Travel credit (TC) is nice, especially with companion reserve card. But I already have explorer and edge, this makes me ineligible for another Amex credit card. So I'm only entitled to $450, not $850. Gotta factor that in.
Each person can have up to four AMEX-issued credit cards as a primary cardholder (this includes regular personal cards, business cards, David Jones cards and Westpac cards), and an unlimited number of charge cards and supplementary cards, subject to meeting AMEX’s usual credit assessment requirements etc. The limit was two cards a while back but it changed last year I believe.
I'm on the side of no, it's not worth the annual fee.
I can get it for $1200 from my professional association, even that I don't think it's worth it.
AFR for $628? Would you normally subscribe it at that price? I normally don't read it so it's of $0 value to me.
Travel credit (TC) is nice, especially with companion reserve card. But I already have explorer and edge, this makes me ineligible for another Amex credit card. So I'm only entitled to $450, not $850. Gotta factor that in.
Even if I can get $850 TC, it's not same as cash and you can't combine them. So you need to have 2 travel plans per year to use it. Not all airlines and hotels are bookable with Amex travel. So I wouldn't say it's worth $850 but maybe $700-800 worth.
With the hotel perks, other than Hilton gold, all other gold memberships don't really give you much perks especially after Aug when Marriott gold won't get free breakfast/ lounge. Also we don't know if Amex will continue the same deal with Marriott after Aug.
Accor Plus membership is nice. But again not something I would spend $385 to get as I don't usually stay or dine in Accor hotels. The free night may have some value though if you travel enough.
So it really leaves lounge access as a decent benefit. If you travel enough in economy, those lounge access may be of benefit, especially VA lounge and priority pass. You just gotta question if it's worth it for you. I'm a QC member and flies QF mainly so VA lounge access is irrelevant.
I'm not saying it's completely useless card. Everyone's situation is different and you need to factor that in to decide if it's worth it for you or not. If you can make a good use out of all the benefits, then $1450 is worth it. Just not for me at this stage.
I tend to agree. If you wouldn't normally pay for the benefits then they aren't going to be much value. Particularly if you already have airline status or fly business class and wouldn't use priority pass. The biggest benefit for me personally is a hotel programme which gives you lounge access and/or breakfast. Accor is great unless you are like me and you travel mostly to the USA where they don't have any Accor hotels😥
this is making the centurion " black" card look worse and worse value for money...the platinum and centurion are converging so it is definitely value for money compared to the centurion. At 5K p.a. get a higher status with hilton (diamond) and a couple of other hotel chains/ qantas club and skywards gold but that's it. Hopefully they can increase the centurion benefits
Is it worth it? I dont think so but i put it through the business as an expense, yes the upgrades are great in hotels, and you get Diamond Hilton, Platinum IHG, Accor Platinum etc, there are a lot of perks however if you do not travel i dont believe the Centurion is worth it.
this is making the centurion " black" card look worse and worse value for money...the platinum and centurion are converging so it is definitely value for money compared to the centurion. At 5K p.a. get a higher status with hilton (diamond) and a couple of other hotel chains/ qantas club and skywards gold but that's it. Hopefully they can increase the centurion benefits
You are spot on, there is now a smaller gap between both cards and the Centurion apart from being made from titanium really is losing appeal. The benefits need to increase, id like to see more free nights or at least 1 comp upgrade on an airline per year.
Also members of several professional associations and trade unions can get the Platinum card for $1200. If you're a member of any such association, you should check your association's website for a "membership benefits" page to see if you qualify.
Awesome! Thanks - I’ll check!
Amex has discontinued its tie with Chartered Accountant and CPA. Don't know the others.
It still offers $250 annual fee discount for the existing card holders.
Also members of several professional associations and trade unions can get the Platinum card for $1200. If you're a member of any such association, you should check your association's website for a "membership benefits" page to see if you qualify.
Awesome! Thanks - I’ll check!
Amex has discontinued its tie with Chartered Accountant and CPA. Don't know the others.
It still offers $250 annual fee discount for the existing card holders.
That's very unfortunate. I just checked and I can confirm that it's still available to my association for $1200.
