"AMEX Centurion Is Just Crazy!"
The Platinum Card® from American Express Review
Written by: mark on 2008-07-17
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mark's review: 
My brother has this card for years now.. I never really bothered to check the application and requirements before for the card since I'm not into American Express..
Iin my eyes, the green, gold, gray or the black one means the same.. It's a charge card! PERIOD. But when he told me last night, during dinner... That not everyone can get the 'black' AMEX..
I said REALLY? How come? He explained to me the EXCLUSIVITY of this card..
The Centurion Card, popularly known as the Black Card, is a charge card issued by American Express. The Centurion Card provides access to a range of exclusive privileges. To become a card holder, one is required to pay an annual fee and meet other criteria. As of 2007, the annual fee in the United States was $2,500, with a one-time $5,000 initiation fee for the first year.
The card, available for both personal and business use, offers numerous exclusive privileges including a dedicated concierge and travel agent, complimentary companion airline tickets on international flights on selected airlines with the purchase of a full fare ticket, personal shoppers at retailers such as Escada, Gucci, and Neiman Marcus, access to airport clubs, first class flight upgrades, membership in Sony's Cierge personal shopping program, and dozens of other elite club memberships. Hotel benefits include one free night when at least one paid night is booked during the same stay in every Mandarin Oriental hotel worldwide once a year (except for the New York City proper], one free night at one LXR Luxury Resorts hotel, once per year, and privileges at hotel chains like Ritz-Carlton, Leading Hotels of the World, and Amanresorts. All of the benefits mentioned above are for United States-issued cards. American Express Centurion cards issued in other countries may include different benefits. The card has recently added new amenities, including access into the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold, as well as US Airways Platinum Preferred status as of June 1, 2007. As of August 14, 2007, American Airlines Admirals Club access was added to the long list of amenities
Additionally, as a token of American Express's appreciation (and in light of the recent membership fee increase), some primary cardholders received a Canon PowerShot SD850 digital camera, beginning in late November/early December 2007. A note from Kenneth Chenault, CEO and Chairman of American Express, was included inside the characteristic black box with a liner captioned "what do you want to capture." Other gifts to cardmembers have included a $2000 Judith Ripka gift card, a $1000 Van Cleef & Arpels gift card (and Reflections of Eternity book), tote bags, Gucci gift card, etc.
So what do you think?
My brother has this card for years now.. I never really bothered to check the application and requirements before for the card since I'm not into American Express..Iin my eyes, the green, gold, gray or the black one means the same.. It's a charge card! PERIOD. But when he told me last night, during dinner... That not everyone can get the 'black' AMEX..
I said REALLY? How come? He explained to me the EXCLUSIVITY of this card..
The Centurion Card, popularly known as the Black Card, is a charge card issued by American Express. The Centurion Card provides access to a range of exclusive privileges. To become a card holder, one is required to pay an annual fee and meet other criteria. As of 2007, the annual fee in the United States was $2,500, with a one-time $5,000 initiation fee for the first year.
The card, available for both personal and business use, offers numerous exclusive privileges including a dedicated concierge and travel agent, complimentary companion airline tickets on international flights on selected airlines with the purchase of a full fare ticket, personal shoppers at retailers such as Escada, Gucci, and Neiman Marcus, access to airport clubs, first class flight upgrades, membership in Sony's Cierge personal shopping program, and dozens of other elite club memberships. Hotel benefits include one free night when at least one paid night is booked during the same stay in every Mandarin Oriental hotel worldwide once a year (except for the New York City proper], one free night at one LXR Luxury Resorts hotel, once per year, and privileges at hotel chains like Ritz-Carlton, Leading Hotels of the World, and Amanresorts. All of the benefits mentioned above are for United States-issued cards. American Express Centurion cards issued in other countries may include different benefits. The card has recently added new amenities, including access into the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold, as well as US Airways Platinum Preferred status as of June 1, 2007. As of August 14, 2007, American Airlines Admirals Club access was added to the long list of amenities
Additionally, as a token of American Express's appreciation (and in light of the recent membership fee increase), some primary cardholders received a Canon PowerShot SD850 digital camera, beginning in late November/early December 2007. A note from Kenneth Chenault, CEO and Chairman of American Express, was included inside the characteristic black box with a liner captioned "what do you want to capture." Other gifts to cardmembers have included a $2000 Judith Ripka gift card, a $1000 Van Cleef & Arpels gift card (and Reflections of Eternity book), tote bags, Gucci gift card, etc.
