seacarl

Even if you live in the DFW Metroplex for this to be truly valuable the location needs to be reasonably commutable and you need to want a gym membership. The theoretical value is large ($1000) compared to the annual fee, but it's only meaningful to a fraction of card users. The effort to use the Saks credit is kind of similar, especially with the quarterly $250 limits, designed to create breakage. The process to use these benefits not very premium.

wakesetter93

When I was DFW based it was right down the street from me. It's in one of the more premium areas, near where Uptown meets Highland Park. Honestly not sure if there are any others around the metroplex.

seacarl

If it's no longer convenient for you, you are making my point. These discount deals work for 1% of cardholders. And are worthless or painful to use for most of the rest.

wakesetter93

Yep, I'm AUS based now, the closest one to me I believe is still the one in Dallas.

YClass

Absolutely. I was just talking about UK which I know for a fact used to have £125k limit 10+ years ago. Seems hasn't moved.

EU is substantially less, especially smaller niche Amex markets like Finland, Sweden, Netherlands etc. But still the big fees and weak benefits.

neuro86

Any updates from the US Centurion invites? I was told AMEX does two reviews every year...

JFSV

Though likely not relevant for most here, just as datapoint, I got to my surprise an invite to apply for the Spanish Centurion card. I have had the Spanish Platinum card for a number of years and last year I put around EUR 50k on it. I do have spend in other US Amex cards which would probably take my overall Amex spend levels (throughout all cards) closer to the USD 100k level, but to be honest I doubt that the Spanish Amex people even have visibility over spend levels across non-Spanish amex cards...

The invite in itself is that standard (non-personal) email with "Dear Cardholder", and a link to the chat-style bot to fill in some basic info. At the end of the chat, they display the annual fee (EUR 3.5k p.a. plus one off EUR 4k sign up fee). Benefits are tiny, from a quick link into a separate site I found. They do not provide a list of benefits anywhere in that invitation email, but I understand these to be mainly a twice a year "VIP meet & greet arrival/departure services" at Spanish airports; 500EUR travel reimbursement p.a., and a 300 EUR "personal shopper" experience plus voucher at El Corte Ingles. The rest seems to be the otherwise fairly standard priority pass +1 guest, a beefed up insurance coverage, and the Prada wristbands. They do not have info over airline or hotel status, so unclear what these are exactly. They also offer 1.5MR per EUR of spend (vs. 1MR per EUR spent in the Spanish platinum).

I think I will pass, as I only use this card for EUR spend where I cannot get any additional benefits from other cards....

Vincent_C

I have spent north of $500k on my personal platinum for the last several years, $631k last year, and have never received anything. I am considering downgrading to the gold card for the enhanced point structure. I have a business platinum to get in the Centurion lounge and the Delta lounge along with the other, diminishing benefits on the platinum card vs. the increased yearly fee..

dayone

@ Vincent_C Welcome to FlyerTalk.

SteveT

What type of charges did the spending consist of? Business, media buys, personal. Also, did you request an invite?

neuro86

Interesting. I am in a similar boat. I've read on previous threads that zip code matters equally to spend; as in - AMEX really wants the centurion in the hands of the top 1% of a given city. Maybe I should move to Rochester? 😜

nyc2cal

I think the main problem you have working against you right now is that the Centurion program is understaffed, there have been many complaints about service quality, so AX is reluctant to add more cardholders.

wakesetter93

I'm in Austin, so I'm screwed.

Should have kept my address in Louisiana

neuro86

I was in Central Ohio before so I know the feeling!

helvetic

Is there a thread for experiences for Centurion members? And per location? Can't seem to find it.