Top Travel Credit Cards for November 2020

I’ve been following credit cards very closely over the past five years and I can say without a doubt that travel rewards credit cards have exploded in popularity and we’ve seen more and more competitors enter the market than ever before. But that also means it’s now harder than ever to choose the right credit card because there are simply too many options.

So I’ve narrowed down the choices to some of my favorite credit cards below and provided some insight into why those are some of my favorite based on things like welcome offers, bonus categories, travel credits, and other special perks.

Tip: Use WalletFlo to help show you which cards to use to maximize your points and help you track and manage annual fees, credits, etc. It’s free and very user-friendly so you should definitely check it out.

My #1 travel rewards credit card

If you don’t have the time to go through this entire article and read up on all of your many options, my #1 travel rewards credit card is the Amex Gold Card. it has a great new offer for 60,000 Membership Rewards and what really makes this card stand out are the bonus categories which are:

  • 3X on airfare 
  • 4X points at Restaurants
  • 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 in spend per calendar year)

Amex Gold Card

The new Amex Gold Card is a very attractive option. The standard public offer is for 35,000 Membership Rewards but you can now find a 60,000 point offer after spending $4,000 within the first 6 months.

But what really makes this card stand out are the bonus categories which are:

  • 3X on airfare 
  • 4X points at Restaurants
  • 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 in spend per calendar year)

The card also comes with a $120 dining credit, which offers a $10 monthly credit that can be used at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, and Shake Shack (read more about that credit here). With the addition of a $100 Amex airline credit, it’s very easy knock down the effective annual fee to just $30.

I plan on putting all of my US dining and supermarket spend on this card for the foreseeable future and am very excited about the prospect of earning more rewards.

Chase Ink Cash

The Chase Ink Cash also won’t report to your personal credit report so again this is one of the first cards you’d want to consider if you were under 5/24. The Ink Cash comes with a great sign-up bonus of 75,000 Ultimate Rewards after you spend $7,500 in the first three months along with a 0% APR period.

That’s worth at least $750 which is very competitive for a no annual fee credit card but the card also has some fantastic bonus categories. The Chase Ink Cash earns 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary year at:

  • Internet
  • Cable
  • Phone services
  • Office supply stores

And it also earns 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases each year at:

  • Gas stations
  • Restaurants

You can’t transfer your Ultimate Rewards directly to travel partners with the Ink Cash, though. However, if you have a premium card like the Chase Ink Preferred or a Sapphire card, you can still transfer them to partners. Thus, the Ink Cash is a great partner card to other Chase cards.

If you want to explore more of the top business cards which can keep you below 5/24 since they don’t report to your personal credit report then check out this article (most of those cards won’t report to your personal credit report).

I’ll now focus the rest of the article on the personal travel cards.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred comes with a solid sign-up bonus of 60,000 Ultimate Rewards after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months.

For the longest time this offer was stuck at 50,000 so the fact that it is now at 60,000 is a big deal and there are lots of great business class and first class redemption opportunities you can take advantage of with Ultimate Rewards.

After several years, this card is still one of the top travel credit cards available to the public, since it earns 2X on a broad travel category and 2X on dining and also offers primary rental car insurance.

For many people paying $550 for the Sapphire Reserve is just asking too much, regardless of the potential return in value, and so the Sapphire Preferred is often the more practical option. If you’re averse to high annual fees but want a solid travel credit card, this card might be perfect for you with only a $95 annual fee. You can read the detailed review of this card here.

Chase Ink Business Preferred

The Chase Ink Business Preferred is a business card so it won’t report to your personal credit report. This means that it won’t affect your 5/24 status and that’s a major reason why you would want to pursue it first. The Chase Ink Preferred has a high sign-up bonus of 100,000 points after you spend $15,000 in the first three months. The card also earns 3X per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on all of the following categories:

  • Travel, including airfare, hotels, rental cars, train tickets and taxis
  • Shipping purchases
  • Advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines
  • Internet, cable and phone services

With its high sign-up bonus of 100,000 points and solid bonus categories, this is the #1 business card offered by Chase and one of the best ways to quickly accumulate Ultimate Rewards that you can transfer out to valuable transfer partners like United, Southwest, Avios, Virgin Atlantic, Singapore Airlines, and more.

First class on Singapore Airlines.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of the ultimate travel credit cards. It’s got a great sign-up bonus of 50,000 Ultimate Rewards after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months but it also has some other valuable perks. Two of the strongest benefits include a $300 travel credit along with the ability to earn 3X on dining and travel. The card also comes with Priority Pass and the ability to redeem points at 1.5 cents per point through Chase Travel Portal.

It also offers some of the best travel and purchase protections offered by any credit card. You might be turned off by the $550 annual fee, but with its $300 travel credit and $60 DoorDash credit you can knock down that fee to $190. And it’s really easy to earn more than $190 of rewards with the bonus spending.

The $300 travel credit can be used on just about anything that codes as travel.

IHG Rewards Club Premier Card 

IHG credit card offer

The IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card has a limited time offer of 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

140,000 bonus points is a lot and that spend requirement of $3,000 is very doable. With those points, you could cover two to three nights at a very nice property or you could stretch your points and cover a handful of nights at mid-tier property. Read the detailed review of the card here.

The card also comes with some solid perks like:

  • Annual free night certificate at an “eligible hotel”
  • 25X (total w/elite status) on IHG purchases
  • 2X points at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
  • Automatic Platinum Elite Status (read more about this status here)
  • 20% discount on purchases of IHG points
  • 4th night free on award stays
  • Global Entry or TSA Pre-Check credit of up to $100 every 4 years
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • $89 annual fee

Platinum Card from American Express

Top 10 Travel Credit Cards

The Platinum Card comes with a welcome bonus of 60,000 miles after spending $5,000 within the first 3 months (75K offer in Google Incognito and there are even methods to get 100K offers). This card is loaded with benefits which include:

If you’re able to utilize the $200 annual travel credit and the $200 in Uber credits, you’re looking at an effective annual fee of $150, which is fantastic considering the benefits listed above.

American Express has arguably better transfer partners than Chase. With American Express, you can transfer Membership Rewards to airlines like ANA, Aeroplan, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, British Airways/Iberia, Flying Blue, Delta, JetBlue, Etihad, Emirates, and several others. These partners give you maximum flexibility across several alliances and partnerships making it much easier to find good rewards to use your points on.

I personally would also hold off on the Platinum Card unless I was able to pick up a 100K offer. In that case, I’d be willing to burn a 5/24 slot for the Platinum.

American Express Green Card

The new American Express Green Card comes with 45,000 Membership Rewards when you spend $2,000 in the first six months (higher Incognito offers may be available).

It also earns 3X on travel and 3X on dining. Up to this point, there has been no American Express product that offers a good multiplier of bonus points on general travel costs. Now, just like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can earn triple the points on general travel with the American Express Green Card.

Earning triple the points on dining is also very nice. Personally, I will stick to using my American Express Gold Card to earn 4X on dining. But if you don’t want to get the Gold card (with its $250 dollars annual fee) this is a pretty good option.

The American Express Green Card will also offer you $100 per year in statement credits for CLEAR (the regular price for CLEAR is $179 a year) and $100 in annual credits for LoungeBuddy. These help offset the $150 annual fee.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card is a solid card that will earn you a nice stash of Hilton points and offer some other perks. it earns 12X on Hilton purchases and 6X at at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.

The standard welcome bonus is right now or for 130,000 Hilton points after spending $2,000 in the first three months.

If you spend $15,000 in one year, you can earn a free night which can be used on any type of Hilton property — one of the easier free nights to earn. Scarred will also offer you Hilton Gold status (which comes with free breakfast). And finally, you can get 10 free lounge visits to Priority Pass each year.

World of Hyatt card

The World of Hyatt card is one of the best hotel credit cards available since it comes with a great sign-up bonus, great bonus category earning, and the opportunity for free nights. It’s also one of the best hotel cards for climbing your way up the elite status tiers for Hyatt.

Here’s what the sign-up bonus looks like:

  • Earn 25,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
  • Plus, earn an additional 25,000 Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 total on purchases within the first 6 months of account opening.

And here’s what the bonus earning looks like:

  • 4X spent with your card at Hyatt hotels, including participating restaurants and spas
  • 2X on local transit and commuting, including taxis, mass transit, tolls and ride-share services
  • 2X at restaurants, cafes and coffee shops
  • 2X on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline
  • 2X spent on fitness club and gym memberships

The card also comes with the ability to earn free nights and to climb up the elite status tiers of Hyatt.

  • Free nights: 
    • Receive one free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort every year after your cardmember anniversary
    • Earn an extra free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort if you spend $15,000 during your cardmember anniversary year
  • Elite status:
    • Comes with Hyatt Discoverist status
    • Receive 5 qualifying night credits toward your next tier status every year
    • Earn 2 additional qualifying night credits toward your next tier status every time you spend $5,000 on your card

If you value the Hyatt program and you put a lot of spend on your card then this could be a great way to obtain and hold on to Hyatt elite status for only $95 a year.

Hilton Honors Aspire Card

Hilton Aspire Bonus

If you are interested in staying at Hilton properties then the Amex Hilton Aspire should be on your radar for several reasons. This card offers a welcome bonus of 150,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. It also has some great bonus categories of:

  • 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio worldwide
  • 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies and at U.S. restaurants
  • 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases

The Aspire also comes with a number of credits that help offset the $450 annual fee:

  • $250 airline incidental fee statement credit
  • $250 Hilton resort statement credit
  • $100 on property credit at Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts when booking the exclusive Aspire Card package

You’ll also earn complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status and one weekend night at any hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio (upon opening account and on account anniversary). For someone looking for meaningful hotel benefits, it’s harder to find a better hotel credit card than the Hilton Aspire.

US Bank Altitude Reserve

The US Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card comes with  a sign-up bonus of 50,000 points (worth $750 in travel) after spending $4,500 within the first 90 days. It also has one of the highest travel credits of $325 making it easy to offset the $400 annual fee.

This is a great card for those who utilize mobile wallets because it earns 3X on eligible mobile wallet purchases, which can be a significant advantage for some.  The card also earns 3X on travel booked directly with airlines, hotels, taxis, trains, etc. (but no OTAs), and has a new perk of 5X on hotels and car rentals booked through its travel portal! 

