Exactly. The better question is how to run it up, convert it to cash, and quickly pay it off. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif



[This message has been edited by ironmanjt (edited 08-19-2003).]

Is your platinum card a "Business Platinum" or "Corporate Platinum" card. If it was a Business Card you should still be able to qualify for the Centurion Card, however you should call if your card was a "Corporate Card"

Even though you have had a Amex card for five months you still might be able to qualify for the card based on your spending.

Give them a call

Ummmm thanks for teasing...I would really like to know what this perk is.

Starwood's SPG Plat status is the single perk I find of value with the CENT card; US CENT also allows for Hyatt Diamond (and HHONORS GOLD), but I've not been compelled to establish a Hyatt relationship, and, as mentioned in the Hyatt thread, Hyatt has done a lousy job of making this status known as a CENT perk (or AMEX - who really knows ??)...to not even send a single direct mail to new CENT cardholders or making clear the method to get the Diamond status in the CENT welcome packet. Oh well - Hyatt's loss. HHONORS - just devalued their point structure so radically as to make collecting HHONORS points and imprudent use of time and energy.

So, Hyatt's silence caused me to focus on the starwood chain and I've never looked back. I don't stay enough to qualify for starwood PLAT on "per night" or "per stay" basis, but since am an active starpoint collector through active use of my starwood/AMEX Optima card, this single CENT perk gets me to SPG PLAT level where I can use the points and enjoy the spg PLAT perks.

(For AMEX's eyes only I've long maintained if AMEX would upgrade the rental car auto insurance to PRIMARY INSURANCE for CENT cardholders, if not PLAT, this would be the deathblow to the Diner's Club card program., since this perk is "THE" single perk I find invaluable w/ my DC. Such a CENT perk would also be #2 major reason I would keep the CENT card and actually put substantive value in the CENT card for me. So - I hang on to the CENT card by a "spg" thread. If SPG and/or AMEX disrupts this key perk, so much for CENT for me. It is a real struggle to use the AMEX card in my daily life anyway, but that's yet another topic.

[This message has been edited by ILUVCITIBANK (edited 08-20-2003).]

SteveT, I am virtually certain AMEX will not consider under any circumstance a CENTURION application for a history of under 1-year...no matter how much was charged for five months.

I believe he will hit an immoveable object until the 366th day. AMEX is funny like this.

[This message has been edited by ILUVCITIBANK (edited 08-20-2003).]

Thanks, Made me think of why I bother with MR points now. I love the upgrades and free breakfasts with the HH gold card but with the devaluation of points in HHonors I have to think again. I stuck with Amex mainly cos of the Hilton Gold and with the view to transfering them over to HHonors.

Makes me wonder whether to switch to Diners, they have a good transfer rate to KLM whereas they don't figure in Amex.

Now, is it worth keeping up Cent fees to keep Hilton Gold and Starwood plat, I'd never normally stay enough to get the levels through my own efforts.

Have had great results so far with the HH gold which probably has more than paid for itself so I'm leaning towards keeping Cent but charging to Diners.

Any views on this ?

Nigel

Nigel

That happened to me b/c I wanted to get in before the fee changed but I had significantly less than 12 months history.
At $1000, I would have done it, at $2500, no way.

IMHO, certainly not for Hilton gold. My dog is gold with Hilton.

But Starwood plat? It would have been worth $1,000 just for that, but not $2,500.

In addition to SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond and HH Gold does'nt the Cent Card offer elite status on some Airlines?

We've been thinking along exactly the same lines recently.
Have used the HHonors Gold lots and seen the benefits of the free upgrades, breakfasts and Club Room access. Never used the SPG Platinum though.

Use the Priority Pass only now and then as there seems to be a KLM lounge most places we go.

Thing is we have about 300K MR points. To transfer these into KLM would result in 75K miles (1 mile per £4) due to the indirect transfer route. Of course we could transfer to Virgin or the likes but being only being a KLM FD PE I have no idea on their award availability for non elites etc.

Spending on Diners now we could transfer in at a cost of 1 mile per £1 so it looks attractive to just keep the Centurion but start charging to Diners.

pmcg

Not in the UK

Nigel

UK Cent fee's are 650 GBP so still around $1000

Nigel

Given that Amex has cheapened the Platinum Charge Card so much, does anyone have examples of being invited to apply for, and being granted, a Centurion with a 12 month spend well below the figures mentioned elsewhere on this board?

In the US I heard you obtained DL Gold and CO Gold.

Interesting, last weekend I flew to NYC the morning after the blackout in FC seated next to me was a Celebrity. Our flight was diverted to a different city and we both proceeded to call our travel agents, me with a Platinum him with Centurion. After we completed our calls I asked about the benefits of his card and he knew nothing. I guess his card is a matter of status as oppose mine which is practical(I have a platinum card for the access to DL Crown Rooms, CO President's Club and unlimited charge capacity)

Yes. Do a search.