Jan 16, 2015, 2:33 pm
Amex Concierge: What have they done for you?
Oct 19, 2017, 7:53 pm
#361
Join Date: Aug 2015
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 55
French Laundry sucked. So does Per Se (same owner, same kind of menu). No need to go to both. Fat Duck in UK was worth it. Just in case anyone is saving for a special occasion and thinking about these restaurants.
Oct 19, 2017, 8:01 pm
#362
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LON, PDX
Programs: DL PM, AS MVP 75K, HH/SPG/MR Gold, Amex Plat, PRG, CSR
Posts: 2,064
Oct 19, 2017, 9:31 pm
#363
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,026
Can I post what they haven't done for me?
Planning to trip to Barcelona, was hoping the Platinum concierge would be able to reserve a table at Tickets for me. No such luck, they refused to do that outright, claiming some sort of legal policy. Mind you, my dates are still ahead of the restaurants reservation window, so it's not like it's fully booked.
They say they don't book Tickets nor French Laundry.
Is that just Amex Canada being difficult? Would I have better luck if I had a US based card?
Planning to trip to Barcelona, was hoping the Platinum concierge would be able to reserve a table at Tickets for me. No such luck, they refused to do that outright, claiming some sort of legal policy. Mind you, my dates are still ahead of the restaurants reservation window, so it's not like it's fully booked.
They say they don't book Tickets nor French Laundry.
Is that just Amex Canada being difficult? Would I have better luck if I had a US based card?
Oct 20, 2017, 6:13 am
#364
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: DL Gold, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 171
Not sure if this counts as the concierge. I was in Sweden and was taking my grandmother out for lunch, but I had forgotten my visa and the restaurant didn't take Amex. I called Swedish Amex concierge, but they transferred me to Global Services which were very nice and actually called restaurants all around me to find out if any of them accepted Amex. One place we found one Indian place that accepted Amex, but refused to allow me to use it for some reason. Anyway, while it wasn't the concierge line per se, they did find restaurants for us and was willing even to western union some cash in case they didn't find a place.
Although from now on I just won't forget to bring a visa along just in case, I think it would be cool if they had a directory that showed businesses around the world that accept amex.
Although from now on I just won't forget to bring a visa along just in case, I think it would be cool if they had a directory that showed businesses around the world that accept amex.
Oct 25, 2017, 7:28 pm
#366
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: DFW
Posts: 8,036
your second, third, fourth and... impressions likely will not be any better. IME they are worthless.
Oct 26, 2017, 1:06 am
#367
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: Virgin Atlantic Silver, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, AA Platinum Pro
Posts: 1,386
Oct 26, 2017, 1:22 am
#368
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Cologne
Programs: FB Plat, IHG RA Spire, TK Elite+, HH Diamond, LH SEN, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 972
does AMEX have a particular partnership with the Fat Duck?
Oct 26, 2017, 4:40 pm
#369
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: BAEC Gold, Delta Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, AMEX Platinum (US)
Posts: 18,487
I only really use the concierge for restaurant bookings and have 100% success with them being able to help in half a dozen bookings over the last few months, even on occasions when the restaurants themselves said they were fully booked.
Most recently with Le Bernardin in NYC who only take regular bookings 30 days out they were able to confirm a table for our preferred time before the regular booking window was open.
For another reservation (The Modern in NYC) my wife and I didn't even realise the restaurant was closed when I called in to the concierge, on that day only the Bar Room was open. However, the concierge said the restaurant were even willing to look into still allowing us to dine at the Chef's Table. I was pretty amazed by that, but in the end the restaurant decided to keep the Bar Room as the only option.
Most recently with Le Bernardin in NYC who only take regular bookings 30 days out they were able to confirm a table for our preferred time before the regular booking window was open.
For another reservation (The Modern in NYC) my wife and I didn't even realise the restaurant was closed when I called in to the concierge, on that day only the Bar Room was open. However, the concierge said the restaurant were even willing to look into still allowing us to dine at the Chef's Table. I was pretty amazed by that, but in the end the restaurant decided to keep the Bar Room as the only option.