Finally, the card also comes with the following benefits:

  • Priority Pass (with only 4 entries)
  • 12 complimentary GoGo passes each membership year
  • TSA Pre-Check/Global Entry $100 credit
  • $400 annual fee

The biggest drawback of this card for many will be getting approved. You need to have been an existing US Bank customer for at least 5 days (e.g., hold a checking account or similar) to be eligible. Also, US Bank is notoriously strict when it comes to approving applicants with many inquiries on their credit report so a lot of folks might be facing a rejection.

Still, you can net $675 in travel from the sign-up bonus + travel credit after you factor in the annual fee and that’s one of the most generous bonuses available right now.

 

Chase Ink Business Cash Review (Bonus Categories Explained) [2020]

For a card without an annual fee, the Chase Ink Business Cash is a great card with its high sign-up bonus and unique bonus categories like 5X on office supplies stores and cell phone plans.

In this article, I’m going to break down the Chase Ink Business Cash and take a look at all of the value that this card has to offer and go over the benefits like $500 cash back sign-up bonus, bonus spending, insurance perks, and a few others.

Sign-up bonus

The standard sign-up bonus for the Chase Ink Cash was $500 bonus cash back after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. However, higher offers are available at times like $750 after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

What can you do with $500 cash back or 50,000 points?

As a cash back card, you can use the cash back as a statement credit or direct deposit into any bank account.

However, you can convert cash back into more valuable points by transferring the cash back to another Chase card that earns Ultimate Reward Points like the Chase Ink Business Preferred or the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

So, $500 cash back equals 50,000 Ultimate Rewards Points. Once transferred into Ultimate Rewards, you will get more value out of the points versus straight cash back. You can use the points in the Chase Travel Portal and redeem your points for up to $750 worth of travel when holding the Chase Sapphire Reserve. You can also get greater value when transferring to some airlines or hotels that are partners with Chase.

Here is the list of airlines and hotels you can transfer your Ultimate Rewards Points to at a 1:1 ratio.

Chase Ultimate Rewards Airlines

  • Aer Lingus
  • British Airways Executive Club
  • Flying Blue (Air France/KLM)
  • Iberia Airways
  • JetBlue
  • Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
  • Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
  • United MileagePlus
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Chase Ultimate Rewards Hotels

  • World of Hyatt
  • IHG Rewards Club
  • Marriott Bonvoy

Here are a few examples of what you could do with 50,000 points.

Related: 12 Best Chase Ultimate Rewards First Class Redemptions

United

United is a unique transfer partner for Chase. While the recent changes to United award charts are somewhat random, you can still get great value out of flights, especially if you use the excursionist perk, which allows you to add another city for free without any extra miles.

Southwest

50,000 points transferred to Southwest could get you very far, especially if you have the Companion Pass. You could easily score a handful of roundtrips around the country if you jumped on the right Wanna Get Away fares.

Singapore Krisflyer

You could fly round trip economy to Hawaii from anywhere in North America for 35,000 KrisFlyer miles. If economy isn’t your style, you could fly to/from Hawaii for 30,000 KrisFlyer miles in business class.

Virgin Atlantic

After meeting the minimum spend, you’d have enough to fly Delta One (Delta’s name for business class) to Europe for only 50,000 Virgin Atlantic miles for nonstop routes.

Hyatt

50,000 points transferred to Hyatt could get you 2 nights at a solid property like the Park Hyatt Bangkok, with 10,000 points to spare or 3 nights at a category 6 property for 25,000 points per night, like the Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya. However, if you want to maximize your nights, you could stay 10 nights at the Hyatt Regency Kuantan beachfront resort.

Nearby public beach with the Hyatt Regency Kuantan Resort off in the distance.

Chase Ink Cash bonus categories

The Chase Ink Business Cash bonus categories earns 5% cash back per $1 on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases in the following categories each account anniversary year:

  • Office supplies stores
  • Internet, cable and phone services

Office supplies stores

Office supplies stores like Staples, Office Max, etc. will trigger the 5% cash back. It’s a pretty narrow category, but as long as it’s an office supply store, you can earn 5% cash back making it a very valuable card for office supplies stores.

This is especially true because you can purchase gift cards at many office supply stores! So instead of earning a standard 1X on many purchases (or even 2X or 3X), you can head to an office supply store and buy a gift card to that establishment and potentially quintuple your earnings! Just take a look at all of the gift cards you can purchase from Staples so see how you can earn 5X on purchases like groceries, travel, and shopping! 

Internet, cable and phone services

Out of all the cards out there, this is one of the best for your return for internet, cable, and phone services. It’s best to make sure you use this card for anything related to those categories to maximize the 5% cash back.

Some examples would be paying your cell phone bill at Verizon or T-Mobile to trigger the 5% cash back. Your Comcast/AT&T/etc. internet and TV bill will also trigger the 5% cash back too. Tripling up on 5X earnings each month in these categories is a great way to supplement your Ultimate Rewards balance.

Other bonus earnings

You can earn 2% cash back per $1 on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases in the following categories each account anniversary year:

  • Gas stations
  • Restaurants

Gas Stations

Gas stations are pretty specific, similar to office supplies stores. However, this card isn’t the best as it only earns 2% cash back at gas stations. If you want a better earning card, maybe the Amex Business Gold Card is better.

That card allows you to earn 4X Membership Rewards points on the 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month and it applies to the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these 2 categories each calendar year.

You can choose from the following:

  • Airfare purchased directly from airlines
  • U.S. purchases for advertising in select media 
    (online, TV, radio)
  • U.S. purchases made directly from select 
    technology providers of computer hardware, 
    software, and cloud solutions
  • U.S. purchases at gas stations
  • U.S. purchases at restaurants
  • U.S. purchases for shipping

The Amex Business Gold Card does come with a very high annual fee of $295, though with a 35,000 Membership Rewards Points welcome bonus after spending $5,000. You’d need to do a lot of number crunching to see if those extra earnings and additional benefits like 1 year free of both G Suite Basic for up to 3 users and ZipRecruiter Standard would be worth paying an annual fee. 

Everyday

For every purchase that does not fall into a bonus category, you’ll earn 1% cash back on that purchase. If you can do it, you might want to think about getting another card like the Chase Ink Unlimited or the Chase Freedom Unlimited since both of those cards earn 1.5X on all purchases with no limit.

Another contender might be the Amex Business Blue Plus which earns 2X on all purchases up to $50,000. That’s one of the best everyday spending cards though it is capped at that $50K mark.

Can you use the Ink for personal use?

A lot of people wonder whether or not they can use their Chase Ink cards for personal spend.

The application states the following in the terms and conditions:

I certify, understand and agree that: 1) This is a business account which shall be used only for business purposes and not personal, family or household purposes;

So according to the terms this should be used for business purposes. However, if you’ve ever ran your own business or you’re an entrepreneur you know that it’s not always so black and white and personal and business expenses can overlap.

Also, the terms allow for primary rental car coverage while “renting outside your country of residence for personal reasons” so this seems contradictory.

Thus, I think that it’s perfectly fine to use your Ink card some expenses that could be considered “personal” and many people do this.

Just keep in mind that some consumer protections don’t apply when you use a business card so you could be losing out on some of those. Also, if you’ve structured your business entity to protect your personal assets, it’s always a good idea to keep your personal and business funds and transactions as segregated as possible. 

Related: Chase Credit Card Application Status Guide

Purchase protection and extended warranty

Any purchase you make it will be protected against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account up to 120 days after the original purchase date.

Along with the protection against damage and theft up to 120 days, you also have an extended manufacturer’s warranty for one extra year (up to a total of 3 years).

Primary rental car coverage

This card is one of the few that offer primary business rental car coverage. If you are renting your car for business use, you have primary rental car coverage.

This is huge because it means that you can avoid paying for rental car coverage when renting a car and save some money. But it also means that you can avoid filing a claim with your car insurance provider and avoid seeing an increase in your monthly premium.

It is primary coverage while renting primarily for business purposes or when renting outside your country of residence for personal reasons or if you do not have automobile insurance. You can read more about the rental car coverage here. 

Annual fee

The annual fee is $0. No annual fee is always good.

Foreign transaction fees

This card has 3% foreign transaction fees on every purchase. This card won’t be worthwhile to carry in your wallet when you travel outside the United States. It’s best to have another card with you like the Chase Ink Preferred.

Chase 5/24 rule

This card is subject to the Chase 5/24 rule which means that if you have been approved for 5 or more accounts in the past 24 months you won’t be able to get approved.

However, this card does not count towards your 5/24 status which means that you want to prioritize this card and make it one of the first Chase cards (or any cards) that you apply for.

Business needed

Some ask if they can get the Ink Cash without a real business. Well, this is a business credit card so you will need a business to qualify.

The good news is that just about anything can constitute a business, including selling things on eBay, Craigslist, and doing things like tutoring, etc. If that’s the case, you would likely want to apply as a sole proprietorship.

Chase Ink Preferred Approval odds

You’re going to need a fair to good credit score to get the Chase Ink Business Cash. I’d prefer to have a score of 700+ with a solid few years of credit history to feel comfortable applying but there are a lot of factors at play with approval decisions so the exact score needed will differ with each situation.

Chase does like to see a good credit history so if your credit profile is very thin getting the Chase Ink Business Cash could prove to be difficult to get.

Tip: If you don’t have a relationship with Chase you might consider opening up a Chase business account to start building that relationship.

It probably helps to have business income/revenue for your application but there are reports out there of people getting approved for Chase Ink Cards with very little business income at times (under $2,000 and even $0). Some will resort to a good-faith projection of their income for the upcoming year but you’ll have to decide with what you’re most comfortable with.

You also need to know how to handle a Chase business reconsideration phone call since that might be needed. Note the questions about revenue and profit that will likely come up.

Travel and emergency assistance services

While this isn’t insurance, it’s always nice to have an extra like this. If you run into any trouble, you can call the Benefit Administrator for legal and medical referrals or other travel and emergency assistance. Do note, you are responsible for any costs as this is a concierge-like service.

Chase Ink Business Cash FAQ

How much is the bonus worth for the Chase Ink Business Cash?

If you catch the bonus at 50,000 points then your bonus will amount to $500 in cash back.

However, if you have a premium Chase card you can transfer those points out to various travel partners and get even more value.

What kind of bonus points can you earn with the Chase Ink Business Cash?

You can earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases in the following categories every year:

Office supplies stores
Internet, cable and phone services

You can also earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases for gas and restaurants.

Does the Chase Ink Business Cash have an annual fee?

No, there is no annual fee.

Can I upgrade from the Chase Ink Business Cash?

Yes, you can upgrade to the Chase Ink Business Preferred.

Typically, it is recommended to wait 12 months before requesting an upgrade.

Does the Chase Ink Business Cash have primary rental car insurance?

