American Express Membership Rewards - Amex Black Vs Visa Black

So ive been a Cent member for a while and I got in the mail today the "Visa Black". What a terrible feeling card. It feels worse than those free business cards you can get online. Benefits are not compatible to cent, not even close. Packaging was shabby, just a black box. I guess ill try it out since Amex has been hit or miss.

Any of you guys have any experience with the Visa Black?

Honestly..It's like comparing the Four Seasons to the Holiday Inn Expess. Centurion may be hit or miss, but visa black is simply, just miss.

Visa black is out..:td:

yea based on all the comparisons ive read the visa black just isnt anywhere NEAR the level for amex.

Apples and Oranges. The AMEX black is in an entirely different category (a vastly superior one.)

Search the threads here to get a better idea (and read this thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-express-membership-rewards/660604-useful-websites.html)), and of course there's always http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centurion_Card and plenty of reference links on that article.

Visa black is a joke, the benefits are lower than what you get with AMEX Gold and the annual fee is higher than the Plat.

While it is an interesting card, I guess it might have been implemented better if it'd been anybody other than Baclays Bank of Deleware issuing it.

Visa black is a joke, the benefits are lower than what you get with AMEX Gold and the annual fee is higher than the Plat.

http://www.the-blackcard.com/visa-black-card-hands-on-review-and-unboxing/

They review the card and show the credit card number, the security code and the card holders name. Pretty bad move on the site's move: Or the owner should have been smarter.

the number is 4000 12345678901 code 123 think the"person" is worried their number will be stolen..:confused:

Well, I did not catch that part. Thank goodness they did not do something as silly as actually show a person's acct number and security code.

Visa black is out..:td:

Visa Black is so not out, in fact I'd say it is totally in. For those of us who don't feel the need to spend $250k in a year, or think paying $2,500 a year for a credit card is beyond ridiculous, the Visa Black is not a bad choice. I don't think it's meant to directly compete with the Centurion, the benefits are not even comparable. But, it is unique, it does offer some nice protection benefits, and their customer service and Concierge have been more than top notch in my experiences. I decided to give it a shot for a year, and so far I'm impressed and happy to be using it. Just don't expect a card to feel as thick as the Centurion. Then again, if you need that kind of attention to have a credit card stand out, you might be after the card(s) for the wrong reasons.

On paper, the benefits and costs seem comparable to the Platinum card. I think the idea was for those who could only get an Amex Plat to be able to say they have a "black card" of sorts.

I have an Amex Plat 85% for the Admirals Club access when flying AA, 15% for the concierge benefits. However, if I flew anything but AA, I'd have the Visa Black because of its Priority Pass membership. While it has no access to AA lounges, its restrictions are far less than the Amex lounge access. Assuming the Black Card comes with the full PP membership, it's only $100 less than the Black Card membership. It would be worth considering.

The UK Plat comes with 2 free Priority Pass cards, as well as lounge access. It appears you can use it for AAdmiral's Club (although I have never done so) although this is not an official benefit of the UK card.

On paper, the benefits and costs seem comparable to the Platinum card. I think the idea was for those who could only get an Amex Plat to be able to say they have a "black card" of sorts.

I have an Amex Plat 85% for the Admirals Club access when flying AA, 15% for the concierge benefits. However, if I flew anything but AA, I'd have the Visa Black because of its Priority Pass membership. While it has no access to AA lounges, its restrictions are far less than the Amex lounge access. Assuming the Black Card comes with the full PP membership, it's only $100 less than the Black Card membership. It would be worth considering.

It comes with a basic level membership (which is free with many credit cards, and $79 if you want to buy it retail). For each visit to a lounge, you are charged $27 per person.

A world elite mastercard is better (and free) and also has Priority Pass.

If you were willing to pay $500 for the card, why not pay $50 less and keep the Amex Plat, which has much better lounge access (free guests too), insurance, better concierge, better MR rewards, better partners, free SPG Gold, etc etc etc.

Or pay nothing and get Merrill+, which has status match with AA, 24hr concierge, hotel partners, discounted airline tix, etc. Spend $20k annually and get even more benefits. Spend $50k and get your own private concierge (like Amex Cent) and free membership to AA clubs, DL clubs, BOGO airfare, etc.

It comes with a basic level membership (which is free with many credit cards, and $79 if you want to buy it retail). For each visit to a lounge, you are charged $27 per person.

A world elite mastercard is better (and free) and also has Priority Pass.

If you were willing to pay $500 for the card, why not pay $50 less and keep the Amex Plat, which has much better lounge access (free guests too), insurance, better concierge, better MR rewards, better partners, free SPG Gold, etc etc etc.

Or pay nothing and get Merrill+, which has status match with AA, 24hr concierge, hotel partners, discounted airline tix, etc. Spend $20k annually and get even more benefits. Spend $50k and get your own private concierge (like Amex Cent) and free membership to AA clubs, DL clubs, BOGO airfare, etc.

No intention of dropping the Amex Plat. I also think that it would be better in an emergency, if I needed to find services or cash fast when traveling abroad. Where do I find out more about the Merrill +, though, that looks interesting.

i have all the benefits of merrill+ listed along with the amex benefits at jblackbelt.com

Or pay nothing and get Merrill+, which has status match with AA, 24hr concierge, hotel partners, discounted airline tix, etc. Spend $20k annually and get even more benefits. Spend $50k and get your own private concierge (like Amex Cent) and free membership to AA clubs, DL clubs, BOGO airfare, etc.

Actually, Merrill+ has significantly eliminated a lot of the benefits you outlined for 2009 to the point where the card really doesn't have any value. See the following thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other-credit-card-programs/910298-ml-2009-benefits-change.html

thanks. ill update the benefits on the site soon.