@K-in-Boston wrote:
@kerplunk wrote:They recently updated the Centurion Card with increased annual fees and initial membership fee.
How many of you would actually want the card if you would be approved?
I am nowhere in the running for an invitation, but at the previous annual fee I would currently find value in it and there would be some nice perks without any real out of pocket expense. With the new fee, it would be difficult to justify but the 50% MR rebate for airfare booked through Amex Travel is huge, particularly as it comes with Delta Platinum Medallion status and means that I would have no need for revenue travel in the future. It would be a stretch, but maybe it would work. That initiation fee, though? No way I would recoup that.
K, I jumped on the Biz when it offered 50% MR rebate, boy that was short lived. The 35% on biz plat is good enough for me.
I've seen this card in action and if all your travel is high end and a lot this card is worth it. Hey, free Equinox membership cuts the AF by $3,600 if you are near one. Saks is $250 a quarter or $1k instead of $500 for plat.
K, there is an Equinox in Boston in the same building as the Ritz, which I have used while staying there. So $4,600 of your annual fee is covered......
Lol on the initiation fee, a 20 year member would equal a additional $500 in avg AF and don't forget your annual gift worth about $500 or so.
Personal Cards: Amex Plat | Amex Delta Res | CSR | Citi AA Exec Business Cards: Ink+ | Amex BGR
The Saks credit on Platinum is $50 for the first half of the year, $50 for the second half of the year, or $100 per calendar year, not $500.
Yeah the Equinox would certainly be helpful, but the problem would be actually getting myself there to work out!
I think the reason why a lot of us like to be light-hearted about it is because we KNOW we are nowhere NEAR that card.....I mean they won't give a CLI to me yet on my measly 1k CL they started me with.....I know they wouldn't approve me for a Black Card ROFL. If I knew there was a shot (as I am sure with a lot of the others) we would seriously apply but why waste their time?! 
@K-in-Boston wrote:
I lost a lot of money on a Related-managed investment many years ago. Political factors aside, I'd feel unclean with a membership there! No longer in NY, but the same would hold true for Hudson Yards shopping.
Update
I thought I remembered my girlfriend mentioning an "old black card" she had at one point so I asked. It was The Centurion. She said her spend was around 20K p/month at the time of invite and remained the same for as long as she carried it. She didn't really take advantage of it's benefits so ended up cancelling around 6 years ago.
She said she was referred by another card holder (Google Exec) and received the invite not long after.. I asked her what her largest single swipe was and she said somewhere around 80K. :-0
I think I'm going to have to pass. Not that they would give it to me anyway. :-)
Fees
Initiation Fee $10,000
Annual Membership Fee $5,000