You can get primary business rental car coverage with the Chase Ink Business Cash.

This is designed to cover you for business travel while in the US but you can get coverage for personal reasons when traveling outside of your country of residence.

Is the Chase Ink Business Cash subject to Chase 5/24?

Yes, This card is subject to the Chase 5/24 rule which means that if you have been approved for 5 or more accounts in the past 24 months you won’t be able to get approved.

You can use WalletFlo to help you find out when you might be eligible.

What kind of credit score do I need to get approved?

It’s recommended that you have a good to excellent credit score which generally means a credit score over 700.

It also helps to have a solid few years of credit history.

Final word

The Chase Ink Business Cash is a great business starter card and keeper as it has no annual fee along with a solid sign-up bonus equal to the Reserve. Plus, if you couple this card up with an Ultimate Rewards earning card, you can get great value out of your cash back turning them into points.

This article was originally published by Steve Smith.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Review [2020]

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card is one of the most popular travel rewards credit cards. It often comes with a pretty sweet welcome bonus and offers some perks that make this card worth holding onto in the long term.

In this review article, I’ll break down everything you need to know about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless overview

  • 6X Bonvoy points on Marriott
  • 2X Bonvoy points on all other purchases
  • Annual Free Night Award
  • Automatic Silver Elite Status
  • Get Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each account year.
  • 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year
  • $95 annual fee

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Welcome bonus

Like many other co-branded hotel credit cards, the welcome bonus for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card changes on a regular basis.

A couple of the recent offers we have seen include:

  • Earn 100,000 Marriott points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
  • Earn 75,000 Marriott points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months 

I’m a big fan of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card when it offers 100,000 points because of all of the redemption possibilities.

With 100K Marriott points, you could cover a couple of nights at Marriott brands like the Autograph Collection, JW Marriott, Le Meridien, Luxury Collection, and even at some Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, and W hotels.

Here’s a look at the award chart:

CategoryOff Peak StandardPeak
15,0007,50010,000
210,00012,50015,000
315,00017,50020,000
420,00025,00030,000
530,00035,00040,000
640,00050,00060,000
750,00060,00070,000
870,00085,000100,000
Marriott’s award chart.

So you could definitely get over $800 worth of value at nice properties from a 100K bonus.

Or you could stretch your points on Category 1 properties and cover up to 20 free nights!

And finally, you could convert your points into airline miles at a 3:1 ratio and a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points you transfer. So in this case your 100K points could be worth 38,000 airline miles for just about any major program.

Related: The Best All-Inclusive Marriott Properties

Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino.

Eligibility

The eligibility rules for the Marriott credit cards are pretty complex and a little confusing.

You can find the text for these rules below but remember that WalletFlo automates your eligibility for these rules!

Bonus categories

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card offers the following bonus earning rates: 

  • 6X Bonvoy points on Marriott
  • 2X Bonvoy points on all other purchases

6X on Marriott

6X on Marriott is okay for Marriott properties.

Using a WalletFlo valuation of .77 cents per point, 6X comes out to 4.6% back.

That’s not terrible but if you use a card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve on your Marriott purchases, you could earn 3X Ultimate Rewards which many people would value more than 4.6% back.

2X Marriott points

Earning 2X (1.5%) on all other purchases is okay but it’s a little bit disappointing that this card does not have other bonus spend categories like many of the best hotel credit cards.

Tip: To maximize bonus earnings on categories like groceries and dining, consider the Amex Gold Card.

Free anniversary night

Every year on your account anniversary, you’ll get a free night that can be used on properties costing up to 35,000 points per night.

There are some great properties you can find in this range and you should check out our article on the best Marriott Category 5 properties. 

For many people, this perk is crucial in justifying the $95 annual fee.

It’s pretty easy to get much more than $95 of value from a category five property. In fact, I often get over $200 in value when utilizing my anniversary night.

So for a lot of cardholders, this free night makes it worth holding onto this card in the long run and paying the annual fee each year.

W Taipei.

Elite status

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless offers automatic Marriott Silver status. Silver status is the bottom level elite status with the Bonvoy program.

It honestly doesn’t offer a whole lot of benefits but they include:

  • 10% bonus on points
  • Late check-out
  • Free wifi

The good news is that you can work your way up to Marriott Gold status by spending $35,000 on your card in a given calendar year.

Marriott Gold will get you benefits like: 

  • 25% Bonus on points
  • Late check-out
  • Upgrades
  • Enhanced internet
  • Welcome gift

Tip: If you really want to get Marriott Gold status instantly, you should look into getting the Amex Platinum which will get you automatic Gold status among many other valuable travel benefits.

You’ll notice that neither Silver or Gold status provide you with free breakfast.

If you are interested in getting free breakfast for your hotel stays, a good elite status to go for is Hilton Gold which you can also get automatically with the Amex Platinum or Hilton Surpass.

Elite night credits

Each year, you will be issued 15 elite night credits that will help you obtain elite status quicker.

Here are the requirements for Marriott elite status.

  • Silver: 10 to 24 nights
  • Gold: 25 to 49 nights 
  • Platinum: 50 to 74 nights 
  • Titanium: 75 to 99 nights
  • Ambassador: 100 nights +  $20,000 U.S. dollars in qualified annual spend

So 15 qualifying elite nights would get you only 10 nights away from Gold status.

You might be wondering if you can combine elite qualifying nights from other credit cards in order to climb up the elite status levels. Unfortunately, the answer to that question is no because Marriott states:

A maximum of 15 Elite Night credits will be awarded through this benefit per Marriott Bonvoy program member account even if the member has more than one Credit Card linked to their Marriott Bonvoy account. 

The exception to this is if you have a small business and personal credit card. In that case, you can earn a total of 30 nights.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless protections

Baggage Delay Insurance

The baggage delay protection is very solid. It kicks in after only six hours which is really competitive and provides $100 a day for up to five days while other cards may only cover you for up to three days.

Lost Luggage Reimbursement

If you or an immediate family member have check or carry on luggage that is damaged or lost by the carrier, you’re covered up to $3,000 per passenger.

Trip Delay Reimbursement

The trip delay reimbursement is pretty good and covers you up to $500 per ticket, but I would rather go with a card that has a delay requirement of only six hours instead of 12 hours.

Purchase Protection

Purchase protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim.

It’s a great benefit but the $500 limit per claim on this card is on the lower side. I utilize purchase protection on cards like the Sapphire Reserve to get coverage up to $10,000 per claim.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless FAQ

Does the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless come with a free night?

Yes, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card comes with a free anniversary night.

What properties can I use the free night at?

You can use the free night on properties that cost up to 35,000 points per night. These may include brands like the Autograph Collection, JW Marriott, Le Meridien, Luxury Collection, and even some Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, and W hotels.

Check out our article here for recommendations on what properties to use the free night at.

Does the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless come with elite status?

Yes, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless comes with automatic Marriott Silver status.

Each year, you will also be issued 15 elite night credits.

Does the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless get you upgrades?

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless offers Marriott Silver status and upgrades are not an official benefit of that level of elite status. However, it’s still possible that you could get an upgrade at the right property.

What’s the difference between the Boundless and the Brilliant?

The Marriott Brilliant card is issued by American Express and it is a premium card loaded with travel benefits and a much higher annual fee.

Meanwhile, the Boundless card is a lower annual fee hotel credit card meant to appeal to a wider audience.

Can I upgrade the Boundless to the Brilliant?

No, you cannot upgrade the Boundless to the Brilliant because the Brilliant card is issued by American Express and the Boundless card is issued by Chase.

Can I get multiple Marriott credit cards?

Your eligibility depends on when you opened up or closed your other Marriott credit cards. The easiest way to figure out if you are eligible is to use the free app WalletFlo.

Does the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless have foreign transaction fees?

No, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card does not have foreign transaction fees.

What is the the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless annual fee?

The annual fee is $95.

Is the annual fee waived?

No, the annual fee is not usually waived.

Is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless subject to 5/24?

Yes, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless is subject to the Chase 5/24 rule. The easiest way to figure out if you are eligible is to use the free app WalletFlo.

Does the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless have primary rental car coverage?

No, it does not come with primary rental car coverage. If you want that protection, you should look into a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Final word

Overall, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card is a good hotel credit card. I really like the free anniversary night that it comes with and the fact that you get 15 elite night credits as well.

SKYPASS Visa Signature Card Review [2020]

US Bank offers a few different types of Korean air credit cards and one of the most popular is the SKYPASS Visa Signature Card.

It’s a pretty decent co-branded airline credit card but there are a few key things that you want to know about the card before applying.

In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about the SKYPASS Visa Signature Card.

SKYPASS Visa Signature Card Overview

  • 2X on Korean Air ticket purchases
  • 2X at gas stations and hotels
  • 1X on everything else
  • $50 Off coupon for Korean Air ticket purchases
  • 2 KAL Lounge coupons each year
  • $95 annual fee

Welcome Bonus

The bonus for this card can vary dramatically.

We’ve seen it as low as 15,000 bonus miles after meeting the minimum spend and other times up to 30,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days.

Sometimes, you might even be sent targeted offers which go out for something like 45,000+ bonus miles.

So what can you do with your miles?

You can check out the Korean Air award chart here or here to see what your redemption possibilities would be like but I would suggest you take a look at our article for the best uses of Korean Air miles.

You can also take advantage of some pretty decent redemptions from the US with partner airlines.

Korean Air is a member of the Sky Team alliance so you can book partners like Air France and KLM.

They also have some other interesting partners like Etihad and Emirates.

You will need to book a round-trip if you are booking on a partner airline but some of these rates can be pretty cheap like 80,000 miles round-trip in business class from the US and Europe.

Now that Chase is no longer a partner with Korean Air, it’s tougher to earn a lot of Korean Air miles.

To maximize your miles, you might want to consider getting the business version and the personal version.

If you were able to take advantage of some of the best offers, you might have enough to fly the amazing first class experience on Korean Air from the US to Korea on the A380.

It’s a special flight experience because it has one of the best in-flight bars in the sky. In fact there are a couple of different bars including one exclusive first class bar that you can enjoy.

There’s also even a duty-free shop in the plane which is pretty crazy but also very cool.

So if you are looking for a memorable way to cross Pacific, this card can help you do that by flying on Korean Air.

Related: Top 10 First Class Cabins

Korean Air A380 Celestial Bar

Bonus categories

  • 2X on Korean Air ticket purchases
  • 2X at gas stations and hotels
  • 1X on everything else

2X on Korean Air purchases

Earning 2X on Korean Air purchases is pretty standard for an airline credit card.

