Luxury Card’s From Barclaycard: Titanium, Black & Gold Reviews

Update: These cards no longer offer a sign up bonus and Barclaycard has cut benefits for military cardholders.

Two days ago we reported that Barclaycard had launched three new cards under their Luxury Card brand. I thought these cards deserved an in depth review due to the high annual fees they charge ($195-$995) to see if there is any value to be had. We’ll start by looking at what’s the same between the cards and then the individual benefits of each.

luxury card reviews titanium black & gold card

All Cards

Points Earning & Points Worth

All of these cards earn one point per dollar spent and there are absolutely no bonus categories to speak of. All cards can also redeem points for airfare at a rate of one point = 2¢. You can also redeem these points for statement credit, the rate you receive depends on the card you have and is as follows:

  • Titanium: 1 point = 1¢
  • Black: 1 point = 1.5¢
  • Gold: 1 point = 2¢

One of the nice things about these cards is that the minimum redemption rate is really low, when redeeming for airfare you can redeem for as few as 50 points and in increments of 50 points. When redeeming for statement credit you can redeem in chunks of $1. Redemption can be done online at myluxurycard.com or by calling 844-724-2500, option 1, between 7:00am and 9:00pm Monday through Friday, and between 9:00am and 9:00pm Saturday and Sunday Eastern Time.

Some other information about points:

  • Points don’t expire as long as card is open, active, and in good standing
  • You cannot transfer points

Redeeming For Flights

Redeeming for flights is always only as good as the travel portal you have to use. There are a few things to consider:

  • All airline tickets are non-refundable, non-transferable, and non-changeable (have to make any changes directly with the airline)
  • There is no limit to the price of your ticket. Any combination of Points and other forms of payment can be applied to the purchase price
  • If you select to receive paper tickets a $50 fee will be charged

It looks like they use a company called TLI for bookings.

Luxury Card Concierge

All three cards come with Luxury Card Concierge, this service is available 24/7 and 365 days per year. This concierge service is run by VIPDesk.com/Aspire (the same provider that American Express currently uses) and cardholders can access this benefit through the following website: http://www.luxurycardconcierge.com.

I don’t have a lot of experience with credit card concierge services (I usually find it quicker just to google the information myself), so if you do please share them in the comments or if you know of any good reviews of Aspire let me know and I’ll add them here.

Luxury Magazine

Another benefit available to all three cards is the members only Luxury Magazine, this is a quarterly publication. Although it’s supposed to be members only, it looks like anybody can access it by simply going to: http://www.luxurymagazine.com/ and clicking view now. A lot of it seems to be ads for expensive products, although I found a few interesting articles as well. I’d assume that cardholders receive a hard copy as well, but I don’t see anywhere to input your mailing details so unless Barclaycard just use the details they have no file it’s likely online only.

Other Benefits

  • 0% APR on balance transfers for first fifteen billing cycles (3% BT fee)

Airline Credits (Black & Gold Only)

The Black & Gold cards both come with an airline credit ($100 & $200 respectively), according to the fine print this is available on a calendar year basis (based on the transaction date). The credit is automatic and should post to your account within two weeks of the transaction date. According to the fine print the following counts (emphasis mine):

  • Qualifying airline purchases are defined as purchases made by the primary cardmember or authorized user(s) with an airline for items including airfare, baggage fees, lounge access, and some in-flight purchases, as determined by the merchant category code.  Barclaycard does not determine and is not responsible for whether merchants correctly identify themselves and bill transactions as being made at locations in a particular category.

This seems similar to the Citi Prestige benefit in that airfare counts, so almost any airline purchase (including gift cards) should also trigger this bonus. Some previous gifts have included the following: Cross pen set, Ray-Ban aviator glasses and a Swatch chronograph watch (let us know what else in the comments).

Luxury Gifts (Black & Gold Only)

Both the Black & Gold cards get access to something called Luxury Gifts. There is no set frequency of when you’ll receive a luxury gift, or even how many gifts you’ll receive in a card member year. Barclaycard used to issue the Black Card before the Luxury Card rebranding and this also had a luxury gift program.

