Mortgage Q&A: “How to pay the mortgage with a credit card.”
First things first; banks and mortgage lenders don’t accept credit cards as a form of payment when attempting to repay your home loan. Options for paying are typically limited to ACH or check.
However, back during the housing boom aka meltdown there were various third-party services that allowed homeowners to make their mortgage payments with a credit card.
Paying the mortgage with a credit card topics:
– Why pay the mortgage with a credit card? – Using Plastiq to pay the mortgage – Using Tio to pay the mortgage (no longer an option) – Using American Express Serve to pay the mortgage – Warnings and drawbacks to paying the mortgage with a credit card
These services charged fees for the convenience, and looking back, they were probably only offered because people couldn’t keep up with their mortgage payments, and eventually their credit card payments either.
Chances are these same people had to execute a balance transfer shortly after…
Unsurprisingly, these services seemed to disappear as quickly as they surfaced, but there are still options to pay the mortgage with a credit card each month free of charge, even if mortgage lenders won’t let you do it directly.
Reasons to Pay the Mortgage with a Credit Card
To meet a minimum spending requirement and earn bonus credit card points
To increase everyday spending and earn cash back, points, etc.
To defer payments for a period of time to give yourself some breathing room
This last one isn’t a good idea!
The difference today is that this method/idea is more about earning credit card points (or cash back) for paying your mortgage, and not so much about simply paying it.
Let me preface this by saying it makes no sense to pay your mortgage with a credit card if you can’t afford to pay it otherwise.
The only purpose of this method is to earn bonus points and/or cash back as you would on other purchases made with a rewards credit card.
Using Plastiq to Pay the Mortgage with a Credit Card
Plastiq allows mortgage payments via credit card
But only with a MasterCard or Discover card
They no longer accept Visa or American Express cards
You must also pay a transaction fee of 2.5% or less
There are some companies that allow you to pay rent or the mortgage with a credit card in exchange for a small transaction fee.
By small fee, I mean something in the range of 2-3%. Recently, a company called Plastiq had a special where they charged just 1.75% ($17.50 per $1,000 in payment). They normally charge 2.5%.
Unfortunately, most credit cards don’t earn cash back or points at levels this high unless it’s in a bonus category. And these companies often aren’t in any bonus category whatsoever.
The one exception is the old AT&T Access More credit card, which earns 3X per dollar on all online purchases. That seems to include services like Plastiq. This allows you to come out ahead.
Even if you can’t come out ahead dollar for dollar, it might be worth it for some people looking to meet a minimum spending requirement to earn an opening bonus, or just to buy some time on that monthly payment (not recommended).
For example, if you need to spend $5,000 in the first three months to earn a signup bonus, paying the mortgage can probably put a big dent in that requirement. And it’s only $125 in fees if you use Plastiq for the entire amount. If the reward points eclipse the cost, you win.
Some other cash back credit cards do earn 2%+ on all spending, either initially as a bonus or all the time, so it’s possible to come out slightly ahead or just slightly behind. Aside from making money doing this, some folks are happy just to earn lots of credit card points and miles by charging the pricey mortgage.
Important note: Plastiq currently only accepts MasterCard and Discover. They recently stopped allowing mortgage payments to be paid with a Visa card and American Express cards. That means you’re limited to the other two major issuers, which still isn’t bad.
Apparently Visa told Plastiq they had to comply with a new directive that banned mortgage payments via Visa credit cards. They’re basically closing a loophole because otherwise Visa would just allow it themselves and you wouldn’t need to use a third-party payment service.
It’s unclear if the others will follow, but it’s always a risk. For some reason, the ability to pay the mortgage with a credit card never seems to stick long-term, and perhaps for good reason.
If you do use Plastiq to pay the mortgage, you’ll need to enter the business name as it appears on your mortgage statement, along with the mailing address they list for mailed payments.
Assuming they have an electronic option (ACH) available in their system, payment will be sent electronically. If not, they’ll send a paper check on your behalf. If that’s the case, be sure to give it a week or two to arrive.
In terms of limits, the only payment limits are those associated with the credit card you use for payment. So if your card has a $5,000 credit limit, you won’t be able to send a mortgage payment for any more than that. This means even those with a jumbo mortgage will likely be able to use this service, assuming they have decent credit limits.
I’ve yet to use Plastiq, but I may in the future if I need to meet a spending requirement quickly to earn a signup bonus. I’ve heard of people successfully paying a Wells Fargo mortgage and a Chase mortgage with this service.
Use Tio to Pay the Mortgage with Discover, MasterCard, or Visa
Tio used to allow homeowners to make mortgage payments with any credit card
Other than American Express
With virtually every bank, lender, or loan servicer for a variable fee
But then they got bought out by PayPal and were promptly shut down
There’s a similar service called Tio (formerly ChargeSmart) now owned by PayPal that lets you pay a mortgage with a credit card in a matter of seconds. You don’t even need to sign up.
All you have to do is select a mortgage company from the handy list on their website (pictured above), then enter your loan number and payment amount.
From there, simply click on the credit card icons and enter your credit card information. It will then display the fee, which tends to range between 2.5% and 3%.
Interestingly, they seem to charge varying fees based on payment amount and based on the mortgage company you select. It appears to be more expensive for smaller payments, such as 3% for $1,000 payments, and a bit cheaper as your payments rise.
If you’re okay with everything, you simply hit “pay this bill” and Tio will deliver your payment within 2-3 business days they say.
The upside is that Tio is super fast, the downside is it can be more expensive than Plastiq, and they don’t accept American Express for mortgage payments. However, they seem to still accept Visa cards.
At first glance, I like Tio more than Plastiq, at least when it comes to paying the mortgage, because they have tons of mortgage companies already listed and ready to go. I don’t like the idea of manually entering the wrong company or address when sending a very important payment.
Plus, they list tons of major mortgage companies like Chase, Citi, Ditech, Nationstar, Ocwen, PNC, Quicken, Wells Fargo, and many more.
Update: Tio has also suspended service while its parent company PayPal investigates some so-called security vulnerabilities. So this method may or may not be available in the future once they sort it out.
You Might Be Able to Pay Your Mortgage with American Express Serve
American Express Serve used to work like a charm
Homeowners could load the prepaid card account with a rewards credit card
Then use the bill pay service to make monthly mortgage payments
But most customers’ accounts were shut down
Perhaps the easiest method that used to work involved American Express Serve, which is referred to as a reloadable prepaid account.
In reality, it basically works like an online bank account in that you can transfer/load money to it and then pay everyday bills or make purchases with the associated prepaid card.
Let’s focus on that paying bills part. Your mortgage is a bill and it must be paid each month until maturity, just like other recurring bills.
But loan servicers don’t give homeowners the option to pay with a credit card (for good reason!) unlike most other bills.
The Serve method entails loading the account with a credit card or gift cards (like pin-enabled gift cards), and then using the funds to pay your mortgage via their bill pay service. I suppose you can use a debit card as well if it earns rewards.
The purpose of this is to get credit card rewards on that large amount of money spent, so if the credit/debit card doesn’t earn rewards, there’s no point in doing this.
Of course, most folks would buy Visa gift cards using a different travel rewards card, hotel credit card, or airline credit cards to hit the minimum spending requirement and earn lots of miles.
Then they would turn around pay off their credit card in full each month to avoid any interest or fees to offset the benefit of doing it to begin with.
A couple warnings/issues with this method:
– You need to make sure your credit card issuer doesn’t charge fees to load Serve (American Express warns of this possibility on the website – They can be treated as cash advances – The max you can load with a credit or debit card each month is $1,000 ($200 per day) – The limit increases to $1,500 a month ($500 daily) if you get Serve with Softcard – You actually need to pay off the credit card charges to avoid interest/fees – Your credit score can go down if you keep racking up large balances, even if they’re paid off – You could get on the bad side of credit card companies and miss out on future rewards – If you have bad credit none of these methods will probably work very well
As noted above, you can load your Serve account with a credit card, but even American Express warns that you could be charged fees by your card issuer for doing so.
