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- The invite-only Amex Centurion “Black Card” has a $10,000 initiation fee and a $5,000 annual fee.
- Cardholders include celebrities who enjoy complimentary elite status, concierge access, and more.
- Amex Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card cardholders get many of the same travel benefits.
Introduction to Amex Black Card Benefits
The American Express Centurion Card holds cult celebrity status, even among other premium credit cards. Colloquially known as the “Black Card,” this prestigious credit card is only available to big spenders by direct Amex invitation.
If you’re curious about this mythical card wielded by A-list celebrities worldwide, read on to learn more.
Amex Black Card eligibility criteria
The Black Card isn’t available to most people; you can’t just apply for it and expect approval. Instead, American Express hand-picks potential cardholders, and reaches out to offer a private invitation.
While the requirements for getting an invite for the Black Card aren’t officially published, rumor is that you have to be a high earner who has spent and paid off between $350,000 and $500,000 across all of your American Express accounts in a calendar year.
And once you’re approved for the card, there’s a $10,000 initiation fee, and a $5,000 annual fee. It makes premium cards like the Amex Platinum Card and the Amex Business Platinum Card look downright affordable.
Exclusive Amex Black Card Benefits
The Amex Centurion card isn’t just a status symbol; it has some great perks, including some unique benefits like complimentary top-tier Delta Air Lines elite status that you won’t find on other cards.
Complimentary hotel and airline status upgrades
Black Card elites receive Platinum Medallion elite status with Delta, which is the airline’s second-highest status tier. You can’t get this benefit with any other credit card, and it offers you perks like complimentary upgrades and bonus miles. Platinum elites receive free checked bags, complimentary upgrades beginning five days before departure, discounts on expedited security screenings, and more.
Holding a Black Card will also grant you elite status at four major hotel chains: Marriott, Hilton, Intercontinental Hotels Group, and Relais & Châteaux. Elite status with these chains offers exclusive benefits such as room upgrades, late checkouts, resort and spa credits, and free breakfast.
Card comparison: The Amex Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card offer status with Hilton and Marriott, but not with IHG and Relais & Châteaux. The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card also do not come with complimentary elite status, although they offer benefits that accelerate your progress toward earning status.
Centurion lounge access
There’s nothing better than knowing you have access to a comfortable airport lounge while you’re traveling, especially if you have a long layover. The Amex Black Card gets you free access to more than 1,500 airport lounges worldwide, including Amex Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs when you’re flying Delta, and Priority Pass airport lounges. You can sit back and relax on the comfortable chairs while indulging in good food and drinks.
Card comparison: The airport lounge access you receive as a Centurion cardholder is virtually identical to the lounge access you get with the Amex Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card.
Equinox membership
Centurion cardholders receive a complimentary Equinox Destination Access Membership, which lets Centurion cardholders use most of the 100-plus Equinox gym locations in the U.S., UK, and Canada. This membership tier currently costs $345 a month after a $500 initiation fee, so this perk is quite valuable if you’re a fan of the high-end fitness club chain.
Card comparison: Unsurprisingly, there’s no comparable benefit on the Amex Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card cards.
Up to $1,000 a year in Saks Fifth Avenue credits
The Amex Platinum Card offers up to $100 in credits for Saks Fifth Avenue per year (enrollment required), so it’s only fitting that the Centurion card has an even better version of this perk.
Centurion cardholders also get up to $1,000 in credits for Saks purchases — divided into four credits of up to $250 per quarter of the year. To get the credit, cardholders just have to make an eligible Saks purchase with their Centurion card, and they’ll be reimbursed up to the quarterly and annual limit in the form of a statement credit.
As a bonus, Saks stores will open their doors to Centurion cardholders outside normal business hours — a pretty extravagant perk for those who want to make a power move or impress their non-Centurion-holding friends.
