American Express Platinum vs Black Card: A Comprehensive Comparison

The American Express Platinum and Black Card are two of the most exclusive credit cards available, offering a range of benefits and perks that cater to high-end travelers and luxury enthusiasts.

The American Express Platinum Card has an annual fee of $550, which is significantly lower than the American Express Centurion Card's $5,000 annual fee. However, the Black Card's annual fee is a whopping $2,500, making it a more affordable option for those who want to experience luxury without breaking the bank.

One of the key differences between the two cards is their rewards structure. The American Express Platinum Card offers 5x points on air travel booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, while the Black Card offers 1x point on all purchases. This means that the Platinum Card is ideal for frequent flyers who want to earn rewards on their travel expenses.

The American Express Platinum Card also offers a range of premium travel benefits, including airport lounge access and a $200 airline fee credit. In contrast, the Black Card offers a more limited set of travel benefits, including a $100 credit towards travel-related expenses.

The American Express Centurion Card is a highly exclusive and luxurious credit card that offers a range of benefits and perks. The annual fee is a steep $5,000, and authorized users also incur a fee of $5,000 per card for up to two additional Centurion cards.

One of the key benefits of the Centurion Card is its welcome bonus, or lack thereof - this card does not offer a welcome bonus. In contrast, the Amex Platinum Card offers an 80,000 Membership Rewards Points welcome bonus after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months.

The Centurion Card earns 1 point per dollar on all eligible purchases, which is a relatively low earning rate compared to other credit cards. In comparison, the Amex Platinum Card earns 5 Membership Rewards Points per dollar for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, up to $500,000 per calendar year.

Here's a comparison of the Centurion Card and the Amex Platinum Card's annual fees and authorized user fees:

The Centurion Card offers a range of exclusive perks, including a private concierge and travel agent, no preset spending limits, and a complimentary CLEAR membership. It also includes access to fine dining establishments worldwide, special tour packages, and invitations to exclusive events.

Both the Centurion and Platinum cards have the same transfer partners and transfer ratios for Membership Rewards points, making them interchangeable in this regard. This means you can transfer your points to the same airline or hotel loyalty program with either card.

The earning rates for Membership Rewards points differ between the two cards. The Centurion card earns 1 point per dollar on all eligible purchases, while the Platinum card earns 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases.

Here's a quick comparison of the earning rates for the two cards:

The Business Platinum card has a more complex earning structure, earning 5 points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels through American Express Travel, and 1.5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at certain retailers and providers.

Membership Rewards is a valuable perk offered by American Express cards, including the Platinum and Centurion cards. Both cards earn Membership Rewards points, which can be transferred to various partners.

The Platinum 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. It also earns 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases.

The Centurion card earns 1 point per dollar on all eligible purchases. This is a key difference between the two cards, as the Platinum card offers a higher earnings rate for certain purchases.

Here's a quick comparison of the earnings rates for the Platinum and Centurion cards:

Redemption rebates also vary between the two cards. The Business Platinum card offers a 35% rebate on points redeemed for eligible airfare, while the Centurion card offers a 50% rebate.

Statement credits can be a game-changer for frequent travelers and shoppers. Both the Amex Platinum card and the Centurion card offer statement credits for specific purchases.

You can earn up to $200 in airline credits for incidentals. This can be a huge help if you're a frequent flyer.

The Amex Platinum card also offers a $199 annual CLEAR Plus credit, which can be a nice perk if you value convenience. CLEAR Plus can help you skip security lines at airports.

The Amex Platinum card has several other additional statement credits, including up to $300 annual Equinox credit and up to $240 digital entertainment credit. These credits can add up to significant savings.

Here are some of the statement credits offered by the Amex Platinum card:

The Centurion card comes with Delta Platinum Medallion elite status, which delivers a long list of benefits. You’d normally have to fly 75,000 miles each calendar year (or 100 segments) and spend $9,000 on Delta tickets to achieve Platinum status.

Some of the benefits Delta Platinum Medallion elites can expect to receive include:

The Platinum card, on the other hand, offers a more limited set of elite status benefits, but still provides some perks.

Both the Amex Platinum card and the Centurion card offer a range of benefits and perks, but the Centurion card takes it to the next level with its exclusive perks.

The Amex Platinum card offers a $10,000 initiation fee in addition to the annual fee, making it a significant upfront cost. In contrast, the Centurion card has a unique set of benefits, including a $10,000 initiation fee, round-the-clock dedicated white-glove concierge service, and Delta Air Lines Platinum Medallion status.