I’ve used a Chase credit card and there was no fee or issue. It just showed up as a standard purchase.
But to avoid any mishaps, testing with a small amount or asking your credit card issuer to lower your cash advance limit to zero (or as low as possible) might be a good idea before giving it a whirl.
Once the necessary funds are in the Serve account, you’ll be able to see your available balance. Assuming it’s sufficient to cover your full mortgage payment, you simply select “Pay Bills” from the dropdown menu then add a payee.
While certain payees are already in Serve’s system, you’ll likely need to add your loan servicer manually, including their address and your loan number.
It should be the address where you would send a paper check because Serve is basically cutting a physical check on your behalf. It’s essentially a bill pay service. This is exactly why it works.
You’re not actually paying your mortgage with a credit card – rather, you’re funding an account with a credit card then sending those funds to your servicer via check, a much more accepted form of payment.
Once you save the payee information, you can make your mortgage payment via Serve each month. There’s even a memo section where you can write your loan number and any other details to ensure the payment is processed properly.
Note that payments can take several business days to process, so it’s not as quick as making a payment online. Fortunately, mortgage due dates are fairly flexible. But you’ll want to give yourself a cushion to avoid paying late if anything goes wrong.
Update: Serve doesn’t work for many people anymore, so take note that the above method properly won’t be an option going forward. In fact, they went as far as to just close a lot of people’s accounts.
The Downside to These (or Any) Methods
The first thing you have to look at it is the associated fee for using a credit card
You also have to make sure you aren’t charged cash advance fees for doing it
Also consider the work involved if employing a creative method
And the potential to accidentally miss a mortgage payment along the way
It may also complicate a future refinance if payment history is shown via credit card
In the end it might not be worth it
While it’s kind of cool to pay your mortgage with a credit card, it does require some work, as noted above. And if you have a jumbo mortgage payment, these methods may not work very well if your credit limits are low.
You certainly won’t want to send partial payments and find out that your loan servicer paid down your principal or simply returned your check.
It can also get murky if you use different methods to pay the mortgage, and then decide to apply for a refinance because mortgage rates went down. If the new lender asks for mortgage payment history and sees some of the payments made via credit card, they may question your solvency. Even if you do explain yourself, they probably won’t be thrilled about it.
At the end of the day, you’ll have to ask yourself how much you’ll really “earn” by using a credit card once factoring in your time (opportunity cost) going to the store to buy gift cards, not to mention the transaction fees and credit card annual fees.
If your monthly mortgage payment is $1,000 a month, it equates to just 12,000 points or miles annually, which is worth maybe $120 or slightly more if redeemed for travel or something more lucrative.
Those earnings could be used to pay down your mortgage a little bit faster if you put it toward the principal balance. In that sense, it could be worth it as the points would go a lot further via saved interest and faster home equity accrual over time.
Just be careful not to miss a payment or make life harder in the process. Plenty can go wrong here, and at the end of the day, you might be better off just using your bank account to pay the mortgage. Or simply keeping an eye on mortgage rates and refinancing to a lower rate to save potentially hundreds a month.
Mortgage Q&A: “How to pay the mortgage with a credit card.”
First things first; banks and mortgage lenders don’t accept credit cards as a form of payment when attempting to repay your home loan. Options for paying are typically limited to ACH or check.
However, back during the housing boom aka meltdown there were various third-party services that allowed homeowners to make their mortgage payments with a credit card.
Paying the mortgage with a credit card topics:
– Why pay the mortgage with a credit card? – Using Plastiq to pay the mortgage – Using Tio to pay the mortgage (no longer an option) – Using American Express Serve to pay the mortgage – Warnings and drawbacks to paying the mortgage with a credit card
These services charged fees for the convenience, and looking back, they were probably only offered because people couldn’t keep up with their mortgage payments, and eventually their credit card payments either.
Chances are these same people had to execute a balance transfer shortly after…
Unsurprisingly, these services seemed to disappear as quickly as they surfaced, but there are still options to pay the mortgage with a credit card each month free of charge, even if mortgage lenders won’t let you do it directly.
Reasons to Pay the Mortgage with a Credit Card
To meet a minimum spending requirement and earn bonus credit card points
To increase everyday spending and earn cash back, points, etc.
To defer payments for a period of time to give yourself some breathing room
This last one isn’t a good idea!
The difference today is that this method/idea is more about earning credit card points (or cash back) for paying your mortgage, and not so much about simply paying it.
Let me preface this by saying it makes no sense to pay your mortgage with a credit card if you can’t afford to pay it otherwise.
The only purpose of this method is to earn bonus points and/or cash back as you would on other purchases made with a rewards credit card.
Using Plastiq to Pay the Mortgage with a Credit Card
Plastiq allows mortgage payments via credit card
But only with a MasterCard or Discover card
They no longer accept Visa or American Express cards
You must also pay a transaction fee of 2.5% or less
There are some companies that allow you to pay rent or the mortgage with a credit card in exchange for a small transaction fee.
By small fee, I mean something in the range of 2-3%. Recently, a company called Plastiq had a special where they charged just 1.75% ($17.50 per $1,000 in payment). They normally charge 2.5%.
Unfortunately, most credit cards don’t earn cash back or points at levels this high unless it’s in a bonus category. And these companies often aren’t in any bonus category whatsoever.
The one exception is the old AT&T Access More credit card, which earns 3X per dollar on all online purchases. That seems to include services like Plastiq. This allows you to come out ahead.
Even if you can’t come out ahead dollar for dollar, it might be worth it for some people looking to meet a minimum spending requirement to earn an opening bonus, or just to buy some time on that monthly payment (not recommended).
For example, if you need to spend $5,000 in the first three months to earn a signup bonus, paying the mortgage can probably put a big dent in that requirement. And it’s only $125 in fees if you use Plastiq for the entire amount. If the reward points eclipse the cost, you win.
Some other cash back credit cards do earn 2%+ on all spending, either initially as a bonus or all the time, so it’s possible to come out slightly ahead or just slightly behind. Aside from making money doing this, some folks are happy just to earn lots of credit card points and miles by charging the pricey mortgage.
Important note: Plastiq currently only accepts MasterCard and Discover. They recently stopped allowing mortgage payments to be paid with a Visa card and American Express cards. That means you’re limited to the other two major issuers, which still isn’t bad.
Apparently Visa told Plastiq they had to comply with a new directive that banned mortgage payments via Visa credit cards. They’re basically closing a loophole because otherwise Visa would just allow it themselves and you wouldn’t need to use a third-party payment service.
It’s unclear if the others will follow, but it’s always a risk. For some reason, the ability to pay the mortgage with a credit card never seems to stick long-term, and perhaps for good reason.
If you do use Plastiq to pay the mortgage, you’ll need to enter the business name as it appears on your mortgage statement, along with the mailing address they list for mailed payments.
Assuming they have an electronic option (ACH) available in their system, payment will be sent electronically. If not, they’ll send a paper check on your behalf. If that’s the case, be sure to give it a week or two to arrive.
In terms of limits, the only payment limits are those associated with the credit card you use for payment. So if your card has a $5,000 credit limit, you won’t be able to send a mortgage payment for any more than that. This means even those with a jumbo mortgage will likely be able to use this service, assuming they have decent credit limits.
I’ve yet to use Plastiq, but I may in the future if I need to meet a spending requirement quickly to earn a signup bonus. I’ve heard of people successfully paying a Wells Fargo mortgage and a Chase mortgage with this service.
Use Tio to Pay the Mortgage with Discover, MasterCard, or Visa
Tio used to allow homeowners to make mortgage payments with any credit card
Other than American Express
With virtually every bank, lender, or loan servicer for a variable fee
But then they got bought out by PayPal and were promptly shut down
There’s a similar service called Tio (formerly ChargeSmart) now owned by PayPal that lets you pay a mortgage with a credit card in a matter of seconds. You don’t even need to sign up.
