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Luxury Card Mastercard® Gold Card™ review
Get solid rewards and a first-class travel program — but at a high cost.
- Get this card if you want a solid flat rate on rewards or you like the Luxury Card Travel program.
- Pick something else if you want accelerated rewards, point or mile transfers, hotel loyalty upgrades or a signup bonus.
- Apply with an excellent credit score of 740 or higher.
Up to 1x
Points
$995
Annual fee
16.99%
Purchase APR (variable)
0%
Intro Balance Transfer
for the first 15 billing cycles (then 16.99% variable)
Details
| Product Name | Luxury Card Mastercard® Gold Card™ |
|---|---|
| Card type | Mastercard |
| Annual fee | $995 |
| Purchase APR | 16.99% variable |
| Balance transfer APR | 0% intro for the first 15 billing cycles (then 16.99% variable) |
| Balance transfer fee | $5 or 3% of the transaction, whichever is greater |
| Cash advance rate | 27.24% variable |
| Cash advance fee | $10 or 5% of the cash advance amount, whichever is greater |
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
| Interest free period | Up to 23 days |
| Late payment fee | Up to $37 |
| Returned payment fee | Up to $37 |
| Additional cardholder fee | $295 |
The basics
There’s no way around it: The Luxury Card Mastercard® Gold Card™ is expensive. At nearly a grand a year, it aims squarely for the ultra-premium market.
Unfortunately, many cardholders may find it misses the mark. Three of the card’s key travel features — an annual airline credit, Priority Pass Select membership and credit for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application — are standard in cards that are half the price. So are secondary benefits like concierge service, travel accident insurance and price protection. Curiously, the card doesn’t offer a signup bonus.
The Luxury Card Mastercard® Gold Card™ does have bright spots, however. It offers a strong redemption rate for airfare, cash back and statement credits, which makes it a flexible choice for rewards. You’ll also find impressive perks through Mastercard’s Luxury Card Travel, such as room upgrades, chauffeured transportation and worldwide baggage delivery.
Still, unless you’re uniquely drawn to the Luxury Card Travel program or a card with 24-karat gold, the Luxury Card Mastercard® Gold Card™ may be priced too high for what it brings to the table. For a lower annual fee, you’ll find a premium card that offers significantly more.
Luxury Card™ Mastercard® products at a glance
| Luxury Card Mastercard® Titanium Card™ | Luxury Card Mastercard® Black Card™ | Luxury Card Mastercard® Gold Card™ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $195 | $495 | $995 |
| Rewards | 1x points on all purchases | 1x points on all purchases | 1x points on all purchases |
| Rewards redemption rates | 2% for airfare; 1% for cash back and statement credits | 2% for airfare; 1.5% for cash back and statement credits | 2% for airfare; 2% for cash back and statement credits |
| Luxury Card Concierge |  |
|
|
| Luxury Card Travel benefits | |
|
|
| Annual airline credit | None | $100 | $200 |
| Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit | None | $100 every five years | $100 every five years |
| Priority Pass Select membership | No | Yes | Yes |
| Luxury Gifts | No | Yes | Yes |
|
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Compare Luxury Card credit cards
The perks
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Rewards: 1x points on all purchases.
You’ll receive a 2% redemption value when you redeem points for airfare, cash back or statement credits. In effect, that means you’ll earn 2x points on all spending if you redeem for these rewards.The Luxury Card Mastercard® Gold Card™ isn’t so strong when you redeem points for other rewards. For hotels, car rentals, gift cards, certificates and merchandise, you’ll receive a 1% redemption value. That wouldn’t be a weakness, except the card only offers 1x points on all purchases. Other travel cards might offer 2x or 3x points in select categories.
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Intro balance transfer APR: 0% for the first 15 billing cycles following each transfer that posts within the first 45 days of card membership.
After the intro APR expires, your APR on transferred balances reverts to 16.99% variable.Relatively few travel cards offer intro APRs on balance transfers. And even fewer offer intro periods as long as that of the Luxury Card Mastercard® Gold Card™.
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Travel credits.
Every year, you’ll receive a $200 air travel credit. Use it for flight-related expenses like airfare, upgrades or baggage fees.Every five years, you’ll receive a $100 credit toward a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application. -
Airport lounge access.
Receive a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, which unlocks access to more than a thousand lounges around the world.
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Luxury Card Travel.
When you book through Luxury Card Travel, you may receive room upgrades, complimentary food and beverage, spa credits and other perks at more than 3,000 properties around the world.The Luxury Card Mastercard® Gold Card™ has a bevy of singular travel benefits. Use Airport Meet and Assist, and a representative meets you once you land at your destination airport, helping you through paperwork and customs. For important events, you can arrange transportation from a personal chauffeur. And through the Global Luggage Delivery program, you can ship your luggage in advance to almost any destination in the world so that you aren’t’ burdened by it en route.
