American Express Membership Rewards - UK Centurion Invitation - suprise & disapointment

Thought I'd share this with the board.

After reading posts on this forum regarding the illusive Centurion card, I was very suprised and then disapointed to find an invitation waiting for me when I returned from the office this evening.

Brief AMEX history for all you that want one: Platinum for 4 months, Gold 12 months before that, average monthly charges £1500 with a couple at £4000 and a couple at £500... oh and I'm 22... hence my suprise.

Next comes the disapointment. The invitation looked very cool (a box with a book that was kind of a like a picture-book with a hard cover in felt all in black and lots of pics and quotes inside). As I read through I found myself thinking "where are all these great benefits?"... I called to confirm what I had read and can list the advantages *in addition* to Platinum are as follows:

More insurance
Sentinel Card Protection
Hotel elite status*

* (Starwood Platinum, Hilton Gold, Intercontinental, Savoy, Mandarin etc etc etc)

errr... thats it really the rest is related to the super-duper concierge service which can get you into restaurants and clubs in London (like Platinum was supposed to but never really could...). Everything else is identical to Plat (lounge access, airline companion ticket program...) although you get priority seats in the latter (wow).

So, no airline elite status which was the real downer for me after hearing all that the US card gets.

Other than impressing my friends (and boss!) the only real advantage as I see it is elite status in almost all hotels, but I'd sacrafice that easily for a oneworld or *A elite card...

Oh, and the annual fee: £650 instead of £245.

I must say I was really disapointed. I dont think I'll shell out for it. It was nice to be invited though! :-)

Getting a Centurion card after 4 monthes Plat ?
I'm disappointed...

Ahrz, I'm disappointed too, esp after years and years of charging at more than 4x that amount (even after conversion!) Oh well, I guess that's what I get for being just another "priveleged American"...LOL http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

I have a french Plat, and the Centurion is not yet available there.
I also charge a lot of money on this card, and I hope to be in the first hundreds when the card will be introduced http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

It looks like Centurian has just been launched in the UK, which I guess explains the invite.

I also am disappointed with the lack of Frequent Flyer status, and it only gives Gold in HHonors, although it is supposed to give Platinum in Starwood, although when the pack comes there is no form to fill in for Starwood.

Markie: You hast have to call the Centurion Desk, they put you throu to the Starwood Line, and after five Minutes, you are SPG Plat. One week later, you get your package. Works very nice.

Centurion hasn´t just launched in the UK, it has been launched in the UK first! (Almost two years ago).

The Centurion was launched in the UK in march 1999 (1st test market).
Then in the US (3rd quarter 1999) and Germany (1st quarter 2000).
There should be also an "International Dollar card" Centurion billed in US$ for customers living outside of the US.
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If Amex UK is now issuing Centurion cards for "new" customers, with little credit history, It's an interesting concept for an "elite" product....

DNW,

This sounds about right for AMEX. They can't make there mind up about Centurion, I asked to be considered and they looked at my account and I was not spending enough, avergae bill is £1500, last month was £4500. This months should have been around £3000 but not due to difficulties using card in France. Methinks I'll be speaking to Centurion again tomorrow and asking them to reconsider before I start using my VISA again by default as I never have any acceptance issues there.

BTW, I take it that your Black Centurion box contained the Card itself and the little card reader that goes with it?

Thanks,
Richard

Hi Richard,

I only got the invitation, which was a little box with a book in, I haven't decided whether to accept it yet!

Funnily enough, the only time I ever got my card rejected was in France too... although I'm convinced they were not hooked up to AMEX but wouldn't admit it.

DNW

What do you mean with "card rejected" ?
The Amex card is not so widely accepted in France like in the US/UK, because of the monopolistic position of the GIE.CB issuing both Visa and Eurocards for the french banks.
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If the retailer has an agreement with Amex, and your payment is authorized by Amex, your card should not be rejected. This is true in all countries....

[This message has been edited by ahrz (edited 02-05-2001).]

DNW,

Did you speak to AmEx previously in regards to Centurion?

I am getting nowhere with Centurion at the moment, I have had Plat since May last year, average bill of £1500, last month £4500 but they are so sketchy about criteria.

You have been invited after just 4 months, someone else on this board got Centurion without ever having another AmEx card, yet they always seem to sya that you must have Plat for at least 2 years.

Any special people that you spoke to?

Hi Richard,

I never spoke to anyone about Centurion. I was aware of it from this board but I had never enquired myself. The invitation just arrived.

The only thing I can think is that, as said before, its spending patterns more than amounts. My bill often includes at least one charge in another currency and usually one BA Club Europe air ticket.

DNW

Thinking some more, I know a lot of well connected people who know a lot of well connected people and everyone knows that I love AMEX.... ;-) who knows!

Amex is being very sketchy about the qualifications regarding the card.. There are several threads.

When I called Centurion Customer Service, I was told I had to spend US$150K / year on my Platinum Card to qualify... This is not the case...

It would be nice to hear from someone at AMEX what the exact criteria are... Of course, there are always people who will read other peoples post regarding the Centurion, and post a message saying "oh, I just received mine..." Must be that status thing... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/confused.gif

I don't think that Amex is going to make real criteria public.

Also, the criteria differs from country to country.It's easier to get a Platinum in the US than in Europe or Hong-Kong ! It should also be true for the Centurion.