American Express Membership Rewards - Business Centurion 2009 benefits: only minor changes from 2008

I received my 2009 benefits guide and beautiful FHR catalog. (Glad to see the Taj Mahal hotel is no longer on the cover).

Staying the same:

Airline status
Hotel status
Car rental status
Most other benefits (notable loss of some of the 2:1 offers on some MO hotels as discussed in other threads).

New:

Triple MR for Limos booked through CTS
Option of free upgrade to F on qualifying Swiss Air business-class tickets (business Centurion only)
Promise of new "features to debut in 2009" to International Airline Program, including "new airline partners" & "lower fares on many qualifying tickets".
Minor changes to property-specific FHR upgrades and centurion-specific amenities.


The program guide includes pricing for some of the Centurion Villas. For exmaple, Villa Pignano in Volterra, Italy for $42K - $51K per week (17 BR; up to 34 guests).

LX bennie is personal as well as Biz.

odd, personal plat has had triple points for limo.

what upgrade changes were there? still confirmed for aman/MO/OE/pen/RC?

"lower fares" i wonder what that means, not just full fare? that would certainly be nice on many airlines. will be interesting to see if thats for plat too, since you said the LX upgrade (full fare or "lower"?) is cent.

what upgrade changes were there? still confirmed for aman/MO/OE/pen/RC?

Still the same except for the new MO exceptions listed in the other thread.

any idea what OP meant?


Staying the same:
Most other benefits (notable loss of some of the 2:1 offers on some MO hotels as discussed in other threads).

New:
Minor changes to property-specific FHR upgrades and centurion-specific amenities.


perhaps they were checking upgrades at a property to learn they have gone higher/lower than last year.

i see aer lingus is a new IAP.

so these things are no longer online? :td:

i guess i might call to find out about "lower fares"...

Those villas were in my plat guide also