American Express Membership Rewards - I Don't See Any Difference Between Platinum & Centurion

I've upgraded to Centurion Card for more than a year. Recently I've notice several "Special Features" on the Centurion Card is the same as the Platinum Card. For example: The benefits on the FHR&S are the same for both cards! (I thought as a Centurion Card holder, I'm able to receive free room upgrade which the Platinum couldn't.......but Centurion isn't any better than the Platinum in this case)
Also, has anyone of you ever use the "Best Value Guarantee" program? In the program when you find a cheaper price than you bought, they would pay you the difference up to $1,000 per year! But this program also is available the the Optima Platinum card for free! Please correct me if I'm wrong! If I'm right, please call your Centurion Card customer service and complain about this like I did and hopefully they would do something about it!
Thanks,
Treston

Well some benefits are the same, I can promise you us lowly Platinum holders do not get:
Gold Preferred status on US Airways Gold Medallion status on Delta Gold Elite status on Continental Presidents Club with Avis Platinum with Starwood Diamond with Hyatt


I'm sure there's a few others I missed ...

If you think the benefits are the same you might as well save the $700/year and go down to the Platinum card.

Guaranteed upgrade at booking with Ritz Carlton (use booking code AXC on website for Centurion, and FHR for Platinum/Centurion program and you will see the difference); Guaranteed upgrade at booking for Four Seasons in ATL, PHL, LAS, HOU, Toronto, Vancouver, Berlin, Mexico City, Tokyo and Signapore; 50% bonus on Membership Rewards points with partners; Hilton Gold and Intercontinental Six Continents memberships; Guaranteed car availability at Hertz even when location is sold out, triple upgrades if available, discounted rates on even luxury class cars, and weekend rates starting at 7am Thursday; free international cell phone rental (including pickup and delivery) - just pay for calls actually made

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by treston:
Also, has anyone of you ever use the "Best Value Guarantee" program? In the program when you find a cheaper price than you bought, they would pay you the difference up to $1,000 per year! But this program also is available the the Optima Platinum card for free!</font>

Treston, I am a plat card holder, and have used the Best Value thing.. I used it enough last year to pay for my $300 "membership" fee.

Is the Gold Medallion Status in Delta for one year only, or do you keep it for as long as you keep the card?

... the full Priority Pass membership for the supplementary cardholder, the Starwood Platinum level, the extended insurance cover, etc. etc.

The Centurion card is not a card with different benefits only, but extended benefits compared to the Platinum card + some exclusive benefits.

The classic Amex cards (Green, Gold, Platinum, Centurion) always include the benefits of the lower level cards.

Based on what I've read, my consensus is that if you get the Centurion card, it should be to take advantage of partner offers, not to get any better treatment from AmEx.

I've only got the Green card, but I get great service when I need to talk to them. Sure I don't have a travel counselor, but I do have a travel agent who's as well connected as AmEx.

I don't have an AmEx concierge either, but I have one with Nextel and Visa.

To me, the only benefits worth paying for the black card are the elite air, car and hotel programs.

d

Doppy - correct.

But as long as you have them, you might try using the concierge for difficult restaurant reservations. They can also occasionally get good hotel rates you can't find elsewhere.

My Centurion Concierge has shoehorned me into some hot restaurants with short notice.

Another new benefit is membership in Sony Cierge, a personal shopping service that discounts Sony electronics.

As far as AMEX customer service, any charge you challenge (with cause) under $100, they just tear up. No investigation, no letters, just "sorry for the inconvenience sir."

Black is beautiful.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Echelon:
My Centurion Concierge has shoehorned me into some hot restaurants with short notice.


As far as AMEX customer service, any charge you challenge (with cause) under $100, they just tear up. No investigation, no letters, just "sorry for the inconvenience sir."

Black is beautiful.</font>

So is Plat. I've had them do these same things for me as a lowly Plat holder.