American Express Membership Rewards - Rumor about capping Centurion issuance?

Someone told me today that they will stop issuing black cards. Can someone confirm whether or not this is true? I'm going through all sort of nonsense to get the extra dollars I need at some expense, so if it will be futile I'd like to know!

Someone told me today that they will stop issuing black cards. Can someone confirm whether or not this is true? I'm going through all sort of nonsense to get the extra dollars I need at some expense, so if it will be futile I'd like to know!

To be honest it wouldn't surprise me if they did. With the UK Platinum Card being nearly identical to Centurion now, there is no need for me to go up (except the find and seek on the lifestyle service). This could be a way to keep us lower tier card holders happy.

I can't see them doing this in the US as there are published prerequisites for obtaining the card. They might well cap it for a certain amount of time and then reopen (new invites have currently been halted in the UK).

Chris

I have to imagine they make pretty good money on the black card. Especially with the reduced benefits... Why would they close it?

I was speaking to Amex PTS, complaining about a villa booking they had recently done for us. I told them I expected better service, etc, and they eventually put me through to a manager with whom I spoke about expectations management of the Platinum card. Eventually he put me through to someone in card marketing or management or something like that who suggested that I might be happier with a Centurion Card. This slightly toffy salesman-type told me that they were not issuing any more Centurion cards until summer 2006 ("...we like to think of ourselves as a special little club..." - honest, his words not mine) and suggested that I would be getting a call then.

In short, therefore, I don't think so.

really if you want a centurion card so bad...just call up the centurion customer service #, which i believe is 877-877-0987, press 3 to speak a customer service agent. when they ask for ur card # hit 0. Then say I am currently a "insert kind of amex here" card holder, and would like to upgrade to centurion. they say no, ask to speak to a manager, and say id like a centurion card, if you have a problem collecting 2500 dollar annual fee from me, thats fine, but then you can have a problem gaining any money off me, as ill be happy to cancel my regular amex. If you spend enough money at least 100k a year, id assume they'd give it to you. After all, why would they want to refuse money, cause ill your doing is giving them more.

Does it really matter if AMEX caps the number of Centurion cards? I have had an AMEX Plat for almost 15 years. There was a time when I thought I might want to aspire to meeting the qualifications of Centurion by pooling my charges on AMEX, but then again I realize after reading all the posts of the past few months that I certainly would have felt like a fool if I had moved up to a Centurion Card with the higher annual fee. Platinum gives me everything I need with the added benefits and the Fine Hotel Program. Maybe once in a while the added airline status with Centurion would be nice, but then again I am already a Platinum flyer and would feel bad anytime I don't fly with my two favorite carriers to requalify for the current status I have. I love the Starwood Hotel Program; the gold status I have through AMEX Plat meets my needs perfectly. I hear everyone with online posts complain about losing Platinum status with Centurion; obviously I would feel the same way if I had a Centurion card. But then again I also realize if I spent enough time in my hotel rooms when I travel to really want Starwood Platinum status, I could achieve it by increasing my usage of Starwood hotels with additional nights for less money than paying the annual U.S. cardholder Centurion fee. (As it stands now, I'm probably the Starwood marketing success with AMEX Plat that Starwood may have been trying to achieve with Centurion-- I never stayed at Sheraton until I received the SPG Gold status through AMEX Plat but now my usage requalifies me annually in my own right. Yet I do admit with AMEX Plat it is nice having that piece of mind that I need not worry about requalifying for SPG Gold.) Similarly, AMEX Plat started me rolling with Hertz #1 Gold and now I qualify annually for the 5 Star program.

My comments are not made to be those of a junkyard dog who is complaining because he never received a Centurion invite. Rather, over the past two years, I have come to realize that we sometimes become so focussed on the perceived benefits of our credit cards and frequent traveler benefits that we forget there is still nothing like seeking out a good deal for paid travel. I realize this year I will requalify for Platinum status with my favorite airline carrier by flying almost exclusively on paid (but deeply discounted) international business class tickets-- in that sense, the airline Platinum status offers me little more than I already receive from buying business class fares. However, the airline has my loyalty because I can afford to buy their published discounted fares and because I realize on an international itinerary there is nothing like arriving at the airport knowing the business class seat is guaranteed without having to fight for an upgrade with miles at the gate. Even with penalty fees for itinerary changes on my discounted ticket, I find it relatively easy because I have the wider seat availability before the airline releases inventory for upgrades.

