| Last updated on February 16th, 2024
Mastercard® Gold Card™
Mastercard® Gold Card™
Mastercard® Gold Card™
- 21.24%, 25.43% or 28.24% Regular Purchase APR
- 21.24%, 25.43% or 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness. There is a fee for balance transfers. Balance Transfer APR
- 30.49%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate Cash Advance APR
At a Glance
The Mastercard® Gold Card™ is a lavish rewards credit card from Luxury Card™ that offers opulent rewards as well as a 24K gold-plated metal card design guaranteed to make a statement and catch the eye of anyone who sees it. Ideal for anyone who enjoys the finer things in life, it showers cardholders in exclusive benefits and VIP experiences.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- Ideal for those seeking a premium travel card that doubles as an everyday workhorse, paired with elevated service beyond the ordinary. Leave behind the hassle of juggling various cards and monthly statements, while finding peace of mind with protection benefits that exceeds standard credit cards.
- Flat-rate redemption value of 2% for cash back or 2% value for airfare redemption with no airline or seat restrictions and no blackout dates. Earn one point for every dollar spent. Straightforward redemption without needing a high-maintenance reward strategy. No foreign transaction fees, no earning caps, no rotating categories, and no need to chase down transfer partners to escape very low point values.
- Annual Airline Credit—up to $200 in statement credits toward flight-related purchases including airline tickets, baggage fees, upgrades and more. Just pay for airline purchases with your Mastercard Gold Card and we will automatically apply the credit to your account. That’s it. No need to activate or designate an airline. The credit amount is available in full at the start of the calendar year.
- Up to a $100 application fee credit for the cost of TSA Pre✓® or Global Entry. Also, enjoy automatic enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select with access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide with no guest or lounge limits. Includes credits at select airport restaurants for cardholder and one guest.
- 24/7 Luxury Card Concierge®—Make requests the way you want by phone, email, SMS and chat in the app. Connect directly with a real agent and receive 24/7 assistance for tasks big and small. Requests do not require a purchase, incure no charge for making them, and do not involve department transfers.
- Exclusive Luxury Card Travel® benefits—average 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® benefits.
- Made with 24K Gold: Weighing in at an industry-leading 22g. Designed for frequent shoppers, big ticket purchases and everything in between.
- Annual Fee: $995 ($295 for each Authorized User). Terms and conditions apply.
- Regular Purchase APR: 21.24%, 25.43% or 28.24%
- Intro Balance Transfer APR: 0% introductory APR for the first fifteen billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening
- Balance Transfer APR: 21.24%, 25.43% or 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness. There is a fee for balance transfers.
- Balance Transfer Transaction Fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Cash Advance APR: 30.49%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
- Annual Fee: $995 ($295 for each Authorized User added to the account)
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $39
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $39
- You're searching for a credit card that goes miles beyond offering simple rewards and instead emphasizes luxurious treatment and amenities
- You're looking for unparalleled 24/7 concierge service that works tirelessly to meet your personalized requests
- You frequently travel and can benefit from rewards that can be earned and redeemed towards future travel
- You wish to stand out with a visually stunning credit card design crafted with a 24K-gold-plated stainless steel front and carbon back
In-Depth Review: Mastercard® Gold Card™
The Gold Card is an impressive credit card offering. It ticks all the boxes you’d expect for a premium credit card and boasts several perks that even competing cards lack. Though its $995 annual fee is among the highest consumer credit cards, the Gold is filled with incentives, bonuses, and credits catering to those who do not price quality and comfort.
Who Can Benefit from the Mastercard® Gold Card™?
The Mastercard® Gold Card™ from Luxury Card is designed to cater to the needs of affluent and frequent travelers who seek luxury travel benefits and premium services. Here are the types of travelers who can benefit from this credit card:
- Frequent travelers: Individuals who travel frequently, whether for business or leisure, can benefit from the Mastercard® Gold Card™ as it offers travel perks and rewards tailored to frequent flyers.
- Luxury travelers: Those who prefer luxury travel experiences, such as access to airport lounges, personalized travel services, and premium amenities, will find the exclusive benefits of the Mastercard® Gold Card™ appealing.