2X at gas stations and hotels

2X on gas stations and hotels it’s not bad.

However, I would prefer to put hotel purchases on a card that earns more on travel such as the American Express Green Card which earns 3X on travel or the Chase Sapphire Reserve which has great travel protections and also earns 3X on travel.

Tip: Check out the free app WalletFlo so that you can optimize your credit card spend by seeing the best card to use! You can also track credits, annual fees, and get notifications when you’re eligible for the best cards!

Korean Air benefits

  • $50 Off coupon for Korean Air ticket purchases
  • 2 KAL Lounge coupons each year
  • SKYPASS Visa card purchases help you reach and maintain Morning Calm Club Membership

$50 coupon

The primary cardmember will receive a $50 discount coupon upon account opening and every anniversary date.

The coupon should be available about 10 business days after you open the account and approximately 4 to 6 weeks after the anniversary of your account.

The catch with this discount is that it applies to Korean Air ticket purchases on Koreanair.com made within 90 days from the date the coupon is deposited into your account.

That 90 day limit greatly reduces the value of this discount.

But there are also restrictions on the type of routes you can use the coupon on.

For example, the coupon is only valid from Korean Air North American gateways to Asia on Korean Air operated flights with the same outbound (departure route) and inbound (return route) trip itinerary and may not be applied to tickets with stopovers and multi-leg journey.

Also, it can only be applied to prestige and economy class fares.

And just in case you were wondering, it cannot be used on award tickets or upgrade awards.

So if you are constantly flying Korean Airlines you might be able to make use of this discount but if you rarely fly them or only fly them on occasion, the restrictions might make it impossible for you to utilize this perk.

KAL Lounge passes

Each year you will be given two lounge coupons that are valid for one lounge use each.

In order to use this perk, you must be flying on a Korean Air operated flight and must be using it at a Korean Air gateway city in North America or at ICN.

Once again, there are pretty restrictive terms with another benefit.

You will need to show your coupon to the lounge when you visit.

The primary card member can expect to receive the two lounge coupons 8 to 10 weeks after the annual fee is paid.

I’ve visited a few Korean Air lounges and they are not exactly the most remarkable lounges you’ll find. I enjoyed the time I spent in the Korean Air First Class Lounge at ICN but overall the standard business class lounges are not always super impressive.

Tip: If you are interested in a card that offers the best lounge access, you should look into the Platinum Card.

Korean Air First Class Lounge.

2,000 mile bonus

Every year after you renew your account you will receive an annual bonus of 2,000 miles. This bonus is not enough to make up for the cost of the annual fee but it’s nice to have a way to supplement your mileage balance.

Visa Signature

Since this card is a Visa Signature card, you’ll get to take advantage of additional benefits which include:

  • Purchase security
  • Lost luggage reimbursement
  • Auto rental collision damage waiver
  • Roadside dispatch
  • Travel Accident Insurance
  • Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
  • Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection

SKYPASS Visa Signature Card FAQ

What is the SKYPASS Visa Signature Card’s annual fee?

The annual fee is $95.

Does the SKYPASS Visa Signature Card have foreign transaction fees?

No, card does not have foreign transaction fees.

Do I get lounge access?

Each year you will be given two lounge coupons that are valid for one lounge use each.

Final word

The SKYPASS Visa Signature Card is a decent travel rewards card especially if you can catch it at one of the higher bonuses.

It offers respectable earning rates and some good perks when flying on Korean Air but they do come with some pretty limiting restrictions.

Amex Green Card Review [2020]

Offers contained within this article maybe expired.

For the longest time, the American Express Green Card was pretty much a joke of a credit card. It didn’t have much to offer in terms of bonus categories and perks but that changed when American Express decided to revamp the card.

And now, it’s a very valuable travel rewards credit card and one that many people seek out to optimize their points.

In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about the American Express Green Card.

The Amex Green Card intro

The American Express Green Card is one of the most valuable travel rewards credit cards available because of the great travel/dining bonus earning potential and some unique credits for travel.

While this is a solid mid-tier card, I would first get a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred since that card is subject to the Chase 5/24 rule (and also has better travel protections).

Eligibility

Because the Green Card is a charge card (versus a credit card), it is not subject to all of the American Express application rules like the 1/5 rule, the 2/90 rule, etc.

However, this card is still subject to the Amex once per lifetime rule which states that if you have ever had this card before you cannot receive the welcome bonus again.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Welcome bonus

  • 35,000 points to 50,000 points

The Green Card had a long history of pretty lackluster welcome bonuses until it was revamped. Finding a bonus of 25,000 Membership Rewards was considered a huge success but now it’s possible that you could find the card with welcome bonuses up to 45,000 Membership Rewards!

But even the standard offer of 30,000 points after spending $2,000 in the first three months is pretty solid.

If you value Amex Membership Rewards at 1.75 cents per point then it’s like $525 in value.

Of course, you can get much more value if you transfer your points out to some of the amazing travel partners.

These partners are listed below along with the expected transfer times.

Travel PartnerRatio (MR to airline)Transfer wait time
Aer Lingus1:1Instant
AeroMexico1:1.624 Hours
Air Canada1:1Instant
Alitalia1:1Instant
ANA1:148 Hours
Avianca1:1Instant
British Airways1:1Instant
Cathay Pacific1:148 Hours
Delta1:1Instant
Emirates1:1Instant
Etihad1:1Instant
Flying Blue1:1Instant
Hawaiian Airlines1:1Instant
Iberia1:124 to 72 hours
JetBlue250:200Instant
Qantas1:1Instant
Singapore Airlines1:124 to 72 hours
Virgin Atlantic1:1Instant
Choice 1:1Instant
Hilton1:2Instant
Marriott1:1Instant
American Express travel partners.

Bonus categories

  • 3x on travel
  • 3x on transit
  • 3X on restaurants

3X on travel

The biggest reason that the Green Card stands out as a great travel card is that it earns 3X on all travel purchases. This is on par with the Chase Sapphire Reserve which earns 3X but has a much higher annual fee of $550.

Travel purchases may include: airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, travel purchases on third party travel websites, and travel purchases on Amex Travel. (Timeshares are excluded.)

If you value Membership Rewards at 1.75 cents per point then it’s like earning 5.25% back. That’s a lot of value on travel.

3X on transit

The transit category might as will be under the travel category but American Express separately highlights that you will also earn 3X on transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.

3X on restaurants

The 3X on restaurant purchases is nice although I prefer to put my dining purchases on my Amex Gold Card in order to earn 4X.

There are some exclusions in the restaurant category which include purchases at a restaurant located within another establishment (e.g. a restaurant inside a hotel, casino, or event venue).

You will also not earn bonus points at bars, nightclubs, cafeterias, and convenience stores.

Credits

To help you offset the annual fee, the Green Card comes with two credits:

  • $100 CLEAR
  • $100 LoungeBuddy

$100 CLEAR credit

The American Express Green Card will offer you $100 per year in statement credits for CLEAR (the regular price for CLEAR is $179 a year).

If you are not familiar with CLEAR, it allows you to bypass the security lines at airports in different venues such as stadiums by utilizing your biometrics such as your fingerprints.

If you have TSA Pre-Check, this will save you even more time during rush hour at airports. I would recommend that you read our review here if you need to find out more.

This is a huge perk if you ask me because the one major knock against CLEAR is that it is so expensive.

Picture of kiosks for CLEAR
Save $100 on CLEAR.

$100 LoungeBuddy credit

You will get $100 in annual credits for LoungeBuddy. 

LoungeBuddy is a way for you to get access to various airport lounges. Not every airport has a relationship with LoungeBuddy but for those that do you might be paying anywhere from $25-$50+ for lounge access. 

So this credit gives you 2 to 4 visits per year covered (again prices can vary widely). 

For anybody without Priority Pass this could be a great way to get airport lounge access when you need it. 

However, I already have the Platinum Card and so I don’t think this lounge benefit would do much for me. 

The Platinum Card offers lounge access in many different forms including:

  • Centurion Lounge access for up two guests
  • Priority Pass airport lounge access for up to two guests
  • Delta Sky Club access (when you fly with them)
  • Airspace Lounges
  • Escape Lounges
  • Plaza Premium Lounges
  • Lufthansa Lounges
  • Additional lounges in the network
The Amex Green Card can be useful for airport lounge access.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Amex Green Card benefits

Amex Offers

Amex Offers is one of the most valuable perks offered by any American Express card because it can save you tons in the long term.

Every month, you should check your Amex Offers to see what type of special promotions and discounts are available to you.

These discounts apply to all sorts of different industries like travel, shopping, etc. — everything from Hilton to Best Buy.

Amex concerts and events

You can get access to pre-sale tickets and also to select seats at certain events. Find out more about that benefit here.

ShopRunner

The ShopRunner program offers the following benefits from select retailers:

  • Free two-day shipping
  • Free return shipping
  • Specials deals and discounts

Typically, there is an annual fee of $79.00 to maintain ShopRunner. I’ve used this benefit with a few different retailers and it essentially offers Amazon Prime for free for those select retailers.

Green Card protections

Purchase protection

The Amex Green Card will protect your purchases for up to 90 days from the date of purchase if the item is stolen, accidentally damaged or lost.

The coverage is limited up to $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year.

This is a major downgrade from the Gold Card and Platinum Card that both offer coverage up to $10,000 per occurrence. Therefore, I would be cautious about relying on purchase protection with this card — it’s just not that solid.

Extended warranty

For warranties of five years or less, the manufacturer’s warranty can be extended up to one additional year. 

Trip delay

If your trip is delayed 12 hours or more, you can get coverage for up to $300 for the delay. You can use these funds for necessities like lodging, meals, and toiletries.

This is a solid perk but the drawback is that you must wait for delays of 12 hours or more while some cards kick in after only six hours.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance

The Green Card does not have trip cancellation and interruption insurance. In addition, the Green Card does not come with baggage delay protection which will allow you to purchase essentials while you’re waiting for your bag is to arrive.

Baggage Insurance Plan

With baggage insurance, you will be covered for lost, damaged, or stolen baggage. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage.

These baggage insurance limits are pretty low compared to the Platinum Card which offers up to $3,000, for carry-on baggage and up to $2,000 for checked baggage.

Amex Green Card FAQ

Does the Amex Green Card offer airport lounge access?

The Green Card does not come with an annual airport lounge access membership like Priority Pass but it does offer $100 worth of credits that could be used at Lounge Buddy airport lounges.

What counts as “travel” for the Amex Green Card?