All you have to do is select a mortgage company from the handy list on their website (pictured above), then enter your loan number and payment amount.
From there, simply click on the credit card icons and enter your credit card information. It will then display the fee, which tends to range between 2.5% and 3%.
Interestingly, they seem to charge varying fees based on payment amount and based on the mortgage company you select. It appears to be more expensive for smaller payments, such as 3% for $1,000 payments, and a bit cheaper as your payments rise.
If you’re okay with everything, you simply hit “pay this bill” and Tio will deliver your payment within 2-3 business days they say.
The upside is that Tio is super fast, the downside is it can be more expensive than Plastiq, and they don’t accept American Express for mortgage payments. However, they seem to still accept Visa cards.
At first glance, I like Tio more than Plastiq, at least when it comes to paying the mortgage, because they have tons of mortgage companies already listed and ready to go. I don’t like the idea of manually entering the wrong company or address when sending a very important payment.
Plus, they list tons of major mortgage companies like Chase, Citi, Ditech, Nationstar, Ocwen, PNC, Quicken, Wells Fargo, and many more.
Update: Tio has also suspended service while its parent company PayPal investigates some so-called security vulnerabilities. So this method may or may not be available in the future once they sort it out.
You Might Be Able to Pay Your Mortgage with American Express Serve
American Express Serve used to work like a charm
Homeowners could load the prepaid card account with a rewards credit card
Then use the bill pay service to make monthly mortgage payments
But most customers’ accounts were shut down
Perhaps the easiest method that used to work involved American Express Serve, which is referred to as a reloadable prepaid account.
In reality, it basically works like an online bank account in that you can transfer/load money to it and then pay everyday bills or make purchases with the associated prepaid card.
Let’s focus on that paying bills part. Your mortgage is a bill and it must be paid each month until maturity, just like other recurring bills.
But loan servicers don’t give homeowners the option to pay with a credit card (for good reason!) unlike most other bills.
The Serve method entails loading the account with a credit card or gift cards (like pin-enabled gift cards), and then using the funds to pay your mortgage via their bill pay service. I suppose you can use a debit card as well if it earns rewards.
The purpose of this is to get credit card rewards on that large amount of money spent, so if the credit/debit card doesn’t earn rewards, there’s no point in doing this.
Of course, most folks would buy Visa gift cards using a different travel rewards card, hotel credit card, or airline credit cards to hit the minimum spending requirement and earn lots of miles.
Then they would turn around pay off their credit card in full each month to avoid any interest or fees to offset the benefit of doing it to begin with.
A couple warnings/issues with this method:
– You need to make sure your credit card issuer doesn’t charge fees to load Serve (American Express warns of this possibility on the website – They can be treated as cash advances – The max you can load with a credit or debit card each month is $1,000 ($200 per day) – The limit increases to $1,500 a month ($500 daily) if you get Serve with Softcard – You actually need to pay off the credit card charges to avoid interest/fees – Your credit score can go down if you keep racking up large balances, even if they’re paid off – You could get on the bad side of credit card companies and miss out on future rewards – If you have bad credit none of these methods will probably work very well
As noted above, you can load your Serve account with a credit card, but even American Express warns that you could be charged fees by your card issuer for doing so.
I’ve used a Chase credit card and there was no fee or issue. It just showed up as a standard purchase.
But to avoid any mishaps, testing with a small amount or asking your credit card issuer to lower your cash advance limit to zero (or as low as possible) might be a good idea before giving it a whirl.
Once the necessary funds are in the Serve account, you’ll be able to see your available balance. Assuming it’s sufficient to cover your full mortgage payment, you simply select “Pay Bills” from the dropdown menu then add a payee.
While certain payees are already in Serve’s system, you’ll likely need to add your loan servicer manually, including their address and your loan number.
It should be the address where you would send a paper check because Serve is basically cutting a physical check on your behalf. It’s essentially a bill pay service. This is exactly why it works.
You’re not actually paying your mortgage with a credit card – rather, you’re funding an account with a credit card then sending those funds to your servicer via check, a much more accepted form of payment.
Once you save the payee information, you can make your mortgage payment via Serve each month. There’s even a memo section where you can write your loan number and any other details to ensure the payment is processed properly.
Note that payments can take several business days to process, so it’s not as quick as making a payment online. Fortunately, mortgage due dates are fairly flexible. But you’ll want to give yourself a cushion to avoid paying late if anything goes wrong.
Update: Serve doesn’t work for many people anymore, so take note that the above method properly won’t be an option going forward. In fact, they went as far as to just close a lot of people’s accounts.
The Downside to These (or Any) Methods
The first thing you have to look at it is the associated fee for using a credit card
You also have to make sure you aren’t charged cash advance fees for doing it
Also consider the work involved if employing a creative method
And the potential to accidentally miss a mortgage payment along the way
It may also complicate a future refinance if payment history is shown via credit card
In the end it might not be worth it
While it’s kind of cool to pay your mortgage with a credit card, it does require some work, as noted above. And if you have a jumbo mortgage payment, these methods may not work very well if your credit limits are low.
You certainly won’t want to send partial payments and find out that your loan servicer paid down your principal or simply returned your check.
It can also get murky if you use different methods to pay the mortgage, and then decide to apply for a refinance because mortgage rates went down. If the new lender asks for mortgage payment history and sees some of the payments made via credit card, they may question your solvency. Even if you do explain yourself, they probably won’t be thrilled about it.
At the end of the day, you’ll have to ask yourself how much you’ll really “earn” by using a credit card once factoring in your time (opportunity cost) going to the store to buy gift cards, not to mention the transaction fees and credit card annual fees.
If your monthly mortgage payment is $1,000 a month, it equates to just 12,000 points or miles annually, which is worth maybe $120 or slightly more if redeemed for travel or something more lucrative.
Those earnings could be used to pay down your mortgage a little bit faster if you put it toward the principal balance. In that sense, it could be worth it as the points would go a lot further via saved interest and faster home equity accrual over time.
Just be careful not to miss a payment or make life harder in the process. Plenty can go wrong here, and at the end of the day, you might be better off just using your bank account to pay the mortgage. Or simply keeping an eye on mortgage rates and refinancing to a lower rate to save potentially hundreds a month.
Southwest Airlines is the nation’s largest domestic carrier, but it offers a remarkably simple frequent flier program called Rapid Rewards. You simply redeem your points for about 1.4 cents each toward any unsold seat.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card offers the most perks of any of their credit cards, but that comes at a cost.
What Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card?
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is a premium travel rewards credit card offered by Chase. With its $149 annual fee, it’s the most expensive of the three Rapid Rewards consumer credit cards offered.
As a new applicant, you can earn 60,000 Rapid Rewards points and a 30% off promo code after using your card to spend $3,000 within three months of account opening. You can use this code for a round-trip ticket with multiple passengers, and it’s valid with both cash and points bookings.
You also earn 2x points on Southwest airlines purchases and from purchases from Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners. The 2x points offer is also valid for local transit and commuting purchases, including rideshare providers such as Uber and Lyft. You also earn 2x points on your internet, cable, and phone bills as well as for select streaming services.
You should expect plenty of valuable benefits from a premium travel rewards card, and this card largely delivers. For example, you receive a $75 credit toward Southwest purchases each year as well as a credit toward four upgraded boardings annually. These upgraded boardings currently sell for $30 to $80 each, depending on the flight.
This card can also help you earn elite status in the Rapid Rewards program. You earn 1,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) toward A-List status for every $10,000 you spend, and there’s no limit on the number of TQPs you can earn.
Other perks include 25% back on in-flight purchases as well as cardholder benefits like lost and delayed baggage insurance, extended warranty coverage and a purchase protection policy.
There’s a $149 annual fee for this card, but thankfully there’s no foreign transaction fee imposed on purchases processed outside the United States. You also get a 7,500-point bonus on your account anniversary instead of flowers, which is worth about $105.
