What is a Credit Card Concierge?
Sara Skodak
Author12 min read
You don’t need to check into a luxury hotel to tap into concierge services. With credit card concierge services, gain access to a personal assistant no matter where you are. These professionals are on-call to tackle those tedious tasks you don’t have time for – from travel bookings to ticket purchases.
All you need is a participating card and a reasonable request – as long as you're okay with picking up the bill.
How do you use Credit Card Concierge Services?
To take advantage of your card's concierge services, you'll need to call the concierge phone number or customer service phone number on the back of your credit card. You can also find contact information on your card's mobile app or official website.
Once you're connected with a credit card concierge, you'll need to provide them with certain details for account verification. They may ask you for your name, your credit card number, or other personal information to confirm who they're speaking to.
From there, you may begin your request; whether that be a purchase, a reservation, or travel arrangements. To accommodate you properly, expect the concierge to ask you for specifics regarding budget, preferences, and timelines. This way, they can curate the perfect service for you. To help them achieve this goal, you'll want to be as straightforward as possible about your request. At the end of the call, they should provide a completion deadline for the service.
After you hang up, the concierge will gather all the necessary details and execute the request. Expect to hear back from them within the proposed timeline either by email or even with a phone call in some cases (this will all depend on the service, network, and concierge you're dealing with.)
What's Included in Credit Card Concierge Services?
Now that we've covered how to use credit card concierge services, it's important to discuss the types of services you can request.
Specific services may vary between providers, so you'll always want to confirm whether your task can be completed by the concierge. To help you get an idea of what you can ask for, here's a list of some common requests:
Travel Bookings
Whether that be finding the best flight, securing transportation to or from the airport, or crafting an entire itinerary altogether; swap a travel agent for a personal assistant.
Trips are supposed to be an escape, and oftentimes, the most stress comes from the planning. With a credit card concierge, you can take some of that pressure away while still taking part in the decision-making process. You'd be surprised how much can be planned after a simple conversation discussing what type of traveler you are. This might include what you like to do, the types of attractions you want to see, and the kinds of local cuisine you want to taste. Let the experts draft the itinerary, and then all you have to do is approve and cover the costs.
Personal Shopping
If you have a birthday or anniversary coming up and you simply don't have the time to browse during your busy schedule, your credit card concierge can take the lead. This can be helpful in situations when you know the type of gift you want but don't have the time to order it, or even the times when you're not sure what to pick out. In these cases, the concierge may ask you for details regarding the likes and dislikes of the person you're celebrating so they can get a better idea of what suggestions to make. Along with your gift, you can even have them assist you in planning the perfect date to accompany it.
Another shopping service that people request through credit card concierge services is floral deliveries. Tell your concierge what types of flowers you'd like arranged (or not and they'll pick something for you), inform them of your budget, and pay off the balance around the same time you receive the thank you text from the recipient.
With credit card concierge services, personal shopping can get even more personalized. If you're looking for a one-of-a-kind item, but can't seem to find it, you're concierge might be able to track it down for you.
Restaurant Reservations
There have been users who have been told by both reservation booking apps and the restaurant staff themselves that there are no tables left to reserve at their requested time. It wasn't until they called their credit card concierge that they were able to secure their reservation as close to the requested time as possible. How were they able to do this? In some situations, your credit card concierge network may have the necessary connections and relationships to make these types of tasks possible.
Here is some first-hand feedback from cardholders who had similar experiences with concierge services that we pulled from Reddit:
"[Amex Platinum] got me a table for four fairly last minute (like 2 days before) at the Jade River Restaurant in Guangzhou, which is usually very difficult to get a reservation (and they don't have Resy/OpenTable). When I went, dozens of people were waiting outside for cancellations / for walk-ins."
"My best targeted "wins" were a reservation at Kappo in Madrid 2 days in advance at a time when they were fully booked more than a month out. And a table for 6 at The Camberwell Arms in London for their Sunday roast (the date and the following couple Sundays were both fully booked out online with no availability for a table of 2 even). I've also had success calling them saying "here's what I like to eat, find me a restaurant in Prague in X price range & make a reservation for 2 tomorrow" so that I could have a dinner booked on arrival without having to research while I was busy working & traveling." (Source: Reddit)
Either way, whether you're having trouble making a restaurant reservation or if you don't have the time to pick a place and book your table, there's a credit card benefit for that.
Ticket Purchases
Certain tasks are both time-sensitive and time-consuming. Purchasing tickets, whether that be for a sports event, a concert, or some other type of performance, is one of those tasks. Oftentimes, you're fighting to get the best deals or to scoop up seats before they're sold out. Sometimes, these sales happen spontaneously in the middle of the day, right before you're headed into a big meeting. This is when you can outsource your ticket hunt to a credit card concierge.
As with any service request, set a budget, throw in some preferences in terms of seat selection and accommodations, and allow the concierge to get to work while you finish yours.
