Our take: <\/strong>Want to get the American Express Centurion card, known for its sleek metal as the Amex Black card? Good luck with that. Amex notoriously won\u2019t reveal what it takes to score an approval for this luxe travel card that carries a $10,000 \u201cinitiation\u201d fee and an ongoing $5,000 annual fee.<\/p>\n
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Saying that the Centurion Black card is unique among credit cards is like saying that Elon Musk is unique among CEOs\u2014a laughable understatement. Unlike the Platinum Card from American Express and or really any other premium credit card, the Amex Centurion card is never advertised and you can\u2019t directly apply for it.<\/p>\n This aura of mystery only adds to the appeal of a card that costs as much as the annual social dues at a country club. What is known about the card is socialite-slim: You have to be an existing Amex Platinum cardholder and you have to have consistently spent somewhere in the neighborhood of $200,000 annually or more on that card.\u00a0<\/p>\n Those who are invited to apply will unlock an unparalleled trove of benefits. The Centurion Black card functions less like a credit card and more of an exclusive membership for the 1% of the 1%.<\/p>\n The Amex Centurion card is ideal for a jet-setter who spends a lot, wants to put an extra \u201cV\u201d in VIP status and doesn\u2019t mind paying for it. The card confers elite status at multiple hospitality brands, skip-the-line rights at Centurion airport lounges and perks like discounts on private airport waiting rooms at Los Angeles and Atlanta airports.\u00a0<\/p>\n Perhaps most importantly, its high-profile, hard-to-get status means that those who do obtain it get the ultimate bragging rights.<\/p>\n The Amex Centurion card isn\u2019t right for anyone who has a more modest budget when it comes to spending on their credit card. It also isn\u2019t right for someone who rarely travels as the bulk of the benefits (outside of the pride of ownership) are travel-related.<\/p>\n And, we\u2019re compelled to point out again that the Centurion is invite only. So, rather than longing for the unobtainable, we\u2019d recommend checking out this list of best credit cards instead.<\/p>\n For a card that\u2019s so far above the rest of the pack of ultra-premium cards as to basically be in its own category, the Amex Centurion card has a surprisingly lackluster rewards rate of just 1 Membership Rewards point per dollar spent. And, there\u2019s no welcome bonus with this card.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, keep in mind that the point of the Centurion card isn\u2019t the rewards but achieving the hard-to-get invitation to apply and unlocking the rich perks that come with it.<\/p>\n Membership Rewards points are flexible, meaning they can be redeemed in multiple ways. Let\u2019s break down what you can do with the rewards earned on the Centurion card.<\/p>\n You can use your stash like cash to pay at checkout with eligible partners like Amazon, Best Buy and PayPal. Points are typically worth 0.7 cents per point this way.<\/p>\n You can use Membership Rewards to book travel through AmexTravel using the Pay with Points feature. Using points this way will give you a value of 1 cent per point for flights and hotels in the Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts Collection, and 0.7 cents per point for prepaid hotel bookings, cruises, rental cars, and vacation packages.<\/p>\n Business Centurion cardholders get a 50% points rebate when booking reward flights through Amex Travel.<\/p>\n One of the best uses of Membership Rewards points is transferring them to one of Amex\u2019s airline partners. Amex has 18 airline partners and three hotel partners and in most cases you\u2019ll get more value from your Membership Rewards by transferring points to a partner.<\/p>\n That\u2019s because when you use your rewards to book a flight through Amex Travel, a point is always worth 1 cent. For example, a $300 flight booked this way would cost 30,000 Membership Rewards points. But, transfer 30,000 points to an eligible transfer partner and things get more interesting \u2014 and potentially, more valuable.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a quick example: We found a round trip nonstop flight from Miami to Toronto on Air Canada in June 2024 for $377.90. That same flight costs 27,400 Aeroplan points, meaning you save by transferring your rewards to Air Canada\u2019s Aeroplan program and booking directly.<\/p>\n You can redeem your rewards to buy gift cards from a variety of options including hotel brands, airlines, restaurant chains, retailers and more. The value of redeeming your rewards this way ranges from 0.5 to\u00a0 1 cent per point, depending on the specific gift card.<\/p>\n Redeeming Membership Rewards for a statement credit is worth just 0.6 cents per point, making this one of the least valuable redemption options.<\/p>\n This card is all about the perks, which fast-track you to an upscale experience when you travel, exercise and shop.<\/p>\n Since the Centurion card has no equal and is invite-only, it\u2019s hard to compare it to other credit cards. But if you\u2019re looking for a credit card that conveys your hotshot status, here are two to consider:<\/p>\n The J.P. Morgan card from Chase is also for those with bulging bank accounts, requiring an account with J.P. Morgan\u2019s private bank with investable assets of at least $10 million. If you meet that criteria, you can apply for the card, unlike the Amex Centurion. However, aside from the quiet luxury of owning a card that few can qualify for, the $550-annual-fee card is a mirror image of the Chase Sapphire Reserve, right down to its generous rewards on travel and dining.\u00a0<\/p>\n The card earns 10X points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards\u00ae immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually, 5X points on flights through Chase Ultimate Rewards\u00ae immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually, 3X points on other travel and dining (including eligible food delivery services) not booked through Chase immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually, 1X on all other purchases.<\/p>\n That rewards rate is far better than what\u2019s offered on the Centurion and the card comes with Priority Pass Select and Sapphire lounge access, plus, unlike the Chase Sapphire Reserve version, the J.P. Morgan Reserve offers United Club membership, worth $550 to $650, depending on your status with United.<\/p>\n If you want bragging rights, but are frustrated by the lack of an invitation to apply for the Centurion, the J.P. Morgan Reserve card will still let you flex your net worth \u2014 and you can apply for it through your J.P. Morgan client advisor.<\/p>\nThe Centurion Card from American Express<\/h4>\n
Qualification<\/h5>\n
\nThe Amex Centurion is invite-only.<\/section>\n
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<\/p>\n Annual fee<\/td>\n $5,000<\/td>\n
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<\/p>\n Initiation fee<\/td>\n $10,000<\/td>\n
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\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\nPros<\/h3>\n
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Cons<\/h3>\n
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Centurion Card overview<\/h2>\n
Who is the Amex Centurion card good for?\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Who shouldn\u2019t get the Amex Centurion?\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Amex Centurion: How to earn rewards<\/h2>\n
How to redeem Amex Centurion rewards\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Pay with points at checkout<\/h3>\n
Redeem for travel with Pay with Points<\/h3>\n
Redeem for travel by transferring to airline and hotel partners<\/h3>\n
Redeem for gift cards<\/h3>\n
Redeem for statement credits<\/h3>\n
Centurion card rates and fees<\/h2>\n
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Additional benefits<\/h2>\n
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Credit cards similar to Amex Centurion<\/h2>\n
J.P. Morgan Reserve Card vs. Amex Centurion<\/h3>\n
The Platinum Card\u00ae from American Express<\/h4>\n
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