American Express Membership Rewards - Centurion MO Benefit Changes

Seems like the contract has been renegotiated for 2009, and some more hotels have followed the MO in NY and LON.

So for:

MO Boston
MO Miami
MO Hong Kong
MO London
MO New York

there is no free night, you get $200 spa/food & beverage credit for 2 paid nights or more.

Bit poor when you make booking (MO Boston), and then they call you back saying that the hotel and AmEx had made a mistake and the free night didn't apply but they'd be happy to help book another hotel. Gee, thanks.

In Hong Kong, the benefit seems to still be in effect at the Landmark, at least they haven't contacted me about a January booking like you were.

In Hong Kong, the benefit seems to still be in effect at the Landmark, at least they haven't contacted me about a January booking like you were.

If you made the booking before December 1st, it was made pending the new contract. You need to call and verify that you get the free night.

HK is an annoying loss, as is Boston.

I just asked and was assured that both Mandarin Oriental hotels (but not the Excelsior) in Hong Kong still offer the free night benefit in 2009. Strange.

Is this part of the exciting new changes that are coming as a result of the UK Centurion upgrade???

Very annoying if it applies to HK.

I was also told on the phone that the benefit is one MO free night per year per cardmember (not per hotel as I thought)

Is this part of the exciting new changes that are coming as a result of the UK Centurion upgrade???

Very annoying if it applies to HK.

I was also told on the phone that the benefit is one MO free night per year per cardmember (not per hotel as I thought)

The published 2008 benefit was one free night per year, per property, per member (with the NY and London exclusions) with a minimum two night stay. It was an excellent benefit. I haven't had a chance to call Centurion to verify the 2009 changes myself.

I've been thinking about this and it actually winds me up a bit - we just renewed our card on the basis of the old MO benefits, and now they go and change them (and they don't tell me - I have to learn about it on here)!

During a call the other day, the Amex rep did say changes were coming, but she would NOT tell me what changes (apparently I have to wait to receive the mailing, and no one knows when). I felt like I was being talked to like a child to be honest.

Rant over

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9530/4.7.0.75 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

I've been thinking about this and it actually winds me up a bit - we just renewed our card on the basis of the old MO benefits, and now they go and change them (and they don't tell me - I have to learn about it on here)!

During a call the other day, the Amex rep did say changes were coming, but she would NOT tell me what changes (apparently I have to wait to receive the mailing, and no one knows when). I felt like I was being talked to like a child to be honest.

Rant over

You can always cancel and get your fee prorated. That's actually something AMEX does reasonably well.

We just returned last month from a great stay at the MO Prague and vowed to stay at more MOs in the next year.

I'm sad to hear that Cent is diluting this great benefit.

I was actually hoping for additions not "take-aways" :(

i can confirm that the privilege is gone for the following:

MO Boston
MO Hong kong (Old one, benefit STILL APPLIES for Landmark MO)

MO will lose a significant amount of my business because of this.

Is this part of the exciting new changes that are coming as a result of the UK Centurion upgrade???

Very annoying if it applies to HK.

I was also told on the phone that the benefit is one MO free night per year per cardmember (not per hotel as I thought)

It is definately, 100% one free night per main Black cardholder per hotel per calender year. This offer is for the main cardholder and 1st black supplementary.

The hotels it does not apply to are:-

MO Boston
MO Miami
MO Hong Kong (main and Excelsior, but is applicable at the Landmark)
MO London
MO New York

These offer a $200 spa credit instead. This still leaves 16 hotels to chose from and another 17 being opened in the next 3 years

In Hong Kong, the benefit seems to still be in effect at the Landmark, at least they haven't contacted me about a January booking like you were.

The Landmark still offer 1 night free so you should be fine but I would double check it has been booked with the correct contract code

Quite annoying.

It is definately, 100% one free night per main Black cardholder per hotel per calender year. This offer is for the main cardholder and 1st black supplementary.

The hotels it does not apply to are:-

MO Boston
MO Miami
MO Hong Kong (main and Excelsior, but is applicable at the Landmark)
MO London
MO New York

These offer a $200 spa credit instead. This still leaves 16 hotels to chose from and another 17 being opened in the next 3 years

this is a pity. losing the mo hkg is a big hit for me. justifying the annual fee for my centurion card is like suffering a death by a thousand cuts. little by little they have continuously eroded the benefits and at the same time dramatically raised the annual fee.

it appears to me that amex really are no longer even vaguely attempting to offer value to justify the exorbitant fee, merely giving us an egregiously priced piece of wallet jewelry.

I'd personally choose the Landmark MO over the Hong Kong MO anyway - and the Landmark still seems to be in the proper program - none of this $200 credit nonsense.

All very disappointing though as its one of the few decent benefits of Centurion membership - have just completed a great stay at the Singapore MO today. By the time we go back in a few days to use a second free night (using my primary supp card) the 2 free nights won't be far off the current annual fee for UK Centurion (well until they defy inflation by a stratospheric magnitude).

All very disappointing though as its one of the few decent benefits of Centurion membership - have just completed a great stay at the Singapore MO today. By the time we go back in a few days to use a second free night (using my primary supp card) the 2 free nights won't be far off the current annual fee for UK Centurion (well until they defy inflation by a stratospheric magnitude).

Yep, I covered my annual fee for 2007 with a single stay at the MO London, not to mention several other MO stays. Still, it's not all gloom and doom. As long as 2010 doesn't see more reductions! I will miss the MO HKG, but this will 'force' me to try out the Landmark. ;)

I was also told on the phone that the benefit is one MO free night per year per cardmember (not per hotel as I thought)

It is per hotel per year. I stayed in 7 MOs in 2008 with this benefit and will miss it in these hotels.