What Sets the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card Apart?
Nearly every airline offers several credit cards, but the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is different for a few reasons. Mostly, it provides you with enough perks to help you justify its considerable annual fee. These perks include:
Big sign-up bonus. Earn 60,000 bonus points and a 30% off promo code after spending just $3,000 within three months. The promo code itself is a unique offer and can be very valuable.
Lots of bonus categories. Earn 3x points on Southwest ticket purchases plus 2x from transit, commuting, and rideshare purchases and 2x from internet, cable, and phone services and select streaming purchases. You also earn 2x when you book reservations with Southwest’s hotel and rental car partners.
Credit toward Southwest tickets. You get $75 back from your Southwest purchases each year. You also get a 7,500-point bonus on your account anniversary, which is worth about $105. For many travelers, these two features can justify this card’s annual fee.
Earn credit toward A-List status. This card lets you earn 1,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) toward A-List status for every $10,000 you spend, and there is no limit on the number of TQPs you can earn. A-List status offers you perks such as a better boarding position and free same-day confirmed flight changes.
Four upgraded boardings per year when available. This gives you a boarding position of A1-15, which normally costs $30 to $80 per flight.
Key Features of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is not a very complicated credit card, but it does offer a lot of features that are worth knowing about before you apply.
Sign-Up Bonus
Earn 60,000 bonus points and a promo code for 30% off after spending just $3,000 within three months. The 30% off code has the potential to offer tremendous savings to large families who use it to book a round-trip ticket.
Earning Rewards
Earn 3x points on Southwest ticket purchases plus 2x from transit, commuting, and rideshare purchases and 2x from internet, cable and phone services, and select streaming purchases. You also earn 2x when you book reservations with Southwest’s hotel and rental car partners. You earn one point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Redeeming Rewards
Rapid Rewards points are worth about 1.4 cents each toward airfare in any of their four fare classes. There are no restrictions on the number of seats available for redeeming rewards — you can use your points for any unsold seat.
Important Fees
This card has an $149 annual fee. No doubt, this will turn off a lot of potential applicants. However, it’s important to consider it in the context of the sign-up bonus as well as the $75 annual travel credit, 7,500-point anniversary bonus, and the four upgraded boardings each year. Fortunately, there’s no foreign transaction fee.
Credit Required
This card requires good or better credit to qualify. If your FICO score is much below 700, then you’ll likely have trouble being approved.
Advantages
This card has several key advantages that help justify its pricey annual fee.
Lots of benefits. This card offers numerous benefits, such as travel fee credits, upgraded boardings, in-flight purchase discounts and an anniversary bonus. You also get several purchase protection and travel insurance policies.
Bonus points. With all the 3x and 2x bonus categories, this card makes it easy to earn a free trip.
Big sign-up bonus. You can earn a bonus worth hundreds of dollars, and the minimum spending required is lower than many competing cards. The 30% off code can also be extremely valuable.
Easy rewards program. Other airline credit cards offer miles that can be difficult and confusing to redeem for the most value. But the Southwest Rapid Rewards program still keeps it simple.
Disadvantages
Before applying for this card, you have to consider some of its drawbacks and missing perks.
Expensive annual fee. There’s no way around the fact that you must pay $149 a year to use this card, so you have to use the rewards and benefits of this card to justify it.
No promotional financing offer. If you’re looking for a credit card with a 0% APR introductory financing offer, this isn’t it.
Forget first-class. You can’t redeem your Rapid Rewards points for a first-class seat because there are only economy seats on Southwest.
No overseas awards. Like first-class, Southwest fliers will find Europe, Asia, and much of the world out of their reach. However, Southwest does fly to Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean and even Central America.
How the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card Stacks Up
One of Southwest’s closest competitors is JetBlue, and it offers the JetBlue Plus card from Barclays. The JetBlue card has a slightly better sign-up bonus and substantially more points for airline ticket purchases. However, JetBlue points are worth about 1.2 cents each, which is significantly less than Southwest points.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
JetBlue Plus Card From Barclays
Annual Fee
$149
$99
Sign-Up Bonus
Yes
Yes
Rewards Rate
Up to 3x
Up to 6x
0% Intro APR
None
None
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
None
Credit Needed
Good or better
Good or better
Final Word
Fans of Southwest Airlines know that it’s a different type of carrier than the likes of American, Delta and United.
Instead of business-class tickets to Europe, Southwest fliers prize little perks like an upgraded boarding position and easy-to-use rewards. That’s where the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card delivers.
But for those who aren’t fully onboard with the way Southwest works, the $149 annual fee can be hard to swallow. It’s also not a card for those whose home airport doesn’t offer much Southwest service. And for these more casual Southwest customers, it can be worth considering the Rapid Rewards Plus and Premier cards.
But if you find yourself regularly boarding Southwest and are looking for the best card to maximize your rewards and benefits, then there’s no substitute for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card.
Disclaimer: The information related to the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card has been collected by Money Crashers and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
The Verdict
Our rating
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
This is Southwest’s most feature-filled credit card for consumers. It includes lot’s of opportunities to earn bonus points, and it features strong benefits. If you’re a regular Southwest flier, you need to look into this card.
Editorial Note:
The editorial content on this page is not provided by any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Jason has been writing about personal finance, travel, and other topics on blogs across the Internet. When he is not writing, he has a career in information technology and is also a commercially rated pilot. Jason lives in Colorado with his wife and young daughter where he enjoys parenting, cycling, and other extreme sports.
With the start of summer upon us, now may be a great time to evaluate your credit card portfolio. Credit card sign-up bonuses and welcome offers are the quickest and easiest way to rake in lots of points and miles, so we regularly update the roundup of our favorite current offers in our best credit cards guide.
But to help you keep up with an ever-changing list of bonuses, we’ve also compiled a list of the best card offers currently available — especially the ones that are worth an extra look right now because they are at all-time highs or may end soon.
Since many issuers have restrictions on how often you can earn a bonus on a card, it’s important to time your application for when there’s a good offer. Also, higher bonuses don’t always stick around for long, so if you’re considering one of these offers, you’ll want to hop on it sooner rather than later.
Finally, if you’re not ready to jump on a higher-end card, consider these great starter cards or even one with a 0% introductory annual percentage rate (APR) offer.
The best credit card offers for June 2023
Card
Sign-up bonus/welcome offer
Welcome offer value*
Annual fee
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
120,000 points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the card within the first three months of card membership.
$2,400.
$695 (see rates and fees).
Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
100,000 points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the card within the first three months of card membership.
$2,000.
$95.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
80,000 points after you spend $6,000 in the first six months, though you may be able to get a higher bonus through the CardMatch tool (terms apply).
$1,600.
$695 (see rates and fees).
American Express® Green Card
60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in their first six months of card membership. Also, get 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases in your first six months to earn up to $200 back.
$1,400 ($1,200 in points plus up to $200 in cash back).
$150 (see rates and fees).
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
$1,388.
$395.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
$1,388.
$95.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
$1,200.
$550.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
$1,200.
$95.
American Express® Gold Card
60,000 points after you spend $4,000 in the first six months of card membership, though you may be able to get a higher bonus through the CardMatch tool (terms apply).
$1,200.
$250 (see rates and fees).
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card, and Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
$900.
$69 (Plus), $99 (Premier) and $149 (Priority).
United Club Infinite Card
80,000 bonus miles and 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Offer ends Aug. 9.
$880.
$525.
IHG Rewards Premier Business Card
165,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
$825.
$99.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points and a free night reward after spending $2,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months of cardmembership. Offer ends July 19.
$780.
$95 (see rates and fees).
* Welcome offer value is determined using TPG valuations and is not provided by nor reviewed by the issuer.
