topic Re: The Black Card ? in Credit Cards

The Black Card ?

NoMoreE46 — Sat, 17 May 2025 14:13:02 GMT

Personally, I have no issues with Barclays. That said, I dont travel that much and wouldnt app for this card.

I wanted to ask anyone who has this card if they get their value from the $495 AF.

Re: The Black Card ?

Patient957 — Sat, 17 May 2025 14:31:51 GMT

I really don't see how one would get value from this card. The $100 airline credit is really the only offset for the $495 AF, making the effective AF $395.

Of course you can trust Barfclays to be misleading regarding redemptions, like they're better than Chase or Cap 1. Sure, they'll redeem at 2% for airfare, but earning is at 1%, so no better than a 2% catchall and less flexible, with redemptions apparently limited to flights.

I'll be shocked if we see someone come into this thread to sing the praises of this card.

Re: The Black Card ?

ChargedUp — Sat, 17 May 2025 15:30:37 GMT

If one wants a fancy black Mastercard, you can get the Gemini MC and get crypto rewards.

with no AF...

Re: The Black Card ?

coldfusion — Sat, 17 May 2025 18:29:12 GMT

The Black Card and its brethren Gold and Titanium cards have come up for discussion here multiple times since I joined the site. General concensus is always pretty much the same, once you get past the marketing sizzle and take a close look at what these cards actually offer in cmparison to other cards the overall benefits don't really justify the AF.

Re: The Black Card ?

coldfusion — Sat, 17 May 2025 18:34:11 GMT

@Patient957 wrote:

I'll be shocked if we see someone come into this thread to sing the praises of this card.

It's happened a couple of times that I remember. The mailers in particular used to be very good at ego-stroking although I haven't received one in a few years.

Re: The Black Card ?

Gregory1776 — Sat, 17 May 2025 18:50:41 GMT

It's an AMEX Centurion for poor / stupid people.

Re: The Black Card ?

Gregory1776 — Sat, 17 May 2025 18:52:56 GMT

@coldfusion wrote:
The Black Card and its brethren Gold and Titanium cards have come up for discussion here multiple times since I joined the site. General concensus is always pretty much the same, once you get past the marketing sizzle and take a close look at what these cards actually offer in cmparison to other cards the overall benefits don't really justify the AF.

Very generous and polite manner of putting it.

Re: The Black Card ?

NoHardLimits — Sat, 17 May 2025 18:56:00 GMT

The only one I've seen in real life was being waved around by some guy trying to enter an airport lounge. He was holding up the check-in line because he didn't know that he actually needed to request a physical Priority Pass membership card and just kept insisting that his "BLACK CARD!!!" entitled him to lounge entry. No, he did not get in.

Re: The Black Card ?

dfwxjer — Sat, 17 May 2025 19:32:09 GMT

@NoHardLimits wrote:
The only one I've seen in real life was being waved around by some guy trying to enter an airport lounge. He was holding up the check-in line because he didn't know that he actually needed to request a physical Priority Pass membership card and just kept insisting that his "BLACK CARD!!!" entitled him to lounge entry. No, he did not get in.

Hahahahahahaha I just witnessed this exact scenario a couple weeks back. First and only time I've seen this garbage card in-person and the cardholder was being an over the top jerk trying to muscle his way in the lounge with his black card. He was irate that he waited in line and still not let in!

Re: The Black Card ?

Patient957 — Sat, 17 May 2025 19:45:59 GMT

@dfwxjer wrote:
@NoHardLimits wrote:
The only one I've seen in real life was being waved around by some guy trying to enter an airport lounge. He was holding up the check-in line because he didn't know that he actually needed to request a physical Priority Pass membership card and just kept insisting that his "BLACK CARD!!!" entitled him to lounge entry. No, he did not get in.
Hahahahahahaha I just witnessed this exact scenario a couple weeks back. First and only time I've seen this garbage card in-person and the cardholder was being an over the top jerk trying to muscle his way in the lounge with his black card. He was irate that he waited in line and still not let in!

This thread has taken quite a hilarious turn.

Re: The Black Card ?

coldfusion — Sat, 17 May 2025 20:08:59 GMT

@dfwxjer wrote:
@NoHardLimits wrote:
The only one I've seen in real life was being waved around by some guy trying to enter an airport lounge. He was holding up the check-in line because he didn't know that he actually needed to request a physical Priority Pass membership card and just kept insisting that his "BLACK CARD!!!" entitled him to lounge entry. No, he did not get in.
Hahahahahahaha I just witnessed this exact scenario a couple weeks back. First and only time I've seen this garbage card in-person and the cardholder was being an over the top jerk trying to muscle his way in the lounge with his black card. He was irate that he waited in line and still not let in!

