{"id":168434,"date":"2025-12-31T17:00:35","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T17:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/?p=168434"},"modified":"2026-04-08T14:31:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T14:31:08","slug":"mastercard-black-card","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/mastercard-black-card\/","title":{"rendered":"Mastercard\u00ae Black Card\u2122 Review: Premium Travel Benefits, Annual Credits, and More"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The <a data-ccid=\"3006107\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/MastercardBlackCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Mastercard<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Black Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a> has been on my radar lately, thanks to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/news\/chase-ultimate-rewards\/sapphire-reserve-priority-pass-benefit-change\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Chase's devaluation of its Priority Pass membership<\/a>. In an attempt to find another card that'll let me eat at airport restaurants, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/mastercard-black-card-benefits\/\" rel=\"noopener\">I stumbled across the Mastercard Black Card<\/a>. No one is talking about it, but they should be.<\/p>\n<p>Let's take a look at the benefits of the Mastercard Black Card, how you can redeem rewards, and some of the premium cards that compete with it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"qs-card\" data-id=\"3006107\">\n            <div class=\"qs-data\">\n                <div class=\"qs-view\">\n                    <div class=\"qs-cardname\">Mastercard<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Black Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-image\"><img data-aspectratio=\"150\/104\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/CardArt-MastercardBlackCard.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Mastercard&lt;sup&gt;\u00ae&lt;\/sup&gt; Black Card&lt;sup&gt;\u00ae&lt;\/sup&gt;\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-apply-now\" title='Mastercard&lt;sup&gt;\u00ae&lt;\/sup&gt; Black Card&lt;sup&gt;\u00ae&lt;\/sup&gt;' data-ccid=\"3006107\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/MastercardBlackCard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-rates\"><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Featured Benefit<\/strong>\r\nEnjoy automatic enrollment in Priority Pass\u2122 Select with access to 1,700 airport lounges worldwide with no guest or lounge limits. Includes credits at select airport restaurants for cardholder and one guest.<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"qs-info\">\n                    <strong class=\"qs-cardname\">Mastercard<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Black Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/strong>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Featured Benefit<\/strong>\r\nEnjoy automatic enrollment in Priority Pass\u2122 Select with access to 1,700 airport lounges worldwide with no guest or lounge limits. Includes credits at select airport restaurants for cardholder and one guest.<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee:<\/strong><b>$699<\/b><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-tabs\"><a class=\"qs-more\" href=\"#more\">Show more<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"wwl\">Why We Like It<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"hl\">Highlights<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"er\">Earning Rates<\/a><div class=\"qs-tab-wwl\">The Mastercard<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Black Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> delivers luxury perks and a robust fixed-value reward structure. Cardholders enjoy a generous 2% redemption value for airfare and 1.5% redemption value for cash back, paired with exclusive benefits such as 24\/7 concierge service, airport lounge access with Priority Pass\u2122, and a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre\u2713<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> fees. Its distinctive stainless steel design underscores its premium status.<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-hl\"><ul>\r\n    <li>Redeem at 2% value for airfare and 1.5% for cash back. Just 50,000 points will get you a $1,000 ticket on any airline or $750 cash back, issued as a direct deposit statement credit.<\/li>\r\n\r\n    <li>Earn 2X points on Airfare and Hotel reservations booked through LuxuryCardTravel.com. One point for every one dollar you spend for all other categories, earning points every time you spend.<\/li>\r\n\r\n    <li><strong>$200 Annual Airline Credit:<\/strong> Receive up to $200 in annual air travel credits toward flight-related purchases, including airline tickets, baggage fees, upgrades and more.<\/li>\r\n\r\n    <li><strong>$100 Annual Dining Credit:<\/strong> Get up to $100 in annual statement credits when you use your Luxury Card at qualifying restaurants.<\/li>\r\n\r\n    <li>Receive up to $120 reimbursement credit for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> application fee. Global Entry includes access to TSA PreCheck<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> with no additional application or fee required.<\/li>\r\n\r\n    <li>24\/7 Luxury Card Concierge<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>: Exclusive to Cardmembers. Your busy life never stops, and neither do our Luxury Card Concierge agents. Enjoy around-the-clock lifestyle management and planning support tailored to your specific needs\u2014and designed to save you time. Our personalized one-on-one service delivers solutions, suggestions and even surprises to make every day exceptional. Book the trip. Get the reservations. Score the tickets.