Currently I personally feel the AMEX Plat/Starwood card is the best combination to have in a wallet--i.e. AMEX Plat for benefits and Starwood for the mileage program. However, I must admit against my better senses I still place the majority of my charges on AMEX Plat (and Membership Rewards) just because I know it will be useful to have the majority of my business-related charges on a consolidated year-end statement at tax time.

really if you want a centurion card so bad...just call up the centurion customer service #, which i believe is 877-877-0987, press 3 to speak a customer service agent. when they ask for ur card # hit 0. Then say I am currently a "insert kind of amex here" card holder, and would like to upgrade to centurion. they say no, ask to speak to a manager, and say id like a centurion card, if you have a problem collecting 2500 dollar annual fee from me, thats fine, but then you can have a problem gaining any money off me, as ill be happy to cancel my regular amex. If you spend enough money at least 100k a year, id assume they'd give it to you. After all, why would they want to refuse money, cause ill your doing is giving them more.

LMAO, this would never work. The conversation would go somethink like.

AMEX CENT: "The requirements for a Centurion card are $250,000 spend per year and having an AMEX card for 1 year. Do you think you meet the requirement for a Centurion card?"

PlatLlama: "Yes"

AMEX CENT: "Please hold while I calculate your spend...you will recieve a letter in the mail as to why you were denied"

PlatLlama :"I want to speak to a manager."

AMEX CENT: *click*

Well maybe not the click...but essentially that is what would happen. There is 0% chance of getting a Centurion card in the US with $100,000 spend unless you are famous or being related to the CEO (not sure about the relation to the CEO). You people that think you can talk your way past the 250K spend requirement are crazy, call them and try. Just don't be upset with the nice denial letter :p

ok why would american express say no to collecting more money. they collect more money off you, and if your threatning to cancel ur platinum card, they will just lose more money off you. i know 1 person isnt a lot of money, but they have an oppertunity to gain a lil more money, or lose a long time customer...id think they would upgrade the person. has anyone actually tried this method?

ok why would american express say no to collecting more money. they collect more money off you, and if your threatning to cancel ur platinum card, they will just lose more money off you. i know 1 person isnt a lot of money, but they have an oppertunity to gain a lil more money, or lose a long time customer...id think they would upgrade the person. has anyone actually tried this method?

if you read all the threads since 2-3 years here on FT you will see that this is exactly what people did , and it worked.

as amex is trying to get the centurion more exclusive, i doubt it will work anymore. and the chance that you cancel your card , common they can let you cancel and after that sent you the invitation. but do you have the guts to cancel it :D

dp

I guess Amex knows who to invite on their own and who not to.
It's a classic case of "don't call us, we'll call you". If you show up on their radar, they will invite you.

why not, if they don't want more money from me, id easily cancel my platinum card and go get the ML-visa or the chairmans card. As of right now though, I am very happy with my Plat card. Thats just how I'd go about doing it.

ok why would american express say no to collecting more money. they collect more money off you, and if your threatning to cancel ur platinum card, they will just lose more money off you. i know 1 person isnt a lot of money, but they have an oppertunity to gain a lil more money, or lose a long time customer...id think they would upgrade the person. has anyone actually tried this method?

Why would they put any spend limit by your logic? Just pay the $2500 per year and that is that. Last year they raised the limit to $250K. If they wanted more people to sign up that doesn't encourage people :D .

I am guessing their deals with airlines, hotels, etc. is better recieved the higher AMEX's group characteristics.

However, feel free to call them just get ready for that denial letter :p

if you read all the threads since 2-3 years here on FT you will see that this is exactly what people did , and it worked.

as amex is trying to get the centurion more exclusive, i doubt it will work anymore. and the chance that you cancel your card , common they can let you cancel and after that sent you the invitation. but do you have the guts to cancel it :D

dp

I can only comment for the last 1-1.5 years for US membership. Prior to that I have no idea. For the last ~1.5 years in the US the spend has been pretty hard and fast and seems to be getting worse/tougher. (I have qualified for multiple centurions aka gone through the process several times)

I can only comment for the last 1-1.5 years for US membership. Prior to that I have no idea. For the last ~1.5 years in the US the spend has been pretty hard and fast and seems to be getting worse/tougher. (I have qualified for multiple centurions aka gone through the process several times)

For that spend, do they only look at your charge card (i.e. AMEX PLATINUM) or do they also look at spending on your credit card (i.e. AMEX STARWOOD)?? I like to use my Starwood Amex b/c of the points, but will that count towards the 250k test?

Thanks.

For that spend, do they only look at your charge card (i.e. AMEX PLATINUM) or do they also look at spending on your credit card (i.e. AMEX STARWOOD)?? I like to use my Starwood Amex b/c of the points, but will that count towards the 250k test?