Here are some of the key benefits and perks of both cards:

The Centurion card's benefits and perks make it a great choice for those who value exclusivity and luxury, but the Amex Platinum card offers a more affordable option with many of the same benefits.

The Amex Platinum card offers a wide range of hotel program benefits, including elite status, on-site property amenities, and elevated service.

As a cardholder, you'll enjoy the following hotel benefits with the Amex Platinum card: Room upgrade, subject to availability, breakfast each day for 2, early check-in and late checkout, complimentary Wi-Fi, and an amenity valued at $100.

You can also take advantage of American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts, which offers a room upgrade, breakfast each day for 2, early check-in and late checkout, complimentary Wi-Fi, and an amenity valued at $100.

Here's a summary of the hotel benefits you can expect:

Keep in mind that these benefits are available with the Amex Platinum card, not the Centurion card, which has its own set of hotel benefits.

Credits are a big part of what makes premium credit cards worth it.

The Centurion card offers a $1,000 yearly credit to Saks Fifth Avenue, doled out as $250 quarterly.

The Platinum card, on the other hand, offers a $100 yearly credit to Saks Fifth Avenue, given as $50 twice a year.

Both the Centurion and Platinum cards offer a $199 annual credit to CLEAR Plus.

You can also get TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credits with the Platinum card.

Here are some of the statement credits you can get with the Amex Platinum card:

If you're looking for an alternative to the exclusive Black Card, consider the Amex Platinum card, which offers excellent overall value.

The Amex Platinum card is an excellent alternative to the Centurion card, with benefits that rival its luxury counterpart.

In addition to these options, there are several travel rewards cards that can provide better overall value than the Black Card.

The cost of credit cards can be a major consideration, and the Amex Centurion Black and Amex Platinum are no exception.

The Amex Centurion Black has a whopping annual fee of $5,000, which is a significant upcharge compared to the $695 Platinum Card.

Authorized users also pay a premium with the Centurion, with a $5,000 fee for each user, whereas the Platinum Card charges a relatively paltry $195 for each additional card.

Here's a quick comparison of the two cards' annual fees and authorized user fees:

It's clear that the Platinum Card offers a much more affordable option for both the annual fee and authorized user fees.

If you're considering the Centurion card but want to explore other options, there are several travel rewards cards that rival the Centurion card with arguably better overall value.

The Amex Platinum card is an excellent alternative to the Centurion card, offering a range of benefits that make it a compelling choice.

In fact, the Amex Platinum card is often considered a more accessible and affordable option, with a lower annual fee compared to the Centurion card.

One of the key advantages of the Amex Platinum card is its generous rewards program, which offers 5x points on air travel and hotels, plus a $200 airline fee credit.

This can be a game-changer for frequent travelers, who can earn valuable points and credits that can be redeemed for flights, hotels, and other travel expenses.

Overall, the Amex Platinum card is a solid alternative to the Centurion card, offering a range of benefits and rewards that make it a great choice for travelers.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is an excellent choice for those seeking a high-end premium travel credit card. It earns 3x points on travel and dining, offering top-notch travel insurance protections and luxury perks.

One of the standout features of this card is the $300 annual travel credit, which can help reduce the annual fee. You'll also get access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after easy enrollment in Priority Pass Select.

Here are some key benefits to consider:

The Chase Sapphire Reserve also offers a generous welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. This can be redeemed for $900 toward travel, thanks to the 50% more value you'll get when redeeming your points for travel through Chase Travel℠.

Note that the card has a $550 annual fee, and it doesn't offer any sort of hotel elite status. However, the benefits and perks it provides make it a top choice for travel enthusiasts.

If you're considering applying for a platinum or black card, you'll be glad to know that some of these cards are accessible through direct application.

The Platinum Card from American Express, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, Mastercard Gold Card, and Mastercard Black Card are all available for direct application, offering high-end benefits and services.

To apply with confidence, you can expect to see the APR and foreign transaction fees of the card you're interested in. For example, American Express Membership Rewards has no foreign transaction fees.

You may also be eligible for a welcome bonus offer, such as the 80,000 points offer currently available for the Amex Platinum. Keep in mind that this offer may vary, and you can receive additional value by transferring Amex points to American Express transfer partners.

Here are some key details to consider when applying for a platinum or black card:

By understanding these details, you can make an informed decision about which card is right for you.

The return policy of the platinum cards is straightforward. For The Platinum Card from American Express, you can click here to view the rates and fees.

If you're considering the Business Platinum Card from American Express, you'll need to click here to view the rates and fees.