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Mastercard Black Card vs. Amex Platinum Card [Detailed Comparison]

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Christine Krzyszton

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Frequent travelers often seek out the best travel rewards credit cards for premium benefits such as airport lounge access, elevated rewards-earnings on travel purchases, and flexible options at redemption time.

Premium travel rewards cards also come with travel benefits and shopping protections that can provide elite-level perks, financial savings, and protection for an interrupted or canceled trip.

One of the best premium travel rewards cards available is The Platinum Card® from American Express — a card we discuss often because of its plethora of benefits and perks. And, while the card has rightly earned its reputation, there are other cards that vie for the same space.

Today we’re going to discuss one of those competitors, the Mastercard® Black Card™. On the surface, the card appears to be a premium travel rewards card ready to prove itself as a worthy challenger to the Amex Platinum card.

Our objective with this article is to dig deeper into the benefits of the Mastercard Black card, compare it to the Amex Platinum card, and reveal the actual bottom line value for a cardholder.

Here’s how the cards compare.

Mastercard Black Card vs. Amex Platinum Card — Overview

Before we get into the details of how each card works, it can be helpful to look at a summary of the features and benefits offered by each card.

Here’s a high-level overview of how the Mastercard Black card and Amex Platinum card compare overall.

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BenefitMastercard Black CardThe Platinum Card® from American Express
Welcome OfferNo welcome offerEarn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first 6 months.
Earning Potential1x points on all purchases
  • 5x points on flights booked directly with the airline or via AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 each calendar year) and on prepaid hotels booked via AmexTravel.com
  • 1x point on all other purchases
Redemption Options
  • 1.5% for cash back redemption; 2% for airline redemption
  • Redeem for select travel via the card’s proprietary travel portal
  • Cash-back, gift cards, online shopping, charitable donations, experiences
  • Transfer points to airline and hotel partners
  • AmexTravel.com bookings (Pay with Points)
  • Amazon.com purchases. Cash-back. Gift cards. Online shopping, charitable donations
Travel Benefits
  • Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership
  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
  • Up to $100 airline credit
  • Access to 1,400+ lounges worldwide through the Amex Global Lounge Collection access
  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
  • Annual statement credits: Up to $200 airline incidentals credit; up to $200 prepaid hotel statement credit; and more
  • Complimentary elite status through Hilton, Marriott,  Avis, Hertz, and National
Travel Protections
  • Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance; Travel accident insurance; Secondary car rental insurance
  • Baggage insurance; Travel assistance services
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance; Trip delay insurance; Baggage insurance; Travel assistance services; Secondary car rental insurance
  • No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
Shopping Benefits and Protections
  • Cell phone protection
  • Cell phone protection
  • Annual statement credits: Up to $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit; up to $200 Uber Cash; up to $155 Walmart+ credit; and more
  • Purchase protection, extended warranty, return protection
Annual Fees and Authorized Users
  • Annual fee of $495
  • $195 per authorized user
Additional BenefitsIntroductory 0% APR period for balance transfersN/A

The Value of a Welcome Offer

A credit card welcome offer is an incentive to use your card immediately after card approval to meet minimum spending requirements within a specific period and receive bonus rewards.

While the Mastercard Black card does not have a welcome offer, the Amex Platinum card does come with the opportunity to earn a bonus. We value Membership Rewards points at approximately 2.2 cents each, which would result in the current welcome offer being worth $1,760.

Welcome offers do change so be sure to check for the most current offer before applying for any card.

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS
The Platinum Card® from American ExpressTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card® from American Express

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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 points
$1,760
$695
See Pay Over Time APR
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros

  • The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
  • 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
  • 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
  • Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit)
  • TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
  • Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
  • Access to Amex International Airline Program
  • No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

  • $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
  • Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
  • 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.
  • 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 and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
  • $200 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.
  • $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+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
  • $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
  • $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
  • $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
  • $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.
  • Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
  • Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
  • $695 annual fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: See Pay Over Time APR
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 125k (or 150k) points with the Amex Platinum. The current public offer is 80,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Mastercard Black Card Points vs. Membership Rewards Points

Qantas A380 seat
Rewards earned on either of our featured cards can be redeemed for premium travel. Image Credit: Qantas

The Mastercard Black card earns Black Card points while the Amex Platinum card earns Membership Rewards points. These points are not created equal, however, as the value of each type of point differs.

