Anybody get annual fee waived for Centurion Card?

[NYCguy]

... Of course Chanel are open to bargaining, although I know it's less likely to occur when shopping in pairs...

If you have been witness to anyone from Chanel offering discounts, then you have witnessed them breaching company policy, and endangering their job!

 

[Homer]

I recently had this discussion with Amex, especially as they wanted almost double $$$ for the titanium version, for little extra of value to me...no luck, so I have downgraded myself to platinum. They were willing to offer some benefits, such as bonus miles, but not enough to make it worthwhile.

I also had this discussion with AMEX last year infoworks. It didn't go very far because I didn't push it. I really just wanted to see if they might, say, charge me the old Centurion fee instead of the new one even if just for 12 months if I threatened to downgrade to Platinum. It didn't sound like they were prepared to move on this and I was never offered bonus miles or any other incentive to stay. As I really didn't want to give up my Centurion card that's where it ended.

 

[infoworks]

I have a couple of friends who have stayed on with their Titanium card, but I haven't herad them adequately describe the increased value they receive. I did do some sums, like 20 limo rides to airport (easy number for me to achieve) to cover the difference, but having to use their travel service isn't yet an option for me because of the absolutely fantastic, and long-standng relationship I have with my TA (especially in settiing things up first up to meet my quirks and foibles!).

I would go back to Plat/Titanium at a reasonable fee and benefits that I could justify!

 

[Homer]

I have a couple of friends who have stayed on with their Titanium card, but I haven't herad them adequately describe the increased value they receive. I did do some sums, like 20 limo rides to airport (easy number for me to achieve) to cover the difference, but having to use their travel service isn't yet an option for me because of the absolutely fantastic, and long-standng relationship I have with my TA (especially in settiing things up first up to meet my quirks and foibles!).

I would go back to Plat/Titanium at a reasonable fee and benefits that I could justify!

There is no doubt that it is hard to justify the card fee using anything approaching logic.

I continue to be a member because:

• Centurion travel insurance is much better than Platinum.
• The new Centurion Fast Track service is pretty good for speeding through immigration
• I make a lot of use of the Centurion Partner Hotels and the deals with Mandarin Oriental and The Peninsula in particular for free nights and upgrades.
• I also enjoy the complimentary memberships such as Priority Club Platinum Elite, HHonors Gold VIP and Avis President's Club and the discounts and bonuses that these provide.
• And perhaps one of the greatest benefits for us as we are "foodies" is the guaranteed Centurion tables at the best restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne with the associated benefit whether that be free (real) champagne for the table or free desert, etc.

This doesn't add up to circa $4K per year but in my head I think that I probably get half of this back. It would be possible to get it all back by looking closer at where we stay, etc, to maximise the free nights. At the end of the day, the price will just be at the level that gives AMEX the number of Centurion members that they want.

 

[infoworks]

I continue to be a member because:

• Centurion travel insurance is much better than Platinum.
  The new Centurion Fast Track service is pretty good for speeding through immigration
• I make a lot of use of the Centurion Partner Hotels and the deals with Mandarin Oriental and The Peninsula in particular for free nights and upgrades.
• I also enjoy the complimentary memberships such as Priority Club Platinum Elite, HHonors Gold VIP and Avis President's Club and the discounts and bonuses that these provide.
• And perhaps one of the greatest benefits for us as we are "foodies" is the guaranteed Centurion tables at the best restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne with the associated benefit whether that be free (real) champagne for the table or free desert, etc.

This doesn't add up to circa $4K per year but in my head I think that I probably get half of this back. It would be possible to get it all back by looking closer at where we stay, etc, to maximise the free nights. At the end of the day, the price will just be at the level that gives AMEX the number of Centurion members that they want.

I don't disagree, for me though, the insurance isn't that much worse, and I have had 3 claims over the years, all well and satisfactorily handled by them. I don't use many of their partner hotels, and I am A Royal Ambassador with IC group anyway (the Starwood Platinum was worth a bit to me), I am HH Diamond and have been Prez Club for many years as well, without Amex.

The guaranteed tables is nice and a friend of mine uses that all the time. I am never is SYD so much as to get to use it really.

That was really my issue, I't not just the logical math, but there wasn't anything more for the extra cost and I had what they were offering (often at a higher level) anyway.

From what I have seen benefits in other countries like SIN (2 points per $) and USA exceed those offered in Oz.

 

[Homer]

...but having to use their travel service isn't yet an option for me because of the absolutely fantastic, and long-standng relationship I have with my TA...

Ahh a good TA. Like a good hairdresser, but with more interesting small talk.

You are better off sticking with your TA too infoworks because Centurion Travel is sadly wanting. I find their knowledge about various products is not at the standard you would expect for a premium service, some of them don't return calls (I imagine because they are overworked) and others are even a bit rude. I have been a member for about three years and I've had four TAs in that time so there is a fair bit of turnover as well. I really only stick with them because it helps justify some of the card costs.

 

[BlacKnox]

If you have been witness to anyone from Chanel offering discounts, then you have witnessed them breaching company policy, and endangering their job!

Well, you've caught me out here NYCguy. I can't recall ever having purchased anything from Chanel, but have found several other brandname stores (e.g. Cartier, LV, Prada, Hermes etc on the GC and elsewhere) happy to offer incentives (not monetary, rather goodies) if you're known to the staff and when making decent sized purchases.