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For all we talk about points, miles, and credit cards, you'd think there'd be more press about the Mastercard® Black Card™. While in the past its best benefit has been “well, it's pretty heavy,” there's something else the card provides that we've all been sleeping on.
In the wake of Chase removing Priority Pass restaurant access from its credit cards, I'm giving the Mastercard® Black Card™ some serious thought. Let's discuss the card's benefits and why it's a card more people should consider.
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Mastercard® Black Card™ and Priority Pass
Sure, that introduction may have been a little sensationalist, but it's for good reason. That's because the Mastercard® Black Card™, among its other benefits, grants cardholders a Priority Pass Select membership. Even better, its Priority Pass Select membership includes restaurant access.
What's more, that Priority Pass Select membership provides unlimited visits to cardholders and an unlimited number of guests.
That may sound unbelievable, but it's true. The Mastercard® Black Card™ will allow you to bring your family, your friends, and anyone else you know into the lounge for free. They'll also be able to join you at one of Priority Pass' participating restaurants, sleep pods, spas, and game lounges.
If you're familiar with credit card lounge access, you're probably drooling on the screen right now. In an era where lounge access is becoming more restricted, spending requirements are being implemented, and guests are going the way of the Dodo, an uncapped and unlimited Priority Pass membership is astounding.
There aren't any close competitors for this card's airport lounge access. Some cards come close, but they all miss an important aspect:
- The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card allows you to bring unlimited guests into Priority Pass lounges and lets you add up to four authorized users to your account at no charge. Those authorized users can then, in turn, get their own Priority Pass memberships and bring in guests. However, you have stricter access rules at Capital One lounges, and the Priority Pass Select membership offered by the Capital One Venture X is limited to airport lounges — no restaurants, spas, or other experiences included.
- The Capital One Venture X Business offers a Priority Pass membership with up to two guests, including restaurants and non-lounge Priority Pass benefits. However, not everyone is eligible for a business credit card. The guest number also has a limit, and the restaurant benefit was removed for those who applied for the card after it changed from Mastercard to Visa in late April 2024.
- The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card offers a Priority Pass membership with unlimited guests. However, obtaining this card is a bit complex, and the restaurant benefit is going away.
Other Benefits of the Mastercard® Black Card™
The Mastercard® Black Card™ charges a $495 annual fee, which puts it firmly in premium credit card territory. For that amount, you get a few benefits, but not as many as you'd expect elsewhere:
- Access to Luxury Card travel
- Complimentary travel insurance
- 24/7 concierge services
- $100 annual airline credit
- Up to $100 TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit once every five years
- No foreign transaction fees
- Up to $5 monthly Peacock statement credit
- $5 monthly credit with Lyft after three paid rides
- $10 off the second Instacart order each month
- Cell phone protection
While the card only earns 1x point per $1 spent (which is dismal), it does allow you to redeem for airfare at a rate of 2 cents each or 1.5 cents as cash back. That puts it above Chase and American Express competitors on non-bonused spending, but not much else.
There can be a case made for those who maximize every penny of those statement credits, which ring in at more than $300 each year, as well as Luxury Card travel, which is similar to programs like Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts. However, much of what this card offers can be had elsewhere. It's truly in its Priority Pass membership that it shines.
Credit Cards That Offer Priority Pass Restaurant Access
I'm halfway convinced about getting the Mastercard® Black Card™ since I've always relied on my Chase Sapphire Reserve® for restaurant access at the airport. The fact that anyone I'm traveling with can come with me to nap pods and meals is a big draw for this card, even if its other benefits are lackluster. However, the Mastercard® Black Card™ isn't the only player on the block for Priority Pass benefits.
A few of the cards on this list are probably already known, but I'm betting that many of them (like the Mastercard® Black Card™), aren't. That's because card issuer websites often fail to specify the particular benefits, so it's only through official confirmation that we truly understand who offers what.
That being said, here is the limited list of cards that offer Priority Pass restaurant access past the June 30, 2024 removal on Chase cards:
- Bank of America
- Capital One
- Citi
- Citi Prestige® Card (no longer open to new applicants)
- Mastercard
- UBS
- U.S. Bank
- U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
- U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
- U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect Card
The biggest issue with these cards is that they either have limited visits (such as U.S. Bank cards), aren't available to new applicants (such as the Prestige Card), or otherwise limit Priority Pass access.
Still, if I had to pick an alternative, I'd maybe go for the Bank of America Premium Elite Card. It's got a $550 annual fee, but I'm trying to climb the Preferred Rewards ladder, which will (hopefully) one day earn me a 75% bonus on my points.
The Bottom Line
The Mastercard® Black Card™ is looking more appealing than ever, now that so many credit cards are dropping Priority Pass restaurant accesss. Along with unlimited visits, cardholders can bring unlimited guests, which is unheard of in the credit card world. Imagine treating all of your aunts and uncles to a meal at the airport.
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