritius F class for $5500 for 2 tickets, LAX F class for $9000 for 2 tickets, and Fiji J class $2000 for 2 tickets."

I have never been offered fares even vaguely resembling these by Centurion. $12,000 for two, on United or NZ which is an offer that you could sometimes get elsewhere and $6700 for two on Business to Hawaii. Both of course were during low season periods.