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Few credit cards come with the exclusive bragging rights of the Centurion® Card from American Express. And rightly so, as this elusive titanium charge card, known colloquially as the “Black Card” or “Amex Black Card,” remains available by invitation-only to select high-net-worth individuals.
We may not know how many Centurion cards have been issued, but there is certainly a lot of hype surrounding the card. This attention presents an opportunity for us to explore the attributes of its allure and compare it to another valuable travel rewards card, The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Because the Centurion card comes with an extraordinarily high acquisition fee and subsequent annual fees, we suspect there must be some substance behind its reputation. This premise alone is prompting our need to compare this sought-after status symbol with the card we know represents great value for the frequent traveler.
And so, for your practical economic knowledge, and perhaps some entertainment, we’re going to proceed with our comparison of a card that few have had in their wallet against a travel rewards card you should ultimately consider.
Amex Platinum Card vs. Centurion Card — Overview
Before we dive into all the key details of the Amex Platinum card and the Centurion card, let’s look at a high-level overview comparing our featured cards side-by-side.
Benefit
Amex Platinum Card
Centurion Card
Welcome Bonus
Earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first 6 months.
N/A
Earnings
5x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airlines or through Amex Travel, up to $500,000 per calendar year
5x points on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel
1x points on all other purchases
1 Membership Reward point per dollar spent on all purchases
Earn 1.5x points on purchases over $5,000 (up to 1 million additional points per year)
Receive a 50% rebate when you Pay With Points to book eligible flights through Amex Travel
Redemption Options
Transfer to airline/hotel partners
Redeem for 1 cent per point for flights on Amex Travel
Qualifying travel via Amex Travel, gift cards, statement credits, retail shopping, event tickets, NYC taxi fares, and more
Transfer to airline/hotel partners
Redeem for up to 1.5 cents per point for flights booked through Amex Travel
Qualifying travel via Amex Travel (other than flights), gift cards, statement credits, retail shopping, event tickets, NYC taxi fares, and more
Travel/Lifestyle Benefits and Protections
Access to the International Airline Program
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and Hilton Honors Gold status upon enrollment
Access to Fine Hotels & Resorts
Access to The Hotel Collection
Car rental status and/or benefits with National Emerald Club, Avis Preferred, and Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
Delta SkyMiles Platinum Medallion status
Access to the International Airline Program
Marriott Bonvoy Gold status, Hilton Honors Diamond status, IHG One Rewards Platinum status
Hertz Platinum and Avis President’s Club status
Centurion International Arrival Services
Centurion Hotel Program (additional $100 to $200 in property credits on stays of at least 2 nights)
Access to Centurion Concierge
Numerous other Centurion perks (detailed below)
Airport Lounge Access
Centurion Lounges (including international locations)
Delta Sky Club (when flying with Delta)
Escape Lounges – The Centurion Studio Partner
Lufthansa Lounges (select locations when flying with Lufthansa Group)
Plaza Premium Lounges
1,300+ Priority Pass Select lounges, upon enrollment
Virgin Clubhouses (select locations)
Statement Credits
Up to $200 in airline credits
Up to $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck application fee or up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry application fee
Up to $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue credit
$189 statement credit for CLEAR Plus
Up to $300 in Equinox statement credits
Up to $200 in hotel credit for eligible prepaid stays
Up to $155 in statement credits for Walmart+
Up to $240 in digital entertainment credits
Up to $300 in SoulCycle credits
Up to $200 in airline credit for incidentals
Up to $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck application fee or up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry application fee
Shopping Benefits
Amex Offers
American Express Auto Purchasing Program
Entertainment Access
Annual Fees and Authorized Users
$695 annual fee
$195 per card; free basic Gold cards for authorized users (not the same as the Amex Gold card) (rates and fees)
Data points suggest this card has an initiation fee of around $10,000 and an annual fee of $5,000
The Amex Platinum welcome bonus offer does vary, but you can count on receiving a value of 1 cent per Membership Rewards point when redeeming points for travel via Amex Travel. This valuation equates to a 50,000-point welcome bonus having a value of $500 and a 100,000-point bonus having a value of $1,000, and so on.
The Centurion card does not offer a welcome bonus.
Membership Rewards Points
Both the Amex Platinum card and the Centurion card earn valuable Membership Rewards points.
Comparing Earning Potential
Card
Earnings
Amex Platinum Card
5x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airlines or through Amex Travel, up to $500,000 per calendar year
5x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel
1 point per 1 dollar spent on all other purchases
Centurion Card
1 Membership Rewards point per dollar spent
1.5x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on purchases over $5,000
Bottom Line: The Amex Platinum card clearly offers better earning potential than the Centurion card. In addition, you have the opportunity to earn a generous welcome bonus after meeting initial spending requirements.
Comparing Redemption Options
Since both the Amex Platinum card and the Centurion card earn Membership Rewards points, redemption options are similar. One noticeable difference is that redeeming points on the Centurion card are worth more when redeeming for flights on Amex Travel as the cardholder will receive a 50% rebate of the points on eligible flights.
Card
Best Redemption Options
Additional Redemption Options
Amex Platinum Card
Transfer to airline partners
Redeem for flights on Amex Travel (1 cent per point)
Redeem for travel (other than flights) on Amex Travel, transfer to hotel partners, statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, Amazon, Ticketmaster, donate points
Centurion Card
Transfer to airline partners
Redeem for flights on Amex Travel (up to 1.5 cents per point)
Airport Lounge Access
Receive complimentary Centurion Lounge access with both the Amex Platinum card and the Centurion card. Image Credit: American Express
The American Express Global Lounge Collection
Both the Centurion card and the Amex Platinum card offer lounge access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide. With either card, you’ll have access to all of the lounges in The American Express Global Lounge Collection. Complimentary access is valid for the cardholder plus up to 2 guests, except where noted.
With either card you’ll have access to the following lounge networks:
Amex Platinum card and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express cardholders may enter Centurion Lounges with up to 2 complimentary guests if they have spent $75,000 in eligible purchases in a calendar year. Otherwise, a guest day pass can be purchased for $50 per adult or $30 per child between the ages of 2 and 17.
Authorized users added to either the Amex Platinum card or the Centurion card receive the same lounge access benefits as the primary cardholder, including the same guest access privileges.
Bottom Line: The Amex Platinum card offers far better value than the Centurion card with complimentary worldwide lounge access to the same lounge networks in exchange for a far lower annual fee.
Airline, Hotel, and Rental Car Program Benefits
Receive upgraded rooms and more with hotel program benefits offered on the Amex Platinum card and the Centurion card. Image Credit: Fine Hotels & Resorts
Airline Program Benefits — Amex Platinum Card
The Amex Platinum card does not offer any specific airline program benefits.
Airline Program Benefits — Centurion Card
Delta Platinum Medallion Elite Status
The Centurion card comes with Delta Platinum Medallion elite status, which delivers a long list of benefits. You’d normally have to fly 75,000 miles each calendar year (or 100 segments) and spend $9,000 on Delta tickets to achieve Platinum status.
Here are some of the benefits Delta Platinum Medallion elites can expect to receive:
You’ll be greeted by a personal guide who will expedite you through customs and immigration when you travel internationally in first or business class.
Hotel Program Benefits — Amex Platinum Card
The Amex Platinum card offers a wide range of hotel program benefits, including elite status, on-site property amenities, and elevated service.
As a cardholder, you’ll enjoy the following hotel benefits with the Amex Platinum card:
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status
Upon enrollment, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite members receive upgraded rooms when available, free Wi-Fi, welcome bonus points, a 25% bonus on earnings, and late checkout.
Hilton Honors Gold Elite Status
Upon enrollment, Hilton Honors Gold elite members receive upgraded rooms, free Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast, and earn 18 Hilton Honors points per dollar spent at Hilton properties.
Prepaid Hotel Credit
Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which require a minimum 2-night stay, through Amex Travel when you pay with your card.
Book your prepaid stay of 2 nights or more and receive a $100 credit towards an on-site qualifying dining, spa, or resort activity. You’ll also earn 5x Membership Rewards on your booking.
Hotel Program Benefits — Centurion Card
The Centurion card offers the same hotel program benefits as the Amex Platinum card with a few exceptions:
Hilton Honors Diamond Status
In addition to all the benefits of Hilton Honors Gold status, Diamond status offers additional earnings on Hilton hotel stays, complimentary lounge access, and suite upgrades when available.
The Centurion Hotel Program
Receive the same benefits and amenities as with the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts plus receive an extra $100 to $200 Centurion Hotel Program credit to spend during 2-night stays or more.
Rental Car Program Benefits — Amex Platinum Card
Avis Preferred — Receive a 25% discount on base rates and a 1-category upgrade when available.
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards — Complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status and a 1-category upgrade on a rental of an intermediate-size vehicle or greater.
National Emerald Club Executive Status — Receive a 1-category upgrade when renting a full-size vehicle or greater, elevated earnings, preferred car selection, and easy returns.
Rental Car Program Benefits — Centurion Card
Avis President’s Circle — Receive complimentary double-vehicle upgrades, walk-up car availability (even without a reservation), and discounted rates.
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Platinum Status — Receive elevated personal service, vehicle upgrades, and rental delivery to select private airports.
Both the Amex Platinum card and the Centurion card offer valuable travel benefits and protections. Image Credit: Alex Mares via Unsplash
Statement Credits and Additional Benefits
Statement Credits
Both the Amex Platinum card and the Centurion card come with statement credits for specific purchases:
The following is a sampling of highlighted benefits and a brief description of how the benefit works on each card:
Car Rental Insurance — The Centurion card comes with primary car rental insurance while the Amex Platinum card offers secondary car rental coverage. However, the Amex Platinum card offers the option to purchase Premium Car Rental Protection which includes primary car rental coverage for a flat fee (maximum $24.95) for the entire rental period.
International Airline Program — Both Amex Platinum and Centurion cardmembers receive access to discounts and upgrades in this premium airfare-purchase program, however, the booking fee is waived for Centurion cardmembers.
Baggage Insurance — Both cards carry this protection with up to $2,000 for lost, stolen, or damaged checked bags and $3,000 for carry-on.
Trip Cancellation, Interruption, and Delay Coverage — Purchase a round-trip ticket with your eligible card and receive up to $10,000 per trip/$50,000 per year for covered events and up to $500 if your trip is delayed more than 6 hours.
Shopping Benefits and Protections
While the Centurion card has its own set of additional shopping benefits, which we’ll discuss shortly, both cards offer a multitude of basic shopping benefits and protections.
Amex Offers — Enjoy ongoing special offers that provide rebates and bonus points for specific purchases.
American Express Presale and Preferred Seating — Members receive early access to event tickets and priority seating.
Entertainment Access — Receive access to member-only events and special experiences.
Return Protection — If an item you purchased is not accepted as a return by the merchant within 90 days of purchase, the purchase price could be refunded.
Extended Warranty — 1 additional year is added to the manufacturer’s warranty of 5 years or less on eligible purchases. Coverage is provided for up to $10,000 per purchase, $50,000 per eligible card.
Purchase Protection — Pay for your eligible purchase with your card and receive up to $10,000 per occurrence, $50,000 per account per calendar year if the item is accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost. Coverage is provided for 120 days (90 days in New York) from the date of purchase.
Additional Perks of the Centurion Card
With a list of benefits nearly too long to describe, the Centurion card steps it up a notch or 2 above the Amex Platinum card with perks and services that cater to every potential aspect of the cardholder’s daily life and travel activities.
Private Concierge and Travel Agent — Receive personalized assistance with any reservations, transportation assistance, event planning, travel disruption, and so much more.
No Preset Spending Limits — Your card does not come with a spending limit but it does need to be paid off at the end of each monthly statement period.
CLEAR Membership — Speed through security with a complimentary CLEAR membership
Elite Wine Services and Centurion Wine — Receive special wine discounts, complimentary free wine storage, wine appraisals, consultations, and more.
Centurion Dining Program — Enjoy access to a pre-reserved table for Centurion members at 1,000 fine dining establishments worldwide.
Special Tour Packages — Select from exclusive 3-day Tuscany or Napa Valley customized tours.
Special Access and Invitation-only Events — Get VIP invitations and treatment at events such as concerts, sports, and even special events such as the Kentucky Derby or the Grand Prix de Monaco.
Centurion Shopping Program — Enjoy a personal shopper and free express shipping, with access to NET-A-PORTER shopping services.
Surprise Gifts — Members receive unexpected gifts such as shopping certificates and luxury merchandise.
Centurion Auto Program — Receive access and preferred pricing when purchasing, leasing, or renting luxury vehicles.
Elevated Centurion Lounge Experience — Centurion cardmembers receive unrestricted access, a reserved seating area, and special top-shelf beverages at Centurion Lounges
Annual Fees and Adding Additional Users
Annual Fees
Given the exclusivity of the Centurion Card, there isn’t a lot of public information regarding the annual fees. However, some have indicated that the card carries an initiation fee of around $10,000 along with an annual fee of $5,000.
At $695, the Amex Platinum card has an annual fee that is a fraction of the Centurion card fee (see rates and fees).
Authorized Users
To add an authorized user to the Amex Platinum card, it costs $195 per card (see rates and fees). The Centurion card reportedly charges $5,000 for each additional user for each card year.
Centurion Card Alternatives
Select a travel rewards card that provides good value for your situation. Image Credit: photobyphotoboy via Shutterstock
In addition to the Amex Platinum card, which is an excellent alternative to the Centurion card, there are several travel rewards cards that rival the Centurion card with arguably better overall value.
Alternative Personal Travel Rewards Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card comes with a generous welcome bonus, an annual $300 travel statement credit, Priority Pass Select worldwide lounge membership, and 3x earnings on travel and dining. Additionally, you’ll receive 50% more value when redeeming your Ultimate Rewards points for travel.
With the same 5x earnings on flights and prepaid hotels and worldwide lounge access as the Amex Platinum personal card, the Amex Business Platinum card is a fine choice.
You’ll also receive a 35% rebate when using your Membership Rewards points for flights on your preselected airline when booked through Amex Travel, up to 1 million bonus points per calendar year.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
The Ink Business Preferred card is one of our favorite business credit cards, and it comes with a generous welcome bonus, top-level earnings on select business categories, and 25% more value for your Ultimate Rewards points when redeemed for travel.
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
While not a premium travel rewards card, the no-annual-fee Ink Business Unlimited card serves business owners well with unlimited earnings. The card earns 1.5% cash-back (earned as Ultimate Rewards points) on every purchase without regard to caps or complicated bonus categories.
Additionally, business owners can combine the earning power of the Ink Business Unlimited card with the redemption power of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card or Ink Business Preferred card to receive up to 50% more value when redeeming points for travel.
Bottom Line: While none of the alternatives to the Centurion card have the same panache and prestige, you’ll still be receiving stellar value with any of these alternative cards. The best card for you will depend on how you spend on the card, whether you use the benefits offered, and your willingness to pay an annual fee.
Final Thoughts
At this point, you might be wondering why we featured a card that few are likely to be invited to have. One reason is for the informational value, but the bottom line for the comparison is to illustrate the tremendous value of the Amex Platinum card and alternative travel rewards cards…and you won’t have to spend thousands of dollars for the privilege of having these cards.
Also, please note that Amex does not publish information on the Centurion card, so the data in this article was gathered from those who have the card, bulletin boards discussing the benefits, news articles, and Wikipedia.
If you have the Centurion card and can add information from your own personal experience of using the card, we encourage you to do so in the comments section.
For the car rental insurance benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
For the baggage insurance benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, coverage can be in effect for Covered Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier Vehicle (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the Entire Fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an Eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked Baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per Covered Trip. For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each Covered Person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
For the Trip Delay Coverage insurance benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, up to $500 per covered trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
For the Trip Cancellation and Interruption insurance benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, the maximum benefit amount is $10,000 per Covered Trip and $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
For the Return Protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won’t take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per Card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express® Card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
For the Extended Warranty benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, when an American Express® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase to an Eligible Card, Extended Warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the Original Manufacturer’s Warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your Card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
For the Purchase Protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, purchase protection is an embedded benefit of your Card Membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect Covered Purchases made on your Eligible Card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year. Coverage Limits Apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
For the baggage insurance plan benefit of the Centurion® Card from American Express, baggage insurance plan coverage can be in effect for covered persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage during their travel on a common carrier vehicle (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the Entire Fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the common carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per covered trip. For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each covered person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all covered persons per covered trip. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
For the cell phone protection benefit of the Centurion® Card from American Express, coverage for a stolen or damaged eligible cellular wireless telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per eligible card account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per eligible card account per 12 month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
For the extended warranty benefit of the Centurion® Card from American Express, when an American Express® card member charges a covered purchase to an eligible card, extended warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
For the purchase protection benefit of the Centurion® Card from American Express, purchase protection is an embedded benefit of your card membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect covered purchases made on your eligible card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Coverage limits apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
For the return protection benefit of the Centurion® Card from American Express, with return protection, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won’t take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per Card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express® Card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
For the trip cancellation and interruption insurance benefit of the Centurion® Card from American Express, the maximum benefit amount for trip cancellation and interruption insurance is $10,000 per covered trip and $20,000 per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
For the trip delay insurance benefit of the Centurion® Card from American Express, up to $500 per covered trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
The information regarding the Centurion® Card from American Express was independently collected by Upgraded Points and was not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here. For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
Featured Image Credit: Upgraded Points
Frequently Asked Questions
With $10,000 in acquisition fees the first year, the card will not be worth it for most people from an economic perspective.
Fortunately, there are other travel rewards cards that offer similar benefits for much less cash outlay.
With that said, the Centurion card may offer intrinsic value for cardholders who desire the prestige of saying they have the card.
Receiving an invitation to apply for the card can signify your success. If you can utilize the benefits that the card offers and you’re comfortable paying the fees, you may determine that the card is worth it for you.
The Centurion card is offered only by invitation from American Express.
There are no published guidelines for qualifying, but several sources say you need to spend upwards of $500,000 a year on a current American Express card to be invited, and some sources say $1 million a year.
What we know for sure is that you need to be wealthy, have excellent credit, and have had a previous lucrative relationship with American Express to receive an invitation.
Yes, the Centurion card earns Membership Rewards points for each dollar spent on the card and offers redemption options such as purchasing travel via the Amex Travel portal.
You can also transfer points earned on the card to airline and hotel partners for potentially more value.
Membership Rewards points do not expire as long as you have an active Membership Rewards-earning credit card.
The Centurion card, also called the Black Card, has no preset spending limit.
It is a charge card, however, and needs to be paid off in full each statement period.
Yes, the Amex Platinum card is worth it if you can utilize the benefits offered.
One of the most beneficial perks of the card is the worldwide lounge access. Annual lounge memberships can cost hundreds of dollars each so if you can use just this 1 benefit, the card would be worth it.
The card also comes with statement credits for Uber, Saks Fifth Avenue, and airline incidentals, all of which provide value if you make these purchases.
You’ll also receive travel benefits such as hotel and rental program elite status, travel and shopping protections, and flexible redemption options.
Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.
Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments.
6 comments
Billy Pate
February 11, 2021
Hi Christine
Thank you for this informative article.
I know that finding out about this information on secretive Black Card stuff is difficult.
The Centurion cardmember guest number access is not restricted and neither is the priority pass access as you have indicated.
The Centurion Priority Pass, as is the same with the Chase Ritz Carlton Priority Pass, are both “you and all of your traveling guests’. Theoretically, you can bring in the entire airport with you to the Priority Pass club with either card.
In addition, in contrast to the Platinum, the Centurion card is a destination club membership with use for guests on arrival at the airport.
There are a few other distinctions, maybe for another time.
As a Centurion cardholder of 22 years, I finally gave up my Centurion membership.
I think your reader should know about the changes to Centurion and the feelings of a long standing cardholder.
As a loyal Amex customer since 1988, I worked hard to help the team at Centurion understand how appalling their customer service had become, how untrained their agents were, and how their new team structure vs dedicated contacts has led to booking errors, mistakes, and the general feeling one gets when calling a remote call center that knows nothing about you.
This is everything Centurion claims it is not.
You can try to talk to senior team members at Amex but you will get no response. They simply don’t care.
I finally spoke at length with a very sweet and nice “executive customer service” team member I had spoken to a year ago when things started going off the rails and she promised me that she would discuss my issues with “management”, but in the end was given the run around with the obligatory “I’m so sorry we can’t meet your needs and that we are losing you.”
I personally was mentored and coached for years by an old leader of American Express named Alan Loren. He would be turning in his grave if he knew how terrible the Centurion product had become. He was a believer in the customer experience and in those days management was willing to speak directly to a customer to understand their concerns. No longer 🙁
AEXP happily lost me as a Centurion customer after 22 years, without doing anything to try to make amends for the terrible service received.
Here are some of the shortfalls anyone should know before considering this card:
– Multiple booking errors leading to problems with travel, lost seats, lost flights, etc.
– Multiple times I received no call back from an agent I had spoken to at length and literally no way to get back in touch with them, since there is no longer a personal point of contact for Centurion members (just a large team who often isn’t available anyways and then your call goes into a pool). Centurion has become a faceless, nameless call center experience.
– There’s been a dramatic elimination of historical benefits, personalized events, and special perks – only to be replaced by a complicated grouping of “experiences”, which quickly become unavailable anyway – “Oh sorry”, they say on the same morning an event becomes available for booking, “the event you want isn’t available anymore We can put you on a waitlist”. They should be ashamed of this new experience program.
– Gone is Hyatt, United, Hertz and other airline and hotel programs where premium status was afforded.
– When booking flights, almost always, the travel team couldn’t even find the same rates I could find online. I literally booked 5 business class seats to Turkey last summer for 1/2 the cost they quoted. When I pointed it out and showed them, they simply said they couldn’t get the same rates – baffling, as they are supposed to be the experts. They don’t even take the time to shop, offer creative suggestions that any pro would offer, or even understand or know the properties and routes they are quoting. Its very robotic
– When trying to book a difficult restaurant reservation through the “concierge” they called back a day later saying that nothing was available, but when I called the restaurant right afterwards, they gave me a table.
Their concierges can’t even get what any normal person can get, making you wonder why they are even there. It’s become better to simply do things yourself vs working with the Centurion team.
– Wait times to call in are long. I guess thats a global problem now, but you would think for Centurion members you wouldn’t have to wait 15-20 minutes to speak to someone. It seems they simply don’t care and Centurion cardholders are treated like everyone else. There is no more special treatment or special feeling.
Which begs the question – what is one paying $5000 for each year? Do they even really want to have this card offering anymore? Do they still care about the customer experience or is it just about the bottom line? Do they even consider customer Customer Lifetime Value anymore?
There are so many more examples of terrible service, whittled down options comparable to Platinum and many more instances of a lack of travel knowledge by their team.
It seems Amex has given up on their Centurion cardholders, many of whom are their most loyal supporters and brand ambassadors. I feel given up on and am saddened by what has become of this iconic card.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences.
Chris
October 13, 2022
Arosan.. you and I have had very similar experiences recently with the Centurion Card. I was invited to join the Centurion card program back in 1999 when it was first issued.. apparently in the first batch of 1500.. so I was told at the time. During those days I was charging about $4M a year on my Amex for business. Back then the annual fee was $1000 and the card came with relatively few benefits but those days I traveled extensively and the benefits were worth it.
A few years later, I went through some tougher times financially and I called in to cancel my black card and just move back to the standard green card .. the CSR told me that I should probably reconsider since they were raising the annual fee to $2500 and I was “Grandfathered” in at the $1000 rate.. So I decided not to cancel. Soon afterward they added a lot of additional benefits and my travel increased so it was all good.
Some years later I got the notice that my annual fee was moving to $2500 too.. Guess I was not permanently “Grandfathered”.. but again.. the perks like Delta Platinum Medallion and all of the Hotel/Rental car medallions were worth it to me.
Flash forward to about 3 or 4 years ago, I got a notice early in that year that they were raising the annual fee to $5000 and it would become effective on my renewal date which is December. BUT they were including a TON of new additional perks and benefits (like $1000 annual credit to SAKS and more) so I let it roll. My company had a travel agent so rarely used AMEX Travel (if ever ) but ..
Somewhere around this time, Amex moved from a personal account manager model to a “team” model. My account “coordinator” (who only called me maybe once) was rotated in/out a couple times.. never heard from any of the new ones. Then the pandemic came and travel slowed / stopped.. The value of the travel perks evaporated.
Well flash forward to earlier this year, I was planning a major celebration in France with close friends and I had made the decision to retire in 2021 so I decided to use Amex Centurion Travel to book our flights to France.. BIG MISTAKE.. as Arosan stated above, the service was terrible. I had no idea who my “account coordinator” was, my calls went into the IVR and was routed to some group of agents in the travel department. After speaking to a rep, they gave me a quote for the flights that were HIGHER than I could get myself online with Delta direct.. PLUS they told me that the International Companion Ticket program was gone.. so suddenly there was ZERO benefit to use them for the plane tickets.
Feeling like maybe I can still get value from the INternational arrival program, they told me that I had to buy the tickets from them to get that.. fine.. so I found a private service to do that for me in Paris that was only $250.. and I was still saving $500+ on the tickets I bought direct..
So THEN I figured.. well maybe they can line up a chauffeur service we wanted for the wine country.. I worked back and forth with their “team” via email for a couple weeks.. I ended up spending a few hours typing up a precise agenda before they sent me pricing.. by the time this time lapsed, I hade shopped on the internet myself and found a 5* rated company with good pricing. WHen Amex finally came back with the driver pricing, it was 50% higher than I found on my own.
Its crazy. The Centurion service and value went from very high to near zero. The only useful net perk I still get is a delta platinum medallion and a couple hotel and rental car premium medallions.. but since we usually travel with a FC ticket, that perk really does little for me and the Amex Platinum card costs thousands less per year and most of the perks are same as the Centurion..
Makes me sad really but these days you need to get value for your money.. for the 1st 10 years or so I had the card, I used get the “Oh you have a black card” thing at stores and restaurants etc but no one even notices now.. oh well.. I guess it used to be prestigious to wear Adidas shoes when I was in middle school but no one cares now 🙂 same thing.
Aj
May 26, 2023
Both Chris and Arosan have great candid reviews!
Any thoughts or questions? Comment below!
Email needed if you'd like comment updates. It will NOT be published.
![Amex Platinum Card vs. Centurion Card [Detailed Comparison]](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Amex-Platinum-vs-Amex-Centurion-Upgraded-Points-LLC.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1420&height=650&fit=crop)
6 comments
Billy Pate
February 11, 2021
Hi Christine
Thank you for this informative article.
I know that finding out about this information on secretive Black Card stuff is difficult.
The Centurion cardmember guest number access is not restricted and neither is the priority pass access as you have indicated.
The Centurion Priority Pass, as is the same with the Chase Ritz Carlton Priority Pass, are both “you and all of your traveling guests’. Theoretically, you can bring in the entire airport with you to the Priority Pass club with either card.
In addition, in contrast to the Platinum, the Centurion card is a destination club membership with use for guests on arrival at the airport.
There are a few other distinctions, maybe for another time.
Christine Krzyszton
February 12, 2021
Thanks for the additional information, Billy.
arosan
January 05, 2022
As a Centurion cardholder of 22 years, I finally gave up my Centurion membership.
I think your reader should know about the changes to Centurion and the feelings of a long standing cardholder.
As a loyal Amex customer since 1988, I worked hard to help the team at Centurion understand how appalling their customer service had become, how untrained their agents were, and how their new team structure vs dedicated contacts has led to booking errors, mistakes, and the general feeling one gets when calling a remote call center that knows nothing about you.
This is everything Centurion claims it is not.
You can try to talk to senior team members at Amex but you will get no response. They simply don’t care.
I finally spoke at length with a very sweet and nice “executive customer service” team member I had spoken to a year ago when things started going off the rails and she promised me that she would discuss my issues with “management”, but in the end was given the run around with the obligatory “I’m so sorry we can’t meet your needs and that we are losing you.”
I personally was mentored and coached for years by an old leader of American Express named Alan Loren. He would be turning in his grave if he knew how terrible the Centurion product had become. He was a believer in the customer experience and in those days management was willing to speak directly to a customer to understand their concerns. No longer 🙁
AEXP happily lost me as a Centurion customer after 22 years, without doing anything to try to make amends for the terrible service received.
Here are some of the shortfalls anyone should know before considering this card:
– Multiple booking errors leading to problems with travel, lost seats, lost flights, etc.
– Multiple times I received no call back from an agent I had spoken to at length and literally no way to get back in touch with them, since there is no longer a personal point of contact for Centurion members (just a large team who often isn’t available anyways and then your call goes into a pool). Centurion has become a faceless, nameless call center experience.
– There’s been a dramatic elimination of historical benefits, personalized events, and special perks – only to be replaced by a complicated grouping of “experiences”, which quickly become unavailable anyway – “Oh sorry”, they say on the same morning an event becomes available for booking, “the event you want isn’t available anymore We can put you on a waitlist”. They should be ashamed of this new experience program.
– Gone is Hyatt, United, Hertz and other airline and hotel programs where premium status was afforded.
– When booking flights, almost always, the travel team couldn’t even find the same rates I could find online. I literally booked 5 business class seats to Turkey last summer for 1/2 the cost they quoted. When I pointed it out and showed them, they simply said they couldn’t get the same rates – baffling, as they are supposed to be the experts. They don’t even take the time to shop, offer creative suggestions that any pro would offer, or even understand or know the properties and routes they are quoting. Its very robotic
– When trying to book a difficult restaurant reservation through the “concierge” they called back a day later saying that nothing was available, but when I called the restaurant right afterwards, they gave me a table.