Oct 26, 2017, 7:01 pm
#370
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LON, PDX
Programs: DL PM, AS MVP 75K, HH/SPG/MR Gold, Amex Plat, PRG, CSR
Posts: 2,064
I only really use the concierge for restaurant bookings and have 100% success with them being able to help in half a dozen bookings over the last few months, even on occasions when the restaurants themselves said they were fully booked.
Most recently with Le Bernardin in NYC who only take regular bookings 30 days out they were able to confirm a table for our preferred time before the regular booking window was open.
For another reservation (The Modern in NYC) my wife and I didn't even realise the restaurant was closed when I called in to the concierge, on that day only the Bar Room was open. However, the concierge said the restaurant were even willing to look into still allowing us to dine at the Chef's Table. I was pretty amazed by that, but in the end the restaurant decided to keep the Bar Room as the only option.
Most recently with Le Bernardin in NYC who only take regular bookings 30 days out they were able to confirm a table for our preferred time before the regular booking window was open.
For another reservation (The Modern in NYC) my wife and I didn't even realise the restaurant was closed when I called in to the concierge, on that day only the Bar Room was open. However, the concierge said the restaurant were even willing to look into still allowing us to dine at the Chef's Table. I was pretty amazed by that, but in the end the restaurant decided to keep the Bar Room as the only option.
I also had them get me a Le Bernardin reservation at a prime time, on the weekend, with less than 7 days notice. Was very impressed.
Generally I have very good luck with them and restaurant reservations. They very useful to have call restaurants in other countries and time zones, I just send an email and don't have to worry about it.
Oct 26, 2017, 9:14 pm
#371
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
I have never considered using them, but a few months ago I was chatting with a fellow who has an Amex platinum card, who told me about his trip to Rome a while back and how impressed he was that they were able to plan a such a mindblowingly awesome vacation for him.
He was flat out raving.
He was flat out raving.
Oct 28, 2017, 11:07 am
#372
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 8
AMEX Platinum concierge ticket request question
NCAA basketball tournament tickets go on sale this week so I figured I’d call the AMEX concierge to get them to buy some for me when they go on sale. This worked perfectly for me last year for GABF tickets. I was told that the only tickets they’ll get for anyone anymore are AMEX event tickets. Is this correct? Are there any cards with a concierge that’ll buy tickets for you anymore?
Nov 6, 2017, 3:19 pm
#374
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 9
Went to Barcelona and asked them to help us book some last minute reservations to some Michelin star places. Obviously everything was booked, and the concierge said they would keep trying until we left Barcelona.
When we were in San Sebastian, I got an email from them and they were able to get us El Cellar De Can Roca reservations for 4.
On a side note, when we were in Barcelona we were able to get last minute reservations to Engima. It was awesome, we were talking pass Tickets and taking pictures of it when the manager steps out and asked us if we wanted reservations to lunch the next day! We were leaving the next day, but decided we could try to squeeze it in since all we wanted to do was eat the cheesecake. When he heard us say that he invited us into the closing restaurant and served us a bunch of desserts! We were getting ready to pay, but then they refused to take our money.
It was such an awesome experience. So yeah Concierge did a ton for us.
When we were in San Sebastian, I got an email from them and they were able to get us El Cellar De Can Roca reservations for 4.
On a side note, when we were in Barcelona we were able to get last minute reservations to Engima. It was awesome, we were talking pass Tickets and taking pictures of it when the manager steps out and asked us if we wanted reservations to lunch the next day! We were leaving the next day, but decided we could try to squeeze it in since all we wanted to do was eat the cheesecake. When he heard us say that he invited us into the closing restaurant and served us a bunch of desserts! We were getting ready to pay, but then they refused to take our money.
It was such an awesome experience. So yeah Concierge did a ton for us.
Nov 7, 2017, 10:00 am
#375
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,026
They couldn't get me a reservation for Eleven Madison for a Friday lunch for 1 person. Said they'd put me on a waiting list which they did but for Saturday. Never heard back from the restaurant nor from the Concierge when I reached out about the mistaken date.
I figured that would be a shoe in given the massive amount of co marketing they are doing with the restaurant. Oh well.
I figured that would be a shoe in given the massive amount of co marketing they are doing with the restaurant. Oh well.