American Express Membership Rewards - American Express Centurion Card Information

Hello all.. Am new to the board and wanted to share some information about the "Black Card".. My AMEX history:

- Gold Card --> Platinum Card

I found a photo, and user feedback on the black card, at the following link:
http://www.epinions.com/finc-Credit-Cards-Charge_Cards-American_Express_-_Centurian_Card

The card looks like the Platinum card, but inverted in colour (i.e., Black Card with silver writing, instead silver card with black writing..).. Here is an intersting tidbit. Only 1% of AMEX customers have a platinum card, and only 1% of that will be offered the black card.. I don't know the numbers, but it will not be a large number of people..

It is rumoured that Mr. Seinfeld is a member, as he probably spends a significant amount each month..

On another note, I am satisfied with my Platinum card, and feel it is worth the $300.00 a year.. When the time is right, I am sure the "Black Card" will be worth it too..

Welcome - I think you will find there was much discussion about the card on the board starting about a year ago, after its introduction.

I think you will find that more that 1% of AMEX members have PLAT..... it has become much more common in the last 3 years or so.

Thanks eMailman... I am sure you are correct.. I found those numbers on a news site.. But nonetheless.. Another interesting tidbit is the criteria for the Platinum Card.. Most people think you need a 6 figure income, or equivalent (i.e., savings, money market, etc.) to receive the card, but they are mistaken.. A little known fact: If you own, say a Gold Card, after 6 or 7 months of having the card, along with good credit, and payment history, you can be upgraded without the income pre-requisite.. Same holds true for Green Card holders wanting the Gold Card..

Just thought I would post this, for those who are wanting the Plat. Card, but do not yet meet their "income requirements"..

What I heard from somewhere (could have been this board) is that if you have a month with >$5k of charges, and prompt payment thereof, you qualify for the Platinum Card.

I wish I knew for *certain* what the requirements were for the Centurion.

Greg

greg99,

this also is true... For those of you having a gold card for more than 7 months, call up the number, apply over the phone, let them know you have had a gold card for more than 6 months, and off you go!!

Cheers,

Christopher

As already stated countless times in multiple threads on FlyerTalk, there are no "certain" spending requirements for the Centurion Card.

Uk Platinum is not difficult to get at all (Well I didn't think so), I held a Gold card for just over 4 weeks, charged just over £1000 to it and was upgraded to Platinum, I just told them that I didn't have any problems with the £225 annual fee. The minimum income requirement for Uk Plat is same as Uk Gold £20k, but obviously they do prefer if you have a higher income and monthly spend.

Centurion is a completely different matter, They can be as picky as htey want. If you call them up you'll get every answer from £1500 per month to £10000 per month. I would say £50-75k in one year plus held Platinum for at least 1-2 years should help you along the way.

Thanks,
Rich

Well, I have to say I am honored - the review on epinions was written by your truly!!

There are no income requirements for the Centurion card in the U.S. Amex has no clue regarding my income and they haven't asked. It's purely based on your spending habits with the Platinum Card.

Stimpy- By all means do give us an idea of what kind of spending it took before you got "the offer." Also, how long have you been an AmEx cardholder?



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"You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you"-- Trotsky

I still believe that if you spend a large amount on high revenue international airline tickets, e.g., Stimpy, you are much more likely to be considered "suitable" for the US C-Card. Judging from the elite memberships they give, the airlines must buy into the program under the assumption that they will be getting heavy spenders on their services.

I think the $150k per annum number is the outside, where, beyond that, you're guaranteed. Under that, if they decide you're a useful spender to their partners, then they give it to you.

Greg

DelrayChris:
you can find photos of the UK card (with chip) and the US card (without chip) in the Amex 1999 Annual Report. Look at : http://ir.americanexpress.com/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=AXP&script=700&layout=7

A brief description is available at the german site (in german..): www.americanexpress.de (http://www.americanexpress.de)

The german Centurion card site is at: www.centurioncard.de (http://www.centurioncard.de)
The Password to enter is : 375088

ahrz,

Thanks.. It is truly a unique looking card! I am quite happy with my Platinum Card, and have only been AMEX member for a year. So needless to say I am an AMEX newbie.. I spoke with a gentlemen who has the Centurion Card, and he has been a member for over 23 years... Yikes!!! I am 25!! He has been a member almost as long as I have been on this planet...

