topic Re: Does anyone have the American Express Centurion Card? in Credit Cards

Does anyone have the American Express Centurion Card?

Anonymous — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 02:01:45 GMT

Is it worth it with such a hefty annunal fee?

What are the perks to it?

Re: Does anyone have the American Express Centurion Card?

Anonymous — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 02:09:19 GMT

Most of the perks are the same as the platinum. It's really more of a status symbol in my opinion.

Re: Does anyone have the American Express Centurion Card?

Anonymous — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 02:19:18 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Is it worth it with such a hefty annunal fee?
What are the perks to it?

You'd be far better to look at FlyerTalk for this question. They have a dedicated thread for the Centurion Card.

Re: Does anyone have the American Express Centurion Card?

Discover2016 — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 03:56:57 GMT

The Centurion card is also losing its unique distinction of being the only metal Amex.

Re: Does anyone have the American Express Centurion Card?

Anonymous — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 04:37:07 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Is it worth it with such a hefty annunal fee?
What are the perks to it?

I think for its target audience $2500 might not register as a valid subject of 'worth or not'.

As a probably poor example, if a certain card charges you a $0.25 AF, will you waste time thinking about is it worth it?

Same goes for some of the high level cards available to ppl with large amont of $$ under management like the chase JPMR, you are already paying chase something like $100,000 in fees (not to mention opportunity cost for parking millions of cash) to park your $$ there, do you really care that much about AF on top of those numbers? But chase do waive all AFs of all chase cards for you anyways just in case you do care

Re: Does anyone have the American Express Centurion Card?

mkhan1093 — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 04:50:53 GMT

I don't have the card, but in my opinion there are cards which offer a better bang for your buck. The perks are the main attraction of this card, and even then you can probably make do without all of them. It really is just a status symbol which I think isn't worth the money even if your assets are in the millions of 10s of millions.

Re: Does anyone have the American Express Centurion Card?

Anonymous — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 07:43:04 GMT

@mkhan1093 wrote:
I don't have the card, but in my opinion there are cards which offer a better bang for your buck. The perks are the main attraction of this card, and even then you can probably make do without all of them. It really is just a status symbol which I think isn't worth the money even if your assets are in the millions of 10s of millions.

The card isn't meant for people who understand the term bang for buck or even care, which is part of the point.

Re: Does anyone have the American Express Centurion Card?

Anonymous — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 09:25:45 GMT

Irish80 went over to FlyerTalk and read threads on the AX Centurion Card. Sure is a mix of views on the card's value today. Glad I don't have a horse in the race

Re: Does anyone have the American Express Centurion Card?

redpat — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 09:30:06 GMT

I know someone who has one and he has more money than God. His AF is like twenty-five cents to me and you.

That's the point of having this card. If you can afford everything value doesn't matter.

Re: Does anyone have the American Express Centurion Card?

Anonymous — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 11:46:04 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Irish80 went over to FlyerTalk and read threads on the AX Centurion Card. Sure is a mix of views on the card's value today. Glad I don't have a horse in the race

There's definitely those that had the card that dislike it now and have either cancelled the card or are considering doing so. The benefits apparently dont justify the AFs but I'm sure there are those that the AF is a drop in the bucket and like the card for status/convenience or whatever. There are only a few people on this board that have the card (from past threads) and that is why I suggested the OP visit FlyerTalk. While this site has a wealth of information, it certainly isn't the source for all info about high end credit cards, travel cards and mileage plans , etc. There also is a lot of misinformation about the requirements for getting the Centurion card. A lot of people believe erroneously that if you spend $250K on an existing Amex card, that you will be invited to apply. Not true and here are people that spend far more than that that are never invited.

Re: Does anyone have the American Express Centurion Card?

Berk — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 11:55:00 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Is it worth it with such a hefty annunal fee?
What are the perks to it?

Did Amex extend you an invitation to apply?

Re: Does anyone have the American Express Centurion Card?

Berk — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 12:17:47 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Most of the perks are the same as the platinum. It's really more of a status symbol in my opinion.

That's kinda like saying a bespoke suite from Brooks Brothers is the same as a suite from Jos A Bank. Both suites. Both made out of wool. But worlds apart in quality and detail. While it is true that Centurion and Platinum share many of the same benefit partners, the level of thos benefits are worlds apart. And the Centurion has quite a bit of exclusive benefits that no other card has.

You have to remember - you DO NOT have this card because it is a charge card that gives you rewards points; you have this card because of the benefits that come with it. You ae purchasing membership into a club that has world wide benefits - Hilton Diamond, Hertz Platinum, and Delta Platinum to name a few. Those three right there will more than pay for the AF - even with the devalued Delta benefit.

And, of course, if we never receive an invite from Amex we never have to worry about being conflicted over getting the card.

Re: Does anyone have the American Express Centurion Card?

Anonymous — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 14:19:40 GMT

The biggest benefit to the Centurion Card is the purchasing powers. Unlike the other charge cards with "no pre-set spending limit*", the Centurion Card has truly unlimited spending ability (provided you keep the account in good order, of course).

