First Class Upgrades Much Easier This Time

The Encore is incredible, especially the Salon suite. I must get a room soon

You’ll have no problem with USAIR. The Platinum Medallion is much better than any of the other medallions we get. I always try to fly them when possible as they give a 5 day window for upgrade notification plus companions are included with Any fare basis (unlike delta). I always book the least expensive fare via an online site, sorry amex, and give my ff acct #, thats it. 5 days out you will receive your upgrade via email. When I renewed my Centurion I was offered the opportunity to upgrade my USAIR status from Platinum to Chairmans. This came from USAIR direct after my first year with them. It cost me $800 to do this but now I get a 7 day upgrade window plus 2 rt upgrade certificates good for Europe and Hawaii upgrades. Mahalo!

Just returned from Newark on Delta yesterday. Upgraded to Business Elite 3 days out. First time in this cabin (767-300 if you care about this stuff). Fantastic all the way around. Lie-Flat seating and enough room to be comfortable for any distance.

I’ve had my card for 3 years and I have gotten very used to all of the travel perks and upgrades. I have never been denied an airline upgrade and have taken no fewer than 15 flights in 3 years, at least. For me though, checking into hotels is the most fun. Just slap it down and a suite awaits. And if they dont offer you one, just ask for it…You’ll get it.

question, do u stay at the wynn often? im planning a trip there later this year with a friend for a few days and was looking at the wynn/encore, do they always send rides to pick people up? or is that just because uve visted before and gambled a lot with them? same for comps, normal? or just because your a frequent customer

Yea I stay there fairly often. The reason we got the comp and the ride is because we have been several times before and gambled a lot. However, if you gamble a lot while you’re there, they can comp your room for that trip.

I was in Vegas during the same weekend as you. Small world.

Also got upgraded both directions - as usual (I can count on one hand the number of times I have not been upgraded with Delta, Continental and US Airways in the years since becoming a Centurion member)

I stayed just over a week, in 2 hotels - Trump and Venetian.

Both of them upgraded in advance, due to the booking through Amex Travel. However, these upgrades were to a “better view”, and not a larger room type.
I tried to phone the hotel directly, but they would not upgrade anything more than a better view.

However, when I checked in - I plunked down the metal card when asked to take a credit card imprint. This, with no visible fanfare - immediately upgraded me to a 2-room suite in both hotels. There was only one other larger room in either place, and it was occupied.

So I got the second largest suite in each hotel, simply by quietly showing the card when checking in.

I have done the same in recent weeks, in other US Cities. The Ritz Carlton also “could not upgrade” when I asked at check in, yet gave me a 2-room suite when I presented the card 5 seconds later.

Maybe it is luck, maybe it is nice front-desk staff, or maybe there is an unspoken policy here. I don’t know, nor am I complaining…

I flew from Boston Logan to Newark International last weekend on Continental. There is nothing “elite” about continental elite access. I booked the flight a week in advance through centurion travel, and not only was I not upgraded either way, but somehow I got a middle seat. It was one of the worst flights I have ever been on. My above head air vent was broken, it was scorching hot on the plane, they were out of diet coke, the ice for the drinks had all melted as a result of the plane being so hot. Row 24 middle seat, they call that elite? Both flights were overbooked, but nevertheless you’d think they could do better than that.

I am going to spend next week at my condo in Naples, FL. Jet Blue is the only airline that offers a good selection of flight times from Boston to Ft. Myers so I will be flying with them. No upgrade potential, but I went for the 38″ of legroom seat, Row 1. I’ll try out my centurion in the Florida area and keep you guys posted.

June 26-29 I will be going to Vegas with my friend Kevin, who is also a Centurion member. We are staying at the Encore at the Wynn. I have never been to vegas before so i’m sure we won’t get the room comp’d but I hope to get an upgrade. I booked a Panoramic View Dbl. Queen Suite, so in theory I should get upgraded to either a Tower Suite or a Salon Suite. It says online that the tower suites are all booked, so I’m hoping to get the “double upgrade” as a result. Has anyone else every received such an upgrade?

I inquired about the Wynn’s Rolls Royce Phantom picking us up at the airport, but allegedly that privilege is only extended to guests staying in a tower suite or better.

Does anyone have a good dedicated travel concierge they could recommend to me? I haven’t chosen one yet because I have yet to be impressed. My dedicated personal concierge has done a great job, but the travel concierge representatives I have spoken with so far have been sub-par.

Travel concierges are in another category to Personal concierges.

The personal concierge’s job is to help you - they get paid a salary for doing what they do. The better ones get promotions and bonuses - and the major “promotion” is being reallocated from Plat to Cent, and from Cent to Cent VIP.

The travel concierge is an employee of a travel agency. They get paid by selling you tickets and reservations, and they make commissions on what they do. Whether they do a good job or not is less important than what they get you to buy. That’s why there have been many more complaints on the level of service and expectations.

