Saw a black American Express card at LaGuardia last week

coolbreeze · Oct 12, 2003, 03:05 AM

So I'm using the United self check-in at LaGuardia airport, and the lady beside me asks me how to use the machine. I tell her that you need a credit card to validate your identity, and she pulls out a Black American Express card!! I've heard these are very rare, only a handheld # of celebrities and very wealthy people have them, but never believed it. I sad "wow, I've never seen a Black AmEx before!" She responded with "it's for business," and instantly began fumbling in her purse like she was ignoring me.

I was late for my flight so I had to run. Wonder who she was? More importantly, I wonder why black AmEx cards exist. (it was 5am, but I am absolutely sure it was a black AmEx).

Anyone else ever seen/heard of these?

polyesterlester · Oct 12, 2003, 04:38 AM

From what I've read, it's called the Centurion, and it has no limit. You could buy a basketball team with it. You can't apply for it; if AmEx thinks you're wealthy enough, they give it to you. But you pay $1,000 a year for the privilege. There's apparently only about 100 of them in existence. It's the ultimate status credit card.

Some additional perks to the black card are the upgrades you get when you use it. Book a flight from New York to London and you get a complimentary upgrade on the Concorde. Book a room at the Ritz-Carlton, and you get an automatic room upgrade. Buy a burger at Hooters and you get oral (just kidding).

Frankly, I'm surprised that whoever was wealthy enough to be holding a black card wasn't smart enough to figure out the self check-in.

sonofslim · Oct 12, 2003, 11:48 AM

people who pay $1000/yr for unlimited credit generally have people who do their ticket buying & other grunt work for them... maybe her valet was sick that day.

coolbreeze · Oct 12, 2003, 11:54 AM

I know it sounds suspect as to why she was doing this herself/didn't know how to use the kiosk, but I know what I saw. I'd always heard about the mysterious "black" AmEx, and Friday morning confirmed it.

I should have asked her to marry me on the spot

baby duck monge · Oct 12, 2003, 01:42 PM

black card = power

you can get yourself a table in a restaurant with a 3 month waiting list any day you want. you never even have to make any arrangements yourself. if you call the card company, they take care of everything for you.

shecky · Oct 12, 2003, 02:02 PM

people who pay $1000 for the supposed privilidge of having a black amex card just goes to show that you can be rich and still be an idiot.

ColoJohnBoy · Oct 12, 2003, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shecky
people who pay $1000 for the supposed privilidge of having a black amex card just goes to show that you can be rich and still be an idiot.

Too true, too true.

But if I had the money, I'd sure as hell take one!!

rainman::|:| · Oct 12, 2003, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shecky
people who pay $1000 for the supposed privilidge of having a black amex card just goes to show that you can be rich and still be an idiot.

uh, right, the priviledge of having a black card... maybe you missed what it DOES? i think you can get a black credit card about anywhere, but this is in a class by itself.

jealous? i think so.

pnw

shecky · Oct 12, 2003, 02:34 PM

-Upgrades to the Concorde at no additional cost with the purchase of a full-fare, first-class transatlantic ticket to or from London and any British Airways gateway in the United States.

do you have any idea what a full-fare 1st class ticket costs? just about $5900 US from NYC to London. for that kind of money i think i should get a hooker and an ounce of coke to snort off her ass also, nevermind the "free" upgrade to the concorde. if you have the $6K to drop on that flight, the the $11,000 US ticket on the Concorde is probablly not going to bug you too much either. The catch is that the Concorde is booked tightly and therefore the odds of you actually getting that upgrade are slim unless you book it 6 months in advance anyway. So, is that a true perk? If you fly a full fare, 1st class ticket to london here and there and if the circumstances work out then yes, the $1000 is well spent. Other than that the other stuff is all fluff. But i guess when you have $ falling out of your ass then that $1000 is chicken feed. But apparently that doesnt buy you the intellect to use an automated check in at the airport now then does it?

hell yes i am jealous, im a student seeing my loans pile up and up and up and i can think of a thousand things i can spend $1000 on that are actually useful instead of on some idiotic status symbol and an upgraded plane ride.

polyesterlester · Oct 12, 2003, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by coolbreeze
I know it sounds suspect as to why she was doing this herself/didn't know how to use the kiosk, but I know what I saw.

Oh, I believed you! I just thought it was kind of funny.

Quote:

Originally posted by shecky
people who pay $1000 for the supposed privilidge of having a black amex card just goes to show that you can be rich and still be an idiot.

A $1,000 is nothing to someone with that kind of money. And worth it too, for those kind of perks.

