Was surprised that they offered me just a small token retention offer to keep the card, and made it so easy for me to cancel it.

Not going to be traveling much anytime soon, and the travel benefits have been severely limited in any case. I just cancelled my Platinum Card that I’ve had for 26 years. The Centurion Card was said to have saved a man’s life when it stopped a bullet. It’s the unpublished benefits of the card though that can make a difference. However it’s cheaper to access via United Airlines or the American Airlines partnership. Members receive lower per visit pricing than non-members, and can pre-order meals, have their car cleaned while they’re gone, and receive complimentary spa services. The Private Suite benefit sounds prestigious but doesn’t really add much, and is probably more American Express getting paid to market the terminal to cardholders. The Private Suite celebrity terminal at LAX terminal offers discrete security and tarmac transfers. I have to imagine that the sudden American Express-CLEAR partnership is a result of the Delta contract extension since Delta owns a piece of CLEAR. Of these I really only see value in the Saks credit, though I wonder whether it’ll replace surprise and delight gifts and gift cards from other merchants.ĬLEAR usually isn’t necessary when you have PreCheck but at some airports during peak times the ability to cut to the front of the PreCheck line can be useful. The Private Suite at LAX membership (cardmembers still pay per visit).$1,000 Saks credit per year, so 10x the Platinum card benefit.Complimentary CLEAR membership both for the cardmember and for family members.I went to the malls and I balled too hard/ ‘Oh my god is that a black card?’/ I turned around and replied, ‘Why, yes/ But I prefer the term African-American Express’Īmerican Express has added several new Centurion Card benefits. It was cool when Kanye West dropped references to it in 2004. Now with the Black Card you’re really paying for prestige and exclusivity. Set-aside seating and champagne in Centurion lounges, and the Hong Kong lounge has a dedicated sit-down dining serviceĬenturion Cardmember Dining Room, American Express Centurion Lounge Hong Kong.Better Fine Hotels and Resorts benefits.Hilton Diamond and IHG Rewards Club Platinum status.The Centurion card gets you all of this plus: $200 airline fee credit which has become more restrictive in the last year, opt-in required.Discounted premium cabin interational airfare: Savings on some itineraries and carriers can be hundreds of dollars.

Hotel and concierge: American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts privileges on stays at participating hotels booked at the Fine Hotels and Resorts rate, plus concierge service.

Elite status: Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, National Car Rental Executive, registration required.

Airport lounge access: American Express Centurion lounges, Delta lounges (when flying Delta same day), Priority Pass (registration required), Plaza Premium lounges, Escape lounges, Airspace lounges.

Most of the benefits of the Black Card are really similar to those of the Platinum Card® from American Express.įor instance, the Platinum card comes with: So they’re going to need strong benefits to compensate. The card’s annual fee went up to $5000 per year in April 2020 and the card lost its $200 annual airline fee credit. Via Flickr User Clemson, Creative Commons License However American Express updated the Centurion web page and current American Express cardmembers can request to be invited online. Historically it’s taken around $250,000 – $350,000 in spend in a year across American Express products to be able to request an invitation by phone to the Centurion card ($500,000+ to request a Business Centurion card). The small business Centurion Card, at least, is likely to be a business expense that may be deductible. There’s a $7500 initiation fee and a $2500 annual fee, so you pay $10,000 in your first year for the privilege. The American Express Centurion Card, colloquially known as the Black Card, has a certain legendary status although I have tended to believe the personal card isn’t worth the high cost. Terms apply to the offers and benefits listed on this page. I do not write about all credit cards that are available - instead focusing on miles, points, and cash back (and currencies that can be converted into the same). Any opinions expressed in this post are my own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by my advertising partners. Citibank is an advertising partner of this site, as is American Express, Chase, Barclays and Capital One. I receive compensation for content and many links on this blog.

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