Speaking to a restaurant manager at one of the restaurants in Amex's either fine dining or hot plates (can't remember or discern the difference between these two programs). I asked if he really kept a table reserved each day for Amex and he laughed. When they call, if he's got a table available, they book it, and if the restaurant is full, no table. On top of that, with Amex booking, if you don't go, I think you get charged something like $15/person, which wouldn't happen if booked directly at the restaurant. Is this just an isolated case I wonder?

Similarly, I just received that marketing ploy that comes with the bill, and it lists limited packages available for Rock-n-roll fantasy camp. Just out of curiosity, go to the promoters website, and they are selling the same packages at the same price. Maybe they've reserved a few packages for their members, but it seems like the same problem with restaurants. By saying there is no more availability, who is to know if there was any to begin with? Its not like with fine dining you can know who already got the Amex table du jour.