- High spenders: Travelers who regularly make significant purchases and prefer a credit card that offers generous rewards and benefits, including cash back and travel credits, will find value in the Mastercard® Gold Card™ despite its high annual fee.
- Global travelers: Individuals who frequently travel internationally can benefit from this card’s features, including no foreign transaction fees, access to the Mastercard Airport Concierge™ service, and global acceptance at luxury hotels and retailers.
How to Get the Card
Luxury Card products are available in all 50 U.S. states, as well as the District of Columbia.
Credit Needed
The Mastercard Gold card is a luxurious travel rewards card aimed at the most exclusive of clients. Additionally, the card is issued through Barclays, meaning you will require excellent credit to get accepted for the Gold Card.
State-of-the-Art Metal Card Design
One of the unique aspects of the Luxury Card family of cards is their commitment to excellence, which extends to the very foundation of the card itself. The Mastercard® Gold Card boasts a state-of-the-art design that offers a luxurious appearance and a weight and feel that exudes opulence.
This exceptional card features a front made of 24-karat gold-plated stainless steel, while the reverse side is crafted from carbon fiber. The end result is a card that weighs 22 grams, surpassing its competitors (The Platinum Card from American Express and the CapitalOne Venture X) by a significant 5 grams.
Although this difference may seem insignificant, rest assured that when the weighty Gold Card is placed on a restaurant countertop, it commands attention. Whether it’s the weighty feel or the elegant design, the Gold Card is sure to make a lasting impression wherever it is used.
0% APR Balance Transfer Offer
The Mastercard Gold Card provides a 0% introductory APR for the first 15 billing cycles after opening your account. After that, a standard variable APR applies based on your creditworthiness to purchases and balance transfers.
Balance transfers must be completed within 45 days of opening the account to qualify. Additionally, Barclays charges a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the transfer amount, whichever is greater.
How to Earn Rewards
The Mastercard® Gold Card™ provides a simplified rewards scheme that prioritizes value while minimizing headaches. Instead of a rewards earning rate, Luxury Card values the rewards based on how you redeem them. While this process may seem counterintuitive, it removes the need for mindless head-scratching as you try to calculate the precise value of your points.
Mastercard® Gold cardmembers receive 2% back in value when redeeming rewards for airfare or into a US bank account or applied as a statement credit. As you likely guessed, that 2% rate is equivalent to 2% cash back.
While the rewards of the Mastercard® Gold Card™ aren’t groundbreaking – and definitely don’t turn heads – they are reliable and unlimited, and there’s no minimum threshold requirement when redeeming. Even better, there are no blackout dates or seats when using rewards for airline redemptions.
Travel Credits
The average rewards of the Gold Card are more than compensated for by the impressive selection of statement credits the card provides:
- TSA Pre✓/Global Entry: Receive a $100 statement credit for the cost of the Global Entry application fee when using the Gold Card to pay the fee. Valid every four years.
- Annual airline credit: Receive up to $200 in annual air travel credit toward flight-related purchases, including airline tickets, baggage fees, upgrades, and more. Use the Mastercard® Gold Card to make purchases, and the credit is applied automatically.
- Priority Pass Select: Enjoy complimentary access to over 1,300 airport lounges and mini suites. Priority Pass is normally a $469 per year value.
Priority Pass™ offers cardholders additional exclusive access to over 31 restaurants at airports within the network. This unique benefit extends to both cardholders and their travel companions.
Cardholders can enjoy a dining credit of $28 per person when visiting these restaurants. This credit is applied to their bill, allowing them to savor a delicious meal while waiting for their flight.
It’s important to note that not all premium credit cards with Priority Pass™ Select offer this dining perk. American Express recently removed this benefit for their cardholders. This is one of the reasons why the Mastercard Gold Card is rapidly gaining popularity among travelers.
Luxury Card Travel® Benefits
At its heart, the Mastercard Gold Card is a travel card. Because of this, you’d expect the usual perks (like Priority Pass Select and TSA Precheck).
Gold cardmembers enjoy complimentary access to the Luxury Card Travel program. Cardmembers enjoy an average value of $500 per trip in exquisite dining experiences, luxurious room upgrades (when available), complimentary daily breakfast for two, and unique welcome amenities during each stay. Additionally, you’ll enjoy resort and dining credits, late check-in/check-out (when available), and complimentary W-Fi on your stays. With an extensive portfolio of over 3,000 properties representing renowned hotel brands worldwide, the possibilities are boundless.
