The Mastercard® Black Card™ is a premium card with first rate advantages to raise your travels. Perks embody a $100 annual airline incidental credit score, reimbursement on your World Entry or TSA PreCheck software price and a Precedence Move Choose membership. The cardboard earns 1 level per greenback on all transactions, and factors may be redeemed as 1.5% for money again or 2% for airfare redemption with no blackout dates. Card score*: ⭐⭐½

*Card score relies on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.

The Mastercard Black Card follows the development of well-known playing cards such because the Chase Sapphire Reserve and The Platinum Card® from American Categorical being constituted of metallic. As such, it allures folks to affix the ranks of metallic cardholders.

Regardless of being comparable in materials to premium bank cards enjoying on the nomenclature of American Categorical’ Black (Centurion) Card, the Mastercard Black Card does not provide as many advantages and comes with a steep annual price of $495. As a premium card, it additionally requires a credit score rating of 740 or above.

Let’s take an in-depth have a look at the Mastercard Black Card to see the way it compares to different premium playing cards so you may determine whether or not it deserves a spot in your pockets.

The knowledge for the Centurion Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

One of many largest drawbacks of the Mastercard Black Card is the shortage of a welcome provide.

Regardless of calling itself a premium bank card, the Black Card does not provide a lump sum of factors for opening the cardboard. This is usually a large detractor to many contemplating the excessive welcome affords of many playing cards within the journey bank card sphere.

The Black Card affords a number of advantages that may assist offset the annual price whereas additionally offering cardholders with some conveniences for his or her travels.

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Compared to different premium playing cards, the advantages are few however nonetheless present some worth to frequent vacationers. Cardholders obtain a $100 air journey credit score yearly that’s fairly versatile. Flight-related purchases embody airline tickets, bag charges, upgrades and different incidentals charged instantly by the airline. A plus of this profit is that you just needn’t choose an airline to apply it to, in contrast to the as much as $200 airline credit score obtainable with the Amex Platinum. Enrollment is required.

The cardboard additionally affords as much as $100 as a press release credit score for the World Entry or TSA PreCheck software price. As anticipated with a journey card, the Black Card has no international transaction charges.

It additionally comes with a Precedence Move Choose membership, giving cardholders entry to over 1,400 lounges worldwide. In contrast to memberships from a couple of different bank cards, the cardboard doesn’t embody entry to Precedence Move eating places or spas.

The cardboard gives journey and buy protections, together with:

• Journey cancellation and interruption insurance coverage: Obtain secondary protection for a coated round-trip buy whenever you use the cardboard. You may be reimbursed for the price of the nonrefundable round-trip bills as much as $5,000 per individual if an accidental-covered occasion causes you to cancel or interrupt your journey for a coated cause.
• Journey help: Obtain journey, medical and authorized help whenever you journey 50 miles or extra from residence.
• Baggage delay insurance coverage: You may be reimbursed for coated objects for as much as $100 a day at a most of three qualifying days for delays of greater than 4 hours from the time you arrive at your vacation spot (arrival at your main residence is excluded).
• Journey accident insurance coverage: Obtain as much as $250,000 protection for eligible widespread provider unintended loss of life and dismemberment whenever you cost your complete journey fare to your eligible card for a coated journey.
• Auto rental collision waiver: The cardboard comes with secondary protection for coated damages for a rental automobile whenever you pay for it utilizing the cardboard and decline the protection provided by the rental company.

The Black Card additionally comes with the next advantages:

• Cellphone safety: Supplemental protection for injury or theft of your cellphone is as much as $800 per declare and as much as $1,000 per 12-month interval. Cardholders are restricted to 2 claims per 12-month interval and a $50 deductible per declare.
• Lyft credit score: Enroll and take three eligible rides in a month utilizing the cardboard to get a $5 Lyft credit score.
• Shoprunner: Obtain free two-day delivery and free return delivery on eligible purchases whenever you join a complimentary ShopRunner membership with the Black Card.
• Instacart: Take pleasure in two months of complimentary Instacart+ membership and $10 off your second order every month (legitimate via March 31, 2025).
• Peacock credit score: Obtain a month-to-month $3 Peacock streaming credit score or a $5 Peacock Premium Plus streaming credit score (legitimate via March 31, 2025).
• McAfee Safety: Take pleasure in a reduced 13-month subscription to McAfee Complete Safety (legitimate via March 31, 2024).