Re: Does anyone have the American Express Centurion Card?

redpat — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 14:48:04 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
The biggest benefit to the Centurion Card is the purchasing powers. Unlike the other charge cards with "no pre-set spending limit*", the Centurion Card has truly unlimited spending ability (provided you keep the account in good order, of course).

You mean my Plat has a pre-set spending limit? Say it ain't so, lol!

Re: Does anyone have the American Express Centurion Card?

Berk — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 15:12:42 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
The biggest benefit to the Centurion Card is the purchasing powers. Unlike the other charge cards with "no pre-set spending limit*", the Centurion Card has truly unlimited spending ability (provided you keep the account in good order, of course).

No, it does not. While it may appear to be unlimited to we hoi polloi, Amex does limit the spend just like it does with any other of its charge cards. No pre set spend limit means exactly what it says-whether Amex is dealing with me or Bill Gates. After all, Amex does not have unlimited resources.

Re: Does anyone have the American Express Centurion Card?

Anonymous — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 15:17:48 GMT

@Berk wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
The biggest benefit to the Centurion Card is the purchasing powers. Unlike the other charge cards with "no pre-set spending limit*", the Centurion Card has truly unlimited spending ability (provided you keep the account in good order, of course).
No, it does not. While it may appear to be unlimited to we hoi polloi, Amex does limit the spend just like it does with any other of its charge cards. No pre set spend limit means exactly what it says-whether Amex is dealing with me or Bill Gates. After all, Amex does not have unlimited resources.

Pooka89 until just recently was an Amex employee who is very familiar with their policies.

Re: Does anyone have the American Express Centurion Card?

redpat — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 15:31:51 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Berk wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
The biggest benefit to the Centurion Card is the purchasing powers. Unlike the other charge cards with "no pre-set spending limit*", the Centurion Card has truly unlimited spending ability (provided you keep the account in good order, of course).
No, it does not. While it may appear to be unlimited to we hoi polloi, Amex does limit the spend just like it does with any other of its charge cards. No pre set spend limit means exactly what it says-whether Amex is dealing with me or Bill Gates. After all, Amex does not have unlimited resources.
Pooka89 until just recently was an Amex employee who is very familiar with their policies.

+1 and I can attest these members have more rope that we do. These members have their NetJets memberships on it and for amex to deny a charge to a member and put them in an embarrassing position isn't what amex is about. These members are in a different zip code than us and amex caters to them.

Re: Does anyone have the American Express Centurion Card?

Berk — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 18:03:23 GMT

@redpat wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Berk wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
The biggest benefit to the Centurion Card is the purchasing powers. Unlike the other charge cards with "no pre-set spending limit*", the Centurion Card has truly unlimited spending ability (provided you keep the account in good order, of course).
No, it does not. While it may appear to be unlimited to we hoi polloi, Amex does limit the spend just like it does with any other of its charge cards. No pre set spend limit means exactly what it says-whether Amex is dealing with me or Bill Gates. After all, Amex does not have unlimited resources.
Pooka89 until just recently was an Amex employee who is very familiar with their policies.
+1 and I can attest these members have more rope that we do. These members have their NetJets memberships on it and for amex to deny a charge to a member and put them in an embarrassing position isn't what amex is about. These members are in a different zip code than us and amex caters to them.

Having more rope does not mean unlimited rope. Even their rope comes to an end at some point. Truly unlimited spending ability means just that - there is absolutely zero ceiling for each holder when it comes to the amount they could potentially put on the card. I am telling you that unless Amex has truly unlimited resources they ARE NOT providing "truly unlimited spending ability." Being able to put a $170 million piece of art on the card is a far cry from unlimited spending ability when you are talking about the combined net worth of Centurion card holders.

Re: Does anyone have the American Express Centurion Card?

atst2000 — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 18:25:57 GMT

Berk, do you even know what your talking about? Do you work for Amex? This card is well known, and known for a UNLIMITED spending amount.

Why do you think you have to be 'Rich" to have the card? Obviously no moron is going to spend 100 million dollars with it. No sane merchant is going to take

a purchase that large with a "charge card".

Re: Does anyone have the American Express Centurion Card?

Berk — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 18:48:31 GMT

@atst2000 wrote:
Berk, do you even know what your talking about? Do you work for Amex? This card is well known, and known for a UNLIMITED spending amount.
Why do you think you have to be 'Rich" to have the card? Obviously no moron is going to spend 100 million dollars with it. No sane merchant is going to take
a purchase that large with a "charge card".

1 Yes

2. No

3. This card does not have unlimited spending. Just like any of its other charge card it has "no pre set spend limit" - that little tidbit straight from Amex. Besides, it would not make any economic sense for Amex to allow every card holder to spend as much as they wanted when they wanted on the card. They could find themselves with not enough cash on hand to pay the merchants.

4. What do you mean by rich? Certainly, the top 1% earners in the U.S. would qualify as rich - at least in my book they do.

5. Plenty of morons have spent more than 100 million with it.

6. Apparently, there are insane merchants out there - art dealers, real estate agents, yacht brokers, etc.

So, that leaves me to wonder "Do YOU really know what you are talking about?"

And, because Amex does not disclose the particulars of this card except for a titbit here and there and the vast majority of holders of the personal Centurion don't really discuss it at all, we commoners are left to wonder.