Luxury Card Experiences
Cardmembers also enjoy Luxury Card Experiences, a portfolio of curated events. The scope of these unique experiences is very impressive. It includes unforgettable memories from VIP wine, food tastings, behind-the-scenes tours of your favorite attractions, dinner with the stars, and more.
While these Experiences aren’t free, they provide some additional “oomph” that helps showcase the over-the-top commitment to luxury that the Mastercard Gold Card exudes.
Luxury Card Concierge
One of the standout features of Luxury Card is its 24/7 concierge service. The Luxury Card Concierge is a dedicated and complete lifestyle management tool tailored to your needs. The service assists with travel bookings, personal requests, and more. You can access the concierge service via phone, live chat, and email.
The dedicated Concierge team utilizes a global network and the latest technology, including an advanced recommendation engine, to provide you with meaningful, targeted, and personalized suggestions for travel, dining, accommodations, and more. These suggestions are based on your previous requests. This level of personalization is not commonly found with most credit cards on the market.
The Luxury Card Concierge goes beyond typical services. In addition to helping with restaurant reservations, hotel and car rental bookings, tours, elite concert tickets, flower arrangement delivery, and gift recommendations, the Concierge can assist with less-common tasks.
The Luxury Card Concierge is a valuable resource that provides a personal touch and caters to your lifestyle needs. With their global network and advanced technology, they can provide personalized suggestions based on your preferences and previous requests. Trust the concierge to go above and beyond to cater to your unique lifestyle needs.
For example, if you need to research the best school districts in a city you’re planning to move to, your Concierge can help. If you want to check which stores have a specific product in stock but don’t want to spend time doing the research yourself, the Concierge can help you plan and find what you need.
World Elite Mastercard Benefits
The Mastercard® Gold Card™ is a World Elite Mastercard product like other prestigious cards. The World Elite Mastercard goes above and beyond expectations, providing cardholders with an array of features and benefits that truly make it stand out. From enhanced security features to access to exclusive events, here’s what you can anticipate from the Gold Card:
| Zero Liability Protection | Airport Concierge | Cell Phone Protection |
| Mastercard Global Services | Priceless Experiences | Lyft Credits |
| ID Theft Protection | Priceless Golf | Mastercard Travel Services |
| Mastercard Hotel Stay Guarantee | ShopRunner Membership | Hello Fresh Savings |
Travel Concierge Service
The World Elite Mastercard’s concierge services can take the stress out of travel planning. From booking flights and hotels to arranging airport transfers and organizing unique experiences, the concierge team can handle all the details, leaving you free to focus on enjoying your trip.
World Elite Partner Offers
Beyond exceptional travel and protection benefits, World Elite Mastercard provides an impressive string of exclusive offers. These offers include:
- Instacart: Get two months of free delivery with Instacart+ and $10 off your second order each month.
- Lyft: Get a $5 credit after taking three rides with Lyft in a month.
- Peacock: Get $3 off Peacock Premium or $5 off Peacock Premium Plus each month when you use your World Elite Mastercard to subscribe.
- Shoprunner: Complimentary two-day shipping and free returns at dozens of top stores.
If you’re someone who values exceptional experiences and seeks the best life has to offer, the World Elite Mastercard is undoubtedly a card worth considering.
Other Card Benefits
Other notable features of the Mastercard® Gold Card™ include:
- Luxury Card mobile app: Exclusive to Cardmembers, the Luxury Card App provides cutting-edge services from the convenience of your mobile device. Available in the Apple iTunes and Google Play stores.
- Luxury Magazine: Cardmembers receive LUXURY MAGAZINE, an exclusive publication that covers a broad range of categories—including travel, fashion, real estate, vehicles, and technology. Each issue showcases an artist’s work as the cover art, making it a limited-edition collector’s item.
