Centurion card (USA) refresh. Some benefits removed/added. $5k annual fee.
May 15, 2020, 3:21 pm
#556
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS, Delta Plat, Hawaiian Gold, Hertz Plat
Posts: 122
Jun 22, 2020, 7:54 am
#557
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: NY / London
Programs: Amex Centurion, Amex Platinum, Citi TY Premier, Expedia Elite +, BA Silver
Posts: 12
I was about to cancel my Centurion membership. Have my card plus two dependants, annual fees going from 7500 USD to 15k USD. But Amex has come to save day, and will keep the account:
For your Centurion Card we have added the following:
So basically, based on the things I make use of:
1000 USD Saks credit
2000 USD in Travel Credit
160 Apple/Netflix credits
+ Centurion hotels
Things are looking pretty sweet and this makes the card worth it at least for another year.
For your Centurion Card we have added the following:
- $2,000 Travel Credit - Beginning after your renewal through December 2021, you can earn up to $2,000 in statement credits after you use your Centurion Card to make eligible travel purchases through Centurion Membership Services. (More details to come)
- Monthly Streaming Credit - Beginning May 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020 you will receive a monthly statement credit of $20 for streaming charges.
- Monthly Wireless Credit- Beginning May 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020, you will receive a monthly statement credit of $20 for wireless charges.
So basically, based on the things I make use of:
1000 USD Saks credit
2000 USD in Travel Credit
160 Apple/Netflix credits
+ Centurion hotels
Things are looking pretty sweet and this makes the card worth it at least for another year.
Jun 23, 2020, 7:24 am
#559
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: Amex Centurion
Posts: 121
My relationship manager advises that there are different one time benefits for Personal vs. Business Cards as a result of Pandemic.
Personal gets what you listed. Business gets a "blanket" $1500 one time credit at renewal. Other benefits similar, if not the same.
Personal gets what you listed. Business gets a "blanket" $1500 one time credit at renewal. Other benefits similar, if not the same.
Jun 24, 2020, 5:51 pm
#560
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Paris & Scotland (Laird), "Suite on the World"
Programs: Hertz platinum, Bonvoy titanium , Delta flying colonel/platinum/MM, retired old men board member
Posts: 592
easy, pay your taxes with it
Jun 24, 2020, 5:52 pm
#561
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Paris & Scotland (Laird), "Suite on the World"
Programs: Hertz platinum, Bonvoy titanium , Delta flying colonel/platinum/MM, retired old men board member
Posts: 592
Jun 24, 2020, 5:59 pm
#562
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS, Delta Plat, Hawaiian Gold, Hertz Plat
Posts: 122
Jun 29, 2020, 4:43 pm
#563
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Out West
Programs: AA lifetime Platinum, Marriott lifetime Titanium Elite, Avis Chairman, most programs from the start
Posts: 9
jerome88 I have trouble following your math. Your fee goes up $7,500 and your benefits go up by a maximum of $3,160 and that is a sweet deal? I see you live in NY. I have a bridge to sell for for a "sweet" price.
Jun 30, 2020, 5:04 pm
#564
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Paris & Scotland (Laird), "Suite on the World"
Programs: Hertz platinum, Bonvoy titanium , Delta flying colonel/platinum/MM, retired old men board member
Posts: 592
For those of us who don't travel as much as we did when younger, the benes are sweet (esp Hertz, meet and greet at airports, etx)
Jul 14, 2020, 9:10 pm
#565
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: AMEX Business Centurion
Posts: 418
I got this from Equinox today:
Since Amex's fees to Equinox are on freeze, does that mean a portion of our AF is on freeze too? Seems like the fair thing to do rather than profiting off of the COVID-19 closures.
In accordance with the recent California government mandate and with our community in mind, all Equinox Southern California club locations will be closed as of Tuesday, July 14 until further notice. Your membership is now on freeze until we re-open and credit will remain on your account for any cancelled services including Personal Training, Pilates and Spa.
Jul 15, 2020, 9:56 am
#566
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Programs: AA Exec Plat, Marriott Plat, Priority Club Plat, HHonors Diamond, Avis CC
Posts: 673
I am gonna guess that the answer to your question is an astounding "no".
Jul 15, 2020, 7:02 pm
#568
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Southern California
Programs: Alaska MVP 75K, Delta Plat, Bonvoy Ambasador, Hilton diamond.