MattG · 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by polyesterlester
From what I've read, it's called the Centurion, and it has no limit. You could buy a basketball team with it. You can't apply for it; if AmEx thinks you're wealthy enough, they give it to you. But you pay $1,000 a year for the privilege. There's apparently only about 100 of them in existence. It's the ultimate status credit card.

Some additional perks to the black card are the upgrades you get when you use it. Book a flight from New York to London and you get a complimentary upgrade on the Concorde. Book a room at the Ritz-Carlton, and you get an automatic room upgrade. Buy a burger at Hooters and you get oral (just kidding).

Frankly, I'm surprised that whoever was wealthy enough to be holding a black card wasn't smart enough to figure out the self check-in.

I doubt there's only about 100 in existence...At the store I used to work at, we used to see them come in now and then. Granted the town I live in has some VERY wealthy people in it (myself not included), however due to the amount of these cards I saw on a regular basis, I'd have to say there's probably more than 100 of them floating around.

Sometimes I think the Amex card that *I* have is more rare than the black ones. I've got one of these clear ones, and I swear, EVERY TIME I go somewhere and buy something with it, the checkout guy/girl says "wow I've never seen a clear one before," and then they go and show it to everybody!

http://homepage.mac.com/mattgudites/amex.gif

iGav · Oct 12, 2003, 03:36 PM

Black AmEx cards aren't that rare... they invite you to have a centurion card if you spend a certain (substantial) amount per year on your credit card simple as. As someone above stated, you have to pay for the privilege as well.

The major pain in th ar$e is that AmEx cards, even the usual Platinum and Blue sort like the ones I used to have, are not accepted in a hell of alot of places... meaning that it's still abit of a lottery if you want to be able to use them everywhere.... and from personal experience their service is pi$$ poor too....

MattG · Oct 12, 2003, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by iGAV
Black AmEx cards aren't that rare... they invite you to have a centurion card if you spend a certain (substantial) amount per year on your credit card simple as. As someone above stated, you have to pay for the privilege as well.

The major pain in th ar$e is that AmEx cards, even the usual Platinum and Blue sort like the ones I used to have, are not accepted in a hell of alot of places... meaning that it's still abit of a lottery if you want to be able to use them everywhere.... and from personal experience their service is pi$$ poor too....

Really? I've got one of the Blue ones, and I use it all the time. I have yet to have someone reject it...

iGav · Oct 12, 2003, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MattG
Really? I've got one of the Blue ones, and I use it all the time. I have yet to have someone reject it...

That's cos your in America!!!

outside of there, and particularly here, I've been in situations when I've tried to pay for meals in VERY expensive resturants only to have them turn around and say they don't accept AmEx cards....

*cue, fiddling in wallet counting notes*, it's very embarrassing when that happens...

I had the Blue one first, right when they came out, and like yourself, everyone that saw it would moochy off and show it to people.... (made me feel quite special actually) once my spending hit a certain level (I used to live on my credit card) I was invited to have a Business Platinum.... but my experience with that was pretty dire, crappy Platinum service from AmEx themselves, and again, sometimes a pain to get it accepted in stores or bars etc etc....

I don't have any credit cards now, but that's because I'm trying to save £50k for a deposit on my own place....

Kwyjibo · Oct 12, 2003, 04:57 PM

i've actually heard of the black card being mentioned on tv shows.... I think the biggest conveince is the unlimtied credit ppl with that money want to abuse the thing as much as they can without worrying about a balance. any pictures of this mysterious card?

macstudent · 09:45 AM

I think it looks something like this

coolbreeze · Oct 12, 2003, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by macstudent
I think it looks something like this

YES, THAT'S IT!!
Bwahahaha!!

jphoenix · Oct 12, 2003, 05:16 PM

A quick search on google turned up the following:

1999 Press Release announcing the Black Card

2000 TIME Asia article that mentions a few thousand of the cards are in circulation.

ColoJohnBoy · Oct 12, 2003, 05:19 PM

Here's the link to the AmEx press release about it:

American Express Centurion

britboy · Oct 12, 2003, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kwyjibo
any pictures of this mysterious card?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/3...nturion150.jpg

hmmm. I wonder where I could find one for myself.....nope, too expensive

ColoJohnBoy · Oct 12, 2003, 05:21 PM

Found a picture.

EDIT: Sorry - Didn't see the previous posts :P

panphage · Oct 12, 2003, 05:47 PM

I work at an upscale restaurant in Santa Monica and I've personally handled at LEAST 20 of these cards. So they're not that rare. Also, the no-limit thing isn't really a perk, no amex card has a limit...but you have to pay off in full every month. You also have to pay a "membership fee" for any sort of Amex, but I think for the greenies it's only like $100 per annum. The "Blue" card is different, it's like a real credit card, but I bet they want their membership fee there as well.

