American Express Membership Rewards - Australian Centurion Makeover

Just got a letter in the post from Amex Centurion with a whole host of new features, making the card more on par (but not quite) with its US counterpart.

We now get:

Malaysia Airlines Enrich Gold Membership
Avis Presidents Club
Intercontinental Platinum

Downside:
Starwood Platinum still not offered full time (need to qualify after first year)

Malaysia Airlines Enrich Gold Membership
Avis Presidents Club
Intercontinental Platinum



OzFlyer,
Thank you for your info.
That's great and interesting news!!!!! :)

Hello everyone

I am new to this forum here and would like to seek some advice regarding the centurion benefits in australia:

I was invited for the amex centurion back in march this year and my starwood platinum membership was carried forward from when I started my amex platinum membership in feburary 2003. The requirement for us (pls correct me if i am wrong) at that point of time was to accumulate 10 qualified stays during the issuance of the first SPG platinum card up and until the expiry of that card (mine is due to expire in 02/05) to renew for a further year and after that it will be only renewed for another twelve months upon 25 qualified stays etc.

So my concern is whether they still regard my SPG platinum membership back from the old amex platinum current and will offer a renewal for a further year since I have accumulated 18 stays over the minimum 10 stays or plainly wait still to be downgraded to a gold status due to the centurion introduction which overrides all the previous condtions.

Furthermore, I do agree totally with our aussie centurion members that our benefits need expanding so as to come on par with others around the globe as there are far too few of the available benes around the country. Being an isolated member living in Perth, Western Australia, the benefits are virtually non-existant around our capital city with only one Sheraton property(3* in my opinion) and around 4-5 centurion partner restaurants that I can just walk in without making any reservation thru an amex CSR. Not to mention any shopping entitlements or other lifestyle previledges that amex 'strategically' locate those events in the eastern states that our Perth members find it impractical to participate when travelling (a 4-5 hours flight) has to be factored in to make those entitlements worthwhile. I am in much anticipation that amex in Australia will further improve their association with other partners in travel and lifestyle around the country. Other than the above, amex centurion membership has been a very useful tool in managing all my personal and business affairs and thus seeing more and more places around our little city starting to accept the card.

Thanks in advance.

That's interesting news ozflyer. At the time that the cards were offered, I declined on the basis that the features were crap and not worth the $2900! I also said that I would be happy to re-consider if they got the features right.

Still....even on my plat, I have been dismayed with the erosion of the benefits over the last year or so. In particular, the companion fare partners all seem to be disappearing and there is a severe lack of information about what benefits are still available.

Lets see if they offer the card again now to those of us who declined on the basis of low value for $.

Still....even on my plat, I have been dismayed with the erosion of the benefits over the last year or so. In particular, the companion fare partners all seem to be disappearing and there is a severe lack of information about what benefits are still available.


I think this has something to do with them getting into trouble with the ACCC about misleading about the true value of the discount.

From where I sit, I can see very little difference between Platinum and Centurion, apart from the fact that Platinum is now even being promoted at the airports and around the place.

It seems that they use the same staff, phone menu and backend support staff for both cards and the extra benefits of Centurion over Platinum make it hard to justify the extra cost.

These changes are a move in the right direction, but more is needed on the travel side, including Starwood Platinum without re-qualification like every other country offers.

From where I sit, I can see very little difference between Platinum and Centurion, apart from the fact that Platinum is now even being promoted at the airports and around the place.

It seems that they use the same staff, phone menu and backend support staff for both cards and the extra benefits of Centurion over Platinum make it hard to justify the extra cost.

These changes are a move in the right direction, but more is needed on the travel side, including Starwood Platinum without re-qualification like every other country offers.

Completely agree with you.

Last time (a few weeks ago) I was out and about Syd-Melb I saw many AMEX Goldcard promotions. So, I am not sure about Plat being promoted everywhere (or am I missing something?).

To me, Plat is still by invitation only and should stay that way, IMHO.

I agree benefits have eroded (especially after ACCC) thing but at least we are not diverted to India.

Congrats to AMEX on maintaining their high level of service in Aust.

Last time (a few weeks ago) I was out and about Syd-Melb I saw many AMEX Goldcard promotions. So, I am not sure about Plat being promoted everywhere (or am I missing something?). To me, Plat is still by invitation only and should stay that way, IMHO. Amex both in NZ and Australia recently introduced the American Express Platinum Rewards Credit Card (not charge) which not only looks better than the traditional Amex Plat :td: but is not by invitation only - AND AMEX ARE PROMOTING IT EVERYWHERE!! To top it all off... you only need to be earning $60K p/a to qualify! :mad:

The last slap in the face is that my Amex Plat Charge Card costs me NZ$1,200 per year, the new "Plat Credit" is $300!!!!

To me it completely undermines my 5 years of membership as now every man and his dog has Plat - and in NZ there is no Centurion :td:

I understand how you feel. :mad:

However, Platinum credit card is not the same as Platinum Charge card. Benefits are very much diluted from Platinum Charge card from what I can see on AMEX Nz website.

This Platinum credit card does not appear to be available in Australia yet. My Google search could not find any press releases on it.

I would not get excited about it too much. Just another credit card.

The Amex platinum credit card exists in the US for many years already.

The "inflation" began in the '90s : Visa and MasterCard started to offer "platinum cards" to everyone in the US, most of them for free, and with nothing that made them a premium product.

Amex "platinum credit card" is the counterpart to these cheap platinum Visa and Mastercards.

The Amex Platinum charge card remains a premium product, but is now only the 2nd level of membership, after the Centurion was introduced (carefully) on selected markets since 1999.

The Centurion card is today what the Platinum card used to be in the 80s, the 1st level of membership, and "by invitation only".

The Platinum charge card remains "by invitation only" in the markets where it was introduced late, and where the launch of Centurion is not planned.

However, Platinum credit card is not the same as Platinum Charge card. Benefits are very much diluted from Platinum Charge card from what I can see on AMEX Nz website. Understood but I still believe that the Platinum Amex (credit) totally removes any prestige from the Plat Charge. I actually faxed Amex NZ to complain and got a call the following day from the national manager saying "not to worry" and "that a superior charge card is scheduled for release later in the year which you (I) have qualified for" - when I asked if this was the Centurion he seemed very surprised but refused to confirm nor deny.

Still sucks for us who are all now bunched together as Amex Platinum Card holders...

Any one knows whether the Malaysian Airlines and InterCont are for the life of the Centurion membership or just for one year with next year needing re-qualification?

The brochure was not specific on this. :confused:

Hey guys,

What are the spending requirements for the centurion card now apart from the norm perfect history etc etc. Any new perks lately ?


Thanks,


PN

My Enrich card came with 2 years on it - think it expries sometime this year. Not sure if it will maintain the Gold level as I haven't set foot on MH metal.

I think you have to requalify on Priority Club - my account is listed as Plat and the ticker is keeping up with requal stays etc.

Starwood - dropped all the back to base level this month - did AU Centurion get this reinstated?


Any one knows whether the Malaysian Airlines and InterCont are for the life of the Centurion membership or just for one year with next year needing re-qualification?

The brochure was not specific on this. :confused: