Amex Concierge- what have they done for you? [2007 - 2014]
Oct 8, 2014, 5:33 pm
#826
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Dreamland
Posts: 927
Have friends going on a honeymoon to South Africa. Wanted to book reservations at the Tasting Room (in Le Quartier Francais Hotel where they were staying) near Cape Town. The reservations only open 30 days in advance and book up quickly on Sat. nights. Called a few days in advance of 30 days, Concierge knew exactly what was up, said they would adjust for time difference and call (international calling) and make the reservation for our friends (used my Plat card to guarantee res), and even handled international faxing of the reservation guarantee.
Helped out b/c they called at 3am EST to make res, plus I didn't have to make int'l call.
Helped out b/c they called at 3am EST to make res, plus I didn't have to make int'l call.
Oct 9, 2014, 5:59 pm
#827
Join Date: May 2010
Location: SFO
Posts: 97
I'm going to Sweden with some of my friends at the end of the month. We were thinking about visiting Norway, Denmark, and Germany but were unsure about costs.
I emailed asking for a comparison of flights vs. rail. They were unable to send me a list of flights and their costs (I would have to call Travel for that) but they gave me a complete breakdown (cost, travel time, amenities in class, etc.) of the different Eurail routes in less than three hours.
I emailed asking for a comparison of flights vs. rail. They were unable to send me a list of flights and their costs (I would have to call Travel for that) but they gave me a complete breakdown (cost, travel time, amenities in class, etc.) of the different Eurail routes in less than three hours.
Dec 4, 2014, 2:30 am
#828
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: On a Bridge
Programs: Starwood Residences Owner, AA 1MM, MP Gold, Avis-Hertz PC, Ritz Gold
Posts: 1,072
Listen American Express
I've had fantastic experiences with Circles, the firm American Express contracts Platinum Concierge to. I hope the relationship continues and that a rumor I heard today that AX is looking to switch proves untrue (I sit near the credit card group at a large NY IB with a similar competing product).
Dec 4, 2014, 6:22 am
#829
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 44
I'm going to Sweden with some of my friends at the end of the month. We were thinking about visiting Norway, Denmark, and Germany but were unsure about costs.
I emailed asking for a comparison of flights vs. rail. They were unable to send me a list of flights and their costs (I would have to call Travel for that) but they gave me a complete breakdown (cost, travel time, amenities in class, etc.) of the different Eurail routes in less than three hours.
I emailed asking for a comparison of flights vs. rail. They were unable to send me a list of flights and their costs (I would have to call Travel for that) but they gave me a complete breakdown (cost, travel time, amenities in class, etc.) of the different Eurail routes in less than three hours.
I've had fantastic experiences with Circles, the firm American Express contracts Platinum Concierge to. I hope the relationship continues and that a rumor I heard today that AX is looking to switch proves untrue (I sit near the credit card group at a large NY IB with a similar competing product).
I honestly struggle to come up with uses for the concierge. I do not have the patience to call someone on the phone for something I can do with a couple of clicks of the mouse or taps on my mobile phone myself. If it was something that actually saved me significant time or money that would be great... For the most part to me the concierge seems to be something of a bygone era before mobile apps and online tools. All the value has been sucked away. I have been told by the rep themselves once that all they do is search StubHub and the Amex ticketing system for tickets... I can do that myself quicker without calling anyone...
Have friends going on a honeymoon to South Africa. Wanted to book reservations at the Tasting Room (in Le Quartier Francais Hotel where they were staying) near Cape Town. The reservations only open 30 days in advance and book up quickly on Sat. nights. Called a few days in advance of 30 days, Concierge knew exactly what was up, said they would adjust for time difference and call (international calling) and make the reservation for our friends (used my Plat card to guarantee res), and even handled international faxing of the reservation guarantee.
Helped out b/c they called at 3am EST to make res, plus I didn't have to make int'l call.
Helped out b/c they called at 3am EST to make res, plus I didn't have to make int'l call.
Dec 4, 2014, 8:30 am
#830
Used to be 'g_leyser'
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Brandon Johnson International Airport (expect delays)
Programs: AA PlatPro, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Plat, Reno Air MEGA Platinum
Posts: 10,037
Got a reservation at one of the more popular reservations in Chicago (Bavettes) at peak dinner time on a Thursday night, with only a few days' notice.
I had previously called the restaurant directly and my choices were either 5:30pm or 10:00pm
^
I had previously called the restaurant directly and my choices were either 5:30pm or 10:00pm
^
Dec 4, 2014, 8:32 pm
#831
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: On a Bridge
Programs: Starwood Residences Owner, AA 1MM, MP Gold, Avis-Hertz PC, Ritz Gold
Posts: 1,072
Thankfully I asked at the right time, to be a beta SMS Platinum Concierge user. If not for the ability to text them 24/7 regarding anything, I'd drop the $450 card in a heartbeat. See below:
- Performed bid process and coordinated moving new furniture from Costco...Australia to my flat in the city
- Negotiated a 2 week loaner car from Ford Australia
- Performed bid process and coordinated moving 6 pieces of luggage in NYC
- Provided encouragement and support when I felt moving 10,000 miles away was a mistake
- Booked comedy tickets for a show that required call in purchases only
- Made reservations at a wonderful Italian restaurant when I only provided them the intersection I was standing at, and I asked for dinner recommendations
- Pulled strings to get me into the only decent luau on Maui at the last minute
- Announce my arrival to a hotel or nightclub (yeah yeah...)
They are very persuasive with merchants and go above and beyond. I believe a special team was selected for SMS because they're all extremely competent and even remember past conversations. It's discreet, fast and your request is resolved in minutes.