However, I thought the Landmark was miles better than the old MO HK.

Seems like the contract has been renegotiated for 2009, and some more hotels have followed the MO in NY and LON.

So for:

MO Boston
MO Miami
MO Hong Kong
MO London
MO New York

there is no free night, you get $200 spa/food & beverage credit for 2 paid nights or more.

i was checking my account online and looked at the "enhanced" australian centurion hotel benefits for mandarin oriental on the australian site. in an apparent attempt to out-do the other countries' benefits degradation, in addition to the hotels listed above, we australian centurions have lost the free night benefit at the mo las vegas.

i was checking my account online and looked at the "enhanced" australian centurion hotel benefits for mandarin oriental on the australian site. in an apparent attempt to out-do the other countries' benefits degradation, in addition to the hotels listed above, we australian centurions have lost the free night benefit at the mo las vegas.

Hmm, didn't even know there was an MO in Vegas. Maybe since it's not open yet they haven't added it to the US list as being excluded.

Just looked through the photos of the new MO Vegas.

I have a feeling that this hotel will be excluded for US as well.

It's a shame bc the hotel looks gorgeous. We would definitely use our bene
there every year.

I doubt MO will loose a lot of business because we do not get one free night in one year. MO is still MO and people will still live here for the service, rooms etc....


MO will lose a significant amount of my business because of this.

I doubt MO will loose a lot of business because we do not get one free night in one year. MO is still MO and people will still live here for the service, rooms etc....

In all fairness, I think he said that they would lose his business. I think that Centurion cardholders are a lot more price/value sensitive than some think. As an example, of the Centurion cardholders I know, I think only one of them has ever even purchased an F/J ticket.

Maybe another Centurion knows the answer to this:

I just got off the phone with CTS and inquired about the Mandarin Oriental in Munich. My itinerary was to stay for a total of two nights. When I asked about the free night, I was told I would have pay for two nights in order to receive a free night. I thought the benefit was one free night with one night paid.

Maybe another Centurion knows the answer to this:

I just got off the phone with CTS and inquired about the Mandarin Oriental in Munich. My itinerary was to stay for a total of two nights. When I asked about the free night, I was told I would have pay for two nights in order to receive a free night. I thought the benefit was one free night with one night paid.

They're wrong. One tried to say that to me yesterday, I just interrupted him with an "um...no," he checked, and all was fixed.

A little OT but I received a mailer from AMEX yesterday, and currently, MO are offering a stay two night get one night free deal at many of their properties. All you need to do is settle the bill with ANY Amex card.


Have a look


www.mandarinoriental.com/amx

A little OT but I received a mailer from AMEX yesterday, and currently, MO are offering a stay two night get one night free deal at many of their properties. All you need to do is settle the bill with ANY Amex card.


Have a look


www.mandarinoriental.com/amx

it looks like all of the properties that have been removed from the centurion free night benefit are on this list. i imagine it is because of the slowing economy, but i find it incredibly ironic how the free mo nights are too precious to be included as a centurion benefit but yet they are made available to anyone with any type of amex (albeit only for only the first quarter).

A little OT but I received a mailer from AMEX yesterday, and currently, MO are offering a stay two night get one night free deal at many of their properties. All you need to do is settle the bill with ANY Amex card.


Have a look


www.mandarinoriental.com/amx

In theory therefore 5 nights for the price of 3 or 7 for the price of 4 if using centurion benefit/plus supp centurion.

I have tried several combinations of dates at the Boston MO in Feb and early March, but keep getting the message 'We apologize. Your requested rate is not available on the dates you selected. However, the following rooms are available:

Anyone else had any luck at any of the previously excluded MO's?

Nick

I tried to book a two night stay with the free night benefit at the MO Bangkok today and was told that the free-night isn't part of the deal anymore at this property. There is a US$ 200 Spa credit instead...

Can anyone confirm this (French CTS is often wrong)?

I tried to book a two night stay with the free night benefit at the MO Bangkok today and was told that the free-night isn't part of the deal anymore at this property. There is a US$ 200 Spa credit instead...

Can anyone confirm this (French CTS is often wrong)?

I can confirm it is wrong in the case of a US Centurion card. I stayed a few weeks ago and got a free night.

Thank you for your quick answer! I'm gonna contact the French CTS ASAP and update this thread according to their answer!

Problem soved. French CTS finally agreed that the free night benefit applies to the MO BKK!

Thank god for Flyertalk!!!

Thank you stimpy!

Glad I could help. Enjoy the trip and if you are there on Tuesday, be sure to attend the managers cocktail. ^

Glad I could help. Enjoy the trip and if you are there on Tuesday, be sure to attend the managers cocktail. ^

I'll probably be at the MO Chiang Mai on that day of my trip! :)

[QUOTE=fredsxb;11284825]Problem soved. French CTS finally agreed that
Thank god for Flyertalk!!!
[QUOTE]


This place really does rule.




Do we have a confirmation on whether the Las Vegas MO will have/not have the Centurion benefit?

i can confirm that the privilege is gone for the following:

MO Boston
MO Hong kong (Old one, benefit STILL APPLIES for Landmark MO)

I just successfully booked two two-night stays in Hong Kong. One at the MO Hong Kong and the other one at the Landmark MO Hong Kong using the complimentary free night privilege. The agent even said that the once a year per hotel rule doesn't apply if I want both stays to be at the same properties.

I am a Canadian Centurion member. I don't know if that makes a difference.