Chase Sapphire Reserve - VISA Infinite Concierge
Oct 17, 2016, 2:43 am
#16
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LIS/AUS
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Gold, Marriott Titanium, TAP Gold
Posts: 263
I've also had horrible experiences with Sapphire Reserve concierge. Most recently, I called to make a lunch reservation at a restaurant in Berlin, and they told me it would take 48 hours. It ended up taking over 3 days (they still didn't complete my request), so I went on the website & wound up booking something on Opentable myself.
Oct 17, 2016, 1:16 pm
#17
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 506
I have both Amex Platinum and the new Chase Sapphire Reserve card. Based on my data point of one, Amex's concierge service is substantially better (and more effective) than the Chase's Visa Infinite one. I wonder if it is consistent with what everybody else experiences with the new Reserve card.
Here's the story. For an upcoming trip, I wanted to make a reservation for a high-end restaurant in Japan, and I emailed the Visa Infinite concierge first.
The concierge service got back to me very quickly, but asked me to fill in a PDF form before they could actually call the restaurant. The form also indicated they would not help with reservations on the day of international flight arrival, which I found pretty weird: if I'm willing to risk paying cancellation fees, why wouldn't you let me?
Here's the first reply from Chase's Visa Infinite concierge. The CCA form is attached to this thread.
I then reached out to Amex's concierge service, and the response was much easier to follow (no need to sign a PDF form):
After I replied to this email, Amex concierge confirmed the restaurant reservation within 48 hours.
Here's the story. For an upcoming trip, I wanted to make a reservation for a high-end restaurant in Japan, and I emailed the Visa Infinite concierge first.
The concierge service got back to me very quickly, but asked me to fill in a PDF form before they could actually call the restaurant. The form also indicated they would not help with reservations on the day of international flight arrival, which I found pretty weird: if I'm willing to risk paying cancellation fees, why wouldn't you let me?
Here's the first reply from Chase's Visa Infinite concierge. The CCA form is attached to this thread.
I then reached out to Amex's concierge service, and the response was much easier to follow (no need to sign a PDF form):
After I replied to this email, Amex concierge confirmed the restaurant reservation within 48 hours.
Oct 17, 2016, 3:29 pm
#18
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SFO/SJC/YYZ/HKG
Programs: AC E
Posts: 112
They did say "Japanese restaurant specialists", so I'm assuming yes.
Oct 17, 2016, 3:45 pm
#19
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 278
Oct 17, 2016, 11:45 pm
#20
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SFO/SJC/YYZ/HKG
Programs: AC E
Posts: 112
Oct 18, 2016, 9:18 am
#21
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: TPA
Programs: United - PG, Marriott Silver
Posts: 1,625
Two calls to the concierge, both in reference to a dining reservation at Walt Disney World in November (not otherwise available).
First call to provide the information. Second call to follow-up because a response was not provided within the 24 hour time frame given. They did not get the reservation.
Based on my experience with the perks thus far I will simply consider this card one where I am paying $150 per year for 3x points on dining/travel and leave it at that.
First call to provide the information. Second call to follow-up because a response was not provided within the 24 hour time frame given. They did not get the reservation.
Based on my experience with the perks thus far I will simply consider this card one where I am paying $150 per year for 3x points on dining/travel and leave it at that.
Oct 18, 2016, 6:59 pm
#22
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 506
I'm going off topic here, but most people that have been to Jiro told me the other higher rated sushi restaurants provide better experience: https://tabelog.com/en/tokyo/rstLst/...=0&SrtT=rt&PG=
With that said I've heard that AMEX concierge can't get it to work. From the friends who have gone, it's either through a high end hotel or because they themselves have friends in Japan.
Even reservation services like GoVoyagin will only get you his Roppongi Hills location which is for foreigners. It doesn't seem CSR Concierge service will even get anywhere close to that, but it would be nice if they can at least get AMEX level service. I get that this is a mass market card, but if we're paying $450 they should really give us more. Or maybe we should view it as a $150 card because almost anyone can get that $300 travel credit.
Oct 21, 2016, 8:28 am
#23
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 62
Heh but nothing beats a social media showing me next to Jiro himself
With that said I've heard that AMEX concierge can't get it to work. From the friends who have gone, it's either through a high end hotel or because they themselves have friends in Japan.
Even reservation services like GoVoyagin will only get you his Roppongi Hills location which is for foreigners. It doesn't seem CSR Concierge service will even get anywhere close to that, but it would be nice if they can at least get AMEX level service. I get that this is a mass market card, but if we're paying $450 they should really give us more. Or maybe we should view it as a $150 card because almost anyone can get that $300 travel credit.
With that said I've heard that AMEX concierge can't get it to work. From the friends who have gone, it's either through a high end hotel or because they themselves have friends in Japan.
Even reservation services like GoVoyagin will only get you his Roppongi Hills location which is for foreigners. It doesn't seem CSR Concierge service will even get anywhere close to that, but it would be nice if they can at least get AMEX level service. I get that this is a mass market card, but if we're paying $450 they should really give us more. Or maybe we should view it as a $150 card because almost anyone can get that $300 travel credit.
