Centurion here I come.....

[sparoz]

I have just split my Ultimate limit that gets QF points when I took up the Amex Velocity.
I am now at 70k limit on the Ultimate and the rest is on the Velocity card for pointy end Virgin and Etihad flights (responsible lender rules apply to credit limits these days). So both are credit cards that I refill every 3 business days to pay larger bills seeing Amex won't allow you to put their direct accounts into credit.
I use Westpac Kris Flyer Amex Platinum for Kris points as you can cash a cheque at the bank counter and then immediately pay big bills.
Centurion would be way too limited for our family with that cap.

I must investigate to see if there's a card on Asia Miles with no cap for us Aussies where I can split off. Although, I do make use of the revolving line of credit to save interest and do like the flexibility of transferring points to whichever FF program handy.

 

[Ricardo]

I think this card is losing the exclusivity claimed.

Despite reading this and other threads that discuss 'who' is offered the card (and often the 'type' of spend going through- ie. Discretionary, travel,etc) in my opinion that's garbage- they are either running short of members or on a cash grab for multiples of $4300.

Why do I purport this? I also received the invitation in the mail, and if you believe the tripe written in the booklet then you deserve to part with the $4.3k for very little more on offer than the benefits of other available cards.

I tend to agree. I also got an invite late last week and from what I could see the 4.3k was not that different from existing plat card for me. And I only spend about 50-60k a year on my plat card.

Some members have also noted the fee difference between a US card and as AU card, which from memory was significant (fee twice as much for AU I think??) Anyway I find Amex service hit and miss, only in it for the points and 21 days of offest against my mortgage and the companion reserve card :mrgreen:

 

[Stephen65]

Yes the idea of paying almost double what US Centurion holders pay for a card with worse benefits than the US card especially annoys me.

 

[marki]

Yes the idea of paying almost double what US Centurion holders pay for a card with worse benefits than the US card especially annoys me.

This ticks me off (annoys) too. Despite this problem I do find good value in it. Have had the card for 4 years the benefits have more than paid for the cards price. I do not want to divulge too much but other centurion members will understand. The booklet is only the beginning .....

Marki


Sent from my iPad using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[3eef]

I tend to agree. I also got an invite late last week and from what I could see the 4.3k was not that different from existing plat card for me. And I only spend about 50-60k a year on my plat card.

Some members have also noted the fee difference between a US card and as AU card, which from memory was significant (fee twice as much for AU I think??) Anyway I find Amex service hit and miss, only in it for the points and 21 days of offest against my mortgage and the companion reserve card :mrgreen:

$50-$60k a year and an invite surprises me. Was it a particularly notable spend on luxury items? There usual requirement seemed to average to $10k + per month over 12 months of discretionary spend minimum. Even then it was my experience that they looked at what sort of places you were shopping in before offering the card.

Separate to the above, My impression of the centurion is that over time it will naturally become less exclusive. This is usually the way with brand focused products and services. Take Prada, Miuccia Prada has grown the core Prada brand and it becomes diluted as it becomes accessible. To combat this Prada segments the market offering many new labels like Miu Miu which is Prada but cheaper and then 2 more exclusive ranges in the Prada brand alone.

Looking at the above it would be my guess that Amex is turning centurion into it's platinum plus and will soon re-segment the diluted brand with an even more exclusive card.

Either that or with the high Aussie dollar they need to get more people paying more fees to keep the usd reported margins in line.

 

[Ricardo]

$50-$60k a year and an invite surprises me. Was it a particularly notable spend on luxury items? There usual requirement seemed to average to $10k + per month over 12 months of discretionary spend minimum. Even then it was my experience that they looked at what sort of places you were shopping in before offering the card.

Separate to the above, My impression of the centurion is that over time it will naturally become less exclusive. This is usually the way with brand focused products and services. Take Prada, Miuccia Prada has grown the core Prada brand and it becomes diluted as it becomes accessible. To combat this Prada segments the market offering many new labels like Miu Miu which is Prada but cheaper and then 2 more exclusive ranges in the Prada brand alone.

Looking at the above it would be my guess that Amex is turning centurion into it's platinum plus and will soon re-segment the diluted brand with an even more exclusive card.

Either that or with the high Aussie dollar they need to get more people paying more fees to keep the usd reported margins in line.

Yes I was surprised myself !!!! In any case nice to be invited and I have been a loyal cardmember since 1999 so not sure if that was a factor. Most of my card spend is personal in nature with the odd seminar and accom thrown in, 1-2 trips to NZ each year and the odd Fiji or trip to Asia (but not much of these of late GRRRR). Maybe I will give it a shot and see what lies behind the glossy brochures (this is only the start from what I hear) and forum rhetoric and get a feel for it myself.

Possibly they are after more fees ?

 

[notzac]

Possibly they are after more fees ?

With the annual fee being what it is, I'd say that that's a given.

 

[sinbad8880]

I received my second invitation to Centurion last Friday. Packaging has certainly been cut back compared to a few years ago. Just a black envelope now.

Also no mention of CX Diamond status in the accompanying brochure?

Not for me at $4300

 

[Ricardo]

I received my second invitation to Centurion last Friday. Packaging has certainly been cut back compared to a few years ago. Just a black envelope now.

Also no mention of CX Diamond status in the accompanying brochure?

Not for me at $4300

I heard that it had been scaled back so to speak. I thought they gave you a titanium card with your name on it as a 'sample' teaser, and I can get Qantas club membership for $390 as a corp member.

 

[Stephen65]

Free QP membership with the Centurion is pretty much a nothing offer as far as I am concerned. I don't value it at anything and even if I did it's something I can buy for myself if I want it rather than paying Amex to buy it for me.

Status that you cannot just go out and buy, like permanent CX Diamond or Gold, is worth far more.

 

[Ricardo]

Status that you cannot just go out and buy, like permanent CX Diamond or Gold, is worth far more.

Yes I would agree with that point 100%

 

[Cruiser Elite]

First benefit

Since taking up Centurion I received the first benefit for my '$4,300 Investment' last week - let me explain.

I was in Shanghai and was ticketed to fly PVG-MNL-MEL on Aug 25. On Aug 20 I found out I needed to be in MNL morning Aug 22 - called PA and was advised something like US$800 to change dates due to T & C's of discount fare.

No problem - booked CX Y PVG-HKG at 17:35 on Aug 21 then HKG-MNL at 22:00 - cost CNY2,184 / A$331.09 - just testing waters really with complimentary Diamond Marco Polo Membership.

Arrived to check in at PVG - jumped into First Class line - handed booking and passport to agent - his first comment you are travelling J Mr Elite - actually no I have booked Y - but your booking shoes J HKG-MNL and Y PVG-HKG - oh ok - 1 auto upgrade I assume because of Diamond. Would you like earlier flight sir? OK I will be better off in HKG First Lounge than on PVG - so he puts me on 16:45 flight - sorry sir can only give you Y on this flight - ok.

Arrive HKG and spent 2 hours in The Wing Lounge - then J class to MNL.

So in 5 months that is the first BENEFIT I have experienced with Centurion - still a lot of work to do to extract that extra $3,400 value from Plat to Cent.

 

[Stephen65]

Well you can thrown out the theory that what you spend your money on makes any difference to whether you get an offer or not.

I just got the black envelope this afternoon. I have been an Amex member for a whole 13 months and in that time I have spent about $260,000 on the plat charge and another $55,000 on the plat CC you get for free with it.

However, no more than about $20,000 of that $315,000 was on anything that you could describe as luxury spending - some international airfares, hotels and resorts and the damage done by my wife's raid on the Fendi boutique in SIN. Almost all of the rest was obvious business spending - ATO tax payments and various professional items and services.

I think I will give them a ring and see how they can sell the extra $3400 over the plat charge as being worthwhile.

 

[cove]

Whatever makes you happy applies in this case. If you see value for yourself then go for it.
We did 2 Citi Selects,2 Amex Ultimates, Woolworths EDR, BankWest Platinum,Velocity Amex Platinum, Westpac Kris Flyer Amex and a US gold Amex .it is a bit more complicated but we can go pretty much anywhere,any time up the front of the plane all on card points.

 

[Ricardo]

I think I will give them a ring and see how they can sell the extra $3400 over the plat charge as being worthwhile.

I am going to adopt the same tactic :mrgreen:

 

[3eef]

I think I will give them a ring and see how they can sell the extra $3400 over the plat charge as being worthwhile.

I'd love to know what they say! I personally don't think if you look only on a $ value what I get basis that you would take the card... Even when u max out the points it probably doesn't add up.

 

[3eef]

What with virgin giving status to everyone and his dog at the moment, I reccon adding DJ plat or Gold as a benefit to cent would be a quick win and probably realistic given the existing relationship...

 

[Diesellife]

I would rather have CX Diamond over DJ Gold...hands down

 

[3eef]

I would rather have CX Diamond over DJ Gold...hands down

Agree I meant AND ....

 

[Diesellife]

Agree I meant AND ....

That would be awesome.

:mrgreen: