Mastercard^® Black Card^® Review: Luxury Card Features with Limited Rewards Value

If you’ve received a preapproved offer for the Mastercard^® Black Card^® in the mail or are considering applying for it, chances are you’re drawn to its promise of luxury benefits. While the card does offer 24/7 concierge service, airport lounge access and a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, it lacks key benefits found in other premium travel credit cards.

This card might attract those looking for a status symbol because it’s the middle tier of the three Luxury Cards issued by Barclays and is made of a black-PVD-coated metal, which is sure to be a conversation starter. However, it falls short in critical areas, including its low rewards earning rate, lack of a sign-up bonus and inability to transfer points to airline and hotel partners.

Unless you really want the high-end travel benefits like concierge services, you’re better off with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve^® or American Express Platinum Card^®. These cards come with excellent earning rates on popular travel categories, excellent travel and purchase protections, generous welcome offers and the ability to transfer rewards to travel partners for a higher value.

• Annual fee: $699 ($249 for each Authorized User added to the account)
• Sign-up bonus: N/A
• Rewards: 2 points for every $1 spent on Airfare and Hotel reservations booked through LuxuryCardTravel.com. 1 point for every $1 spent on all purchases. 2% Value for Airfare Redemptions. 1.5% Value for Cash Back Redemptions. Terms and Conditions Apply.
• Regular purchase APR: 19.99% to 27.99% Variable, based on your creditworthiness and other factors
• Intro balance transfer APR: 0% introductory APR for the first fifteen billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening. After that, (and for balance transfers that do not post within 45 days of account opening) the APR will be 19.99% to 27.99%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
• Regular balance transfer APR: 19.99% to 27.99% Variable, based on your creditworthiness and other factors.
• Balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
• Foreign transaction fee: 0% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
• Recommended credit: Excellent

• Priority Pass™ Select airport lounge access

  One of the best features offered by the Mastercard^® Black Card^® is a complimentary Priority Pass^TM Select membership, which allows for unlimited visits for you and your guests to over 1,500 airport lounges in hundreds of cities worldwide.

  This luxury benefit justifies most of the cost of the card. Priority Pass membership plans start at $99 per year and charge $35 per member visit and $35 per guest visit. The top-tier plan costs $469 per year, with unlimited free member visits and guest passes for $35 each.

  Priority Pass is commonly offered by the top travel cards, including the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve^® and American Express Platinum Card^® (enrollment required). It’s among the most popular airport lounge networks thanks to its extensive global coverage for eligible card members. Members get amenities like Wi-Fi, pre-flight bites and beverages and a comfortable place to relax or get some work done. Select lounges even offer extra perks like spa treatments and sleeping rooms.

  The card’s Priority Pass access is a standout perk because guest access is unlimited. Most cards limit how many guests you can bring. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® allows complimentary access for up to two guests but charges a fee for additional guests.

  See all of the best credit cards with airport lounge access.

• Valuable travel credits

  The Mastercard^® Black Card^® offers the following travel credits, which can help offset the card’s annual fee:

  • Annual airline credit: Get up to $100 for airline tickets, baggage fees, upgrades and more.
  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application credit: Receive a statement credit of up to $120 to cover your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee.

  However, it falls short of many leading travel credit cards. For example, the American Express Platinum Card^® offers more than $2,000 in credits, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® has a flexible annual travel credit up to $300.

• Luxury card concierge service

  Luxury Card concierge is a service available 24/7 to Mastercard^® Black Card^®, Mastercard^® Gold Card™ and Mastercard^® Titanium Card^® cardholders. You can work with a rep via live chat, phone or email for help with everything from travel bookings and dinner reservations to sourcing high-demand products.

  Concierge representatives have helped cardmembers rescue jewelry left in a hotel room, research school districts ahead of a move and arrange for a late-night delivery of Tylenol for a sick child.

  Concierge service is another standout perk of the Mastercard^® Black Card^®, according to cardholders on Reddit.

  One user shared that they used the concierge to plan their honeymoon and secured a reduced rate on a Mediterranean cruise with added inclusions they wouldn’t have received booking on their own. The concierge also arranged discounted tour bookings for them.