Oct 21, 2016, 8:52 am
#24
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 184
Two calls to the concierge, both in reference to a dining reservation at Walt Disney World in November (not otherwise available).
First call to provide the information. Second call to follow-up because a response was not provided within the 24 hour time frame given. They did not get the reservation.
Based on my experience with the perks thus far I will simply consider this card one where I am paying $150 per year for 3x points on dining/travel and leave it at that.
First call to provide the information. Second call to follow-up because a response was not provided within the 24 hour time frame given. They did not get the reservation.
Based on my experience with the perks thus far I will simply consider this card one where I am paying $150 per year for 3x points on dining/travel and leave it at that.
Oct 21, 2016, 11:03 am
#25
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: TPA
Programs: United - PG, Marriott Silver
Posts: 1,625
Oct 21, 2016, 3:42 pm
#26
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 65
Two calls to the concierge, both in reference to a dining reservation at Walt Disney World in November (not otherwise available).
First call to provide the information. Second call to follow-up because a response was not provided within the 24 hour time frame given. They did not get the reservation.
Based on my experience with the perks thus far I will simply consider this card one where I am paying $150 per year for 3x points on dining/travel and leave it at that.
First call to provide the information. Second call to follow-up because a response was not provided within the 24 hour time frame given. They did not get the reservation.
Based on my experience with the perks thus far I will simply consider this card one where I am paying $150 per year for 3x points on dining/travel and leave it at that.
I'll just mention 1 for now. If you are staying on-property in a deluxe, the concierge at your hotel has the greatest ability to create a reservation which is otherwise impossible.
Oct 21, 2016, 5:02 pm
#27
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: FL
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, IC Plat Amb, HH Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,299
I know this is OT and you may already know this, but if you need ideas for getting reservations at Disney, let me know.
I'll just mention 1 for now. If you are staying on-property in a deluxe, the concierge at your hotel has the greatest ability to create a reservation which is otherwise impossible.
I'll just mention 1 for now. If you are staying on-property in a deluxe, the concierge at your hotel has the greatest ability to create a reservation which is otherwise impossible.
^ Thanks in advance!
Oct 21, 2016, 8:01 pm
#28
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 65
When are you going, and what restaurant do you want?
Good luck.
- If you are 6 months out or less from the day you need the reservation, you call 407-939-3463 and they will help you book the reservation
- If you are staying on property, you can make reservations at 6 months + 10 days, so you could call at 6 months and do reservations for your entire trip, rather than calling day by day. So people staying on property get a slight advantage.
- You can also go to https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/di...tions-accepted Here you can see the menus and make reservations yourself.
- If you try the above and can't get into the restaurant you want, I suggest making a backup reservation somewhere else - then stalk the disney site (or call) once a day to see if there has been a cancellation at your first choice. People cancel all the time. But be aware that many people will make reservations at 6 months and then not think about it again until they are in Orlando.
- People who make reservations must leave a credit card in case they are a no-show. They can cancel up to midnight the night before the reservation to avoid being charged. This means that a restaurant might be totally full, but then people's plans change and things open up, so you want to stalk the site, or call, 3 days before, 2 days before, 1 day before, even the day of. Disney sends an email reminder to everybody, so that generates a lot of cancellations.
- If you want to try Disney's 5 star restaurant, Victoria and Alberts, call them directly at (407) 939-3862.
- For a hard to get reservation like Be Our Guest at Magic Kingdom, some people have had success showing up early (like 11:15 for the lunch seating), and asking if there are any tables available. I have seen several people get in this way, but they might have to wait a few minutes. The cast members at the greeting stand have some discretion here. I am not sure if this would work at the dinner seating.
- Being flexible on times helps. Can you come at 5:15? Can you come at 9:30? The 7PM times fill up first.
- There is a Board where people post about Disney, much like here they post about cards, miles, and points.There are threads there where people post if they are cancelling a reservation, so if you are quick, you can snag it. Here is a link to the restaurant section of DisBoards. Click on the Disney Dining Reservations sub forum to see the cancelled ADR (Advanced Dining Reservation) threads. http://www.disboards.com/forums/disney-restaurants.14/
Good luck.
Last edited by Appleman; Oct 21, 2016 at 8:25 pm Reason: Adding link to #9
Oct 24, 2016, 11:38 am
#29
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: whatever comes with CCs
Posts: 1,082
Made my first call to visa infinite concierge for the reserve card. It took so long just to get all my details to them. If your street address or city is a difficult name, you have to spell it out and it took forever. I feel like they intentionally waste five minutes at the beginning of the call so that people don't use this service. Let's see if they keep it on file for future calls.
We also have the amex plat/citi prestige and ritz card. Not sure which concierge to use. The experience with amex platinum was disappointing. I requested to find a restaurant with vegetarian options but instead they sent descriptions highlighting steak and fresh seafood.
We also have the amex plat/citi prestige and ritz card. Not sure which concierge to use. The experience with amex platinum was disappointing. I requested to find a restaurant with vegetarian options but instead they sent descriptions highlighting steak and fresh seafood.
Oct 24, 2016, 12:27 pm
#30
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,881