Centurion Card

Hong Kong Centurion Invitation Kit

The American Express Centurion Card, known informally as the Black Card, is an invitation-only charge card issued by American Express^[1] to platinum card holders after they meet certain criteria.^[2] There are two different issues of the Centurion Card, personal and business.^[3]

History

In 1999, American Express introduced the Centurion Card to cater to a more affluent customer segment. The card was initially available only to selected users of the company's Platinum Card. To become a Centurion cardholder, one must meet American Express's eligibility criteria. Cardholders are required to pay an annual fee, and in some countries also an initiation fee (In the United States, the initiation fee is $7,500 in addition to the $2,500 annual fee from each cardholder).^[2] In addition to a variety of exclusive benefits, the card itself is made of anodized titanium^[2] with the information and numbers stamped into the metal (It should be noted that in some markets, the plastic version of the card is still issued, with or without the titanium card. In some locations such as in Israel, EMV "chip and pin" plastic cards which also include the ExpressPay contactless payment technology, are issued). American Express created the card line amid rumors and urban legends in the 1980s that it produced an ultra-exclusive black card for elite users who could purchase anything with it.^[4]

Availability and fees

The Centurion Card is invitation-only after an appropriate net worth, credit and spending criteria are met.^[2] American Express does not publicly disclose the requirements necessary for getting or keeping a card except that the cardholder has a substantial net worth and they are a former platinum card holder.^[2] For reference, the average Centurion cardholder has $16.3 million in assets and an annual household income of $1.3 million. There has been talk of keeping the card exclusive by maintaining an average spending requirement of $1.0 million, plus requiring that amount to be spent every year.

Benefits

The card, available for personal and business use, offers services such as 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 Gucci, Escada, and Saks Fifth Avenue; access to airport clubs; first-class flight upgrades; membership in Sony's Cierge personal shopping program and dozens of other elite club memberships.^[2] 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^[2] (except for the New York City property),^[7] 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 Gulfstream Aerospace Private Flyers Club, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold, as well as US Airways Platinum Preferred and Delta SkyMiles Platinum Medallion status.

The card also features complimentary enrollment in Hertz Rent-A-Car Platinum Service and the Avis Rent-A-Car President's Club.^[8]

Initially it came with an extensive travel insurance all year round no matter how the trip was paid for but since 2012 this insurance is limited to trips which are paid with the card only. (In Australia, the insurance covers all trips, even if paid with another method or frequent flyer miles).

The titanium-crafted "Centurion" card was first issued as an upgrade for all plastic U.S. "Centurion" cards in the first half of 2006, with the titanium version being rolled out to certain other countries as well.

Some Centurion customers have purchased automobiles using the card or made purchases exceeding €1 million (US$1.36 million). The card has no preset limit in theory. In practice the authorization is decided upon past payment and spending patterns; the largest purchase ever made on one was $36 million for a rare porcelain chicken cup by Liu Qiqian.^[9] Many retailers object to the high commission charges on large purchases and prefer to offer a cash discount. The card is used for refueling superyachts and private aircraft where the bills can frequently exceed $100,000.

Former benefits

Several original Centurion program benefits have been discontinued, including:

• Continental Airlines benefits ceased in October 2011
• Starwood Preferred Guest Platinum elite benefits downgraded to Gold (from January 2006, same as Platinum card)
• Hyatt Diamond Elite benefits removed
• American Airlines Admirals Club benefits ceased March 21, 2014^[10]

Publications

Since the inception of the card, members have received a copy of Departures, which is also sent to all Platinum Card cardholders. However, in 2004, American Express Centurion members in the US began receiving an exclusive "no name" magazine, which was not available by any other means. Starting with the Spring 2007 edition, this magazine was officially titled Black Ink. The magazine is available only to individual Centurion cardholders, not to the business-edition customers. European, Asian, and Australian Centurion members receive quarterly the Centurion magazine published by Journal International GmbH (Munich, Germany).^[11] In June 2011, the Centurion magazine website was launched, offering daily updates for Centurion Card members.

According to Journal International, the average age of a Centurion reader from Europe or the Middle East is 49 years. Ninety-four percent of primary cardholders are male and they have an average of 3.3 properties. Their average household income is €653,000 and their average total net worth is €4.5million. They have an average disposable monthly income of €8,800. Centurion has been published since 2001 and has a circulation in Europe and the Middle East of 44,100, in Asia of 13,900, and in Australia of 6,000.^[3]

Elite cards

The Centurion Card is part of an elite credit card segment created for a very small and exclusive range of clients around the world.^[2] Other such cards include:

• Palladium Card
• Top 5 Elite cards^[12]

In popular culture

On the November 9, 2014 episode of The Newsroom on HBO, the character Will McAvoy, played by Jeff Daniels, hands Neal Sampat, played by Dev Patel, an American Express Centurion Card.

Kanye West references using a black card in his song "Last Call" on his debut album The College Dropout.

References

External links

• American Express Centurion Website