I came home yesterday to find a parcel delivered from amex containing a black box with the centurion card in it. I am very surprised at receiving it as I have spent much less than $100,000 over the past year on my platinum card, although I have started an AONE out of Bangkok. I have found the platinum card useful with the free travel insurance and the Starwood platinum when it was available, but I am not the sort of person who could afford to ( or wish to ) hire a private jet or hire a restaurant for a party ( examples mentioned in their invitation). My question is, for a middle income person, who travels for pleasure, not work, about 8 weeks per year, to Europe and the USA, but otherwise lives a fairly modest lifestyle ,is there any justifiction in spending the $2,800 fee?. In other words, could I recoup the cost of the annual fee with hotel benefits ( upgrades etc), airline deals or any other perks. Thanks.