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The information related to the Centurion® Card from American Express has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.
Known as one of the most difficult American Express cards to get, the Centurion® Card from American Express is a high-end card that’s shrouded in secrecy. It comes with luxury travel perks like access to The Global Lounge Collection and Fine Hotels and Resorts program, along with a reputation for being the world’s most exclusive credit card.
However, with both a hefty initiation fee plus an annual fee, this card isn’t in many wallets and probably isn’t worth it for most consumers. The requirements for an invitation for the Centurion® Card from American Express are unknown, but many believe that you must spend more than $350,000 a year on a current American Express card.
This card offers plenty of benefits, though it’s tailored primarily to those who travel frequently. Infrequent travelers may have a more difficult time getting their money’s worth out of this card. Also, many of these perks are available on The Platinum Card® from American Express, which is open to all applicants.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Welcome Offer | Rewards Rate | Annual Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Centurion® Card from American Express*
|
N/A | 1X points
1 point per $1 spent on eligible purchases
| $5,000 | ||
The Platinum Card® from American Express
|
80,000 points
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
| 5X points
| $695 | ||
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
 Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
60,000 points
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
| 1X - 10X points
| $550 |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
|
75,000 miles
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
| 2X - 10X miles
| $395 |
Access to The Global Lounge Collection
With the Centurion® Card from American Express, you’ll gain access to the world’s largest lounge network through The Global Lounge Collection, which is one of the best luxury travel perks available. This includes more than 1,400 lounges worldwide, including:
Keep in mind that several other Amex cards offer the same lounge access at a lower price point, including The Platinum Card® from American Express, which is our top pick for a card with airport lounge access. But other luxury travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® only offer Priority Pass lounge access.
Access to the Fine Hotels and Resorts program
The Centurion® Card from American Express also features the Fine Hotels and Resorts program. When you book your stay with your Centurion® Card from American Express, you have access to the following benefits at over 2,600 properties worldwide:
This is a step above some American Express cards, like the American Express® Gold Card, that offer access to The Hotel Collection rather than Fine Hotels and Resorts. The Hotel Collection offers fewer perks and a smaller collection of hotels. However, a few other Amex cards — including The Platinum Card® from American Express — do include the Fine Hotels and Resorts program.
24/7 Concierge
Whether you need a last-minute flight booked while you pack your bags or flowers sent to a friend, a team of dedicated concierge professionals is standing by 24/7 to assist you. To access concierge services, simply call the number on the back of your card and say “concierge” when prompted. Note that you’ll be responsible for all purchases, along with any applicable taxes and fees, made by the concierge on your behalf.
This is the same American Express Concierge service that you’ll get with The Platinum Card® from American Express. Additionally, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers 24/7 access to Customer Service Specialists. On the other hand, the Mastercard® Black Card™ provides the convenience of connecting with a representative through live chat, phone or email for assistance with tasks such as travel bookings, dinner reservations or sourcing high-demand products, eliminating the need to make a phone call.
This benefit appears to be hit or miss for customers. Some users report challenges with securing restaurant reservations, noting that they are often unsuccessful. One user mentioned feeling that they’re better off making the calls themselves, as they haven’t noticed any unique or exclusive access from the service.
But some have had positive experiences, especially with hotel reservations. For example, one customer shared that they always use the concierge for hotel bookings, as they’ve had greater success in receiving room upgrades and have even used the service to secure a language translator while abroad. Another user recounted that the concierge helped them secure a refund on their stay with an uncooperative hotel.
No foreign transaction fees
You’ll keep more of your money when shopping abroad since there are no foreign transaction fees with the Centurion® Card from American Express. In 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., which can really add up.
Other benefits
The Centurion® Card from American Express features many additional benefits that can add convenience to your travel experience, including:
Invitation required to apply
Getting the Centurion® Card from American Express isn’t easy — you have to be invited to apply. Those who are current American Express customers with a high level of spending might have a chance of receiving an invitation for this elite card.
But if you don’t want to sit around and wait for an invitation, there are plenty of luxury travel credit cards with excellent perks that you can apply for directly. These cards offer great value without requiring such a high spending threshold.
Expensive fees
While luxury travel cards often come with high annual fees, the Centurion® Card from American Express blows almost every other card out of the water. Its fees include:
In comparison, The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with a lower $695 annual fee (see rates & fees) and perks that can help you cover it, like more than $1,000 in credits. Plus, it has many of the same benefits as the Centurion® Card from American Express, including access to The Global Lounge Collection and Fine Hotels + Resorts Program® for eligible card members.
There are also travel credit cards with luxury perks that come with an even lower annual fee — including the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which has a $550 annual fee, and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, which has a $395 annual fee (see rates & fees).
Poor rewards program
The Centurion® Card from American Express has a very low rewards rate for a card with such a high annual fee. You’ll only earn 1 point per $1 spent on eligible purchases. In comparison, there are even cards with no annual fee that earn 2% cash rewards on purchases, like the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card and Citi Double Cash® Card.
The Platinum Card® from American Express, Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offer elevated earnings in popular travel categories. The Centurion® Card from American Express has a significantly lower rewards-earning potential compared to these cards.
| Annual fee | Rewards earned per $1 spent* | |
|---|---|---|
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | $395 (see rates & fees) | $0.043 |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | $550 | $0.033 |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | $695 | $0.023 |
| Centurion® Card from American Express | $10,000 initiation fee and $5,000 annual membership fee | $0.020 |
| Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | $0 | $0.020 |
| Citi Double Cash® Card | $0 | $0.020 |
Must pay balance in full each month
You have to pay off your balance in full every month with the Centurion® Card from American Express . However, you can use the Pay Over Time feature to spread out your payments over several months with interest for a specific purchase.
You’ll earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®. Terms apply. And you’ll get access to many of the same perks as the Centurion® Card from American Express, including the Global Lounge Collection for eligible card members, Fine Hotels + Resorts Program® and The Hotel Collection. You’ll also get elite status with several hotels and car rental agencies (enrollment required).
Having this card, or another card from American Express, is a good way to become a customer of the company. Over time, and with an excellent payment history, you may work your way up to getting an invite to apply for the Centurion® Card from American Express.
The card also comes with elevated rewards on popular travel categories: Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Travel perks include up to a $300 annual travel credit through Capital One Travel that can help cover most of the $395 annual fee (see rates & fees). You’ll also enjoy great airport benefits like lounge access and up to a $120 credit for TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry. Capital One Miles can be transferred to 15+ airline and hotel loyalty programs.
If you’ve received an invitation for the Centurion® Card from American Express and are weighing its value, consider whether you can fully utilize its perks and whether the high annual fee aligns with your lifestyle and spending habits. This card is best suited for high spenders, frequent travelers, business elites and individuals who value exclusive perks. If this sounds like you, the card could be a worthwhile investment, but it’s not the right fit for everyone.
If you’re hoping to qualify for the Centurion® Card from American Express, starting with another premium American Express card, like The Platinum Card® from American Express, may be a good first step. However, if your annual spending isn’t in the six-figure range, you’re unlikely to qualify for the Centurion® Card from American Express. There are plenty of travel credit card options that provide excellent benefits at a more affordable cost and are open to all applicants, including the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
To see rates & fees for American Express cards mentioned on this page, visit the links provided below:
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
The information related to the Centurion® Card from American Express and Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
