The Centurion Card , sometimes referred to simply as "Centurion", is a charge card issued by American Express. The card is available in select markets, mainly the US, Canada, Europe, Japan and Australia. The Centurion Card provides access to a range of benefits, depending on the country where the card is issued. In the 1980s, urban legends circulated about a black credit card of high spending power. While those legends were false at the time, American Express decided to capitalize on them by introducing the Centurion card in 1999 .
To become a Centurion cardholder, one must meet American Express's strict criteria. Cardholders are required to pay an annual fee, and in some countries also an initiation fee.
As of 2009, the annual fee in the United States was $2,500, with a one-time $5,000 initiation fee for the first year.
The benefits of the UK Centurion card were upgraded in December 2008, and the annual fee rose from £650 to £1,800 .
Availability and fees
The Centurion card is available by invitation only. There is no application process. While American Express does not publicly disclose the requirements for invitation it has been reported that U.S requirements include minimum card activity of $250,000 in a 12 month period, substantial net worth, and exceptional credit history. Requirements may be waived for celebrities or major public figures. Requirements for invitation in other countries may differ.
The International Euro (IEC) or Dollar (IDC) Centurion cards issued by Amex UK for customers in Europe, Middle-East and Africa offer up to 22 cards included in the annual fee, including a titanium Centurion Card for the main cardholder, an additional Centurion Card in black plastic for the main cardholder, a supplementary Centurion Card in black plastic for a family member, and up to 19 supplementary cards in green, gold or platinum for family members.
Features
The card, available for personal and business use, offers numerous services such as a dedicated concierge and travel agent, complimentary companion airline tickets on international flights on selected airlines with the purchase of a full fare ticket, personal shoppers at retailers such as Escada, Gucci, and Neiman Marcus, access to airport clubs, first class flight upgrades, membership in Sony's Cierge personal shopping program, and dozens of other elite club memberships. Hotel benefits include one free night when at least one paid night is booked during the same stay in every Mandarin Oriental hotel worldwide once a year (except for the New York City property), and privileges at hotel chains like Ritz-Carlton, Leading Hotels of the World, and Amanresorts. All of the benefits mentioned above are for United States-issued cards. American Express Centurion cards issued in other countries may include different benefits. The card has recently added new amenities, including access into the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold , as well as US Airways Platinum Preferred status as of June 1, 2007 in addition to Continental Gold and Delta Gold (which also works on Northwest). As of August 14, 2007, American Airlines Admirals Club access was added to the long list of amenities. The card also features complimentary enrollment in Hertz Rent A Car #1 Club Gold and the Avis Rent A Car Presidents club.
A new Centurion card crafted from anodized titanium was issued as an upgrade for all plastic U.S. Centurion cards in the first half of 2006, with the titanium version being rolled out to certain other countries as well. This new card is slightly thicker than a standard credit card, and therefore is sometimes difficult to insert and remove from some card readers, such as the ones found on gas station pumps, and point of sale terminals.
Publications
Since the inception of the card, members have received a copy of Departures magazine, which is also sent to all Platinum cardholders. However, in 2004, American Express Centurion members began to receive an exclusive "no name" magazine which was not available by any other means. Starting with the Spring 2007 edition, this magazine has been officially titled " Black Ink ". The reason given by Ed Ventimiglia, the publisher, was that "now the magazine will be easier to identify when discussing it with like-minded readers." European, Asian and Australian Centurion members receive quarterly the Centurion magazine, published by Journal International GmbH (Munich, Germany).
According to Journal International, the average age of a Centurion reader from Europe or the Middle East is 49 years. 94% of primary cardholders are male and they have an average of 3.3 properties. Their average household income is €653,000 and their average total net worth is €4.5million. They have an average disposable monthly income of €8,800. Centurion Magazine has been published since 2001 and has a circulation in Europe and the Middle East of 44,100, in Asia of 13,900 and in Australia of 6,000.
Competitors
Other card issuers are attempting to enter this lucrative high-end market.
In the United Kingdom, Coutts & Co offers a "Signia" MasterCard and NatWest has offered a "Black Card" since 2002. In the United States, Barclaycard offers a "Black Card" Visa, while Bank of America offers numerous black-colored reward cards. Wachovia also capitalized upon the trend by offering its Wealth Management clients black-colored Visa cards. Although many of these cards are advertised to provide their clientèle with benefits similar to the Centurion Card, in reality the available benefits are much less substantial. In addition, none of the competing cards carry the "invitation-only" cachet nor do they have the stringent financial and credit requirements of the Centurion card.
References
- ^ http://www.snopes.com/business/bank/blackcard.asp
- ^ American Express page about hotel benefits
- ^ Press release on Admirals Club access
- ^ Official American Express Centurion Card Interactive Tour
- ^
- ^ http://www.natwestblack.com/
- ^ http://www.blackcard.com
External links
- Official site - Password protected site.
- Asia Time review of Black
- BBC news review of Black Card
- New:
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