The American Express® Centurion Card holds cult celebrity status, even among other premium credit cards. Colloquially known as the "Black Card," this prestigious credit card is only available to big spenders by direct Amex invitation.
If you're curious about this mythical card wielded by A-list celebrities worldwide, read on to learn more.
How to get the Amex Black Card
The Black Card isn't available to most people; you can't just apply for it and expect approval. Instead, American Express hand-picks potential cardholders and reaches out to offer a private invitation.
While the requirements for getting an invite for the Black Card haven't been officially published, rumor has it that you have to be a high earner who has spent and paid off between $350,000 and $500,000 across all of your American Express accounts in a calendar year.
Once you're approved for the card, there's a $10,000 initiation fee and a $5,000 annual fee. It makes premium cards like the Amex Platinum Card and the Amex Business Platinum Card look downright affordable.
Exclusive Amex Black Card benefits
The Amex Centurion Card isn't just a status symbol — it unlocks exclusive perks across travel, dining, and lifestyle. From complimentary hotel and airline elite status to personalized concierge services, Centurion cardholders enjoy access to benefits you won't find on any other card.
Complimentary hotel and airline status upgrades
Black Card elites receive Platinum Medallion elite status with Delta, which is the airline's second-highest status tier. You can't get this benefit with any other credit card, and it offers you perks like complimentary upgrades and bonus miles. Platinum elites receive free checked bags, complimentary upgrades beginning five days before departure, discounts on expedited security screenings, and more.
Holding a Black Card grants you elite status with several major hotel brands, including Hilton Honors, IHG Rewards Club, Jumeirah Sirius, Shangri-La Golden Circle, Club Carlson, and MeliáRewards. These partnerships offer exclusive benefits such as complimentary room upgrades, late checkouts, spa and resort credits, and daily breakfast.
Amex Black Card alternative: The Amex Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card offer status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required), but not with IHG. The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card do not come with complimentary elite status, although they offer benefits that accelerate your progress toward earning status. Terms Apply.
Centurion lounge access
There's nothing better than knowing you have access to a comfortable airport lounge while you're traveling, especially if you have a long layover. The Amex Black Card gets you free access to more than 1,700 airport lounges worldwide, including Amex Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs when you're flying Delta, and Priority Pass airport lounges. You can sit back and relax on the comfortable chairs while indulging in good food and drinks.
Amex Black Card alternative: The airport lounge access you receive as a Centurion cardholder is virtually identical to the lounge access you get with the Amex Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card. Terms apply.
Equinox membership
Centurion cardholders receive a complimentary Equinox Destination Access Membership, which lets Centurion cardholders use most of the 100-plus Equinox gym locations in the U.S., UK, and Canada. This membership tier currently costs $325 a month after a $500 initiation fee, so this perk is quite valuable if you're a fan of the high-end fitness club chain.
Amex Black Card alternative: Unsurprisingly, the Amex Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card do not offer comparable benefits.
Up to $1,000 a year in Saks Fifth Avenue credits
The Amex Platinum Card offers up to $100 in credits for Saks Fifth Avenue per year (enrollment required), so it's only fitting that the Centurion card has an even better version of this perk. Terms apply.
Centurion cardholders also get up to $1,000 in credits for Saks purchases — divided into four credits of up to $250 per quarter of the year. To get the credit, cardholders just have to make an eligible Saks purchase with their Centurion card, and they'll be reimbursed up to the quarterly and annual limit in the form of a statement credit.
As a bonus, Saks stores will open their doors to Centurion cardholders outside normal business hours — a pretty extravagant perk for those who want to make a power move or impress their non-Centurion-holding friends.
Amex Black Card alternative: The Saks Fifth Avenue benefit is only available to enroll in on the consumer version of the Amex Platinum Card, which only offers 1/10 the annual credit that the Black Card does. Terms Apply.
CLEAR® Plus membership
CLEAR® Plus is an expedited security membership (an alternative to TSA PreCheck), and you can use it at more than 50 airports and more than 20 sports and concert venues in the U.S. The Amex Centurion card offers a statement credit for the full cost of CLEAR when you use the Black Card to pay the $199 annual membership fee. Cardholders also get statement credits to cover CLEAR for up to three family members.
Amex Black Card alternative: Several credit cards, including the American Express® Green Card , offer statement credits for up to $199 toward CLEAR® Plus membership.
24/7 personalized concierge service
An Amex Black Card comes with access to a personal concierge whenever you want. You can count on the round-the-clock concierge service to help you make travel plans or reservations at exclusive restaurants. This service can also get you tickets to most entertainment events, and/or purchase gifts on your behalf.
Amex Black Card alternative: Once again, the Amex Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card also offer concierge services (terms apply). However, Centurion cardmembers get top priority from Amex concierges and the best access to restaurant reservations and more.
International arrival service
You'll love the Black Card's international arrival service if you frequently travel internationally. As long as you fly business or first class via American Express Travel®, you'll be assigned a personal guide who will make the immigration and customs process a breeze.
