Credit Card "concierge" - any one use them??

[rodndonna]

Not really a cruise question, but a question for Canadian credit card holders - have you ever used your Credit Card concierge service (if you have one)?

 

From a thread on here a couple of days ago we had an epiphany and have now switched from our TD Travel Visa Infinite and TD Visa Aeroplan Infinite to just have a TD Visa Aeroplan Priviledge card (primarily for the access to the Maple Leaf lounge!).

 

When I peruse the benefits I am intrigued with the idea of the credit card "Concierge". Apparently, we already had one .. which I was unaware of and never used.

 

I am just wondering if anyone has ever used the services of a Canadian credit card concierge and if so what their experience was (the description is pretty wide - booking flights, hotels, cruises, sports tickets, dining etc ....)

 

 

[Water_Baby_]

Years ago when we lived in the States, I used the Amex concierge service to get tickets to an event. I probably could have gotten the tickets myself, but it would have meant hours on the phone or online so it was worthwhile to have someone else handle it. 

[CDNPolar]

I just called the TD Privilege Concierge yesterday for "help with travel bookings" as it states they do...

 

They could not help me because I had a question about booking air and my Aeroplan benefits.

 

To me the Concierge program is for help with booking hotels, and in some cases exclusive restaurants.  They can offer better rates at some hotels.  Tickets and tours as well.

 

Here is the site for Visa Infinite Privilege Concierge:  https://www.visainfinite.ca/privilege/en/concierge.html

 

[rodndonna]

1 hour ago, CDNPolar said:

I just called the TD Privilege Concierge yesterday for "help with travel bookings" as it states they do...

 

They could not help me because I had a question about booking air and my Aeroplan benefits.

 

To me the Concierge program is for help with booking hotels, and in some cases exclusive restaurants.  They can offer better rates at some hotels.  Tickets and tours as well.

 

Here is the site for Visa Infinite Privilege Concierge:  https://www.visainfinite.ca/privilege/en/concierge.html

 

 

It doesn't surprise me - but kinda of a bummer when you read what they state they can help with - I would have thought flights would be the number one thing they can help with according to their website. What's the point of being an Airline travel card concierge if you can't help with booking flights? (And it specifcally mentions flights).

 

I had envisioned it perhaps being a useful resource for flight re-bookings and change arrangements rather than dealing with AIr Canada directly - but maybe not.

 

VACATION PLANNING

From pick-up to drop off, let our IATA-travel certified Concierge representatives help plan your next vacation.  Whether it’s a flight, accommodations, attractions to see and everything in between, let the Concierge team design a trip that’s perfect for you.

[CDNPolar]

25 minutes ago, rodndonna said:

 

It doesn't surprise me - but kinda of a bummer when you read what they state they can help with - I would have thought flights would be the number one thing they can help with according to their website. What's the point of being an Airline travel card concierge if you can't help with booking flights? (And it specifcally mentions flights).

 

I had envisioned it perhaps being a useful resource for flight re-bookings and change arrangements rather than dealing with AIr Canada directly - but maybe not.

 

VACATION PLANNING

From pick-up to drop off, let our IATA-travel certified Concierge representatives help plan your next vacation.  Whether it’s a flight, accommodations, attractions to see and everything in between, let the Concierge team design a trip that’s perfect for you.

 

I may have mis-spoken.  They might help you to book flights.

 

I had questions around my airport benefits with the card such as free checked baggage, etc.  This they told me I had to call Aeroplan.  

 

But, if they are a Concierge for the card, and this is a legit benefit of the card, they should be able to address my questions.

 

But, now I know one thing they cannot do.

Edited May 15 by CDNPolar

[rodndonna]

22 minutes ago, CDNPolar said:

 

I may have mis-spoken.  They might help you to book flights.

 

I had questions around my airport benefits with the card such as free checked baggage, etc.  This they told me I had to call Aeroplan.  

 

But, if they are a Concierge for the card, and this is a legit benefit of the card, they should be able to address my questions.

 

But, now I know one thing they cannot do.

 

OK - that is a little more promising. 🙂

The one thing I potentially see using then for is something like "we missed our cruise - what are our options now? .."  Hoping to never need it but it is inevitable we will some day as we often fly in day of for cruises (living on the edge!)

 

It kinda makes sense to me that they can't really speak to the "other" benefits of the card of which they are just one of the benefits.