<\/li>\r\n\r\n    <li>With your Luxury Card, enjoy complimentary access to over 1,700 airport lounges and travel experiences in more than 600 cities across 145 countries with Priority Pass\u2122 Select. Access includes unlimited visits for yourself as well as your guests.<\/li>\r\n\r\n    <li>Black-PVD-Coated Metal Card and Made of Stainless Steel<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>: Beautifully crafted and exceptionally premium, Luxury Card is a statement piece designed to stand out in the most refined way. Weighing in at an impressive 22 grams, its stainless steel, contactless patented card design and metal construction raises the standard. Carry a card with distinction.<\/li>\r\n\r\n    <li>Exclusive Luxury Card Travel<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> benefits\u2014average value of $500 per stay (e.g., resort credits, room upgrades, free wifi, breakfast for two and more) at over 3,000 properties. Receive protection benefits like trip cancellation and interruption, auto rental car collision waiver, travel accident and baggage delay. Cell phone protection for eligible claims of up to $1,000 each year. Plus additional World Elite Mastercard<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> benefits.<\/li>\r\n\r\n    <li>Annual Fee: $699 ($249 for each Authorized User). <a data-ccid=\"3006107\" href=\"https:\/\/www.barclaycardus.com\/applycontent\/TnCs.jsp?tc47392\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Terms and conditions apply<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-er\"><ul>\r\n<li>Earn one point for every dollar spent<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <a class=\"qs-share\" href=\"\/find-a-card\/MCBlack\/\" title=\"copy\"><svg width=\"12\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><use href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/awardwallet\/public\/builds\/icon\/icon-sprite.svg?v2026-5-15b009cd64#share-square\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/use><\/svg><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"toc_light_blue no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Page Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#Mastercard_Black_Card_Pros\">Mastercard Black Card Pros<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Mastercard_Black_Card_Cons\">Mastercard Black Card Cons<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Mastercard_Black_Card_Welcome_Offer\">Mastercard Black Card Welcome Offer<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Mastercard_Black_Card_Benefits\">Mastercard Black Card Benefits<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Airport_lounge_access\">Airport lounge access<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#200_annual_airline_credit\">$200 annual airline credit<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#100_annual_dining_credit\">$100 annual dining credit<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#120_Global_EntryTSA_PreCheck_credit\">$120 Global Entry\/TSA PreCheck credit<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Complimentary_travel_insurance\">Complimentary travel insurance<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Mastercard_World_Elite_benefits\">Mastercard World Elite benefits<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Luxury_Card_Travel_program\">Luxury Card Travel program<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Mastercard_Black_Card_Earning_Rates\">Mastercard Black Card Earning Rates<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Redeeming_Points_With_the_Mastercard_Black_Card\">Redeeming Points With the Mastercard Black Card<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Cards_That_Compete_With_the_Mastercard_Black_Card\">Cards That Compete With the Mastercard Black Card<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Final_Thoughts\">Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n<h2><span id=\"Mastercard_Black_Card_Pros\">Mastercard Black Card Pros<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Lounge access with unlimited guests through Priority Pass, including an airport restaurant credit for up to two people<\/li>\n<li>Points are worth 2 cents each when redeemed for flights booked through LuxuryCardTravel.com<\/li>\n<li>$300 worth of airline and dining credits<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span id=\"Mastercard_Black_Card_Cons\">Mastercard Black Card Cons<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Only one elevated spending category \u2014 2X on eligible hotel and airfare purchases booked through LuxuryCardTravel.com<\/li>\n<li>No transfer partners<\/li>\n<li>High $699 annual fee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_168445\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/313\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-168445 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Mastercard-Black-Card.jpg\" alt=\"Mastercard Black Card\" width=\"750\" height=\"313\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Mastercard-Black-Card.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Mastercard-Black-Card-300x125.jpg 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Mastercard-Black-Card-1024x427.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Mastercard-Black-Card-768x320.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Luxury Card<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h2><span id=\"Mastercard_Black_Card_Welcome_Offer\"><strong>Mastercard Black Card <\/strong>Welcome Offer<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The <a data-ccid=\"3006107\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/MastercardBlackCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Mastercard Black Card<\/a> doesn't provide a welcome offer, but it does have a special balance transfer promotion: 0% introductory APR for the first fifteen billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening. After that, (and for balance transfers that do not post within 45 days of account opening) the APR will be 19.49% to 27.