American Express Membership Rewards - CENTURION 2010 Benefits - Delta/NW to remain GOLD status

:td::td:

After 4 months of phone calls and emails concerning the 2010 Centurion benefits for 2010 in regards to Delta/NW, I finally received a phone call from AMEX Executive Office.

Delta/NW will remain GOLD STATUS for 2010. Don't know when the annoucement will be "official".

Really sucks. I guess the new marketing partnership between AMEX and Delta/NW doesn't mean much.

Another reason to question the value of the Centurion card. My renewal is next month! :(

It is not over until the fat lady sings.

wspfan,

I would not believe anything I was told over the phone until the official 2010 benefits guide is published. I have been given incorrect information about upcoming features/changes to Centurion, and I no longer ask them what's coming or changing.

My advice is just to wait and see. I would go ahead with your card renewal, and if the Plat status on Delta/NW does not happen, cancel your card and your annual fee will be refunded on a pro-rated basis.

I too am hoping Centurion will "do the right thing" with regard to these two airline programs...

FYI -

I spoke to a very high AMEX official who is on the team handling this. I seriously doubt AMEX will "do the right thing" when it comes to 2010 status. They indicated Gold status for Delta/NW in 2010 and I highly doubt that changes. I HOPE IT DOES!!! Not going to hold my breath. I would call and complain - I plan too each week. :rolleyes:

I'm grateful they FINALLY called after months of calling AMEX asking "what is going on with 2010 status - Delta/NW made annoucement in June/July with new tier- we need to know in order to fly more or less in regards to new MQM's and qualification". :confused:

I just wish they would allow us to pick our "one" airline we want to use and have highest status. I could care less about the other status on other airlines. LET US CHOOSE!!!!:mad:

I just wish they would allow us to pick our "one" airline we want to use and have highest status. I could care less about the other status on other airlines. LET US CHOOSE!!!!:mad:

If by "they" you mean Amex, they might like this as well. But I'm not so sure about the partners. Amex would have to get all of the partners to agree to this in order to offer it as an option. And I know that the partners are very much aware of striking a balance between whatever additional business they'll attract by being a Centurion partner with a given set of benefits against business they might lose from existing customers in certain situations as well as what status given in other than the normal means does in practical terms as well as customer relations terms to the rest of elite base.

Looking at your own post, you seem to make it clear that you'd fly DL/NW less this year if you were guaranteed that next year's Centurion elite status was kicked up a notch. Don't you realize that this is exactly what DL/NW do not want to hear, that some of their existing customer base will bring them less business if they offer better amenities to Centurion cardholders?

What did you expect would happen? Platinum?

Hardly a surprise that they're sticking with Gold, IMO.

It is reasonable to expect Centurion to change its cardholders from Delta Gold Medallion to Delta Platinum Medallion, since Delta is adding a fourth tier (Diamond Medallion) starting in 2010.

Currently, US Centurion cardholders are Platinum Preferred on US Air, since US Air has a fourth tier (Chairman's Preferred).

I would expect AMEX to be consistent accross airline programs in this regard.

It is reasonable to expect Centurion to change its cardholders from Delta Gold Medallion to Deta Platinum Medallion, since Delta is adding a fourth tier (Diamond Medallion) starting in 2010.


I concur.

When will the 2010 benefits be published? I didn't get any info on 2009 benefits, I just don't think changed (right?). Do you get this info sent to you somehow?

For what it's worth, if Amex, Delta and USAir are reading, since Plat USAir was given to Cent holders, I've funneled maybe 90% of my domestic travel onto USAir, a carrier I hardly ever used in the past.

I used fly Delta exclusively with the Gold status, but upgrades were hit or miss with Delta gold and with USAir Platinum, I get upgrades maybe 4 out or 5 segments.

Yeah, the first in USAir is nothing to write home about, but I've dumped over 100k on them since the Amex Cent upgrade, miles they would not have gotten previously, and Delta won't get back if they stay with gold again.

I'm a drop in the bucket, but there are probably other drops out there too.

...over 100k...

Dollars or miles?

I concur.

When will the 2010 benefits be published? I didn't get any info on 2009 benefits, I just don't think changed (right?). Do you get this info sent to you somehow?

Got the 2010 yesterday, Delta = Gold

Dollars or miles?