I tend to agree. If you wouldn't normally pay for the benefits then they aren't going to be much value. Particularly if you already have airline status or fly business class and wouldn't use priority pass. The biggest benefit for me personally is a hotel programme which gives you lounge access and/or breakfast. Accor is great unless you are like me and you travel mostly to the USA where they don't have any Accor hotels😥
I actually find Priority Pass quite useful even though I often have access to airline lounges too - having Priority Pass (whether through AMEX or a standalone membership) gives you a better choice of lounges at the airport, so if the regular airline lounge is busy, noisy or simply not too great, you have better alternatives. It also opens the door to some arrivals lounges, such as at London Heathrow, which even some premium airline passengers don't get access to - you can fly Singapore Airlines Suites Class into London and get no arrivals lounge from your ticket, but if you have a Priority Pass card, boom, you're into an arrivals lounge to revive after your flight. In Australia it's also useful for the pre-flight dining benefits at a range of airports, and can come in handy if you have to fly with a different airline that day than you otherwise would (particularly regional airlines from Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide where PP members can access the Rex Lounges, while status wouldn't get you much unless you were flying QantasLink or VARA). Everybody's travel is different, of course, but I used to think the same thing - "I already have lounge access so I don't need this" - but now, with the PP card coming in handy so many times, I think it's definitely a handy thing for even business class flyers to have.
Also members of several professional associations and trade unions can get the Platinum card for $1200. If you're a member of any such association, you should check your association's website for a "membership benefits" page to see if you qualify.
Awesome! Thanks - I’ll check!
Amex has discontinued its tie with Chartered Accountant and CPA. Don't know the others.
It still offers $250 annual fee discount for the existing card holders.
Not sure where this info comes from - it's still available on the CPA Australia website as a benefit & the link takes you to an CPA branded Amex page to apply....$1,200 annual fee after the $250 discount.
with travel best is get the lowest price for the same room (upgrade cat) cat and air fares. from any web sites.over one year period you will be better off with any CR cards including Centurion. Unless American express can now increase its benefits, there are other FREE cr cards.which will save you much more and less problems.
Also members of several professional associations and trade unions can get the Platinum card for $1200. If you're a member of any such association, you should check your association's website for a "membership benefits" page to see if you qualify.
Awesome! Thanks - I’ll check!
Amex has discontinued its tie with Chartered Accountant and CPA. Don't know the others.
It still offers $250 annual fee discount for the existing card holders.
Not sure where this info comes from - it's still available on the CPA Australia website as a benefit & the link takes you to an CPA branded Amex page to apply....$1,200 annual fee after the $250 discount.
I believe it was the agreement with Engineers Australia that ended, not CPA etc. Correct though that from November 1, the annual fee for all these existing ‘affinity’ cards will rise from $950 to $1200 when next-billed (while at the same time, the public card increases from $1200 to $1450 for existing customers).
Is there an Amex yearly fee for the Reserve card as well as the Platinum charge card?
No - the literature that comes with the card explains that the Reserve annual fee is perpetually waived as long as the primary cardholder continues to hold a Platinum Charge or Centurion card. If the Plat Charge or Centurion card is ever cancelled, a $395 annual fee will be charged on the Reserve at its next anniversary, although with the card having its own $400/year Travel Credit, it's one of those things that would still pay for itself: but much better being a 'free' add-on, of course!
SydneyTravels
SydneyTravels
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 01 May 2015
Total posts 33
Awesome. Thanks!
Chris C.
Chris C.
Member since 24 Apr 2012
Total posts 1,116
Each person can have up to four AMEX-issued credit cards as a primary cardholder (this includes regular personal cards, business cards, David Jones cards and Westpac cards), and an unlimited number of charge cards and supplementary cards, subject to meeting AMEX’s usual credit assessment requirements etc. The limit was two cards a while back but it changed last year I believe.
antkleve
antkleve
American Airlines - AAdvantage
Member since 15 Feb 2013
Total posts 18
I tend to agree. If you wouldn't normally pay for the benefits then they aren't going to be much value. Particularly if you already have airline status or fly business class and wouldn't use priority pass. The biggest benefit for me personally is a hotel programme which gives you lounge access and/or breakfast. Accor is great unless you are like me and you travel mostly to the USA where they don't have any Accor hotels😥
mnc
mnc
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 06 Aug 2017
Total posts 37
this is making the centurion " black" card look worse and worse value for money...the platinum and centurion are converging so it is definitely value for money compared to the centurion. At 5K p.a. get a higher status with hilton (diamond) and a couple of other hotel chains/ qantas club and skywards gold but that's it. Hopefully they can increase the centurion benefits
mushmush
mushmush
Singapore Airlines - The PPS Club
Member since 14 Nov 2013
Total posts 40
Last year i was charged $5000 as an annual fee.
mushmush
mushmush
Singapore Airlines - The PPS Club
Member since 14 Nov 2013
Total posts 40
You are spot on, there is now a smaller gap between both cards and the Centurion apart from being made from titanium really is losing appeal. The benefits need to increase, id like to see more free nights or at least 1 comp upgrade on an airline per year.
