American Express Membership Rewards - Amex "Black" Titanium Card?

Just reading with interest all the threads on the "Black Card" which I have had for a few years and noticed frequent mention to a 'titanium' material rather than plastic. I have a UK account and my card is plastic and recent replacement also plastic. Any UK members received a Titanium one? I have long been suspicious that there are grades within Amex Black. My spending is only around £3-4k per month ($5-7k) and I sometimes feel that the service I get is not what it could be compared to stories I hear?!?!

Just reading with interest all the threads on the "Black Card" which I have had for a few years and noticed frequent mention to a 'titanium' material rather than plastic. I have a UK account and my card is plastic and recent replacement also plastic. Any UK members received a Titanium one? I have long been suspicious that there are grades within Amex Black. My spending is only around £3-4k per month ($5-7k) and I sometimes feel that the service I get is not what it could be compared to stories I hear?!?!

Welcome to FT !

Currently some regions have had "titanium" cards issued, mainly the US and some countries in Europe (France ?). The other main markets in Europe have not had their cards "upgraded" from plastic to metal. This will probably happen after the re-launch (or enhancement? - annual fee hike !?) of the card later this year or early next year.

Titanium is therefore not a new level above Centurion.

... and I sometimes feel that the service I get is not what it could be compared to stories I hear?!?!

You are a long time cardholder and still believe in the "myth"? ;) :confused:

You are a long time cardholder and still believe in the "myth"? ;) :confused:


Looks like I do - bad really - and not sure why I carry on with it for £650/annum - though like many european companies now we are expected to fly economy for shorthaul destinations and the 'free' priority pass is great for me and for my wife who also travels alot and is almost worth the fee on its own

You can get the same Priority Pass with quite a few other cards at a much lower annual fee - if PP is the only benefit you are looking for.

You can get the same Priority Pass with quite a few other cards at a much lower annual fee - if PP is the only benefit you are looking for.

But would it be the full Priority Pass. As I understand it there are 3 levels - 1) Member Only - Pay £15/visit, 2) 10 visits free then after pay £15/visit, 3) As many visits as you like for free (This comes with the Amex).

I have to say that I do use some of the other benefits but have never done a Cost/Benefit analyses. Any advice on how I can maximise benefits with Amex would be appreciated.

I have used MR's several times transferred to Virgin for upgrades to upper class

But would it be the full Priority Pass. As I understand it there are 3 levels - 1) Member Only - Pay £15/visit, 2) 10 visits free then after pay £15/visit, 3) As many visits as you like for free (This comes with the Amex).

I have to say that I do use some of the other benefits but have never done a Cost/Benefit analyses. Any advice on how I can maximise benefits with Amex would be appreciated.

I have used MR's several times transferred to Virgin for upgrades to upper class

Well the SPG plat is the best perk, but that has gone ( unless you allread have it , then it will be gone next Feb). Down to Gold.

The MO deal is very good.

I would wait till the re launch and see what is on offer till you decide to bin the card. That is what I am doing. For the £650 a year could almost do a matress run and qualify for SPG plat anyway. ( If you can be bothered).

But would it be the full Priority Pass. As I understand it there are 3 levels - 1) Member Only - Pay £15/visit, 2) 10 visits free then after pay £15/visit, 3) As many visits as you like for free (This comes with the Amex).

I have to say that I do use some of the other benefits but have never done a Cost/Benefit analyses. Any advice on how I can maximise benefits with Amex would be appreciated.

I have used MR's several times transferred to Virgin for upgrades to upper class

Amex Plat (£275 fee) gets you TWO FULL Priority Passes now - one for you and one for the supplementary card holder.

The Cent package will be relaunched in 2007 and will presumable also come with 2 PP's at that date. As of today, the Cent package is actually worse than the Plat package in terms of travel insurance (the Plat package was recently improved sharply) and Priority Pass.

Have a look at my post 5 in this thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=506655 for a guide to getting the most from a Plat Amex. Much of the same applies to the Cent card.

If you are only paying £650 for the card, my gut feeling is that you should keep it. Remember that new members are paying much, much more. Cross your fingers and hope that the relaunch next year comes with a much improved package of goodies - and if not, drop down to Plat.

PS. In any event, why are you putting your spending through your Cent card if you are using your MR points for airline rewards? You are FAR better off getting a BMI Mastercard, Virgin Amex or BA Amex and putting your spending on that. I have a Plat Amex but I NEVER use it - all of my spend goes on my BA Amex ('2 for 1' BA Miles flights when I spend £10k) and my BMI Mastercard (2 BMI miles per £1 spent - so a First Class flight to the US for every £25k I spend). I keep my Plat Amex purely for the benefits, mainly the Fine Hotels & Resorts discounts, SPG Gold and the free BA Amex.