According to American Express, the following purchases count out as travel:

airfare
hotels
cruises
tours
car rentals
campgrounds
travel purchases on third party travel websites
travel purchases on amextravel.com

In addition, you will earn 3X on transit purchases which include: trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.

How much is the Amex Green Card annual fee?

The annual fee for the Amex Green Card is $150 and it is not waived the first year.

Does the Amex Green Card have foreign transaction fees

No, the Amex Green Card does not have foreign transaction fees.

Can you upgrade the Amex Green Card?

Yes, you can usually upgrade the Amex Green Card to the the Gold Card or the Platinum Card.

Does the Amex Green Card offer Amex Pay Over Time?

Yes, you can enroll in Amex Pay Over Time with your Amex Green Card.

Final word

The is a tremendous card for earning lots of Membership Rewards on travel purchases.

The annual fee can easily be offset by someone who values priority access at airports and some entertainment venues by taking advantage of CLEAR.

In addition, the lounge credit is perfect for someone who only plans on visiting a few lounges per year and does not need an unlimited lounge visit membership.

Frontier Airlines World Mastercard Review [2020]

If you are interested in flying Frontier Airlines, the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard deserves a serious look. That’s because you can find a pretty decent welcome bonus on this card and some perks that are pretty competitive when compared to what other airline cards offer.

In this review article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard.

Frontier Airlines World Mastercard overview

Card art of the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard.
  • Welcome bonus (ranges)
  • 5X on Frontier purchases
  • 3X on restaurants
  • 1X on all other purchases
  • Earn toward Elite Status
  • Earn a $100 Flight Voucher
  • Unlock Family Pooling
  • Priority boarding
  • Award redemption fee waiver
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • $79 annual fee (not waived)

Tip: If you are interested in finding out the current top travel credit cards, be sure to check out our list here!

Welcome bonus 

The welcome bonus for the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard changes and we have seen offers as high as 50,000 bonus miles. The standard offer you may encounter may look like the following:

“40,000 bonus miles after spending $500 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days.”

I do feel obligated to point out that Frontier miles are not worth a whole lot compared to other airline miles.

Many airline miles can be valued at around 1.5 cents per point but the valuation for Frontier miles is going to be closer to one cent per point.

Here’s a look at some example redemption prices in cash prices so you can get a sense of how far your miles can take you. (Some prices were depressed due to coronavirus so the cents per point is extra low currently.)

RouteMiles PriceCash PriceCPP
Philadelphia, PA (PHL) to Miami, FL (MIA)10,000$28.10.28
Denver, CO (DEN) to Las Vegas, NV (LAS)10,000$23.10.23
Denver, CO (DEN) to Los Angeles, CA (LAX)10,000$24.10.24
Trenton, NJ (TTN) to Orlando, FL (MCO)10,000$28.10.28
Philadelphia, PA (PHL) to Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ)15,000$182.101.21
St. Louis, MO (STL) to Cancun, Mexico (CUN)15,000$146.48.98
Cincinnati, OH (CVG) to Las Vegas, NV (LAS)10,000$164.201.64
Frontier Airlines redemptions.

Bonus categories

  • 5X on Frontier purchases
  • 3X on restaurants
  • 1X on all other purchases

5X on Frontier purchases

Using a WalletFlo valuation of 1.03 cents per point, 5X comes out to 5.15% back which is pretty good for return spend on your airline purchases.

So if you plan on spending a decent amount on Frontier, this card can be quite rewarding.

Keep in mind that earning 5X on flights in the form of Frontier miles is not the same as earning 5X on flights in the form of something like Amex Membership Rewards.

For example, the Platinum Card earns 5X on flights and that 5X amount comes out to much more than 5% back. The card has a significantly higher annual fee but it also comes with a host of additional benefits as well.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to easily find which cards earn the most points for different categories.

3X at restaurants

Bonus earnings for dining include: restaurants, bars, and fast food restaurants and are based on merchant category codes.

3X at restaurants would come out to about 3.1% back. Getting 3% back for dining spend is pretty good although you might want to look at cards like the American Express Gold Card which earns 4X on dining and offer much more than 3% back.

1X on all other purchases

1X on all of the purchases is going to come out to around one percent back which is not very competitive.

You will be much better off utilizing other credit cards to capitalize on better earnings for your points on every day spend.

Related: Is Frontier Airlines Safe?

Dinner table at an outdooor restaurant.
Earn 3X on dining with the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard.

Frontier Airline benefits

  • Earn toward Elite Status
  • Earn a $100 Flight Voucher
  • Unlock Family Pooling
  • Priority boarding
  • Award redemption fee waiver

Earn miles toward elite status

There are not a lot of airline credit cards that allow you to earn miles toward elite status like this card does. You will earn 1 Qualifying Mile (QM) with every $1 spent on purchases.

Frontier has an elite loyalty program (full review here) that’s broken down into the following tiers:

  • Elite 20k: Earn 20,000 Status Qualifying Miles or 25 Segments
  • Elite 50k: Earn 50,000 Status Qualifying Miles or 50 Segments
  • Elite 100k: Earn 100,000 Status Qualifying Miles or 100 Segments

Here are some of the benefits for elite 20K members:

  1. Waived Award ticket fees.
  2. Option for Family Pooling.
  3. Advance Seat Assignment for the Member only.
  4. Carry-on bag for the Member only.
  5. Last seat available Award ticket option. Can be applied to any traveler using an Elite Member’s Miles.
  6. Stretch Seats upon check-in, for the Member only.

You’ll notice that some of the benefits like with the waived award ticket fees and family pooling are the same benefits you get for being a cardmember.

So you need to consider that spending $20,000 to get 20K may not move the needle too much although it is nice that you get advanced seat assignments, a free carry-on bag, and the last seat available option.

You also even get some of the benefits at the 50K level. For example, one of the new benefits you get when you jump from 25K to 50K is priority boarding but that is already included with the card (though it’s not quite the same).

However, there are other benefits like a 50% discount on the Discount Den membership and a 25% redeemable mileage bonus on all eligible Frontier flights

At the 100K level, the benefits expand so that you can receive a free carry-on for yourself and for eight other passengers, Free Discount Den Membership, and free checked luggage (more about baggage fees here).

Whether or not it is worth it to put your spend on this card to earn elite status would just depend on your travel preferences. (For me personally, I would rather put a huge amount to spend on other cards.)

It is worth noting that purchases made by authorized users through additional cards will earn QMs and count toward the primary cardmember’s qualifying spend.

Earn a $100 Flight Voucher

If you spend $2,500 or more in a cardmembership year, you will receive a $100 flight voucher.

You can expect to receive your voucher about 6 to 8 weeks after the account anniversary date and it should be delivered via email.

The flight voucher expires 180 days from date of issue. The flight must be booked before the voucher expiration date but the flight may take place after the expiration date.

The spend requirement of $2,500 in a card membership year is very low and pretty reasonable.

$100 is not a huge discount but considering your spend, it’s like getting 4% back when your spend. So that’s a pretty good return if you ask me.

Unlock Family Pooling

Family pooling is going to allow you to consolidate the miles between multiple related parties. This allows you to build up a higher balance and can increase your ability to redeem rewards.

Card members will be able to pool with one primary card number and up to eight friends and family members known as “pool contributors.”

This just makes using points more convenient and makes it easy to keep everybody on the same reservation which can be helpful when trying to utilize benefits like free baggage.

As a reminder this is a benefit for elite 20K members.

Priority boarding

As a cardmember, you’ll also get priority boarding which means that you will board in “Zone 2.”

Zone two boarding will begin after military passengers, elite status members, “Meet and Assist”, passengers with disabilities, or passengers with children under the age of 5.

If you have multiple carry-ons and need to utilize the overhead storage bin space this perk can save you some stress because you will be boarding before most other individuals and should be able to easily store your bag in the overhead storage bin.

Something to note about this benefit is that only the primary cardmember is eligible.

Award redemption fee waiver

Cardmembers who use their card to pay the award fees on redemptions will have the fees waived.

These fees can be very low on domestic flights and may start at $5.60 for a one-way ticket so sometimes the savings will be minimal but it still feels very good to be able to travel completely for free.

Balance transfer perks

With this card you can get a 0% intro APR on balance transfers made within a certain window, such as 45 days. So if you need to hit the reset button on some credit card debt this could be a decent option.

The balance transfer fee is 3% which is pretty standard and not as high as other cards that may charge as much as 5%.

Free FICO score

Barclays is great about offering free FICO scores and they will show you your FICO score from TransUnion.

Frontier Airlines World Mastercard FAQ

Does the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard offer free checked baggage?

No, the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard does not offer free checked baggage. However, you can spend your way into elite status and receive free checked baggage perks.

What are the airline benefits of the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard?

Earn toward Elite Status
$100 Flight Voucher
Family Pooling
Priority boarding
Award redemption fee waiver

How does the priority boarding work?

The primary cardmember will be able to board with zone two which boards the plane after pre-boarding and elite members.

How many bonus points do I earn on Frontier flights?

You will earn 5X on Frontier flights and qualifying purchases.

What is the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard annual fee?

The annual fee is $79 and it is not waived.

Does the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard have foreign transaction fees?

No, the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard does not have foreign transaction fees.

How many miles toward elite status do I earn?

You will earn one qualifying mile per one dollar spent on your card.

How do I get the $100 flight voucher?

You will need to spend $2,500 in your cardmember year to receive the $100 flight voucher.

Final word

If you fly Frontier Airlines, the Frontier Airlines world MasterCard is actually a pretty decent option.

You can find an okay welcome bonus that can get you some free flights and perks like the $100 voucher and priority boarding aren’t bad. It’s also pretty cool that you can spend your way into elite status which is something that not many airline credit cards offer, especially with such a low annual fee.

Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold Review [2020]

Offers contained within this article maybe expired.

The Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold is an entry-level airline credit card designed for those interested in Delta Air Lines and its partners. It may not have the best benefits in the world but there are some good perks that come with this card and sometimes you can catch terrific welcome bonuses.

In this review article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about the Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold and I’ll share how I’ve used it in the past for some pretty unforgettable travels.

Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold overview

  • 2X on Delta
  • 2X on restaurants
  • 2X on US supermarkets
  • First Checked Bag Free
  • Priority Boarding
  • $100 flight credit
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • $99 annual fee that is often waived the first year.

Welcome bonus

The Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold welcome bonus changes all the time.

I’ve seen the bonus range from around 30,000 miles all the way up to close to 75,000 miles (sometimes these bonuses may also come with an additional statement credit so be on the lookout for those). So this is the type of travel rewards credit card that you want to try to jump on at the most opportune time.

