With more than 50 million redeemed miles under her belt, Becky Pokora is a rewards travel expert. She's been writing about credit cards and reward travel since 2011 with articles on Forbes Advisor, BoardingArea, The Points Guy and more. Her redemptio.
Becky Pokora Credit Card Rewards ExpertWith more than 50 million redeemed miles under her belt, Becky Pokora is a rewards travel expert. She's been writing about credit cards and reward travel since 2011 with articles on Forbes Advisor, BoardingArea, The Points Guy and more. Her redemptio.
Written By Becky Pokora Credit Card Rewards ExpertWith more than 50 million redeemed miles under her belt, Becky Pokora is a rewards travel expert. She's been writing about credit cards and reward travel since 2011 with articles on Forbes Advisor, BoardingArea, The Points Guy and more. Her redemptio.
Becky Pokora Credit Card Rewards ExpertWith more than 50 million redeemed miles under her belt, Becky Pokora is a rewards travel expert. She's been writing about credit cards and reward travel since 2011 with articles on Forbes Advisor, BoardingArea, The Points Guy and more. Her redemptio.
Credit Card Rewards Expert Jerod Morales Deputy EditorJerod Morales is a deputy editor at Forbes Advisor and a travel rewards expert. He took a deep dive into points and miles in 2016, searching for a way to make travel both possible and affordable for his growing family. Now, as a dad to four sons, he.
Jerod Morales Deputy EditorJerod Morales is a deputy editor at Forbes Advisor and a travel rewards expert. He took a deep dive into points and miles in 2016, searching for a way to make travel both possible and affordable for his growing family. Now, as a dad to four sons, he.
Jerod Morales Deputy EditorJerod Morales is a deputy editor at Forbes Advisor and a travel rewards expert. He took a deep dive into points and miles in 2016, searching for a way to make travel both possible and affordable for his growing family. Now, as a dad to four sons, he.
Jerod Morales Deputy EditorJerod Morales is a deputy editor at Forbes Advisor and a travel rewards expert. He took a deep dive into points and miles in 2016, searching for a way to make travel both possible and affordable for his growing family. Now, as a dad to four sons, he.
Updated: Aug 26, 2024, 2:40pm
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If you are reading a review of the Centurion® Card from American Express * , it’s probably not for you. First of all, you can’t apply for the card—you need to be invited. The unique characteristics of this card, also known as the “Black Card,” both in price and perks, are like no other. If you’re in a select group invited to apply for the card, even if the cost/benefit analysis doesn’t make sense, you might want it just because you’re one of the elite few who can.
Centurion® Card from American Express *Our ratings take into account the card’s rewards, fees, rates along with the card’s category. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Welcome Bonus Annual Fee Regular APR Credit ScoreAll information about Centurion® Card from American Express has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor
All information about Centurion® Card from American Express has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor
Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
Partner Offer Apply Now →
On American Express's Website Rates & Fees / Terms Apply Welcome Bonus Earn 80,000 points Annual Fee Credit Score Good,Excellent Regular APR See Pay Over Time APRCredit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
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.
American Express® Gold CardPartner Offer Apply Now →
On American Express's Website Rates & Fees / Terms Apply Welcome Bonus Earn 60,000 points + earn up to $100 back Annual Fee Credit Score Excellent/Good Regular APR See Pay Over Time APRCredit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
All information about Centurion® Card from American Express has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor
The Washington Post used to have a slogan that’s apropos for the Centurion Card: If you don’t get it, you don’t get it. The Centurion Card has a lot of downsides including a large initiation fee, annual fees that rival a luxury car lease and a distinct lack of category spending bonuses.
That said, for the biggest spenders, the Centurion Card can be worth every one of the million pennies that cover its initiation fee. The upsides, which include bend-over-backwards customer service, elite travel statuses, memberships and credits to luxury outlets and lucrative points redemption options, can easily offset the costs. However, the credits and perks only have value if they fit into your lifestyle.
Exclusivity is the main draw of the Centurion Card, and it’s expressed in many ways. Access to a 24/7 concierge service is a big draw if you are interested in delegating your travel-planning, reservation-getting and gift-giving tasks. Events featuring celebrities from the entertainment, culinary and sports arenas are offered solely to cardholders.
