How To Get Your Money’s Worth From A Black Card
When looking at the initiation fee ($5k) and the annual fee ($2.5k) for a Centurion card, a common question to ask is: “How do I get my money’s worth from that”. The answer is pretty simple, TRAVEL.
The major benefit difference between the Centurion and the Platinum, are the travel benefits. The major travel benefits of the Centurion include:
- Airport lounge access for Continental, Delta, Northwest, and Virgin
- Airline Elite status with Continental, Delta, US Airways, and Virgin (Elite status includes benefits such as ticket upgrades, dedicated check-in, priority boarding, and faster earning of miles)
- Free Business/First Class International Companion tickets
- Hotel Room Upgrades and late checkout
- Top Status with Hertz and Avis (2 class upgrade on car)
Obviously the concierge service is a great benefit, but to get your money’s worth, you need to travel and use the hotel upgrades and ticket upgrades to first class. The true benefit of the Black Card is the instant elite status with the above airline carriers.
For example, a recent check of ticket prices for Continental from Charlotte, NC to Las Vegas, NV total to about $200 rountrip for coach. The First Class ticket costs about $1,450 for the same trip. By being a Centurion member, you’d receive an upgrade valued over $1k (you also get upgraded for companions). So if you’re going to make 3 trips or more a year, the Airline upgrade alone makes the card worthwhile, or at least lets you justify the $2500 annual fee.
How do you justify, financially, being a Centurion member?
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Comments
agreed - i’ve been a cent card holder for about six months and aside from wowing friends/family with the card have gotten nothing different from platinum. That was until last week when a guest and I flew to three cities - getting upgrades on Continental and US Air each way…right there the card paid for itself for the year. With Airline elite status I found myself checking every bag to avoid the hassle of carrying them - why not when its free!
I’ve been a centurion card member for almost 2 years. While your point about elite status on the airlines is true, there are always catches with airlines - for example, on Continental, Centurion gets you the Gold Elite status - which is the second tier. The highest tier is Platinum - so Platinum members get upgraded before Gold. Every flight (with Continental) I’ve taken in the past year (NY to Florida, NY to Bermuda, NY to Miami, NY to Las Vegas and flights back) have NOT been eligble for upgrade to first class with my gold elite status. Obviously, my companion is not eligble either - and FYI, with Continental, your companion can only get upgraded IF seats are available one hour prior to flight departure.
And d, you claim the card paid for itself, but would you have flown first class on those flights if you weren’t automtically upgraded and had to pay? If not, how could the card pay for itself?
I luckily didn’t have to pay the $5k initiation fee. If I had to do it again, I would NOT recommend the card.
Justifying this card is getting difficult, especially in economies like this.
Good point about ‘would I have flown first class’ - while at times I have paid for a first class ticket it hasn’t been the norm - but I was merely putting a dollar valuation on the three legs for two people that I flew. You are very correct about Continental not upgrading in advance if you have a companion. US Air does - but Continental seems to only upgrade at the airport if you have a companion.
A few points:
1. With Continental (and Delta), you get 2nd tier (as mentioned) so any platinum FF cards come before you for upgrades.
2. If you are traveling with a companion, they can NEVER get upgraded from the lower fares (like T) which you would be upgraded for. Hence, the primary cost savings is being able to book a cheap ticket for YOU and get upgraded. The companion has to buy a more expensive ticket.
3. If you choose to fly with a companion, and want them to be upgraded - you DROP TO THE END OF THE LIST. In other words, CO and DL use the lowest status on a PNR in order to make their upgrade lists. If you are gold (or even platinum) and your companion is nothing - then BOTH of you will only be upgraded after all golds, silvers, etc have been upgraded.
4. As per point 3, you then must wait until 1 hour before, at the airport. So, if you are a gold FF you would be upgraded 3 days before - but if a companion is traveling with you on the same PNR, then you will only be upgraded (if available) 1 hour before, at the gate. That leaves you vulnerable to anyone showing up with a Silver card 2 hours before and booking a flight - since they snag the F seat before you were even considered.
For these reasons, I suggest that unless the route is not popular (and off peak) you do not book with a companion, because then odds are that neither of you will be upgraded.