Their concierges can’t even get what any normal person can get, making you wonder why they are even there. It’s become better to simply do things yourself vs working with the Centurion team.
– Wait times to call in are long. I guess thats a global problem now, but you would think for Centurion members you wouldn’t have to wait 15-20 minutes to speak to someone. It seems they simply don’t care and Centurion cardholders are treated like everyone else. There is no more special treatment or special feeling.
Which begs the question – what is one paying $5000 for each year? Do they even really want to have this card offering anymore? Do they still care about the customer experience or is it just about the bottom line? Do they even consider customer Customer Lifetime Value anymore?
There are so many more examples of terrible service, whittled down options comparable to Platinum and many more instances of a lack of travel knowledge by their team.
It seems Amex has given up on their Centurion cardholders, many of whom are their most loyal supporters and brand ambassadors. I feel given up on and am saddened by what has become of this iconic card.
Christine Krzyszton
January 05, 2022
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences.
Chris
October 13, 2022
Arosan.. you and I have had very similar experiences recently with the Centurion Card. I was invited to join the Centurion card program back in 1999 when it was first issued.. apparently in the first batch of 1500.. so I was told at the time. During those days I was charging about $4M a year on my Amex for business. Back then the annual fee was $1000 and the card came with relatively few benefits but those days I traveled extensively and the benefits were worth it.
A few years later, I went through some tougher times financially and I called in to cancel my black card and just move back to the standard green card .. the CSR told me that I should probably reconsider since they were raising the annual fee to $2500 and I was “Grandfathered” in at the $1000 rate.. So I decided not to cancel. Soon afterward they added a lot of additional benefits and my travel increased so it was all good.
Some years later I got the notice that my annual fee was moving to $2500 too.. Guess I was not permanently “Grandfathered”.. but again.. the perks like Delta Platinum Medallion and all of the Hotel/Rental car medallions were worth it to me.
Flash forward to about 3 or 4 years ago, I got a notice early in that year that they were raising the annual fee to $5000 and it would become effective on my renewal date which is December. BUT they were including a TON of new additional perks and benefits (like $1000 annual credit to SAKS and more) so I let it roll. My company had a travel agent so rarely used AMEX Travel (if ever ) but ..
Somewhere around this time, Amex moved from a personal account manager model to a “team” model. My account “coordinator” (who only called me maybe once) was rotated in/out a couple times.. never heard from any of the new ones. Then the pandemic came and travel slowed / stopped.. The value of the travel perks evaporated.
Well flash forward to earlier this year, I was planning a major celebration in France with close friends and I had made the decision to retire in 2021 so I decided to use Amex Centurion Travel to book our flights to France.. BIG MISTAKE.. as Arosan stated above, the service was terrible. I had no idea who my “account coordinator” was, my calls went into the IVR and was routed to some group of agents in the travel department. After speaking to a rep, they gave me a quote for the flights that were HIGHER than I could get myself online with Delta direct.. PLUS they told me that the International Companion Ticket program was gone.. so suddenly there was ZERO benefit to use them for the plane tickets.
Feeling like maybe I can still get value from the INternational arrival program, they told me that I had to buy the tickets from them to get that.. fine.. so I found a private service to do that for me in Paris that was only $250.. and I was still saving $500+ on the tickets I bought direct..
So THEN I figured.. well maybe they can line up a chauffeur service we wanted for the wine country.. I worked back and forth with their “team” via email for a couple weeks.. I ended up spending a few hours typing up a precise agenda before they sent me pricing.. by the time this time lapsed, I hade shopped on the internet myself and found a 5* rated company with good pricing. WHen Amex finally came back with the driver pricing, it was 50% higher than I found on my own.
Its crazy. The Centurion service and value went from very high to near zero. The only useful net perk I still get is a delta platinum medallion and a couple hotel and rental car premium medallions.. but since we usually travel with a FC ticket, that perk really does little for me and the Amex Platinum card costs thousands less per year and most of the perks are same as the Centurion..
Makes me sad really but these days you need to get value for your money.. for the 1st 10 years or so I had the card, I used get the “Oh you have a black card” thing at stores and restaurants etc but no one even notices now.. oh well.. I guess it used to be prestigious to wear Adidas shoes when I was in middle school but no one cares now 🙂 same thing.
Aj
May 26, 2023
Both Chris and Arosan have great candid reviews!
Any thoughts or questions? Comment below!
Email needed if you'd like comment updates. It will NOT be published.
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