How Do I Get a Black American Express Credit Card
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- The Amex Centurion "black" card makes other premium credit cards look downright affordable. It has an initiation fee of $7,500 and an annual fee of $5,000.
- It's also invite-only; you can't apply without permission from Amex.
- The card offers some incredible benefits, like complimentary elite status across four hotel chains and with Delta, airport arrival services, and access to a concierge.
- While some of these perks are exclusive to the Amex black card, you can enjoy many of them with The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express .
- The Amex Platinum, with a $695 annual fee (See Rates), doesn't offer the same level of fancy benefits, but it's a great option for earning travel rewards and enjoying some luxury perks, including statement credits with Uber and Saks.
- See Business Insider's list of the best rewards credit cards you can get »
Also known as the Centurion card, the American Express "black" card is so prestigious that you have to be invited to use it. You can't just apply for it and expect to get approved; you have to receive a private invitation from American Express.
While the requirements for getting an invite for the black card aren't officially published, rumor has it 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 $7,500 initiation fee, and a $5,000 annual fee. It makes premium credit cards like the Platinum Card ($695 annual fee) and the Amex Business Platinum Card ($595 (See Rates)) look downright affordable.
We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Featured Reward
60,000 points
Credit Needed
Good to Excellent
Featured Reward 3 free nights (each valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases and 10x total points on eligible purchases in select categories
Credit Needed Good to Excellent
Featured Reward $200 after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Credit Needed Good to Excellent
Benefits of the Amex Centurion black card
The Amex Centurion card isn't just a status symbol; it has some great perks, including some unique benefits like complimentary Delta elite status that you won't find on other cards.
Hotel elite status
With a black card, you can lock in hotel elite status at four major hotel chains: Marriott, Hilton, Intercontinental Hotels Group, and Relais & Châteaux. Hotel elite status gets you sweet benefits like room upgrades, late checkouts, resort and spa credits, and free breakfast.
The Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card offer status with Hilton and Marriott**, but not with IHG and Relais & Châteaux.
Delta elite status
According to The Points Guy, the black card also offers cardholders Platinum Medallion elite status with Delta. You can't get this benefit with any other credit card, and it offers you perks like complimentary upgrades and bonus miles.
Airport 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 1,200 airport lounges around the world, 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 some good food and drinks.
The airport lounge access you get as a Centurion cardholder is virtually identical to the lounge access you get with the Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card.
Equinox membership
The Centurion card added several new perks in late 2019, along with the announcement that Amex would be raising the annual fee. One of the most valuable new benefits is Equinox Destination Access Membership, which lets Centurion cardholders use any of the 100-plus Equinox gym locations in the US, UK, and Canada. This membership costs $300 per month plus a $500 initiation fee, so it's quite valuable if you're a fan of the high-end fitness club chain.
Unsurprisingly, there's no comparable benefit on the Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card cards.
Up to $1,000 per year in Saks Fifth Avenue credits
The Platinum Card offers up to $100 in credits for Saks Fifth Avenue per year**, 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 of normal business hours — a pretty extravagant perk for those who want to make a power move or impress their non-Centurion-holding friends.
CLEAR membership
CLEAR 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 US.
The recently revamped American Express® Green Card offers a statement credit for up to $100 toward CLEAR membership, which costs $179, but with the Amex Centurion card you can get a statement credit for the full cost of membership when you use your card to buy it. Plus, you can get statement credits to cover adding up to three family members.
24/7 concierge service
An Amex black card gets you your own personal concierge whenever you'd like one. 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 just about any event and/or purchase gifts on your behalf.
Once again, the Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card also offer concierge services. However, Centurion cardmembers are definitely the top priority for Amex concierge, and they get the best access to restaurant reservations and more.
International arrival service
If you travel abroad often, you'll love the black card's international arrival service. As long as you fly business or first class via American Express Travel, you'll be assigned to your own personal guide who will make the immigration and customs process a breeze. This isn't a benefit you can replicate with any other Amex card.
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.
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.
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 and Business Platinum with its selection of wine-related benefits, such as consultations with a wine specialist and wine-buying offers.
Black cardholders also get several shopping perks, including special offers and VIP benefits with Net-a-Porter.
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. As you can see, many of the benefits it offers are available on the Amex Platinum, which has a $695 fee. You'll get no preset spending limits, hotel elite status, complimentary access to airport lounges, and concierge services. Keep in mind, no preset spending limit means your spending limit is flexible. Unlike a traditional card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history.
Read more: Amex Platinum card review
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 $595 annual fee.
Read more: Amex Business Platinum card review
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Editor's Rating
Featured Reward
100,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 in your first 6 months of card membership, plus 10x points on eligible purchases on the Card at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the U.S., on up to $25,000 in combined purchases, during your first 6 months of card membership
Pros
- 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
Cons
- Bonus categories leave something to be desired
- One of the highest annual fees among premium travel cards
- Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Plus, earn 10x points on eligible purchases on the Card at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the U.S., on up to $25,000 in combined purchases, during your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- 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 $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®.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax.
- American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Now there are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline.
- $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.
- $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $25 back each month on select Equinox memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required.
- $179 CLEAR® Credit: Use your Card and get up to $179 back per year on your CLEAR® membership.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
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Anna Baluch
Freelance Writer
Anna Baluch is a freelance writer from sunny Cleveland, Ohio. She enjoys writing about mortgages, debt relief, retirement, and more. Connect with her onLinkedIn.
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Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.
**Enrollment required.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
*Annual fee $695 if application received after 1/12/22. For rates and fees of The Business Platinum® Card from American Express, please click here.
Disclosure: This post may highlight financial products and services that can help you make smarter decisions with your money. We do not give investment advice or encourage you to adopt a certain investment strategy. What you decide to do with your money is up to you. If you take action based on one of our recommendations, we get a small share of the revenue from our commerce partners. This does not influence whether we feature a financial product or service. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. Read our editorial standards.
How Do I Get a Black American Express Credit Card
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/benefits-of-the-amex-centurion-black-card