Are You an Airline or Hotel Brand Loyalist? Co-branded credit cards offer great rewards to frequent travelers and brand loyalists, with generous sign-up bonuses and reward rates for travel purchases. In addition, many come equipped with zero foreign transaction fees or TSA PreCheck global entry benefits that can give your travel experiences added incentive!
Sign-up bonuses
Sign-up bonuses on credit cards can provide a welcome boost in rewards points, cash back and other perks – but beware: Most offers require spending a certain amount within a short timeframe, usually two months to one year; otherwise you risk incurring debt that lowers the value of rewards you get in return.
Sign-up bonuses can help you quickly earn rewards, particularly on cards with low or waived annual fees. But they should not be the sole consideration when selecting a new credit card; take your budget and long-term plans into account too. When comparing two cards offering identical welcome bonuses, consider how valuable their reward points are; for instance, one offering bonus points on restaurants may be more valuable than one which only includes airline transfer partners that you don’t expect to use often.
Points or miles
Many credit cards offer miles or points redeemable for travel rewards, which vary in value depending on how they’re redeemed. Some outlets publish valuations that only take into account high-end redemptions such as international first class travel or luxury overwater villa rentals; these valuations miss the true use of rewards by cardholders in real life.
Co-branded cards with airlines usually earn more miles than non-airline programs; however, their miles may have a set value.
Airlines and hotel credit cards often charge steep annual fees; however, many also provide large sign-up bonuses of tens of thousands of miles after spending a specific amount within the first few months. This bonus helps offset some of the initial fee costs. Furthermore, some cards provide valuable perks such as lounge access or fee credits for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck applications.
Concierge services
Concierge services are a common feature on premium credit cards and can assist with everything from booking tours and tickets, to traveling abroad where communicating can be more difficult or in places where English may not be spoken natively.
Concierges can make restaurant reservations and purchase event tickets, even when they have sold out, as well as locate hard-to-find items or access special offers unavailable to the general public. Some card issuers even offer concierges their own networks with access to exclusive offers that can’t be found elsewhere.
Some concierges will even assist in finding lost items, arranging roadside towing services or disputing charges on your bill that are incorrect or improperly applied. But they won’t carry out illegal requests, and any items purchased on your behalf must be paid for directly by yourself. Credit card concierges typically operate 24/7 and can be reached through phone calls, emails and live chat through your credit card app.
Insurance
Many travel rewards cards provide insurance policies to protect against unexpected emergencies and save you money in an unexpected event. Some cards provide roadside dispatch coverage that connects you with local providers offering assistance such as jump starting, help unlocking your car or short towing services; others may provide baggage reimbursement policies which cover actual or replacement cost costs of lost luggage.
Compare the add-ons provided by each credit card carefully as their offerings can differ significantly. Some cards provide automatic elite status with hotels or airlines, access to airport lounges and extra points on purchases while others may provide premium perks like trip cancellation/interruption insurance and 24/7 global assistance. It is also crucial that you understand exactly what each policy covers before selecting one; many travel cards with trip cancellation/interruption coverage only cover reasonable expenses incurred as a result of being delayed or canceled as per published in their benefit guide.
