The Centurion Card, popularly known as the Black Card, is American Express's most exclusive charge card. It provides access to a range of exclusive privileges. As of 2006 the annual fee in the United States was $2,500, and it is estimated that there are fewer than 10,000 cards issued worldwide primarily to business moguls and celebrities.
History
Urban legends of a special, black-colored card offering dignitaries and celebrities unlimited spending power and after-hours access to high-end stores circulated in the 1980s.[1] While the rumors were false, American Express decided to capitalize on them by launching the Centurion Card in October 1999 and made available to selected holders of The Platinum CardR, with an annual fee originally at $1,000.
Availability & Cost
The card is available only by invitation and, as of January 1, 2006, in the United States, it requires minimum spending of $250,000 within 12 consecutive months on another American Express card and exceptional credit history among other requirements. Certain requirements have been known to be waived for major celebrities and business figures.Requirements for invitation in other countries may differ.
Starting May 1st, 2007, there will be a US$5,000 one-time initiation fee for new card holders. After this initial charge the annual fee will be US$2,500. Existing cardholders will not pay this fee. (Charter cardholders, who had remained at the $1,000/year fee level even after the January 1, 2006 fee/spending requirement increase, will now have to pay the same $2,500/year upon their next renewal date on or after May 1st 2007.)
The Centurion Card is the most expensive card in the world. These are the annual fees in the countries where it is available:[2]
Country  |
Annual Fee |
Equivalent to |
|---|---|---|
| United States | US$2,500 | US$2,500 |
| United Kingdom | 650 | US$1,275 |
| France, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, and Sweden |
€2,000 | US$2,634 |
| Germany | €1,000 | US$1,317 |
| Switzerland | 2,000 CHF | US$1,639 |
| Australia | AU$4,300 | US$3,408 |
| Japan | \168,000 | US$1,412 |
| Hong Kong | HK$19,800 + one-time joining fee of HK$23,800 |
US$2,547 US$3,061 |
| Singapore | SG$5,000 | US$3,260 |
| Mexico | About 27,000 pesos | US$2,500 |
| Israel | US$2,000 | US$2,000 |
Features
The card offers numerous exclusive privileges, including complimentary companion airline tickets on trans-Atlantic flights (although they do require a full fare ticket to be purchased), personal shoppers at retailers such as Escada, Gucci 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. Centurion membership also includes personal services including a personal concierge and travel agent. The program offers many hotel benefits, including a free one-night's stay in every Mandarin Oriental hotel worldwide once a year (except for the New York City one. The card has recently added new ameneties including 4 complimentary companion tickets in the continental u.s. per year, access into the Virgin Atlantic gold flying club, and added travel insurance benefits.
The benefits mentioned above are for United States-issued cards. American Express Centurion cards issued in other countries may include different benefits. The card is available both as a personal and a business card. A new Centurion card crafted from anodized titanium[3] was issued as a replacement for all U.S. Centurion plastic cards in the first half of 2006. Centurion members in other countries have previously received this titanium card.
American Express has removed certain benefits from the card in the years since it was introduced. For example, Hyatt Diamond Elite status was included up until January 2005, and Starwood Preferred Guest Platinum status was included up until January 2006. UK members had access to Virgin Upper Class lounges, but this privilege has been removed.
American Express sent an email to a reported 250,000 customers on September 20, 2006 describing certain benefits of the Centurion card. The email was supposed to go only to the around 10,000 black card holders. Phone calls to their customer service line revealed 1) the email was sent to the 'wrong list' in error 2) qualifications for the Centurion card were one year of cardmembership with a $250,000 annual cash flow through the card account.Benefits described include: A personal concierge - one person assigned to your account, with a direct phone number and email address; elite frequent flier status on Delta, Continental, Virgin Atlantic, and US Airways (Amex does not partner with US Airways any more as of Jan. 1st 2006). One free night stay for at least one paid night once per year at every Mandarin Oriental Hotel (except for the New York City one).
American Express Centurion customers have been known to purchase Bentley automobiles with just a swipe of the card. Centurion holders have also made purchases well in excess of $1 million USD without even a credit check. While the popular myth is that the card has no limit, and the largest purchase suppposedly ever made on it exceeded $30 million for a private jet, the Centurion Card does, in fact, have limits- they are just not pre-set at a certain level. Like any other American Express card, the limits are based on the spending history of cardholder, as well as their personal credit profile and financial resources. A cardholder spending $250,000 in the previous year could not just purchase a jet with a swipe of their card unless they had the resources to make good on the transaction. Each year detailed financial records are reviewed by credit department in order to determine the spending limit for the next year. The limit could be increased after providing new financial data.
Since 2004, American Express Centurion members have received an exclusive "no name" magazine which was not available by any other means. Starting with the Spring 2007 edition, this magazine has been officially entitled "Black Ink" and the reason given by Ed Ventimiglia the Publisher was, "now the magazine will be easier to identify when discussing it with like-minded readers."