Comparison
| Mastercard® Gold Card™ | Platinum Card® | Capital One Venture X | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rewards | Flat-rate redemption value of 2% for cash back or 2% value for airfare redemption with no airline or seat restrictions and no blackout dates. | Earn 5X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines of Amex Travel, 5X on prepaid hotels booked thorugh AmexTravel.com, and 1X on all other purchases | Earn 10X miles on hotels & rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 3X on flights through Capital One Travel, and 1X on all other purchases |
| Lounge access | Priority Pass Select | Priority Pass Select, Centurion Lounge | Priority Pass Select and Capital One Lounge access |
| Credits | Up to $500 per stay | Up to $1,400 annually | $400 |
| Annual fee | $995 | $695 | $395 |
Luxury Card Comparison
| Mastercard® Gold Card™ | Mastercard® Black Card™ | Mastercard® Titanium Card™ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $995 | $495 | $195 |
| Airfare redemption | 2% back | 2% back | 2% back |
| Cash back redemption | 2% back | 1.5% back | 1% back |
| Luxury Concierge access? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Luxury Travel access | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lounge access | Yes | Yes | No |
| Travel credits | Up to $200 | Up to $100 | N/A |
What We Like About the Card
Travel Juggernaut
Put bluntly, the Mastercard® Gold Card from Luxury Card is a premium travel card with unparalleled benefits. This card surpasses expectations by offering exceptional services. It caters to individuals who value time-saving and worry-free experiences, providing exclusive member access wherever they go.
The perks of this card are extraordinary at every turn. There are no blackout dates or seat restrictions when booking flights, and cardholders enjoy fast security passes and lounge access at airports. Each stay includes over $500 in added value, such as a complimentary breakfast. With the Gold Card, you can rest assured that you are covered in any situation.
Luxury Concierge
The Luxury Concierge service is Luxury Card’s calling card and what it takes most pride in – and it’s easy to see why. The level of dedication and personalization is truly extraordinary. Luxury Card concierges help you live your best life regardless of your wants or needs.
One of my favorite examples of dedicated service involves a wealthy businessman considering buying a Rolex on a cruise ship. Uncertain about whether the price of the boat was reasonable, he reached out to Luxury Concierge for assistance.
The team at Luxury Concierge went above and beyond, searching through every high-end jeweler available to ensure that the cardmember would receive the best possible rate. Even though the ship was in the middle of the ocean, they promptly contacted the customer to deliver the good news that the ship’s price was indeed fair. This story truly showcases the exceptional dedication of Luxury Concierge in providing top-notch service to their clients.
Things to Consider
Annual Fee
The only consideration required with the Gold Card is whether the annual fee is worth it. At $995 per year, it is roughly 50% more expensive than the Amex Platinum and almost 250% more than the Venture X.
There are plenty of ways to recoup that annual fee, making the Gold Card worthwhile for the frequent traveler – and the frequent luxury traveler, at that. But if you don’t plan on making at least a handful of trips each year, you might be better suited with one of its rivals (or even the Black version of the Luxury Card).
Barclays Ratings
How does Barclays, the Gold Card’s issuer, rate as a card issuer? Here is a selection of ratings from experts and other consumers:
| BestCards | Better Business Bureau | TrustPilot |
|
3.5/5 |
4.5/5 |
3/5 |
Should You Apply for the Mastercard® Gold Card?
The Mastercard Gold Card from Luxury Card offers the pinnacle of sophistication and exclusivity in an expertly crafted, gilded piece of metal. This card is for individuals who prioritize time- and worry-saving services and enjoy exclusive member access anywhere they go. Coupled with the convenience of the Luxury Card Concierge service and the Luxury Card App, it is a valuable companion for those whose lifestyles have higher demands and expectations. While the card carries a notable annual price, the plethora of perks accompanying it will certainly offset this cost.
Indeed, the hotel-centric perks of the Gold Card more than pay that annual fee with every stay. On average, cardholders enjoy approximately $500 in value per eligible stay when they use their Gold Card to book. While not every stay is eligible, the Luxury Hotel Collection consists of over 3,000 properties across the globe, meaning the luxury-minded traveler is sure to find an impeccable property to suit their needs. And once there, they’ll enjoy preferred rates, room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, free Wi-Fi, late checkout, and more.
The Mastercard Gold Card is a luxurious credit card for those who want to make a statement – while saving money at the same time. While the card might not be the first thing that springs to mind when considering a luxury credit card, it should be – as impeccable quality and this card go hand-in-hand.
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