Let’s look closer at how rewards are earned and the choices you’ll have at redemption time for each of our featured cards.

Earning Potential

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Earning CategoryMastercard Black CardAmex Platinum Card
Travel1x points on travel purchases
  • 5x points on flights booked directly with the airline or via AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 each calendar year)
  • 5x points on prepaid hotels booked via AmexTravel.com
All Other Purchases1x points on all other purchases1x points on all other purchases

While neither the Mastercard Black card nor the Amex Platinum card have a robust earning structure, if you spend a lot on travel, earning a capped 5x Membership Rewards points on flights with the Amex Platinum card could help you accumulate rewards quickly.

However, earning points is just one-half of the equation. Let’s look next at the potential value you can receive at redemption time with each card.

Hot Tip: Referral bonuses are a good way to earn additional rewards points. Check out our guide on how to earn referral bonuses on some of the most popular credit cards. 

Redemption Options

It’s good to have multiple options when you’re ready to redeem your points. Here’s how you can redeem rewards earned on the Mastercard Black card and Amex Platinum card:

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Redemption OptionMastercard Black CardAmex Platinum Card
TravelRedeem points for airfare via the Luxury Card Travel portal for 2 cents each, or hotels/rental cars at 1 cent per point
Cash-back or Statement CreditRedeem points for cash-back or a statement credit at 1.5 cents per pointPoints cannot be redeemed for cash-back, but can redeem points for a statement credit at 0.6 cents per point
Additional Redemption OptionsOnline shopping, gift cards, experiences, charitable donationGift cards, merchandise, charitable donation

Both the Mastercard Black card and Amex Platinum card earn 1x points on nearly every purchase.

The Amex Platinum card, however, earns the capped 5x points on flights booked directly with the airline or via AmexTravel.com. If you spend a lot on flights, the Amex Platinum card has the edge in earnings.

Although the Mastercard Black card allows you to redeem points for 2 cents each in value for flights, the flexible Membership Rewards points earned on the Amex Platinum card allow you to realize greater value when transferred to travel partners — that is why we value Membership Rewards points at 2.2 cents each. For example, you can transfer 50,000 Membership Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic to fly in Delta Air Lines’ business class from the U.S. to Europe — a flight that normally costs thousands of dollars.

The Mastercard Black card does offer good value when redeeming for cash-back at 1.5 cents per point. The Amex Platinum card does not have this option and only provides 0.6 cents per point in value when redeeming for statement credits.

Bottom Line: The Amex Platinum card has better earning potential than the Mastercard Black card. Membership Rewards points earned on the Amex Platinum card also offer greater potential value at redemption time when transferred to airline and hotel partners. 

Travel Benefits and Protections

Sala VIP International Lounge at UIO
Enjoy access to hundreds of airport lounges worldwide with either of our featured cards. Sala VIP International Lounge Quito. Image Credit: Priority Pass

As you’d expect, premium travel rewards credit cards also have premium benefits and protections. Here are some of the travel protections and benefits you’ll find on both the Mastercard Black card and the Amex Platinum card:

