American Express Centurion Black Card 2023 Review

It’s not feasible to do an apples-to-apples comparison of the Centurion Card to other cards, as it caters to such a small segment of the market and offers unique benefits. That said, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and The Platinum Card® from American Express offer a slice of what the Centurion does for a fraction of the annual fee.

Centurion® Card from American Express

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vs. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express costs $695 per year (Terms apply. See rates and fees), which seems like a bargain only when compared to the Centurion’s $5,000. Some benefits, such as airport lounge access (albeit without a dedicated section in the Centurion Clubs) and hotel and car rental statuses, are the same with both cards. However, the Centurion offers Hilton Diamond, Delta Executive Platinum and Hertz Platinum, which the Business Platinum does not.

While the Centurion may offer much in the way of statuses, the American Express Business Platinum grants a significantly higher 5 Membership Rewards® points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels through American Express Travel, 1.5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software and cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases. That said, the Centurion will likely allow for much larger monthly spending than the Platinum will.

When it comes time to redeem, the transfer partners for the two cards are identical. The Centurion Business Card does offer a higher pay-with-points rebate on eligible flight bookings at 50% versus the Platinum Business Card’s 35%. Another point in the Centurion Card’s favor: the rebate applies to any flight on any airline, not just business and first class, and not just for a designated airline.

Centurion® Card from American Express

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vs. The Platinum Card® from American Express

If the Amex Business Platinum is not an option for you, some of the Amex Black Card benefits are also available on the Amex Platinum for a much lower fee of $695. (Terms apply. See rates and fees.) Like the Business Platinum, the personal card earns 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year, 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases. Unlike the Business Platinum card, it lacks the airfare points rebate, which could add up for those who use it strategically.

Instead, the Amex Platinum piles on the consumer benefits, although at a junior level from its Centurion cousin. The Platinum card offers up to $100 annually to Saks Fifth Avenue—vs. $1,000 with the Centurion— and a rebate on Equinox Gym memberships (enrollment required) vs. the full membership offered by the Centurion card.