Credit Card Programs - Premium Card/Concierge Crossroads

Friends,

I'm at a bit of a crossrodads as relates to premium credit cards. My wife and I use our Ax platinum for just about everything (and rotate through a few others for larger purchases). I love working with Ax, but am looking for a "super premium" card for two main reasons: 1) travel benefits and 2) concierge. I've been underwhelmed by Ax plat concierge; they are always very nice but hardly ever helpful.

Unfortunately, I can't apply for Citi Chairman (even though I am Citigold and have a PP Elite) because as we all know that program is on hold pending relauch; and I am not at the $250K "qualification" level for Ax Cent. (I put "qualification" in air quotes because many of us often hear of exceptions granted, despite the CSR's protestations. But whatever.)

I've looked into Q and Bluefish for concierge programs, but can't seem to find overwhelmingly good reviews for either that would lead me to spend $1-5000 sight-unseen.

Any thoughts would be greatly apreciated.

Thank you,
Lewis

Friends,

I'm at a bit of a crossrodads as relates to premium credit cards. My wife and I use our Ax platinum for just about everything (and rotate through a few others for larger purchases). I love working with Ax, but am looking for a "super premium" card for two main reasons: 1) travel benefits and 2) concierge. I've been underwhelmed by Ax plat concierge; they are always very nice but hardly ever helpful.

Unfortunately, I can't apply for Citi Chairman (even though I am Citigold and have a PP Elite) because as we all know that program is on hold pending relauch; and I am not at the $250K "qualification" level for Ax Cent. (I put "qualification" in air quotes because many of us often hear of exceptions granted, despite the CSR's protestations. But whatever.)

I've looked into Q and Bluefish for concierge programs, but can't seem to find overwhelmingly good reviews for either that would lead me to spend $1-5000 sight-unseen.

Any thoughts would be greatly apreciated.

Thank you,
Lewis
I am not impressed with Bluefish and I am not familiar with Q or don't remember it, can you provide a link or more information on this one? Other than AX Plat you could try Merrill+ or Carte Blanche for their conceirge services.

I am not impressed with Bluefish and I am not familiar with Q or don't remember it, can you provide a link or more information on this one? Other than AX Plat you could try Merrill+ or Carte Blanche for their conceirge services.

Thank you for your reply - sorry, I meant http://www.quintessentially.com/ - they seem to be big in the UK but I am not convinced of their NYC presence or abilities.

Best,
Lewis

drbond what info do you have on bluefish?

i plan on getting bluefish or personal concierge international in the future.

ive started threads on this before.

i too am disappointed at the lack of information regarding them especially.

as well as details on hotel benefits from lower end ones like quintessentially (from $1500) JD ($?) and insidernyc ($?)

quintessentially's hotel benefits are certainly better than centurion / FHR at some properties, but without more details online, no real way to see if its really worth the $1500/yr.

there are also the two high end ones, mint and preferred, from $15K and $24K respectively, but i doubt i would ever be accepted, even if i would pay that.

best hotel benefits from credit card = amex plat and cent

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=564780&page=2&pp=15

there is another thread, but i cant find it. search isnt working at all today.. i get no results for anything.

quintessentially has a presence in NYC, but not one in WAS. they seem most substantial in LA though (for US).

I have known a few colleages that had bluefish and at first they wanted me to join. After about 12 months for one and 18 months for the other. They both cancelled stating that the service was the same as CB concierge. I just could not justify the money to test them under those circumstances.

they obviously were not taking full advantage of it...

access is the primary marketed benefit of bluefish.

Thank you for your thoughts. I'm actually back in NYC (had not updated my FT profile until just now) so am mostly interested in a concierge firm's efforts here.

I wrote to Quint asking for more information and got a nearly immediate response. Again, though, its hard to justify the $ outlay without hard evidence (or recommendations) of success for others. Quint's "insider" restaurant list in NYC is not impressive; it's pretty much the BRGuest chain (which can be hit or miss, in my experience) and a few others.