Ross
Ross
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 10 May 2014
Total posts 83
KK
KK
Air China - Phoenix Miles
Member since 20 Dec 2012
Total posts 12
Awesome! Thanks - I’ll check!
Amex has discontinued its tie with Chartered Accountant and CPA. Don't know the others.
It still offers $250 annual fee discount for the existing card holders.
Sibelius
Sibelius
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 06 Aug 2017
Total posts 181
Awesome! Thanks - I’ll check!
Amex has discontinued its tie with Chartered Accountant and CPA. Don't know the others.
It still offers $250 annual fee discount for the existing card holders.
That's very unfortunate. I just checked and I can confirm that it's still available to my association for $1200.
Chris C.
Chris C.
Member since 24 Apr 2012
Total posts 1,116
I actually find Priority Pass quite useful even though I often have access to airline lounges too - having Priority Pass (whether through AMEX or a standalone membership) gives you a better choice of lounges at the airport, so if the regular airline lounge is busy, noisy or simply not too great, you have better alternatives. It also opens the door to some arrivals lounges, such as at London Heathrow, which even some premium airline passengers don't get access to - you can fly Singapore Airlines Suites Class into London and get no arrivals lounge from your ticket, but if you have a Priority Pass card, boom, you're into an arrivals lounge to revive after your flight. In Australia it's also useful for the pre-flight dining benefits at a range of airports, and can come in handy if you have to fly with a different airline that day than you otherwise would (particularly regional airlines from Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide where PP members can access the Rex Lounges, while status wouldn't get you much unless you were flying QantasLink or VARA). Everybody's travel is different, of course, but I used to think the same thing - "I already have lounge access so I don't need this" - but now, with the PP card coming in handy so many times, I think it's definitely a handy thing for even business class flyers to have.
Greg84
Greg84
Member since 03 Nov 2014
Total posts 130
Awesome! Thanks - I’ll check!
Amex has discontinued its tie with Chartered Accountant and CPA. Don't know the others.
It still offers $250 annual fee discount for the existing card holders.
Not sure where this info comes from - it's still available on the CPA Australia website as a benefit & the link takes you to an CPA branded Amex page to apply....$1,200 annual fee after the $250 discount.
yolandlim
yolandlim
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 14 May 2018
Total posts 6
with travel best is get the lowest price for the same room (upgrade cat) cat and air fares. from any web sites.over one year period you will be better off with any CR cards including Centurion. Unless American express can now increase its benefits, there are other FREE cr cards.which will save you much more and less problems.
Chris C.
Chris C.
Member since 24 Apr 2012
Total posts 1,116
Awesome! Thanks - I’ll check!
Amex has discontinued its tie with Chartered Accountant and CPA. Don't know the others.
It still offers $250 annual fee discount for the existing card holders.
Not sure where this info comes from - it's still available on the CPA Australia website as a benefit & the link takes you to an CPA branded Amex page to apply....$1,200 annual fee after the $250 discount.
I believe it was the agreement with Engineers Australia that ended, not CPA etc. Correct though that from November 1, the annual fee for all these existing ‘affinity’ cards will rise from $950 to $1200 when next-billed (while at the same time, the public card increases from $1200 to $1450 for existing customers).
lind26
lind26
Member since 24 Apr 2014
Total posts 231
Is there an Amex yearly fee for the Reserve card as well as the Platinum charge card?
Chris C.
Chris C.
Member since 24 Apr 2012
Total posts 1,116
No - the literature that comes with the card explains that the Reserve annual fee is perpetually waived as long as the primary cardholder continues to hold a Platinum Charge or Centurion card. If the Plat Charge or Centurion card is ever cancelled, a $395 annual fee will be charged on the Reserve at its next anniversary, although with the card having its own $400/year Travel Credit, it's one of those things that would still pay for itself: but much better being a 'free' add-on, of course!