Centurion card (USA) refresh. Some benefits removed/added. $5k annual fee.
#226
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Amex seems to have people assigned as sort of country managers who enter into their own national-level arrangements for Plat+Centurion benefits and has them customized for each card type. And sometimes how they go about coming up with benefits and where they come up with benefits speaks to the kind of person (and the interests of the person) forming those partner relationships. For some of Amex’s smaller premium card membership markets, I am at times amazed that Amex does what it does.
#227
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,772
#229
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
I am just waiting to see how long it will be before the Amex Platinum card fee in the US is nearly double what it is currently or a premium Amex card is placed in between the Platinum and Centurion cards and what benefit features are bundled into higher fee products.
#230
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Amex raised the fee big time, and the major thing Amex gave customers to make the massive fee hike not look as bad as it is a de facto credit for gym membership along with a quarterly shopping credit.
I am just waiting to see how long it will be before the Amex Platinum card fee in the US is nearly double what it is currently or a premium Amex card is placed in between the Platinum and Centurion cards and what benefit features are bundled into higher fee products.
I am just waiting to see how long it will be before the Amex Platinum card fee in the US is nearly double what it is currently or a premium Amex card is placed in between the Platinum and Centurion cards and what benefit features are bundled into higher fee products.
So along comes the Centurion Card and the same story starts again. Initially (1999) it is a top premium product, by invitation only and surrounded by mythical lore. Twenty years later and - while still invitation only - is far more mass-market than most people believe. I suspect here again the entry requirements have dropped (I myself ignored two invitations in the early and mid-2000s). Now the card is shown on the Amex website, discussed openly, and available to a much larger audience. It has gone from a niche high-end product to one where Amex sees a distinct revenue stream (just look at the published numbers of cardholders around the world.)
I doubt Platinum will be upscaled, or that a product between the two emerges. If anything, there may be a new card above Centurion in a few years.
#232
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MIA LAX GIG, AA CK
Posts: 211
Got my personal card today. $35 in postage. From the zip code on the postage meter shows it was mailed from Chesapeake, Virginia even though the upper right address shows Nebraska. Has anyone received their business card? I haven’t got an email yet about my business card being sent.
#233
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Racine Wi
Programs: Amex Centurion
Posts: 60
No retention bonus.....I tried. They basically just told me that I would have to reapply if I changed my mind after canceling. After 14 years of being a Centurion cardholder I think this is pretty lame!
#235
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Moderator action
Discussion of rumored new card has been moved:
SPECULATION: new USA card priced between Centurion & Platinum?
SPECULATION: new USA card priced between Centurion & Platinum?
#236
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: DL DM, UA MM, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 97
As a couple of other data points. Signed up both myself and AU on a Business card for Equinox and got email notifications confirming both. Will finalize membership in a few weeks when I'm in a city with an Equinox.
While on a call with CS to address a different issue, asked about AU fee and was told the AU renewal increase kicks in one month later in May of 2020. So the current terms and conditions that are being publicized are accurate...for one month. Seems a little pointless confusing/ deceptive. But if you happen to have an AU that renews between April and May, you get lucky for a year.
#237
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,772
If this is the case, definitely a bad deal for Amex to be paying 90%. You'd think the average usage rate for the US Centurion population would be well south of 90% b/c of the number of members that don't live near an Equinox. But based on the benefit, I'd say the enrollment number would be very high b/c all of us will sign up, even if we're only using a club a few times a year while traveling. Not sure why Amex wouldn't just negotiate a per visit fee similar to Airport clubs. Why pay $270/ month for someone like me that will only use a club 3-4 times a year?
As a couple of other data points. Signed up both myself and AU on a Business card for Equinox and got email notifications confirming both. Will finalize membership in a few weeks when I'm in a city with an Equinox.
As a couple of other data points. Signed up both myself and AU on a Business card for Equinox and got email notifications confirming both. Will finalize membership in a few weeks when I'm in a city with an Equinox.
While on a call with CS to address a different issue, asked about AU fee and was told the AU renewal increase kicks in one month later in May of 2020. So the current terms and conditions that are being publicized are accurate...for one month. Seems a little pointless confusing/ deceptive. But if you happen to have an AU that renews between April and May, you get lucky for a year.
#238
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: DL DM, UA MM, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 97
Was that an AU also with a Cent card, or a Platinum AU?
AU with Cent. Sorry for not beIng clear. I know that one should be obvious that AU gets it but there was some confusion about sign ups in this thread. I did the sign up on the AU’s online account no problem.
Do you mean the currently published AU renewal of $2500 on the new terms and conditions document (reflecting the new $5000 for primary Cent) is going to change and AU's from May will be $5000?
AU with Cent. Sorry for not beIng clear. I know that one should be obvious that AU gets it but there was some confusion about sign ups in this thread. I did the sign up on the AU’s online account no problem.
Do you mean the currently published AU renewal of $2500 on the new terms and conditions document (reflecting the new $5000 for primary Cent) is going to change and AU's from May will be $5000?
Again, I think it’s pretty dumb on Amex’s part to publish a T&C that’s only good for one month from as all your doing is irritating the customer again a month later.