Amex Concierge- what have they done for you? [2007 - 2014]
Dec 5, 2007, 10:44 pm
#16
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP 1M
Posts: 299
Glad everyone here has had good luck with them. I have not. I've tried several times to get reservations at some of the trendier places in Los Angeles, and Amex continues to strike out. Granted my requests are usually the day of or the day before, but I was hoping Plat Amex would have a little more leverage. I've never tried in other cities and it appears from the posts above people have success, but in LA...not so much. Is anyone in other big meto areas seeing this?
Dec 6, 2007, 6:27 am
#17
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: BALTIMORE, MD
Programs: BA, Delta, USAir, Starwood, Marriott
Posts: 45
Concierge - Restaurant Reservations
FYI: Concierge has only 1 table per night "reserved" at the places on the list. I have used them several times and if you call 1 week+ out they seem to be OK. If you call within 3 days of your date (especially a Friday/Saturday night) forget it. You have the same chance as if you had called the restaurant.
Beyond the 1 table they have held, they have NO PULL according to what the last concierge I spoke to said.
Beyond the 1 table they have held, they have NO PULL according to what the last concierge I spoke to said.
Dec 6, 2007, 12:21 pm
#19
Join Date: Apr 2007
Programs: Tap - Victoria Gold, AMEX Centurion
Posts: 69
Dec 6, 2007, 12:42 pm
#20
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SJU
Programs: Amex FHR elite travel agent, Ritz Stars, Hyatt Prive, Four Seasons Preferred Partner and others
Posts: 1,520
Concierge was not able to secure me a Nintendo Wii at retail price.
Dec 7, 2007, 3:45 pm
#21
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: Amex plat, Hyatt, Hertz, Concierge Association-Colorado
Posts: 37
Dec 7, 2007, 5:45 pm
#22
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: Amex Platinum, Starwood Gold, VX elevate
Posts: 324
Glad everyone here has had good luck with them. I have not. I've tried several times to get reservations at some of the trendier places in Los Angeles, and Amex continues to strike out. Granted my requests are usually the day of or the day before, but I was hoping Plat Amex would have a little more leverage. I've never tried in other cities and it appears from the posts above people have success, but in LA...not so much. Is anyone in other big meto areas seeing this?
By the way, little note about Nobu is that CENT concierge was unable to get me a table, either. So whether you're using a PLAT concierge or CENT concierge, seems like it gets you nowhere at Nobu. Although if you're fine sitting at a sushi bar, just arrive within an hour or so of opening (usually around 5:45pm I believe) and there is usually space at a sushi bar.
Dec 8, 2007, 8:34 am
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: PDX
Programs: On a collision course with Kettledom
Posts: 25,550
Might you go into a bit more detail about where in LA you didn't have success? The only place I've found so far that PLAT was unable to get me a table at was Nobu in Malibu. As far as I can recall, every other time they have come through (memorable examples being Koi, which I called PLAT maybe 20 minutes before I was to arrive and they had a reservation waiting for me, as well as Cheesecake Factory; not necessarily a high-end restaurant but they do not take reservations, and wait was well over an hour, called PLAT who, within minutes, had me put on a "list" and I was seated in about twenty minutes). But I would be curious to know where you ran into problems.
By the way, little note about Nobu is that CENT concierge was unable to get me a table, either. So whether you're using a PLAT concierge or CENT concierge, seems like it gets you nowhere at Nobu. Although if you're fine sitting at a sushi bar, just arrive within an hour or so of opening (usually around 5:45pm I believe) and there is usually space at a sushi bar.
By the way, little note about Nobu is that CENT concierge was unable to get me a table, either. So whether you're using a PLAT concierge or CENT concierge, seems like it gets you nowhere at Nobu. Although if you're fine sitting at a sushi bar, just arrive within an hour or so of opening (usually around 5:45pm I believe) and there is usually space at a sushi bar.
Dec 8, 2007, 11:43 am
#24
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SJU
Programs: Amex FHR elite travel agent, Ritz Stars, Hyatt Prive, Four Seasons Preferred Partner and others
Posts: 1,520
I think the point is success rate using concierge when there are no tables available using traditional avenues.
Dec 8, 2007, 1:09 pm
#25
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Programs: USAir Gold, Delta Slvr, Amex Plat, Hertz #1 Gold
Posts: 412
Ya, I think the reason Plat/Cent concierge may have luck when you don't have any by calling yourself is because it gives the restaurant the impression that you are likely to spend more money there than the average joe.
Common sense seems to say that, if you are paying $2500 or $500 just as the AF on a charge card, then you're probably less likely to order the cheapest thing on the menu, accompanied by ice-water, split the check 17 ways, and leave a crappy tip.
Common sense seems to say that, if you are paying $2500 or $500 just as the AF on a charge card, then you're probably less likely to order the cheapest thing on the menu, accompanied by ice-water, split the check 17 ways, and leave a crappy tip.
Dec 8, 2007, 2:04 pm
#26
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: Amex Platinum, Starwood Gold, VX elevate
Posts: 324
Of course, if you know in advance where you're headed, calling the restaurant is a safe bet. But when it's last minute and the restaurant won't do anything for you, Amex seems to have a lot of pull. Really is a valuable benefit to the card ^
Dec 8, 2007, 4:09 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: PDX
Programs: On a collision course with Kettledom
Posts: 25,550
It's hard to believe a nearly booked restaurant would sit on an empty table or two, waiting for a concierge to call.
Dec 10, 2007, 10:39 am
#28
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: Amex plat, Hyatt, Hertz, Concierge Association-Colorado
Posts: 37
well, maybe
And they do, because a hotel concierge can make 300 or more reservations a month.
R.
Dec 12, 2007, 2:10 pm
#29
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Boston, MA, US
Posts: 305
Only time that I ever used any CC concierge service was to book table at Nobu Vegas. It was done by whatever service BA Visa card uses.
Dec 12, 2007, 5:18 pm
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Miami
Programs: Hilton Diamond, AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 420
called the concierge for 2 trendy restaurants in Philly for this weekend on Sat at 8pm at Morimoto or Buddakan. Amex concierge could not come through. I would think the point of a concierge would be to get you into restaurants that you could not get yourself into. It seems they are just making reservations through Opentable b/c opentable shows the exact same availability.
