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Mastercard® Black Card® Review: Ultimate Guide for 2026
September 27, 2026
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The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.
What Is the Mastercard® Black Card®?
The Mastercard® Black Card® (See Terms) is a luxury travel rewards credit card that sits between the Titanium and Gold Cards in the Luxury Card® family. Made of stainless steel, it offers airport lounge access, annual airline and dining credits, and a 2% redemption value on airfare.
Limited-Time Offer: 75,000 Bonus Points
For a limited time, new cardmembers can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days after account opening. Paying only the minimum due each month may not pay the annual fee in full within those 90 days. Redeemed for airfare at a 2% value, 75,000 points are worth $1,500.
Calculation formulated by Kudos, based on 75,000 points redeemed at a 2% value for airfare.
For the full breakdown of the offer, see our post on the Mastercard Black Card 75,000-point offer.
Earning Rates
- 2X points on airfare and hotel reservations booked through LuxuryCardTravel.com
- 1 point per $1 on everything else
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Mastercard® Black Card® Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Limited-time 75,000-point welcome offer after $6,000 in purchases and paying the annual fee in full, both within 90 days of account opening
- $200 annual airline credit toward flight-related purchases like tickets, bag fees, and upgrades, with no enrollment or airline selection required
- $100 annual dining credit on restaurant purchases, with no enrollment or restaurant networks required
- Airport lounge access: complimentary access to over 1,800 airport lounges, with unlimited visits for you and your guests
- Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® credit
- 2% value on airfare redemptions and 1.5% on cash back
- Luxury Card Travel® benefits averaging $750 per stay at over 3,000 properties
- 24/7 Luxury Card Concierge by phone, email, text, or chat
- Cell phone protection for eligible claims of up to $1,000 a year
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons:
- $699 annual fee, plus $249 for each authorized user
- Limited bonus categories: outside of LuxuryCardTravel.com bookings, everything earns 1 point per $1
- Lower cash back value: points are worth 1.5% as cash back versus 2% for airfare
- The welcome offer is limited-time and requires paying the annual fee in full within 90 days
Who Is the Mastercard® Black Card® For?
The Mastercard® Black Card® is ideally suited for:
- Frequent travelers who value airport lounge access and will use the $200 airline credit
- Diners who will use the $100 annual dining credit
- Cardholders who mainly redeem points for airfare to get the 2% value
- Luxury-minded consumers who appreciate a metal card and 24/7 concierge service
- New applicants who can meet the $6,000 spend for the limited-time 75,000-point offer
Comparing the Mastercard® Black Card® with Other Premium Cards
When considering the Mastercard® Black Card®, it's helpful to compare it with other popular premium travel cards:
The Platinum Card® from American Express (See Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $895
- Key rewards: 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel®, on up to $500,000 in these purchases per calendar year (then 1X), and 5X on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel®
- Standout feature: access to over 1,550 airport lounges and hotel elite status
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (See Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $395
- Key rewards: 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, 2X miles on everything else
- Standout feature: $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel and 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary
- Annual fee: $795
- Key rewards: 8x points on purchases through Chase Travel℠, 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly, 3x points on dining, 1x point on everything else
- Standout feature: $300 annual travel credit each account anniversary year
For the Chase Sapphire Reserve®: points are not earned until after the first $300 is spent annually on travel purchases. The first $300 goes toward the $300 Annual Travel Credit.
Key Takeaways:
- The Mastercard® Black Card® pairs simple airline and dining credits with broad lounge access and a 2% airfare redemption value
- The Platinum Card® from American Express offers the deepest premium travel perks
- Capital One Venture X provides high rewards on travel bookings with a lower annual fee
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® features flexible travel credits and transferable points
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Key Features and Benefits
Travel Perks and Protection
- Complimentary access to over 1,800 airport lounges, including participating airport restaurants and mini-suites
- Luxury Card Travel® benefits averaging $750 per stay at over 3,000 hotels and resorts, such as resort credits, room upgrades, and breakfast for two
- Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® credit
- Trip cancellation and interruption coverage
- MasterRental secondary coverage for eligible rental vehicles
- Baggage delay reimbursement of up to $100 a day for up to three days
- Travel accident coverage of up to $250,000
Security and Protection
- Cell phone protection for eligible claims of up to $1,000 a year when you pay your phone bill with the card
- Mastercard ID Theft Protection™
- $0 fraud liability protection
- Mastercard Global Service for lost or stolen card reporting and emergency replacement
Luxury Card Concierge
Agents are available 24/7 by phone, email, text, or chat to help with travel planning, dining reservations, and everyday tasks like sending flowers or researching products.
Additional Perks
- LUXURY MAGAZINE®
- Lyft: a $5 Lyft credit after three rides in a month paid with the card (one credit per month)
- Peacock: $3 off Peacock Premium or Premium Plus each month
- World Elite Mastercard® offers
Track Your Black Card Credits With Kudos
The Black Card's $200 airline credit and $100 dining credit only pay off if you use them. The Kudos Benefits Tracker pulls in the credits and benefits on your cards, shows your progress on each one, and tells you how to redeem what's left. It's part of Kudos Premium.
Kudos also recommends your best card at checkout for free, so purchases outside the Black Card's bonus categories land on a card that earns more.
New to Kudos? Save up to $70 when you join with code GET70: $50 off Kudos Premium, plus $20 after your first eligible Kudos Boost purchase of $30 or more. Sign up for free.
Our Expert Takeaway
The Mastercard® Black Card® offers a solid suite of travel benefits, and the limited-time 75,000-point offer makes this a better time than usual to apply. Its earning rates are modest, so its value depends on using the airline and dining credits, the lounge access, and the 2% airfare redemption value to offset the $699 annual fee.
Mastercard® Black Card® FAQ
What is the annual fee for the Mastercard® Black Card®?
The annual fee is $699, plus $249 for each authorized user.
Does the Mastercard® Black Card® have a welcome offer?
Yes, for a limited time. New cardmembers can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days after account opening.
Does the card offer airport lounge access?
Yes. Cardholders get complimentary access to over 1,800 airport lounges, with unlimited visits for themselves and their guests.
What are the reward redemption rates?
Points are worth 2% when redeemed for airfare and 1.5% when redeemed for cash back. For example, 50,000 points are worth $1,000 toward airfare or $750 in cash back.
Does the card have an intro APR on balance transfers?
Yes. The card offers a 0% intro APR for the first 15 billing cycles on balance transfers that post within 45 days of account opening. After that, the variable APR is 19.74% to 27.74%. A balance transfer fee of $5 or 5% of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies.
Is there a foreign transaction fee?
No, the card has no foreign transaction fees.
The Luxury Card trademarks are property of Barclays Lifestyles LLC. BLACK CARD is a registered trademark used under license. Luxury Card products are issued by Barclays Bank Delaware pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated, owner of the registered trademarks Mastercard, World Elite Mastercard, and the circles design. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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