This issue has sort of been discussed on FT late last year and the beginning of this year, when the Centurion Card was introduced to Canada (eg:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...ck-card-2.html).

I am now asking the question in a survey (esp to Aeroplan SEs and Es) - who have obtained it and what benefits has one used - esp for the first year, to justify the introductory $5000 fee, plus the annual $2500 fee.

If one wants to card for airline travel benefits, the major one is access to all Star Alliance Gold lounges - which is covered by SE or E status. If one wants the card for the companion ticket in business class on certain airlines, then the AMEX Platinum card covers all of that, except for AC's companion ticket benefit. Even then, all of these airlines generally require that the purchased ticket be full fare business class - which often is not a benefit, if one can get 2 for 1 discounted business class for the price of 1 full fare business class (note - sometimes AMEX has a promotion where Centurion card members can get a companion ticket on AC if the purchased ticket is in "C" class - but D or Z class does not count). If one wants to get tier status with AC, forget it - as per the AMEX forum, US Centurion members get mid tier status with Delta Airlines, CO airlines, and US Air.

I ask the question because I have been invited to become a member, but I can not see how the large fees at the present time, justify the other benefits (not discussed above) over and above what SE/E status and the AMEX Platinum (and in my case, also the AMEX Aeroplus Platinum) card can give. I understand that new benefits may be introduced at the beginning of 2010 - let us wait and see, if they may justify the fees.

One can still argue whether it is worth it, even if one is not an AC frequent flyer, but if one does have the AMEX Platinum card and/or the AMEX Aeroplus Platinum card.