  • Worldwide Airport Lounge Access — One of the most valuable benefits provided by both of our featured cards is access to airport lounges worldwide. The Mastercard Black card comes with complimentary Priority Pass Select membership while the Amex Platinum card comes with access to an expanded collection of lounges detailed below.
  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Fee Credit — Receive a statement credit for reimbursement of up to $100 when you use your card to pay for your application fee or renewal. The Mastercard Black card reimburses up to $100 once every 5 years while the Amex Platinum card reimburses up to $100 for Global Entry every 4 years or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck every 4.5 years.
  • Car Rental Insurance — Both the Mastercard Black card and Amex Platinum card come with car rental insurance when you reserve and pay for your rental car with your card. Decline the rental agency’s CDW/LDW coverage and receive secondary coverage for damage or theft of the rental car. Secondary coverage means you must first file a claim with any other applicable insurance before car coverage kicks in.
  • Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance — The Mastercard Black card comes with coverage of up to $5,000 per covered person for reimbursement of eligible non-refundable expenses when a round trip is paid for with the card. With the Amex Platinum card, the maximum amount of coverage is $10,000 per trip and $20,000 per eligible card account per 12-month period. The terms and conditions for each policy are spelled out in each card’s Guide to Benefits.
  • Baggage Insurance — If your baggage is delayed more than 4 hours, the Mastercard Black card could reimburse you for incidentals up to $100 per day for 3 days. The Amex Platinum card does not have baggage delay coverage but does offer coverage for baggage theft or damage up to $3,000 per person, per trip.
  • Travel and Emergency Assistance Services — The Mastercard Black card provides emergency assistance services during your travels via its MasterAssist Travel Assistance Services. The Amex Platinum card comes with the Premium Global Assist Hotline. Both cards offer referral services for emergency transport, lost passport, legal or medical referrals, emergency funds, translation services, and more.
  • Travel Concierge Services — Knowledgeable experts can help you 24/7 to elevate your travel, dining, and entertainment experiences or assist with everyday challenges such as getting flowers delivered for that special birthday you remembered last minute. The Mastercard Black card comes with the Luxury Card Concierge while the Amex Platinum card has the Platinum Card Concierge.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees — Both the Mastercard Black card and Amex Platinum card work well when traveling as neither card charges foreign transaction fees.

You’ll find these additional travel benefits and protections unique to each card:

Mastercard Black Card

  • Airline Credit — Pay for airline tickets, baggage fees, upgrades, and more, with your Mastercard Black card and receive statement credits of up to $100 each calendar year.
  • Luxury Card Travel Benefits — Enjoy an upgraded room at check-in when available, free Wi-Fi, daily breakfast for 2, and a resort credit (or a welcome amenity) at more than 3,000 properties worldwide.
  • Luxury Card VIP Services and Discounts — Receive discounts and perks on global luggage delivery, car rentals, transportation services, airport meet and greet service, golf experiences, and more.
  • Travel Accident Insurance — The card comes with a benefit of up to $250,000 for accidental death or dismemberment when your trip is paid for with your card.

Amex Platinum Card

  • American Express Global Lounge Collection — Enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges, including the prestigious Amex Centurion Lounges, Escape Lounges – The Centurion Studio Partner, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), and more.
  • Amex International Airline Program — Enjoy special pricing when using AmexTravel.com to shop for your next first-class, business class, or premium economy international airline ticket.
  • Prepaid Hotel Statement Credit — Receive up to $200 back in statement credits when you book a prepaid stay via AmexTravel.com for a Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection stay (must be 2+ nights).
  • Airline Incidentals Statement Credit — Preselect the airline of your choice and receive up to $200 back in statement credits each year for qualifying incidental purchases made with that airline.
  • Hotel Program Elite Status — Enjoy complimentary Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors Gold Elite status that come with room upgrades, late checkout, and more. Enrollment is required.
  • Additional Elite-style Hotel Benefits — Make a prepaid booking with your card and/or Membership Rewards points via AmexTravel.com for The Hotel Collection or Fine Hotels & Resorts (2-night minimum stay), and receive benefits such as room upgrades, breakfast, onsite amenities, and more. This benefit can be realized in conjunction with the $200 hotel statement credit.
  • Car Rental Program Benefits — Receive discounted rental rates, priority service, and car upgrades with Avis Preferred, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, and National Car Rental Emerald Club.
  • Car Rental Elite Status — Receive Hertz President’s Circle status
  • CLEAR Plus Membership Credit — Pay for CLEAR Plus membership with your card to enjoy expedited security clearance and a statement credit of up to $189 for your purchase.
  • Emergency Evacuation — Have peace of mind that if you need emergency evacuation during your trip, you’ll have access to coverage via your card.
  • Trip Delay Insurance — The Amex Platinum card provides up to $500 per covered trip for eligible additional expenses if your trip is delayed more than 6 hours for a covered reason. There is a limit of 2 claims per consecutive 12-month period.
  • Access to Premium Protection Car Rental Insurance — As a card member, you’ll have access to primary Premium Protection for one low price of $12.25 to $24.95, depending on your state of residence, that covers the entire rental period of up to 42 consecutive days.