Another exclusive airport perk: Centurion cardholders get complimentary membership to The Private Suite at LAX, a private VIP terminal. But there's a big catch: You have to pay each time you use it, and it costs around $3,550 per visit.
Amex Black Card alternative: The Black Card's private airport guide isn't a benefit you can replicate with any other Amex card.
No spending limit
There are no preset spending limits with the Amex Black Card, so you can easily buy big-ticket items that you may not necessarily be able to pay for with other credit cards. Keep in mind, however, that you must pay off your balances in full every month.
No Preset Spending Limit means your spending limit is flexible. Unlike a traditional card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history.
Amex Black Card alternative: Several other Amex cards have no preset spending limits.
Other lifestyle perks
Beyond offering elite status with more travel partners, international arrival service, and the top tier of Amex concierge service, the Amex Black Card stands out from the Amex Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card with its selection of wine-related benefits, such as consultations with a wine specialist and wine-buying offers. Terms apply.
Black Card members also get several shopping perks, including special offers and VIP benefits with Net-a-Porter.
Amex Black Card rewards
Amex Black Card members earn Membership Rewards points on eligible purchases, but American Express does not publicly disclose a specific earning structure for the Centurion Card. Unlike cards like the Platinum or Gold, which advertise fixed bonus categories, the Centurion Card's rewards program may vary by individual and is not marketed based on high points multipliers.
That said, the real value of the card comes from its elite travel perks, such as automatic hotel status, international lounge access, and personalized concierge services that enhance the overall rewards experience.
$695
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points
Good to Excellent
Pros
Cons
If you want as many premium travel perks as possible, The Platinum Card® from American Express could be the right card for you. The annual fee is high, but you get a long list of benefits such as airport lounge access, travel statement credits, and more.
Amex Platinum Card- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- Enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, with over $500 of annual value if you visit Centurion Lounges and each of our partner lounges including Delta Sky Club® lounges when flying an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations) , select Lufthansa lounges when flying Lufthansa, Plaza Premium lounges and Escape Lounges, and enroll in Priority Pass Select. See terms.
- A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Receive up to $199 per Calendar year in statement credits, when you pay for a CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world's most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
- $695 annual fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
Amex Black Card alternatives
If you don't receive an invitation to the Centurion Card, or you're simply not interested in paying the steep initiation and annual fees, several other American Express cards offer many of the same core benefits, particularly for frequent travelers.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
This is the most comparable alternative to the Centurion Card. Cardholders receive access to Centurion Lounges, elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy™, and a range of travel and lifestyle credits. You'll also get access to Amex's concierge service and the Fine Hotels + Resorts program (terms apply). The annual fee is $695 (rates and fees).
Read our Amex Platinum card review to learn more.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Designed for business owners, this version of the Platinum Card includes many of the same travel perks, including lounge access, hotel status, and concierge services. It also offers enhanced rewards on select business purchases and up to $400 in annual Dell statement credits (enrollment required). Like the personal version, it has a $695annual fee.
Read our Amex Business Platinum card review.
American Express® Gold Card
While not as benefit-rich as the Platinum or Centurion, the Gold Card is a solid mid-tier option. It offers strong rewards on dining and groceries, plus access to Amex Offers and Membership Rewards points. It doesn't include lounge access or hotel elite status, but the lower $325 annual fee makes it appealing to those who want value without the ultra-premium extras.
Read our guide to the Amex Gold card benefits.
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Amex Black Card FAQs
What are the annual fees for the Amex Black Card?
The Black Card reportedly costs $5,000 a year, with a $10,000 initiation fee.
Do Amex Black Card members receive complimentary hotel upgrades?
Yes, Amex Black (Centurion) Card members receive top-tier or near-top-tier elite status with several major hotel chains, including Hilton, IHG, Jumeirah Sirius, Shangri-La Golden Circle, Radisson Rewards, and MeliáRewards. These elite statuses often make members eligible for complimentary room upgrades, early check-in, late check-out, and other VIP privileges, although upgrades are subject to availability and not guaranteed. Centurion members also receive Delta Platinum Medallion® Status, which provides travel perks like complimentary first-class upgrades and priority services. Terms apply.
What kind of exclusive events can Amex Black cardholders access?
Members are invited to private events and experiences ranging from high-profile sporting events and fashion shows to exclusive culinary events with renowned chefs.
Why is the Amex Black Card so special?
The Amex Black Card isn't just a credit card — it's a status symbol. It's invitation-only, comes with no preset spending limit, and unlocks perks like 24/7 concierge service, top-tier hotel and airline status, VIP airport experiences, and access to events most people can only dream about. It's less about what you can buy and more about what doors it opens.
What salary do you need for a black Amex?
American Express does not publicly disclose any income or spending requirements for the Centurion® Card. The card is available by invitation only, and eligibility is based on undisclosed factors determined by American Express. In general, invitations are extended to individuals with significant annual spending on Amex cards and substantial financial profiles.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards.
Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.
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For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