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.<\/p>\n<p>Fifteen months is a decent amount of time for balance transfers, so this could be a good card to open if you're looking to save on interest.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/best-balance-transfer-cards\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Best 0% Intro APR Balance Transfer Credit Cards<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Mastercard_Black_Card_Benefits\">Mastercard Black Card Benefits<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As a premium credit card, the <a data-ccid=\"3006107\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/MastercardBlackCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Mastercard Black Card<\/a> offers quite a few benefits. Here's an overview of what's on offer.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Airport_lounge_access\">Airport lounge access<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Cardholders of the Mastercard Black Card get a complimentary <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/travel\/priority-pass-lounges-guide\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Priority Pass\u2122 Select Membership<\/a>. Priority Pass grants you access to lounges and eligible restaurants while traveling. And although many credit cards offer a Priority Pass Select membership, the Mastercard Black Card is one of the best. This boils down to two reasons:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Most credit card issuers are eliminating access to airport restaurants that participate in Priority Pass \u2014 <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/priority-pass-restaurants\/\" rel=\"noopener\">here are the ones that still offer this perk<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Most Priority Pass memberships allow limited guests.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Mastercard Black Card allows you to bring in as many guests as you'd like, which is unprecedented and a huge selling point for the card. This is especially true if you live near an airport that doesn't have Priority Pass lounges but does offer <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/travel\/priority-pass-benefits\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Priority Pass restaurants<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_90078\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/400\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-90078 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/CLT-showcase_600x.webp\" alt=\"Dining area at The Club CLT airport.\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/CLT-showcase_600x.webp 600w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/CLT-showcase_600x-300x200.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>The Club at CLT is one of the many The Club Priority Pass lounge locations found at major US airports. Credit: The Club<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h3><span id=\"200_annual_airline_credit\">$200 annual airline credit<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Possibly the most flexible airline credit offered by a credit card, the <a data-ccid=\"3006107\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/MastercardBlackCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Mastercard Black Card<\/a> provides a $200 annual credit towards any airline-related purchases.<\/p>\n<p>According to the card's fine print, this includes &#8220;airfare, baggage fees, lounge access, and some in-flight purchases.&#8221; This differs greatly from many other cards' airline credits, which typically cover incidentals rather than tickets.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/cards-with-travel-statement-credit\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Best Credit Cards with Travel Credits and Airline Incidental Credits<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"100_annual_dining_credit\">$100 annual dining credit<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Receive up to $100 per calendar year toward any dining purchases made with your card. Dining purchases include all restaurants, but may not include food delivery services.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"120_Global_EntryTSA_PreCheck_credit\">$120 Global Entry\/TSA PreCheck credit<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Mastercard Black Card also offers a statement credit up to $120 when you use your card to register for <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/travel\/tsa-precheck\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Global Entry or TSA PreCheck<\/a>. This credit is valid once every four years. This can help get you past airport security or immigration much more quickly.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Complimentary_travel_insurance\">Complimentary travel insurance<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Like many other premium travel cards, the Mastercard Black Card provides a suite of <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/travel-insurance\/\" rel=\"noopener\">complimentary travel insurance<\/a> benefits:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Trip cancellation:<\/strong> Up to $5,000 per person, per trip.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Trip interruption:<\/strong> Up to $5,000 per person, per trip.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Rental car insurance:<\/strong> Secondary coverage, no limit specified.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Accidental death and dismemberment:<\/strong> Up to $250,000.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Baggage delay:<\/strong> $100 per day starting at four hours.