Global Entry Credit (Black & Gold Only)

Like most premium cards, the the black & gold cards come with a global entry credit. You’ll receive a statement credit of $100 when making payment for your Global Entry using this card, this credit resets once every five years (this is how long Global Entry lasts). Your card must be open for 7 days before charging this fee to your card (seems like a silly rule).

Lounge Club (Black & Gold Only)

Another benefit for Black & Gold cardholders only is a Lounge Club membership. This looks like an unlimited access pass (meaning you don’t need  to pay the $27 fee to access the lounge) for yourself and as many guests as the lounge allows. Fine print below:

Primary cardmembers are eligible for a complimentary membership to participating airport lounges which allows for unlimited visits for yourself as well as guests

Titanium

  • Annual fee of $195 and $95 for authorized users
  • Card aesthetics: Brushed Stainless Steel/Carbon Card
  • Sign up bonus of 10,000 points after $1,000 in spend within first 90 days of account opening
  • Points can be redeemed for 1¢ for statement credit or 2¢ for airfare

Black

  • Annual fee of $495 and $195 for authorized users
  • Card aesthetics: Stainless Steel/Carbon Card
  • Sign up bonus of 25,000 points after $1,000 in spend within first 90 days of account opening
  • Points can be redeemed for 1.5¢ for statement credit or 2¢ for airfare

Gold

  • Annual fee of $995 and $295 for authorized users
  • Card aesthetics: 24K-Gold-Plated/Carbon Card
  • Sign up bonus of 50,000 points after $1,000 in spend within first 90 days of account opening
  • Points can be redeemed for 2¢ for statement credit or 2¢ for airfare

Application Information

When you apply for this card, it’s run through Barclaycard’s normal application procedure, this means it should be a TransUnion credit pull and it should be possible to get multiple inquiries merged. If you apply for any of these cards, let us know if you were approved/denied and some more information (income, credit score etc).

Apparently all applications for these go automatically into manual review, you can expedite this by calling in. Few reasons why they might deny you:

  • Bankruptcy on file
  • Too many new accounts

Our Verdict

Update: Military members do get the annual fee on this card waived.

The Gold Card is probably the card of most interest, the sign up bonus would be worth $1,000. Obviously this only cancels out the annual fee, but some people should be able to get that refunded (and various other tricks might work as well). Even if not you should be able to double dip the airline credit as it’s per calendar year and get $400 in airline purchases reimbursed, that’s a pretty good outcome for a TransUnion pull (and even better if you can get that AF waived/refunded).

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HG
HG (@guest_953785)
April 7, 2020 22:13

Wow, after reading some of the post on how to get one or which one. i guess i got luck because i made over 6 figures back in 2016. i did get my Black Card with a credit limit of 10k. so i guess I’m one of the lucky one that pass through under the raps. I tried to book a vacation with Luxury but there prices were ridicules. The agent to be its better to book it your self with Priceline, hot wire and so forth.Other then that i like my card going to try and get the GOLD if i qualify.

calwatch
calwatch (@guest_664331)
October 29, 2018 02:51

Apparently Barclays spent big bucks on marketing this to World Series viewers and spent money on model and musician’s wife Lily Aldridge to run nice commercials for this product. Putting a bunch of “TMs” after words doesn’t impress me, nor does their bad math (it is pretty trivial for a high net worth person to combine CSR with Freedom Unlimited to get 2.25% towards any airline purchase, or just forego both of this and go for 2.625% Travel/Premium Rewards on Merrill Edge at a $95 annual fee). Still, might be time to do an update if warranted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KimGXyi9VuU

Harry
Harry (@guest_366436)
March 8, 2017 06:20

What is the minimum income requirement for titanium and black cards?