The criteria used to determine if you’re worthy to apply are nebulous, but it’s safe to say if you’re not on a first-name basis with your American Express rep, the Centurion Card is probably not in your wheelhouse. Minimum spending estimates vary from $500,000 to $1,000,000 per year. That said, you can request consideration by phone if you want to give it a shot.
Something to keep in mind: The Centurion comes in both personal card and business card versions. If you are given a choice, the business card offers more valuable benefits—most notably the airfare rebate.
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Ultimately, the Amex Black Card is best for wealthy individuals who want the luxury associated with the most exclusive credit card available. While the value of the card’s luxury benefits outpace any premium credit card you can find, it may not be enough on its own for some cardholders to cover the cost of the annual fee.
The card’s most coveted features aren’t quantifiable. With exclusive access to events and private spaces, upgraded service with travel and hospitality brands and time-saving tactics, this card is all about navigating situations with convenience and ease.
Its rewards rate on purchases is also subpar, so it only makes sense to get the card if you spend enough to qualify and are willing to pay the upfront and ongoing costs for the doors it will open.
The Centurion® Card from American Express * offers 1 point per dollar on all eligible purchases.
American Express Membership Rewards points are valuable because they are flexible. They can be transferred to over 15 airline and hotel partners, most at a 1:1 ratio. In addition, American Express offers frequent transfer bonuses, allowing you to get even more value from your points. Among the most popular airline transfer partners are Delta SkyMiles (for SkyTeam airlines), British Airways (Oneworld) and Air Canada (Star Alliance).
The most interesting perk of the business Centurion Card is a generous 50% rebate on airfares purchased with Membership Rewards. This gives an effective return rate of 2 cents per dollar. Points earned on transactions over $5,000 are worth an effective 3% back when redeemed in this manner. This bonus does not exist on the personal version of the card.
You can also redeem your points for a wide variety of gift cards for travel, retail and restaurant categories. Rates vary depending on the vendor and fluctuate between 0.5 cents and 1 cent per Membership Rewards point. You may also pay with points at a number of vendors (most notably Amazon) at 0.7 cents per Membership Reward point. Though redeeming Membership Rewards for travel has a higher redemption rate, someone who considers the card’s fees no more than a rounding error might be unconcerned with maximizing points.
The American Express Centurion Card’s profile is not geared toward point earning and spending levels vary wildly depending on the cardholder. Since $500,000 is often considered the minimum yearly spending you’ll need to be invited for this card, we’ll use that as our estimated annual spending.
Centurion® Card from American Express * Rewards Potential
All Spending Total: 500,000 American Express Membership Rewards See More See LessAll information about Centurion® Card from American Express has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor
The concierge benefit offered with the Centurion® Card from American Express * deserves special mention. Many cards offer concierge service, but Centurion cardholders have access to an entire team of Membership Managers to assist with lifestyle or travel requests. From spending hours tracking down a sold-out Christmas present to managing an evacuation in the midst of a volcanic eruption, the concierge staff at this level can provide you with the best of the best.
In addition to your Amex concierge, the included elite status perks with hotels and airline programs also include dedicated phone numbers and expedited in-person service with those brands, giving you yet another smooth path for assistance with needs and requests.
The Black Card offers access to the Amex Global Lounge Collection, which includes more than 1,400 lounges in airports across 140 countries. Lounge networks in the collection include:
All information about Centurion® Card from American Express has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor
Details about the requirements to get approved for the Centurion Card are notoriously elusive—if you’re eligible, the card issuer will invite you to apply. And while there’s a way to request consideration, there’s no official application process like what you’ll find with other credit cards.
However, several reports online suggest a few soft guidelines:
As previously mentioned, the Centurion Card is no rewards powerhouse. But despite a low earning rate, high spending could still yield impressive rewards.
To maximize them, your best bet is to transfer rewards to one of Amex’s many airline and hotel loyalty program partners. With airline partners, in particular, you may receive outsized value, especially if you redeem points for international business- and first-class flights. You can also see value with the business version of the card’s 50% airline rebate on tickets booked through Pay with Points.