<\/li>\n<li><strong>24\/7 travel assistance<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Notably, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/baggage-loss-insurance\/\" rel=\"noopener\">lost luggage protection<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/trip-delay-insurance\/\" rel=\"noopener\">trip delay insurance<\/a> are missing \u2014 both of which you'll find on competitors such as the <a data-ccid=\"4048084\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/chase-ultimate-rewards\/sapphire-reserve\/\">Chase Sapphire Reserve<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a>  (<a data-ccid=\"4048084\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1975477.10005148&type=3&subid=032da372e8d3ad01bd783d710a016abdc&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/chase-ultimate-rewards\/sapphire-reserve-insurance-benefits\/\" rel=\"noopener\">What to Know About Sapphire Reserve Travel and Purchase Insurance Benefits<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Mastercard_World_Elite_benefits\">Mastercard World Elite benefits<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Because the Mastercard Black Card is a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/world-elite-mastercard-benefits\/\" rel=\"noopener\">World Elite Mastercard<\/a>, you'll have access to plenty of additional benefits, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Up to $5 off Peacock membership (through December 2027)<\/li>\n<li>$10 off your second order each month with Instacart+ (through January 2027)<\/li>\n<li>Concierge services<\/li>\n<li>Priceless Experiences, which can be unique events or tickets<\/li>\n<li>Automatic cash back with Mastercard Travel Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span id=\"Luxury_Card_Travel_program\">Luxury Card Travel program<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Like <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/chase-ultimate-rewards\/the-edit-by-chase-travel\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Chase's The Edit<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/amex-membership-rewards\/amex-fine-hotels-and-resorts\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Amex's Fine Hotel + Resorts<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a>, and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/capital-one-rewards\/premier-collection-hotels\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Capital One's Premier Collection<\/a>, the Luxury Card Travel program provides cardholders with extra benefits when staying at eligible hotels. These include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Room upgrade at check-in.<\/li>\n<li>Daily breakfast for two.<\/li>\n<li>Amenity credit.<\/li>\n<li>Free Wi-Fi.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_168444\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/204\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-168444 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Luxury-Card-Travel-program.png\" alt=\"Luxury Card Travel program\" width=\"750\" height=\"204\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Luxury-Card-Travel-program.png 2458w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Luxury-Card-Travel-program-300x82.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Luxury-Card-Travel-program-1024x279.png 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Luxury-Card-Travel-program-768x209.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Luxury-Card-Travel-program-1536x419.png 1536w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Luxury-Card-Travel-program-2048x558.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Luxury Card<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h2><span id=\"Mastercard_Black_Card_Earning_Rates\">Mastercard Black Card Earning Rates<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The earning rate of the Mastercard Black Card is simple. You'll get 2X points back for every dollar spent when booking flights through <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/luxurycardtravel.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">LuxuryCardTravel.com<\/a>. For all other purchases, you'll earn 1X points per $1 spent.<\/p>\n<p>There are no further bonus categories or rotating categories. These categories are severely lacking given that this is a luxury card, but they're not as tragic as they first appear, thanks to the card's redemption rates.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Redeeming_Points_With_the_Mastercard_Black_Card\">Redeeming Points With the Mastercard Black Card<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There are two ways to redeem points with the <a data-ccid=\"3006107\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/MastercardBlackCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Mastercard Black Card<\/a>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>2 cents each toward airfare<\/li>\n<li>1.5 cents each towards cash back<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>So, earning 1 point for every dollar you spend isn't great, but redeeming your points at 2 cents each gives the card a 2% return on airfare.<\/p>\n<p>There are some situations in which it can make sense to use the card for spending, especially if you don't want to spend a ton of time memorizing transfer partners.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_213366\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/462\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-213366 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/menghan-zhang-unsplash-airplane-flying-over-city-featured.jpeg\" alt=\"an airplane wing flying over a city\" width=\"600\" height=\"462\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/menghan-zhang-unsplash-airplane-flying-over-city-featured.jpeg 1038w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/menghan-zhang-unsplash-airplane-flying-over-city-featured-300x231.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/menghan-zhang-unsplash-airplane-flying-over-city-featured-1024x789.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/menghan-zhang-unsplash-airplane-flying-over-city-featured-768x592.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Megan Zhang \/ Unsplash<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>Most notably, redeeming your points for 2 cents each toward airfare can provide significant value to those who pay for flights in cash. There are no award seats to look for or restrictions on how these points can be redeemed. Even more importantly, because these will be considered paid flights, you'll earn elite status credit and miles for the flights that you take.<\/p>\n<p>Redeeming your points for 1.5 cents in cash can also be an option, but it's not a good one. This will surpass Amex, which gives you 0.6 cents each. It's also better than Chase, which gives you 1 cent each. However, considering that you can earn far more points with cards from these banks (and they have transfer partners), the Mastercard Black Card falls behind.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/find-a-card\/cash-back\/\" rel=\"noopener\">The Best Cash Back Credit Cards<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Cards_That_Compete_With_the_Mastercard_Black_Card\">Cards That Compete With the Mastercard Black Card<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Maybe the <a data-ccid=\"3006107\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/MastercardBlackCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Mastercard Black Card<\/a> isn't for you. That's okay. Here are three other solid options worth considering:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>If you want to earn more points<\/strong>, the <a data-ccid=\"4048084\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/chase-ultimate-rewards\/sapphire-reserve\/\">Chase Sapphire Reserve<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a> (<a data-ccid=\"4048084\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1975477.10005148&type=3&subid=032da372e8d3ad01bd783d710a016abdc&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>) is a better option. Although it has a higher $795 annual fee, the card includes a $300 annual travel credit, effectively bringing the rate to $595. It also comes with a ton of other statement credits, further lowering the fee. Additionally, you can earn points much faster with 8X on travel booked through Chase Travel, 4X on other eligible travel costs, and 3X on restaurants worldwide. Learn more in our <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/chase-ultimate-rewards\/sapphire-reserve\/\" rel=\"noopener\">full Sapphire Reserve review<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>If you want more statement credits<\/strong>, the <a data-ccid=\"4028089\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/amex-membership-rewards\/amex-platinum\/\">American Express Platinum Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a> charges a $895 annual fee (<a data-ccid=\"4028089\" href=\"https:\/\/www.americanexpress.com\/us\/credit-cards\/card-application\/apply\/prospect\/terms\/platinum-card\/91101-10-0#offer-terms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>), but it offers substantial value in the form of statement credits each year. These have a lot of restrictions and take some planning to use, but if you can maximize them, you'll get tons of value out of the card. Learn more in our <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/amex-membership-rewards\/amex-platinum\/\" rel=\"noopener\">comprehensive Platinum Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> review<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>If you want a lower annual fee<\/strong>, the <a data-ccid=\"3006151\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/capital-one-rewards\/venture-card\/\">Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card<\/a> charges just $95 per year. It also earns at least 2 miles per dollar on every purchase. Even when redeeming for flights, this matches the earn rate of the Mastercard Black Card. Check out our <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/capital-one-rewards\/venture-card\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Capital One Venture review<\/a> to learn more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"compare-cards-wrap compare-count-cards-3 compare-p-capital-one\"><div class=\"compare-card\"><div class=\"compare-pre\"><div class=\"compare-image\"><div><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chase Sapphire Reserve\u00ae\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.nextinsure.com\/imaging\/opt\/565192b2-c5cc-4edc-89ae-b8bba7a63750.png\" width=\"150\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-name\">Chase Sapphire Reserve<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/div><div class=\"compare-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong>\r\nEarn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-apply-now\" title='Chase Sapphire Reserve\u00ae' data-ccid=\"4048084\" data-exit=\"ccw\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/ChaseSapphireReserve\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div><div class=\"compare-fee-score\"><div class=\"compare-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee<\/strong><p>$795<span class=\"compare-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"4048084\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1975477.10005148&type=3&subid=032da372e8d3ad01bd783d710a016abdc&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"compare-rating compare-rating--6\"><strong>Credit Score<\/strong><p>Excellent<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-earning\"><ul>\r\n<li>8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel\u2120<\/li>\r\n<li>4x points on flights and hotels booked directly<\/li>\r\n<li>3x points on dining worldwide<\/li>\r\n<li>1x points on all other purchases<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-card\"><div class=\"compare-pre\"><div class=\"compare-image\"><div><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.nextinsure.com\/imaging\/opt\/e6901d88-1a35-4373-b3e1-9a2a445490a0.