American Express Membership Rewards - 2006 US Centurion Program/Benefit Changes

I have yet to receive anything in the mail from Centurion with respect to the 2006 program (and unlike last year - which was very different than years past - no FHR hotel guide has arrived; perhaps they will return to the days when the book shows up in March).

Looking at the Centurion website I do not spot any NEW benefits, but I did note that references to the Peninsula Hotel benefit are now gone. Along with last year's departed Hyatt Diamond status, and the apparently still retained Ritz and Mandarin benefits, the Peninsula program was one of my favorites.

USAir Gold status is still listed.

I will continue to hope that there will be some amazing addition of benefits that will be revealed on January 1st, but as we all know, what we are likely to see is take-aways without any substantive additions.

Anyone else see anything I missed or have any more info?

Well, if the rumor mill is right this time, Feb-Mar of '06 they should be sending out metal centurion cards. They may want to have any new "extras" come out with the new card.

In any event, I am hoping for an increase in the annual amount after the metal release, no more grandfathering, and with a few new perks.

:D

Well, if the rumor mill is right this time, Feb-Mar of '06 they should be sending out metal centurion cards. They may want to have any new "extras" come out with the new card.

In any event, I am hoping for an increase in the annual amount after the metal release, no more grandfathering, and with a few new perks.

:D


Just curious, what problem could you have with grandfathering?

Just curious, what problem could you have with grandfathering?


LOL i dont think they will taking away grandfathered accounts or atleast not from the orginal people who got invited to join Centurion. My older Platium card was grandfather in at $275 form way back when it was first intruduced back in 1984. They never raised my annual fee on me even tho they where charging $325 to new card members when I upgrade to Centurion. My brother is still grandfather at $275 on his platium card till this day.

So If they treat people same way as they do with older platium account that have LOC( I get a check inclosed every month with my Centurion card and before with my Plat account.) attached on there accounts then I see no reason why they would want to stick it Centurion members many of which have that LOC attached because Amex stop issueing charges cards with them back in late 80's.

no FHR hotel guide has arrivedfwiw my plat fhr book arrived mid-week

Just curious, what problem could you have with grandfathering?

The more people are paying for the service on average the more benifits that can be provided.

The more people are paying for the service on average the more benifits that can be provided.
Yes, and the more you spend on clothes, the more fabric you should be getting.

Yes, and the more you spend on clothes, the more fabric you should be getting.

The point is that if I pay $1000 for an item, the cost of materials can (notice can) be in the $100 + range. If I pay $100, it can't. By having the average annual cost for the card be $1500 it PROCLUDES certain perks that $3000/yr would not.

The point is that if I pay $1000 for an item, the cost of materials can (notice can) be in the $100 + range. If I pay $100, it can't. By having the average annual cost for the card be $1500 it PROCLUDES certain perks that $3000/yr would not.

If that's the case, then start charging $200 a year for MR and make it worth a damn. IMO this is a specious argument. Charge volume dwarfs the annual fee as a source of revenue. IMO the annual fee is intended to A.) 'keep the riff raff out' and B.) create a sense of mystique. The benefits received have little to do with how much we pay in annual fees. I am willing to bet most of these are marketing arrangements that result in little or no cash changing hands. This is all conjecture but it's not as simple as "more fee, more benefits".

If that's the case, then start charging $200 a year for MR and make it worth a damn. IMO this is a specious argument. Charge volume dwarfs the annual fee as a source of revenue. IMO the annual fee is intended to A.) 'keep the riff raff out' and B.) create a sense of mystique. The benefits received have little to do with how much we pay in annual fees. I am willing to bet most of these are marketing arrangements that result in little or no cash changing hands. This is all conjecture but it's not as simple as "more fee, more benefits".

Let me make sure I understand:

1. 2.5% * 250,000 - cost (this btw assumes people continue to charge this amount on the centurion - which I bet most do not)

dwarfs

(according to you) $2500/year - 0 cost?

Hmm..my calculator works differently that yours.

:p

How much is upsetting your most loyal customers worth? Especially when you promised them in writing (I still have the letter) that your fee would not rise? This is a pointless discussion. It ain't gonna happen.

kanebear, he's gigging you; don't take the bait. Any novice AMEX cardholder knows revenue has nothing to do w/ benefits; there is no linkage between the two in AMEX's practice. AMEX misses that point if they get any at all.

They will let CENT degrade and dilute just like they did w/ MR as long as they can get away with it, knowing the greater fool theory still holds (there's a sucker born every minute) who will ante up for the higher fees never knowing that benefits have diluted and degraded since program inception.

I am still paying the $1000/yr grandfatherd fee for one single tangible perk...ie I'm hanging on by a thread. If it goes, so do I, metal card or not, vested $1000 fee or not.

I think the OP is just jealous of those paying the $1000/yr. :)

The point is that if I pay $1000 for an item, the cost of materials can (notice can) be in the $100 + range. If I pay $100, it can't. By having the average annual cost for the card be $1500 it PROCLUDES certain perks that $3000/yr would not.

Your calculation lacks the merchant fees AMEX is generating with the dollars Centurions are spending on the card.

If that's the case, then start charging $200 a year for MR and make it worth a damn. IMO this is a specious argument. Charge volume dwarfs the annual fee as a source of revenue. IMO the annual fee is intended to A.) 'keep the riff raff out' and B.) create a sense of mystique. The benefits received have little to do with how much we pay in annual fees. I am willing to bet most of these are marketing arrangements that result in little or no cash changing hands. This is all conjecture but it's not as simple as "more fee, more benefits".

I would go further and conjecture that Amex actually makes money from the arrangement. Companies bend over backwards to acquire new, high-net-worth customers. Getting access to Centurion card holders is worth much more to these companies than the cost of providing perks.

Looking at the Centurion website I do not spot any NEW benefits, but I did note that references to the Peninsula Hotel benefit are now gone. Along with last year's departed Hyatt Diamond status, and the apparently still retained Ritz and Mandarin benefits, the Peninsula program was one of my favorites.

According to a CTS agent I spoke with today, Pen benefits are still going to be good, just working out the details. This would have been a BIG loss otherwise. I think last time my cent. room rate was cheaper than the rack rate for the RT rolls transpo they provided to HKG.

OK, so an FHR book, Centurion Vacations book, and IAP book were waiting for me when I returned to the office today. Also a letter saying look for your "Centurion Benefits Porfolio arriving early in 2006".

There is some detail on Centurion amenities in the FHR book:

Hotel Partners include Ritz-Carlton, Peninsula, Orient-Express, Mandarin-Oriental and newly added Amanresorts. Perks at all the old participants seem to be the same as 2005, with the already noted caveat that Mandarin NYC does not participate in the free night promotion (although it does say you get a $200 spa or food and beverage credit on two night stays in lieu of the free night). Aman offers up confirmed upgrade at booking, 6pm checkout (4pm guaranteed), and candelight dinner for two.

I did not see any other changes in the program/benefits in a quick read of the book and the small print. US, CO and DL elite membership is still there, as is Avis and Hertz, and the same Starwood, Hilton and Intercontinental perks.