New 2012 Centurion Benefits

[RichardKopf]

Tiny upgrades? As HH Diamond I have received many, many upgrades from the cheapest room category to ridiculous suites (4 or 5 categories at least). Maybe I have just been lucky!



I'm not totally convinced by this. A lot of people travel a lot, and in premium classes, but spread this travel over a lot of different airlines and hotel groups based on what is most convenient / best product, rather than making these decisions based on what will get them status. This kind of traveller won't necessarily earn HH Diamond or OW Emerald based on their own travel so getting these through Centurion is a good benefit (and also just not having to think about it, or travel without status until they earn it).

Having said that, I find FHR to be the most useful and valuable benefit (way more than HH). If you are staying in FHR hotels you're probably saving AT LEAST $80 for breakfast for two every day, and the upgrades tend to be pretty damn god.

Perhaps I wrote too quickly, not making my point well. If you travel premium, you don't need status, and if you earn tons of points, you don't need status, either.

Using my own example, through Amex Cent, I receive, and the value I place on them:

- Avis and Hertz President. I'm a bit fussy about the car I rent, so I rarely accept an upgrade (bigger car doesn't mean better car) The main benefit for me is a longer grace period.. often 3-4 hours.
- SPG Gold. Of no use as the benefits are minimal. I maintain Platinum with 50-80 nights a year; some paid, some redeemed using Amex(same as paid) or SPG points via Amex. The benefits of SPG Plat in Asia is worth 10-20k to me. Free breakfast, internet, extra points, Lounge access, and a 100% upgrade success rate over 3 years in South Asia.
-HHonors. My second program when there is no good Starwood. Free breakfast and internet and lounge access plus extra points. Some upgrades. My main issue with Hilton is the cookie-cutter hotels. The best stay was at Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri, where for an extra EUR200, they offered a spectacular Vista Suite. In Japan, Australia and Thailand, upgrades have been minimal.
-Priority Club. I heard it's going, but benefits have been minimal. I generally don't care for the chain so maybe I don't give it a chance.
- Relais et Chateaux. Never used this. Not my style.
- QF Club. Never used it as I always redeem in premium classes.
- CX Diamond. As above
-Currently DJ has matched CX Diamond, which offered Hertz Presidents Circle before Amex did. No benefits utilised as I redeem points for premium class travel.

So, as all my flights are redemptions in premium classes, airline status has not been of value. QF plat would help with availability of J/F redemptions, but as they only have 14 aircraft with F, with 747s being downgraded, I use QF only if no other is available.

To recap, I earn SPG status mainly by using MR or convert to SPG and redeem. Status on airlines is not a big deal as most status benefits are received by redeeming in premium classes.

 

[pshepvic]

QF sent a receipt to me by mistake with the qantas club renewal from Centurion last year.

AMEX pay $285 for it... Inc GST

Back before my days of Gold/Plat status our corporate QP fee was $297 ... for 3 years membership!


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[Brooke01]

Hi everyone,

I just booked my "free" night at the Fairmont in San Francisco for August. Was a pretty easy process - and I am looking forward to enjoying my stay there.

Cheers,

Brooke

 

[RichardKopf]

Hi everyone,

I just booked my "free" night at the Fairmont in San Francisco for August. Was a pretty easy process - and I am looking forward to enjoying my stay there.

Cheers,

Brooke

I also booked the SFO Fairmont. I think it's the worst hotel on the list, but the only city we'll be at during the offer period.

Still struggling with the Starwood free night. Looks like Port Douglas (also the worst on th list) or maybe W Samui as I'll be on Samui already, just to get The get breakfast and the SPG night credit. Shooting for 100 this year so every bit counts.

 

[Brooke01]

I also booked the SFO Fairmont. I think it's the worst hotel on the list, but the only city we'll be at during the offer period.

Still struggling with the Starwood free night. Looks like Port Douglas (also the worst on th list) or maybe W Samui as I'll be on Samui already, just to get The get breakfast and the SPG night credit. Shooting for 100 this year so every bit counts.

Same for us ! We are making a quick trip to the U.S, and the Fairmont was the only place in the offer that fitted where we were going.

I need to look in to the Starwood free night - might also be able to utilise that on our trip. Did you have to ring AmEx for details on this ? I know it was a Platinum offer, so I don't recall seeing anything about it.

Cheers,

Brooke

 

[RichardKopf]

Tiny upgrades? As HH Diamond I have received many, many upgrades from the cheapest room category to ridiculous suites (4 or 5 categories at least). Maybe I have just been lucky!.

OK, to be more fair to Hilton, Starwood is my preferred chain. Hilton is second, but gets less than 10 nights from me as Starwood has such excellent coverage and Plat treatment in Asia, so maybe you are lucky, or maybe I don't give Hilton a chance. In any case, my Starwood suite upgrade hit rate is 100% over 3 years while at Hiltons, it's under 25%.

 

[RichardKopf]

Same for us ! We are making a quick trip to the U.S, and the Fairmont was the only place in the offer that fitted where we were going.

