American Express Black Card: What Is This Secret Card?
Most people who use the American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts program have the Platinum card — either Personal or Business. But there is another card that gives you the same benefits, and more — the American Express black card, or to use its real name — the Centurion card.
Unusual in the world of credit cards, American Express created the Centurion Card in 1999 in response to an urban legend of a “black” charge card that had no limit and was only given to the wealthiest people.
The myth created the reality!
What is the Amex Black Card?
NextShark Amex Centurion Card Unboxing
Physically, the Centurion card is made of anodized titanium, which is the material that gives it its distinctive black color. Other than its physical differences, this is just an American Express charge card, although some call it the most prestigious charge card in the world.
To get one of these cards, you must be invited by American Express to apply. There are many rumors about how to get invited, but the one that seems to persist is that you must be spending at least $250,000 per year on another Amex charge card, and that spending should be mainly in the luxury services and goods area. If all you’re doing is running business expenses through your card, you probably won’t qualify.
Once you get the invite, and you apply, Amex will charge you the initiation fee that is currently $7,500, and the annual fee is $2,500 per card. Unlike the Platinum card, a second card on your account costs the same amount as your first card.
For That Price, The Benefits Must Be Fantastic
Well, yes and no. Mostly no.
Almost all of the benefits of the Centurion card are also available to Platinum card members for only $450/year, but here are a few extra benefits that are exclusive to Centurion members
Travel Status
Centurion Lounge Bar — With Secret Menu for Amex Black Card members
The well-named Centurion lounges provide a little extra benefit above Platinum members. First, if the lounge is getting full, Platinum members may be turned away, where Centurion members will not. Secondly, there’s a secret bar menu for Centurion members that gets them Veuve Cliquot champagne and a Balvenie single malt as upgraded options. I’ve seen this at the Las Vegas Centurion lounge — a discreet flash of the card gets the upgraded bubbly.
Since the lounges don’t take payment at the bar, these options aren’t even available to purchase for Platinum or other members.
Centurion members get Delta SkyMiles Medallion membership at the Platinum level, as well as access to Avis President’s Club and Hertz Platinum for car rentals worldwide. These are all a few steps up from the status that Platinum members get in these programs.
Fine Hotels and Resorts
Like Platinum members, Centurion members get full access to the Fine Hotels and Resorts benefit, but in many hotels, they get a little extra on top. In Aman, Belmond, Mandarin Oriental, St Regis and Peninsula hotels, Centurion members get additional benefits of an upgrade at booking time (keeping the chance of an upgrade at checkin too), and they get an extra resort benefit that is worth between $100-$200 above the regular FHR benefit of $100.
If you stay at enough hotels through the year, just these extra $100-$200 benefits can pay for the card.
Throughout the year, American Express also sends out what they call WOW Offers. Often a fully free night at a nice hotel — no need to book other nights to get the free one. Usually the list of hotels is short, and often the benefit is for only a single night at that hotel during the offer. If the hotel is in Fine Hotels and Resorts, you’ll get those benefits too. A free room and free breakfast.
Other Benefits
There are a few other benefits of the Centurion card, the biggest being access to Centurion Concierge. There are stories of this service being able to get you into many sold out shows and restaurants, and find things that may otherwise impossible to get. Of course, you’re expected to pay with your card for these services and items once they have been found.
Since American Express doesn’t advertise much about the Centurion card, there are likely to be benefits that are not public knowledge. You’ll just have to get an invite to find out what they are!
Originally published at www.fhrnews.com on August 2, 2015.