Note, however, that the research required to maximize the value of your Amex Black rewards can take some time and effort. If you’d rather spend that time doing something else and can afford luxury travel, use your rewards in whatever way suits your needs.
American Express Membership Rewards transfer partners with transfer ratios are:
Aer Lingus AerClub (1:1) Choice Privileges (1:1) AeroMexico Club Premier (1:1.6) Hilton Honors (1:2) Air Canada Aeroplan (1:1) Marriott Bonvoy (1:1) Air France-KLM Flying Blue (1:1) All Nippon Airways Mileage Club (1:1) Asia Miles (1:1) Avianca LifeMiles (1:1) British Airways Executive Club (1:1) Delta Air Lines SkyMiles (1:1) Emirates Skywards (1:1) Etihad Guest (1:1) Hawaii Airlines HawaiianMiles (1:1) Iberia Plus (1:1) JetBlue TrueBlue (250:200) Qantas Loyalty (1:1) Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (1:1) Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (1:1) See More See LessPairing the Centurion Card with another Membership Rewards-earning card will allow you to combine points and earn rewards at higher rates on select purchase categories. Other Membership Rewards cards include:
These cards in particular earn generous rewards on select purchases. Terms apply.
American Express automatically pools all the Membership Rewards points you earn across your Amex Membership Rewards credit cards, so having multiple cards within the rewards program can help you maximize your spending on certain categories.
Depending on where you spend the most money, consider complementary cards that offer bonus rewards on those purchases.
All information about American Express® Green Card, Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card, Amex EveryDay® Credit Card, Business Green Rewards Card from American Express has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor
It’s not feasible to do an apples-to-apples comparison of the Centurion Card with other cards, as it caters to such a small segment of the market and offers unique benefits. That said, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (terms apply, see rates & fees) and The Platinum Card® from American Express (terms apply, see rates & fees) offer a slice of what the Centurion does for a fraction of the annual fee.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express costs $695 per year, which seems like a bargain when compared to the Centurion’s $5,000. Some benefits, such as airport lounge access (albeit without the Centurion’s skip-the-line privileges) and hotel and car rental statuses, are similar with both cards. However, the Centurion’s included statuses are top-tier and include Hilton Diamond, Delta Executive Platinum and Hertz Platinum, which the Business Platinum does not.
But the American Express Business Platinum earns significantly higher rewards of 5 Membership Rewards® points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels through American Express Travel, 1.5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software and cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per card account per calendar year and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases. Purchases eligible for multiple point bonuses only receive the highest eligible bonus.
When it comes time to redeem, the transfer partners for the two cards are very similar. The Centurion Business Card does offer a higher pay-with-points rebate on eligible flight bookings at 50% versus the Platinum Business Card’s 35%. Another point in the Centurion Card’s favor: the rebate applies to any flight on any airline, not just business and first class, and not just for a designated airline.
Some of the Amex Black Card benefits are also available on The Platinum Card® from American Express, but for a much lower fee of $695. Like the Business Platinum, the personal card earns 5 Membership Rewards Points per dollar for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year, 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases. Unlike the business version of the card, it lacks the airfare points rebate, which could add up for those who use it strategically.
Instead, the Amex Platinum piles on the consumer benefits, although at a junior level from its Centurion cousin. The Platinum card offers up to $100 annually to Saks Fifth Avenue (enrollment required)—vs. $1,000 with the Centurion—and a rebate on Equinox Gym memberships (enrollment required) vs. the full membership offered by the Centurion Card. The Platinum card also includes up to $200 annually in Uber Cash credits and statement credits toward Walmart+ monthly memberships (terms apply, enrollment required). Choosing between the Amex Platinum or Amex Black cards likely has more to do with your lifestyle than the earning or redemption rates.
If you’re new to travel credit cards and the Amex Black Card is an aspirational goal for you, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card can be a good starter card on your path to bigger and better rewards and perks. The card offers 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
You’ll also earn 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. With a $95 annual fee, the card doesn’t offer a lot of perks, but you will get up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel℠. The card offers 25% more value when you use points to book travel through Chase Travel℠ and also allows you to transfer rewards to airline and hotel partners.