Natwest/RBS Black credit card

marksoton

pjread wrote: »

Are there any cards left without a 3-digit fee that give free airport lounge access?

Not that i'm aware of.

But i question the value now anyway. I was at No1 at Gatwick South terminal last Friday. They've had a recent refurb and whilst the lounge itself is a much nicer place to be it was apparent they had cut back on certain other things.

AlexPF

Yes, they are both world elite. No, I could not find any reference to lounges or the other WE benefits. Mastercard runs the scheme privileges on a per issuer basis, unfortunately.

Marchitiello

I think the reason is that they have moved the benefits of the old Black Credit Card to the Black Rewards Current account (min salary £100k), and kept the black rewards Credit Card accessible to anyone, but at the same time reducing the fee (now £85, the old black was £150 I believe).

Ben8282

This is not a 'MasterCard World Elite' card. It is a black version of the Natwest Rewards credit card. The benefits such as airport lounge access come with the Black account, not this credit card. Not sure what you mean by 'status recognition' but there is no such recognition other than the fact that the card is black. The annual fee is refunded if a black account is held.

Marchitiello

I think that technically the actual card is indeed (numbers and graphic look) a World Elite, however as someone else said, the actual benefit are signed up by each issuer and RBS /Natwest have not done so. If you have the card, you can enter the first 6 number to confirm entitlements.

Some time ago I partecipated to a briefing on how CRM (Customer relationship management) can benefit certain retailers and as part of this I learned on how POS systems can be set up to manage differently different cards depending on the first 6 digits (type of card/issuer)

Marchitiello

EarthBoy wrote: »

... On MasterCard's own website, the MasterCard World Elite says "MasterCard World Elite" on it. NatWest's black card doesn't have those words on it, so, together with the fact that none of the benefits are mentioned on NatWest's website, I think you can safely assume that it isn't one of those cards and you won't get the benefits.
http://www.mastercard.co.uk/credit-card-world-elite.html

I have just come across the HSBC Premier version (UK), which also does not have the "World Elite" on it, but it is clearly defined as such by HSBC:
http://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/2/credit-cards/hsbc-premier-world-elite-credit-card

planteria

i wasn't aware of that one from HSBC, Marchitiello. it looks the part. i'm not sure about the points rather than generating straight cashback though, and i don't fancy the £195fee:undecided

AlexPF

I have both cards (RBS/NatWest). They are both world elite, as written on the back of the card. I'm sure it's the case of the HSBC one too.
The £84 is actually low once you consider no FX fees AND 0.5/1% cashback on every purchase (I actually manage to make money from both).

Of course, lounge access would be grand but no reference anywhere on the documentation, no Priority Pass or similar. It's up to the issuer to provide such benefits, excluding the ones indicated here: mastercard .co.uk /world-elite-privileges .html (most of the offers point to broken links, tho).

planteria

i would probably pay the fee for 1%cb across the board, to back up Amex, but 0.5% is easily had for free at Asda/Barclaycard/Nationwide.

Marchitiello

planteria wrote: »

i wasn't aware of that one from HSBC, Marchitiello. it looks the part. i'm not sure about the points rather than generating straight cashback though, and i don't fancy the £195fee:undecided

I think if you travel fairly often it is worth the fee. BTW your mailbox is full so I could not reply to your PM