I spoke with a customer once about his and he said the no-limit thing is bunk anyway, if he wanted to buy a Porsche with the thing the merchant would be directed to call Amex for approval. Apparently the black card is purely for status. But isn't having an Amex at all supposed to be a status thing? And how much status does it confer if you can't buy a measly Porsche w/o the dealer having to check up on you?

Kwyjibo · Oct 12, 2003, 05:55 PM

All in all i bet its more about the dealer not wanting to give away a porshce a person may not be able to pay for

polyesterlester · Oct 12, 2003, 07:15 PM

Okay, I guess they're not that rare. The publication I read it from was from 1999.

MattG · Oct 12, 2003, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by panphage
I work at an upscale restaurant in Santa Monica and I've personally handled at LEAST 20 of these cards. So they're not that rare. Also, the no-limit thing isn't really a perk, no amex card has a limit...but you have to pay off in full every month. You also have to pay a "membership fee" for any sort of Amex, but I think for the greenies it's only like $100 per annum. The "Blue" card is different, it's like a real credit card, but I bet they want their membership fee there as well.

I spoke with a customer once about his and he said the no-limit thing is bunk anyway, if he wanted to buy a Porsche with the thing the merchant would be directed to call Amex for approval. Apparently the black card is purely for status. But isn't having an Amex at all supposed to be a status thing? And how much status does it confer if you can't buy a measly Porsche w/o the dealer having to check up on you?

The Blue cards do not have any membership fees, and they DO have a limit (mine's $6300--says so right on my account page).

Oct 12, 2003, 03:05 AM	#1
coolbreeze macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: PA	Saw a black American Express card at LaGuardia last week So I'm using the United self check-in at LaGuardia airport, and the lady beside me asks me how to use the machine. I tell her that you need a credit card to validate your identity, and she pulls out a Black American Express card!! I've heard these are very rare, only a handheld # of celebrities and very wealthy people have them, but never believed it. I sad "wow, I've never seen a Black AmEx before!" She responded with "it's for business," and instantly began fumbling in her purse like she was ignoring me. I was late for my flight so I had to run. Wonder who she was? More importantly, I wonder why black AmEx cards exist. (it was 5am, but I am absolutely sure it was a black AmEx). Anyone else ever seen/heard of these? __________________ rev.C Macbook Air 2.13 w/128GB SSD 24" ACD iPhone 3gs

Oct 12, 2003, 04:38 AM	#2
polyesterlester macrumors 6502 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Soldotna, Alaska	From what I've read, it's called the Centurion, and it has no limit. You could buy a basketball team with it. You can't apply for it; if AmEx thinks you're wealthy enough, they give it to you. But you pay $1,000 a year for the privilege. There's apparently only about 100 of them in existence. It's the ultimate status credit card. Some additional perks to the black card are the upgrades you get when you use it. Book a flight from New York to London and you get a complimentary upgrade on the Concorde. Book a room at the Ritz-Carlton, and you get an automatic room upgrade. Buy a burger at Hooters and you get oral (just kidding). Frankly, I'm surprised that whoever was wealthy enough to be holding a black card wasn't smart enough to figure out the self check-in. __________________ A Spoonful of Lester The sad, ongoing memoir of a young man learning to laugh at the fact that he's slowly dying. A blog.

Oct 12, 2003, 11:54 AM	#4
coolbreeze Thread Starter macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: PA	I know it sounds suspect as to why she was doing this herself/didn't know how to use the kiosk, but I know what I saw. I'd always heard about the mysterious "black" AmEx, and Friday morning confirmed it. I should have asked her to marry me on the spot __________________ rev.C Macbook Air 2.13 w/128GB SSD 24" ACD iPhone 3gs

Oct 12, 2003, 01:42 PM	#5
baby duck monge macrumors 68000 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Memphis, TN	black card = power you can get yourself a table in a restaurant with a 3 month waiting list any day you want. you never even have to make any arrangements yourself. if you call the card company, they take care of everything for you. __________________ When I get sad I stop being sad and get awesome. True story. My Heatware.

Oct 12, 2003, 03:36 PM	#12
iGav macrumors 601 Join Date: Mar 2002	Black AmEx cards aren't that rare... they invite you to have a centurion card if you spend a certain (substantial) amount per year on your credit card simple as. As someone above stated, you have to pay for the privilege as well. The major pain in th ar$e is that AmEx cards, even the usual Platinum and Blue sort like the ones I used to have, are not accepted in a hell of alot of places... meaning that it's still abit of a lottery if you want to be able to use them everywhere.... and from personal experience their service is pi$$ poor too.... __________________ "Flick the Gestapo.... No, I said Flick, the Gestapo!"

