The American Express Centurion Card , known informally as Amex Black Card , is an invitation-only invitation card issued by American Express to the platinum cardholder after they meet certain criteria. There are three different problems from Centurion Cards: personal, business, and company.
Video Centurion Card
History
In 1991 American Express introduced Centurion Card to serve the very rich. This card was originally only available to certain users of the company's Platinum Card. To become a Centurion cardholder, a person must meet the American Express eligibility criteria. Cardholders are required to pay an annual fee, and in some countries are also charged early. (In the United States, the initiation fee is $ 7,500 in addition to the $ 2,500 annual fee of each cardholder). In addition to the various benefits, the card itself is made of anodized titanium with information and laser numbers etched into the metal. (It should be noted that in some markets plastic versions of cards are still issued, with or without titanium cards.) Plastic and Centurion cards 2014 and earlier include information embossed on the card. The Centurion 2015 Card introduces an etching laser. In some locations, such as Israel, the EMV "chip" plastic card which also includes payment technology without ExpressPay contacts is issued. American Express created card lines amid rumors and urban legends in the 1980s that produced ultra-exclusive black cards for elite users who could buy anything with it.
Maps Centurion Card
Features
Availability and cost
Centurion cards are invitations only after the net worth according to American Express criteria, credit and expenses are met. American Express does not publicly disclose the terms required to obtain or store the card, except that the cardholder must have substantial net worth, and has become a Platinum cardholder.
While the eligibility criteria are subject to speculation, most reliable sources agree that Centurion Cardholders have historically spent US $ 250,000 or more per year on low-cost American Express cards, and have annual household income of approximately US $ 1.3 million and net worth at least US $ 16 million.
Benefits
The card, available for personal and business use, offers services such as a concierge and a dedicated travel agent; free companion flight tickets on international flights on selected airlines with full fare ticket purchases; personal buyers at retailers like Dot & amp; Vic's Rathon Station, Big Beef house, Livingston, Gucci, Escada, and Saks Fifth Avenue; access to the airport club; first class flight improvement; membership in Consor Sony's personal shopping program and dozens of other elite club memberships.
The hotel benefits include one free night, when at least one night is paid for during the same stay, at any Mandarin Oriental hotel worldwide once a year (except for New York City properties), and privileges in hotel chains like Ritz-Carlton, Hotel Leading in the World, and Amanresorts. All the benefits mentioned above are for cards issued by the United States. American Express Centurion cards issued in other countries may include different benefits. This card has facilities, including the status of Delta SkyMiles Gold Medal.
The card also features free registration at Easirent Car Hire Platinum Service and Avis Rent a Car President's Club.
Originally it came with extensive travel insurance throughout the year no matter how the trip was paid but since 2012 this insurance is limited to trips paid with cards only. (In Australia, insurance covers all trips, even if paid by other methods or frequent flyer miles).
Centurion cards made from titanium were first published as upgrades for all "Centurion" cards of the United States in the first half of 2006, with titanium versions being released to other countries as well.
Some Centurion customers have purchased a car using a card or making purchases in excess of EUR1 million (US $ 1.36 million). The card does not have a limit set in theory. In practice, authorization is decided upon the previous payment and spending patterns; the biggest purchase ever made was US $ 170 million for the painting "Nu couchÃÆ' Â ©" Amedeo Modigliani purchased at Christie's auction house by Liu Yiqian. It is recommended that the reason for funding credit card purchases is to avoid Chinese money laws that restrict the transfer of money by citizens abroad for only $ 50,000.
The benefits offered to the Centurion council members are huge, but they seem to be based on the benefits offered to the American Express Platinum card holders, but with much improvement.
Centurion Card members, such as Platinum Card members, get free access to American Express Centurion Lounges at several US airports. They also get unlimited access to Priority Pass lounges around the world. However, during busy times, Centurion members have access to areas that are reserved for them. There is also a selection of drinks at the bar exclusive to Centurion members. By 2015, they have a choice of Champagne Veuve Clicquot and one scotch malt by Balvenie.
Former benefits
Some of the benefits of the original Centurion program have been discontinued, including:
- the benefits of Continental Airlines, which ends in October 2011
- the elite benefits of Platinum Starwood Preferred Guest, downgraded to Gold (from January 2006, same as Platinum card)
- Hyatt Diamond Elite is profitable
- Benefits of American Admirals Club, ending on March 21, 2014
Publications
From the beginning of the card, the member has received a copy of the Departure , which is also shipped to all Platinum Card holders. In 2004, American Express Centurion members in the US began to receive exclusive "nameless" magazines, which were not available in any other way. Starting with Spring 2007 edition, this magazine is officially titled Black Ink . The magazine is only available to individual Centurion card holders, not for business edition customers.
European, Asian and Australian Centurion members receive the quarterly "Centurion magazine published by Journal International GmbH (Munich, Germany). In June 2011, the Centurion magazine website was launched, offering daily updates for Centurion Card members. According to Journal International, the average age of readers Centurion from Europe or the Middle East is 49 years. Centurion has been published since 2001 and has circulation in Europe and Middle East 44,100, in Asia 13,900, and in Australia 6,000.
elite card
Centurion Cards are part of an elite credit card segment created for a number of very small and exclusive clients around the world. Other cards include:
- Palladium Card
AmEx Black Card vs. Black Card
Black Card LLC successfully registered the "Black Card" as a US trademark in 2009. However, American Express believes that Centurion Cards are widely known as "Black Cards" prior to the Black Card launch (and then Visa cards), although never searching for trademarks naming himself. American Express filed a lawsuit against Black Card LLC in February 2010, claiming that the trademark was obtained improperly and to seek redress. This demand was concluded in November 2011, with the US District Court for the Southern District of New York deciding that the Black Card, LLC's trademark under the name "Black Card" should be canceled on the grounds that it is only descriptive. (See also American Express Marketing and Development Corp., et. V. Black Card, LLC , 2011, US Department LEXIS 133151 (S.D.N.Y. November 17, 2011.)
Today, Black Card LLC uses registered trademarks under license as MasterCard issued by Barclays Bank Delaware. It has similar features, such as just the Luxury Magazine members in print and digital form.
References
External links
- The American Express Centurion website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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