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Centurion Card (Black Card) vs Platinum Card for Schwab

Every figure below is from the same dataset Miles computes its recommendations from. Rows the two cards agree on are collapsed at the bottom.

Centurion Card (Black Card)
Centurion Card (Black Card)
American Express
Platinum Card for Schwab
Platinum Card for Schwab
American Express

Economics

Annual fee
$5,000
$895
$4,105/yr less
Ongoing annual value
−$2,385
$2,720
$5,105/yr more
Net value (value − fee)
−$7,385
$1,825
$9,210/yr more
First-year value estimate
—
$1,086
Authorized user fee
$5,000
$195, but $0 companion cards are available with reduced benefits

Sign-up Bonus

Current offer
Invitation-only; no public welcome offer
80K after $12K spend in first 6 months

Earning

Flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (up to $500,000/year in purchases, then 1X)
—
5X7.5%
Prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel
—
5X7.5%
Purchases of $5K+ (up to $500K per calendar year)
1.5X2.2%
—

Percentages are the return on a dollar spent: the multiplier times what Miles values those points at. Categories only one card earns a bonus on are marked for that card; the other earns its base rate.

Benefits

Statement credits
  • CLEAR Plus: $438 (Annual Calendar Year)
  • Saks Fifth Avenue: $250 (Quarterly Calendar Year)
  • Equinox: $300 (Monthly)
  • Uber Cash: $15 (Monthly)
  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck: $120 (Every 4 Years)
  • CLEAR Plus: $219 (Annual Calendar Year)
  • Equinox: $300 (Annual Calendar Year)
  • SoulCycle At-Home Bike: $300 (One Time)
  • Digital Entertainment: $25 (Monthly)
  • The Hotel Collection: $300 (Semi Annual Calendar Year)
  • Uber Cash: $15 (Monthly)
  • Walmart+: $12 (Monthly)
  • Airline Fees: $200 (Annual Calendar Year)
  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck: $120 (Every 4 Years)
  • Resy Dining: $100 (Quarterly Calendar Year)
  • Uber One: $120 (Annual Calendar Year)
  • lululemon: $75 (Quarterly Calendar Year)
  • Oura: $200 (Annual Calendar Year)
  • Schwab Holdings (Tier 1): $100 (Annual Cardmember Year)
  • Schwab Holdings (Tier 2): $200 (Annual Cardmember Year)
  • Schwab Holdings (Tier 3): $1,000 (Annual Cardmember Year)
Lounge access
  • American Express Centurion Lounge (unlimited)
  • Priority Pass Select (unlimited)
  • Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta) (unlimited)
  • Lufthansa First Class Lounges (FRA/MUC) (unlimited)
  • American Express Centurion Lounge (unlimited)
  • Priority Pass Select (unlimited)
  • Delta Sky Club (10/yr)
  • Plaza Premium Lounge (unlimited)
  • Airspace Lounge (unlimited)
  • Escape Lounge (unlimited)
  • Lufthansa Business Lounge (unlimited)
  • Lufthansa Senator Lounge (unlimited)
Elite status
  • Hilton Honors Diamond
  • IHG One Rewards Platinum
  • Marriott Bonvoy Gold
  • Delta SkyMiles Platinum Medallion
  • Avis Preferred President's Club
  • Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Platinum
  • Marriott Bonvoy Gold
  • Hilton Honors Gold
  • LHW Leaders Club Sterling
  • Avis Preferred Preferred Plus
  • Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President's Circle
  • National Emerald Club Executive
Protections
9
9
The same on both cards (6)
Foreign transaction fee
None
None
Issuer
American Express
American Express
Rewards currency
American Express Membership Rewards
American Express Membership Rewards
Card type
Personal
Personal
Network
American Express
American Express
All other purchases
1X1.5%
1X1.5%
Which one is right for you

This page shows the difference. It does not pick: the winner depends on what you spend and what you already hold, and adding these figures up without knowing that would be a guess dressed as a verdict. Ask Miles and it computes the answer against your own wallet.

Ask Miles which to get
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American Express Centurion Card (Black Card) vs American Express Platinum Card for Schwab • Miles