Originally Posted by bxwatso
I don't really think that Amex is doing this intentionally, though. When Centurion was launched, the travel industry was going through a downturn, and I suspect that Amex got all these perks for nearly free from providers who wanted to court affluent consumers. Now that the travel sector is doing much better, the partners are dropping out. Nobody needs Amex to get booking rates up right now.
It's just a theory, but it avoids the highly specious idea that Amex has a grand plan to screw everybody.
bxwatso, great insight...I had not considered that AMEX is getting shaken-down by their own affinity partners. Novel and probably has validity.
As for the idea that AMEX has a grand plan....they would not call it "screwing everybody"....but would probably consider it masterful business acumen and profit optimization..and even trot out their senior execs to b-schools to pontificate same.
If I were an AMEX shareholder, I would be gleeful if AMEX could get cardholders to pay $2500 for a Holiday Inn gold-tier and freebie dinner a the local diner.
As a CENT cardholder, though, no fun in mudville.