If it were me applying, I would strive to get at least 60,000 miles with the welcome bonus. That is what I have gotten in the past and I was able to put those miles towards a redemption that got me from Los Angeles to London in business class for only around five dollars in fees on partner Virgin Atlantic.

Curious how much these miles are worth? Check out the valuation here.

Tip: If you are wondering what type of redemptions you can get with your Delta Sky Miles, I recommend that you read up on our best uses of Delta Sky Miles.

The bar on the Virgin Atlantic 787.

Bonus categories

  • 2X on Delta
  • 2X on restaurants
  • 2X on US supermarkets

2X on Delta

Earning two times the points on Delta is pretty standard for a co-branded airline credit card. Of course, if you wanted to increase your earnings on Delta purchases, you could look into getting the Delta SkyMiles Platinum. That card earns an impressive 3X on every Delta purchase.

But if you are truly trying to maximize the amount of points earned on airfare, it’s hard to not go with the American Express Platinum Card because that card earns 5X on airfare. The added bonus of going with that card is that you will be earning valuable Membership Rewards which can be transferred out to various travel partners.

2X on restaurants

Earning two times the points at restaurants is okay but I choose to rack up many more points on my dining purchases by using the American Express Gold Card which earns 4X Membership Rewards on every purchase.

4X is really the minimum amount of bonus points I would accept for dining now that so many cards offer a strong rewards on dining purchases.

2X on US supermarkets

Getting 2X at US supermarkets is once again okay but you can do much better with the American Express Gold Card which earns 4X Membership Rewards on every purchase up to $25K every year.

So overall the bonus earning potential with this card is pretty mediocre. You should definitely consider other cards for these bonus categories which can rack up Delta miles much quicker.

Related: How much are Delta SkyMiles worth?

Tip: Check out the free app WalletFlo so that you can optimize your credit card spend by seeing the best card to use! You can also track credits, annual fees, and get notifications when you’re eligible for the best cards!

Perks

First Checked Bag Free

With the Delta SkyMiles Gold card you will get your first checked bag for free for yourself and also for passengers traveling on the same reservation. There is a maximum of nine waivers per reservation.

Baggage fees for Delta will usually cost $30 for your first checked bag so this can amount to pretty solid savings if you fly a lot. Keep in mind that this benefit is only for the primary cardmember and not authorized users.

Related: Checked Baggage Ultimate Guide

Priority Boarding

With the Delta SkyMiles Gold card, you will receive Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights. This benefit is limited to the basic cardmember and not authorized users. However, you can get this benefit for other travelers on the same reservation (up to nine passengers per reservation).

Here’s a look at all of the Delta boarding groups in the order in which they board:

  • Delta One
  • Delta Premium Select or First Class
  • Delta Comfort+
  • Sky Priority
  • Main cabin one
  • Main cabin two
  • Main cabin three
  • Basic Economy

You can find out more about the Delta boarding process here.

$100 flight credit

When you make $10,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, you’ll receive a $100 Delta Flight Credit.

You’ll be able to use this credit on Delta marketed flights and also toward the Delta airfare portion of a Delta Vacations package. The credit cannot be used for fees like baggage fees, change fees, unaccompanied minor fees, etc. Keep in mind that you will have one year to use this credit before it expires.

The Credit will be issued as a Delta eCredit, which will be available in My Profile on delta.com under Certificates, eCredits, and Vouchers. You are allowed to combine this with up to two other Delta eCredits. While the credit is available to the primary cardmember, authorized users’ spend can count towards the purchase requirement.

My biggest issue with this benefit is that you have to spend $10,000 in order to get a $100 benefit so this is basically giving you a 1% return. That’s not terribly impressive in my opinion.

If you were to put $15,000 worth spend on a card like the Hilton Surpass, you could get a free night to use at Hilton properties which could be worth close to $1,000. So be sure to consider alternatives for your bonus spend rewards.

20% discount

You can get a 20% discount in the form of a statement credit on eligible pre-purchased meals, and in-flight purchases of food, alcoholic beverages and audio headsets, on Delta-operated flights. Just note that in-flight Wi-Fi does not trigger the credit.

Benefits and protections

Baggage Insurance Plan

Most states will provide you with coverage depending on the type of baggage that you have. For carry-ons you can get up to $1,250 worth of coverage and for checked bags you can get coverage up to $500 subject to terms and conditions.

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance

Rental car coverage will be secondary with this card. Secondary coverage is pretty standard for a co-branded airline credit card but there are some cards issued by Chase that offer primary coverage. For example, the Chase Sapphirre Preferred will get you primary rental car coverage and its annual fee is only $95.

Extended Warranty

American Express will extend your warranty one additional year on warranties up to five years.

Purchase Protection

You’ll get purchase protection on purchases up to $1,000. This is not very competitive purchase protection as other cards will cover you up to $10,000 per purchase.

Overall, these travel protections and purchase protections are not the most competitive. I would definitely consider going for other premium cards that offer better quality protections if things like trip cancellation and baggage delay protection are important to you.

Additional benefits

Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold FAQ

Does the Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold offer lounge access?

You will not get lounge access with the Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold but you can get Sky Club access at a discounted rate of $39.

If you are truly interested in the best type of airport lounge access, I would recommend you also look into getting the American Express Platinum Card.

Do you get free checked baggage with the Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold?

Yes, you will get one free checked bag for yourself and for up to nine individuals on your itinerary.

Do you get priority boarding with the Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold?

Yes, you will be able to board with main cabin group one.

Is the annual fee waived for the Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold?

The annual fee is often waived the first year and after that the annual fee is $99 per year.

Is the Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold a credit card or a charge card?

The Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold is a credit card.

Can you downgrade the Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold?

Yes, you can look into downgrading your card to the no annual fee Amex Delta SkyMiles Blue.

Do you earn MQMs with the bonus?

No, you will not earn MQMs. However, the Delta Platinum card often offers something like 5,000 MQMs after spending $2,000 in the first three months.

Final word

The Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold is a pretty basic co-branded airline credit card. It really stands out when it has a high welcome bonus of 60,000 miles or more and it can be a great way to quickly accumulate Delta miles. It doesn’t offer a whole lot in the benefits department but if you are interested in Delta benefits you might look at the Delta Platinum card or the Delta Reserve.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Review [2020]

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the flagship credit cards offered by Chase. The card has a lot going for it including a great welcome bonus, decent bonus categories, and a lot of amazing travel protections. In this article, I’ll break down all of the benefits and show you just how valuable this card can be.

Chase Sapphire Preferred intro

card art of Chase Sapphire Preferred

Card highlights

  • 2X on Dining
  • 2X on Travel
  • 5X on Lyft
  • DashPass
  • Strong travel protections
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • $95 annual fee

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is arguably the most popular travel rewards credit card. It appeals to a broad range of consumers because of its low annual fee, superb travel protections, and ability to rack up valuable travel points that can be transferred out to some great partners. It’s easily one of the top travel cards for a beginner and that’s why I put it at my number one spot. 

Welcome bonus

For the longest time the welcome bonus for the Sapphire Preferred was stuck at 50,000 Ultimate Rewards after spending $4,000 in the first three months.

That wasn’t a bad bonus at all but Chase eventually upgraded the welcome bonus to 60,000 Ultimate Rewards after spending $4,000 in the first three months which was much more attractive and even higher than the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s bonus.

60,000 Ultimate Rewards can get you very far.

Just how far? I’ll give you some examples.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Cashback

If you just redeemed your 60,000 point bonus for straight cashback, the baseline value is $600 which is actually very good.

Some banks with valuable transferable points don’t allow you to cash in at one cent per point so this is actually very competitive.

But you can do much better.

Chase Travel Portal 25% bonus

If you redeemed your Ultimate Rewards in the Chase Travel Portal, you’ll be able to book things like airfare, hotels, car rentals, and cruises at a rate of 1.25 cents per point which would put the value of your 60,000 points at $750.

But it’s not even all about the monetary value.

Using the Chase Travel Portal means that you don’t have to deal with award inventory or deal with black-out dates.

So there is a huge convenience factor here.

For people who like simplicity in their travel rewards, the travel portal is the way to go.

Just keep in mind that if you had the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you could redeem your points at a rate of 1.5 cents per point towards travel.

Chase travel partners

Things get even sweeter when you start to transfer your points out to travel partners. 

Here are all of the current Chase transfer partners:

  • Aer Lingus
  • British Airways Executive Club
  • Emirates
  • JetBlue
  • Flying Blue (Air France/KLM)
  • Iberia Airways
  • Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
  • Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
  • United MileagePlus
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
  • Hyatt
  • Marriott
  • IHG

You can transfer your points to all of these partners at a 1:1 ratio.

For someone looking to do a lot of flying around the US, Chase Ultimate Rewards can be extremely valuable. You can often find Southwest Wanna Get Away flights on the cheap so transferring your points to Southwest is often a good move.

This is especially the case if you have the Southwest Companion Pass which allows a companion to fly for free with you for up to two calendar years.

United Airlines can also be a great option for flying around the US but don’t forget that you can use United miles on some great partners like EVA and Lufthansa.

I recently used United miles to fly first class on Lufthansa and it was a pretty amazing flight there are many other amazing business class and first class redemption possibilities with Ultimate Rewards.

60,000 Ultimate Rewards transferred to United wont be quite enough for a long-haul premium flight with partners like EVA and Lufthansa but it will set you up nicely to get there with perhaps some additional spending or another Chase card.

For example, you could fly one-way business class between Taipei and the US for 88,000 United miles plus ~$40 in fees.

Screenshot showing award prices on United website
Saver award in business class on partner EVA.

According to Google Flights this would be a $5,961 flight. So if you use your 60,000 Ultimate Rewards towards this redemption, the total value you would be getting from your 60,000 points would be approximately: $4,037!

That just goes to show the potential for outsized value with some of these transfer partners.

Screenshot showing price of flight on Google flights
The cash price for this flight is almost $6,000!

If you want to check out some more examples of some amazing premium cabins that you can book with Chase points, be sure to check these out here:

Chase also has the best lineup of hotel partners, especially with Hyatt. If you transfer your welcome bonus over to Hyatt, 60,000 Hyatt points could get you two nights at a category 7 property which could amount to value close to $2,000!

So as you can see, transferring your points is the way to go for outsized value. 

You can fly Lufthansa First Class with United points.

Eligibility 

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is subject to the Chase credit card application rules including the Chase 5/24 rule and the dreaded Sapphire 48-month rule, not to mention the 2/30 rule.

