American Express Membership Rewards - Centurion Status on Airlines will it pay?

I posted this in a existing thread and got some good advice but I think some others may be able to help make this a little more clear.

_________________

If I fly dfw to stockholm (arn) on continental 3-5 times a year on and off season will the status of centurion help me upgrade?

I currently get about 600,000 points with continental a year plus about 100k a year with platinum. I use those points to book the arn trips as well as others like NY/Destin Florida/ Hawaii LA.

Help is appreciated!
____________________
I asked the above and got some good replys from them I want to ask:

A. I normaly but a coach ticket in cash and try and upgrade with miles but it either never is available or it is just a crazy amount of miles so I just dont do it.

B. I use my miles to book and they dont let me upgrade with cash.

C. The first class international ticket is not available with points.....


My question is with my points I receive with my spending and the status I get with Centurion will that open up C option for me?

Help is appreciated!

The short answer is that it won't help.


You will get gold status with Continental which will earn you more miles when you do fly them but there is no sort of international upgrades that come with that status. At best, you will only have more miles to attempt an upgrade or use them to book a business class ticket. It shouldn't be difficult to find availability if you are somewhat flexible.

The short answer is that it won't help.


You will get gold status with Continental which will earn you more miles when you do fly them but there is no sort of international upgrades that come with that status. At best, you will only have more miles to attempt an upgrade or use them to book a business class ticket. It shouldn't be difficult to find availability if you are somewhat flexible.

Okay thanks for the reply really appreciate it!

I know this has been discussed a million times but how the hell do you get your $2500 worth if you already have the platinum card????

Please no post on how much crap the Centurion is etc etc I want straight up answeres from people who have it and actually know the $ value.

Thanks again!

If I fly dfw to stockholm (arn) on continental 3-5 times a year on and off season will the status of centurion help me upgrade?
...
I asked the above and got some good replys from them I want to ask:

A. I normaly but a coach ticket in cash and try and upgrade with miles but it either never is available or it is just a crazy amount of miles so I just dont do it.

B. I use my miles to book and they dont let me upgrade with cash.

C. The first class international ticket is not available with points.....


My question is with my points I receive with my spending and the status I get with Centurion will that open up C option for me?

If you are elite on CO - which you should be flying as much as you claim to be - you are higher in the priority for upgrades with cash + miles. As a top tier elite - which you do not get with Centurion - there is also increased availability in the forward cabin at the lover reward level.

All elites get last seat availability in either cabin at the higher mileage level. The Gold from Centurion would get you this.

If you are elite on CO - which you should be flying as much as you claim to be - you are higher in the priority for upgrades with cash + miles. As a top tier elite - which you do not get with Centurion - there is also increased availability in the forward cabin at the lover reward level.

All elites get last seat availability in either cabin at the higher mileage level. The Gold from Centurion would get you this.

Flying to Sweden 3-5x a year doesnt show any status when I log into my account... Am I missing something here? If im not mistaken its about 13k miles round trip..d

Mileage Balance: 107,226
OnePass Elite Level: Non-Elite
Year to Date Elite Miles: 5,302
Year to Date Elite Points: 0
Flexible Elite Miles: 16000
Lifetime Flight Miles: 24,001

this is what it says and I have taken 2 trips to Sweden and 1 to hawaii, is this right

also booked 2 trips to Sweden for wife

Ok so does this make sense?

I looked at a unrestricted fair with continental in economy, about $2200. So if I was gold and purchased that ticket its possible that they upgrade me to first class?

I usually pay less than $800 a ticket, at this rate its not worth it the centurion $2500 fee....


Correct?

Mileage Balance: 107,226
OnePass Elite Level: Non-Elite
Year to Date Elite Miles: 5,302
Year to Date Elite Points: 0
Flexible Elite Miles: 16000
Lifetime Flight Miles: 24,001

this is what it says and I have taken 2 trips to Sweden and 1 to hawaii, is this right

also booked 2 trips to Sweden for wife

Nope. According to webflyer.com, it looks like you got credit for one-way DFW-ARN, via EWR. You are missing around 25,000 elite miles.

...this is what it says and I have taken 2 trips to Sweden and 1 to hawaii, is this right...

I think this part of the question would be better addressed in the Continental section of Flyertalk, but I suggest you look at this chart...

http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/onepass/elite/qualify.aspx

...and notice that "Discount Economy Class" fares (booking codes W, E, S, T, N, L) earn full EQM *only* when booked on continental.com. If you have been booking elsewhere and paying low fares your flights may not have been eligible.

However, my understanding is this changes next month, I suggest you scan this lengthy thread...

Full Elite Qualification is back. Effective Oct. 27, you’ll earn 100% Elite Qualification Miles and full Elite Qualification Points on discounted fares, regardless of where they’re purchased.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/continental-onepass/993592-2010-onepass-program-changes.html

Summary here...

http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/apps/onepass/promotions/registrationDetails.aspx?promoCode=A6108&SID=C656756A52AE4F0DAFC46BFF198111F6

Mileage Balance: 107,226
OnePass Elite Level: Non-Elite
Year to Date Elite Miles: 5,302
Year to Date Elite Points: 0
Flexible Elite Miles: 16000
Lifetime Flight Miles: 24,001

this is what it says and I have taken 2 trips to Sweden and 1 to hawaii, is this right

also booked 2 trips to Sweden for wife
No, you're missing a ton of miles. I hope you still have your boarding passes and that the flights were relatively recent. You really need to make sure that your OnePass number is listed on your boarding pass under your name for every flight. Your wife needs her own account to earn into; you can not earn points for her flights. Are you buying the CO flights from co.com or elsewhere? That also affects the earning rates (through the end of the month).
I looked at a unrestricted fair with continental in economy, about $2200. So if I was gold and purchased that ticket its possible that they upgrade me to first class? No. There are no free upgrades for TATL flights. The $2200 gets you 150% EQMs and the ability to use miles without a co-pay. The co-pay on the lowest fare is about $1000 so you'd actually be paying more by purchasing the full fare. The B fare (one notch down) might be a better deal but who knows.


I usually pay less than $800 a ticket, at this rate its not worth it the centurion $2500 fee....
What's not worth the fee? You should be earning somewhere between CO silver and gold on your own based on your travel patterns, it seems. I wouldn't buy into Centurion just for that in your situation.

Mileage Balance: 107,226
OnePass Elite Level: Non-Elite
Year to Date Elite Miles: 5,302
Year to Date Elite Points: 0
Flexible Elite Miles: 16000
Lifetime Flight Miles: 24,001

this is what it says and I have taken 2 trips to Sweden and 1 to hawaii, is this right

also booked 2 trips to Sweden for wife

You say "I currently get 600,000 points with Continental every year". How? You show that this year you only got 5,302 miles - that's less than 1% of what you claim to be earning.

Are we missing something?

If you actually earn 600,000 miles with Continental each year (plus the 100,000 miles extra redeemed from Amex MR, as you say) you should be super duper platinum by now. And here you show you are not even silver...

You say "I currently get 600,000 points with Continental every year"...

In the first thread the OP wrote those point come from my United CO business card

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/12604034-post5.html

I assume this is a typographical error and means the miles are earned by spending with a Chase Continental Airlines Mastercard. Of course if those miles has been redeemed for award tickets those trips wouldn't be earning RDM or EQM (unless used for upgrades).

In the first thread the OP wrote those point come from my United CO business card

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/12604034-post5.html

I assume this is a typographical error and means the miles are earned by spending with a Chase Continental Airlines Mastercard. Of course if those miles has been redeemed for award tickets those trips wouldn't be earning RDM or EQM (unless used for upgrades).

Yes you are correct sorry for delay.

Thanks for everyones replies thus far

Okay thanks for the reply really appreciate it!

I know this has been discussed a million times but how the hell do you get your $2500 worth if you already have the platinum card????

Please no post on how much crap the Centurion is etc etc I want straight up answeres from people who have it and actually know the $ value.

Thanks again!

How does it pay:

In my opinion. If you do not travel a lot it doesn't.

If you travel a lot:

Status on Airlines.
Free upgrades on US Air and Delta
Lounge access at AA, DL, CO
Star Gold Status - Lounge access internationally
Priority Pass lounge access (also get 10% off in most stores at HKG airport)
Gift Certificates (received $1000.00 worth this year)
Status at Hotels. Somewhat nebulous but upgrades do happen.
Purchase protection - every dollar helps if need be
Car Rental upgrades

Will I get my money's worth this year - probably

Free upgrades on US Air and Delta...

To preclude further confusion, I think you are referring to the space available upgrades offered to Gold/Platinum elite members on flights within North America; not to upgrades on intercontinental flights. These upgrades are achieved through the elite airline status, and are not a separate Centurion benefit. Right?

I know this has been discussed a million times but how the hell do you get your $2500 worth if you already have the platinum card????

It's not just $2,500, don't forget the nice $5,000 initiation fee, which is non-refundable.

To preclude further confusion, I think you are referring to the space available upgrades offered to Gold/Platinum elite members on flights within North America; not to upgrades on intercontinental flights. These upgrades are achieved through the elite airline status, and are not a separate Centurion benefit. Right?

Correct - Centurion gets you DL Gold and US Platinum. Upgrades are a benefit of those programs.

Correct - Centurion gets you DL Gold and US Platinum. Upgrades are a benefit of those programs.

CO Gold, too, right? There are upgrades there as well.

Check this out

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-express-membership-rewards/1005993-usa-centurion-now-invitation-only.html

floored!

If you travel a lot the card more than pays for the annual fee. This has been discussed and discussed including actual amounts...many card holders make the fee back just by using the buy one night at Mandiran Oriental get one free. You also are trying to hit a moving target as there are many deals out there right now you can get on your own. Also a lot great benifits have been dropped.