  Another user mentioned that they texted the concierge on their way to an anniversary destination to have champagne, glasses and flowers set up for them before they arrived. The concierge also found the best golf courses in Scotland and created a fully mapped-out itinerary for their trip. This user says that the option to text directly with the concierge is one of the most worthwhile benefits of the card.

• Access to the Luxury Card Travel^® program

  The card’s Luxury Card Travel^® program provides an exclusive suite of benefits and services at more than 3,000 properties worldwide. You can get an added value of about $500 per stay. Benefits include room upgrades at check-in when available, complimentary Wi-Fi and daily breakfast for two.

• No foreign transaction fees

  If you use your Mastercard^® Black Card^® to make international purchases, you won’t be charged foreign transaction fees. By contrast, some travel cards charge fees ranging from 3% to 5% of the amount of each transaction when you use it to make purchases outside of the U.S.

   See all of the best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees.

• Decent travel protections

  The Mastercard^® Black Card^® offers a solid list of travel and purchase protections including:

  • Trip cancellation/interruption insurance: Secondary coverage on round-trip purchases up to $5,000 per insured person for trip interruptions or cancellations.
  • Auto rental collision waiver: Secondary coverage for damages to an eligible rental vehicle when you use your card to pay for the full rental and decline the rental agency’s offered coverage.
  • Travel accident insurance: Up to $250,000 in coverage for accidental death and dismemberment when you charge your entire travel fare to your eligible card for a covered trip.
  • Baggage delay insurance: Up to $100 per day for covered items for baggage delays longer than four hours.
  • Travel assistance: 24/7 assistance for you and your travel companions when traveling 50 miles or more away from home.
  • Mastercard ID Theft Protection™: Protects you from online identity theft and fraudulent charges.

  Although these protections are valuable, they’re not as comprehensive as those provided by some other travel cards. For example, Chase Sapphire Reserve^® offers primary rental car insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, emergency evacuation and transportation coverage, trip delay reimbursement and purchase protections.

  See all of the best credit cards with travel insurance.

• Additional value for airfare and cash back redemptions

  You’ll get 2 points for every $1 spent on Airfare and Hotel reservations booked through LuxuryCardTravel.com. 1 point for every $1 spent on all purchases. 2% Value for Airfare Redemptions. 1.5% Value for Cash Back Redemptions. Terms and Conditions Apply. For example, you can redeem 50,000 points for a $1,000 ticket, with no blackout dates or seat restrictions. Or you can redeem those points for $750 cash back in the form of a statement credit or deposit into a U.S. bank account. There’s no minimum threshold required for airfare or cash back redemptions.

• Black-PVD-coated metal card

  Metal credit cards are a status symbol for cardholders, and the Mastercard^® Black Card^® has an especially sleek design: It’s made of black-PVD-coated metal. This puts it in league with other top luxury travel cards, like the American Express Platinum Card^® and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

  Tip: If you need to destroy a metal card, beware that it’s not as easy as using scissors or a shredder. You’ll need to either mail the card back to the issuer, take it to a bank branch or use tin snips.

   Many users find this perk underwhelming. Reddit users speculate that the card is designed to resemble the Centurion® Card from American Express. Many note that it’s unlikely to impress anyone familiar with credit cards.

  See all of the top metal credit cards.

• Pricey annual fee

  With the Mastercard^® Black Card^®, you’ll be responsible for paying an annual fee of $699 ($249 for each Authorized User added to the account).

  It’s not unusual for a premium travel card to charge a high annual fee. For example, the American Express Platinum Card^® has a $895 annual fee (see rates & fees), and the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® has a $795 annual fee. However, each of those cards offers more robust and valuable travel benefits, as well as better rewards rates and welcome offers than the Mastercard^® Black Card^®.

  	Annual fee	First-year card value*	Ongoing annual card value*
  Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card	$395	$2,603	$1,433
  Chase Sapphire Reserve®	$795	$5,222	$2,722
  American Express Platinum Card®	$895	$6,526	$3,026
  Mastercard® Black Card®	$699 ($249 for each Authorized User added to the account)	$639	$639

  *Based on LendingTree’s value methodology

• Low rewards earning rate

  For a card with a high annual fee, you’d expect a higher rewards rate. You effectively earn 2 points for every $1 spent on Airfare and Hotel reservations booked through LuxuryCardTravel.com. 1 point for every $1 spent on all purchases. 2% Value for Airfare Redemptions. 1.5% Value for Cash Back Redemptions. Terms and Conditions Apply.

