American Express Membership Rewards - Quintessentially membership vs AMEX Centurion

Hi - does anyone know much about this card membership?
I live in New York and got a call from these people telling me the benefits of this membership programme vs. Amex Centurion. Sounded good with cool things like Club Entry, invites to movie premieres, tables at fine restaurants, travel perks etc. I think the key difference sounds like they cater for the younger crowd and can get you into the exclusive 'young scene'.

I asked an example request which was "Can you get me into SoHo House?" They said they could, but not too often and with atleast 24 hrs notice. I would be impressed if they could....

What do you folks think?

What do you folks think?
The U.K. version has been discussed at length in the past. A search should tell you more than you need to know.

The U.K. version has been discussed at length in the past. A search should tell you more than you need to know.

To be fair, I did a quick search and most of the posts on this topic are either old or not very helpful.

Does anyone have more recent experience with Q?

I just posted on another thread that the only reason I keep my Centurion card is the SPG status and travel insurance. That got me thinking - do I really get much benefit from it? My only experiences with the concierge service have been a little disappointing. Just wondering if Q could do better for me.

I'm not a clubber, but access to nice restaurants (and possibly also health clubs) both in London and when I'm on the road would be very nice.

Does anyone know, for example if I called them tonight and asked for a table tomorrow at Le Caprice or the Wolseley, if they could get me a table? Is the eperience in NY similar to that in London?

On this note, does anyone know about Q in Asia? I'm considering it because I need a visa card here!

Amex Plat (and indeed Cent) holds a table a day for its Fine Dining plan at many top places. In London, these include most of the decent places except Ivy / Caprice / Wolseley, so its debatable what Q would bring to the party over Amex. I would be surprised if any of those 3 establishments would hold back tables for people with no more claim to fame than the fact they are willing to pay £650 for a credit card.

If all you want is nightclub access and a few parties, then rclub may do the trick at a fraction of the price.

I use Quintessentially in both London and New York. Their services are not for everyone and I don't recommend them if all you want out of it is for club entry and restaurant reservations. I use Q to basically organize my life and they do a very good job of that. But if I was just trying to buy a social life, I wouldn't bother

Q has very good connections in NYC and London and can get you into some good/chic restaurants and will have no luck with others. For example, in London they can probably do a table on short notice at the Ivy or Le Caprice, but no chance at the Wolesley (which, although part of the same restaurant group as the other two, evidently does not appreciate "third party" bookings). They can also probably get you in to dinner at Harry's or Home House or SoHo House in London for a limited number of times, but won't be able to get you a membership at any of those places.

There are three different service levels with Q, beginning at £750/year. In my experience, the service at £750 differs greatly from the service you experience at the two more expensive levels.

If you want to know more, PM me.

In my experience, the service at £750 differs greatly from the service you experience at the two more expensive levels.


This could explain why I recently cancelled a Q membership at the £750 entry level. I found it had little added value over Centurion and the staff were less responsive(!). They seemed to have better private club / bar access but not much else. One could email them requests, however, which strikes me as a sometime benefit over the Amex service.

I use the dedicated Quintessentially service from Asia and it compliments the Centurion card. Already Q has helped with getting good rates, upgrades in hotels and arrange trips and activites. I did have a rough beginning initially with them but it turn out well and the staff try their best to help and please.

Have not tried to use it for resaurant bookings but did try to use them to help me resolve a recent dinner problem and waiting for the result.

There is not much new benefits listed out from Asia yet and the clubs arrangement is not that good either. To get into the affiliated clubs, you would need to call them to arrange in advance instead of just showing the membership card.

What is a rclub?

What is a rclub?

It is a London-based internet-operated social group / members club / call it what you will. It organises regular parties in 'happening' bars and clubs and offers discounts in a number of bars and restaurants (many surprisingly generous). See rclub.co.uk for details.

It is well run and not exceptionally expensive, albeit quite 'sloaney' (ie despite being not very expensive to join, it is over-populated by people with nice hair who don't seem to need to work for a living).

I was a member for a year but let it slip when I met Ms RJB as she has no interest in going to drinks parties full of pretty blondes where she doesn't know many people (and is certainly not keen I go to them!).

'sloaney'
What's the etymology of that term?

What's the etymology of that term?

Sloane Ranger
"fashionable but conventional young woman of London," 1975, from Sloane Square, near Chelsea, with a play on Lone Ranger.

This was essential reading whilst on the John in the 1980s (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0312582293/qid=1105137811/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-7822631-8867204?v=glance&s=books) :-:^