The only time I was asked about my income was during a particularly heavy month in terms of spending on air tickets on the Centurion card. I use my personal Centurion both for my work-related travel expenses as well as my personal charges.

AMEX gave me call saying that wanted to "update their records". Given the amount of money I was asking to charge I really didn't mind the call.

Re: qualifications for the Platinum Card.

I'm not sure what it takes to get one. I got mine a long time ago, when I was both unemployed and in debt up to my eyeballs (and I didn't lie about anything when I asked for one). Fortunately, my luck has changed since then, but I still have my Platinum Card.

HKG_Flyer... Last I checked you needed $100K in verifiable income, or assets for the Platinum Card, OR have a Gold Card in good standing for at least six months, and the income portion is waived... Nonetheless, I do not spend enough to justify the Centurion.. My average Platinum Bill is only $2K - $3K / month..

But hey... When I am employed somewhere that requires travel, that could easily increase 2x, or 3x's..

cheers

Here's a thread with twenty-one links on the Centurion Card.

centurion card invitation
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum69/HTML/000336.html

I've been an Amex member since '86 but I don't think that has anything to do with it. I think I've been Platinum since '90. But greg99 has it right that I do a lot of International C and F bookings and a lot of business class hotel nights. I had been doing between $250K and $300K per year on my Platinum which seemed to do the trick for my Centurion qualification. Probably over 95% of my Amex charges are travel related. I think that is key too.

stimpy.. Wow.. $300K / year on travel? What do you do for a living? Pardon my ignorance, but I would love to find a position where I am afforded the opportunity to travel an extensive amount.

Delray: What to complan about? Seems, that you have enough opportunities to travel as well (as one can read above). Where do you work? MS?

joergi.. I did not realize my comment was a complaint?! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

"MS?" <-- ???

I have zero opportunities for travel at my current position. I am looking into positions with KPMG.. Their consultants are heavy travellers..

A few Centurion card tidbits:

I have been told there are fewer than 2,000 in the world.

The card itself does not contain the word "Centurion" on it's face.

The case it comes in is an extraordinary presentation.

The service is quite good, as are the benefits. But only if you travel alot.


I fly, therefore I am.

>> I have been told there are fewer than 2,000 in the world.

No, that can never be true. There are around 2500 Black Cards in Germany alone, and that seems ok for me. So in the US, there might be three to four times that number. And dont forget the UK, the origin of that card. ;-) I guess, 15.000 to 20.000 thousand in the whole world.

>> The card itself does not contain the word "Centurion" on it's face.

That´s right.

>> The case it comes in is an extraordinary presentation.

That´s right, too.

>> The service is quite good, as are the benefits. But only if you travel alot.

Or like shopping at extraordinary places. Centurion Service arranges shopping events for you at some shops, exclusivly, even after hours.

At this time, the Centurion card is only available in 3 countries : US, UK, DE.
It will be introduced on other markets at a later time, so the number of cardholders should grow.

As the card was introduced in UK, the goal was 1% of the Platinum cardholders (from 1% of the total cardholder basis).
If there are already 2,500 Centurions in Germany (from 1,000,000 cardholders), the ratio is greater than expected...

The Centurion seems to be a great deal for Amex:
- higher fee
- use of the same service people as for the Plat. cards !

ahrz: It doesnt calculate right, because (far) more than 1% of Card members do have Platinum. I believe that only 1% of Plat have Centurion.

They had to hiher new people for Centurion Service in Germany. First, they tried to arrange everything with the same people, but not any more. There are many employees only for Centurion Card Holders. Especially at the Travel Desk. (Might be that Lifestyle and Concierge is the same.)