Reader VJ writes:
I’ve heard that there is an American Express card that automatically lets you upgrade your flights on a bunch of airlines. Is this true? How do I get such a card, and what does it cost? I couldn’t find anything on the American Express website.
Such a card indeed exists, but you won’t find an application anywhere on the American Express website. The card you’re looking for is the Centurion Card, also known as the black card.
The black is the ultimate bling credit card. It offers an unlimited credit limit and promises all sorts of “concierge” services and perks, such as personal shoppers at luxury retailers. It’s not even made of plastic anymore: it’s made of titanium. Seriously. Other banks might offer a “titanium” card like they offer a “gold” or “platinum” card. This is really made of metal.
Membership qualifications vary by country, but you’ve got to be a big spender, reportedly as high as $250,000 charged in a single year. You don’t apply: They invite. And it comes at a stiff price: The annual fee is $2500 (for U.S. cardholders; more in some countries, less in others). Not to mention the initiation fee, reportedly at $5000.
So why would anyone spend that kind of money to have a credit card?
To show off, mostly. But the upgrades you mention might be a reason.
For several years, American Centurion holders received mid-tier elite status in several airlines: Continental OnePass Gold Elite, Delta Air Lines SkyMiles Gold Medallion, and US Airways Dividend Miles Gold Preferred. (US Airways dropped out after they merged with America West. Now, newly-invited cardholders also receive elite status in Virgin Atlantic’s program.) So if you were upgraded on those airlines, it’s a function of the elite status you gained because of the card, not thanks to flashing the black card at the gate.
Other travel benefits include free companion tickets on tickets booked through their staff, membership in the PriorityPass airport lounge network, and elite status in hotel loyalty programs (though many of these benefits are already available to Platinum cardholders, too, who pay “only” $450 per year.)
Benefits and elite memberships conferred will vary by country. For example, if you’re a Centurion cardholder in Germany, you’ll get elite status in KLM and at a basket of hotels. Or if you’re based in Australia, you’ll get membership in the Qantas airport clubs, which others don’t. Etc.
Since the Centurion site is off limits to non-members, curious gawkers can browse this site, which serves as on online museum of black card history.
I’m not expecting The Call from Amex offering me membership in the Centurion club anytime soon. And if asked, I’m sure I’d decline. Paying that kind of money for the privilege of spending more money just doesn’t jive with my way of thinking. If I’m going Amex, I’ll stick with the no-fee or low-fee cards that link up with Hilton or Starwood hotels (aff) and shower you with points toward free nights.
Related:
- How to lounge in airports
- Reader mail: What kind of point-earning credit card is best?
- Milking the banks for miles
- Priority Pass airport lounge membership card (aff)
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May 22nd, 2007 at 6:59 pm
US Airways has not dropped out. You still get Gold.
May 22nd, 2007 at 7:17 pm
Thanks, Richard. I’ve received a couple e-mails correcting me on this, so I’ve edited the post to reflect that US Airways elite status is still in the mix.
May 23rd, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Yup, the article is right in terms of both the spending qualifier (more than a quarter of a million dollars a year) and annual fee ($2500) attached to this card.
My boss just got one a few months ago because he had the entire company charge everything business related through his account and accrued the spending qualifier.
But yes the card is quite heavy as it’s coated in Titanium. However, according to the perk booklet, the $2500 actually pays for it self if you do any sort of flying where you can get that free upgrade to 1st class.
The “no-limit” feature is kind of interesting and scary at the same time. On one hand you can literally buy an island, provided you can pay for it all by the end of the month…
September 24th, 2007 at 5:49 am
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October 6th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
I held one of these cards for many years before giving it up as quite honesty I was getting very little.
Often when using the card you have to put up with stupid ‘millionaire’s card’ comments from restaurant/shop staff or else they take it and show it around the shop ‘hey … have you seen one of these before …’
No airline ever offered me an upgrade based on possession of this card The truth is that upgrades are arranged when travelling as a full fare passenger (ie. the highest possible business class fare if you hope to get into first) and booking through Amex travel Service. If your company uses different travel agent, tough.
Was promised things like Hilton Gold Card (never arrived), Priority Pass Lounge Card (never arrived until after much argument with Amex)
The Centurion Card travel service made so many mistakes (ticket to one country with pm arrival and hotel reservation in a different country without even thinking to double check that that is actually what I wanted ..) that I stopped using them especially after they decided to charge for issuing full fare tickets on which they were receiving $100’s of commission already ..
The credit is not really unlimited; like all charge cards they won’t let you go too crazy ..
October 6th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
And if for any reason you don’t pay that bill on time, even if there is a valid unexpected reason beyond you pay them a couple of days later they turn on you immediately ….
October 6th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
And if for any reason you don’t pay that bill on time, even if there is a valid unexpected reason beyond your control and you pay them a couple of days later they turn on you immediately ….
December 28th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
I agree with Mark. I still have one of these cards and it is more of a conversation piece when you are out on the town. Dont get me wrong it worked great for bartenders and waitresses remembering you when you are out on the town. But now that i am no longer single it has just been a waste of money. Mark is also right about the upgrades and special treatment. It seemed like people were almost bitter that you had one so they were not eager to hand out free upgrades, etc. I have heard more than one person mumble about “why i am even asking for free s–t if I am rich enough to have a black card”. I am still on the fence if i will renew my card this year. Now that i am getting a little older i am realizing how stupid i must be to keep paying these fees. They really dont do much more for you then the platinum. There is a special phone number but you still have to sit on hold. They just remind you of how important you are while you are waiting by playing “rich people hold music” instead of the solicitation recordings that are on the normal recordings. I am realizing how much of an idiot i am for even having this card still as i write this post. Id save the money if anyone is thinking about getting one.
January 26th, 2009 at 6:15 am
[...] new Visa Black Card, which obviously hopes to emulate the aura of exclusivity and status that the black Amex Centurion Card has evoked for [...]
February 25th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
The Black Visa is not a Centurion. But it is special. Most people can’t have one. The conceige got us into a fully book resturant on a Saturday night with 1 hour notice. I feel like they earned their 495 fee right there. This was a business dinner and without getting in this place I would have been stressed out. The 1% back makes sure the card will pay for itself. In addiiton they extent generous credit and the card is some ways is better than the Centurion as everyone takes it.
April 28th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
mark, above, who claims to have had a centurion card and never got upgrades is so wrong. with the card one becomes a gold on delta and a platinum on us air good for automatic upgrades flying on any ticket 72 hrs and 96 hours agead of the flight respectively – i use it and get upgraded literally 8 times a month. then you become a member of 4 airlines vip lounges for free – more than justifying the fee if you travel any. additionally one becomes a gold starwood member great for upgrades on rooms which i get all the time.
May 19th, 2009 at 7:44 am
I call BS on Daniel. How much does one get paid per defensive comment anyway? Are you a straight out sub-contracted employee or a free-lancer?
Looking at his comment they read like advertising copy, eg- “with the card”. Failing to use proper punctuation, such as failing to capitalize the first letter of the first word of each sentence is not heartfelt, its bot behavior, and I don’t mean the fly.
I was going to upgrade to platinum and then I just found out there are no upgrade perks with AmEx. The reason I switched from Visa/MC is bc I found their new FF policies beyond ludicrous! So the exchange is forgoing upgrades. The only way around it? Try to fly Virgin as much as possible. Don’t work for them, wish I did.
August 20th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
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October 10th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
I have one and honestly I pay the $2500 because of the 3 day upgrade with Continental as I fly out of Newark NJ. I spend roughly $300,000 per month on business needs and the problem with other banks is that no one can give me that kind of limit without hounding me. I have been a member since 1997 when it was $1000 per year but out of 10 flights on Continental, I got upgraded 75% of the time so I really cannot complain. I do agree that if you do not travel often or need the credit line, $2500 is steep. I like the 30 days because I am double dipping. If I pay my vendors within 30 days, I usually get a 2-5% discount from them and also get 1 point for every dollar with Amex. If you play this game right, it can really work for you. I actually found the plum a better card because i get 2% back if I pay withing the 1st 10 days of the billing cycle. I will still give Amex Centurion $250k a year minimum so that i can get the upgrades and Hertz but I do agree that most people stereo type about this card as I once haggled about why a bag cost $100 and the looked at me and said (You have the back card and you are worried about $100). Just because I have the money does not mean I am going to throw it out easily. Just my 2cents
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:25 pm
I have a black card and honestly love it. There is nothing like the sound “ting” on a counter when it is time to pay and a cashier, waitress etc has not provided great service.
re: travel privileges, you are gold with delta… which is great if you dont’ mind going through atlanta. Platinum with us air and gold with continental. If traveling alone on a high fare your chance of getting upgraded improves dramatically. I travel with my family so we have to book our seats in the first cabin if that is what we want. This usually comes with access to the lounges so the lounge access doesn’t really matter.Beyond that, my kids want to eat at the food court in the airport anyway. Companion fares are really a joke. Everytime I check, it is much less expensive to just book a low fare online.
Privileges at the fine resorts include 3rd night free occassionally and room upgrades with access to concierge level…. not big drinkers so we really again don’t gain much from this. Keep in mind, these tend to be expensive hotels so the 3rd night free is only a benefit if you were going to spend a lot on your room anyway.
We occasionally recieve $500 gift cards but they are always for stores in NY, CHI, SFO etc. that require in store purchases by the card holder. (no sending a friend or online purchases).
Other uses for the card… auto, my car wouldn’t start and they sent somebody to start it. Great for dining reservations, awesome gum scraper (if you have a gum chewer in your home you know what I mean).
My advice, get the card if you have the money and would get a thrill from the clank factor but remember that when people see it, they expect you to be eager to spend !