American Express Membership Rewards - Centurion Benefits and Recession

Anyone think we are going to start seeing new and better benefits with the economy in recession? I would think it would be a great way for Amex partners to bring in new premium customers in this environment...

Only two words I care about -

Starwood Platinum!!!!

Starwood Platinum!!!!!! Now that you can get Hilton Diamond with an Amex product someone at Amex should use that as leverage to get Starwood Platinum back for Centurion. Call!

Didn't SPG Platinum go away because AmEx balked at the cost SPG were quoting? Though bit of a moot point for the UK cardholders when fee has practically tripled.

Just applied and was accepted for the Hilton Surpass. I diverted most of my Cent spending to SPG but now will shift to the Hilton card as my travel plans have included a lot of Embassy Suites and Hampton Inns lately. I wish that the Membership Rewards program would transfer into AA and that we got either SPG PLat or HH Diamond with the Cent then I could use one card for everything.

Well, I just sent an email (actually 8 hours ago) to my Centurion Travel Consultant suggesting that they look again at Starwood Platinum. Mentioned that I am getting the Surpass card and that I will soon be Hilton Diamond.

Still waiting to hear a response! But let's blanket them with requests!

Well, I just sent an email (actually 8 hours ago) to my Centurion Travel Consultant suggesting that they look again at Starwood Platinum. Mentioned that I am getting the Surpass card and that I will soon be Hilton Diamond.

Still waiting to hear a response! But let's blanket them with requests!

ahhh...sorry you are with out a doubt contacting the wrong department and people. At minimum call and press zero and talk with a centurion card customer service agent since the travel agent dept has absolutley zero do do with this benifit. If you know Mark B. speak with him

Question I am wondering about is how many plan to renew their CENT card ? I am on the fence on this one, for this year. Weak economy or not, the core value proposition of the CENT card has to be logical and have value.

For me - CENT perks just don't seem as attractive as they have/had been, and now AFAIK, we don't get a single top-tier status w/ hotel or airline (or at least none I care about), which means one by one the most-attractive perks have gone away. Indirectly, this seems to imply either a) AMEX is not willing to ante-up for their CENT cardholders, yet feeling it safe to jack up the annual fee to ridiculous amount, or b) partners have, one by one, not felt the kick from CENT was worth the investmenr or maybe they were not willing to ante up benefits to CENT cardholders, or c) some combination thereof.

Bottom line, though, is chronic degradation of perks and benefits while the annual fee went through the roof. Good for AMEX, back for CENTURION cardholders.

So, what's the consensus for this year ? Re-up or not ?

Bottom line, though, is chronic degradation of perks and benefits while the annual fee went through the roof. Good for AMEX, back for CENTURION cardholders.

So, what's the consensus for this year ? Re-up or not ?

I think it is a personal decision based on how much you travel and on what airline and what the status does for you and how well it worked for you... if you already bit the bullet for the $5k initiation, it makes it hard to just walk away (probably the idea). Last year when flying US a lot, I got upgraded 90% of the time, so that was worth it... this year I am staying closer to home and the benefits are less appealing.

I would like to see Centurion members be granted Delta Platinum, now that Delta is going to officially offer a fourth tier.

Susan

Question I am wondering about is how many plan to renew their CENT card ? I am on the fence on this one, for this year. Weak economy or not, the core value proposition of the CENT card has to be logical and have value.

(snip)

Bottom line, though, is chronic degradation of perks and benefits while the annual fee went through the roof. Good for AMEX, back for CENTURION cardholders.

So, what's the consensus for this year ? Re-up or not ?

I am leaning heavily to downgrading to Plat. If the Starwood card got you into the airport lounges I'd probably even go there....

Starwood Platinum!!!!!! Now that you can get Hilton Diamond with an Amex product someone at Amex should use that as leverage to get Starwood Platinum back for Centurion. Call!

Which Amex product gives Diamond Hilton now then?

Which Amex product gives Diamond Hilton now then?

The Hilton HHonors Surpass card (http://www201.americanexpress.com/getthecard/learn-about/Hilton-HHonors-Surpass) does once you hit $40K in annual spend.

Starwood Platinum

Delta Platinum

$2500 is a lot for a card; those two upgrades would seal the deal.