MyCardBlog

Sander left a comment on Citi Chairman Card. So I gathered some information about the American Express Centurion Card. Let’s learn something about the most mysterious card in the world. The Centurion Card is so exclusive that you can’t find any details of it on the American Express website.

This card was launched in October 1999, which was available to selected holders of its Platinum Card. It was said the first holder of this card is Italian Princess Dionne Leslie. At that time, the annual fee was $1,000. However, in 2007, in the United States, the requirements include minimum annual spending of $250,000. Also there is a $5,000 one-time invitation fee for new card holders, plus the $2,500 annual fee.
This famous Black American Express card was initially made by plastics. From 2006, a new centurion card crafted from anodized titanium was issued to replace all of the plastic cards. So there is no plastic Centurion Card now.
Card Benefits:
Gold Status for Delta, Continental and US Airways and Gold Elite Status with Virgin Atlantic Airways
Cardholders can also access Continental’s Presidents Lounge, Delta Crown Room Club and NorthWest Airlines World Club when you are flying on their airlines. You also get access to Priority Pass Lounges regardless of which airlines you fly. Priority Pass has over 450 airport lounges worldwide.

Elite Hotel Status
The elite status available to centurion members has been the latest controversy among cardholders. When the centurion card was first marketed, cardholders automatically qualified as Diamond (Elite) status for Hyatt, Gold Status (mid-tier) for Hilton HHonors program, Platinum status for Starwood Preferred Guest Program, and also elite status for Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts. The perk that was coveted by centurion members was the Platinum Status of the Starwood Preferred Guest program. That was because Starwood has probably the best hotel frequent guest program with no blackout dates and suite upgrades for platinum members. Centurion cardholders often sited the room upgrades from Starwood Hotels essentially cover the cost of the card. Starwood also allows members to transfer points into airmiles at very favorable terms.

Fine Resorts and Hotel Program
Centurion has over 550 hotel partners around the world. When you make reservations through centurion travel service, you will receive room upgrades at check-in when available, continental breakfast for two, guaranteed 4pm late checkout and complimentary amenities depending on the hotel property.
But the most important benefit under this program comes from the Mandarin Oriental and Ritz Carlton. When you book a room at the Ritz Carlton, you will get a room upgrade at the time of your reservations and you will also get a $50 spending credit. For any reservations at the Mandarin Oriental, you will get a room upgrade upon reservation and also another room upgrade at check-in (that’s 2 upgrades). You will also receive from centurion a “Buy One Get One Free Night” coupon for each and every Mandarin Oriental Properties (except Mandarin NY). If you are a business man, and want to save a lot of money on it. This card is a good deal.

Baggage Insurance
If you book your travel tickets using your centurion card, you have up to $1,250 in baggage insurance for your carry-on luggage and $500 in checked-in luggage in addition to the insurance provided by the carrier.

Centurion and Departure Magazines
Since the inception of the card, members have received a copy of Departures magazine, which is also sent to all Platinum cardholders. However, in 2004, American Express Centurion members began to receive an exclusive “no name” magazine which was not available by any other means. Starting with the spring 2007 edition, this magazine has been officially entitled “Black Ink.” arture magazine, which is a magazine on luxury lifestyle.

Other by Invitation Only Events
As a centurion card member, you will be getting lots of mails and invitations to exclusive events.

Who have this card?
There are about 10,000 card holders worldwide (rumor?), including Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson, Lindsay Lohan……….
The famous black card has also appeared on the TV shows:

In season 1 of the ABC show Traveler, Tyler Fog’s father tells his son to use the black card given to him for emergencies to withdraw as much money as possible from an ATM to run for authorities.

In season 2 of the Fox show The O.C., Julie Cooper-Nicol mentions she is going to pay for a pony with her real estate baron husband’s Black Card.

In the Discovery Channel Show Build It Bigger in the episode about racing boats, after a jet engine is destroyed, John Haggin is asked how they will pay for the new part. After pulling out his wallet, he reaches in and pulls out a Balck Card, displaying it to camera.

American Express sent out an email to me this afternoon. The title is “Tell Us What You Think & Get an $20 Amazon Gift Card”. Contents follows:
Dear David:
As one of our most valued Cardmembers you’ve been invited to try out the Beta version of the OPEN B2B Supplier Directory. Visit the directory, search for wholesale vendors, and take a brief survey about your experience. While supplies last, you’ll receive a $20 Amazon.com Giftcard for your thoughts.
The B2B Directory allows you to find wholesale vendors who accept the American Express Card for your essential business expense……….

