American Express Centurion Black Review

Overall Rating

Travel service.

Very expensive. You can get the same benefits elsewhere for free. A very American-centric product.

I don't know about the US, but you do not need to spend anywhere near $40K a month to get an American Express Centurion Credit Card in England. I got one, and I probably only spend $60K in a YEAR. As for prestige, this is more important in the USA than Europe. Here in Europe it's viewed as another credit card. I've never had anyone treat me special, and the service is the same as for the Platinum Card.

Members' Comments onfco1922's Review

• surfcitysyl on 27th Jun 2006

  I was one of the first to have this prestigious card, now mine is made of Titanium. 25% of travel time it is pretty much meaningless...but boy oh boy the other 75% makes up for it in spades. Upgrades beyond belief, and lots of extra amenities gratis. I do not know about Mr. England but I find it very difficult to believe he has a black card with such a low spending average. Also an observation is perhaps his treatment (or lack thereof) has less to do with the black card, and maybe is something else.

• arunv on 3rd Jul 2006

  Yes I agree with what you have said in the review, the same thing happened to me re. spending; not a huge amount a year but the moment I had spent circa £150k in total over a couple of years I got the invite. I'm convinced most of the people on here who post don't actually have a black card, or if they do and spend £40k a month, do they really think they are on the bottom end of the threshold for receiving the card?

• fco1922 on 5th Jul 2006

  If you call American Express in Brighton (that's in England) they will tell you that membership is extended to those who "consistently use the card" and is also based on employer affiliations etc. I work for a bank and they have granted the card to virtually everyone here. They also have extended invitations to most members of the Institute of Directors (if you are from the UK, who will know about this). And my point is, why would you associate "prestige" with a piece of plastic? It's not as if you are being knighted! But at least we now know that Americans do believe in nobility!

• surfcitysyl on 5th Jul 2006

  I think though we both speak English, perhaps something is being lost in the translation. The card here is not plastic and has not been plastic for ages, it is made of Titanium metal. It is recognized immediately and is very rare here. When we puchased our new Ferrari the salesman said it was only the second centurion card he had seen. I still believe the England version and American version must be different, as I have virually no spending limit, my monthy high has been over 100,000 usd, how can that be afforded to all persons British?? As far as prestige, it of course applies to financial status nothing more, and my experience is that no matter if I travel to Bejing or Vegas, or any destination in between, I have been bumped up to spectacular lodging, directed to the vip check-in and the Hotel Director personally greets us. Sorry, I know what I speak of.

• arunv on 6th Jul 2006

  How do you find time to write reviews?.....got a nice blackberry in the Ferrari?

• fco1922 on 7th Jul 2006

  As I said before, it is always good to know that our "meritocratic" American friends are just as class conscious as those of us in the Old World! Americans have titanium credit cards, we have Lords and Knights (I wonder which of us gets the better deal?). However, we too have no spending limits and all the perks--and despite the card being made of metal, we still refer to them as Plastic Cards. The difference is that we have "private" banks: Coutts, Hoares etc. If you produce a Coutts card or cheque book you do get better service (some places). Alas, not American Express. Perhaps you should consider emigrating: you can then add a Knighthood to your Ferrari and Titanium card! And the sad fact is that in the Old World, someone with "sir" in his name will still get the better seat regardless how many Centurion cards you hold...

• surfcitysyl on 11th Jul 2006

  Knighthood? Nah, I am a proud 6 generation American and though I love Europe, and Asia (where our business is) there is no place like home. Make no mistake, any success my husband and I have made has been through sacrifice and hard work 7 days a week, travelling 200K mi per year, which is why the black card has benefitted us, I think that is the key. We both come from Blue collar backgrounds. Though I am in the upper 1 percent of income in the US, that 1 percent varies widely and I am no where near the top. But I don't need to be, I have more than I want or need. Yes I do have a blackberry, which I hate, I prefer my thinkpad and my tiny cell phones, which are my travel companions and best friends in my world of international business. I still want to make the point, I do not believe that anyone charging less than 20K per year will get invited to have a Centurion card. There is no spending limit. For us, in our situation it has been valuable. I remember in Bejing the year the card first appeared, they saw ours and bumped us up to the presidential suite. Things like that make it worth having.
  Have a great day

• arunv on 12th Jul 2006

  You know that was a really nice humble comment I appreciate when people work hard and get these little perks, same as me really - makes you realise how superficial people can get when seeing a little piece of black plastic. Also agreed there is a base limit on the spending I think mine was about £50k? Can't really remember, just that the spending gets abnormally high when I develop property. In the UK what upsets me a little is so few suppliers in construction accept amex especially when you are negotiating discounts :(. The most fun I have had with the card so far is when I pay for something and the cashier looks and says oh a black card...and I just say well I think they sent it to me by mistake, always makes them laugh. Have a good one. A.

• fco1922 on 13th Jul 2006

  I don't think some people understand irony. I wasn't suggesting that you aspire to a knighthood just that the obsession with status and class is as strong in America as elsewhere. However, American Express deserves all the credit. They have actually managed to get people to feel honoured to receive a charge card when, in truth, they are paying over the odds for the benefits being delivered. Brilliant marketing! In fact, if you really are spending $100K or more a month, JP Morgan and most investment banks would be happy to provide you with tailored services (and 'concierge' services) for no annual fee--indeed, they will make you money. And if you really are spending that much, any restaurant I know of (at least in NYC) will be happy to give you a table. My PA manages to get me one with no problem.

• Magnifico on 18th Jul 2006

  surfcitysyl, hehe, finally somebody on same "wave" as I am :)....nothing to add its everything so clear (great for p. suite upgrade, I adore those things)....
  
  and for fco.....dude, you are really starting to get over excited about other people feeling to have black amex.....you opened several reviews recently and messed up this place, why dont you just drop it......it is not that everybody cares about your JP morgan chase......in a regular restaurant I attend its not my card which let me have a table anytime I want, its my relation with concierge on entrance doors and stuff who always get best tips from me, same is for nightclubs, any place I visit for first time I buy drink for all staff (waiters, bouncers, cleaning lady .....everybody) and order my Cristal bottle + high tip for everybody, since that moment any night after I am treated like a royalty there and no need to make any other actions about it even if I come again on same place after one year they all remember me......
  
  p.s. sorry for bad english......