 

Maybe not useful since you have the card already, but for others I can relay our experience getting the card and figuring out what would we get with it, in particular the "welcome bonus aspects"  which were iffy coming from existing cards (were we really "new"?). We made an appointment with TD and they took the time to go through our options regarding our existing 2 cards (cancel or upgrade)  in terms of what would provide the most benefits. It took quite a while and they had to spend quite a bit of time with Aeroplan to figure it all out. The process was more than half an hour ... maybe even an hour.....

 

 

[CDNPolar]

6 minutes ago, rodndonna said:

 

 

Maybe not useful since you have the card already, but for others I can relay our experience getting the card and figuring out what would we get with it, in particular the "welcome bonus aspects"  which were iffy coming from existing cards (were we really "new"?). We made an appointment with TD and they took the time to go through our options regarding our existing 2 cards (cancel or upgrade)  in terms of what would provide the most benefits. It took quite a while and they had to spend quite a bit of time with Aeroplan to figure it all out. The process was more than half an hour ... maybe even an hour.....

 

 

 

We went through this process and that is why we now have 3 TD Infinite Visa cards and 1 TD Infinite Privilege card.  4 cards total.

 

The first year bonus Aeroplan points, other benefits and the Companion Ticket from the Privilege card make it all worth while.

 

We also have banking plans that for the 3 TD Infinite cards, the annual fee of $139.00 is waived for all 3 cards.  Sweet.

[rodndonna]

1 hour ago, CDNPolar said:

 

We went through this process and that is why we now have 3 TD Infinite Visa cards and 1 TD Infinite Privilege card.  4 cards total.

 

The first year bonus Aeroplan points, other benefits and the Companion Ticket from the Privilege card make it all worth while.

 

We also have banking plans that for the 3 TD Infinite cards, the annual fee of $139.00 is waived for all 3 cards.  Sweet.

 

We have the TD Infinite as well with fees waved (probably same account - lol) - but am going to close those as we won't be using them and use the Aeroplan exclusively now. They just "upgraded" our Aeroplan Infinite card, so it disappeared ....

 

We asked if they could wave the spousal card fee for the Priveledge ($199), since we had the annual fees waved on the Infiinte with the account - no luck 😏

[lx200gps]

2 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

 

We went through this process and that is why we now have 3 TD Infinite Visa cards and 1 TD Infinite Privilege card.  4 cards total.

 

The first year bonus Aeroplan points, other benefits and the Companion Ticket from the Privilege card make it all worth while.

 

We also have banking plans that for the 3 TD Infinite cards, the annual fee of $139.00 is waived for all 3 cards.  Sweet.

Hands down the Buddy pass for us easily pays for the card, and the eUpgrades into Business are nice when they occasionally pay off.

[CDNPolar]

4 hours ago, rodndonna said:

 

We have the TD Infinite as well with fees waved (probably same account - lol) - but am going to close those as we won't be using them and use the Aeroplan exclusively now. They just "upgraded" our Aeroplan Infinite card, so it disappeared ....

 

We asked if they could wave the spousal card fee for the Priveledge ($199), since we had the annual fees waved on the Infiinte with the account - no luck 😏

 

Yeah, we asked about fee waivers for the Privilege card and no go... they want the $599

 

Because of Apple pay however we share the Privilege in each of our apple pay accounts.  You can tap up to $250 with Apple Pay, so we did not get the spousal card.  We are rarely not together if the purchase is above a tap limit, so sharing is not an issue and we each have our Infinite cards anyway.  We just want the max Aeroplan points from the Privilege card.

[CDNPolar]

3 hours ago, lx200gps said:

Hands down the Buddy pass for us easily pays for the card, and the eUpgrades into Business are nice when they occasionally pay off.

 

Yeah - gotta figure out the eUpgrade thing.... never used them before.  I think we have 25 credits.

 

[rodndonna]

27 minutes ago, CDNPolar said:

 

Yeah, we asked about fee waivers for the Privilege card and no go... they want the $599

 

Because of Apple pay however we share the Privilege in each of our apple pay accounts.  You can tap up to $250 with Apple Pay, so we did not get the spousal card.  We are rarely not together if the purchase is above a tap limit, so sharing is not an issue and we each have our Infinite cards anyway.  We just want the max Aeroplan points from the Privilege card.