Oct 12, 2003, 11:48 AM	#3
sonofslim macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2003	people who pay $1000/yr for unlimited credit generally have people who do their ticket buying & other grunt work for them... maybe her valet was sick that day.

Oct 12, 2003, 02:02 PM	#6
shecky Guest Join Date: May 2003 Location: Obviously you're not a golfer.	people who pay $1000 for the supposed privilidge of having a black amex card just goes to show that you can be rich and still be an idiot.

Oct 12, 2003, 02:34 PM	#9
shecky Guest Join Date: May 2003 Location: Obviously you're not a golfer.	-Upgrades to the Concorde at no additional cost with the purchase of a full-fare, first-class transatlantic ticket to or from London and any British Airways gateway in the United States. do you have any idea what a full-fare 1st class ticket costs? just about $5900 US from NYC to London. for that kind of money i think i should get a hooker and an ounce of coke to snort off her ass also, nevermind the "free" upgrade to the concorde. if you have the $6K to drop on that flight, the the $11,000 US ticket on the Concorde is probablly not going to bug you too much either. The catch is that the Concorde is booked tightly and therefore the odds of you actually getting that upgrade are slim unless you book it 6 months in advance anyway. So, is that a true perk? If you fly a full fare, 1st class ticket to london here and there and if the circumstances work out then yes, the $1000 is well spent. Other than that the other stuff is all fluff. But i guess when you have $ falling out of your ass then that $1000 is chicken feed. But apparently that doesnt buy you the intellect to use an automated check in at the airport now then does it? hell yes i am jealous, im a student seeing my loans pile up and up and up and i can think of a thousand things i can spend $1000 on that are actually useful instead of on some idiotic status symbol and an upgraded plane ride.

Oct 12, 2003, 04:57 PM	#15
Kwyjibo macrumors 68040 Join Date: Nov 2002	i've actually heard of the black card being mentioned on tv shows.... I think the biggest conveince is the unlimtied credit ppl with that money want to abuse the thing as much as they can without worrying about a balance. any pictures of this mysterious card?

Oct 12, 2003, 05:11 PM	#16
macstudent macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Milwaukee, WI	I think it looks something like this __________________ Adobe Authorized Training Center http://www.c2gps.com Last edited by macstudent : May 22, 2007 at 09:45 AM.

Oct 12, 2003, 05:16 PM	#18
jphoenix macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Austin, TX	Some info about the black card. A quick search on google turned up the following: 1999 Press Release announcing the Black Card 2000 TIME Asia article that mentions a few thousand of the cards are in circulation. __________________ Jeff Dual 2.5 Powermac G5 (160/1GB ram/9600/BT+ mouse & keyboard) 15" iMac G4 (800mhz w/SuperDrive) 12" iBook G4 (1.25 GHz + BT) 15GB iPod 3G

Oct 12, 2003, 05:19 PM	#19
ColoJohnBoy macrumors 65816 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado	Here's the link to the AmEx press release about it: American Express Centurion __________________ "I'm very inappropriate." Whack the Bastard

Oct 12, 2003, 05:21 PM	#21
ColoJohnBoy macrumors 65816 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado	Found a picture. EDIT: Sorry - Didn't see the previous posts :P Attached Thumbnails __________________ "I'm very inappropriate." Whack the Bastard

Oct 12, 2003, 05:47 PM	#22
panphage macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2003	I work at an upscale restaurant in Santa Monica and I've personally handled at LEAST 20 of these cards. So they're not that rare. Also, the no-limit thing isn't really a perk, no amex card has a limit...but you have to pay off in full every month. You also have to pay a "membership fee" for any sort of Amex, but I think for the greenies it's only like $100 per annum. The "Blue" card is different, it's like a real credit card, but I bet they want their membership fee there as well. I spoke with a customer once about his and he said the no-limit thing is bunk anyway, if he wanted to buy a Porsche with the thing the merchant would be directed to call Amex for approval. Apparently the black card is purely for status. But isn't having an Amex at all supposed to be a status thing? And how much status does it confer if you can't buy a measly Porsche w/o the dealer having to check up on you?

Oct 12, 2003, 05:55 PM	#23
Kwyjibo macrumors 68040 Join Date: Nov 2002	All in all i bet its more about the dealer not wanting to give away a porshce a person may not be able to pay for

Oct 12, 2003, 07:15 PM	#24
polyesterlester macrumors 6502 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Soldotna, Alaska	Okay, I guess they're not that rare. The publication I read it from was from 1999. __________________ A Spoonful of Lester The sad, ongoing memoir of a young man learning to laugh at the fact that he's slowly dying. A blog.

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