Originally Posted by damon88 (Post 6842854)

ILUV--- I respect your analysis and agree that Cent has irked me this year with the take-aways. I will also admit that my primary motivation for getting the card was SPG Plat status.

However-- despite this year's "bait and switch" I still believe the card is worth it. At least to me.

I guarantee you I would cancel it in a minute if the cost/benefit didn't come out in my favor.

I definitely reap benes worth over $2500 (I'm so jealous of your grandfathered status) Delta FC upgrades (and reciprical elite status on other airlines), Priority Airport Club and Hotel upgrades have been totaling more than my annual fee. I also have benefited from the extra 4 hours returning Hertz cars.

The *status factor* is worthless. The concierges aren't very good. But I used to hate my Delta mileage runs and as long as my calculator shows a net benefit, I'll keep it.


(But I sure wish they would restore the SPG plat status)

Originally Posted by aviators99 (Post 6844532)

What's this about a 4 hour extension on Hertz cars? I thought that Cent only gets us Hertz#1 Gold (same as Plat)?

Originally Posted by AmgMan (Post 6847880)

I too have benefited from the 4 extra hours, plus as a cent card holder we get free child seats with every hertz rental. As a father of twins that likes to travel with his kids, this has been a great benefit. We also get free upgrades to a premium car with a midsize rental.:) :)

Originally Posted by aviators99 (Post 6848511)

Do all of those smileys mean this is a joke?

Originally Posted by AmgMan (Post 6848593)

I must have hit the smiley button twice by mistake, it's not a joke at all, I truly have enjoyed the hertz benefits. A child seat costs $10 a/day per seat, on a two week rental the savings are worth $280. Now I cant praise the hertz customer service, most of the time they have no idea about the Centurion benefits and I have to fight for the upgrade and free seats. I still think that Amex needs to add more benefits to the Centurion program to justify the cost.

Originally Posted by AmgMan (Post 6848593)

I must have hit the smiley button twice by mistake, it's not a joke at all, I truly have enjoyed the hertz benefits.

Originally Posted by aviators99 (Post 6848897)

Okay, well, this still doesn't answer my question...where are these benefits documented? I didn't know about them. They seem to be above and beyond Hertz#1 Club Gold?

Originally Posted by AmgMan (Post 6849774)

The benefits are listed on the amex website, when you login, there is a link on the same page as the current activity that list all centurion benefits. If you look under travel benefits, you will see the hertz and avis benefits.

Originally Posted by bxwatso (Post 6762555)

In short, Centurion is now just an expensive Plat. card.

I don't really think that Amex is doing this intentionally, though. When Centurion was launched, the travel industry was going through a downturn, and I suspect that Amex got all these perks for nearly free from providers who wanted to court affluent consumers. Now that the travel sector is doing much better, the partners are dropping out. Nobody needs Amex to get booking rates up right now.

It's just a theory, but it avoids the highly specious idea that Amex has a grand plan to screw everybody.

Originally Posted by stimpy (Post 6962682)

When Centurion started, we got letters from the president of Hertz guaranteeing triple upgrades. I carried it around with me as the local places did not believe me when I told them I get triple upgrades. Then after they learned about it I started getting the best car on the lot. At SJC they once told me they have to give me the best car or they will get fired.

However I prefer Avis President's Club as I get fantastic back office service from Avis. This has helped a lot since I've destroyed three, count 'em three, Avis Cadillacs. Oy! None of the accidents were my fault, however I still would have been in deep do-do had it not been for Centurion and the Presidents Club.