What Can't a Credit Card Concierge Do?
There are some requests that a credit card concierge cannot fulfill. For example, they won't be able to help retrieve classified information or perform in-person tasks or errands. In terms of medical assistance, not every card will be able to help in severe situations. That said, some credit card concierge services like the American Express Platinum Card services may help with things like booking appointments and filing insurance claims, especially when travelling. However, there will be cases where they may not be able to file or finalize these processes, so be prepared to get involved when necessary.
If you require further clarification, you can always call your credit card concierge for a breakdown of the services they offer.
Are Credit Card Concierge Services Worth It?
Should you select a credit card solely based on whether or not it has concierge services? Probably not. You'll want to choose a credit card based on other factors like annual value, whether it has perks compatible with your lifestyle, and whether it supports your spending levels. That said, if you find a card that matches all of the above and comes with credit card concierge services, then it might be worthwhile to see what it's all about.
To help you decide if this benefit is worth your time, here's a list of pros and cons of using credit card concierge services:
Pros of using Credit Card Concierge Services
If you're travelling and want to truly enjoy your vacation, a credit card concierge can help you book tours, reservations, and experiences while you spend your time doing what's most important – sightseeing and/or relaxing.
If you're visiting a country where English isn't common, you can use credit card concierge services to help you make reservations and bookings without being fluent in the national language.
You can learn something new from the recommendations provided by your concierge, they might be able to book you an experience that you might not have come across on your own.
If you're already paying for the card, technically, you're already paying for the service. So, you might as well try it out. Or if your card has no annual fee and offers concierge services, it's a complimentary perk that's worth looking into.
Cons of using Credit Card Concierge Services
Sometimes, it might be easier to manage small, time-sensitive tasks yourself, especially when you consider the wait times that might be associated with certain credit card concierge services and calls.
If you're concerned for your privacy, it's also important to note that some services might require you to share your personal information.
Some credit card concierge services may try to upsell you, picking options still technically within your budget, but not necessarily at the best deal.
While credit card concierge services try to cover a lot of tasks, there's still always a chance that they won't be able to fulfill your request, especially if an event is genuinely sold out or if you haven't given them enough time before the task is due. We mentioned a situation in the previous section where a concierge was able to book what seemed to be an unobtainable reservation. While this was a good example of what these services can do, this situation was just that, a specific situation. It would also be frustrating to wait for your task, only to find out it couldn't be completed.
Which Credit Cards are the Best for Concierge Services?
You'll find concierge services included in certain cards through Visa (specifically Visa Infinite, Signature, and Visa Infinite Privilege), Mastercard (specifically World and World Elite), and Amex networks.
Deciphering which cards are the best for these services can be more subjective than objective. For instance, since you likely won't be picking a card just for its concierge services, you'll want to take everything else each card offers into account.
If you have high spending levels and plan to spend enough on luxurious perks to offset the annual fee that comes with premium cards like the American Express Platinum Card, then you'll often hear that this card and network offers expert concierge services to its customers 24/7.
However, if you were hoping to spend a little less on annual fees, but still hold onto exclusive rewards (like the rare no-foreign transaction fees benefit) and Amex perks, then the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card might be better suited to you.
Beyond Amex options, which sometimes aren't as widely accepted for spending, you can also find alternatives like the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard that boasts concierge services alongside an annual birthday bonus, price protection, and solid travel perks. Or the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card that caters to Air Canada travelers with Aeroplan point rewards and extensive insurance policies.
But, if you were hoping to apply for a card that offers concierge services for free (meaning there's no annual fee), then the Triangle World Elite Mastercard which comes equipped with both concierge services and a unique roadside assistance plan, might be a top contender.
Each network claims to offer 24/7 concierge services for tasks like restaurant reservations, trip planning and personal purchases. So really, it comes down to picking the perfect card for you and enjoying the service as an added bonus. If you're really looking for the best of the best, user feedback typically boasts about American Express services, specifically from the American Express Platinum Card.
Conclusion
A credit card concierge is an added perk on certain credit cards. Credit card concierge services cater to tasks like online bookings, travel itineraries, and reservations. If you're paying the annual fee for a card that includes this benefit or if your no-annual-fee card happens to come with it, it could be a good option to use when life gets busy, but there's still plenty to plan and lots to buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my credit card comes with concierge services?
If you're not sure whether your credit card has concierge services included, check the benefits listed under your card on your issuer's official website.
Does it cost money to use credit card concierge services?
It's normal to hear the words premium perk and immediately think of the word expensive, but this isn't necessarily the case with credit card concierge services.
For the service itself, the only associated costs are the ones that come with your card, specifically the annual fees. Keep in mind though that any bookings, reservations, or purchases made by your card's appointed concierge will come from your pocket and will be charged to your credit card.