Thanks.

Any card seems to work as I have never had a platinum or gold card ;-)

i still wonder if that would work if someone tried it today, if anyone does please let me know how it goes.

i still wonder if that would work if someone tried it today, if anyone does please let me know how it goes.

I was going to ask (in UK), but since it's now summer 2006 and not Q1, I'll wait till then :p

Chris

For that spend, do they only look at your charge card (i.e. AMEX PLATINUM) or do they also look at spending on your credit card (i.e. AMEX STARWOOD)?? I like to use my Starwood Amex b/c of the points, but will that count towards the 250k test?

Thanks.
They add up all Amex cards that you have to get to the 250k a yr.

i still wonder if that would work if someone tried it today, if anyone does please let me know how it goes.
Not going to happen. A friend hit 150k just after they changed to 250k. He had to wait until he charged another 100k.

really? he threatened to cancel and everything? and they still wouldnt let him?

really? he threatened to cancel and everything? and they still wouldnt let him?

I did the same thing for airline status. I told them "Give me plat status or I am not flying your airline ever again!!!" Works like a charm!! ^ Try it esp. when you are about to board.

Try this, "I have a REFUNDABLE economy class ticket...I will return this ENTIRE ticket if you don't give me platinum (or equiv status) RIGHT NOW!!!"

It seems like it should work...though some people have only reported mixed results. :rolleyes:

thats totally different though...there not losing as much money and theres no gurantee that your never going to fly the airline again, here you are saying fine cancel me, if u dont want my money then forget it, theres an actually guranteed loss for them here, while if they say yes theres a guranteed gain

thats totally different though...there not losing as much money and theres no gurantee that your never going to fly the airline again, here you are saying fine cancel me, if u dont want my money then forget it, theres an actually guranteed loss for them here, while if they say yes theres a guranteed gain

Wow! So you mean you would actually cancel your card. I didn't catch that. Wait, I have an even better idea.

So here is the plan:

Step 1: Explain how they are FOR SURE going to lose money because you are going to "cancel" your card. So...they better give you a Centurion RIGHT NOW and for ONLY $1250/year.

Step 2: Actually cancel your card. Boom. They know you are for real!

Step 3: Wait for them to call, begging for you to join Centurion....

Step 4a: Woohoo the Easter bunny is real and so is santa...ring ring...that is AMEX calling with my invitation to Centurion.

Step 4b: AMEX Doesn't call...just sign up for a new card. OMG!@$% you might even get a new member sign up bonus! 10,000 *wood points here I come!

That is a no loose plan!

I also see now how it is different from an airline. I mean your right, come on, what guarantee do they have that I won't just fly again even though I say I won't...unlike AMEX your actually going to CANCEL!

Man, I should get paid for ideas like this. :D

Or, at the moment if you are in the UK, keep your Platinum card as at lot of the benefits in the insurance are now higher than the Centurion card.

You get two priority pass cards, just like centurion now; your other cardholders spouses and children are covered, better than centurion; car cover is worldwide, not just limited to the US and for £ 50,000 UK pounds instead of $ 50,000 US dollars. The list goes on.

You would at least think Centurion would match the increaed benefits given to the Platinum card, but the lady I just spoke to there said they have no idea when, or if, this will happen, but 'you do get a free night at the Mandarin'.

Ill give it until June / July for things to improve, but then ill be upgrading from Centurion to AMEX Platinum, Centurion is becoming a joke.

ok if u cancel ur card right then and there and actually say go ahead and cancel my card, u dont think by the end of the convo they would say u know what heres ur centurion? if they didnt what the hell do i need them for, i go get a ML Visa or Chairmans card. On the other hand, I dont need a centurion as im fine with platinum. and i do agree with byoni that centurion is becoming a joke.

ok if u cancel ur card right then and there and actually say go ahead and cancel my card, u dont think by the end of the convo they would say u know what heres ur centurion? if they didnt what the hell do i need them for, i go get a ML Visa or Chairmans card. On the other hand, I dont need a centurion as im fine with platinum. and i do agree with byoni that centurion is becoming a joke.

It is important to keep the country straight. UK Centurion is VERY different from US Centurion. byoni is talking about UK Centurion.

I have to say after averaging $.10 on the dollar for *wood points I am not sure I would switch to ML Visa (have it) it's points are pretty much worth .01-.02 at most.

No matter which country the Centurion card is in all the Centurion card holders have a choice, and they all see the benifit of paying their respective fees. At the point it doesn't work for them financially or otherwise they will cancel their card.

