New USA Centurion Fees - Just confirmed on the phone
Mar 3, 2007, 10:20 am
#16
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: La Jolla, CA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Lifetime Titanium, Delta Plat, Hilton Diamond , Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,615
Amex is definitely trying to maintain the perceived exclusivity. The increase in annual fees, the raised spending threshold, even the elimination of a benefit (*wood Plat) that motivated many to get the card are all designed to try and preserve the card's cachet.
I wonder if the initiation fee will work.
Mar 3, 2007, 10:20 am
#17
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: SYD
Programs: DJ, QF, SPG, Hilton
Posts: 2,984
I'm curious to see what services are expensive up front... Surely the margin cost for an additional member is next to nothing in most cases...?
Are they saying they have to buy each individual airline membership (for instance) separately? That's just silly, IMHO...
This $5K fee seems like a total rip-off to me...
Are they saying they have to buy each individual airline membership (for instance) separately? That's just silly, IMHO...
This $5K fee seems like a total rip-off to me...
Mar 3, 2007, 11:25 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
for things like this, joining fees have nothing to do with actual cost to supplier.
CENT in HKG has had a $3K joining fee. i thought more countries did, but it appears to be the only one, according to M-Site.
CENT in HKG has had a $3K joining fee. i thought more countries did, but it appears to be the only one, according to M-Site.
Mar 3, 2007, 11:43 am
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Point Place, Wisconsin
Programs: LH HON, BA Gold, EK Gold
Posts: 14,505
Germany has had the joining fee for ages.I think only the launch Centurion holders in Germany did not have to pay this. IIRC the joining fee was € 1.000.
Mar 3, 2007, 1:40 pm
#21
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: NYC & DFW
Programs: Amex Centurion
Posts: 91
Just called cent cs twice to confirm as well. $7,500 for the first year for new accounts 5k joining fee on top of 2500 anual. and all members grandfathered in at 1k going up to 2500 anual fee so everybodys paying same now.
Mar 3, 2007, 2:44 pm
#22
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: ELP
Programs: AA EXP/LT PLAT, Marriott Titanium/LT PLAT
Posts: 4,120
$5000 -- INITIATION FEE ...SURE.....
looks like the price of titanium in the world market has gone up....
$7500 for the first year....WOW !!!! for what:
Crappy CSR
Crappy Travel service
VS GOLD for US based cardholders....WOW!!!
FHR benefits
I think that even MO benefit is losing ground
what else does Centurion offer? Really, why would anyone pay 7500/yr for this card.....STATUS ????
Seriously, if anyone is going for this, pls call me at 876-5329 for a great deal on oceanfront property in Arizona !!!!
looks like the price of titanium in the world market has gone up....
$7500 for the first year....WOW !!!! for what:
Crappy CSR
Crappy Travel service
VS GOLD for US based cardholders....WOW!!!
FHR benefits
I think that even MO benefit is losing ground
what else does Centurion offer? Really, why would anyone pay 7500/yr for this card.....STATUS ????
Seriously, if anyone is going for this, pls call me at 876-5329 for a great deal on oceanfront property in Arizona !!!!
Last edited by anaggie; Mar 3, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Mar 3, 2007, 3:17 pm
#23
Flyertalk Posting Legend Moderator: Credit Card Programs, American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Diners Club, Signatures.
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,982
Conflicting confirmations...
Mar 3, 2007, 4:11 pm
#24
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Northwest NJ
Programs: Starwood Platinum,Marriott Platinum, United Silver
Posts: 2,313
One thing that hasn't been mentioned could be troubling. Exclusivity has an advantage - it means AMEX can go to certain vendors and ask them to give a "small" group some privileges. If they start selling the card and if more and more people sign up, it may stretch the limits of what the other vendors are willing to give. Is there a limit to how many gold cards Continental feels it can give out? I don't know the answer, but it is a concern.
Mar 3, 2007, 5:14 pm
#25
Flyertalk Posting Legend Moderator: Credit Card Programs, American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Diners Club, Signatures.
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,982
If it is true that all cardholders will begin to pay $2,500 and that new cardholders will pay $7,500 the first year, I take this to mean that American Express does indeed want to reduce the number of Centurion accounts. This might well enable them to provide a higher level of service and benefits because their partners would not dilute their own programs. Why would you find this "troubling"? It seems to be an attempt to deliver the original promise of Centurion.
Mar 3, 2007, 5:44 pm
#26
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List, CLEAR+, Covid-19
Posts: 4,979
(Hell, I'll admit it; back in the day I figured one day I'd get Cent too based on the anemities and the "Black Card Factor", but now I think Plat is just fine and will stay even if my spend comes up to invitation levels.)
Mar 3, 2007, 6:33 pm
#28
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List, CLEAR+, Covid-19
Posts: 4,979
Mar 3, 2007, 6:42 pm
#29
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Agoura Hills, CA USA
Posts: 2,663
This is truly ridiculous. I am a platinum cardmember who joined the CENTURION ranks last year for about a week until I realized that the benefits of Centurion did not really justify the cost... and that was $2500...!!