Mastercard Black Card Review 2024

The card_name touts itself as a card with premium benefits and it has a annual_fees annual fee to match. The credit issuer is called “Luxury Card” and markets itself as such. But is the hefty annual fee for this premium travel card worth it? Here’s what the card_name offers and how it stacks up against competitors.

TIME’s Take

To put it mildly, there are better cards than the card_name. When stacked against competitors with similar annual fees and benefits, the card_name offers much less. The annual_fees annual fee is steep, and the benefits and rewards aren’t enough to justify it.

There are a few unique scenarios where this card could potentially make sense. We’ll cover those in case you’re taking a serious look at this card. Additionally, if you like fancy metal cards, this one weighs in at the top.

Pros and cons

Who is the card for?

This card is for people who don’t know any better. And since you’re reading this article, you’ll know better.

Perhaps the card_name hopes that you’re confusing this card with the American Express Centurion Black Card, which is an invitation-only credit card with a lot of exclusive benefits. The benefits on the card_name aren’t exclusive, but they are expensive.

In our research, however, we found that there are groups of people who want this card for the unlimited number of people allowed into airline lounges with its Priority Pass. Many other cards the provide the Priority Pass have a cap on the number of people. If you’re a family of seven and need lounge access for everyone multiple times a year, this card could be worth the annual fee.

Features

The card_name has a long list of benefits. They’re pretty cool, but what you need to consider is whether these benefits are worth the annual_fees annual fee.

0% APR on balance transfers

The card_name is one of the few premium rewards cards that offers a balance transfer with 0% APR. The intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration and balance_transfer_intro_apr,balance_transfer_intro_duration must be made within 45 days of opening the card. There is also a balance_transfer_fees balance transfer fee, which is a lot more than many other cards (usually with no annual fee) charge.

RELATED: Best 0% APR Credit Cards

Simple rewards structure

You earn only one point for each dollar spent on the card, but you do redeem airfare for 2% and cash back at a rate of 1.5%. Compared with other cards that earn rewards at rates of 3x or 5x in certain categories, this one falls far short.

$100 airline credit

Each year, you can receive up to $100 in credits for airline purchases. These include tickets, in-flight purchases, baggage fees, upgrades, and more. It’s a great benefit at first glance but when you look at competitors, it’s much less than what they’re offering. For example, there is a $300 travel credit from card_name. For the card_name, it’s $400 in hotel and airline credits.

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RELATE: Best Airline Credit Cards

Global Entry and TSA PreCheck statement credit

As a cardholder, you receive a $120 statement credit for Global Entry, which includes TSA PreCheck.

Concierge services

The card comes with active concierge services. Examples of requests fielded by card_name include delivering flowers or gifts, booking a tee time, making travel arrangements, booking spa services, and making dinner reservations.

Priority Pass

The card_name comes with a Priority Pass membership with an unlimited number of visits for the cardholder and any accompanying guests. This is one of the best features of the card.

The fine print

The fine print of the card_name is typical of other credit cards, though the balance transfer fee of balance_transfer_fees is higher than many other cards that only charge 3%. What you’ll see in the fine print includes:

• APR: reg_apr,reg_apr_type.
• Balance transfer APR: balance_transfer_intro_apr,balance_transfer_intro_duration made within 45 days of account opening.
• Annual fee: annual_fees and $195 for each additional authorized user.
• Balance transfer fee: balance_transfer_fees.
• Cash advance fee: cash_advance_fee.
• Transaction fees: $0 foreign transaction fees.
• Penalty fees: Up to $40 for late and returned payment.

Additional Hidden Perks

Luxury Card Travel

The Luxury Card Travel program offers some potentially valuable benefits if you book certain hotels through the credit card. These are:

• Room upgrade, if available.
• Breakfast for two.
• Free Wi-Fi.
• Unique property perk (for example, a spa or dining credit).

Luxury Card Travel is akin to such programs as the Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection from Chase or the Fine Hotels + Resorts from American Express.

Travel insurance

The card_name has strong travel insurance benefits. These are:

• Trip cancellation and interruption. You can receive up to $5,000 for each insured person for interrupted or canceled trips.
• Travel accident insurance. Eligible for up to $250,000 for accidental death and dismemberment when you book the entire trip on the card.
• Auto rental collision waiver. Eligible for damages when you pay for the rental car with the card and decline the rental insurance offered by the company.
• Baggage delay insurance. If your bags are more than four hours late, cardmembers can claim up to $100 per day.
• Travel assistance. You can request assistance when traveling more than 50 miles from home.

Mastercard Special Offers

Mastercard Special Offers include statement credits and discounts for businesses including Lyft, ShopRunner, Instacart, Peacock, Priceless Golf, and more.

Cellphone protection

If you pay your phone bill with your credit card, you may be eligible for damage or theft protection.

What could be improved

For a premium rewards card, the annual_fees annual fee is too high for what it offers. Lounge access is a nice perk, but the same lounge access comes with other cards that offer sign-up bonuses and better earnings in rewards categories.

There is 0% APR for balance transfers, but the balance transfer fee is 5%. This is quite high and makes for an expensive balance transfer.

Card alternatives

TIME Stamp: A luxury card that falls short

For a card that bills itself a luxury card, it falls short of competitors. There is no introductory bonus offer, no bonus spending categories, no travel rewards program, and few compelling offers from retailers and partners.

If you’re looking for a prestigious, premium rewards card with a high annual fee, other cards offer better value, such as the card_name or the card_name.

If you’re looking for benefits on par with what the card_name offers, other cards in the $95-annual-fee range, including the card_name, will do the job for you.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Is it hard to get a card_name?

To qualify for the card_name, you need a very good or excellent credit score, so it can be a little hard to get.

Who qualifies for a black card?

To qualify for a card_name, you need a very good or excellent credit score.

How much is a black card limit?

The card_name doesn’t disclose the maximum credit limit.