Jessie
Jessie (@guest_332061)
December 28, 2016 23:57

I applied for and received the Black Card and a few months later rolled into the Gold Card. To be honest I think these cards are a joke and the advertising for them is a bigger one. There is nothing hard or prestigious about getting one of these cards and Barkley’s is just banking on the annual fees. I have not used the Gold Card yet so it’s going in the mail tomorrow. I would rather spend the 995.00 a year on other things. 🙂

Vlad
Vlad (@guest_320986)
November 28, 2016 23:33

I just received an invite today. So I applied for the Black Card. I do have another Barclaycard but have a BK from 3 years ago. I keep my cards at a low utilization but had a couple inquiries recently. My credit score is 670 and was approved immediately at $5k. I assume that’s an extremely low initial credit limit. Gonna be tough to make the card worthwhile, but I’ve got my Black Card.

Aaron
Aaron (@guest_319041)
November 24, 2016 05:51

Applied for.titanium… got the manadtory wait message. However, 24 hours later I got a thank you email for signing up for paperless on my acount ending in XXXX,with 4 numbers. So I am I in? Havent heard anything else yet…but if it was a no, why would I have an account number ?

Ron
Ron (@guest_319065)
November 24, 2016 08:14

It’s pretty much approved. I had the same experience. Did you compare the offering to American Express Premier gold card and see which one fit your life style? It’s has a 100 travel credit, 75 hotel credit, sign up bonus and good points 3x travel, 2x dining and entertainment, 1x everything. Bad thing is picking your favorite airline at the beginning of each year.

YRK
YRK (@guest_466991)
August 28, 2017 05:41

75$ hotel credit on prg?

Ron C
Ron C (@guest_316826)
November 18, 2016 18:40

I got the Luxury Black Card in July 2016. Credit score 807 with a reported income of $102,000. I pick the card over American Express Platinum because a elite travel card should be accepted everywhere. MasterCard world elite has better acceptance period. Next flexibility- pay total Bill or monthly. I good with paying the total. Travel credit is good with Any airline and fares, not just your favorite pick and no fares like the platinum card. But it is less of a credit. The global entrance is the same. The hotels, car rental and spa credit same. Luxury has more properties if you get a chance to visit them all, platinum has more lounges same story. People see more platinum cards so the exclusive is not there. Black Card turns heads every time. Luxury card offers unlimited guest access, sorry platinum don’t. But my favorite is my new Chase Sapphire Resever. Cheap metal made card but lots of perks and easy to use travel credit. Oh, Luxury did waived my first year annual fee and 3 months later I got a black cross pen. The only spent on the card was for global entry. I love the heavy metal luxury black card uses. I did notice lot of bad things said about the card came from people whom either don’t have the card, got disapproved or fail to do right and their interest rates increases. Which means you still wanted it. Rest couldn’t afford the annual fee or just didn’t want to pay it.

Aleksy
Aleksy (@guest_313597)
November 8, 2016 17:25

I am 20, going on 21 in May, and I did happen to get approved for the Titanium card with a current credit score of 750. I am expecting it in the mail any day now, and this was a good summary of the card and its benefits. Surprising considering both Credit Karma and Credit.com rates this as an elite card.

Jason
Jason (@guest_313749)
November 9, 2016 11:29

Congrats! By the way, how would you like to spend with this card? Buy airline tickets or just daily regular spending? I’d like to learn more from your option for this elite card.

Will
Will (@guest_349872)
February 7, 2017 19:18

and your income range was around how much?

Joy J
Joy J (@guest_313345)
November 7, 2016 22:53

Just applied for the black card. 780 credit score. 150k income. Own my home for 14 years. Was approved immediately.

Can’t wait to get my new Cross pen. Haha

Daniel
Daniel (@guest_314712)
November 13, 2016 06:51

What was the initial credit line they started you with for the black card?

Jason
Jason (@guest_311544)
November 2, 2016 13:09

$995 annual fee for gold card for that 2% on statement credit. This card is a joke. I just saw the ad today after login out my yahoo email account, then I realized I should search it on DOC. Ar ha~~