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"American Express Platinum Card\u00ae\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-name\">American Express Platinum Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/div><div class=\"compare-offer\"><strong>Welcome Offer<\/strong>\r\nAs High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-how-apply\" title='American Express Platinum Card\u00ae' data-ccid=\"4028089\" data-exit=\"ccw\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-ThePlatinumCardfromAmericanExpress\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">How to Apply<\/a><\/div><div class=\"compare-fee-score\"><div class=\"compare-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee<\/strong><p>$895<span class=\"compare-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"4028089\" href=\"https:\/\/www.americanexpress.com\/us\/credit-cards\/card-application\/apply\/prospect\/terms\/platinum-card\/91101-10-0#offer-terms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><br>(Terms apply)<\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"compare-rating compare-rating--5\"><strong>Credit Score<\/strong><p>Excellent, Good<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-earning\"><ul>\r\n<li>Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).<\/li>\r\n<li>Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>.<\/li>\r\n<li>Earn  5X points on Fine Hotels + Resorts<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> and The Hotel Collection bookings.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-card\"><div class=\"compare-pre\"><div class=\"compare-image\"><div><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.nextinsure.com\/imaging\/opt\/dfed8cb4-d376-4c8b-aed4-1997afa3d66a.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card\" class=\"lazyload\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-name\">Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card<\/div><div class=\"compare-offer\"><strong>Welcome Offer<\/strong>\r\nEarn 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. <\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-apply\"><a data-ccid=\"3006151\" data-exit=\"ccw\" class=\"btn-use qs-how-apply\" title='Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card' href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-COV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">How to Apply<\/a><\/div><div class=\"compare-fee-score\"><div class=\"compare-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee<\/strong><p>$95<\/p><\/div><div class=\"compare-rating compare-rating--5\"><strong>Credit Score<\/strong><p>Excellent, Good<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-earning\"><ul>\r\n<li>5X miles per dollar on purchases through Capital One Entertainment <\/li>\r\n<li>5X miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel<\/li>\r\n<li>2X miles per dollar on all other purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/best-premium-travel-credit-card\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Comparison of Premium Travel Rewards Cards<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Final_Thoughts\">Final Thoughts<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The <a data-ccid=\"3006107\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/MastercardBlackCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Mastercard Black Card<\/a> isn't going to be the right fit for everybody. Those who are focused on maximizing every dollar they spend will certainly balk at the lack of spending categories, even though they can redeem those points for 2 cents each.<\/p>\n<p>That being said, those whose home airport has a Priority Pass restaurant will want to consider the card, as will large families or groups who can take advantage of unlimited guest access to airport lounges. With a slightly lower annual fee than competitors, the Mastercard Black Card could also be the card of choice for no-fuss cardholders who want to earn airline elite status through cash flights.<\/p>\n<div class=\"qs-card\" data-id=\"3006107\">\n            <div class=\"qs-data\">\n                <div class=\"qs-view\">\n                    <div class=\"qs-cardname\">Mastercard<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Black Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-image\"><img data-aspectratio=\"150\/104\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/CardArt-MastercardBlackCard.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Mastercard&lt;sup&gt;\u00ae&lt;\/sup&gt; Black Card&lt;sup&gt;\u00ae&lt;\/sup&gt;\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-apply-now\" title='Mastercard&lt;sup&gt;\u00ae&lt;\/sup&gt; Black Card&lt;sup&gt;\u00ae&lt;\/sup&gt;' data-ccid=\"3006107\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/MastercardBlackCard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-rates\"><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Featured Benefit<\/strong>\r\nEnjoy automatic enrollment in Priority Pass\u2122 Select with access to 1,700 airport lounges worldwide with no guest or lounge limits. Includes credits at select airport restaurants for cardholder and one guest.<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"qs-info\">\n                    <strong class=\"qs-cardname\">Mastercard<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Black Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/strong>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Featured Benefit<\/strong>\r\nEnjoy automatic enrollment in Priority Pass\u2122 Select with access to 1,700 airport lounges worldwide with no guest or lounge limits. Includes credits at select airport restaurants for cardholder and one guest.