The quicker people realize that the only thing travel “concierges” have in common with special service is the word “concierge” that Amex calls them, the quicker they will understand that if you want something done, or special services, or preferential treatment - you should go to a personal concierge. Not the commission-based agents for the travel agency which Amex has subcontracted out…

Fabulous posts and insight, keep them coming. Great pics b.t.w., admin! :o)

The Phantom’s actually drop people off at a different entrance specifically for a section of the Encore Tower Suites. The rooms at the Wynn and Encore are all very nice, but the Tower Suites are definitely my favorites. They’ve been really busy the past few weeks, legitimately booked solid some nights, but I’d keep trying.

It’ll be tough to get the double-upgrade with the Centurion card. I know last time when I booked specifically for the Wynn, they just upgraded to a higher room level, rather then bumping to a suite.

PS, Great weekend to go. With the WSOP heating up AND Summer time that’ll be a great weekend, should be a lot of fun.

My wife and I have been EASILY getting first class upgrades with our black card as well.

Because of the economy companies are not flying people around first class as much anymore. GOOD for us!

I will try the Wynn’s “Centurion Program” over the weekend, and let you know how that went.

Supposedly, they have a “special” amenity for Cent cards, which is a $100 resort credit. However, anyone who books (through them, or through an agent, or even on hotels.com) gets a $75 credit anyway.

I checked to see whether this was really a “special” benefit for Centurion - and whether you get this amenity in addition to what “everyone” gets. And… it’s not. In order to get the special black $100 credit, you have to forfeit the $75 credit. In other words, you get a $25 credit for being a Black Amex and booking through Amex Travel… Not so impressive to say the least.

In fact, with a 2-night reservation booked through the hotel themselves - you get free luxury chauffered airport transfers (both ways). If you book through Amex or use the “centurion benefits” you are ineligible…

You guys get kicks out of the most pathetic things.

The fact that a silly Black card ( or silver one - platinum) can not only make you feel better about yourself, but actually give you the sense of eliteness amongst your peers is juvenille.

It simply highlights how each of you is a sucker for such marketing, and are actually willing to fork out money ( irrespective of the amount) for the sake of enhancing your percieved wealth in the eyes of some poor shlepper at the supermarket checkout.

After spending Vast amounts of time in the States, I noted that you guys do not seem to suffer from any form of Tall-poppy syndrome, but seem to rather engage in ” one ups-manship”, whether its buying grotesque and chintzy jewllery (AKA Bling Bling), putting spinners on your cars or buying cars/perishables beyond your budget or simply just for the image that it may project… Pretty Shallow… Its much more refreshing seeing wealthy business men sitting down in a pub on a friday afternoon and having a chat to the local green grocer… Thats Egalitarianism for you.

Another thing, any old idiot who chooses to put their business purchases through an Amex can get a damn black card… hardly elite… so next time your tempted to apply for one… just put your damn head down and work harder, because if you need a card to reassure you that youve arrived… then you need a labotomy.

@Andrew Forrest:

So…Amex denied your application for the Centurion card I take it?

Maybe his spelling and/or grammar disqualified him.

I’ll think of him next time Iam in Virgin Upper Class on my way to Heathrow. Wanker.

Exactly the response I would expected, Maybe you should google my name before you make such comments,Sorry my half assed grammar is not up to scratch, I seem to have got to where I am dispite my humble beginnings.

@Andrew Forrest - I think one reason for this expensive card is the attention it attracts, which some people are willing to pay the substantial card fees for. As you’ll know, it’s quite possible to fly first class without it. Maybe this is one reason why this card is so much more successful in the USA than in Europe. It’s been noted elsewhere that it is not always wise to draw such attention. Maybe some black card holders keep a plain green Amex alongside for times when attention is not desired or could even be dangerous.

As a piece of marketing you really can’t fault Amex. It began as a mere rumor of an unlimited card for billionaires, heads of state and celebrities. Now moderately successful businessmen rearrange their financial and business affairs - and maximize Amex’s merchant fees - in the hope of achieving the required annual spend to qualify. And it markets itself as this blog shows. I do wonder if, in pursuit of profit, Amex have made the card a little too available. Maybe soon there will be another invitation only card, being quietly offered to billionaires, heads of state and celebrities. Wonder what color it will be.

