American Express Centurion Card

The AmEx Life: A Night With Peter Frampton, Mario Batali And Aston Martin

It was an over-the-top night, even for New York.

Four new Aston Martins sat outside Mario Batali’s Del Posto restaurant on the west side  of Manhattan to herald in a premium American Express event.

American Express touts itself as a lifestyle company as much as a financial services firm. Monday it brought together fast cars, gourmet food and one rock star to showcase how sweet the AmEx lifestyle can be.

For $250 a ticket, elite cardholders (from gold card to centurion card) got dinner and a show: an hour rock concert by Peter Frampton in the basement of Del Posto followed by four courses from Molto Mario. If that wasn’t enough, guests could sign up to test drive new Aston Martin models: the Virage, Rapide, and Vantage S Roadster. The pricey, VIP event is part of a series that AmEx dubs a ‘Premium Access Event From American Express.’

Credit card companies are constantly battling for customers (you’ve gotten the mail) promising similar perks like points, miles and service to would be clients. American Express is trying to differentiate itself to the wealthy set by offering unique events like this.

In Del Posto’s barreled-ceilinged basement, waiters scurried around with trays of Batali treats like chickpea fritters, mini-lobster rolls and speck, all covered with caviar and truffle oil the same way sundaes are topped with sprinkles and hot fudge.

At around 8pm the lights dimmed and guest took their seats. There were no accidents during the Aston Martin test drives. Peter Frampton couldn’t say the same. On his way into New York, a taxi had smashed into his tour bus.

You couldn’t tell from the show. Frampton joked that the gig was the only way he could get a table at the Batali joint and jammed for an hour, playing old hits like ‘Show Me the Way’ and ‘Do You Feel Like We Do’ (after all, he’s touring for the 35 anniversary of his alum,  ‘Frampton Comes Alive’) .

The set was loud and energetic. I tried to imagine the look on diners’ faces up on the main floor after their waiters told them the low rumble coming up from the basement was just Peter Frampton playing a live gig.

After the set Frampton introduced his band and asked guests if they weren’t starving, would they mind listening to one more song. He played ‘Baby I Love Your Way’ as the crowd cheered and waved table candles in the air.

After that came Batali’s four course meal of lobster salad, spinach ziti, halibut and New York strip. Not bad for the post-concert munchies.

American Express Black Card | Elite Benefits And Perks

The American Express Black Card has a reputation as the most elite card available on the market. Big spenders know that it carries a level of prestige that rises above its’ competitors, and it’s well known as the elite credit card offering in the world. Celebrities and fans alike see it as a status symbol, and the Black Card is frequently mentioned in pop culture music references as a means to show off a level of success in a musician’s career. It’s likely that you’ve heard of the American Express Black Card (or Centurion as it’s also known) before, but what do you really know about it? What are the requirements to sign up? How much do you have to spend? What are the Centurion Card benefits or terms and conditions? Let’s take a deeper look to learn a little bit more.

How To Get An American Express Black Card

Few people know this, but there are some serious requirements to be eligible for a Black Card. Until 2006, you actually had to be invited to get one. They’ve since removed the invite restrictions but you’ll still need to be in a pretty elite club to be eligible for a Centurion Card.

First, you’ll need to already have an American Express Platinum Card .  Since one of the requirements of having an American Express Black Card is to spend a minimum of $250,000 per year, you’re gonna to start by spending and paying off that much on your Amex Platinum Card. This means you’re going to need make as many purchases as possible on your Platinum Card, and stay on top of paying off your monthly balance. Pay everything you can – pay utilities with Amex, pay for every dinner – anything you can think of. If you’re credit limit is too low, you can actually over pay your bill at the end of the month to gain a larger balance for the following month. Did you flinch when I mentioned you need to spend and pay off $250,000 per year just to qualify for a Black Card? Well, then it likely isn’t for you. Make sure your credit rating is high – avoid bad credit. There’s no point in even trying to apply for a Black Card if you have a poor credit rating. Make sure, in addition to your Amex bill, that you’re paying off all of your other bills and credit cards at the end of the month, on time.