I've had the service for 1.5 years now and it hasn't been rolled out but I consider it a huge huge success.
- Performed bid process and coordinated moving new furniture from Costco...Australia to my flat in the city
- Negotiated a 2 week loaner car from Ford Australia
- Performed bid process and coordinated moving 6 pieces of luggage in NYC
- Provided encouragement and support when I felt moving 10,000 miles away was a mistake
- Booked comedy tickets for a show that required call in purchases only
- Made reservations at a wonderful Italian restaurant when I only provided them the intersection I was standing at, and I asked for dinner recommendations
- Pulled strings to get me into the only decent luau on Maui at the last minute
- Announce my arrival to a hotel or nightclub (yeah yeah...)
They are very persuasive with merchants and go above and beyond. I believe a special team was selected for SMS because they're all extremely competent and even remember past conversations. It's discreet, fast and your request is resolved in minutes.
I've had the service for 1.5 years now and it hasn't been rolled out but I consider it a huge huge success.
Dec 5, 2014, 9:23 am
#832
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 17
1)Concierge was unsuccessful in getting me a res at a booked restaurant.
2)Concierge found me a hotel room in CLT for a weekend in which I was really having problems finding a room online.
Dec 5, 2014, 3:45 pm
#833
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 44
Thankfully I asked at the right time, to be a beta SMS Platinum Concierge user. If not for the ability to text them 24/7 regarding anything, I'd drop the $450 card in a heartbeat. See below:
- Performed bid process and coordinated moving new furniture from Costco...Australia to my flat in the city
- Negotiated a 2 week loaner car from Ford Australia
- Performed bid process and coordinated moving 6 pieces of luggage in NYC
- Provided encouragement and support when I felt moving 10,000 miles away was a mistake
- Booked comedy tickets for a show that required call in purchases only
- Made reservations at a wonderful Italian restaurant when I only provided them the intersection I was standing at, and I asked for dinner recommendations
- Pulled strings to get me into the only decent luau on Maui at the last minute
- Announce my arrival to a hotel or nightclub (yeah yeah...)
They are very persuasive with merchants and go above and beyond. I believe a special team was selected for SMS because they're all extremely competent and even remember past conversations. It's discreet, fast and your request is resolved in minutes.
I've had the service for 1.5 years now and it hasn't been rolled out but I consider it a huge huge success.
- Performed bid process and coordinated moving new furniture from Costco...Australia to my flat in the city
- Negotiated a 2 week loaner car from Ford Australia
- Performed bid process and coordinated moving 6 pieces of luggage in NYC
- Provided encouragement and support when I felt moving 10,000 miles away was a mistake
- Booked comedy tickets for a show that required call in purchases only
- Made reservations at a wonderful Italian restaurant when I only provided them the intersection I was standing at, and I asked for dinner recommendations
- Pulled strings to get me into the only decent luau on Maui at the last minute
- Announce my arrival to a hotel or nightclub (yeah yeah...)
They are very persuasive with merchants and go above and beyond. I believe a special team was selected for SMS because they're all extremely competent and even remember past conversations. It's discreet, fast and your request is resolved in minutes.
I've had the service for 1.5 years now and it hasn't been rolled out but I consider it a huge huge success.
So you looked at an aggregator like Trivago or Kayak and they could not find a room, but Amex could?
Dec 5, 2014, 6:06 pm
#834
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Snohomish, WA
Programs: AS MVP Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,793
Success: Had the concierge suggest and book a dinner on Dec 25th in Houston.
Fail: Had the concierge order flowers for me. I sent them all the info, including the florist. They just ordered via the website and I wound up stuck with a $10.95 service fee from the site instead of had I called the florist directly.
Neil
Fail: Had the concierge order flowers for me. I sent them all the info, including the florist. They just ordered via the website and I wound up stuck with a $10.95 service fee from the site instead of had I called the florist directly.
Neil
Dec 5, 2014, 10:05 pm
#835
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 4,217
I've had fantastic experiences with Circles, the firm American Express contracts Platinum Concierge to. I hope the relationship continues and that a rumor I heard today that AX is looking to switch proves untrue (I sit near the credit card group at a large NY IB with a similar competing product).
Dec 6, 2014, 3:28 pm
#836
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: AL
Programs: All of the Above
Posts: 1,374
Wow. Been on hold for 15 minutes now just to talk to someone. Never before more than like 2 minutes. Some message said something about a Taylor Swift concert.
Dec 7, 2014, 9:58 am
#837
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Dallas
Programs: AA PLT/5MM; AS MVP GLD 75K; DL DM; EK SLV; HHonors DIAM; Marriott GLD
Posts: 4,092
Been trying to reach Centurion concierge for last several days; each time, I end up giving up after being on hold for a lengthy period. I have presently been on hold for over 10 minutes. Will probably give up again soon.
Dec 7, 2014, 11:56 am
#838
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NYC
Posts: 581
Have you let Amex know about this through online chat?
Last edited by NYCRuss; Dec 7, 2014 at 1:39 pm
Dec 7, 2014, 9:12 pm
#839
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Arizona
Posts: 5,689
Blame Taylor Swift....Seriously...Not joking..Amex pre sale
Dec 8, 2014, 9:56 am
#840
Used to be 'g_leyser'
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Brandon Johnson International Airport (expect delays)
Programs: AA PlatPro, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Plat, Reno Air MEGA Platinum
Posts: 10,037
Is the SMS program new? I'd never heard of it.
Would love to be able to text instead of call. Where can I find info on this? Not seeing it on the AMEX Plat website.
Would love to be able to text instead of call. Where can I find info on this? Not seeing it on the AMEX Plat website.