Associated: Do you have to get journey insurance coverage if in case you have bank card safety?

Sadly, regardless of advertising itself as a premium card, the Black Card disappoints with its poor incomes fee. Cardholders earn 1 level per greenback spent, with no bonus classes to spice up your return.

With such poor incomes charges, you are higher off spending on a no-annual-fee cash-back bank card such because the Chase Freedom Limitless, which earns 1.5% money again on non-bonus incomes classes. Incomes rewards at such a low fee is one more reason why this card is on the sidelines when in comparison with different premium bank cards.

Associated: Finest cash-back bank cards

You may redeem factors for two cents every towards airfare, placing it forward of the competitors. Evaluate this to Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders, who can redeem as much as 1.5 cents every when reserving via the Chase Final Rewards journey portal. After all, you will get considerably greater returns by transferring Chase Final Rewards factors to airline companions versus redeeming them instantly via a portal.

Not having the ability to switch factors to an airline accomplice is a damaging information level for me, as I discover much more worth in doing so, particularly when paired with switch bonuses, gross sales or candy spot redemptions. I’ll say that one of many largest highlights of this card is redeeming for flights at 2 cents apiece, however aside from that, the Black Card actually misses the mark within the premium bank card market.

It is no secret that the Black Card is not profitable the praises of bank cards or factors and miles lovers. Should you obtain a mailer to use for this card, take a look at the next playing cards beneath, which supply much more worth and annual charges just like the Black Card.

• If you wish to earn extra miles: The Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card is your greatest guess with an annual price of $395 (see charges and costs). The cardboard affords 10 miles per greenback spent on resorts and rental vehicles and 5 miles per greenback spent on flights booked via Capital One Journey. In the meantime, all different purchases earn 2 miles per greenback, and you may obtain a $300 annual credit score for journey booked via Capital One Journey. For extra data, learn our full overview of the Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card.
• Should you spend rather a lot on eating: The American Categorical® Gold Card affords 4 factors per greenback spent at eating places worldwide (together with U.S. takeout and supply) and on groceries at U.S. supermarkets (as much as $25,000 restrict), in addition to 3 factors per greenback spent on airfare booked instantly with an airline or via amextravel.com. Cardholders additionally obtain as much as a $120 eating credit score and as much as a $120 Uber money credit score. Better of all, factors earned may be transferred to 21 companions (18 airways and three resorts), and this card comes with an annual price of $250 (see charges and costs). For extra data, learn our full overview of the American Categorical Gold Card.
• If you’d like a Chase card: The Chase Sapphire Reserve affords greater incomes charges on journey and eating purchases at 3 factors per greenback, a versatile $300 annual journey credit score and airport lounge entry. Regardless of having an annual price of $550, cardholders obtain extra invaluable advantages than these with the Black Card. For extra data, learn our full overview of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

For extra choices, take a look at our full checklist of the most effective premium bank cards.

Associated: Are premium bank cards definitely worth the annual price?

The Black Card is a card I’d not advocate to these seeking to enter the world of premium bank cards. This card solely is sensible to those that need a fashionable metallic bank card with easy travel-related advantages and a better redemption fee than different premium playing cards. In any other case, receiving a tough inquiry in your credit score report for a card with fundamental advantages, a poor incomes fee, restricted redemption choices and a excessive annual price just isn’t value it.

I’ll say that one of many largest highlights of this card is redeeming for flights at 2 cents apiece, however aside from that, the Black Card actually misses the mark within the premium bank card market.

Apply right here: Mastercard Black Card

For charges and costs of the Amex Gold Card, click on right here