Sorry - I meant miles. That's still a lot of TCBY along the way.

It looks like the only hope for a Delta change to Platinum Medallion might come later in the year or in 2011.

Maybe AMEX is waiting for Delta to implement their Diamond Medallion level before making the change.

If Centurion does not upgrade Delta, they will once again be reducing the value of their ultra premium card - just like they did when they reduced Starwood Platinum Preferred to the Gold Preferred level.

I would not blame anyone who flys Delta frequently for not renewing with Centurion.

AMEX can only take the exclusive nature of this card so far. If they allow the tangible benefits to erode year after year, they risk becoming all show and no substance....Like VISA's Blackcard, etc.

For what it's worth, if Amex, Delta and USAir are reading, since Plat USAir was given to Cent holders, I've funneled maybe 90% of my domestic travel onto USAir, a carrier I hardly ever used in the past.

I used fly Delta exclusively with the Gold status, but upgrades were hit or miss with Delta gold and with USAir Platinum, I get upgrades maybe 4 out or 5 segments.

Yeah, the first in USAir is nothing to write home about, but I've dumped over 100k on them since the Amex Cent upgrade, miles they would not have gotten previously, and Delta won't get back if they stay with gold again.

I'm a drop in the bucket, but there are probably other drops out there too.


Well said. I'm another drop. I was almost exclusively DL prior to becoming Centurion, and now it's 50-50 DL and US for me. If Gold on DL loses what little meaning it has left, I imagine I'll look more to US for paid flights. Still have lots of DL miles to burn.

wspfan, thanks for keeping us posted on this, despite the bad news. I have also been phoning and emailing AmEx about this for the past few months. What has disturbed me is that each time I contact them, I get a response that indicates total surprise and unawareness about Delta's new fourth tier, and claims that I'm the first customer to raise the question. This is despite my attempts to get my query elevated to higher levels.

Once I explain myself, they don't seem to accept that retaining only Gold would be a devaluation of a benefit. The types of responses I get (both by phone and in writing), are that they don't yet know the 2010 benefits, but members will be advised if there is a plan to increase the level of benefits. I try to emphasize that granting DL Platinum would only be maintaining the current level (2nd tier), but they stubbornly stick to their assessment that this would be an improvement, and retaining DL Gold is status quo, which it isn't.

Susan

wspfan, thanks for keeping us posted on this, despite the bad news. I have also been phoning and emailing AmEx about this for the past few months. What has disturbed me is that each time I contact them, I get a response that indicates total surprise and unawareness about Delta's new fourth tier, and claims that I'm the first customer to raise the question. This is despite my attempts to get my query elevated to higher levels.

Once I explain myself, they don't seem to accept that retaining only Gold would be a devaluation of a benefit. The types of responses I get (both by phone and in writing), are that they don't yet know the 2010 benefits, but members will be advised if there is a plan to increase the level of benefits. I try to emphasize that granting DL Platinum would only be maintaining the current level (2nd tier), but they stubbornly stick to their assessment that this would be an improvement, and retaining DL Gold is status quo, which it isn't.

Susan

Hey Susan-

All we can do is call AMEX and explain our concern. I'm at Plat status for next year so at least I'm covered. Still, I'm sick of having other AMEX products (Reserve/Platinum Card) charging for MQM's. Would rather have the status and have just 1 AMEX card. Keep me posted!!!! And I will keep you posted!! TAKE CARE:)

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I don't see maintaining Gold as a reduction of benefits.

Upgrades are a function of 1) inventory made avail for upgrades and 2) the number of higher tier people above you.

Total upgrade inventory is not changed by the addition of a tier, it's a function of pricing and revenue management.

In this case the number of elites ahead of you shouldn't change. Everyone who qualifies for Diamond would have been platinum under the old system and trumped golds.

Now if Delta had added a tier below Platinum and above Gold then you have a case for a reduction in benefits.

The US Air case was a nice net addition of benefits, not a maintain the status quo.

If you really want first class just buy the full coach fare and get your elite instant upgrade.

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If you really want first class just buy the full coach fare and get your elite instant upgrade.

Yea, on Continental.

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If you really want first class just buy the full coach fare and get your elite instant upgrade.

That only applies to domestic travel.

Susan