I wouldn't call it a garbage card, more like an over-hyped and overpriced product that successfully targets gullible individuals.

Re: The Black Card

Spotsy — Sat, 17 May 2025 23:56:16 GMT

As a former 'gullible, poor, stupid'...did I miss any?...holder of the 'Black Card' before Barclays introduced the entire Luxury Card lineup....it was a 'meh' card with a overpriced annual fee (back then only $195 AF...I think). I kept it for a couple years and jettisoned it (2014 to 2016). Then in 2020/2021 I had a 'gullible, poor, stupud' relapse and got their Luxury Gold Card. Only kept it a year, and for me it was not valuable at the $995 AF. The 2% was good, but unless you really use/love their concierge support...its not worth it....by far. While the card was a nicely manufactured card, heavy, but gawdy. I liked the 'Black Card' better, without that high AF.

My go-to cards are my BoA Premium Elite VI....along with my grandfathered C1 Savor, 4% dining, no AF. Those 2 I burn up on a monthly basis.

Re: The Black Card

salt_water_swimming — Sun, 18 May 2025 04:08:21 GMT

It desperately wants you to think it's a Centurion / Premium Rewards Elite card. In fact, I have neither of those and I still have 5 different black cards that are better.

It is objectively one of the worst credit cards in the world

Re: The Black Card

ptatohed — Sun, 18 May 2025 07:24:09 GMT

I guess the moral of the story is, if you get the Black Card, and dress like Don Johnson (read Detective James "Sonny" Crockett) from the 80s, you too can get yourself a good-looking Latin woman who likes yoga, and apparently the two of you can stay at a private vineyard resort with no other guests. Seems worth the $495 annual fee to me!!

https://www.luxurycard.com/

Re: The Black Card ?

TrapLine — Sun, 18 May 2025 21:33:41 GMT

Aw, noticed something, I must be out of date, years back the issuer of these cards did not have the Visa Infinite or Visa Signature for the Cards or the MasterCard World or MasterCard World Elite status.

Notice this has been added from the picture. Truth, we know that in today's world all these extras (if there are any) rest soley with the issuer and other than extra fees to the merchant do not carry the same meaning as back to August 1, 2015.

The magical date when the new world eliminating many of the credit requirements and NPSL/Flex spend etc options came to be and opened the flood gates to Visa Signature Cards with $500 credit limits US Bank as an example and so on.

The mandated $5000 CL was removed now optional by issuer. In fact, US Bank puts revolving credit options on the $500 credit limit cards. Suspect there may be others?

Re: The Black Card ?

Navaster — Mon, 19 May 2025 17:51:56 GMT

Is this a Barclays card!? I had no idea. I have seen advertisements for it before and laughed at the concept of applying for it, because of how bad it seems. I always assumed it was a scam.

Re: The Black Card ?

DocChrisUSMC41 — Mon, 19 May 2025 18:10:47 GMT

Smart move! It has a hefty annual fee but the benefits don't match the fee for me.

Re: The Black Card

DocChrisUSMC41 — Mon, 19 May 2025 18:16:00 GMT

Whoa how many Hilton cards did you snag lol. Are you running the multiple Aspires with the Surpass and Biz card. I love it. I am tapped out at 5 Amex cards but I have charge cards. But your setup is amazing.

Re: The Black Card ?

dfwxjer — Mon, 19 May 2025 18:49:15 GMT

@coldfusion wrote:
@dfwxjer wrote:
@NoHardLimits wrote:
The only one I've seen in real life was being waved around by some guy trying to enter an airport lounge. He was holding up the check-in line because he didn't know that he actually needed to request a physical Priority Pass membership card and just kept insisting that his "BLACK CARD!!!" entitled him to lounge entry. No, he did not get in.
Hahahahahahaha I just witnessed this exact scenario a couple weeks back. First and only time I've seen this garbage card in-person and the cardholder was being an over the top jerk trying to muscle his way in the lounge with his black card. He was irate that he waited in line and still not let in!
I wouldn't call it a garbage card, more like an over-hyped and overpriced product that successfully targets gullible individuals.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree, because that's exactly why I call it a garbage card.

Re: The Black Card ?

coldfusion — Mon, 19 May 2025 19:00:42 GMT

@Navaster wrote:
Is this a Barclays card!? I had no idea. I have seen advertisements for it before and laughed at the concept of applying for it, because of how bad it seems. I always assumed it was a scam.

Barclay issues it, you have to be a bit careful when reading the fine print to find the disclosure.