In Germany I also get two Priority Passes. One for my own card and one for the second Centurion cardholder on my account (in this case my dad).

Welcome to FT !

Currently some regions have had "titanium" cards issued, mainly the US and some countries in Europe (France ?). The other main markets in Europe have not had their cards "upgraded" from plastic to metal. This will probably happen after the re-launch (or enhancement? - annual fee hike !?) of the card later this year or early next year.

Titanium is therefore not a new level above Centurion.


Apparently Amex UK are haing problems incorporating the new chip onto cards made out of metal. Until this is resolved (and I don't see that happenign anyime soon) UK cards will continue to be isued in plastic.

Amex Plat (£275 fee) gets you TWO FULL Priority Passes now - one for you and one for the supplementary card holder.
...
If you are only paying £650 for the card, my gut feeling is that you should keep it. Remember that new members are paying much, much more.
UK Centurion also gets you two full Priority Passes - it's not clear to me how Platinum is better from that point of view (unless you meant it's cheaper for the equivalent benefit).

And what's this about new members paying much, much more for the card than £650 - did the fee increase while I wasn't looking?

And what's this about new members paying much, much more for the card than £650 - did the fee increase while I wasn't looking?

Perhaps not. I thought ('cos I haven't got one) that the UK did the same as the US and increase the fee sharply, leaving original members on the original rate. It seems I remembered incorrectly - sorry!

AmEx Plat UK fee is now £300 - for some people with Platinum, its worth dropping down as Platinum may now meet all there needs. It does include two full Priority Passes, which far outweigh the annual fee alone.

Plat insurance cover is actually better than Centurion at the moment, though some people have .....ed and got Centurion to match the cover.

If you use the MO benefit, then thats a reason to stay with Centurion. I've use dit 4 times in the last 9 months and its easily covered the annual fee several times over.

Centurion know their product is in decline, so I think we are all waiting to see what the 'refresh' brings. Given how long it has taken them, it better be something spectacular otherwise its a no brainer really to drop down to Platinum. I sincerely hope they do not use the refresh as an excuse to hike up the annual fee, its inexcusable really seen as the benefits have been pulled away over the last 5 years. For starters they should drop the silly admin fee for booking tickets - the amount of travel I have taken away from them due to their 'admin/booking fee' is unreal. And given that pretty much every affinity card out there beats them silly in terms of points earning, that needs addressing too. For people flying VS, the new VS AmEx by MBNA is another no brainer. They need to move away from the mindset that all their customers aren't interested that much in points and don't care how much things cost - some of their customers of course do fit in that subset but I'm guessing its a minority. There is a sizeable number of Centurion accounts in the UK (thank goodness they've stopped for the moment), and I think that is the root of the issue, too many new customers and not enough talented staff. There is a certain persona that is expected of a Centurion agent, a can do attitude and more. Of recent I've spoken to some that don't deserve to work in Corp Travel, let alone Centurion travel. Staff should want to work there, they should have worked their way up thru the ranks and proved their knowledge and CS skills; just like Centurion customers have to work their way through the ranks and meet certain criteria...

Platinum is an amazing offering now, to be honest they could drop back down to a single PP and it would still be a great offering gven the insurance cover and other stuff.

two PP cards, insurance is nice,
24/7/365 travel very important to me
access to the virgin upper class lounge .... priceless.
£650 is a heap of money but I'd sure miss those features.

I can do without all the fancy holiday travel & bling junk mail.

JUST IN CASE SOMEONE AT AMEX IS READING THIS

I want business travel related service:
Time saving / convenience
Travel comfort / privileges
Reassurance that I'll be taken care of when things go wrong on my travels
some travel discounts

access to the virgin upper class lounge .... priceless.

Crikey, have I missed something? Since when has Amex Cent got one into the VUC lounge? What are the criteria for entry?

I did get a long doocument outlining the priveleges of Amex Cent insurance the other day, it spelt out the hire car insurance that i was aware of but had never seen it in print, that's pretty useful as you can decline all insurance and not even have to worry about an excess! The other travel benefits seem pretty good, how are the Plat ones better?

Virgin Clubhouse access has been there since day 1:

Only works at true Virgin Clubhouses, not the shared facilities.
Only the people holding black coloured cards on the account can access, so no guests and no platinum supplementaries
Only applies for UK issues Centurions, beginning 3742 8

The benefit booklets are a joke, i have never received an updated one in 5 years; I got one when I first joined and that is it. Thank goodness for FT!

Thanks,
Richard

.. and you must be flying Virgin as well.

.. and you must be flying Virgin as well.
Right. I got caught out on this one the other day. :(

......