 

That would work except we're still a "one" phone couple ... 🙂. I guess one phone and a spousal card is still cheaper than 2 phones and no spousal card anyway 🤔

 

[Ex-Airbalancer]

1 hour ago, CDNPolar said:

 

Yeah, we asked about fee waivers for the Privilege card and no go... they want the $599

 

Because of Apple pay however we share the Privilege in each of our apple pay accounts.  You can tap up to $250 with Apple Pay, so we did not get the spousal card.  We are rarely not together if the purchase is above a tap limit, so sharing is not an issue and we each have our Infinite cards anyway.  We just want the max Aeroplan points from the Privilege card.

You can put the same card on both phones ?

I will have try that 

Thanks 

Edited May 15 by Ex-Airbalancer

[Fouremco]

57 minutes ago, rodndonna said:

 

That would work except we're still a "one" phone couple ... 🙂. I guess one phone and a spousal card is still cheaper than 2 phones and no spousal card anyway 🤔

 

Apple Pay does not require the phone to be connected to the internet. A Near Field Communication (NFC) chip in your phone is used to communicate with the credit card terminal at the point of sale. So if you wanted to, you could pick up a used phone (iPhone 6 or newer) for very little, connect to your home wifi to set up Apple Pay, and don't bother getting a cellular package. You could probably be up and running for less than the cost of a single year's subscription for a second card.

 

BTW, I don't have cellular service for my Apple Watch, which I use for Apple Pay all the time as it's quicker and easier than pulling out my iPhone. The watch has the same NFC chip, and I can use it even if I left my phone in the car.

[rodndonna]

16 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

Apple Pay does not require the phone to be connected to the internet. A Near Field Communication (NFC) chip in your phone is used to communicate with the credit card terminal at the point of sale. So if you wanted to, you could pick up a used phone (iPhone 6 or newer) for very little, connect to your home wifi to set up Apple Pay, and don't bother getting a cellular package. You could probably be up and running for less than the cost of a single year's subscription for a second card.

 

BTW, I don't have cellular service for my Apple Watch, which I use for Apple Pay all the time as it's quicker and easier than pulling out my iPhone. The watch has the same NFC chip, and I can use it even if I left my phone in the car.

 

That's a good point, I actually do have an older dumber phone which I use aty the home on our Wifi (connected to a couple of apps we use for music and such). 

 

That being said - it's still hard for me to forgo having my own card to save $199 at this point in my life. 

[Ex-Airbalancer]

1 hour ago, rodndonna said:

 

That would work except we're still a "one" phone couple ... 🙂. I guess one phone and a spousal card is still cheaper than 2 phones and no spousal card anyway 🤔

 

How can you text your wife when a someone place and need to leave if you only have one phone 🤔😁

[CDNPolar]

13 hours ago, rodndonna said:

 

That would work except we're still a "one" phone couple ... 🙂. I guess one phone and a spousal card is still cheaper than 2 phones and no spousal card anyway 🤔

 

 

For us, we both have the "shared" card uploaded in our phone which requires permission from the primary card holder.  (I believe we had to give this permission on the phone to TD Visa?  I will check on that and come back.). But, one of us carries the physical card as well.  So if we are ever in the position where the purchase is over the Apple tap limit then we have the card.

 

You are right however in the cost.  Phone number "two" would cost more than the spousal card for sure.

 

We could never do with one phone, but then my phone is heavily used for work as well.

[CDNPolar]

13 hours ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

You can put the same card on both phones ?

I will have try that 

Thanks 

 

Yes... let me double check because it was not just as simple as adding it.... I believe we had to call TD Visa for the primary cardholder (me) to give permission.  I will come back.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

47 minutes ago, CDNPolar said:

 

Yes... let me double check because it was not just as simple as adding it.... I believe we had to call TD Visa for the primary cardholder (me) to give permission.  I will come back.

We have cancelled TD visa and gone to CIBC visa 

I will try chatting with CIBC and see what happens 

[Ex-Airbalancer]

53 minutes ago, CDNPolar said:

 

You are right however in the cost.  Phone number "two" would cost more than the spousal card for sure.

 

We could never do with one phone, but then my phone is heavily used for work as well.