Please keep in mind that we abbreviate the benefits and protection descriptions and do not include every benefit/protection available on each card. You’ll want to review each card’s Guide to Benefits for terms, conditions, and full descriptions.

Bottom Line: The lists of travel benefits and protections that come with the Mastercard Black card and Amex Platinum card are significant. The Amex Platinum card does have the edge in this category, however, as it has more benefits, many of which are in the form of statement credits that can help offset the annual fee on the card. 

Shopping Benefits and Protections

Shoppers with bags
Shopping benefits and protections found on your card can provide additional value. Image Credit: Anastasia Shuraeva via Pexels

Shopping benefits can save you money and provide coverage should something happen to an eligible purchase. Both the Mastercard Black card and Amex Platinum card come with several valuable shopping benefits and protections.

Let’s start with a key protection you’ll find on both featured cards:

Cell Phone Protection — Pay for your entire cell phone bill with your card and receive coverage for damage and theft. The Mastercard Black card and Amex Platinum card each provide cell phone coverage for up to $800 per claim with a maximum of 2 claims per account per 12-month period. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. The Mastercard Black card has a coverage limit of $1,000 per card per 12-month period.

In addition to cell phone protection, here are the additional shopping benefits and protections you’ll find on each featured card.

Mastercard Black Card

  • Mastercard Shopping Benefits — Receive statement credits or discounts when using your card for Lyft rides, Fandango movie tickets, or Priceless Golf reservations. Plus, enjoy free 2-day shipping and free returns with your complimentary ShopRunner membership.

Amex Platinum Card

  • Saks Fifth Avenue Credit — Receive up to $100 in statement credits each year — $50 January through June, and $50 July through December — for purchases made with your card.
  • Uber Cash — Add your Amex Platinum card to your Uber account to receive VIP status plus $15 in Uber Cash deposited into your account each month from January through November. In December you will receive $35 for a total of $200 in Uber Cash each calendar year. Uber Cash can be used for rides or for Uber Eats in the U.S.
  • Walmart+ Credit — Use your Amex Platinum card to pay for your monthly Walmart+ membership and receive up to $12.95 each month as a statement credit, up to $155 each year.
  • Digital Entertainment Credit — Receive up to $20 each month for purchases made with Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal, up to $240 each year.
  • Equinox Credit — Receive up to $300 in credits each year when you use your card for Equinox or Equinox+ memberships.
  • Amex Offers — Login to your online Amex Platinum card account, scroll down to the bottom of the page and select from up to 100 offers for bonus points or cash-back for shopping at retailers and service providers.
  • Purchase Protection — Use your card to purchase an eligible item and receive coverage for damage or theft for up to 90 days from the date of purchase, up to $10,000 per purchase, and $50,000 per card account.
  • Extended Warranty — Eligible items purchased with your card that have manufacturer’s warranties of 5 years or less will receive 1 additional warranty year.
  • Return Protection — If a merchant will not accept a return of an eligible item purchased with your card within 90 days from the date of purchase you could receive up to $300 per item, up to $1,000 per card account per calendar year.

