As more Americans return to travel, many appreciate their travel experiences more than ever after enduring 18 months of no travel. People recognize that they have more choices when deciding where to travel, how to travel, and how to pay for travel (cash or points.) Once you become a points addict like me, you want to ensure you’re using the best card to accumulate points to travel more and also receive the best service.
Every card advertises its benefits, and many charge quite a premium. I have tried them all, and today I want to show you one example of how sometimes the perks aren’t worth the fee. The American Express Centurion card continues to increase the price to its cardholders, which is currently $5,000 for each card in the family or business. They advertise elite travel benefits, but in my experience have not been able to follow through with what they advertise.
We contacted Centurion to secure us a dinner reservation near our hotel, only to be answered with a quick message stating that the restaurant’s website says they are fully booked. After Centurion told my partner and me that they could not acquire a reservation, I realized that the hotel we were staying at was a Marriott brand hotel. I contacted my Marriott Titanium Ambassador, who made it happen! It’s important to mention that I pay zero fees for the Marriott Ambassador service, whereas I pay $5,000 a year per Centurion card. Unfortunately, Centurion perks keep decreasing, and the service doesn’t seem to get you the access that they advertise. So, are elite cards always worth the cost? In this case, it wasn’t. It was more beneficial to be a Marriott member!
— Teri