Anyone have the American Express Black Card?

[disneymom2003]

I just got this invitation in the mail. Looks impressive but the yearly fee is $500 if you have this card what do you like about it? Is it worth the $500 a year?

 

[havaneselover]

My ex-husband wanted one.

It used to be you had to spend $250K/year, there was a $7,500 initiation fee and a $2,500 annual fee. It's a status symbol (plus of course tons of perks). But I'm not sure what you got in the mail because $500 sounds way too low.

 

[JanaDee]

My ex-husband wanted one.

It used to be you had to spend $250K/year, there was a $7,500 initiation fee and a $2,500 annual fee. It's a status symbol (plus of course tons of perks). But I'm not sure what you got in the mail because $500 sounds way too low.

It still is, I don't know what the $500 number quoted above is about. We just got an offer in the mail. I when I read the fine print and put it in the shred pile.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

It's simply a status card, not worth the fees.

 

[elgerber]

It still is, I don't know what the $500 number quoted above is about. We just got an offer in the mail. I when I read the fine print and put it in the shred pile.

I have also gotten one with a $500 fee offer, more than one actually, so they do exist. Not sure what makes them different than the ones you guys received. I have no clue why anyone would even want to pay $500 a year. My 21 year old got an offer for a Visa Black card just last week, with a $495 annual fee. I told him his credit has clearly impressed someone LOL.

 

[supersnoop]

There's a Visa "Black" card with a $500 annual fee. The American Express Platinum card's annual fee is around that amount. Both include benefits for frequent travelers, but aren't worth much beyond that.

 

[disneymom2003]

Thanks for the replies. Ya I am not going to apply just wanted to see what perks there might be that I missed.

 

[xlxo]

Here's details on the American Excess card...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centurion_Card

Sadly the card benefit have gone down over the years...
http://www.businessinsider.com/american-express-antitrust-suit-2015-2

 

[KingofJapan]

I think you all are thinking of the centurion American express black card. the cost is $2500 a year and they don't send you invites in the mail. I have one through the company I work for since I travel a lot. this is not to be confused with the visa black.

 

[Traveliz]

No there is definitely such a card. My step son who is an exec with a major corp and knows how to read was just talking about it at dinner the other night. He got the 500 fee one and thought it sounded interesting for the travel concierge but he just doesn't travel enough...and this is AMEX

I think you all are thinking of the centurion American express black card. the cost is $2500 a year and they don't send you invites in the mail. I have one through the company I work for since I travel a lot. this is not to be confused with the visa black.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

The requirements for being invited to apply for an AMEX Black card (Centurion) is a spend of $250,000 annually on another AMEX card. The annual fee is $2,500, plus a $7,500 "initiation" fee.

I cannot believe the "black" card some posters here were offered is the same card! Maybe you were offered a Platinum card?

 

[KingofJapan]

The requirements for being invited to apply for an AMEX Black card (Centurion) is a spend of $250,000 annually on another AMEX card. The annual fee is $2,500, plus a $7,500 "initiation" fee.

I cannot believe the "black" card some posters here were offered is the same card! Maybe you were offered a Platinum card?

Yes the one they are getting in the mail is not the same black card we are referring to. Took me about 8 months to get it. Given that I am not too sure how much I put on it since I never see a bill but would not surprise me if it was 6 figures due to all the airfare I use, hotels, food, rentals and misc. Business expenses. I do get upgraded to business class every flight and upgraded rentals (once given a 2 door Bentley for a rental).

 

[Brewersprts]

The American Express Centurion card is what most people think of when you talk about the black card. That's the one that rappers or celebs or whoever talk about. The posters above are right about having to spend $250,000 a year to get it.

The American Express Black card is different. I would assume that AMEX came out with it to make people think they could get the baller status card of the rich and get regular folk like you and me to pay the $500 annual fee.

 

[mel&me]

I am familiar with both cards. neither are worth it unless you travel alot.

 

[KingofJapan]

I am familiar with both cards. neither are worth it unless you travel alot.

Exactly. Besides travel there is no other need for it. I have a 90% travel work schedule which means I am only at the office 10% of the time and 90% traveling and this card helps a lot with airfare (automatic business class upgrade), special lounges at airports, car rentals and even restaurant reservations.

 

[sunshinehighway]

The only Amex black card I know of is the Centurion and that's clearly not what you guys are talking about.
What's actually name of the card? If I google Amex black card, I only get the Centurion. I'm curious about it now.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

The only Amex black card I know of is the Centurion and that's clearly not what you guys are talking about.
What's actually name of the card? If I google Amex black card, I only get the Centurion. I'm curious about it now.

I'm curious as well. Does it earn rewards? Any other perks like lounge access?

 

[DisneyFan13US]

I've received a Visa Black offer in the mail before but I've never seen a AMEX Black card with only a 500 dollar annual fee. I find it hard to believe that they would be willing to run a deal cutting 2000 dollars off the annual fee. I have looked for a AMEX Black card that isn't the Centurion card but I can't find anything online that fits the bill.

Hopefully Traveliz will come back with some more info.

 

[coastalhh]

The OP was talking about the Platinum card from Amex. I get offers in the mail every now and then for it. 450 fee. some good benefits if you travel a lot but not worth the 500 for me.

 

[sunshinehighway]

The OP was talking about the Platinum card from Amex. I get offers in the mail every now and then for it. 450 fee. some good benefits if you travel a lot but not worth the 500 for me.

Maybe the OP was talking about the Platinum but that card is pretty far from black.
Others seem to be say there is a black Amex with a $500 fee.
I'm wondering if it's one of their branded cards, like a hotel card or something.
As far as I know, Amex doesn't have a card called the black card. Visa does so I can't imagine Amex and Visa would each have a card with that name.