<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee:<\/strong><b>$699<\/b><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-tabs\"><a class=\"qs-more\" href=\"#more\">Show more<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"wwl\">Why We Like It<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"hl\">Highlights<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"er\">Earning Rates<\/a><div class=\"qs-tab-wwl\">The Mastercard<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Black Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> delivers luxury perks and a robust fixed-value reward structure. Cardholders enjoy a generous 2% redemption value for airfare and 1.5% redemption value for cash back, paired with exclusive benefits such as 24\/7 concierge service, airport lounge access with Priority Pass\u2122, and a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre\u2713<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> fees. Its distinctive stainless steel design underscores its premium status.<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-hl\"><ul>\r\n    <li>Redeem at 2% value for airfare and 1.5% for cash back. Just 50,000 points will get you a $1,000 ticket on any airline or $750 cash back, issued as a direct deposit statement credit.<\/li>\r\n\r\n    <li>Earn 2X points on Airfare and Hotel reservations booked through LuxuryCardTravel.com. One point for every one dollar you spend for all other categories, earning points every time you spend.<\/li>\r\n\r\n    <li><strong>$200 Annual Airline Credit:<\/strong> Receive up to $200 in annual air travel credits toward flight-related purchases, including airline tickets, baggage fees, upgrades and more.<\/li>\r\n\r\n    <li><strong>$100 Annual Dining Credit:<\/strong> Get up to $100 in annual statement credits when you use your Luxury Card at qualifying restaurants.<\/li>\r\n\r\n    <li>Receive up to $120 reimbursement credit for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> application fee. Global Entry includes access to TSA PreCheck<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> with no additional application or fee required.<\/li>\r\n\r\n    <li>24\/7 Luxury Card Concierge<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>: Exclusive to Cardmembers. Your busy life never stops, and neither do our Luxury Card Concierge agents. Enjoy around-the-clock lifestyle management and planning support tailored to your specific needs\u2014and designed to save you time. Our personalized one-on-one service delivers solutions, suggestions and even surprises to make every day exceptional. Book the trip. Get the reservations. Score the tickets.<\/li>\r\n\r\n    <li>With your Luxury Card, enjoy complimentary access to over 1,700 airport lounges and travel experiences in more than 600 cities across 145 countries with Priority Pass\u2122 Select. Access includes unlimited visits for yourself as well as your guests.<\/li>\r\n\r\n    <li>Black-PVD-Coated Metal Card and Made of Stainless Steel<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>: Beautifully crafted and exceptionally premium, Luxury Card is a statement piece designed to stand out in the most refined way. Weighing in at an impressive 22 grams, its stainless steel, contactless patented card design and metal construction raises the standard. Carry a card with distinction.<\/li>\r\n\r\n    <li>Exclusive Luxury Card Travel<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> benefits\u2014average value of $500 per stay (e.g., resort credits, room upgrades, free wifi, breakfast for two and more) at over 3,000 properties. Receive protection benefits like trip cancellation and interruption, auto rental car collision waiver, travel accident and baggage delay. Cell phone protection for eligible claims of up to $1,000 each year. Plus additional World Elite Mastercard<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> benefits.<\/li>\r\n\r\n    <li>Annual Fee: $699 ($249 for each Authorized User). <a data-ccid=\"3006107\" href=\"https:\/\/www.barclaycardus.com\/applycontent\/TnCs.jsp?tc47392\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Terms and conditions apply<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-er\"><ul>\r\n<li>Earn one point for every dollar spent<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <a class=\"qs-share\" href=\"\/find-a-card\/MCBlack\/\" title=\"copy\"><svg width=\"12\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><use href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/awardwallet\/public\/builds\/icon\/icon-sprite.svg?v2026-5-15b009cd64#share-square\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/use><\/svg><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Not many are talking about the Mastercard Black Card, but they should be. Sure, the points it earns could be better, but its Priority Pass membership is the best one on the market. Add to this the fact that you&#8217;ll earn 1.5 cents per point on cash back redemptions and 2 cents per point towards airfare, and the card can definitely make sense for some.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":127217,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":null,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"default","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[12055],"tags":[12620,12780],"coauthors":[36395,36392],"class_list":["post-168434","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-credit-cards","tag-card-reviews","tag-mastercard-network"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168434","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/75"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=168434"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168434\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":246241,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168434\/revisions\/246241"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/127217"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=168434"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=168434"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=168434"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=168434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}