American Express Black (Centurion) Card: Worth It?

If i were rich enough to get it I would, why not? It's about the exclusivity and prestige at that point. The fact that it's made of titanium is also a huge plus. I have the Sapphire Preferred and the metal on that feels great compared to the cheap plastic of other cards.

 

You are right, for the most part there isn't that much that separates the Platinum and Centurion. The status, prestige, and some higher level services.

I have had a Platinum for a long time and it has served me well with all the perks and free benefits I get out of it. I dont' know if you get the $3500 or how much it is a year back in perks. With the Platinum as you mentioned, I made back that and if not more on the stuff that comes to me via freebies.

The cost different per year is pretty substantial for sure.

 

I'm confused by this thread. Like I said before, anyone who has the spending power to get an invite isn't sweating a few thousand bucks (or even thinking about it). The only way I can see this being a problem is if the invite is due to spending on an Amex Business Card rather than personal.

 

Please give me some money, breh.

 

I remember years ago when I worked at a gas station some megadouche paid with an Amex made of titanium, I think. I said something like wow, that's heavy for a credit card. He replied back, don't worry you'll never have one.

What an ass. OP, don't do things like that.

 

lmao despite him being a-hole that was a pretty funny zinger.

 

We had one for a couple of years when we were travelling more. The benefits were worth the $2500/year fee. Once we started our family and stopped travelling as much, we downgraded back to Platinum and didn't really miss too much. It usually was a little cheaper for me to buy a full fair business class ticket and get a free one for my wife rather than purchase two cheaper. Also probably averaged 10 free nights a year at hotels that paid for the fee (stayed at Mandarins a lot). Also the travel insurance let me book travel no hassle and cancel at will.

I think it would benefit someone the most who had a small business or was a consultant and had to travel for work on their own dime. You get all the benefits of a full service, concierge travel company without actually having one. For those of you that work for big companies and use companies like CarlsonWagonlit, this would give you those types of services as a person travelling for their own business.

 

What were the benefits you got at $2500 that were not available on the Platinum card ($450)?

Thanks

 

Simply by meeting the prerequisites of what an invitation to the Centurion card requires, you will already be in those circles.

 

Lol, ok sir. Then don't get one. If you are worried about a few thousand while spending >$350K a year, and your justification is networking with more successful people, you are the one doing it wrong. If you can't find the sucker at the poker table, you're the sucker.

 

So did you spend the money on your Amex Business card rather than personal?

 

What's the side gig?

 

At the time, there was guaranteed free nights at certain hotel chains. I think the travel insurance was better. I believe it was the guaranteed free nights is what paid for it over the Platinum.

Also, the Fine Hotels and Resorts benefits are better. 2 and 3 room level upgrades (almost always ended up in some kind of suite even when booking the lowest level) instead of 1 room level. Things like $200-$300 resort credits rather than $100.


I flew Emirates twice and used a free first class upgrade, which covered the costs too.

I don't know if its worth it, but you are basically Gold level on almost all FF airlines programs, even if you don't fly with them that often. Allows a lot of flexibility being that you can use your points as miles with most as well. Doesn't tie to you to one airline.

Honestly, I could have gotten away sticking with Platinum.

Like I said, if I traveled for my own business, its awesome having a personal travel assistant that you call directly, but since I don't...no reason.

Do they charge a one time initiation fee? They tried to ask me to pay and I refused and they went ahead and upgraded me for the yearly fee. This was in 2009 when the economy sucked, so they waived it I guess. If they charge you $5,000 plus the yearly fee, I don't know if I'd do it now. If not...the yearly fee is pro-rated if you try it for a few months and then decide you don't need it. I actually think the year I cancelled, they just applied the pro-rated amount to the Platinum and refunded the rest.


EDIT: By the way, I believe when we joined the pre-req were lower. I don't think we ever spent $350K in a year, although we had some years with a lot of travel and a few BIG purchases that you wouldn't normally put on a card...such as we built a house and financed it ourselves. We put a lot of the materials on the Amex for the points. That can add up quick. Additionally, they (at least they used to) take into account consistency in monthly spending and not just total yearly spending I think. I think my point is: even if you spend enough to qualify...(even at $350K...$2500 a year is still $2500 a year)...so its still worth considering the cost benefit. Most people don't get to the point where they can spend that much without considering the cost/benefit of stuff.