It is important to keep the country straight. UK Centurion is VERY different from US Centurion. byoni is talking about UK Centurion.

I have to say after averaging $.10 on the dollar for *wood points I am not sure I would switch to ML Visa (have it) it's points are pretty much worth .01-.02 at most.

No matter which country the Centurion card is in all the Centurion card holders have a choice, and they all see the benifit of paying their respective fees. At the point it doesn't work for them financially or otherwise they will cancel their card.

How are you getting 10 cents on the dollar for stawood points? Don't most people value them at around 2 or maybe 3 cents? Do you have some strategies that yield a value of 10 cents per point?

Thanks...

How are you getting 10 cents on the dollar for stawood points? Don't most people value them at around 2 or maybe 3 cents? Do you have some strategies that yield a value of 10 cents per point?

Thanks...

I normally stay at only higher end hotels (st.regis etc.) and normally in multi room suites. Call up the plat concierge and just compare price for room versus points per room. It is fairly easy to get 3-4 cents pretty much everywhere. There are a few places that I stay that get 10-12 cents per point versus actual cost of room. There maybe "cheaper rates" I have only looked on travelocity/expedia and called the concierge, but based on those prices I am getting 10 cents exactly.

My .02 cents on this issue:

I have to agree with Supreme Leader FW on this. If you're in the US and have not spent 250k in one year you WILL NOT get a Centurion card (with the obvious exception of being Mr. Chenault’s golf buddy). Believe me or not, here's my reasoning behind my input: my brother has charged about 200k in the last 10 months or so in addition to having a Grammy award recipient in his immediate family (thus contradicting the celeb. issue). Amex basically told him to sod off after his phone call requesting the centurion card. He obtained the US platinum card in late 2004 with the sole purpose of upgrading to cent. He did not meet the criteria by early 2005 and was not granted an “extension” on the 150k requirement...

wow very surprsing. i really thought they would have. Did he threaten to cancel? now i do have 2 more questions. whats the story on Mr. Chenault's golf buddy? and what is this celeb issue?

wow very surprsing. i really thought they would have. Did he threaten to cancel? now i do have 2 more questions. whats the story on Mr. Chenault's golf buddy? and what is this celeb issue?

Jblackbelt,

Let me tell you that I currently hold a Amex Cent card. About 9months in when I had about 200ish spent on my plat card I called and tried to apply for the cent card figuring I had another 3 months left and why wouldn’t they give it to me considering the spending habit. Long story short, I had to wait till I hit the 250k mark(keep in mind this is about 4months after they raised the spending minimum from 150k to 250k). They make it quite clear about the criteria and they really don’t' make exceptions. When I asked that doesn't it look obvious that I would spend another 40k in 3months?--the rep replied saying that if they end up giving me the card and I didn't meet the criteria they would open up discrimination lawsuits. Which I can agree to.

My comments are not made to be those of a junkyard dog who is complaining because he never received a Centurion invite. Rather, over the past two years, I have come to realize that we sometimes become so focussed on the perceived benefits of our credit cards and frequent traveler benefits that we forget there is still nothing like seeking out a good deal for paid travel. I realize this year I will requalify for Platinum status with my favorite airline carrier by flying almost exclusively on paid (but deeply discounted) international business class tickets-- in that sense, the airline Platinum status offers me little more than I already receive from buying business class fares. However, the airline has my loyalty because I can afford to buy their published discounted fares and because I realize on an international itinerary there is nothing like arriving at the airport knowing the business class seat is guaranteed without having to fight for an upgrade with miles at the gate. Even with penalty fees for itinerary changes on my discounted ticket, I find it relatively easy because I have the wider seat availability before the airline releases inventory for upgrades.

.

I want to concur your post !! ^

Why?

I fly 90% first Class and I have staus on the Airlines I fly - no need for the Plt staus / lounge access / even less for Centurion
I get a better discount on my deals on FC then through the IAP
On business I have Corp. rates in FS,Hyatt,Sheraton, Hilton etc.; on vacation I stay in small boutique hotels (and I have my points if not) and I have staus on Hilton and Hyatt through my FF status so SPG Gold is not a big deal
I have Staus on Avis and SIXT through FF - so Hertz not much differnece


So why keep it ...maybe because they seem a bit more flexible with large expenditures, and so far they got all the overcharges back I ever had ...

PS I haven't redeemed any MR as of yet, as I wait if they ever ad one of my airlines for PTs transfer..but nice to have them anyway...