The link to the survey is here. Use whatever key words you want to search. And then click “Do A Search, Take A Survey, Receive A Giftcard” logo as showed at the beginning of this post. I know some friends want to take more than one survey. However, don’t expect to take more than one survey on a computer, they will record your IP. At last you will have to fill in your email address. I’m waiting for my $20 free money now. This is a special notice to my friends, please don’t post to other forums. Earn more free money by yourself!!! Because there is a notice “while supplies last”. Hurry up!
“Giftcards for survey completion are no longer available.“ Sorry, this deal has been expired. “Please allow 45 days to receive your giftcard.” hurry!

From now until January 15, 2008, you can get $10 Costco Cash card if you use American Express Costco Card to pay wireless phone plan automatically. Essentially all the wireless phone service companies allow you to set up automatic payment use a credit card. SO if you have an American Express Costco Card, you can have free $10 which you can sue at Costco stores.

Requirements: Only The True Earnings Card from American Express and Costco, The True Earnings Business Card from American Express and Costco, American Express Costco Cash Rebate Card, American Express Costco Business Card cardmembers are eligible for this promotion. And you have to set up automatic payment for your wireless phone service. To enroll through this link. You can also call 800-794-1308 and mention the code 087890001.

I applied for an American Express card (starwood preferred guest card) on Aug 15, 2007. Then several days later, I received a letter from American Express to verify my Annual Income. I contacted my Human Resources Office immediately who sent out a verification letter for me. Then I called back to American Express today. They told me that they contacted the person who wrote the letter twice to verify my information. (Oh my god!) They couldn’t reach the person! Finally they canceled my application. They need the person call American Express to verify my information! I don’t know what they are doing! We are all very busy. I don’t want to knock Naomi’s door and ask her to help me again. I am so sorry I have to give up a perfect card. An official letter is not enough? As some friends said I should reply with “NO WAY!!!”. I am not applying for my mortgage. it’s just a card….The process is so complicated….. No more American Express card from now on. The only way I can get that card is to convert my blue card to Starwood Preferred guest card. sad………………………….^^^^^

Online services provided by amex credit card are now more credible and reliable than ever. The focus of amex is customers having strong credit history. Conversely, the bank of america has launched new bank of america card service for the customers who are facing difficulty in getting regular credit cards due to their bad credit history. Now these customers can apply for credit card for bad credit and they can activate their credit card or manage their accounts by using the bank of america credit card online services. Online resources are available in the form of comparison guides and experts?reviews that help potential customers in making comparison of different american credit cards.

Smoking hot! Citi Platinum American Express Card offers 5 thankyou points for every dollar spent at supermarkets, gas stations and drugstores and 3 points for other purchases. The offer is good for 24 months. There is no pre-set spend limit for this card. The annual fee is free for the first year and $99 after that (who wants to keep it?). Plus you can get 15,000 points after spending $300 in 3 months. You can get the benefits for an American Express card holder. You can have the VIP access in the airport lounge! Wait there are more benefits: Make your next trip more affordable with unlimited companion tickets on domestic and international airlines to hundreds of destinations on several domestic and international airlines including Virgin Atlantic and Mexican Airlines. Emm! A nice card! I promise I will try to get this card at least for the first year. It seems this is the second 5% rewards card. The drawback for the previous one is limited 3 months’ 5% rewards.

PS: I try to find good cards for everyone! Make sure you can visit my web daily. Another point is: this is a charge card not a credit card. You have to pay full every month. (get confused on credit card and charge card? wait for next post)

Bank of America

US Airways Visa Signature Card: 25,000 bonus Dividend Miles after first purchase. Annual fee is $90.

Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card: 20,000 bonus miles after first purchase. One round-trip $50 companion ticket each year! Annual fee is $75.

Hawaiian Airlines Visa Platinum Card: 10,000 Bonus Hawaiian Miles after first purchase. Up to 50% discount for travel between US Mainland and Hawaiian. Annual fee is $50.

Asiana Visa Platinum Plus: 5,000 bonus miles after first purchase. Annual fee is $80.

