Thanks to the mythology surrounding the Centurion® Card from American Express — aka the original "black card" — an increasing number of consumers today want their credit cards to offer VIP perks and rewards.
Premium luxury credit cards, or black cards, are the most exclusive and prestigious credit cards on the market. They typically come with high annual fees, high spending requirements and strict rules regarding who can qualify for card membership.
While there may always be cards reserved exclusively for the elite, some of the best credit cards aren't impossible for everyday consumers to apply for and use.
Ahead, CNBC Select rounds up some of the most exclusive travel and high-limit rewards credit cards on the market. The ones listed below are not invitation-only, but most require that applicants have good to excellent credit scores (FICO scores 670 and above) and pay expensive annual fees that, in theory, pay off in terms of luxury benefits, such as airport lounge access, automatic elite statuses and dedicated concierge services.
The most exclusive credit cards
- Best overall: The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Runner-up: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Best for travel: U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
- Best for concierge: Mastercard® Black Card™
- Best for flexible rewards: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Best for dining: American Express® Gold Card
Best overall
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Rewards
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, 1X points on all other eligible purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
Annual fee
$695
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit Needed
Excellent/Good
See rates and fees and our methodology, terms apply.
Pros
- Up to $200 in annual airline fee credits
- Up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Benefit renews annually.
- Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive a statement credit that covers the full cost each month. $12.95 plus applicable taxes. Plus Up Benefits not eligible.
Cons
- $695 annual fee
- No special financing offers on new purchases
Exclusive perks: Besides being one of the heaviest publicly available cards, The Platinum Card® from American Express offers a long list of luxury travel and lifestyle benefits, including:
- Up to $200 annual hotel credit; Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- Up to $200 annual airline fee credit
- Up to $300 annual Equinox credit; Get up to $300 back per calendar year on an Equinox+ subscription, or any Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
- Up to $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit. Enrollment required.
- Up to $189 credit to enroll in CLEAR® Plus. Subject to auto-renewal.
- Up to $240 annual digital entertainment credit; Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- Up to $155 annual Walmart+ credit (subject to auto-renewal)
- Worldwide airport lounge access, including Delta SkyClubs and Amex Centurion Lounges
- Up to $200 annual Uber credit. Benefit renews annually.
- $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Automatic hotel elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy
- Access to the Fine Hotels + Resorts program, providing benefits such as room upgrades, late check-out, early check-in, complimentary breakfast for two and a $100 hotel credit (based on availability)
- Comprehensive travel insurance
- Cell phone protection
- Complimentary Amex concierge service
- Terms apply.
Runner-up
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Rewards
Earn 5X total points on flights and 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3X points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases plus, 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025
Welcome bonus
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Annual fee
$550
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
22.49% - 29.49% variable
Balance transfer fee
5%, minimum $5
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent
See our methodology, terms apply.
Read our Chase Sapphire Reserve® review.
Pros
- $300 annual travel credit for travel purchases
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit up to $100 every four years
- Priority Pass™ Select lounge access at 1,000+ VIP lounges in over 500 cities worldwide
- Points are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Special benefits at The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection
- Complimentary year of Lyft Pink membership
Cons
- High annual fee, but it can be offset by taking advantage of all the card’s perks
- No introductory APR
- Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $1,469
- Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $3,346
Rewards totals incorporate the points earned from the welcome bonus
Exclusive perks: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the only Chase card to offer a 50% bonus when redeeming points toward travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal. Other unique benefits include an annual $300 travel credit, which can cover everything from airfare and hotels to parking and tolls and effectively reduce the $550 annual fee to a more manageable $250.
Cardholders also enjoy special discounts and memberships with Instacart+, DoorDash, and GoPuff; airport lounge access; elite-like benefits when booking hotels through The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection; comprehensive travel and shopping protections; and a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS application fee credit of up to $100 every four years.
Best for travel
U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
Rewards
5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center, 3X points on every $1 on eligible travel and mobile wallet spending
Welcome bonus
Earn 50,000 bonus points (worth $750 on travel) after spending $4,500 in your first 90 days of account opening
Annual fee
$400
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
22.24% to 29.24% (Variable)
Balance transfer fee
3% of the amount of each transfer, with a $5 minimum
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Good/Excellent
See rates and fees and our methodology, terms apply.
Pros
- Complimentary 12-month Priority Pass™ Select membership that gives access to more than 1,300 VIP lounges worldwide
- 12 complimentary Gogo® in-flight Wi-Fi passes per year
- 24/7 fraud monitoring, ID Theft Protection, Emergency Evacuation and Transportation Coverage and more
- Drive a luxurious Audi and save up to 30% when you rent with Silvercar with no location, date, or class restrictions
- Elevated service levels 24/7 with dedicated service advisors and Visa Infinite Concierge
Cons
- $400 annual fee
- Only available to U.S. Bank customers
Exclusive perks: Unlike other U.S. Bank credit cards, points earned with the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card are worth 1.5 cents apiece toward travel, as opposed to one cent each. Additional premium benefits include up to $325 in annual credits toward eligible travel and dining purchases; a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, providing entry to over 1,300 airport lounges around the world; access to the Visa Infinite® Luxury Hotel Collection; and a statement credit of up to $100 to reimburse you for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry® membership, among other travel perks and shopping protections.