Bottom Line: While the Mastercard Black card and Amex Platinum card both come with cell phone protection, the Amex Platinum card is loaded with far more additional shopping benefits, credits, and protections.

Annual Fees and Adding Authorized Users

The Mastercard Black card charges an annual fee of $495 while the Amex Platinum card charges $695.

You’ll pay an annual charge of $195 each year for every authorized user you add to the Mastercard Black card.

The Amex Platinum card charges $195 per authorized user. You can add Gold card authorized users for no additional fee.

Everything Else You Need To Know

Mastercard Black Card Weight
Image Credit: Luxury Card

Card Design

Both the Mastercard Black card and Amex Platinum card are made with metal. According to the Luxury Card website, however, the Mastercard Black card wins the title of the heaviest of the 2 credit cards at a full 22 grams. The card also holds 70 patents worldwide for its unique design.

Introductory 0% APR — Mastercard Black Card

The Mastercard Black card comes with a nice introductory 0% APR period for balance transfers. If you have high-interest credit cards with balances you wish to pay back over time, the 0% APR period, which begins after card approval and continues for 15 billing cycles, may save you money on interest charges. After the period expires, there’s a fee of $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Card Requirements

Both the Mastercard Black card and Amex Platinum card require that the card applicant be 18 years of age or older and have a good to excellent credit score, generally 670 or above, but you are more likely to be approved with a score of 700 or better.

The Mastercard Black card requires that you are a U.S. resident while the Amex Platinum card requires a U.S. address. Both cards require an ITIN or Social Security number.

The Mastercard Black card is issued by Barclays Bank while the Amex Platinum card is issued by American Express.

Final Thoughts

It doesn’t take an extensive analysis to determine which card offers the better value for a frequent traveler. Let’s just start with the fact that the Mastercard Black card does not offer a welcome bonus, earns just 1x points on all spending, and its points have limited redemption options. The Amex Platinum card, in contrast, has a generous welcome offer, earns 5x points on select flights, and earns flexible points that can be transferred to travel partners for greater potential value.

The Mastercard Black card charges a hefty annual fee yet offers few benefits to offset that fee. While the Amex Platinum card has a steep annual fee, you could easily offset it by utilizing just a few of the extensive statement credits or perks. The value of access to its worldwide lounge network, for example, nearly accomplishes that alone.

If we just compare annual fees, $495 for the Mastercard Black card and $695 for the Amex Platinum card, it’s clear the Amex Platinum card could provide value that far exceeds the $200 difference.

The information regarding the Mastercard® Black Card™ was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. 

For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car rental loss or damage coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. For the trip cancellation and interruption insurance and trip delay insurance benefits of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. For the baggage insurance plan benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the extended warranty and purchase protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the cell phone protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. For the return protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which card is better, the Mastercard Black card or the Amex Platinum card?

The Amex Platinum card is arguably the better overall travel rewards credit card. The card earns flexible rewards points that can be transferred to airline and hotel partners for the potential of realizing greater value than the fixed-rate redemptions found on the Mastercard Black card.

While the Amex Platinum card has a $695 annual fee that is $200 greater than the Mastercard Black card, the card features elevated points-earnings on flights, several easily-usable statement credits, and additional benefits such as extensive worldwide lounge access that can offset the difference of the annual fee.

Is the Mastercard Black card metal?

Yes, the Mastercard Black card is made of metal. It has a black PVD-coated stainless steel front while the material on the back of the card is carbon. The card also weighs in at a hefty 22 grams.

Which bank issues the Mastercard Black card?

The Mastercard Black card is issued by Barclays Bank.

Do I need an invitation for the Mastercard Black card?

No, anyone with a good to excellent credit score, 18 years of age or older, U.S. residency, and sufficient income can apply and potentially be approved for the Mastercard Black card.

Is the Amex Platinum card hard to get?

You will need a good to excellent credit score (670 to 850), good credit history, and sufficient income to qualify for the Amex Platinum card.

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About Christine Krzyszton

Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.

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