2015 Amex Centurion Benefits

[russ]

My spend isn't much, only $100k-$200k pa, biased towards business class airfares and hotels
If you are after an invitation, I could fish out one of my old ones for you...

 

[exp1k]

Is Emirates Gold an ongoing benefit or only for one year? My Skywards account says I have to earn 50,000 Tier miles to renew.

But it wasn't very useful so far anyway. I had only one flight with Emirates, I booked through Qantas and tried to upgrade to First with Emirates miles. Their website says any Skyward member can upgrade, but they were not able to upgrade me as my ticket had a QF flight number. In the end I earned both Emirates miles and Qantas miles for my flight, so at least some benefit.
But the disadvantage was that I couldn't use the Qantas First class lounge in Sydney as I was flying on Emirates metal.

 

[Mr_Fitz]

OK, a bit late, but I've got together a list of all the current 2015 Centurion benefits I am aware of.

~~~~~~~~~~

Hotels

Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Status: Loved
Shangri La Golden Circle. Status: Diamond
Le Club Accor. Status: Platinum
Starwood Preferred Guest. Status: Gold
Hyatt Gold Passport. Status: Gold
Club Carlson. Status: Gold Elite
Hilton HHonors. Status: Diamond
IHG Hotels. Status: Platinum
Accord Advatnage Plus. Status: Platinum
AMEX Fine Hotels and Resorts Program

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Travel

Priority Pass x 2
Emirates Skywards. Status: Gold
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards. Status: President's Circle

 

[exp1k]

Hyatt Gold Passport. Status: Gold

I didn't know Hyatt status was officially a benefit, but Gold is the basic level which anyone gets after signing up. Platinum would be ok, Diamond would be great!

At my last stay at a Park Hyatt they gave me all the benefits a Diamond would get after they saw my Centurion card, including a suite upgrade. When I asked reception for a late check out, they checked their system and said as a Diamond I would of course get late check out (I'm only Gold and booked with points).
I thought that was one of the "hidden benefits" of having a Centurion card.

 

[Mr_Fitz]

What are peoples $ spend and categories spend %s approx. to be getting Centurion invites if you don't mind me asking?

$1.1M AUD on the Platinum card over 12 month period before the Centurion invite. Approx 90% business (stock from the same two merchants) and approx 10% discretionary / travel.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I was accosted by an AMEX rep at a trade show in LAS last week - got chatting and indicated I previously held Cent in Oz but could not justify the 5K ann fee - she indicated Cent ann fee in USA now 7.5K - she was not forthcoming with info on benefits but my god that fee is getting up there. Anybody here have clues on USA benefits?

 

[exp1k]

I was accosted by an AMEX rep at a trade show in LAS last week - got chatting and indicated I previously held Cent in Oz but could not justify the 5K ann fee - she indicated Cent ann fee in USA now 7.5K - she was not forthcoming with info on benefits but my god that fee is getting up there. Anybody here have clues on USA benefits?

Isn't it 2.5k annual fee and 5k initiation fee in the first year only?
Here we get 2 cards for the annual fee, I believe in the US you have to pay for each additional card.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Could be - I don't know - just repeating what AMEX rep told me.

 

[Foreigner]

I've had 2x invites but that was some three years ago. My spend has increased since but i still don't believe there's significant value between platinum and centurion cards.

 

[exp1k]

Etihad Gold status for 12 months:

This offer is only valid for Centurion Members residing in Australia who book and pay for an Etihad Airways First or Business Class fare by 30 November 2015, for travel until 31 May 2016. You must be an Etihad Guest member and your membership number must be sent along with your booking to be eligible for the promotion. Your current Etihad Guest Miles will be carried forward at the time of upgrade to Etihad Guest Gold. You will receive a confirmation letter of your elevated status in the mail before 31 December 2015. Offer only valid on Etihad Airways operated flights. The status will remain for 12 months from the time of status confirmation - to maintain this status the Card Member will need to accumulate 50,000 Etihad Guest tier miles for Gold.

 

[moa999]

Etihad Gold status for 12 months: This offer is only valid for Centurion Members residing in Australia who book and pay for an Etihad Airways First or Business Class fare by 30 November 2015, for travel until 31 May 2016

At least it is limited, unlike the give away hotel status

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I had EK Silver pack arrive in mail yesterday - I think I had Gold last year as legacy of Cent - seems there is soft landing even with ZERO activity.

 

[Mr_Fitz]

Thanks exp1k... Do you know when the promo started?

I flew 1st on Etihad 03/07/15... wondering where I can find more info?

Cheers

 

[exp1k]

Thanks exp1k... Do you know when the promo started?

I flew 1st on Etihad 03/07/15... wondering where I can find more info?

Cheers

They had the same promotion last year, it was announced in the Centurion Newsletter. This year I just got a dedicated email about this offer. It only had an end date, no start date.

Btw. stay tuned for a new WOW offer

 

[Ben6]

Hi All,

I have just received an offer to join Centurion and would appreciate some comments on my situation:

I put about $2 million pa through my Amex Plat currently and use the high credit limit as 'free' business finance that would be difficult/impossible to achieve through standard Bank plastic. My understanding is that I only receive 300,000 bonus points (100,000 of dollar spend) on the current Plat Card which is usually racked up in a couple of months, then reverts to 1:1 points per dollar for the rest of the year but the Invitation pack says the Cent bonus is 750,000 points before dropping back to 1:1. The annual charge is $5,000 so that would mean an extra 450,000 point per year for $3,800 (over the $1,200 for Plat).

That's probably enough for me to accept but am I right???

 

[exp1k]

I thought you get bonus points only on overseas spend, restaurants, hotels and flights.
If all your spend is in these categories, then your calculation is right and it is definitely worth it.

 

[Ben6]

I thought you get bonus points only on overseas spend, restaurants, hotels and flights.
f all your spend is in these categories, then your calculation is right and it is definitely worth it.

I certainly don't do all my spend in those categories but would easily do $250k per year, so that would net me another 450k in points without modifying behaviours (plus get a sexy metal black card!) - excellent!

 

[Cynicor]

I certainly don't do all my spend in those categories but would easily do $250k per year, so that would net me another 450k in points without modifying behaviours (plus get a sexy metal black card!) - excellent!

That bonus point structure is the same for plat charge and cent. I think you should head back to the websites for both to check your numbers.

3 ppd for restaurants/dining
2 ppd for oseas and travel related spend.
1 ppd for the rest (0.5 for some services)

So you may not currently be hitting the caps, depending. It was a long time ago that plat earned 1.5ppd for everything.

 

[Ben6]

That bonus point structure is the same for plat charge and cent. I think you should head back to the websites for both to check your numbers.

3 ppd for restaurants/dining
2 ppd for oseas and travel related spend.
1 ppd for the rest (0.5 for some services)

So you may not currently be hitting the caps, depending. It was a long time ago that plat earned 1.5ppd for everything.

Thanks Cynicor, I do currently hit the cap (usually within 2-3 months of the annual cycle) as a lot of our business flights go through my card and I would estimate that $250K a year in those categories would be about right. To be honest, I didn't actually realise that you didn't get bonus points for normal spends anymore but it didn't register because I hit the cap so early in the year. Unbelievable how all providers seem to reduce their offerings in a market that's more competitive than ever!

 

[Foreigner]

Received invite today...