Would it really cost more ? 
you wouldn’t  need a landline , you can port your land line to the new cellphone 

I just got my sons IPhone 12 for free as he was upgrading to a 15 pro max😁

It nice to have a phone and Data when shopping , you can take a picture and text to your partner to make sure you buy the correct item at the store 🤣

I like getting notifications of use of credit cards , someone at the door and also water sensor in case there a leak in the house 

my partner and i have/ had our own business so need separate line ,

also with having FIND my Phone , my partner could could check my location, I would work by myself, a lot working on roofs so I could be found if something happened

i think I drop my land line about 10 years ago when I no long need a fax number 

[CDNPolar]

47 minutes ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

Would it really cost more ? 
you wouldn’t  need a landline , you can port your land line to the new cellphone 

I just got my sons IPhone 12 for free as he was upgrading to a 15 pro max😁

It nice to have a phone and Data when shopping , you can take a picture and text to your partner to make sure you buy the correct item at the store 🤣

I like getting notifications of use of credit cards , someone at the door and also water sensor in case there a leak in the house 

my partner and i have/ had our own business so need separate line ,

also with having FIND my Phone , my partner could could check my location, I would work by myself, a lot working on roofs so I could be found if something happened

i think I drop my land line about 10 years ago when I no long need a fax number 

 

I cannot imagine my life now without all these conveniences.  We are a very "automated" home with cameras in and out, doorbell cameras, Echo Shows in every room, Apple Watch, Phone, Air Tags, voice controlled lights....

[rodndonna]

1 hour ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

Would it really cost more ? 
you wouldn’t  need a landline , you can port your land line to the new cellphone 

I just got my sons IPhone 12 for free as he was upgrading to a 15 pro max😁

It nice to have a phone and Data when shopping , you can take a picture and text to your partner to make sure you buy the correct item at the store 🤣

I like getting notifications of use of credit cards , someone at the door and also water sensor in case there a leak in the house 

my partner and i have/ had our own business so need separate line ,

also with having FIND my Phone , my partner could could check my location, I would work by myself, a lot working on roofs so I could be found if something happened

i think I drop my land line about 10 years ago when I no long need a fax number 

 

We dropped the landline some time ago as well but still have a Voip "home" number (which helps to avoid that second cell phone and have a number we can give to places we don't really want to hear from 😄).

 

I totally understand how folks (pretty much EVERYBODY except us) doesn't understand how we still get along with just 1 cell phone - but I am pretty stubborn. It's like how people lived in the dark ages ... sometimes we just have to wait until someone gets home to ask "how did it go?"

 

We're young retirees (not yet 60) and both worked in tech ... so it is odd that we're still going strong with just 1 cell phone !

 

Edit; With regard to the shopping and texting for confirmation - as the wife and one who is the primary grocery shopper ... that's one of my biggest pet peeves in a grocery store ..someone (typically male) being unable to make that executive decision "if there are no diced tomatoes, do I get crushed or whole tomatoes???"  😄

Edited May 16 by rodndonna

[Ex-Airbalancer]

23 minutes ago, rodndonna said:

 

We dropped the landline some time ago as well but still have a Voip "home" number (which helps to avoid that second cell phone and have a number we can give to places we don't really want to hear from 😄).

 

I totally understand how folks (pretty much EVERYBODY except us) doesn't understand how we still get along with just 1 cell phone - but I am pretty stubborn. It's like how people lived in the dark ages ... sometimes we just have to wait until someone gets home to ask "how did it go?"

 

We're young retirees (not yet 60) and both worked in tech ... so it is odd that we're still going strong with just 1 cell phone !

 

Edit; With regard to the shopping and texting for confirmation - as the wife and one who is the primary grocery shopper ... that's one of my biggest pet peeves in a grocery store ..someone (typically male) being unable to make that executive decision "if there are no diced tomatoes, do I get crushed or whole tomatoes???"  😄

VOIP is still just a landline in my view  🤣

It is pretty important to get the right pistachio!
It does make a big difference in the final product! 😉

My wife did have Amex concierge service phone to make a chocolate elephant for one of the clients , when she had her chocolate shop 

Edited May 16 by Ex-Airbalancer

[CDNPolar]

To use the ONE Infinite Privilege card on two phones with Apple Pay, we had to call TD credit card department for me - as the primary cardholder - to give permission.  Before doing this the card would not upload to Apple Pay in the TD App, but after the call then it allowed it.  This saves us paying the $199 for the spousal card.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

1 minute ago, CDNPolar said:

To use the ONE Infinite Privilege card on two phones with Apple Pay, we had to call TD credit card department for me - as the primary cardholder - to give permission.  Before doing this the card would not upload to Apple Pay in the TD App, but after the call then it allowed it.  This saves us paying the $199 for the spousal card.

Thanks