Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
American Express has rapidly grown its network of Centurion Lounges to 24 airport locations, bringing luxury to even the most hectic environments. The card issuer's upcoming offshoot of its lounge experience won't be in an airport, but someplace that also features large crowds, commotion and the unmistakable smell of Auntie Anne's pretzels — midtown Manhattan.
The details are sparse, but Centurion New York will offer a more bespoke experience with different entry requirements than Amex's airport Centurion Lounge locations. Those lounges remain accessible to certain Amex card holders, such as those with American Express Platinum Card®, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and the ultra-exclusive Centurion® Card from American Express.
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Centurion New York details
Centurion New York will open in March and will be located on the 55th floor of the 93-story One Vanderbilt building, located next to Grand Central Terminal. It will take up the entire floor and span over 26,000 square feet.
While American Express has been fairly tight-lipped about the space, it teased casual and fine-dining experiences curated by Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud, as well as a bar with signature cocktails and a tastefully appointed salon for guests to unwind in.
In addition, Amex will offer private rooms and host special events exclusively for invite-only Centurion cardholders. In other words, Centurion New York is expected to be more akin to a private members club or speakeasy, if you will, than a transient space.
This isn't the card issuer's first foray into Centurion experiences located outside of airports. In September 2022, Amex opened the Centurion Haus Singapore — a secret lounge hidden within the iconic Raffles Hotel Singapore — which is only open to Centurion cardholders. It also offers a designated Centurion Lounge at the historic 1881 House in Hong Kong. Again, Amex hasn't publicly announced who will have access to Centurion New York once it's open, but if the Singapore and Hong Kong lounges are any indications, access may also be geared toward Centurion cardholders.
While Amex also offers Platinum House, a series of pop-up lounges open to members with the American Express Platinum Card®, those are only temporary activations tied to various upscale cultural events.
What is the Amex Centurion Card?
The Centurion® Card from American Express, colloquially known as the "black card," is an invitation-only card for high-net-worth individuals (think: those who spend over six figures per year). Amex allows existing customers who are interested in Centurion membership to request consideration by filling out a short online form, but there are still no published qualifications.
Experts estimate that there are around 100,000 Amex Centurion cardholders in the world, with only about 20,000 of those being in the United States.
The card's annual fee is in a different stratosphere from other top-tier premium credit cards on the market. An invitation to open an Amex Centurion Card comes with a hefty $10,000 initiation fee, plus a $5,000 annual fee (see rates and fees). In turn, you'll receive benefits such as a high spending limit; access to Amex Centurion Lounges; automatic elite status with Delta, Marriott and Hilton; an Equinox Destination Access gym membership; Saks Fifth Avenue shopping credits; invitations to exclusive entertainment events; access to a personal concierge and much more.
If you want a luxury card but don't want to shell out thousands of dollars in annual fees (or didn't get an invite for the Centurion Card), consider American Express Platinum Card®. It offers some similar perks, including widespread airport lounge access, hotel elite status with Marriott and Hilton (enrollment required), credits toward an Equinox gym membership (enrollment required) and more. Terms apply.
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Bottom line
American Express is opening a Centurion-branded experience in the heart of New York City in March. Although access rules are still unknown, this is expected to be an exclusive space with luxurious amenities, resembling a high-end social club.
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For rates and fees of Centurion® Card from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
Information about the Centurion® Card from American Express. has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