So what do you think?
9 Comments
Comment 2 by thomas1
AMEX 
on 2008-07-17
I thought this card was issued by invitation only. Have heard of it though... Mainly issued to high profile people, power executives, sports athletes, and celebs... For the very influential and wealthy. More power to them, lol
on 2008-07-17 I thought this card was issued by invitation only. Have heard of it though... Mainly issued to high profile people, power executives, sports athletes, and celebs... For the very influential and wealthy. More power to them, lol
Comment 3 by mark
My Brother Is None Of Them! on 2008-07-17
My brother is none what you said...
or maybe I'm just sour graping. Ha ha!
seriously!
i think as long as you spend $250,000 a year
in your AMEX card, any card green, gold gray etc,
you'll get an invitation..
he uses his AMEX business card a lot... As in a LOT..
from paying utilities for his retail stores to all the shipping orders and even his
5 dollar big MAC at mcdonald's.
so I guess that's how he got invited?
but then again... This is a charge card!!
on 2008-07-17 My brother is none what you said...or maybe I'm just sour graping. Ha ha!
seriously!
i think as long as you spend $250,000 a year
in your AMEX card, any card green, gold gray etc,
you'll get an invitation..
he uses his AMEX business card a lot... As in a LOT..
from paying utilities for his retail stores to all the shipping orders and even his
5 dollar big MAC at mcdonald's.
so I guess that's how he got invited?
but then again... This is a charge card!!
Comment 4 by rob72830
Wouldn't Want It on 2008-07-17
I'd be afraid AMEX would lower my cl right when I needed it most.
on 2008-07-17 I'd be afraid AMEX would lower my cl right when I needed it most.
Comment 5 by hjm331
RE: Rob on 2008-07-17
Charge cards don't have CL's.
The "Black" card is mainly for consumers with high income preferably celebrities. The AF is worth it because the account holder will benefit from what this card has to offer.
on 2008-07-17 Charge cards don't have CL's.The "Black" card is mainly for consumers with high income preferably celebrities. The AF is worth it because the account holder will benefit from what this card has to offer.
Comment 6 by wildrage2
Website on 2008-07-18
There is a whole website dedicated to the mystique of this card. People snap pictures of themselves with the card to show it off... Also lists cardholders.
http://www.Blackcardsource.com/
The majority of cardholders are business accounts. I believe you get invited if you spend over $100k on your Amex... So it's quite easy for a business to do this (my dad's business sometimes charges that in a month).
Free upgrades to first class is my favorite perk.
on 2008-07-18 There is a whole website dedicated to the mystique of this card. People snap pictures of themselves with the card to show it off... Also lists cardholders.http://www.Blackcardsource.com/
The majority of cardholders are business accounts. I believe you get invited if you spend over $100k on your Amex... So it's quite easy for a business to do this (my dad's business sometimes charges that in a month).
Free upgrades to first class is my favorite perk.
Comment 7 by tynece
Ritz Carlton on 2008-07-18
What is the perk there if you know I wast just there in Jamaica. I have a black AMEX but it's the one from BOA. Gues that would not count LOL HAAAAAAAAAA
on 2008-07-18 What is the perk there if you know I wast just there in Jamaica. I have a black AMEX but it's the one from BOA. Gues that would not count LOL HAAAAAAAAAA
Comment 8 by mark
Bank Of America Have Accolades on 2008-07-18
Well, Bank of America has its own version of the Black CARD.
it's also from American Express...
it's called Bank of America American Express Accolades.
i think the people who works from BOA can tell us more about this.
all I know, is you're total assets with Bank of america should be > $200,000 to be invited for the accolades.
unlike the Centurion, which is a charge card.
this one is a credit card... With INSANE credit limit..
on 2008-07-18 Well, Bank of America has its own version of the Black CARD.it's also from American Express...
it's called Bank of America American Express Accolades.
i think the people who works from BOA can tell us more about this.
all I know, is you're total assets with Bank of america should be > $200,000 to be invited for the accolades.
unlike the Centurion, which is a charge card.
this one is a credit card... With INSANE credit limit..
Comment 9 by mrrob
Why Not Apply on 2008-07-18
With the wife's shopping and all that, I guess I would quilify for the black AMEX (lol) where do I sign up?
on 2008-07-18 With the wife's shopping and all that, I guess I would quilify for the black AMEX (lol) where do I sign up?
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Disclaimer: This content is not provided by American Express. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express. Review content is powered by Finance Globe.
