The Centurion card from American Express was released in Australia in 2004. The Initial release was a plastic card, with a membership fee of A$2,800 p.a. From 2007 onwards, the card has changed from plastic to Titanium. This also saw a subsequent increase in the membership fee of A$4,300 p.a.
Current Membership Fee
No initiation fees
Annual Membership fee - A$4,300
Card Portfolio
1x Basic Member Titanium Centurion card
1x Basic Member Titanium Centurion A/C card
1x Supplementary Member Titanium Centurion card
4x Platinum Charge card
American Express does not disclose their qualification criteria for this card. However if you are aiming to obtain one, you should aim to do the following:
1. Qualify and obtain the American Express Platinum Charge card
2. Spend close to or in excess of A$250,000 per year
3. Because its a Charge card, ensure you do pay back the full balance every month and ensure you have an excellent credit record
4. After 1 year, Call the Platinum Card Member Service line and ask if you qualify for Centurion
It is important to remember the following tips on your own quest to Centurion:
1. You should think about aiming to qualify for the American Express Platinum Charge card first AND obtaining it AND spending on it for at least 1 year. Any Co-Branded Bank AMEX cards whether it is Platinum level or not will NOT get you to Centurion - you MUST have the American Express Platinum Charge Card before even being considered for Centurion.
2. The Platinum Charge card has an enticing offer of 1.5 Membership points per A$1 spent. To hit your goal of A$250k per annum, put everything you can think of onto the card - even if there is a surcharge. All Entertainment/Petrol/Groceries/Phone Bills/Insurances/Health Funds etc etc should be charged to AMEX. If they don't take AMEX, change your provider. Even if you don't hit the magic number, you've got a hell of a lot of points to play with.
3. Even if you spend close to or in excess of A$250,000 per year on your shiny Platinum Charge card, AMEX will not necessarily accept you for Centurion. For example, charging A$100,000 for "Building Supplies Ltd" does not look like you are a person who they envision should hold a Centurion compared to someone who charges A$100,000 for "Gucci" or "Emporio Armani".
4. Don't be scared - spend overseas. Some overseas charges will ensure you are recognised as a world traveller. And a world traveller who is spending at high-end luxury places is definitely who AMEX envisions a Centurion holder is.