Bluefish is intruiguing, but their lack of a response over the past 18 hours is discouraging.

it might be the case that one simply cant get the kind of guaranteed results that one might like without having mint or preferred.

with merrill and carte blanche, do either offer real access benefits?

centurion has some.


lewdog, you could always use EOS to try Quintessentially.

either book a ticket, starting from $3K RT JFK-STN

or book a $6800 full fare, and then refund it without using it

you have access to Quintessentially from the time you pay until the date of your return.

from thread i linked >
http://travel.msn.com/Guides/article.aspx?cp-documentid=249531
Quintessentially, too, triumphed over and over. The Coldplay tickets were easy (and at $83 each, reasonable), though backstage was a no-go. Swimming at Soho House? "When would you like to go?" Rebecca asked. Bungalow 8 was a breeze, too—we were on the list, and once inside, we felt so taken care of that we didn't need the services of the club's in-house concierge. For a moment, it looked as if the table for six at 8 p.m. at the Spotted Pig wasn't going to happen. "Not likely," Rebecca muttered at first, but two days later, it was done. On arrival, though, Tim, the maître d', balked. "We don't take reservations—that was explained to the person who called," he said. "It could be 45 minutes." I went outside, oddly pleased that my concierge had failed. But through the window, I could see Tim talking on the phone, staring at us. And a moment later, he was outside. If the six of us would squeeze into a table for four, we could sit right away. Well into our meal, I asked what had changed. Was it Quintessentially? "Yes," Tim said. "They're friends of the house."

It somehow came as no surprise that the restaurant's managing partner later denied that any of this had happened, insisting that nobody ever gets preferred service, which goes to show that Quintessentially can make the impossible happen.

event prices seem better for UK residents, whether they are in UK or not, from my miami vice premier comparison.

and there isnt enough detail of hotel benefits online..

so it has its pluses and minuses.

I realize you are more interested in a professional dedicated concierge service offering premium restaurant reservations, tickets, etc. However, here are some credit card sponsored concierge services you might consider:

MBNA / BofA
www.lesconcierges.com/Customer/index.html

Merrill+
www.circles.com/customers_services_concierge.htm

Citi World MasterCard (not the same as Citi Chairman Card Personal Assistants)
www.vipdesk.com/info/products_concierge.asp

USAA American Express
www.axa-assistance-usa.com/services/concierge/

Visa Signature
www.worldaccess.com

les concierge
chairman pa
carte blanche
merrill+3 or whatever highest is

can any of those get you access to say movie premieres?

i thought merrill was different than circles?


also regarding Quintessentially, i didnt mention earlier, i read something from a US businessman saying he thought JD was better, i believe in terms of general service and restaurant reservations.

AMEX PLAT AND CENT concierges are basically the same -- they both are terrible....

thats why we are interested in other concierges.

why don't you try the Chairman PA...don't know if you need a chairman card though...

they are very good...

There is also the vertu concierge service - comes with Vertu mobile phones.

There is also the vertu concierge service - comes with Vertu mobile phones.

Indeed. Any trip reports?

Thanks,
Lewis

ive heard vertu is currently not very good. interestingly, i believe quintessentially was the concierge before the current one. vertu can be a good value though, depending on the concierge. although im not sure how long it lasts?

chairman PA has no appeal to me. personal assistants are not really the same as concierges. while they might occasionally be very helpful with finding something, im not paying $400 a year for that.

access and hotel benefits, thats what i want from a concierge

ive heard vertu is currently not very good. interestingly, i believe quintessentially was the concierge before the current one. vertu can be a good value though, depending on the concierge. although im not sure how long it lasts?

chairman PA has no appeal to me. personal assistants are not really the same as concierges. while they might occasionally be very helpful with finding something, im not paying $400 a year for that.

access and hotel benefits, thats what i want from a concierge


I don't think that Chaiorman PA charges 400/yr....

