American Express Membership Rewards - Uk Centurion - Jumeriah Group, in case you missed it...

From the recent 10th Anniversary Centurion Magazine:

- Buy 3 nights, get 1 free at the Burj Al-Arab
with buffet breakfast, $250 resort credit and roundtrip airport transfers

- Buy 2 nights, get 1 free at the Dubai resort hotels
with room upgrade at check-in (if avail), buffet breakfast and $250 resort credit

- buy 1 night, get 1 night free at London, Dubai and NY city hotels
with room upgrade at check-in (if avail) and buffet breakfast

The last 2 aren't too shabby, they can be used by anyone on the account (not limited to the basic and main supp like MO now). I got quotes for NY and London earlier for Nov, and London worked out from £99/night and NYC $234 (though the Junior suite for $329 looked very good).

But obviously to balance all this up, marketing had to overhype in another area - flip to the back of the magazine, and there is a piece on the new partner Ethiad. This piece had me laughing hysterically:

'By booking your Ethiad flights through your Centurion Concierge, you'll also get superior travel benefits, such as complimentary lounge access when booking a Pearl Business or Diamond First Class ticket.'

Man, the marketing and negotation team must have really pushed Ethiad hard to get that benefit out of them.

I must admit, the "complimentary lounge benefit" caused an eyebrow to raise. I wonder how much the lounge access normally costs when flying up front on Etihad? !!!

At least in this issue they are actively promoting the metal card now - in the covering letter and the editorial. From memory previous issues had small, murky references.

The Dubai resort offer is attractive. I use Emirates frequently and hardly ever stop over in Dubai but have been thinking of using miles to get my other half out there to meet me on my way back, next trip.

[I]'By booking your Ethiad flights through your Centurion Concierge, you'll also get superior travel benefits, such as complimentary lounge access when booking a Pearl Business or Diamond First Class ticket.


Plus if you book economy you get "luxury" coach travel to DXB, same as every other economy passenger then :rolleyes:

- buy 1 night, get 1 night free at London, Dubai and NY city hotels
with room upgrade at check-in (if avail) and buffet breakfast

The last 2 aren't too shabby, they can be used by anyone on the account (not limited to the basic and main supp like MO now). I got quotes for NY and London earlier for Nov, and London worked out from £99/night and NYC $234 (though the Junior suite for $329 looked very good).



Which London location would you recommend?

Susan

Sorry Susan, I can't help there as I haven't stopped at either.

Which London location would you recommend?

Susan

The hotels are 30 seconds apart. Carlton Tower is a big hulk of a 1960's building (was a Hyatt originally), the Lowndes is a small boutique. Lowndes was fully refurbished last year and was shut for a long time whilst the work was being done. The CT is as good as any mid-range 5-star in London and the Rib Room restaurant is very well regarded although ludicrously expensive. No shortage of other restaurants nearby though.

You can cross-charge and, more importantly, if you're in the Lowndes you can use the outstanding pool and spa facilities at the Carlton Tower. We put some relatives in the Lowndes last year and they were happy but I didn't see the room myself. It's a far smaller place than the CT.

Both hotels are just behind Harvey Nichols and about 5 minutes walk from Harrods (and indeed my house!).

These offers are also for Plats, I think, as they are showing on the americanexpress.co.uk/platinum site.

The hotels are 30 seconds apart. Carlton Tower is a big hulk of a 1960's building (was a Hyatt originally), the Lowndes is a small boutique. Lowndes was fully refurbished last year and was shut for a long time whilst the work was being done. The CT is as good as any mid-range 5-star in London and the Rib Room restaurant is very well regarded although ludicrously expensive. No shortage of other restaurants nearby though.

You can cross-charge and, more importantly, if you're in the Lowndes you can use the outstanding pool and spa facilities at the Carlton Tower. We put some relatives in the Lowndes last year and they were happy but I didn't see the room myself. It's a far smaller place than the CT.

Both hotels are just behind Harvey Nichols and about 5 minutes walk from Harrods (and indeed my house!).