Posts: 527
$2500 gym membership
The idea to bump the AF by $2,500 and throw in a gym membership is disappointing and completely tone deaf. Maybe it fits with the lifestyle angle for a personal centurion card, on a business card it’s inappropriate. I won’t broach the “fitness app” subscriptions?! Who actually comes up with this stuff...is it a question of Amex gets it for free and then passes it off as a benefit with the supplier hoping for up-sell to affluent clientele?
I actually question whether the business centurion is even a business card at this point. How about an annual centurion travel credit instead of a gym membership? Then there is the whole sticky point of Covid 19 and the gyms themselves being closed (assuming you live in an area where equinox even operates).
And on a final note, who’s hair brained idea was it to try and peddle overpriced wines to centurion members that can be bought for substantially less at your local BevMo while calling it a benefit?!?
Is centurion a product; or are we as “centurion members” the product?
I actually question whether the business centurion is even a business card at this point. How about an annual centurion travel credit instead of a gym membership? Then there is the whole sticky point of Covid 19 and the gyms themselves being closed (assuming you live in an area where equinox even operates).
And on a final note, who’s hair brained idea was it to try and peddle overpriced wines to centurion members that can be bought for substantially less at your local BevMo while calling it a benefit?!?
Is centurion a product; or are we as “centurion members” the product?
Jul 18, 2020, 2:32 pm
#569
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: AMEX Business Centurion
Posts: 418
The idea to bump the AF by $2,500 and throw in a gym membership is disappointing and completely tone deaf. Maybe it fits with the lifestyle angle for a personal centurion card, on a business card it’s inappropriate. I won’t broach the “fitness app” subscriptions?! Who actually comes up with this stuff...is it a question of Amex gets it for free and then passes it off as a benefit with the supplier hoping for up-sell to affluent clientele?
I actually question whether the business centurion is even a business card at this point. How about an annual centurion travel credit instead of a gym membership? Then there is the whole sticky point of Covid 19 and the gyms themselves being closed (assuming you live in an area where equinox even operates).
And on a final note, who’s hair brained idea was it to try and peddle overpriced wines to centurion members that can be bought for substantially less at your local BevMo while calling it a benefit?!?
Is centurion a product; or are we as “centurion members” the product?
I actually question whether the business centurion is even a business card at this point. How about an annual centurion travel credit instead of a gym membership? Then there is the whole sticky point of Covid 19 and the gyms themselves being closed (assuming you live in an area where equinox even operates).
And on a final note, who’s hair brained idea was it to try and peddle overpriced wines to centurion members that can be bought for substantially less at your local BevMo while calling it a benefit?!?
Is centurion a product; or are we as “centurion members” the product?
Raising the AF and then just giving us roughly the same amount in arbitrary and irrelevant “benefits” is not appreciated. I realize all benefits are arbitrary but after a very short stint of seemingly paying attention to needs that were relevant to a Business card, they reversed course and went way to the other extreme in a frankly insulting choice of the Equinox membership and to a lesser degree the Saks shopping.
Neither one of these speaks to my needs as a business owner. The Saks credit is akin to forcing me to buy gift cards to a store I don’t even like or shop at. But the Equinox is the biggest insult. While some are happy because they drive past several locations on their existing commute, others (like me) don’t have an Equinox location within 1,000 miles! To add insult to injury I was forced to choose a “home club” so I just picked a random one, which as the emails stated is closed due to COVID. Equinox spams me incessantly with offers for services at this location and others, which are of zero value to me since I am two states away, and no matter who I talk to there is no way to stop their marketing blasts and upsell attempts.
Amex, if you’re reading this thread, this shut down of many Equinox locations and the future of gyms in general as it relates to public health is a perfect time to use the “act of god” clause in your deal with Equinox. Undo the mistake and get rid of this “benefit” or at least make it a choice between a few so that those geographically unable to make use of it have an alternative.
Please acknowledge that Business Centurion members have different needs and preferences than Personal Centurion members. Vastly different. It’s not an issue of money, it’s one of VALUE. I don’t care if they increase the AF as long as the benefits being offered are in the general ballpark of something that helps me as a businessperson.
Jul 20, 2020, 6:16 am
#570
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(EXP) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)
Posts: 2,669
Maybe they figure if you pay the exorbitant annual fee for the charge card you're likely to overpay for wine too?
