Luxury Credit Cards
Got great credit? Then you may qualify for the new luxury credit cards like the Visa Black Card or the American Express Platinum. This review looks at both luxury cards in terms of what you get and what it takes to qualify for them.
The Visa Black Card
This unique luxury credit card even looks different than other credit cards as it is made from carbon graphite. The Visa Black Card is offered by Barclay’s Bank Delaware. The card according to Barclay’s is targeted at the 1% of the American public that qualify for this card. You need to have excellent credit scores for this card and spend about $50,000 a year using credit cards. You also need to be a U.S. resident with a valid Social Security number.
Visa Black Card
What are the benefits of carrying the ‘Black Card’?
The main benefit of this card is the prestige of carrying it and access to a 24 hour seven day a week concierge service. This concierge service will arrange setting up your golf tee off, to flight and dinner reservations, and specialty research. You also get access to airport lounges around the world and you qualify for luxury gifts. Add that to accident insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and you get some idea of the perks. You also receive 1% cash back on all purchases which can be used toward travel points.
Fees
The privilege of owning the Visa Black Card comes with an annual fee of $495.
American Express Platinum
American Express Platinum
This card is not really a credit card but actually a charge card as you have to pay the entire balance on the card each month. To qualify for the card you need excellent credit.
Benefits of American Express Platinum card
If you spend at least $1,000 on your card in the first three months of membership you can earn up to 25,000 membership rewards bonus points which can be used for traveling. The company also gives out one reward point for every dollar you spend using the card. You get additional points for booking trips on the American Express travel site and points for buying items at the Bonus Points Mall site. These reward points never expire and you can redeem them for travel, shopping, entertainment or dining rewards. Similar to the Visa Black card you also get access to a 24 hour concierge service. The card also comes with travel accident insurance, roadside assistance, purchase protection and baggage insurance.
Fees
American Express charges an annual fee for their Platinum card of $450 which is quite a bit lower than their yearly charges of $2,500 for their other luxury card the Centurion card.