Has anyone actually received an "Invite" to the Centurion program in 2016?
Feb 14, 2016, 6:17 am
#31
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
First off, I don't work for AMEX but I am a US Centurion member. AMEX Centurion is an excellent product, with many services available and for those who travel extensively, it's definitely worth the membership fees. If you take advantage of their companion ticket once a year, it's already more than $2,500 in savings. In more than a few airports, the Centurion folks will greet you when the plane door opens (e.g. Heathrow), and take you through customs directly on fast trak lanes in a golf cart, free of charge. Exclusive events to Wimbledon and Monaco Grand Prix with private social cocktails, which we enjoy tremendously. Some years Centurion organize events with Porsche so we can drive the wonderful cars in Finland in the snow, all part of the exclusive membership benefits. Centurion is a different lifestyle and Platinum does not come close.
IMHO, Centurion wants customers who can showcase their cards, and be proud of an elite group. I saw many comments on this site that some strategy would be complaining or threatening to cancel membership. If you were the person reviewing the profiles, would you grant them membership? Do you want these members to showcase your Centurion card? Many Centurion members are business people trying to close their next $10 or $50 million deals. If you are "concerned" about the $7,500 initiation fee and the $2,500 annual fee, why should AMEX even look at your profile?
My two cents!
IMHO, Centurion wants customers who can showcase their cards, and be proud of an elite group. I saw many comments on this site that some strategy would be complaining or threatening to cancel membership. If you were the person reviewing the profiles, would you grant them membership? Do you want these members to showcase your Centurion card? Many Centurion members are business people trying to close their next $10 or $50 million deals. If you are "concerned" about the $7,500 initiation fee and the $2,500 annual fee, why should AMEX even look at your profile?
My two cents!
In my personal experience, the Centurion card holders are indeed the ones closing the $10-50m deals, not the $3-10bn deals. The former are 'small-fry'.
Feb 14, 2016, 7:48 am
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
True. I've done the Centurion airport assist at LHR and posted a thread about it somewhere here. The "golf cart" is not included for free. You can reserve it for a fee. But the human assist is complimentary and ended up being a help for me that one time as I had a luggage issue.
Feb 14, 2016, 7:49 am
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Feb 14, 2016, 9:30 am
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Again, it's $2500 per year. And DL Platinum is down low on the list of great benefits, because you are right that I don't get upgraded on every flight (although I do get 9X$'s in miles). Hertz Platinum and Hilton Diamond are my top two Centurion travel benefits and I'm 100% upgraded with those two. But we all value the card in different ways.
Feb 14, 2016, 10:16 am
#36
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 110
2015 Amex Spend: 1.4M
Already over 200k this year.
Not a peep from anyone, also talked to centurion services earlier last year and got the same "I will notate the account".
I am mainly looking for enhanced CSR benefits since some of my admin staff deals with AMEX often - and normal CSR is a pain. Delta status is a distant second, but nice.
If I don't hear anything this year my alternative may be AMEX Platinum Corporate to get the services I need.
Already over 200k this year.
Not a peep from anyone, also talked to centurion services earlier last year and got the same "I will notate the account".
I am mainly looking for enhanced CSR benefits since some of my admin staff deals with AMEX often - and normal CSR is a pain. Delta status is a distant second, but nice.
If I don't hear anything this year my alternative may be AMEX Platinum Corporate to get the services I need.
Feb 14, 2016, 11:53 am
#37
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: San Francisco
Programs: US AMEX Centurion, JPM Palladium, UA Global Services, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 7
There's quite a lot of nonsense in here. The companion ticket offer is available on many cards, and usable only on full-fare tickets. I've never seen or heard of the golf cart thing you describe at Heathrow and I travel often with several Centurion cardholders. The lifestyle things might appeal to some, but not a reason to get a particular credit card for most people.
In my personal experience, the Centurion card holders are indeed the ones closing the $10-50m deals, not the $3-10bn deals. The former are 'small-fry'.