Mexiana Airlines Visa Platinum Plus: Get a free companion ticket! Annual fee is $45.

Citi Bank

Citi Platinum Select/AAdvantage(R) World MasterCard (Citi Select/AAdvantage American Express Card): Each card can give you 20,000 bonus miles if you spend $750 in 4 months. Annual fee is $85 after first year.

Citi Gold/AAdvantage(R) World MasterCard (Citi AAdvantage American Express Card): Each card gives you 15,000 bonus miles if you spend $150 in 2 months. Annual fee is 75 after first year.

Citi Bonze/AAdvantage(R) MasterCard: 2,500 bonus miles with no annual fee.

Citi PremierPass Card (Citi PremierPass American Express Card): Each card give you 10,000 bonus miles without annual fee.

Citi PremierPass Card-Elite Level (Citi PremierPass American Express Card-Elite Level): The first card is giving out 20,000 bonus miles if you spend $500 in 2 months with $85 annual fee. The second card give you 15,000 bonus miles and a $75 annual fee.

Discover Card

Discover Miles Card: You will get 12,000 miles for the first year (1000 miles each month). No annual fee.

CapitalOne Card

You really need one card from CapitalOne? I don’t like CapitalOne. If you want ot check it out, plese go to capitalone.com. Kind remind: Don’t touch capitalone! It will pull your credit report from 3 bureaus. You might keeping receiving the ivitations from capitalone, however, the invitations from it mean nothing! Again don’t touch capitalone.

These days I summarized some airline mileage rewards cards. It seems most of airline companies are offering bonus but most are with annual fees after first year. I will post the airline mileage rewards credit cards by company (personal cards).

American Express

GOLD Delta SkyMiles Credit Card: 15,000 bonus miles with your first purchase. Extra 5,000 bonus miles for adding an authorized user. First year fee free, $85 after that.

PLATINUM Delta SkyMiles Credit Card: 20,000 bonus miles with your first purchase. Extra 2,500 bonus miles for adding an authorized user. Annual fee: $135.

Skypoints Credit Card: 7,500 bonus miles after first purchase. Annual fee is waived for the first year, after that $49 per year.

Jet Blue Card from American Express: 5,000 Award Dollars=25 TrueBlue points (200 Award Dollars=1 TrueBlue point and 100 TrueBlue points=1 round trip flight) after first purchase. You will earn 1 reward dollar for every 1 dollar spent. Annual fee is $40.

Blue Sky from American Express: NO bonus! Earn points good for airline, hotel, cruise and more. NO annual fee.

Don’t forget Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card. You can transfer starpoints for airline mileages.

Chase

United Mileage Plus Visa Signature Card: After your first purchase you will receive 20,000 bonus miles, one $25 United Discount Travel Certificate, and one One-way, 1,000 mile, One-class Upgrade Certificate. Annual fee is $60.

SouthWest Airlines Rapid Rewards Visa Signature Card: Get 8 Rapid Rewards credits that’s half way to a round trip flight ticket. You can earn Rapid Rewards credits for balance transfer. Annual fee is $59 for signature card and $39 for classic card. If you apply on SouthWest.com, you can get $20 credit today!

Continetal WorldCard MasterCard: Earn 15,000 OnePass miles after your first purchase. Annual fee is $85 for a World card and $65 for a classic card.

British Airways Visa Signature Card: Earn 15,000 bonus miles with your first purchase. Annual fee is $75.

US Bank

WoldPerks Vias Signature Card: You can get 10,000 bonus miles after first purchase.Annual fee is $55.

I am really tired for typing so many words…..Take a rest and I will be right back for the mext post—Citi and Bank of America.

American Express offers the national wide in-store promotion enabling shoppers can get free $25 gift card when they purchase any 2 gift cards before Sep 30, 2007. The rebate form must be received by AMEX by Oct 22, 2007. The unique back-to-school card can be used at LINES*N*THINGS, GAP, BANANA REPUBLIC, and OLD NAVY.

We all are aware that the back-to-school period is one of the most busiest shopping season in a year. Every family spends about $1000 for their kids during this time period. We can buy two $25 gift cards in CVS or other retailer stores and get the $25 gift card after mail-in-rebate. Although there is an activation fee associated with each card, it’s still a good deal for RB, GAP, and ON fans. See details in AMERICAN EXPRESS and YAHOO.

Remember: this is an in-store offer.