[2020.5 Update] According to DOC, cardholders of this card will receive a $2,000 AMEX Travel Credit in August. After factoring in the Saks credit and Equinox membership reimbursement, this card actually has a negative annual fee this year!

In appreciation of your Membership, beginning in August of this year through 2021, you can earn up to $2,000 in statement credits after you use your Centurion Card to make eligible travel purchases through Centurion Membership Services or AmexTravel.com. Details to come.

For the business version of the Centurion, after renewal you will receive a $1,500 appreciation credit, which effectively offsets part of the annual fee.

How to Get Invited to the Centurion Card

Normally, the famously selective Centurion Card chooses its own customers, but recently you can proactively go to the Centurion website and let AMEX know you want an invitation!

  • Go to centurion.com, and you can see a link below the login area to express your interest
  • After that, just fill out the information! It's best to use your Platinum Card
  • If everything goes smoothly, all you have to do is wait for an invitation from AMEX
  • Of course, your submission may also fail. Try again with a better internet connection or a different computer.
  • If you do get the Centurion Card, don’t forget about us...

About the AMEX Centurion Card

In 1999, American Express introduced the Centurion Card to cater to the ultra-wealthy. The card was initially available only to selected users of the corporate Platinum Card. To become a Centurion cardholder, one must meet American Express eligibility requirements. Cardholders pay a very high annual fee, and in some countries or regions there is also an additional initiation fee. In addition to its various benefits, beginning in 2015 in certain markets, the card itself has been made of anodized titanium, with its information and numbers laser-etched into the metal. In some regions, such as Israel, an EMV “chip” plastic card was issued as well, including ExpressPay contactless payment technology. American Express created this card line out of rumors and urban legends from the 1980s, producing an ultra-exclusive black card for elite users who could supposedly buy anything with it.

It’s fair to say that the Centurion Card, also known as the Black Card, has always been a status symbol. There are also many legends surrounding it, such as stopping a train, sending a private plane to pick someone up, or arranging a private visit from a band. However, unlike other cards, you need an AMEX invitation before you can apply. Flyertalk also has dedicated threads tracking the common traits of people who received a Black Card invitation:

One point that many people agree on is that you need substantial spending on your AMEX Platinum card, ideally on luxury purchases, business- and first-class airfare, luxury hotel charges, and similar categories. In addition, your Billing Address should be in a desirable neighborhood that reflects your status.

Centurion Card Benefits

The biggest benefit of the Centurion Card is, of course, the bragging rights.

Beyond that, there are also some additional benefits:

  • Delta SkyMiles Platinum Medallion status: this one is genuinely useful and can provide upgrades, priority boarding, and more
  • Hilton Honors Diamond status: often jokingly called an “easy Diamond”; the $450 annual fee AMEX Hilton Aspire card gives it directly
  • IHG Rewards Club Platinum status: yes, the Chase IHG Prmier card with an annual fee under $100 gives this too
  • A CLEAR membership: yes, the $150 annual fee AMEX Green card includes this as well
  • A $1,000 Saks credit per calendar year: still quite useful for luxury purchases
  • An Equinox Destination Access membership; this would ordinarily cost $300 per month: that can save you $3,600 per year!
  • Expanded access to Centurion Lounges: besides access to Centurion Lounges, there are also dedicated areas and champagne

The annual fee is also a “benefit” in its own way:

  • $5,000 annual fee!

And that’s not all. In the first year, you also need to pay a

  • $10,000 initiation fee