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Platinum, gold and black credit cards compared and explained
From better points earn rates and airline lounge passes to higher credit limits, reward your spending with exclusive benefits with a premium credit card.
Platinum, gold and black credit cards are premium options that open the door to a range of exclusive benefits. These cards are a step up from standard offers, with features such as higher credit limits, more reward points and a huge range of complimentary extras.
However, New Zealand has a selection of platinum credit cards from brands including AMEX, ASB, Kiwibank and others. There are currently no black or gold personal credit cards available in here, although providers often update their credit card offerings.
What’s the difference between platinum, gold and black credit cards?
While platinum, gold and black credit cards are all premium options, each represents a different level of status and service. Gold credit cards are a step up from standard cards; platinum credit cards are typically above gold, and black credit cards sit at the top of the pack.
This means the specific features and benefits vary based on whether a card is a gold, platinum or black option. To help put this in perspective, we have outlined the common features and benefits for each type of credit card.
Gold credit cards
Gold credit cards are the “entry level” option for premium credit cards and are designed to suit people who are interested in receiving more features and benefits, but don’t want to pay much more in annual fees than they would for a standard card. Some of the most popular features of gold credit cards include:
Features of a Gold credit card
- Complimentary travel insurance
- Complimentary purchase protection insurance
- More reward points per $1 than standard cards
- Higher reward point caps than standard cards
- Annual fees ranging from $75 to $105
- Minimum credit limits starting from $5,000
Gold credit cards have slightly higher income and credit history requirements than standard cards, but not as high as those of platinum or black cards. You also need to have a good credit history to apply for a gold credit card.
Platinum credit cards
Platinum credit cards build on the benefits offered by gold credit cards, by providing a wider range of features and more flexibility. They are designed for people who regularly pay with plastic and want to be rewarded for it in a range of ways. In comparison to gold options, platinum cards may include:
The features you can expect from a Platinum credit card
- Complimentary international travel insurance with broader coverage
- Complimentary purchase protection insurance
- Complimentary domestic flight inconvenience insurance
- Complimentary car hire insurance
- More reward points per $1 than gold cards
- Higher reward point caps
- Personal concierge services
- Minimum credit limits from $8,000
- Annual fees ranging from $80 to $1,000.
Some platinum credit cards may also provide other spending benefits for customers. For example, The American Express Platinum Edge Credit Card offers you one complimentary direct domestic return flight every year.
The minimum income requirements for platinum credit cards also tend to be higher in comparison to gold cards. While some platinum options have a fairly low minimum income requirement, most are around $50,000, like the American Express Platinum Edge Credit Card. You also usually have to have a strong credit history to get a platinum credit card, making them even more exclusive.
Black credit cards
Black credit cards are considered the ultimate in premium credit cards, with the highest and broadest range of benefits. In addition to the complimentary extras you can find with gold or platinum cards, a black credit card may provide:
The perks and features you can expect from a Black credit card
- The highest amount of points per $1 for reward programmes
- Complimentary airport transfers
- Flight upgrades
- Dedicated travel booking services
- A personal concierge service
- Invitations to exclusive events or promotions
- Higher credit limits (up to $100,000 or higher)
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