Weighing Amex Centurion, Sapphire Preferred and Other Credit Card Heavyweights
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Obesity in America has become so bad that even our credit cards are overweight. Over the past couple of years, I've been feeling my wallet become increasingly heavy — and while that could have been because of the addition of new cards, there's also been a new trend for credit card issuers to make their cards heavier. Not to say I don't see the appeal in a nice, luxurious-feeling credit card, but who really wants a heavy wallet?!
I recently got the American Express Centurion Card, aka the Black Card, and I was pretty shocked by the feel of the card. So I wanted to see how the card that costs $10,000 ($7,500 for the initiation fee and a $2,500 annual fee) stacks up to some of its competitors. No, not in terms of its benefits and perks (although those are nice, as I recently outlined in a Travel + Leisure post), but in how much the card weighs.
So we put the Amex Centurion to the test with three other premium cards — the Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the Citi Prestige — to see which one is the fattest on the market.
The Results
The Chase Sapphire Preferred weighed in at .5 of an ounce — not all too heavy. But the metal-made card still feels heavier than your average piece of plastic.
The Citi Prestige is by far the lightest of the four we tested out, and I applaud Citi for that because who wants a heavier wallet. For a premium card like this, it's easy for issuers to get carried away with materials. Fortunately, it weighed in at just .2 of an ounce.
The Ritz-Carlton Rewards card is by far the heaviest card of the four and if you've ever held one, that should come as no surprise. The card itself sets off TSA metal detectors! When I put the card on the scale, the metal was audible from across the TPG office, weighing in at a full 1 ounce.
And finally, the Centurion Card. Even though the card gives me automatic Gold status with SPG and could arguably be the "heaviest" in terms of its benefits, it was nowhere near the most substantial of the bunch, weighing in at .5 of an ounce — the same as the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
So, the winner of this competition — if you want to call it that — is the Ritz-Carlton Rewards card, although I'd argue the Citi Prestige is better off. Because at the end of the day, there's only so much I can carry before I'm, quite literally, weighed down. I'm not opposed to the .5-ounce cards; they're a happy medium between the super heavy and the super light. In all, I think the Centurion Card (and the Sapphire Preferred) come out winners here. Although the zero sign-up bonus on Centurion is nothing to get excited about, at least the physical card itself is.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 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.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- 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.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.