You can also enjoy cruise perks, yacht charter and private jet bookings, access to strong wireless communication on trips and car rental benefits.
You’ll also like …
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Constructed with 24-karat gold.
The Luxury Card Mastercard® Gold Card™ is a beautiful product. It’s gold plated, and key aspects of its design are patent protected.
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Mastercard Priceless.
Priceless Cities offers invitations to one-of-a-kind travel opportunities. Priceless Surprises offers special prizes when you use your card. And you’ll get access to exclusive golf experiences through Priceless Golf.
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Luxury Card Concierge.
Contact the Luxury Card Concierge anytime for assistance with travel itineraries, gifts, access to special events and more.Also, receive luxury gifts from the world’s most exclusive brands. This perk is available for Luxury Card Mastercard® Gold Card™ and Luxury Card Mastercard® Black Card™ members only.
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No foreign transaction fees.
Use the Luxury Card Mastercard® Gold Card™ abroad and at foreign websites without paying a fee. Many providers charge a fee equal to 3% of your transaction, though it’s common for travel cards to forgo that fee.
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Luxury Magazine.
Get a complimentary subscription to Luxury Magazine. It’s a quarterly publication that covers what’s noteworthy in real estate, travel, technology, fashion and vehicles.
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Travel benefits.
Enjoy insurance to protect you against delays, baggage delays, cancellation and interruption, travel accidents and auto rental collision waivers.Leverage the Global Assistance Service if you need emergency cash or card replacements. Before your trip, Travel Assistance Service can help with passport requirements and referrals to professional services.
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Purchase benefits.
Receive price protection on eligible products you buy with your card for partial reimbursement if you find lower prices elsewhere. With satisfaction guarantee, you’ll receive refunds on eligible items if the original retailer won’t take your return. You’ll like purchase assurance, which covers eligible items against damage or theft for the first 90 days after purchase. And extended warranty protection doubles your eligible item’s warranty if it’s under 24 months.
What to watch out for
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Annual fee: $995.
The Luxury Card Mastercard® Gold Card™ is about double the price of most premium travel cards. At the same time, its benefits aren’t head and shoulders above what you’ll find with those cards.
Compare travel credit cards
What should I know before I apply?
Before applying for the Luxury Card Mastercard® Gold Card™, confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements and have the required information on hand.
Eligibility requirements
- You’re at least 18 years of age.
- You’re a resident of the US. (Unfortunately, residents of Puerto Rico and US territories are not eligible.)
Required information
- Your name, address and residence status.
- Your occupation and total annual income.
- Your primary phone number, work phone number and email address.
- Your citizenship status.
- Your date of birth, Social Security number and mother’s maiden name.
What credit score do I need?
Consider applying with an excellent credit score of 740 or higher, which increases your odds of approval. As with most card applications, a higher credit score and income further raises the likelihood of approval.
What do customers say about the Luxury Card Mastercard® Gold Card™?
Some cardholders say the annual fee is much higher than they expected. Many customers think other cards offer better value.
Barclays Bank Delaware, the card’s managing bank, is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and earns an A+ rating. It currently has more than 1,100 customer complaints, but the BBB lists many of them as answered or resolved.
How to apply for the Luxury Card Mastercard® Gold Card™
- Click apply now.
- Complete the application form with your personal information and contact details.
- Review your application and submit it by clicking Apply.
How long will it take to get my Luxury Card Mastercard® Gold Card™?
After you’re approved, it takes 7 to 10 business days to receive your card in the mail. If you request express delivery when applying and your account is opened before 3 p.m. ET, your card is sent for next-day delivery via FedEx. Accounts that are opened after 3 p.m. ET are sent the following day.
I got the card. Now what?
- Set up online access. Register your card at the My Luxury Card website, where you can view and manage your account.
- Enroll in autopay. To ensure that you never miss a deadline, set up automatic payments on the My Luxury Card website.
- Avoid interest. The Luxury Card Mastercard® Gold Card™ offers an ongoing variable APR of 16.99% for purchases and balance transfers. That’s around the average for credit cards. Still, consider avoiding debt by paying off your balance each month.
- Avoid fees. You’ll pay fees for each balance transfer and cash advance. For each late or returned payment, you could pay a fee as high as $37, depending on your state.
- Contact customer service. To resolve issues with your account, contact the number on the back of your card. Or call 844-LUX-CARD to reach the general helpline.
Bottom line
At $995 a year, the Luxury Card Mastercard® Gold Card™ shoots for the ultra-premium market. Unfortunately, you might wish it offered more for the price. It may be a good option if you’re a specific type of first-class traveler, but you’ll likely find what you need with another premium card.