Originally Posted by
stimpy
Yes the value of the card as you present it depends on the perspective of the person evaluating. There are many stories over the years of special treatment with the Centurion cards, but that mostly happens at high end businesses. Not at Sheraton nor Walmart. I'll also say that I've had much better treatment overseas than in the US when people see the card (with the exception of Vegas casino bosses who give laser focus when they see a Centurion card) Even in places you'd least expect it. For instance in a mostly residential neighborhood of Tokyo, far from the popular tourist areas. Or a hotel in Buenos Aires, etc.
Every year in these threads there are people who say it has no value. And for these people they are correct. But for others there is real value. For me the card has paid for itself for over 20 years now.
it is funny you mentioned sheraton. I recently called centurion and asked them to book sheraton brooklyn, and they also made a call for me. I was treated very well. They knew exactly when i will get there, they asked me by name and once confirmed they told me they have upgraded me to a suite, i booked the standard room. I was upgraded to a one bedroom suite.
I really think if you want to get maximum value out of centurion, you have to do little work. I think so many of us spend time here talking and discussing but not actually speaking to our centurion reps and other people who are there just to help us.
In a recent vacation, i used everything centurion provided me. First i booked with amex travel, used delta platinum status and was upgraded to delta one for me and for my companion, then i was given a discount with hertz platinum status and i was upgraded from mid size car to a suv and was provided some free items that i didn't have to pay for. Once i arrived at waldorf astoria, i was given an upgrade because of my diamond status with hilton, but i showed them my centurion card and asked them if they can do something better. They said they have a great relationship with amex cent ( because it is part of their resort and hotel ) and he upgraded me to a one bedroom suite, i was also given late check out ( this booking was not through amex centurion).
I have made some videos about my experience as a centurion member and in one video i talk about how i was treated in Lexus service department. I been to the same exact place many times, but when i put my centurion card on the table, everything changed. i was treated very well to say the least.
If i have to estimate, the upgrades, and other things that i have used so far is worth more than 10 k. I had the card for only couple of months.
Now i do travel a lot, for vacation, for business, meeting friends and family, i do stay in a lot of hotels, i do use lounges, i do buy a lot of luxury items and i think centurion is made for me. It gives me so much value that i won't cancel it anytime soon.