The Business Platinum Card from American Express
This business card stands out not only for its 120,000-point welcome offer but thanks to added travel perks that can easily cover the card’s $695 annual fee (see rates and fees). Cardholders enjoy automatic Gold status in both the Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programs, along with access to a wide variety of airport lounges — including Amex Centurion, Priority Pass and Delta Sky Club (when traveling on same-day Delta flights). Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Cardholders also enjoy 5 points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked at American Express Travel, along with 1.5 points per dollar on eligible purchases in select business categories and eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year).
Related: Amex refreshes Business Platinum Card with new perks, higher annual fee and a 120,000-point bonus
On top of that, the card comes with up to $200 in annual airline fee statement credits and a 35% points rebate for flights booked through Amex Travel in first or business class on any airline (up to 1 million points back per calendar year), or in any class on the U.S. airline of your choice each year. Non-travel benefits include up to $400 in annual statement credits toward U.S. Dell purchases, up to $360 in credits toward Indeed, up to $150 toward select Adobe purchases and up to $120 toward wireless telephone services.
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Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Read our review of the American Express Business Platinum Card for more information.
Official application link: The Business Platinum Card® from American Expresswith 120,000 points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the card within the first three months of card membership.
Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
Then there’s the Ink Business Preferred. According to TPG’s valuations, this card’s welcome bonus alone is worth $2,000 since you can take advantage of Chase’s excellent collection of airline and hotel transfer partners. Points redeemed through the Chase travel portal are worth 1.25 cents each, which isn’t bad, either.
Another factor in this card’s favor? Its tremendous earning rates. You’ll earn 3 points per dollar across the following categories on up to $150,000 in combined purchases (1 point per dollar thereafter):
Travel.
Shipping purchases.
Internet, cable and phone services.
Advertising on social media sites and search engines.
Depending on which categories you spend in, you could earn a whopping 450,000 bonus points per year if you maxed out that $150,000 cap.
Among the Ink Business Preferred’s unsung benefits are cellphone protection, primary rental car coverage (when renting for business purposes) and other travel and purchase protections. You can also add employee cards to your account for free.
Read our full review of the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card for more information.
Official application link: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card with 100,000 bonus points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the card within the first three months of account opening.
The Platinum Card from American Express
Often referred to as the king of the premium travel rewards cards, the Amex Platinum offers a slew of benefits — along with a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees). Cardholders enjoy perks such as automatic Gold status with both Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy plus access to a wide range of airport lounges, including Amex Centurion, Priority Pass and Delta Sky Club (on same-day Delta flights). On top of that, you’ll get up to $200 in annual airline fee statement credits, an up-to-$200 hotel statement credit to use toward prepaid Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings (the latter of which requires a minimum two-night stay) via Amex Travel, and an up-to-$189 Clear Plus membership statement credit — along with numerous other perks. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Related: It’s a ‘lifestyle’ card now: A closer look at the Amex Platinum’s 6 new benefits
Non-travel benefits include an up-to-$240 digital entertainment statement credit (split into monthly $20 credits) for Audible, The New York Times, SiriusXM, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal and services under the Disney umbrella — including Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu.
Cardholders also receive an up-to-$155 Walmart+ credit (subject to auto-renewal; Plus Ups are excluded), an up-to-$300 SoulCycle bike credit and an up-to-$300 Equinox statement credit for eligible Equinox memberships (now available as an annual benefit rather than monthly credits). You also receive Uber VIP status and up to $200 in annual Uber Cash (split into monthly $15 credits for U.S. rides and Uber Eats orders plus a $20 bonus in December).
Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Finally, cardholders will enjoy enhanced earning rates on many travel purchases:
5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year).
5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel.
1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases.
And while the current welcome offer provides solid value, be sure to check the CardMatch Tool to see if you can receive an even higher one (offers are targeted and subject to change at any time).
Read our review of the American Express Platinum Card for more information.
Official application link: The Platinum Card® from American Express with 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
The American Express Green Card
The American Express Green Card provides a compelling offering in the mid-tier travel category. With 3 points per dollar on broader travel, restaurants and transit as well as annual statement credits for Clear and LoungeBuddy that more than cover its annual fee, the Green from Amex is a card that modern travelers should consider.
The earning rates and benefits of the American Express Green Card will be most attractive to young professionals and millennials (or millennials at heart) who travel for work, pleasure or both. The card earns 3 Membership Rewards points per dollar on travel, restaurants and transit, so you’ll want to consider this card if a large chunk of your budget goes toward these categories.
The Amex Green also offers annual up to $189 Clear Plus and up to $100 LoungeBuddy statement credits that can more than offset the $150 annual fee (see rates and fees) while making your time in the airport more efficient and relaxing. If you can utilize these statement credits, the card can easily be a worthwhile addition to your purse or wallet.
Read our review of the Amex Green for more information.
Official application link: Amex Green with 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first six months of card membership. Also, get 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases in your first six months to earn up to $200 back.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Venture X card is Capital One’s premium rewards card and offers great earning rates and incredible perks.
Aside from a hefty welcome bonus of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months – worth about $1,388 according to our valuations thanks to Capital One’s excellent airline and hotel transfer partners – the card gives members up to $300 back in statement credits annually for bookings made through Capital One Travel and 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary, starting on their first anniversary (worth $100 toward travel, or $185 by our valuations).
As for earning rates, the Venture X racks up 10 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked via Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked via Capital One Travel, and an unlimited 2 miles per dollar on everything else.
Frequent travelers will also enjoy taking advantage of access to Capital One’s developing network of airport lounges as well as the ability to enroll for Priority Pass membership for entry into more than 1,300 lounge locations worldwide (though this no longer includes participating restaurants). It also added the ability to access Plaza Premium lounges worldwide in 2022 and launched The Premier Collection in 2023, giving cardmembers on-property perks at a curated set of luxury hotels.
Read our review of the Capital One Venture X card for more information.
Official application link: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card with 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Venture Rewards packs a pretty good punch for a mid-tier credit card. It earns a flat 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases worldwide, but you can earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel. The miles you earn with this card can be transferred to Capital One’s 17 airline and three hotel partners or redeemed through the Capital One Travel portal.
The card stands out for offering an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years; many other cards that offer this benefit have annual fees of $400 or more. This TSA PreCheck/Global Entry application fee credit alone is worth up to $100. When making everyday purchases, you may also get Warranty Manager Service which can be used for extended warranty protection. The Venture Rewards card doesn’t impose foreign transaction fees, so you can use the card overseas without accumulating extra charges.
Read our review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Card for more information.
Official application link: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card with 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
This is one of the best premium credit cards available.
It earns a whopping 10 points per dollar on Lyft (through March 2025), Chase Dining booked through Ultimate Rewards, and hotel and car rental purchases through the Ultimate Rewards Travel portal. Cardholders also earn 5 points per dollar on airline travel booked through the Ultimate Rewards Travel portal, 3 points per dollar on travel (after using the $300 travel credit) and dining, and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
Chase defines travel and dining quite broadly, including everything from parking fees to Airbnb stays and food delivery orders. Perks of the card include a $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass membership, a $5 monthly DoorDash in-app credit (through December 2024), a complimentary DashPass membership and an impressive array of travel protections.
Read our review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve for more information.
Official application link: Chase Sapphire Reserve with 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
If you can’t justify a high annual fee or want a solid card with an appealing set of perks, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is an ideal fit. It earns 5 points per dollar on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 3 points per dollar on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out; 3 points per dollar on select streaming services; 3 points per dollar on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs); 2 points per dollar on all other travel; and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
The points you earn with this card can be transferred to Chase’s airline and hotel partners or redeemed for 1.25 cents each through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. Benefits include a $50 annual credit on hotel stays purchased through Ultimate Rewards, at least 12 months of DashPass membership (when activated by Dec. 31, 2024), primary rental car coverage, up to $500 in trip delay reimbursement if you’re delayed more than 12 hours or overnight, up to $10,000 in trip cancellation and interruption insurance and up to $100 per day for up to five days in baggage delay reimbursement if your bag is delayed more than six hours.
Read our review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred for more information.
