New Centurion Annual Fee, Joining Fee and Points Earning Structure

[pshepvic]

Hi,

With the SPG gold renewal, does it renew to gold automatically when you renew your cent card? or do you need to reapply via a form?

Also I heard you can actually eat at one of the restaurants at a SPG hotel to keep the account active without a stay.... this was from flyertalk.

Cheers,
K.

Mine has renewed automatically every year, both on Plat and Cent. I think SPG must have a code in their system that tracks it as an Amex benefit for this to happen. Not sure about the restaurant thing, but it's plausible. Also, SPG now counts reward stays towards eligible nights, so that may also prevent the account from closing, but that's just speculation so don't rely on it.


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[k3nnis]

ok thanks. Hopefully I will get my amex plat charge package sent out to me next week...waiting for it patiently is it a big package?

Mine has renewed automatically every year, both on Plat and Cent. I think SPG must have a code in their system that tracks it as an Amex benefit for this to happen. Not sure about the restaurant thing, but it's plausible. Also, SPG now counts reward stays towards eligible nights, so that may also prevent the account from closing, but that's just speculation so don't rely on it.


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[pshepvic]

ok thanks. Hopefully I will get my amex plat charge package sent out to me next week...waiting for it patiently is it a big package?

Nothing too exciting from memory - the Centurion one didn't fit in a normal mailbox though!


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[k3nnis]

lol ok. Also apparently the plat charge is exclusive in asian countries, i.e. singapore is invite only? why are ours not so?

 

[exp1k]

Did you also receive this email?

[FONT=&quot]Dear Centurion member[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]At American Express, we recognise that listening to the views of our Card members is the most important thing we can do to continually improve the quality of our products and services. We are also keen to gain an understanding of what we can offer or do to make your experience with us more rewarding.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]We would be interested to hear your views on your experiences using your American Express Centurion Card[SUP]®[/SUP] and the services and benefits you receive as part of your membership.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]We would be very grateful if you could spare a few minutes to complete our online survey by clicking on the button below.


I wanted to tell them my opinion, but the link doesn't work for me. Is it legit?

I wonder why they make changes and only then offer to listen to their members. Wouldn't it be better to listen to us before they make changes?


[/FONT]

 

[AnonymousCoward]

lol ok. Also apparently the plat charge is exclusive in asian countries, i.e. singapore is invite only? why are ours not so?

I can assure you that you can apply for a Plat Amex in Singapore - no need to wait for them to invite you. It's just that you can't do it online. You talk to one of the sales reps/call, and give your details. Then they "invite" you. So, no different to here really.

 

[k3nnis]

Ah ok Got it. I guess it's not really an exclusive card that amex makes out to be..

I can assure you that you can apply for a Plat Amex in Singapore - no need to wait for them to invite you. It's just that you can't do it online. You talk to one of the sales reps/call, and give your details. Then they "invite" you. So, no different to here really.

 

[Extasea33]

So finally got my postcard sized limited edition print, bit of a yawn really :-|

 

[k3nnis]

Got a pic ?

So finally got my postcard sized limited edition print, bit of a yawn really :-|

 

[Extasea33]

Got a pic ?

Will PM it to you, want to keep it limited

 

[sparoz]

You reckon we all got the same print? Wondering if it is really that limited that I should frame it.

 

[Homer]

You reckon we all got the same print? Wondering if it is really that limited that I should frame it.

It's a good question - I wonder what the boffins at AMEX expect us to do with it? They must think we've all got 18 bathrooms and that at least one of them needs a small, framed print on the wall.

 

[gibspmuh]

I love Singapore Airlines I looked on their website today & they have 3 different levels of points needed. Is it easy to get flights at the 190k points rate or do they release very few because I think the next reward tier is virtually double the points. I usually like to book about 3 months before I go so I can arrange cover at work

I've found availability quite good out of Sydney in Business Class - certainly easier than Qantas to get seats on in that sort of timeframe. With multiple flights out of Brisbane each day as well I'd imagine availability is quite good too. You can check on Krisflyer for availability without needing to have the points if there's specific dates of interest and the points transfer from Amex pretty quickly (generally 2-3 days in my experience).

 

[exp1k]

I finally got the mail too. Can anyone explain the logic behind this sentence:
"And because you're earning points faster, we've changed your earn rate threshold from $500,000 to a threshold of 750,000 points per year of membership..."

So previously the threshold was $500k, which, at an earn rate of 1.5 points/$, corresponds to 750k points. Same as now. But because I earn points faster now, as they claim, they do me a favour and change the threshold to 750k points. If I actually were to earn points faster with the new scheme, I would reach 750k points quicker than I reached them before. So this seems to be a contradiction! The change of the threshold can only be good for me if i earn less points per $ than before. Since they claim to do me a favour, they indirectly admit that we earn less points now than before (despite claiming that we earn points faster now)...

 

[exp1k]

I finally got the mail too. Can anyone explain the logic behind this sentence:
"And because you're earning points faster, we've changed your earn rate threshold from $500,000 to a threshold of 750,000 points per year of membership..."

So previously the threshold was $500k, which, at an earn rate of 1.5 points/$, corresponds to 750k points. Same as now. But because I earn points faster now, as they claim, they do me a favour and change the threshold to 750k points. If I actually were to earn points faster with the new scheme, I would reach 750k points quicker than I reached them before. So this seems to be a contradiction! The change of the threshold can only be good for me if i earn less points per $ than before. Since they claim to do me a favour, they indirectly admit that we earn less points now than before (despite claiming that we earn points faster now)...

 

[Pukka]

The only way I'll be earning more points is if I eat & drink myself to death lol. I think most people will be earning a lot less which is the whole point of the change. I'd love to know how much their turnover drops when people start using cards like Citibank.

Does anyone know how much a reward point actually costs Amex??

 

[mello128]

ok thanks. Hopefully I will get my amex plat charge package sent out to me next week...waiting for it patiently is it a big package?

Unfortunately no. Originally when a new member joined for Platinum, it was Platinum luggage tags with an embossed leather travel wallet. With Centurion - you used to get a big black box (looks great but not functional) with the luggage tags. Nothing more. Value is less and less. Even the statements quality are getting cheaper - cheap paper (before we selected online statements only) and well designed like the previous Centurion/Platinum statements. So disappointing for a brand and card that I used to be so loyal to...

 

[k3nnis]

Yes very dissapointing. I got mine 2 days ago. And looks cheap. Also no luggage tags...

 

[mello128]

Yes very dissapointing. I got mine 2 days ago. And looks cheap. Also no luggage tags...

Guess Amex is getting cost cutting for all new Plat members. They used to be so good.....

 

[k3nnis]

They are going to blame the GFC