I need to look in to the Starwood free night - might also be able to utilise that on our trip. Did you have to ring AmEx for details on this ? I know it was a Platinum offer, so I don't recall seeing anything about it.

Cheers,

Brooke

Yes, I called. Had I not, I believe it would have bypassed us. They made up some story about marketing lists...that I am on the Cent list, not the Plat list, and that I should request both. Seems to me it should be automatic.

 

[pshepvic]

After a couple of calls managed to secure a free night at Fairmont Washington DC. Tried for NY but was a blackout date for the only night we'll be there.

They said the offer has been out for ages, but Amex Australia were so slow to post the brochure out that most hotels in the US are booked out for the offer already.


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[RichardKopf]

They said the offer has been out for ages, but Amex Australia were so slow to post the brochure out that most hotels in the US are booked out for the offer already.

Proves the great value of forums such as this one, Flyertalk, Milepoint, etc

 

[AusTim]

Sadly no touch points for me during the promotional period. Sadly, I will be in SFO on 1st September. Argh talk about bad timing.

 

[sparoz]

Not a biggy but I rang Centurion about the magazine and they said it is no longer in circulation? CX diamond to me is useful as hopefully gives me much better chance in reward booking as I travel pretty much exclusively with points. As I am based in Queensland and have family in Hong Kong, i.e. most first and last leg would be BNE-HKG or vice versa where only J is offered. Having access to the F lounge is nice especially Cathay's business lounge is often overcrowded.

I have to travel to Melbourne recently on a supplier paid trip on Y, so the Qantas Club benefit was definitely a plus.

SPG Gold I found doesn't really give much until recently with the upgraded benefits, but I have stayed enough to be SPG gold last year. Only received one upgrade to an ocean view room (I think that's from a service recovery) once and they tried to charge me for an upgrade if I really wanted a King bed on my last stay as all King Beds were not available. It would be great if they at least start you off with gold but instead to reach platinum you have to stay 50 nights still, rather than an extra 15 stays or 25 nights.

Only one experience with Hilton Honors, and the experience was largely good. No upgrade, but access to the exec lounge, and the service was extemporary.

FHR seems to give much better benefit and certainty unlike the randomness of SPG Gold. SLH as a previous poster mentioned is just a bit useless as I get the same from joining the Club.

I have used the concierge more this year and they are pretty good at getting gifts for people overseas. It did save me a lot of time. Despite of some of my previous complaints, we forgot to bring our business cards to Hong Kong for a trade fair last year. I rang them at 9am local time, and they've managed to contact my printer in Australia to get the proof, send it to a printer in Hong Kong and have it all delivered to me at the convention centre by 1pm.

I think the main benefit still for me is the extra points - that breaks it even. All the extra is just cream on the cake.

 

[Extasea33]

Not a biggy but I rang Centurion about the magazine and they said it is no longer in circulation?

That's strange, i got a centurion magazine sometime this year, but not really fussed as it ends up in the guest toilet

 

[RichardKopf]

That's strange, i got a centurion magazine sometime this year, but not really fussed as it ends up in the guest toilet

Same. Both Cent and Plat mags came in March

 

[sparoz]

Same. Both Cent and Plat mags came in March

One of those things which I don't want to make a big fuss - but then again - felt like I am missing something. Just sent an email to my account manager and check.

 

[rowdy]

Hi everyone,

I just booked my "free" night at the Fairmont in San Francisco for August. Was a pretty easy process - and I am looking forward to enjoying my stay there.

Cheers,

Brooke

I fear this offer will go the same way as the Conrad one .... Expired with no availability on the dates/cities I will be in.

 

[Extasea33]

My CX Diamond expires this month, does anyone know for certain if this will be extended, or soft landing to Gold?

 

[Diesellife]

My CX Diamond expires this month, does anyone know for certain if this will be extended, or soft landing to Gold?

Only time will tell...as most (if not all) of the AFF members enrolled post May 2011.
Check via CX website in June, you will either dropped to the appropriate tier accordingly to your travel history or keep the Diamond... CX hardly does soft landing AFAIK.

 

[Homer]

My CX Diamond expires this month, does anyone know for certain if this will be extended, or soft landing to Gold?

I have a feeling it won't be extended. I asked my TA about it yesterday and she said it was "illegal for her to tell me". I asked what law she would be breaking. She explained that she had been instructed not to answer any questions about it and that "it was a matter for CX who provided the benefit, not Amex".

 

[Extasea33]

I have a feeling it won't be extended. I asked my TA about it yesterday and she said it was "illegal for her to tell me". I asked what law she would be breaking. She explained that she had been instructed not to answer any questions about it and that "it was a matter for CX who provided the benefit, not Amex".

Looks like it really could go either way i guess, it's not encouraging if CX are offering it to Cent/Plat as a targeted marketing exercise, rather than a premium amex partnership benefit. Backup is my pending AA status match to UA, hopefully keeping me in OW upper status for another year.

 

[sparoz]

If it is not extended I wonder if it is just a matter of reapplying for another year. The CX Diamond 1 year deal has been extended till February 2013 for the 1 year membership. Does anyone know who currently status match?