Programs: Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold, Delta Platinum, US Airways Platinum, AX Biz Centurion
Posts: 157
I had a talk with Centurion New Accounts (USA) today, and was basically told that there have been no new centurions issued to anyone in "a long time", and they have not yet decided any future qualification.
She also said "we are not letting this turn into Platinum" (dilution?)
My situation remains odd ... I already have a centurion, but even I don't qualify.
That said: I want a centurion, but that wasn't the main reason for my spending there. I would have spent that money on another card if I had to, and the MR points do have value to me. I'm now considering moving my spending to another card with a more interesting program for me. Truth is, with Continental leaving the centurion program, and leaving MR (and I'm probably not going to transfer any points there to have "orphaned" points tied to a non-elite account on UA), Amex MR points have lost a log of value to me. I'm not going to reduce my amex spending to zero, but I will reduce it by 80%. I agree that the dilution is their perceived problem, but not having any new qualifications at all is just stupid IMHO.
Note that in Australia, Centurion cards have been handed out like candy at the Christmas parade. Australian Frequent Flyer site has had a number of members report that they were sent invites, and their spend has been woefully low (much to the shock of us existing cardholders, concerned at the dilution of the product)...
...Maybe you guys should move to Oz?
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Programs: SPG PLT, TG ROP PLT, CX MP DM, LH M&M SEN, Various colors of Amex
Posts: 1,021
Quote:
Originally Posted by haydensydney
Note that in Australia, Centurion cards have been handed out like candy at the Christmas parade. Australian Frequent Flyer site has had a number of members report that they were sent invites, and their spend has been woefully low (much to the shock of us existing cardholders, concerned at the dilution of the product)...
...Maybe you guys should move to Oz?
Oz tax world-wide income and the rates are high For a HNWI it's definitely better to be domiciled in HK than Australia
I don't think it's gonna be diluted because Amex know how many % of their client base in any given market they want to be Centurion and adjust it accordingly.
Must have been a slow year for Centurion downunder and in HK whereas in the US they had lots of takers. I suspect it's very dynamic - each year some doors open, some doors close.
I don't understand what you mean by "there have been a lot of takers" in the US in the past year. The previous poster said that a rep had told him that no offers for Centurion had been issued in a long time.
My guess is that the rep is correct and that AmEx has responded to the presumed dilution of the program (and the global economy) by simply saying that it's an invitation only program and temporarily (indefinitely?) suspending invitations. That might explain why we haven't heard of anyone getting one.
I don't understand what you mean by "there have been a lot of takers" in the US in the past year. The previous poster said that a rep had told him that no offers for Centurion had been issued in a long time.
My guess is that the rep is correct and that AmEx has responded to the presumed dilution of the program (and the global economy) by simply saying that it's an invitation only program and temporarily (indefinitely?) suspending invitations. That might explain why we haven't heard of anyone getting one.
Either that, or to save money, they started the layoffs in the Centurion USA New Accounts department...
What's the point of a new accounts department if there are no new accounts?
Programs: UA 1K (EX-CON), SPG Gold, AA Lifetime Platinum, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 5,393
Quote:
Originally Posted by jlbdca
I suspect that canceling the cards of high-net-worth individuals because they didn't meet a spend requirement might turn into a PR nightmare.
I also suspect that canceling cards of any Centurion cardholder, especially those that paid the $5000 initiation fee, for reasons other than creditworthiness would have a lot of issues as well.
Programs: SPG PLT, TG ROP PLT, CX MP DM, LH M&M SEN, Various colors of Amex
Posts: 1,021
HKG is open right now
I can confirm that Hong Kong is currently soliciting members.
As reported earlier I had a call from someone at HK Cent asking to meet.
She came to my office for lunch and pitched the product, along with an invite.
To my surprise, the product actually seems quite compelling for my usage pattern. Double points for spend outside of HK with no cap (and I do most of my spend outside of HK) plus CX MP Diamond (new benefit, not guaranteed to last longer than 1 year - CX wanna see if it brings any added revenue first).
Avis President's Club is still in there as well as Hilton Diamond and some other stuff I forgot. Apparently still got the 1 free night at an MO if your choice also.
She said I am not pre-approved, just invited.
What has me think twice about applying is that in the Hong Kong market they do have an initiation fee. Some markets just charge the 2000++ USD annual fee but in my case she wants me to cough up 23800 HKD now + 19800 HKD per annnum. I am traveling next two months so I will look into it again in December.
Note that in Australia, Centurion cards have been handed out like candy at the Christmas parade. Australian Frequent Flyer site has had a number of members report that they were sent invites, and their spend has been woefully low (much to the shock of us existing cardholders, concerned at the dilution of the product)...
...Maybe you guys should move to Oz?
I got an Australian Centurion invite about six weeks ago. My Amex spend in the previous 12 months was about $320K.
Any versions of Cent offers Delta PLat status other than the US one?
If no, does the US Cent take Global Transfer now? I know it was not possible, but would just like to check. The no FX fee and Delta Plat is very attractive to me.
Oz tax world-wide income and the rates are high For a HNWI it's definitely better to be domiciled in HK than Australia
I don't think it's gonna be diluted because Amex know how many % of their client base in any given market they want to be Centurion and adjust it accordingly.
Must have been a slow year for Centurion downunder and in HK whereas in the US they had lots of takers. I suspect it's very dynamic - each year some doors open, some doors close.
There are many takers in the US probably because so many people there (would) love to flash a Centurion card in shops or restaurants.
On other continents, people care about what you buy and not how you pay for it.
Since the real benefits decreased in the last years (on other continents), it becomes harder for Amex to market the Centurion card .
For a HNWI it's definitely better to be domiciled in HK than Australia 
