Mastercard Black Card Review

Who is the Mastercard Black Card for? 

The Mastercard Black Card is a premium travel rewards credit card that represents exclusivity on all levels. This black-PVD-coated stainless steel card is meant for frequent travelers who will make the most of its luxury features. With this card, you earn 1x points for every dollar you spend on purchases, which can then be redeemed at a competitive rate of 2% in airfare redemptions or 1.5% in cash back redemptions. In addition to the rewards, you also receive $100 in airline credit annually, access to VIP airport lounges around the world, travel amenities and services, as well as discounts on Lyft and Postmates. 

For those who appreciate extensive customer service, you can enjoy access to the 24/7 Luxury Card Concierge for no hidden fees. This lifestyle management tool can assist you with travel bookings, product search, research, and other personal requests from anywhere at any time. Fee-averse individuals should note that access to these rewards and benefits requires an annual fee of $195 as well as a fee of $95 for each user added to the account. 

Whether or not the Mastercard Black Card is the best luxury travel rewards card depends on your personal preferences. Those who travel frequently, want to earn rewards for their purchases, and value extensive customer service and luxury perks - even with the steep annual fee - stand to benefit the most from this card. 

Rewards Program 

The Mastercard Black Card offers a point-based rewards program. You earn 1x points for every dollar spent with the card, which can be redeemed at a 2% value in airfare redemptions or 1.5% value in cash back redemptions. This means spending $50,000 would get you a $1,000 ticket on any airline or $750 in cash back that can be deposited directly into a US bank account or applied as a statement credit. Given the varied rewards rate, cardholders should redeem their points in the form of airfare redemption to make the most of the card’s rewards program.

When it comes to rewards redemption, there isn’t a lot of flexibility for cardholders. To get the 2% redemption value for airfare, you must book travel through the card’s redemption portal. This means you are unable to transfer points to other programs such as frequent flyer programs and hotel loyalty accounts, making it difficult to earn enough points to make a purchase. 

Most premium rewards cards offer significant sign-up bonuses and bonus points on a selection of spending categories such as restaurants or travel. However, the Black Card does not come with a bonus of any kind which can make accruing points during your first year challenging. 

Other Benefits

One of the most notable features of the Black Card is the 24/7 Luxury Card Concierge that comes at no added cost. Consultants can assist you with a range of personal requests from helping you find the best restaurants in town to helping you create a personalized travel itinerary. Available via phone, live chat, and email, consultants are reachable from anywhere at any time. 

As a travel rewards card, the Black Card offers numerous opportunities to upgrade your travel experiences. In addition to receiving an annual airline credit worth $100, you also receive a $100 automatic statement credit that covers the cost of the Global Entry and TSA Pre application fee. This is great for frequent flyers because not only does it grant you expedited entry into the United States from international destinations, but it allows for quicker security checks at domestic airports. While waiting for your flight, you can also enjoy complimentary access to VIP airport lounges located at over 1,200 different airports all over the world with the Priority Pass Select. 

The travel rewards and services do not stop there. To further enhance your travel experiences, you receive travel amenities and services such as resort or spa credits, complementary foods and beverages, room upgrades, and more. The Black Card also comes with travel insurance, which can be valuable to frequent travelers. Eligible cardholders can receive insurance for delayed baggage, trip delay, or cancellation protection, as well as rental car insurance. Other perks worth noting when you use your Luxury Card is the ability to earn credit for Lyft, Postmates, Fandango, ShopRunner, and more. 

Fees

All of these benefits come at an annual fee of $495 and $195 for each additional user added to the account. Although this is a steep price to pay, cardholders can offset this amount if they take advantage of the travel rewards and benefits. For instance, spending $25,000 annually on your card would earn you $500 in airline redemptions. This combined with the $100 Global Entry and TSA application fee and $100 annual airline credit is valued at $700 total. 

Another feature to note is the lack of a  foreign transaction fee. This is great for those who travel often because you do not have to pay interest on overseas purchases. There is also a low APR (variable) of 14.99% for purchases and balance transfers when compared to other premium rewards cards. You also receive a 0% introductory APR for balance transfers during the first 45 days of account opening. Afterward, the APR for balance transfers becomes 14.99% so you’ll want to pay off the balance transfer before the introductory period ends. 

Conclusion 

The Mastercard Black Card is not your typical travel rewards card. Its hefty annual fee is enough to turn most people away. However, depending on your priorities, paying such a high annual fee may be justified if you take advantage of its various privileges. From its airfare redemption rate to its 24/7 concierge service, frequent flyers can significantly enhance their travel and shopping experience. To a select few, the Mastercard Black Card is a great option for next-level luxury benefits.