Instead of trying to keep up with calculating all of these rules yourself, I highly recommend that you sign up for the free app WalletFlo which will automate your eligibility for all of these credit card rules.

You can also set up notifications so that you are reminded when you are finally eligible along with keeping tabs on your annual fees, upgrade history, etc.

Related: Chase Credit Card Application Status Guide

Bonus categories

  • 2X on Dining
  • 2X on Travel
  • 5X on Lyft

2X on Travel

One of the great things about the Sapphire Preferred is that it earns 2X on a broad travel category.

Chase states that travel includes “airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds and operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages.”

I’ve actually had quite a few tours and even excursions like scuba diving count as travel in the past.

2X on Dining

Dining is also pretty broad and includes primary businesses with “sit-down or eat-in dining, including fast food restaurants and fine dining establishments.”

Earning 2X on dining in travel is respectable.

Using a WalletFlo valuation of 1.73 cents per point, that comes out to 3.46% back. That’s not bad but many people believe that the Chase Sapphire Preferred is overdue for some changes in the bonus category department.

(Personally, I think it would be nice to see the addition of grocery store bonus spend.)

The thing about Chase is that you have some great options for earning more points. For example, the Chase Freedom offers 5% back on rotating categories and there is also the Chase Freedom Unlimited with its 1.5% back on all purchases.

5X on Lyft

Earning 5X on Lyft is a pretty big deal if you use that rideshare service.

Using the valuation above, 5X comes out to 8.65% back.

That’s very good but again some people may prefer to use a different service like Uber or they may not even use rideshares at all. Note that this benefit is currently only running through 03/31/2022.

Picture looking out from a taxi cab in Italy near a train station
You can earn points on travel all around the world.

DashPass Subscription

As a cardmember you will get a complimentary one-year DashPass membership, which is DoorDash’s subscription service that provides unlimited restaurant deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on orders over $12.

Normally, this membership would cost you $9.99 per month, so that’s a high potential for savings over the span of one year.

Travel and purchase protections

One of the reasons why the Chase Sapphire Preferred is such a great travel rewards credit card is that it has fantastic travel protections, especially for a card with low annual fee.

Here’s a breakdown of the travel and purchase protections you’ll get with this card.

Primary rental car coverage 

When you book a rental car on the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you should refuse collision damage waiver coverage because you have built-in rental car coverage with your card.

The best part about this protection is that the coverage is primary unlike so many other cars which only offer secondary rental car coverage.

Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption

You can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses. These expenses include things like airline tickets, hotel stays, and tours, which is why I consider this card to be one of the best to use for hotel bookings.

This protection is one of the biggest reasons to get this card and why it makes sense to put most of your trip itineraries on this card. Unless your trip costs significantly more than $10,000, you often can avoid purchasing trip insurance with these perks.

Baggage Delay

The baggage delay protection will reimburse you up to $100 a day for up to five days for essentials such as toiletries and clothing when your baggage has been delayed over six hours.

The six hour threshold and $100 a day limit for coverage is very competitive making this once again a great card to use for airline travel.

Purchase Protection

The purchase protection benefit will cover you for new purchases for 120 days and you will be protected against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.

This benefit is definitely not one of the most competitive because other rewards cards offer purchase protection up to $10,000 per claim. So when it comes to your “big balla” purchases, you may want to put those on a different card.

Extended Warranty Protection

If you put a purchase on this card, a U.S. manufacturer’s warranty will be extended by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less.

This is a pretty decent extended warranty protection but because the purchase protection limit is so low, I personally rarely rely on this.

Trip Delay Reimbursement

If your common carrier travel is delayed longer than 12 hours or if it requires an overnight stay, you and your family can be reimbursed for unreimbursed expenses including meals and lodging up to $500 per ticket.

This is a great perk because many common carriers such as airlines don’t have to provide compensation when your flight is substantially delayed for reasons like bad weather.

And when they do provide compensation or lodging it could be at a specific hotel but if you have this benefit you can go out and stay at a hotel of your choice while getting reimbursed for your dining expenses.

The only drawback is that it requires a delay of 12 hours versus six hours which is what is offered by other cards like the Sapphire Reserve.

Travel Accident Insurance

Hopefully you’ll never have to use this but if you pay for your air, bus, train or cruise transportation with your card, you can receive coverage of up to $500,000 for accidental death or dismemberment.

Travel and Emergency Assistance   

If you get yourself into a situation while traveling and need assistance finding legal or medical referrals or some other type of emergency assistance, you can contact the Benefit Administrator.

Just to be aware that you will be responsible for any services that you accept.

Events and experiences

You can get exclusive access to some pretty cool events in different industries like music, sports, and entertainment. These include some high profile events like the Sundance Film Festival.

Direct access to customer service

One of the most convenient perks offered by this card is direct access to a customer service agent. All you have to do is call the number on the back of your card and you will be instantly connected to a customer service representative.

(You may have to verify the last few digits of your card first.)

This greatly cuts down on your waiting time and is a huge perk.

Foreign transaction fees 

The Chase Sapphire Preferred has no foreign transaction fees.

Annual fee

The annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Preferred is $95.

Chase Sapphire Preferred FAQ

How much is the bonus worth for the Chase Sapphire Preferred?

If you receive a 60,000 point bonus, you could be getting anywhere from $600 to over $4,000 worth of value. It all depends on how you choose to redeem your points.

Is the annual fee waived for the Chase Sapphire Preferred?

The annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Preferred is not currently waived for most offers.

What travel protection does the Chase Sapphire Preferred have?

Primary rental car coverage
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Baggage Delay
Trip Delay Reimbursement
Travel Accident Insurance
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services

Can you get pre-approved for the Chase Sapphire Preferred?

Yes, you can get pre-approved for the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Read more about how to do that here.

What credit score do you need for the Chase Sapphire Preferred?

It’s recommended to have a great credit score of around 720 or higher to get approved. However, plenty of people have been approved for the card with credit scores that are lower than that. I would generally try to get my score as close to 700 as possible before applying though. Read more about approval odds.

What credit bureau will be pulled if I apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred?

Chase might pull from multiple bureaus when you apply. In my case, Chase will usually pull from Experian and Equifax but it could differ based on your location. Read more about credit pulls here.

Can you upgrade the Chase Sapphire Preferred?

Yes, after you have had the card for one year, you can look into upgrading to the Chase Sapphire Reserve which comes with a higher annual fee but many more benefits.

Can you get the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Chase Sapphire Reserve?

You are not allowed to get both of these cards based on the application rules found in the terms and conditions. You will need to wait 24 months from receiving a bonus from one of the cards and/or cancel one of them if you currently hold one in order to get approved for an additional Sapphire card. To automate your eligibility for these rules, I suggest using WalletFlo. 

Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred come with roadside assistance?

You get “roadside dispatch” which helps you get the roadside assistance that you need. However, this service is not complimentary and you will be billed for whatever services you accept.

Can you downgrade the Chase Sapphire Preferred?

Yes, after you have had the card for one year you may inquire about downgrade opportunities.

Many people choose to downgrade the Sapphire Preferred to the Chase Freedom or the Chase Freedom Unlimited, both of which have no annual fee but still offer great rewards. You can also downgrade to the no annual fee version of the Chase Sapphire.

Can you get a credit limit increase for the Chase Sapphire Preferred?

Yes, it is possible to get a credit limit increase. There are several tips I have and I recommend that you read up on those in order to improve your odds of getting an increased credit limit.

Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred come with Global Entry?

No, the Chase Sapphire Preferred does not come with Global Entry. However, you can get this benefit with the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Find out more about Global Entry here.

Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred come with airport lounge access?

No, the Chase Sapphire Preferred does not come with airport lounge access. Once again, you can get airport lounge access with the Chase Sapphire Reserve via Priority Pass Select.

Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred metal?

Yes, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is partially metal. It’s not as heavy as some other metal cards like the Amex Platinum Card but it is more durable than a standard plastic credit card.

How do you dispose of the Chase Sapphire Preferred?

Because the card is partially metal, you may have trouble disposing of it (unlike a typical credit card that you can just cut up). Chase allows you to send in your card with a prepaid envelope for proper disposal if you would like.

Do Chase Sapphire Preferred points expire?

No, as long as your card is active your points will not expire.

Do I need to set up a travel notification if I travel?

Chase may not require you to set up a travel notification on your Sapphire Preferred but this could depend on your travel and spending habits with Chase. If in doubt, you should try to set one up and you can find out how to do that here.

Final word

The Chase Sapphire Preferred has an amazing welcome bonus and decent bonus earning potential but it also comes with some amazing travel protections that make it a great choice for a go-to travel rewards credit card.

AAdvantage Aviator Business Card Review [2020]

If you’re trying to get far with your American Airlines miles, you should really consider picking up the AAdvantage Aviator Business Card — one of the top travel credit cards.

It’s a great addition to other AA cards like the Citi Platinum Select and can help build you up a big balance of AAdvantage miles pretty quick.

In this article, I’ll cover everything you need to know about the AAdvantage Aviator Business Card.

AAdvantage Aviator Business Card Overview

AAdvantage Aviator Business Card card art
  • 2X on AA purchases
  • 2X on office supply, telecom, and car rental merchants
  • First checked bag free for the primary cardmember and up to 4 companions
  • Preferred boarding
  • $3,000 Elite Qualifying Dollars after spending $25,000 on purchases each calendar year
  • 25% inflight savings on food, beverages, and headsets on American Airlines-operated flights
  • Reduced mileage awards
  • Companion certificate good for 1 guest at $99 
  • 5% AAdvantage mileage bonus
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Chip and Pin technology (great for Europe)
  • Annual fee $95 (not waived)

Eligibility

Barclays imposes something known as “6/24.” This is a soft rule that means that if you’ve opened six or more cards in the past 24 months, you might not get approved for their cards. 

This is not always enforced so you don’t always have to worry about, but there are other eligibility rules at play with this card as well.

Tip: Check out the free app WalletFlo so that you can optimize your credit card spend by seeing the best card to use! You can also track credits, annual fees, and get notifications when you’re eligible for the best cards!

Welcome bonus

The welcome bonus for this card has ranged from 40,000 miles all the way up to 75,000 miles although the spend requirements have been a bit different.

Here’s one of the most recent offers we’ve seen:

  • Earn 65,000 miles after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days. Earn 10,000 miles when a purchase is made on an employee card.

50,000 miles can put you in great position to start redeeming for some excellent products. If you stack this with other AA credit cards you can quickly be on your way to some great redemptions on partners like Qatar.