Official application link: Chase Sapphire Preferred with 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
American Express® Gold Card
The Amex Gold card is a favorite of many TPG staffers thanks (in large part) to its terrific earning rates:
4 points per dollar on dining at restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.)
4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year (1 point per dollar after that).
3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel.
1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
The card also offers up to $120 in annual credit for Uber rides and Uber Eats purchases and up to $120 in statement credits for select dining purchases (enrollment is required for select benefits) — all for a manageable annual fee of $250 (see rates and fees)
And while it’s not providing a limited-time bonus for new cardmembers, you can often find elevated welcome offers through the CardMatch tool. The card currently features a public welcome offer of 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. However, some new customers can earn a 75,000-point or even 90,000-point welcome offer via the CardMatch tool after meeting the same minimum spending requirements. Note that these elevated offers are targeted and subject to change at any time.
Alternatively, you can refer a friend through the Amex referral program — and when your friend applies for a new account by June 7, you can earn an additional +5 rewards per dollar (as either points or cash back, depending on the card) on eligible U.S. supermarket purchases for three months after they’re approved (starting from the first date the referred friend’s account is opened), on up to $25,000.
Additionally, new applicants for the Amex Gold through a referral link will be eligible for an up to $200 statement credit after reaching minimum spending requirements, on top of that card’s usual welcome offer.
Read our review of the American Express Gold Card for more information.
Official application link: American Express® Gold Card with 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 in the first six months of card membership.
Southwest personal cards
All three personal of Southwest’s personal credit cards — the Rapid Rewards Plus, Rapid Rewards Premier and Rapid Rewards Priority — are currently sporting identical welcome offers: 60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This is the first time Southwest has offered a promo code as part of a sign-up bonus on a credit card.
The code will appear directly in your Southwest.com account within eight weeks of meeting the spending requirement. It can be used — only once — on a single one-way or round-trip Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime and Business Select fare, and is available for use until October 31, 2024.
Given it is a single-use promo code, it would be best to save this for a more expensive ticket. You’ll get the biggest savings when using the code for round-trip travel and/or during peak travel periods like the summer or the holidays.
Read more about the three cards and this limited-time offer.
Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus
Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier
Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
United Club Infinite Card
The United Club Infinite Card is the ideal card for United lounge access — bar none.
The United Club Infinite Card’s $525 annual fee sounds high until you factor in the United Club membership included with the card. Membership normally costs $650 per year for non-elite members.
In addition, one of the primary disadvantages of many airline credit cards is a low return on spending, even on branded purchases, as most airline cards only offer 2 or 3 points per dollar on airline purchases. But the United Club Infinite Card sets a new standard with an impressive 4 points per dollar on United purchases.
If you spend thousands of dollars on United flights each year, the United Club Infinite Card is worth considering.
Read our review of the United Club Infinite for more information.
Official application link: United Club Infinite with 80,000 bonus miles and 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Offer ends Aug. 9.
IHG Rewards Premier Business Card
New applicants for the IHG Rewards Premier Business card can earn 165,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within three months from account opening.
Your bonus will come in the form of IHG points, which TPG values at half a cent each. Thus, this bonus is worth $825.
Generally speaking, you won’t get fantastic earning rates on most hotel credit cards — especially on broad categories like dining and groceries. That said, the IHG Premier Business card could be a solid option, especially at participating IHG properties.
When you use your card at IHG hotels and resorts, you’ll earn 10 points per dollar spent on your stay. This is in addition to the 10 base points that all IHG One Rewards members accrue at most participating brands. And since you have automatic Platinum Elite status with the card, that’ll give you another 60% bonus on top of the base points. When combined, that translates to a total of 26 points per dollar spent on most IHG stays — or a 13% return on spending, based on TPG’s valuations.
Beyond IHG purchases, cardholders of the IHG Premier Business will earn points at the following rates:
5 points per dollar spent on travel, dining and gas purchases.
5 points per dollar in select business categories, such as social media and search engine advertising and at office supply stores.
3 points per dollar spent on all other purchases.
You’ll also receive a free night certificate (worth up to 40,000 points) every year when you renew your card and enjoy your fourth night free on award stays of four nights (or longer)
Read our full review of the IHG Rewards Premier Business for more information.
Official application link: IHG Rewards Premier Business card with 165,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within three months from account opening.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card provides solid earnings at Hilton properties and automatic Hilton Gold elite status, which offers complimentary breakfast, increased earnings and space-available upgrades when you stay at Hilton properties.
Hilton Honors Gold status is one of the best mid-tier hotel loyalty statuses you can obtain. As a Hilton Gold elite member, you’ll get complimentary breakfast, space-available room upgrades and improved earnings when staying at Hilton brands. Luckily, you can easily earn and maintain Hilton Gold status since it is an automatic perk of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card.
The Hilton Surpass card is an ideal choice for those who stay at Hilton properties often and want a cobranded credit card with a modest annual fee and valuable perks.
Read our full review of the Hilton Surpass for more information.
Official application link: Hilton Surpass with 130,000 bonus points and a free night reward after spending $2,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months of cardmembership. Offer ends July 19.
*Bonus offer value is based on TPG valuations and not provided by issuers.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum card, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Gold card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Green card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Amex Surpass, click here.
Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox and Eric Rosen.
The information related to the United Gateway Credit Card has been collected by Money Crashers and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
Earning frequent flyer miles from your credit card usually requires paying for a premium product, and there aren’t too many airline credit cards that have no annual fee.
The United Gateway Credit Card is one of those rare airline cards that has no annual fee. But as you might expect, it comes with fewer benefits than its more expensive competitors. That may or may not be a dealbreaker for you — read on to find out.
What Is the United Gateway Credit Card?
The United Gateway Card is offered by Chase as a way to earn United Airlines MileagePlus frequent flier miles, with no annual fee.
You start out with a modest sign-up bonus: Earn 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
From there, you earn 2x miles on United purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting expenses. Those expenses include rideshare services, taxicabs, train tickets, tolls, and mass transit. As with most cards, you only earn one mile per dollar spent on other transactions.
Beyond the rewards program, the United Gateway Card has few benefits, but they can be valuable.
First, you receive additional access to award seats at the lowest, “Saver” level, an important benefit reserved for United MileagePlus cardholders and United customers with elite status. You also receive 25% back on food, beverages, and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights. And you get up to $1,500 in trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage, an auto rental collision damage waiver policy, extended warranties on select items, and purchase protection coverage on select purchases.
There’s no annual fee for this card and no foreign transaction fees. This makes it a great choice for international travel. Finally, you enjoy a 0% intro APR for 12 months on new purchases after account opening.
What Sets the United Gateway Credit Card Apart?
The United Gateway Credit Card is different not just because it has no annual fee, but also because it provides a few significant benefits and multiple opportunities to earn bonus miles.
Double miles. You earn 2x miles on United purchases, at gas stations, and on local transit and commuting expenses.
Travel insurance protections. These include rental car insurance, trip cancellation and interruption coverage.
Purchase protections. These include theft and damage coverage and extended warranty protection.
Low fees. This card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.
Introductory financing. You enjoy a 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases, though not balance transfers.
Key Features of the United Gateway Credit Card
The most important features of this card are low fees, bonus miles and cardholder benefits.
Sign-Up Bonus
Earn 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Earning Rewards
This card offers plenty of opportunities to earn bonus miles:
2x miles for United purchases
2x miles at gas stations
2x miles on local transit and commuting expenses
1x mile on all other eligible purchases.
“Local transit and commuting expenses” covers a wide range of purchases, including:
Rideshare services
Taxicabs
Train tickets
Tolls
Mass transit
Redeeming Rewards
You can redeem your accumulated miles for award flights operated by United and its partners.
Exactly how much value you get from them is a moving target. That’s because United no longer publishes an award chart and has been known to change how much it charges for particular flights without notifying anyone. But in general, you need 80,000 to 100,000 miles for a one-way, business class ticket to Europe. You can get by with about half that if you travel in economy.
