Centurion Card
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This article's factual accuracy is disputed. (August 2012) |
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. There are two different issues of the Centurion Card, personal and business. The company's promotional material describes centurion members as "super-affluent high net worth individuals on a continual quest for the best and most exclusive. They own companies and frequently travel. Exceptionally discerning and style-conscious, they live vicariously through themselves. Centurion members are global players who gain truly worldwide access to the inaccessible."[2]
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History [edit]
American Express introduced the Centurion Card in 1999 to cater to a more affluent customer segment. The card was initially available only to select users of the company's Platinum Card. To become a Centurion cardholder, one must meet American Express' eligibility criteria. Cardholders are required to pay an annual fee, and in some countries also an initiation fee (In the United States, the first-year initiation fee is $7500 plus the $2500 yearly fee, followed by $2500 each year thereafter). In addition to a variety of exclusive benefits, the card itself is made of anodized titanium with the information and numbers etched in carbon fiber (It should be noted that in some markets, the plastic version of the card is still issued, with or without the titanium card.) 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.[3]
Availability and fees [edit]
The Centurion Card is invitation-only after an appropriate net worth, credit and spending criteria are met. American Express does not publicly disclose the requirements necessary for getting a card except that the cardholder has a substantial net worth and they are a former platinum card holder.[citation needed] For reference, the average Centurion cardholder has $16.3 million in assets and an annual household income of $1.3 million.[4]
| Country | Annual fee/limit |
|---|---|
| United States | US$2,500 ($2,500 for each additional card member) plus one-time fee of $7,500 |
| United Kingdom | £1,800 (unlimited) plus one-time joining fee of £2,500 |
| Canada | CA$2,500 plus one-time fee of $5,000 ($7,500) |
| Italy | €3,000 |
| France, Spain, Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden | €3,000 ($4,000) |
| Germany, Austria | €2,000 plus one-time fee of €2,000 ($7,000) |
| Switzerland | CHF 4,200 (unlimited) |
| Australia | A$4,300 (increase to A$5,000 from July 11th, 2012) plus one-time fee of A$5,000 (from July 11th, 2012) ($5,000) |
| Japan | JPY￥365,000($4,550)(increase to JPY197,000 from Jan 1st, 2008) |
| Hong Kong | HK$19,800 plus one-time fee of HK$23,800 (unlimited) |
| Singapore | SG$5,000 (unlimited) |
| Mexico | About 56,000 pesos ($4,000) |
| Brazil | R$ 4.250,00 ($2,000) |
| Argentina | About 20,000 pesos ($4,000) |
| Saudi Arabia | SAR 11,250 (unlimited) |
| International Dollar Currency Card (IDC) | US$2,800 |
| International Euro Currency Card (IEC) | €2,800 |
| Israel | 7,000₪ (US$2,000) |
| Russia | 90,000 rubles (~ US$3,000) |
| Taiwan | TWD$160,000 (~US$5,450) |
| Lebanon | US$3,000 |
| People's Republic of China | RMB ￥3,500 (~US$550) |
Features [edit]
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, Louis Vuitton, Escada, Saks Fifth Avenue 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 property),[5] 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. As of 2007, American Airlines Admirals Club access was added to the list of amenities.[6] As of 2010, the card will provide unlimited access to all US Airways Clubs regardless which carrier the cardmember is traveling on (unlike Delta, and American)[citation needed]. The card also features complimentary enrollment in Hertz Rent-A-Car #1 Club Gold and the Avis Rent-A-Car President's Club.[7]
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. The card itself also acts as a wallet stiffener, keeping photos and other cards in better condition, even if the card owner has a soft leather wallet.
Former benefits [edit]
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
Publications [edit]
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). 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.[8]
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ Sullivan, Paul, "American Express’s New Service for Its Wealthiest Cardholders", The New York Times, January 24, 2011
- ^ American Express Centurion/Departures - Media Kit, Europe & Middle East 2010
- ^ "Black American Express Card". Snopes.com. December 6, 2006. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
- ^ http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2011/07/08/have-a-black-card-buy-a-hyundai
- ^ American Express page about hotel benefits
- ^ Press release on Admirals Club access
- ^ Official American Express Centurion Card Interactive Tour
- ^ American Express Centurion/Departures - Media Kit, Europe & Middle East 2010
External links [edit]
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