  In comparison, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve^® and American Express Platinum Card^® offer elevated earnings in popular travel categories. As a result, the Mastercard^® Black Card^® offers significantly lower rewards-earning potential compared to these cards.

  Additionally, there are cards with no annual fee that earn 2% cash rewards on purchases, like the Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card. Essentially, the Mastercard^® Black Card^® functions like a 1.5% or 2% card but comes with a significantly higher annual fee.

  	Annual fee	Rewards earned per $1 spent*
  Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card	$395	$0.043
  Chase Sapphire Reserve®	$795	$0.041
  American Express Platinum Card®	$895	$0.023
  Mastercard® Black Card®	$699 ($249 for each Authorized User added to the account)	$0.020
  Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card	$0	$0.020

  *Based on LendingTree’s value methodology

• No sign-up bonus

  Unlike the majority of premium travel cards (and rewards cards in general), the Mastercard^® Black Card^® doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus. In comparison, travel cards with higher annual fees often have more generous sign-up bonuses. According to a LendingTree study, the average sign-up bonus for a points or miles credit card is around 52,000 points/miles.

  An example of a card with a solid welcome offer is the American Express Platinum Card^®: You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

  See all of the top credit card sign-up bonuses.

• Can't transfer points to partners

  One of the most substantial differences between the Mastercard^® Black Card^® and other top travel credit cards is its lack of transfer partners. Points earned with the Mastercard^® Black Card^® can only be redeemed for travel, cash back, bank deposits, gift cards, merchandise or experiences.

  Transferring points to travel partners often provides the highest redemption value. For example, Capital One Miles are worth about 1 cent each when redeemed through the Capital One Travel portal. But, by our estimates, their value increases to around 1.8 cents each when transferred to one of 15+ airline or hotel partners. Similarly, transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards^® points to one of Chase’s transfer partners yields an estimated value of around 2 cents per point versus 1.5 cents per point when booking through the Chase Travel^SM portal. American Express Membership Rewards and Citi ThankYou^® Points also allow you to transfer rewards to various airline and hotel loyalty programs.

Mastercard^® Black Card^® vs. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers excellent value for a more reasonable $395 annual fee. You’ll get the chance to earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel. Plus, you can earn 2X Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 10X Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 5X Miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel.

The card also includes up to a $300 annual travel credit through Capital One Travel, which is highly flexible and can significantly offset the annual fee. You’ll also gain access to Priority Pass lounges and Capital One lounges, along with up to a $120 credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry. You can get the most value by transferring miles to over 15 airline and hotel loyalty programs.

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Mastercard^® Black Card^® vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

Where the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® packs a punch is the value you can get from the card’s rewards. They’re worth up to 100% more when redeemed for travel through Chase’s portal and can be transferred to a variety of loyalty partners at a rate of 1:1.

You’ll earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Additionally, earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases.

Benefits include a flexible annual travel credit up to $300, complimentary Priority Pass^TM Select membership and a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck^® or NEXUS application fee credit. You’ll also get access to more protections than the Mastercard^® Black Card^®, including primary rental car coverage, lost luggage reimbursement, purchase and return protection, extended warranty protection and more.

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Mastercard^® Black Card^® vs. American Express Platinum Card^®

If you want access to premium travel benefits, the American Express Platinum Card^® is a better option than the Mastercard^® Black Card^®, despite its higher $895 annual fee.

With this card, you may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Plus, get 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Terms apply.

You’ll get the most value by transferring points to travel partners, which include British Airways Executive Club, Delta SkyMiles®, Marriott Bonvoy™ and Singapore KrisFlyer. In addition to extensive travel insurance¹ and purchase protections², the card provides over $2,000 in credits that can offset its annual fee. Eligible card members also get access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection^®, which includes Centurion Lounges and Priority Pass^TM Select lounges (enrollment required).

The Mastercard^® Black Card^® might be right for you if you value luxury perks like 24/7 concierge service and a sleek, black-PVD-coated metal design. The card’s design and exclusivity might appeal to those looking for a status symbol.

However, its low rewards earning rate, lack of a sign-up bonus and inability to transfer points to airline or hotel partners make it less competitive than other premium cards. You’ll get much better value out of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve^® or American Express Platinum Card^®.