Benefits

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The Centurion Card does offer an impressive array of benefits (as it should for what the annual fee is):

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Elite Status

• Delta SkyMiles Platinum Medallion
• Hilton Honors Diamond
• IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite
• Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite
• Hertz Platinum
• Avis President’s Club

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Lounge Access

• The Centurion Lounge
• Priority Pass Select
• Delta Sky Club
• Lufthansa Lounges
• Escape Lounges
• Plaza Premium Lounges

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Travel Perks

• Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck: Receive statement credits every 4 years for Global Entry or every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck fee costs.
• CLEAR Plus credit: Receive up to $369 in statement credits each year for CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) for you and family members or friends added to your account.
• International Airline Program: Get discounts for lower fares on international flights (First Class, Business Class, or Premium Economy tickets) when you book with select airlines through Amex Travel.
• PS Membership and complimentary access: Get membership for PS private airport terminal access, though you’ll still need to pay to use PS Private Suites when you travel. Centurion members also get up to two complimentary visits to The Salon (currently available at LAX and ATL airports) annually.
• Fine Hotels + Resorts: Access Fine Hotels + Resorts properties when you book an eligible stay through Amex Travel and get exclusive benefits as a Centurion member, including credits to use on select charges during your stay and upgrades when available.

Travel protections and insurance

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The Centurion Card offers a robust suite of protections, giving you peace of mind for your travel plans and purchases. As with all credit cards, these safeguards only apply when you use your Amex Centurion Card for the transaction:

• Premium Global Assist hotline: Use this 24/7 hotline to get help before and during an eligible trip more than 100 miles from home. Potential services include customs and vaccination information, lost passport replacement, translation services, missing luggage assistance, emergency medical referrals and transportation, emergency urgent message relay, legal referrals, and more.
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: If your covered trip is canceled or interrupted for a covered reason, get reimbursed for non-refundable eligible expenses (up to $10,000 per covered trip and up to $20,000 per 12-month period).
• Trip delay insurance: If your covered trip is delayed by more than six hours, you will be reimbursed for eligible related expenses, including meals, lodging, toiletries, etc. (up to $500 per covered trip, up to two claims per 12-month period).
• Car rental loss and damage insurance: Coverage against rental vehicle damage or theft in eligible locations (secondary coverage only).
• Baggage insurance plan: Protection against lost, damaged, or stolen baggage on an eligible common carrier vehicle trip: flight, train, ship, etc. (up to $2,000 for checked baggage and up to a combined $3,000 for carry-on baggage; different limits apply for New York state cardmembers).
• Cell phone protection: Get reimbursed for eligible repair or replacement costs (whichever is less) if your cell phone is damaged or stolen (subject to a $50 deductible; coverage up to $800, up to two claims per year).
• Purchase protection: Protection for eligible purchases against theft, damage, or loss within 90 days of the purchase date (up to $10,000 per covered purchase, up to $50,000 per calendar year).
• Return protection: If the merchant won’t accept a return within 90 days of purchase, Amex will refund you the purchase price of eligible items (up to $300 per item, up to $1,000 per calendar year; not including shipping and handling charges).
• Extended warranty: Get up to three additional years’ coverage on eligible items with an original manufacturer’s warranty of five years or less (up to $10,000 per covered item, up to $50,000 per calendar year).

Surprisingly mediocre rewards

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While the Centurion Card offers unparalleled prestige, its reward structure is surprisingly lackluster. Unlike many premium cards, it doesn’t offer a welcome bonus or introductory offer. For everyday spending, you’ll earn a basic 1 Membership Rewards point per dollar spent.

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For those focused on maximizing Membership Rewards, cards like the American Express® Gold Card or The Platinum Card® from American Express provide better-earning potential across various spending categories. A savvy strategy for Centurion cardholders is to pair their Black Card with these higher-earning Amex options. This approach allows you to optimize point accumulation on everyday spending while still benefiting from Centurion’s exclusive travel redemptions and perks.

But redeeming itself with redemptions?

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Centurion cardholders enjoy a standout redemption benefit that significantly boosts the value of their Membership Rewards points. When booking flights through Amex Travel using points, cardholders receive a 50% points rebate. This means if you redeem 100,000 points for a flight, 50,000 points will be credited back to your account. This unique perk effectively doubles the value of your points to 2 cents per point when used for air travel, making it one of the most lucrative redemption options in the credit card landscape.

Is It Worth It?

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The Centurion Card’s value proposition is unique. For most people, the high fees outweigh the benefits. However, for ultra-high-net-worth individuals who travel frequently and value exclusive experiences, the card’s perks could justify its cost.

Alternatives to Consider

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If you're intrigued by premium card benefits but can’t justify the Centurion's fees, consider these alternatives:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express : Offers many similar benefits at a fraction of the cost at $695 per year.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve® : Provides excellent travel rewards and perks for a fraction of the price at $550 per year.
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card : A newer entrant with competitive benefits and a lower annual fee of $395.
• American Express® Gold Card : For most consumers, the Gold Card provides better value and more attainable benefits at a much better price point of $325 a year.

Final Thoughts

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The American Express Centurion Card remains an enigma in the credit card world. Its exclusivity and luxury benefits make it a status symbol for the ultra-wealthy. However, for most folks, the card’s astronomical fees outweigh its perks. Unless you’re spending millions annually and value the prestige above all else, you're likely better off with a more accessible premium credit card.