In my personal experience, the Centurion card holders are indeed the ones closing the $10-50m deals, not the $3-10bn deals. The former are 'small-fry'.
Feb 14, 2016, 4:43 pm
#38
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Arizona
Posts: 5,689
If you use Amex Centurion travel they pay the service of third party for meet and greet for "free" and sometimes customs expedite depending on country. You can hire the same company. It is discussed on another flyertalk thread. Again anyone can hire the same company. Or if you give your travel agent enough business they could pay for it just like amex pays.
True. I've done the Centurion airport assist at LHR and posted a thread about it somewhere here. The "golf cart" is not included for free. You can reserve it for a fee. But the human assist is complimentary and ended up being a help for me that one time as I had a luggage issue.
Feb 14, 2016, 4:55 pm
#39
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 8,796
Again, it's $2500 per year. And DL Platinum is down low on the list of great benefits, because you are right that I don't get upgraded on every flight (although I do get 9X$'s in miles). Hertz Platinum and Hilton Diamond are my top two Centurion travel benefits and I'm 100% upgraded with those two. But we all value the card in different ways.
I assume you receive the card because you spend 250,000 per year. You can get Diamond at Hilton by spending 40k on their American Express card.
It seems that many of the benefits are available from other cards without a $7,500 upfront payment and $2,500 fee
Feb 14, 2016, 5:21 pm
#40
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Feb 14, 2016, 5:49 pm
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
The $250,000 spend to initially get the card is a one time thing. Initiation fees are a one time thing. Once you have the Centurion card you get to keep it no matter how much you charge. And you get the Hilton Diamond card, and all the other benefits, no matter how much you charge.
Feb 16, 2016, 5:07 pm
#42
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA 1K, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 7,969
If you weren't already aware, once you have a Centurion card, you deal with Centurion customer service for all of your Amex cards. So for example, if you also have a SPG Amex, when you call the regular SPG Amex customer service number on the back of the card and enter your SPG Amex account number, your call doesn't go to the regular SPG Amex CSRs but instead goes to Centurion customer service. They don't know all of the details of the co-branded cards like the CSR's that handle those calls all day, but they do have ready access to reference materials, and in general, are better equipped to deal with unusual situations on any Amex product.
Feb 18, 2016, 7:52 am
#43
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA GfL & GGL, LH Sen, EK & VS Gold, Amex Cent
Posts: 1,719
Came across this:
https://www.behance.net/gallery/3307...rate-Centurion
Looks like at least Corporate Centurion is ready to invite people...... no idea what criteria there are.
https://www.behance.net/gallery/3307...rate-Centurion
Looks like at least Corporate Centurion is ready to invite people...... no idea what criteria there are.
Feb 18, 2016, 7:46 pm
#44
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Francisco, California
Programs: Amex Centurion, United Global Services
Posts: 847
People keep saying the benefits are always being diluted, but Amex added a very significant new benefits in 2014 in Hertz Platinum. It's been worth the world to me. I have BA Gold so the US/AA loss is no big deal for me. I've started flying DL recently and got a 1st class upgrade thanks to Centurion, plus a lot of extra miles.
And as I always say, the number one benefit is great customer service from Amex themselves.
And as I always say, the number one benefit is great customer service from Amex themselves.
I also noticed that you get to bring guests for free on your priority pass card with a Cent account too instead of the $27 guest fee or whatever it was before.
Feb 19, 2016, 1:54 pm
#45
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 61
Came across this:
https://www.behance.net/gallery/3307...rate-Centurion
Looks like at least Corporate Centurion is ready to invite people...... no idea what criteria there are.
https://www.behance.net/gallery/3307...rate-Centurion
Looks like at least Corporate Centurion is ready to invite people...... no idea what criteria there are.
As for previous spend:
2014 Plum $1.9M, Platinum $225k
2015 Plum $7.5M, Platinum $450k