Those of you sneering at Andrew Forrest might find this interesting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Forrest

Went on my own trip to the Encore this weekend with my friend Kevin, who is also a centurion holder. We stayed at Encore and they do a great job. I highly recommend them in terms of service, decor, and convenience. I booked the room through Amex travel, but unfortunately we missed our connecting flight so by the time we arrived at the hotel around 11 we were informed that no upgrades were available. We booked the Panoramic View suite which was very nice and had an excellent view of the strip. Really wasn’t an issue that we didn’t get upgraded. When we checked out the woman at the front desk said that they forgot to add my centurion benefits to the bill and removed an additional $240 from our bill. I played a little blackjack as well so the Encore comped all of our charges, a nice touch, especially since I took them for $1200. Lastly, I called down and requested that the hotel arrange for their Phantom to take us to the airport. I was informed that this was impossible as the Phantom is only available to fully comped guests. However, we found an excellent company called Benzo Luxury Rent-A-Car which was able to accommodate us in a phantom for $250. The driver was extremely professional and offered some great advice. They offer luxury rentals by the day in addition to chauffeur driven cars. We may have to rent their McLaren SLR on our next trip! :). For anyone who’s interested, here is their website, I recommend them with the highest regard.http://www.benzorentacar.com/

Lastly,

Clubs:

We each called our centurion personal concierge ahead of time and requested to be put on the VIP lists at Playboy Club, The Bank, Pure, and Rain with the ability for each of us to bring a girl. Centurion took care of this with no snags, but when we arrived at Pure we had to wait 20 minutes even though we were VIP. The VIP manager was able to accommodate us in the end, but I was not pleased with the wait. We got into Playboy and Rain with no wait even though the lines were out the door. Overall, I was pleased with the level of service centurion was able to provide. Upgrade would have been nice.

-John

John,

Ironic how, as a fellow Centurion holder - you glowingly recommend Benzo rentals… They don’t take Amex.

Just found that amusing.

When is the last time you were there Hando? I paid for the Rolls with my centurion. They must have decided to start taking amex. There’s nothing that irritates me more than luxury businesses that don’t take amex, so I agree with you there. Smart business decision by Benzo to make that change.

John,

I guess they haven’t updated the change on their website - which says:

“BENZO Rent-A-Car accepts the following methods of payment: Cash, Debit Card, Traveler’s Checks, Company Account, VISA, Master Card, Discover and Diners Club.”

No mention of Amex.

Glad they let you pay with the Centurion…

Didn’t notice that, I sent them an email telling them that they should update it. Good catch.

We should have a centurion meet up in Vegas one weekend, that could be a blast. We could probably get centurion to sponsor it as a centurion event.

John,

Remember “black card club”? They tried their hand at Centurion parties and meet-ups, but all they got from their efforts were legal letters from Amex for capitalizing on the name of one of their products without authorization.

I doubt Amex would ever do any such meeting, let alone sponsor someone trying to put something cool together…

Ask your personal concierge to look out for co-marketing events in your city (not sure where that would be) which some luxury partners do from time to time.

These are Centurion-only events, usually offer an open bar and canapes, through a particular luxury retailer who shuts their doors to the public and hosts a “private party” involving (hopefully for them) shopping, meet-and-greet with a famous personality or stylist, and a goodie bag on your way out.

Last one I recall going to was at Hermes on Madison Ave in New York.

I may try to set something like that up for my company.
We are a new American Auto company that is going to revolutionize the whole industry using crowdsourcing and advanced lightweight materials to create a car that is environmentally and economically sustainable.

Check out the website: http://www.local-motors.com

We start taking $99 fully-fundable deposits for our first production car, the Rally Fighter July 15th, at 12pm.

And of course, we take AMEX

When booking travel through American Express you need to be extremely specific or they will screw you. I asked them to book me a flight from Detroit to New York and to find me a good deal on a room at either the Carlyle, the W or the Mandarin Oriental. I checked the prices through their website before calling and found that flight was $188 through Delta, with plenty of preferred seats available and the hotel rooms could be found for $200-$600 depending on which hotel, I asked for the cheapest of those hotels available. I gave the concierge the flight numbers so they couldn’t screw that up and asked what they had on the hotel. They told me the best deal was the Mandarin Oriental for $700 per night. I asked why I see the W for only $200 online and then she said “you’re right that is available” so why were they trying to make me pay and extra $500? I requested that they complete the reservation and email me confirmation. When I got the email I realized that not only did they not give me the Delta preferred seat I was entitled to but they stuck me in a middle seat. Also the hotel room cost me $50 more than it would have online, which itself is $50 more than the hotels.com price. They also did not give the hotel my starwoods rewards number so I wouldn’t have got credit for the stay. Fortunately I was able to call and have everything fixed aside from the extra hotel charge. Bottom line is if you don’t specify every detail you will get screwed.

hey Hando correction on the travel agents being subcontracted out, they aren’t, they are amex employees in (mia, phx, atl, slc & jax), sorry to bust ur bubble bro.

jstin:
No they’re not. Nobody’s “bubble got busted”.

The “travel concierges” are not amex reps.

They are employees of a full service rretail travel agency called “American Express Travel Services”. It is owned by the parent company of amex, but they are not part of the amex card or service or banking divisions. They are a retail travel agency, which books travel itineraries for anyone with any credit card. They do not work for amex to service cardholders - the only connection is the similarity of the name in their travel agency.

You are confused. Ever see a local “American Express Travel” office? They don’t do card applications there, nor services, nor can they access your account nor tell you anything other than booking a flight/hotel/cruise: For which they get fees, and the individual agents receive a commission.