0% Intro APR Promotion
This card offers 12 months of 0% APR introductory financing on new purchases. After that, variable regular APR applies.
Important Fees
There’s no annual fee for this card and no foreign transaction fees imposed on charges processed outside of the United States.
Credit Required
This card requires good or better credit to qualify. If your FICO score is much below 700, then you’ll likely have trouble being approved.
Advantages
This card’s advantages are designed for occasional United flyers rather than frequent travelers who care about high-end perks.
Expanded access to the United Saver award level. This is a key benefit that allows you to get much more from your miles when you redeem for award flights.
No annual fee an foreign transaction fees. This card’s biggest claim to fame is that it has neither of these fees.
Good bonus categories. There’s a lot of ways to earn double miles with this card. That isn’t what you’d normally expect from a no-fee card.
Good travel insurance and purchase protection benefits. Many credit card issuers aren’t offering benefits any more, so this is especially nice to see.
MileagePlus partners and policies. You can redeem your United miles for flights on its numerous Star Alliance and non-alliance partners. United also eliminated change and cancellation fees on awards, so you’re free to book a ticket when you find a good deal and cancel it later if it doesn’t work out.
0% APR introductory financing on purchases. Very few airline cards come with 0% intro APR financing, so this counts as a win for those planning big purchases (including vacations) soon after account opening.
Disadvantages
This card lacks many of the features that you might expect from a rewards card.
United devalues its miles. United eliminated its award charts several years ago, which means that it can always charge more miles for awards whenever it feels like it. For example, United recently started charging up to 50% more miles for many of its award flights to Europe without any prior notice. Unfortunately, you can’t count on the price you see now being available when it comes time to redeem your miles.
No free checked bags. Pretty much all airline credit cards with an annual fee offer a free checked bag, but not this one.
Low sign-up bonus. Most airline credit cards with an annual fee offer at least 50,000 miles as a sign-up bonus. The Gateway Card’s bonus is worth less than half that amount.
How the United Gateway Credit Card Stacks Up
The closest competitor to the United Gateway Card is the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card from Citi. See how they compare before you apply for either.
United Gateway Credit Card
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Mastercard®
Annual Fee
$0
$0
Sign-Up Bonus
20,000 miles
10,000 miles
Rewards Rate
Up to 2x miles
Up to 2x miles
0% Intro APR
12 months on purchases
None
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
3%
Credit Needed
Good or better
Good or better
Final Word
The United Gateway Card is a basic airline credit card, but it still manages to give you more than you would expect from a stripped down version of the more premium cards. It does this by offering expanded award availability, decent travel insurance and purchase protection and many opportunities to earn bonus points. And if you can take advantage of the 0% APR offer, then it’s really worth considering.
At the same time, you’ll get a less valuable sign-up bonus and no free checked bags. Both of those are perks you should reasonably expect from any airline credit card with an annual fee.
What you’re left with is a card that’s well suited for someone who flies United a few times a year. But if you find yourself flying the friendly skies more often than that, then you should look into the United Explorer, Quest, or Club Cards, all of which have annual fees.
The Verdict
Our rating
United Gateway℠ Credit Card
The United Gateway Card is a frequent flyer credit card with no annual fee and fewer perks than more expensive airline cards. However, it does have a few strong bonus categories, and some valuable cardmember benefits. That makes it a competitive card for occasional travelers.
Editorial Note:
The editorial content on this page is not provided by any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Jason has been writing about personal finance, travel, and other topics on blogs across the Internet. When he is not writing, he has a career in information technology and is also a commercially rated pilot. Jason lives in Colorado with his wife and young daughter where he enjoys parenting, cycling, and other extreme sports.
Airlines love to offer co-branded credit cards. Most major carriers now have several at different price points.
With the Quest card, United and Chase are betting that there’s a market for a card somewhere between their top-end Club Card and their entry-level Explorer Card. Call it their “Goldilocks” credit card.
If you frequently fly United but can’t justify the Club card’s hefty annual fee, Quest could be the best choice for you. But take a few moments to see how it works — and where it falls short — before you apply.
What Is the United Quest Card?
United offers numerous credit cards through its partner Chase, and the United Quest Card sits just below the premium Club Card. It features a laundry list of travel benefits and rewards.
This card has a rather large $250 annual fee, but it must be looked at in the context of all of its benefits, some of which offer direct value.
You start off on the right foot with a sign-up bonus of 60,000 bonus miles plus 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) when you use your card to spend $4,000 within three months of account opening. PQP are the points that you need to earn elite status in United’s loyalty program, starting with 4,000 points and 12 qualifying flights for Silver status. And it gets better from there.
The Quest Card offers you a $125 annual credit that reimburses you for any United purchases. You also get two 5,000 mile anniversary award flight credits. This means that if you book two award tickets a year, you get 10,000 bonus miles.
You also get a statement credit of up to $100 for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application — programs that help you to speed through security and immigration. And at a time when many credit card issuers no longer offer any cardholder benefits, the Quest Card still comes with several travel insurance and purchase protection policies.
The Quest Card also showers you with perks when you fly United. As is true with many frequent flyer credit cards, you get free checked bags. But the Quest card offers you two free bags for you and a companion traveling on the same reservation. Other perks include priority boarding, 25% back on United in-flight and Club premium drink purchases, and the ability to get Premier upgrades on award tickets.
And just like any airline credit card, you get miles for your Quest Card purchases. This includes 3x miles for United purchases and 2x miles for all other travel, dining purchases, and select streaming services. You get one mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.
What Sets the United Quest Card Apart?
The United Quest Card is different from its competitors in a few key ways, including purchase and mileage credits, free checked baggage allowance and travel insurance.
$125 United purchase credit. This is worth half the card’s annual fee, and goes a long way toward justifying it.
Two 5,000 mile flight credits each year. That’s another 10,000 miles, just for redeeming your miles.
Two free checked bags. Hello cross-country ski trip, college move-in, or camping vacation.
Lots of travel insurance. Stuck overnight due to a canceled flight? Snag a hotel and go out for a nice meal! This card reimburses you up to $500 per person during overnight delays or any delay lasting 12 hours or longer.
Key Features of the United Quest Card
This mid-tier airline rewards card offers a generous sign-up bonus, plenty of perks when flying United, and additional rewards for certain purchases.
Sign-Up Bonus
Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
The PQP component of this bonus can be vital to earning the next level of elite status in United’s MileagePlus program.
Earning Rewards
This card offers plenty of opportunities to earn bonus miles:
3x miles for United purchases
2x miles for all other travel and dining purchases
2x miles for select streaming services
1x mile on all other eligible purchases
“Other travel” covers a huge range of purchases, including:
Non-United airfare
Train fares
Local transit, taxi, and rideshare fares
Cruise fares
Hotel and resort bookings
Car rentals
Road tolls
Redeeming Rewards
You can redeem your accumulated miles for award flights operated by United and its partners.
Exactly how much value you get from them is another question. United no longer publishes an award chart and has been known to change how much it charges for particular flights without notifying anyone. But in general, you’ll need 80,000 to 100,000 miles for a one-way, business class ticket to Europe, and about half that if you travel in economy.
$125 Annual United Purchase Credit
You receive up to $125 in statement credits each account anniversary year as reimbursement for United purchases charged to your United Quest Card.
Anniversary Award Flight Credits
You can also earn two 5,000 mile anniversary award flight credits each year when you take a United or United Express-operated award flight booked with your miles.
Valuable Travel Perks
No discussion of the United Quest Card is complete without taking a look at its travel perks:
Your first and second bags checked free for you and a companion
Priority boarding
25% back on United in-flight purchases
Eligibility for Premier upgrades when traveling on award flights
These perks come on top of numerous travel insurance and purchase protection policies. This includes $1,500 per person in trip cancellation/interruption insurance, $500 per person in trip delay reimbursement, and an additional $3,000 in lost luggage coverage.