Best for concierge
Mastercard® Black Card™
Rewards
Earn 1X point for every dollar, 1.5% value on cash-back redemptions and 2% value on airfare redemptions
Welcome bonus
No current offer
Annual fee
$495
Intro APR
0% for the first 15 billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening; N/A for purchases
Regular APR
16.49% variable
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Terms apply.
Pros
- 1.5% value on cash-back redemptions
- 2% value on airfare redemptions
- 24/7 Luxury Card Concierge and travel perks
- No fee on purchases made outside the U.S.
Cons
- $495 annual fee
- Low rewards rate on everyday purchases
Exclusive perks: Points earned with the Mastercard® Black Card™ can carry greater value depending on how you choose to redeem them — points are worth 1.5 cents apiece toward cash-back redemptions and 2 cents apiece toward airfare. The card offers several other luxury benefits, such access to a concierge that can help with everything from travel bookings to creating once-in-a-lifetime memories, a Priority Pass™ Select membership, an up to $100 annual air travel credit, a TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry® application fee credit, cell phone protection and access to exclusive events and experiences through Mastercard Priceless.
Best for flexible rewards
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Rewards
Unlimited 2X miles on all eligible purchases, and 5 Miles per dollar on flights and 10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booked via Capital One Travel portal
Welcome bonus
Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
Annual fee
$395
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
21.99% - 28.99% variable APR
Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR
Foreign transaction fees
$0
Credit needed
Excellent
See our methodology, terms apply.
Pros
- Large welcome bonus
- No foreign transaction fees
- Up to $100 statement credits for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
Cons
- High annual fee
- No introductory 0% APR period
Exclusive perks: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is packed with plenty of unique features. For starters, cardholders receive up to $300 back in statement credits each year for bookings made through Capital One Travel and a 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary, which helps offset the $395 annual fee. Beyond that, the card offers a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee credit, cell phone insurance and access to Capital One Lounges — one location in Dallas (DFW) is currently open, while two more are expected to open next year in Denver (DEN) and Washington, D.C. (IAD)— as well as the extensive network of Priority Pass and Plaza Premium lounges worldwide.
Other perks include access to exclusive reservations and experiences through Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment, VIP treatment and benefits when staying at luxury hotels booked through The Premier Collection and exclusive priority access to premium trips created by PRIOR.
Best for dining
American Express® Gold Card
Rewards
4X Membership Rewards® points at Restaurants (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership
Annual fee
$250
Intro APR
Not applicable
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
See rates and fees and our methodology, terms apply.
Read our American Express® Gold Card review.
Pros
- Up to $120 dining credit annually ($10 a month) for purchases made with Grubhub, Goldbelly and other eligible restaurants (after a one-time enrollment)
- Up to $120 Uber Cash annually ($10 a month) for U.S. Uber Eats orders and U.S. Uber rides (card must be added to Uber app to receive the Uber Cash benefit)
- Strong rewards program with 4X points earned at restaurants and 3X points earned on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com
- Baggage insurance plan covers up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage that is damaged, lost or stolen
- No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
Cons
- No introductory APR period
- $250 annual fee
- Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $1,074
- Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $2,969
Rewards totals incorporate the points earned from the welcome bonus
Exclusive perks: The American Express® Gold Card offers several money-saving benefits geared toward foodies. Beyond a competitive return on restaurant and U.S. supermarket spending, cardholders receive dining credits of up to $120 annually ($10 every month), which can be used at at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations (one-time activation required). Plus, receive up to $120 in credits for Uber ($10 every month), which can be used towards Uber rides or Uber Eats. Terms apply.
And when you book stays of two nights or longer through The Hotel Collection with American Express Travel, you can receive a $100 experience credit and room upgrades when available. Experience credit varies by property.
Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox. Sign up here.
Bottom line
Depending on your spending habits, there could be a lot of value in having a luxury credit card, particularly if you travel a lot. Although most of the top cards require good to excellent credit scores, you generally don't need a special invitation to apply, so qualifying may be easier than you think.
If you can't justify paying a high annual fee, consider the best credit cards with annual fees less than $100 or the best no annual fee cards.
Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.
Read more
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards.
Our methodology
To determine which credit cards offer the best value, CNBC Select analyzed popular credit cards available in the U.S. We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR, balance transfer fee and foreign transaction fees, as well as factors such as required credit and customer reviews when available. We also considered additional perks, the application process and how easy it is for the consumer to redeem points.
Select teamed up with location intelligence firm Esri. The company's data development team provided the most up-to-date and comprehensive consumer spending data based on the 2019 Consumer Expenditure Surveys from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You can read more about their methodology here.
Esri's data team created a sample annual budget of approximately $22,126 in retail spending. The budget includes six main categories: groceries ($5,174), gas ($2,218), dining out ($3,675), travel ($2,244), utilities ($4,862) and general purchases ($3,953). General purchases include items such as housekeeping supplies, clothing, personal care products, prescription drugs and vitamins, and other vehicle expenses.
Select used this budget to estimate how much the average consumer would save over the course of a year, two years and five years, assuming they would attempt to maximize their rewards potential by earning all welcome bonuses offered and using the card for all applicable purchases. All rewards total estimations are net the annual fee.
While the five-year estimates we've included are derived from a budget similar to the average American's spending, you may earn a higher or lower return depending on your shopping habits.
For rates and fees of the Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
Information about the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.