Card comparison: The Saks Fifth Avenue benefit is only available on the consumer version of the Amex Platinum Card, which only offers 1/10 the annual credit that the Black Card does.
CLEAR® Plus membership
CLEAR® Plus is an expedited security membership (an alternative to TSA PreCheck), and you can use it at more than 30 airports and more than 20 sports and concert venues in the U.S. The Amex Centurion card offers a statement credit for the full cost of CLEAR when you use the Black Card to pay the $189 annual membership. Cardholders also get statement credits to cover CLEAR for up to three family members.
Card comparison: Several credit cards, including the American Express® Green Card
, offer statement credits for up to $189 toward CLEAR® Plus membership.
24/7 personalized concierge service
An Amex Black Card comes with access to a personal concierge whenever you want. You can count on the round-the-clock concierge service to help you make travel plans or reservations at exclusive restaurants. This service can also get you tickets to most entertainment events, and/or purchase gifts on your behalf.
Card comparison: Once again, the Amex Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card also offer concierge services. However, Centurion cardmembers get top priority from Amex concierges and the best access to restaurant reservations and more.
International arrival service
You’ll love the Black Card’s international arrival service if you frequently travel internationally. As long as you fly business or first class via American Express Travel, you’ll be assigned a personal guide who will make the immigration and customs process a breeze.
Another exclusive airport perk: Centurion cardholders get complimentary membership to The Private Suite at LAX, a private VIP terminal. But there’s a big catch: You have to pay each time you use it — and it costs up to $3,000.
Card comparison: The Black Card’s private airport guide isn’t a benefit you can replicate with any other Amex card.
No spending limit
There are no preset spending limits with the Amex Black Card, so you can easily buy big-ticket items that you may not necessarily be able to pay for with other credit cards. Keep in mind, however, that you must pay off your balances in full every month.
Card comparison: Several other Amex cards are charge cards, which also don’t come with preset limits.
Other lifestyle perks
Beyond offering elite status with more travel partners, international arrival service, and the top tier of Amex concierge service, the Amex Black Card stands out from the Amex Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card with its selection of wine-related benefits, such as consultations with a wine specialist and wine-buying offers.
Black Card members also get several shopping perks, including special offers and VIP benefits with Net-a-Porter.
See our picks for the best credit cards »
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
- Long list of travel benefits, including airport lounge access and complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required)
- Annual statement credits with Saks and Uber
- Bonus categories leave something to be desired
- One of the highest annual fees among premium travel cards
Product Details
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
- Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
The Amex Platinum offers many of the same perks
If you don’t get an invite for the American Express Black Card, don’t fret: Amex Platinum Card offers many of the same travel-specific benefits with no preset spending limits, hotel elite status, complimentary access to airport lounges, and concierge services.
Keep in mind that “no preset spending limit” means your spending limit is flexible. Unlike a traditional card with a set limit, the amount you can spend depends on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history. Read our Amex Platinum card review for more details.
If you’re a business user, the Amex Business Platinum Card is worth a look. It offers most of these benefits as well, and has a $695 annual fee. Read our Amex Business Platinum review to learn more.
Amex Black Card benefits frequently asked questions
The Centurion Card is available by invitation only. Most reports online suggest that the minimum required threshold of annual spend is in the low- to mid-six figures for several years, ideally on luxury goods, travel, and other lifestyle expenses.
The Black Card reportedly costs $5,000 a year, with a $10,000 initiation fee.
Amex Black cardholders receive top-tier complimentary elite status with four major hotel chains: Marriott, Hilton, IHG, and Relais & Châteaux. They can expect automatic room upgrades, early check-in/late check-out, and other privileges. They also receive Delta Platinum Medallion elite status.
Amex concierges have a reputation for fulfilling various personal and unique requests, from securing hard-to-get reservations to planning bespoke travel experiences.
Members are invited to private events and experiences ranging from high-profile sporting events and fashion shows to exclusive culinary events with renowned chefs.
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