If you combined this offer with another AA sign-up bonus of 60,000 miles or got matched to 75,000 miles, you’d be a step closer to making some great redemptions such as:

  • One way in the first class Etihad Apartment
  • Roundtrip business class to Europe
  • Etihad or Qatar business class roundtrip to or from the Middle East
  • Cathay Pacific business class roundtrip to Asia
  • Roundtrip in business class to Africa
  • Two roundtrip business class tickets to Hawaii
American Airlines First Class.

Bonus categories

  • 2X on AA purchases
  • 2X on office supply, telecom, and car rental merchants
  • 5% bonus on annual earnings

2X on AA

Earning 2X on American Airlines purchases is pretty standard for a co-branded airline credit card.

Using a WalletFlo valuation of 1.37 cents per point, 2X comes out to 2.74% back.

Personally, I like to put my travel expenses like airfare on a card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve that has a better earning rate of 3X and more importantly more robust travel protections.

Tip: If you want a business card that earns 3X on travel, consider the Chase Ink Preferred.

2X on office supplies, telecom, and car rentals

You will also earn two times the points on office supplies, telecom, and car rentals.

These are okay earning rates for these categories but if you really want to maximize points for office supplies and telecom, you might want to look into a card like the Chase Ink Business Cash.

Chase Ink Business Cash earns 5X on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases in the following categories each account anniversary year:

  • Office supplies stores
  • Internet, cable and phone services

Tip: You could transfer your Chase points to a program like British Airways Avios and still use your points for American Airlines.

5% bonus

At the end of every year, you will receive a 5% bonus on all of the miles that you earned.

You will need to renew your card which means that you will need to pay the annual fee to get this benefit. In fact, your card will have to remain open for at least 45 days after the anniversary date.

Airline benefits

First checked bag free

You can get a free checked bag for you and up to four companions on domestic itineraries operated by American Airlines.

American Airlines charges $30 for the first checked bag, so you could easily save over $100 traveling with three other people on a one-way trip.

This perk alone will justify the annual fee for a lot of people who frequently fly American Airlines.

The one drawback to this perk is that it only applies to domestic flights unlike the United Explorer Card which offers a free bag on international flights.

Related reading: The ultimate guide to checked baggage.

Preferred boarding

You can also get preferred boarding for you and up to four companions when flying on American Airlines operated flights.

Preferred boarding is not the same as priority boarding but you will be among the first to enter the aircraft in main cabin so it can be helpful when trying to secure our overhead storage bin space.

You can find out more about the American Airlines boarding process here.

Get preferred boarding with the Business Aviator.

$3,000 elite qualifying dollars

Each year, after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your card, you can earn $3,000 of elite qualifying dollars (EQDs).

In order to achieve American Airlines Gold status, you will have to earn $3,000 in EQDs, so this benefit allows you to instantly achieve that qualification.

The EQD requirements are:

Elite status levelSpend requirement
Gold$3,000
Platinum$6,000
Platinum Pro$9,000
Executive Platinum$15,000
American Airlines EQD requirements.

So this benefit can really help you achieve higher levels of elite status if the spend requirement is generally something that you struggle to achieve.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

25% discount

You can receive a 25% discount as a statement credit on food and beverages when you fly on American Airlines operated flights.

This is a pretty standard discount for a co-branded airline credit card but it’s not quite as good as the 50% savings that the JetBlue Plus offers.

Get a 25% discount on American Airlines in-flight purchases.

Companion certificate

If you spend $30,000 or more on your card, you will be issued one companion certificate that is good for one guest at $99.

This allows a companion to fly with you on many different types of qualifying her outs for only $99.

You will still need to pay taxes and fees which may range from $21.60 to $43.20.

AAdvantage Aviator Business Card (FAQ)

Does the Aviator Business Card come with lounge access?

No, the Aviator Business Card does not come with Admirals Club access. To find out more about how to get Admirals Club access click here.

Can I get the Citi Business Platinum Select and the Aviator Business Card?

Yes, it is possible to get both American Airlines business cards.

Does the Aviator Business Card have foreign transaction fees?

No, the Aviator Business Card does not have foreign transaction fees.

What is the Aviator Business Card annual fee?

The annual fee is $95 and it is not waived.

Final word

As you can see there are a lot of benefits you can take advantage of with this card such as free checked baggage and preferred boarding.

If you fly with AA even a couple of times a year, those perks can more than justify paying the annual fee!

Spirit Airlines World Mastercard Review [2020]

If you are interested in flying on low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines, you might also be interested in learning more about the Spirit Airlines World Mastercard.

It’s an interesting card with its unique bonus earning category but it doesn’t offer a wide range of benefits that you typically expect to see on a co-branded airline card.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Spirit Airlines World Mastercard.

Spirit Airlines World Mastercard overview

  • 2X on everything
  • 5,000 point anniversary bonus
  • Priority boarding
  • Reduced redemption prices

Welcome bonus

The bonus for the Spirit Airlines World Mastercard may come in different forms depending on when you apply.

A common offer is for 15,000 bonus miles after you use your card to make just one purchase and then the option to earn 15,000 additional miles if you make $500 worth of purchases within the first 90 days of opening up your account.

Since you only have to make one purchase and spend an additional $500 for the whole bonus, this is a very easy to obtain welcome bonus.

Spirit Airlines has a region based award chart that also changes based on the timing of your booking.

There are four different regions and three different rates of awards which include off-peak, standard, and peak.

The great thing about this card is that off-peak awards are available exclusively to cardholders who book the redemption flights using their Spirit Airlines World Mastercard. 

You can find off-peak awards for region one starting at only 2,500 miles.

If you are wondering what you can do with 30,000 miles, take a look at the chart below which breaks down some of the redemption prices for Spirit Airlines.

RouteMiles PriceCash PriceCPP
Atlanta, GA (ATL) to Aruba (AUA)27,500 (+ $15.60)$196.58.66
Los Angeles, CA (LAX) to Baltimore, MD (BWI)37,500 (+ $5.60)$87.09.22
Denver, CO (DEN) to Detroit, MI (DTW)25,000 (+ $5.60)$51.39.18
Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL) to Lima, Peru (LIM)45,000 (+ $35.60)$196.09.36
Orlando, FL (MCO) to Guatemala City, Guatemala (GUA)25,000 (+ $5.60)$81.14.30
New Orleans, LA (MSY) to Las Vegas, NV (LAS)27,500 (+ $5.60)$91.09.31
Oakland, CA (OAK) to Houston, TX (IAH)27,500 (+ $5.60)$115.88.40

Tip: If you want to save on Spirit Airlines tickets, consider signing up for the $9 Fare Club.

Bank of America application rules 

Below are the application rules you need to consider. 

You can’t get approved for more than: 

  • Two new BOA cards in a 30 day period
  • Three new BOA cards in a 12 month period
  • Four new BOA cards in a 24 month period

Here are more rules: 

  • Applicants with a BOA deposit account will not be approved if they have opened seven or more credit cards in the past 12 months.
  • Applicants without a BOA deposit account will not be approved if they have opened three or more credit cards  in the past 12 months

So there are a lot of rules to keep in mind when going for this card. I just suggest for you to use the free app WalletFlo so that you can automate your eligibility for credit cards and boost your approval odds!

Bonus categories 

  • 2X on everything

Earning 2X on a co-branded airline credit card for airline purchases is the standard.

However, with this card you can earn 2X on all of your every day purchases.

So that is a significant upgrade compared to most other airline cards but the problem is that Spirit miles are not worth as much as other as other airlines.

Many people value Spirit Airline miles around .4 cents per point, though as you can tell by the chart below that value can change.

At a valuation of .4 cents per mile, 2X comes out to about .8% back which just is not competitive.

You would be much better off using a card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited for every day purchases which earns 1.5X on all purchases.

And you will definitely be better off with other cards when it comes to bonus category spend.

I would much rather put my airline purchases on a card like the Platinum Card that earns 5X on airfare which comes out to a much more valuable earning great.

Tip: Check out the free app WalletFlo so that you can optimize your credit card spend by seeing the best card to use! You can also track credits, annual fees, and get notifications when you’re eligible for the best cards!

Spirit Airlines travel benefits

One of the major drawbacks to this card is that it does not offer many benefits at all.

5,000 anniversary bonus miles

Whenever you spend $10,000 in purchases in a year, you’ll be given 5,000 anniversary bonus Spirit miles.

This perk is not that attractive because it requires a hefty amount of spend at $10,000.

Again, if you value the miles at .4 cents per point then getting 5,000 bonus miles would amount to under $25 in value.

Consider that you could put $15,000 worth of spend on a card like the Hilton Surpass and get issued a free weekend night that could be worth over $1,000.

It quickly becomes clear that this bonus perk is just not that special.

Something else to consider is that some other airline credit cards simply give you an automatic bonus each year, regardless of how much you spend.

ZONE 2 Priority Boarding

Cardholders will receive zone two priority boarding whenever they use their Spirit Airlines MasterCard to purchase tickets or by simply showing their MasterCard at the gate upon boarding.

This really is the only true airline perk offered by this card so it’s nice to have something.

Getting to board in zone two should make it much easier to secure overhead storage bin space so there is some value in this perk.

Free Spirit Dining Rewards

Your card will be automatically enrolled in the Free Spirit Dining Rewards.

This is a program that allows you to earn at least 1 mile for every two dollars spent at participating restaurants. You can check here for a full list of participating restaurants and how to increase your earning rates.

It’s nice that they automatically enroll you but this perk is available to people who don’t have the Spirit Airlines MasterCard so it’s really not that special.

Reduced award flight redemption levels

As stated above, you can get access to reduced award flight redemption levels which can be as low as 2,500 miles for off-peak awards.

If you can regularly take advantage of these low rates, you might be able to extract a lot more value from this card than others.

Spirit Airlines World Mastercard FAQ

Does the Spirit Airlines World Mastercard offer elite status?

No, you will not be granted elite status with this credit card.

Do you get free checked baggage with the Spirit Airlines World Mastercard?

No, you will not be offered free checked baggage as a cardmember. To find out more about the Spirit Airlines baggage policy click here.

What is the annual fee?

The annual fee is $59 and it is often waived the first year.

Does the Spirit Airlines World Mastercard have foreign transaction fees?

No, the Spirit Airlines World Mastercard does not have any foreign transaction fees.

Final word

Overall, the Spirit Airlines World Mastercard is not the most impressive airline credit card. I like that it earns 2X miles on all purchases but those miles are just not very valuable which hurts the value proposition.

It’s nice that you have access to cheap or awards but there are other perks that seem to be missing like Free checked baggage.

Cover photo by Prayitno via Flickr. 

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