These offers are also for Plats, I think, as they are showing on the americanexpress.co.uk/platinum site.

Haven't stayed at either but the location is unbeatable for shopping and eating - if you do decide to go ahead I'm sure we'd be interested in how you are treated as a J Gold holder i.e. do you get a car from Heathorw and back, upgrade etc etc

As a Jumeirah Gold card holder ( I think it is called Sirus) , that you now get as a Centurion card holder , you get lounge access at all hotels with a lounge..

As a Jumeirah Gold card holder ( I think it is called Sirus) , that you now get as a Centurion card holder , you get lounge access at all hotels with a lounge..

Is Jumeirah Gold only a benefit of the UK Centurion? I hold a U.S. Centurion and don't believe it is included.

Susan

Is Jumeirah Gold only a benefit of the UK Centurion? I hold a U.S. Centurion and don't believe it is included.

Susan

It is new benfit for Centurion in the UK. I would check with Centuri CS the USA to see if it is offered there.

Has anyone used lounge benefit, reading T&C's I dont need to be staying at the hotel to use them? Interested in anyones use of Sirus Gold in Dubai and wither its worth a Dec/Jan trip.

Club Executive Lounge Access
This amenity is valid for Gold Members plus one guest. Access is to the Club Executive Lounge only, pool and beach access is not included. Lounge access is exclusive of all alcoholic beverages, which may be purchased at standard hotel prices. Members and guests are not required to stay at the hotel to use this amenity. Jumeirah reserves the right to refuse entry if proper attire is in question. This benefit is not valid at Burj Al Arab or Jumeirah Essex House.

I was thinking of doing the same thing Xmas/New Year, but availabilty very poor. However, I have stayed in Essex House in Ny as a Gold and can recommend that (2 nights for 1 x2, plus upgraded). Very nice breakfast

I was thinking of doing the same thing Xmas/New Year, but availabilty very poor. However, I have stayed in Essex House in Ny as a Gold and can recommend that (2 nights for 1 x2, plus upgraded). Very nice breakfast

As a Gold member did you get airport transfers too? Do you get to use a lounge at the hotel?

As a Gold member did you get airport transfers too? Do you get to use a lounge at the hotel?

As glbremner said, the lounge doesn't apply to Essex House.

I think you will find that they are stating the lounge benefit to set expectations, as generally business and first also receive limo transfers from Etihad in certain ports. In this case I presume the limousine transfers are handled by centurion and not Etihad.

I can tell you that at this stage the Platinum and Centurion fares benefits are exactly the same, however on my last trip grabbed a first class fare SYD-CAI for $7,800 AUD when the Etihad website was quoting around $11,000. I have been told by someone at Etihad themselves that the Platinum/Centurion fares are the best available anywhere.

As a Gold member did you get airport transfers too? Do you get to use a lounge at the hotel?

At Essex House you need to be staying 4 nights to get the transfer - as we technically had 2 bookings (and thus 2 free nights) I didn't request the limo service, and didnt really want to draw undue attention to the deal we were getting. There isnt a longe in Essex house - these tend to be quite unusual in the US (in my limited experience). There is a business centre, but being Gold there doesn't get you anything. The check in staff were quite surprised by the Gold status - I think this hotel has only been in Jumeirah a short while, and I dont think they have many status people through

I have been told by someone at Etihad themselves that the Platinum/Centurion fares are the best available anywhere.

Seems hard to believe when, for example, Etihad was selling Brussels to Sydney in J for just £1,500 recently as a web-exclusive.

Seems hard to believe when, for example, Etihad was selling Brussels to Sydney in J for just £1,500 recently as a web-exclusive.

Well I can only quote ex Sydney. My source is impeccable to say the least as I know them extremely well. Etihad are trying to secure Platinum/Centurion business, so much so that of all the passengers in First Class apart from the 2 of us, there was 1 Etihad rep and 8 Platinum/Centurion reps being introduced to the airline's product.