For access and hotel benefits, you should be able to flash the Black Card and they will magically appear..... :rolleyes:

VIPdesk sure looks like circles to me, which means they dont sell individual memberships. hence chairman card.

can people who dont want to pay X for Y just not post in threads discussing them?

Amex Plat for tier 1 & 2 and Centurion concierge for tier 3.


was this the case at one time?





I realize you are more interested in a professional dedicated concierge service offering premium restaurant reservations, tickets, etc. However, here are some credit card sponsored concierge services you might consider:

MBNA / BofA
www.lesconcierges.com/Customer/index.html

Merrill+
www.circles.com/customers_services_concierge.htm

Citi World MasterCard (not the same as Citi Chairman Card Personal Assistants)
www.vipdesk.com/info/products_concierge.asp

USAA American Express
www.axa-assistance-usa.com/services/concierge/

Visa Signature
www.worldaccess.com

VIPdesk sure looks like circles to me, which means they dont sell individual memberships. hence chairman card.

can people who dont want to pay X for Y just not post in threads discussing them?

1st amendment....

Amex Plat for tier 1 & 2 and Centurion concierge for tier 3.


was this the case at one time?

AmEx uses Circles for their concierge service also. Therefore, the level of concierge service for the Merrill+1 and +2 should equal the quality of the AmEx Platinum product. The Merrill+3 should equal the quality of the AmEx Centurion product.

Ive used Vertu concierge for about 18 months, they are very efficient, and provide a "good" effort. They are able to research, find goods/services, advise on travel issues, attempt to get access to special events.

I have found them a worthy addition - basically they are similar to Centurion, but without the specific programs/upgrades. I tend to use both, and have had similar results with both, but I do like the "programs" for Centurion, and fact it is "more exclusive" - though often this seems to be more in my mind than reality.

Your phonecall is answered 24/7 in either the US or England.

Cost is about $1000 USD per year, and you get a year free. They also have a VIP level, which gives you a dedicated personal concierge - this costs about $7000 USD. I havent tried this - but am considering it.

huh? you pay $1000 a year on top of the $6000 phone?

or are you saying you went directly to the concierge vertu is currently partnered with?

Quintessentially's hotel benefits don't quite seem to be worth $1500 to me.

I'll probably get JD through one of their partners.

Going to call InsiderNYC and ask about some of their stated benefits now.

Wow. Certainly not what I was expecting. They're from $6000 a year ($500 a month, 3 months to start, then month to month) That puts them between PCI/bluefish and MINT/Preferred. They list some VIP events/parties on their website, and it seems that many of the parties do not incur additional costs, as opposed to AMEX for example. BUT for the big ones, it sounds like the more you spend with them, and the farther in advance you make the request are the factors they use when getting in some of their clients. The $500/month is actually an hourly rate too. 5 hours at $100/hr . I remember MINT being $30/hr for the lengthier PA type services in addition to the annual fee. InsiderNYC views almost everything, including dinner reservations in terms of an hourly basis.

Way the Vertu Concierge works is you get one year included when you purchase the phone. following the 1st year, you can renew at either the standard or VIP level. You can also not renew, and still use the concierge for Vertu technical support.

ouch.

FYI: Chairman Card Personal Assistants utilize VIPdesk as their concierge service. It is the same for most Mastercard Concierge services, as well as teh Carte Blanche. Service level may depend on the type of affinity card you have, but not sure.

Circles is utilized by American Express and Merrill+ that I know of.

Can the standard ML+3 card holder get access to special events using the concierge? I only use them to look up things...Could they get me upgrades at hotels, or comps at casinos or something, or is that still only linked to the amount of money I lay down at that place? IE, maybe someone can tell me the best way to USE the chairman and/or ML+3 concierge's?

example for circles - amex plat wanted $2750 for miami vice LA premiere.

credit card concierges do not get hotel upgrades. amex has FHR and additional cent benefits for that.

quintessentially and some other concierges offer hotel upgrades, some of which are better than /not offered by FHR / virtuoso.