USA Centurion now "Invitation Only"
Jan 31, 2010, 5:16 pm
#166
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 662
Actually it's $2,500 per year, plus $1,500 if you want to have a secondary card holder (eg. spouse).
Let us know if/when you get it and your assessment of its worth. Lots of threads here on how others find value, or not.
Does anyone think (hope) that by tightening back up the requirements, the benefits might improve as well over time? I know many would like to see SPG Platinum re-introduced, and many would like to see Delta Gold moved to Platinum now that Delta introduced a fourth tier (as was done when USAir did the same). If AmEx reduces the total number of Centurion cardholders, perhaps they would be able to negotiate some of these benefits?
Susan
Let us know if/when you get it and your assessment of its worth. Lots of threads here on how others find value, or not.
Does anyone think (hope) that by tightening back up the requirements, the benefits might improve as well over time? I know many would like to see SPG Platinum re-introduced, and many would like to see Delta Gold moved to Platinum now that Delta introduced a fourth tier (as was done when USAir did the same). If AmEx reduces the total number of Centurion cardholders, perhaps they would be able to negotiate some of these benefits?
Susan
We can all hope, but I wouldn't hold your breath.
Still, at some point they devalue the thing to the point that they really start to lose members, even when the economy turns around. At that point, one would think they'd have to make some decisions. However, a lot of large corporations do get stuck on exactly issues such as this.
Feb 5, 2010, 2:38 pm
#167
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Texas, USA
Programs: FB Sliver; USAirways Silver; AMEX Plat;SPG Gold
Posts: 20
Called AMEX re. Centurian
I am a long time Platinum user, so I phoned AMEX last week to inquire about upgrading my account to Centurian. Was transferred to that department and told they "no longer review files" - it is invitation only. I had called last year and was told I didn't meet the $250K spending requirement. I asked what the requirements were now to get an invite, and was told they don't disclose it. It's top secret. So mysterious.
Feb 5, 2010, 2:42 pm
#168
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Point Place, Wisconsin
Programs: LH HON, BA Gold, EK Gold
Posts: 14,505
I am a long time Platinum user, so I phoned AMEX last week to inquire about upgrading my account to Centurian. Was transferred to that department and told they "no longer review files" - it is invitation only. I had called last year and was told I didn't meet the $250K spending requirement. I asked what the requirements were now to get an invite, and was told they don't disclose it. It's top secret. So mysterious.
Apr 12, 2010, 8:20 pm
#169
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 4
centurion
Read through this forum and has great information! I just realized after reading this thread that there has been no new information on centurion for at least 2 months. Just wanted to know if anyone has any information on anyone who has gotten a card. Thanks.
May 5, 2010, 8:04 am
#170
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL DM, Marriott TE, and Reformed AMEX Cent
Posts: 332
"I have a question for any Cent member. I recall seeing that you had to meet the spending requirement using an Amex Plat. Is that true? "
Its been my experience that they look at your total spend across all AMEX cards.
Its been my experience that they look at your total spend across all AMEX cards.
May 5, 2010, 8:12 am
#171
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: Plat:US,DL (ex KL,AF,LX,LY) Gold:BA,VS (ex CO,UA).Plat.SPG,HGP Diam.HH. ICHG Plat RA. Amex Centurion
Posts: 673
2. Business and personal are seperated (i.e. spend on a business charge cannot be combined with spend on a personal to meet the requirement and vice-versa)
3. There is no more "spending requirement" now anyway. It's by invitation.
May 31, 2010, 9:43 am
#173
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: California
Programs: Biz Plat, Biz Cent etc
Posts: 125
May 31, 2010, 11:50 am
#174
Join Date: Mar 2008
Programs: Amex Centurion; Visa Infinite; Hertz Gold; Hilton Diamond; SPG Gold; Kempinski Private Concierge;
Posts: 214
nothing more!
Make all your purchases with Amex, spend a lot and give them a call every weeks, and It gonna works!
Jun 4, 2010, 6:11 am
#176
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Racine Wi USA
Programs: AMEX Centurion
Posts: 95
Ive been a Centurion member for five years and have only seen a decrease in true benefits and an increase in price. It's almost as if they want to phase out the card or if they have put the program in "hibernation".
If you are not a current Centurion member, I would wait until they do something to improve the program before paying $5k plus fees to get the "black card". IMHO
If you are not a current Centurion member, I would wait until they do something to improve the program before paying $5k plus fees to get the "black card". IMHO
Jun 4, 2010, 8:42 pm
#177
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,043
This behavior by many Cent card holders continues to simultaneously perplex and fascinate me...
Regards
Jun 5, 2010, 12:17 pm
#178
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 48
Its like this - you've spent this money to join this special club with the hope and expectation that you're going to get some neat-o perks that would otherwise be unattainable/difficult to receive...well while you've been in this club the powers that be have stopped serving free drinks and you can't park right out front anymore...but at the end of the day you're still in the club and the thought of not being in the club to see what happens in the future makes you think well...ok...i'll stick with it now that i'm in...so yes the perks have eroded and the card has pretty laughingly continued to evolve into an affiliate marketing tool for american express and their partners as opposed to a, 'key to the castle' - that being said - I do have a visa card that I put about 10k a year on versus 220k or so on my cent card...so i like to keep my options open and am always re-evaluating.
Jun 5, 2010, 12:33 pm
#179
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA 1K, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 7,970
Well, I guess you can continue to be fascinated if that's your choice. I would like to point out that just because the price has gone up and just because the benefits have been reduced doesn't necessarily mean that it's nonetheless still worth the annual fee.
Jun 5, 2010, 5:14 pm
#180
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
[Moderator action...]
Posts discussing the Yahoo article about Centurion have been merged into this separate thread :
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...e-article.html
Posts discussing the Yahoo article about Centurion have been merged into this separate thread :
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...e-article.html