The black card is so not worth it. For what they charge you and what you get doesn’t match up. I just recently cancelled my card. The travel agents are not up to par! my secratary does a much better job. There services just don’t match up.I was recently in dallas texas and my flight coming home got cancelled. I called my travel agent.All I can say is that it was a mess.I then called my wife who got on the computer and got me a flight home. Soory, but I’m happy to give back my black card.
I’ve been a card member since 2001. Back then was a more idyllic, pleasant time. There was no initiation fee. The annual fee was $1000. When ole’ Kenny Chennault sent the letter 2 years ago demanding we old timers start forking out $2.5k a year I barely kept on to the card. This article hits it dead on; if you don’t travel this card is worthless other than the snob value. In times like these I don’t give a rat’s arse about the snob value; when I got the card I was 27 and it was a big deal then.
I recently travelled from JFK to Amsterdam and Prague on Delta. I bought coach tickets for $800. I was upgraded to first class for the whole trip. I came home and priced out first class for this trip; it would have been around $7.5k. So I guess the card “paid” for itself this year. If the annual fee was $1000 I’d probably keep the card, but at $2.5k I am on the fence. I don’t travel that often so its a tough decision.
Anyone know if you can give up the black card and go to platinum and go back to black later? Or is it good bye forever? I sure as hell am not going to spend $150k a year anytime soon again.
[...] post is primarily for US card members. In light of my recent post on how to get your money’s worth from a Centurion card, I thought I would also pose the question of “What additional benefits would you [...]
Stan - reports have been that Cent holders were offered to downgrade to Plat and have the ability to “return” within the same year if they changed their mind. More than that, and you have to requalify all over again.
And you’re mistaken that you “need to spend 150k a year again” to re-qualify: You need to spend 250k a year, plus to pay a brand-new 5,000 initiation fee.
So, unless you are giving up the card for more than 3 years, it is not worthwhile cancelling it and then re-qualifying (even if you DO have 250k a year in spend to meet the requalification), simply keep the card and suck-up the wasted 2,500 fees. Otherwise you’ll pay 7,500 to get it back…
Just my 2 cents. Heck, you may decide to drop it forever - in which case, whatever works for you is fine. But if you plan to get it back within 3 years of downgrading - it’s cheaper just to keep it.
I have had the card for three months now and love it (for the most part). Got upgraded both ways from Maine to Vegas on U.S. Airways, reseverations at Taipei 101 the day before and normally there is a 1 month wait. $5k Emergancy cash when needed. VIP treatment daily. Although in rural areas (IE Maine) people don’t know about the card. They ask why is it so heavy. How do you respond?
Regarding the “upgrade” mentioned above on Delta from JFK to Amsterdam and Prague - I didn’t know the black card allowed upgrades on International flights, no matter what your status.
Also, what does elite status on Virgin get you? Guaranteed upgrades with a certain class of ticket?
Thanks - I’m on the fence about getting a black card and it depends on upgrades for international travel.
Guys, stop being foolish. The only reason one gets a Black Card is for status. But most people who need status to feel better about themselves will not admit it, so they must infere ‘reasons’ to get the card, to justify it… Trust me, if you don’t give a crap about status, and you do care for flying first class, you buy your first class tickets and don’t bother getting such a card and then have to beg for a free spot at check-in.
fabio: you’re ignorant: I get first class 2-4 times per month on US Air and I never have to ask.
Serena: good observation, that sounds bogus.
George: it’s heavy because of the debt load 
Definitely worth it if you fly US Air frequently. You are instantly enrolled in their top tier platinum level. I have never not had an upgrade on my last 8 or 9 trips over last 2 yrs on US air. Continental and Delta are pretty much worthless. Hotel upgrades are nice, free night at Mandarin Oriental per year and upgrades at any Ritz Carlton, usually with spa credit and a free meal. Overall I think financially the card is a wash unless you are flying US Air 2-3 times/month in which case it could save you $12-15,000 per yr if you would have gone first class anyway.
I spend much of my time traveling through out North America, Europe and the Middle East.
The 2.5k is reasonable for the benefits, the 5k up front charge seems high.
What is the spending limit on the card.