Important Fees
There’s a $250 annual fee for this card. However, there’s no foreign transaction fee imposed on charges processed outside of the United States.
Credit Required
This card requires good or better credit to qualify. If your FICO score is much below 700, then you’ll likely have trouble being approved. However, this is pretty standard for a premium travel credit card.
Advantages
This card offers a lot of advantages, especially for frequent United travelers.
Sign-up bonus. Earning 60,000 miles after spending $4,000 on new purchases is a competitive bonus, but adding the 500 Premier Qualifying MIles allows this card to rise above most of its competitors.
Generous travel perks. The $125 annual travel credit goes a long way toward defraying the costs of this card’s annual fee. The two 5,000 mile annual flight credits are also very valuable. And it’s always nice to enjoy priority boarding, and two free checked bags.
Strong bonus categories. Many airline credit cards only offer 2x miles for ticket purchases, but this card features 3x. Plus, you get 2x for all other travel, dining and select streaming services.
MileagePlus partners and policies. You can redeem your United miles for flights on its numerous Star Alliance and non-alliance partners. United also eliminated change and cancellation fees on awards, so you’re free to book a ticket when you find a good deal and cancel it later if it doesn’t work out.
Disadvantages
The United Quest Card isn’t perfect. Its biggest downsides include recently devalued award travel (with more devaluation possible in the future) and a high annual fee.
United devalues its miles. United eliminated its award charts several years ago, which means that it can always charge more miles for awards whenever it feels like it. For example, United recently started charging up to 50% more miles for many of its award flights to Europe, without any prior notice. So don’t count on the price you see now being available when it comes time to redeem your miles.
$250 annual fee. This will be a big turn-off to many people, and for good reason. But if you can use the $125 annual flight credit, then the net cost is much closer to what an entry-level airline card costs. And if the free bags save you money, then it’s easier to get over the sticker shock of a $250 card.
How the United Quest Card Stacks Up
One of the closest competitors to the United Quest card is the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. It also offers bonus miles and credit toward elite status. It even features an annual companion certificate, but it has a smaller sign-up bonus.
United Quest Card
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Annual Fee
$250
$250
Sign-Up Bonus
60,000 miles plus 500 PQDs
50,000 miles
Rewards Rate
Up to 3x miles
Up to 3x miles
0% Intro APR
None
None
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
None
Companion Certificate
No
Yes
Credit Needed
Good or better
Good or better
Final Word
The United Quest Card is a mid-tier product, positioned between the entry-level Explorer Card and the premium Club Card. It offers you a wide variety of perks and benefits when you fly United, including mileage credits, ticket purchase credits and credits toward elite status. It also offers some additional miles and fee credits to help cardholders justify its considerable annual fee. And don’t forget the valuable sign-up bonus.
What you’re left with is a pricey card that’s well worth it if you can utilize its fee credits and other perks, such as two free checked bags. Those who buy tickets on United will easily earn the $125 annual credit toward United purchases. So while you might balk at the $250 annual fee, savvy cardholders consider the value of the United Quest Card’s benefits and find it to be a worthwhile expense.
The Verdict
Our rating
United Quest Card
The United Quest Card is an expensive credit card, but you get what you pay for, from standard perks like free checked bags to a $125 flight credit and up to 10,000 bonus points on award travel each year. With so much going for it, this card’s annual fee is well worth the price for most United travelers.
Editorial Note:
The editorial content on this page is not provided by any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Jason has been writing about personal finance, travel, and other topics on blogs across the Internet. When he is not writing, he has a career in information technology and is also a commercially rated pilot. Jason lives in Colorado with his wife and young daughter where he enjoys parenting, cycling, and other extreme sports.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is the most rewarding of Southwest Airlines’ personal credit cards, offering a $75 annual Southwest credit and 7,500 anniversary bonus points. With a healthy sign-up bonus and the most benefits of any of the airline’s offerings, this is the card to get if you’re a Southwest loyalist. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½
*Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Southwest Airlines has a legion of fans — largely due to its flexible change/cancellation policies and offering two free checked bags for all passengers. Unlike other airlines, Southwest doesn’t offer lounges, premium cabins or even seating with extra legroom. But it does offer a full suite of cobranded credit cards to help frequent flyers fulfill their Southwest travel goals.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is the most premium personal credit card in the Southwest lineup. It offers hundreds of dollars in value with Southwest each year, and its current sign-up bonus offers a healthy point bonus.
But are its benefits valuable enough to warrant the $149 annual fee? And is now the right time for you to apply? Let’s find out.
Southwest Priority Card Welcome offer
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card currently offers a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. TPG values Rapid Rewards points at 1.5 cents each, meaning 60,000 points are worth $900.
This is the first time Southwest has offered a promo code as part of a sign-up bonus on a credit card. The code will appear directly in your Southwest.com account within eight weeks of meeting the spending requirement. It can be used — only once — on a single one-way or round-trip Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime and Business Select fare, and is available for use until October 31, 2024.
Given it is a single-use promo code, it would be best to save this for a more expensive ticket. You’ll get the biggest savings when using the code for round-trip travel and/or during peak travel periods like the summer or the holidays.
Note that the welcome bonus will count toward earning the carrier’s venerated Companion Pass, which typically requires 135,000 points in a calendar year.
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Related: 13 lessons from 13 years’ worth of Southwest Companion Passes
All Southwest cards are subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. This means if you’ve opened five or more credit cards in the past 24 months (from all banks, not just Chase), you may not be approved. Also, you can’t open a new personal Southwest card if you currently have one open or if you earned a sign-up bonus in the past 24 months on any personal Southwest card.
Earning points with the Southwest Priority Card
Here’s what you’ll earn with the Southwest Priority card:
3 points per dollar on Southwest purchases.
2 points per dollar spent with Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners.
2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting, including rideshare apps.
2 points per dollar on internet, cable and phone services; select streaming.
1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
This is a wide variety of bonus categories compared to other airline credit cards, though top travel cards are typically even more lucrative.
Related: The best rewards credit cards for each bonus category
Redeeming points with the Southwest Priority Card
Redeeming points with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is very straightforward. Southwest award prices are directly tied to the cash value of the ticket, meaning the number of points you need for a flight will fluctuate, but you’ll rarely encounter times when you can’t use your points. Plus, if your plans change, you can redeposit your award without penalty.
While Southwest’s Rapid Rewards points won’t help you fly in first-class suites, they can provide great value. For instance, you can fly from Los Angeles (LAX) to Chicago-Midway (MDW) for just 8,091 points one-way, depending on the time of year. Meanwhile, other airlines often charge 10,000 miles or even more (assuming you can find availability).
If you book during one of Southwest’s flash sales, you could score awards for less than 2,500 points one-way. You can even fly to fun faraway destinations like Hawaii, Costa Rica and Mexico with your Southwest points.
Southwest Rapid Rapid Rewards Priority benefits
The Southwest Priority card offers the following benefits:
Anniversary bonus: Each year on your card-opening anniversary, you’ll receive 7,500 Rapid Rewards points, worth about $112, based on TPG’s valuations.
Annual Southwest travel credit: During each cardmember year, you’ll receive a $75 travel credit that can be used on most Southwest purchases, including tickets (but excluding upgraded boardings and inflight purchases), dropping the card’s actual cost to $74.
25% inflight savings: Receive 25% back (as a statement credit) after you use your card to purchase inflight drinks, Wi-Fi, messaging and movies.
Tier qualifying points boost: Earn 1,500 TQPs that count toward A-List and A-List Preferred status for each $10,000 you spend in a calendar year.
In addition to the Southwest-specific benefits, the card comes with lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, extended warranty coverage and purchase protection. The card has no foreign transaction fees, and the annual fee is $149.
Which cards compete with the Southwest Priority Card?
Southwest Airlines currently offers three personal cards — all with the same sign-up bonus. Thus, it can be difficult to choose the right one.
If you want Southwest benefits with a more modest fee: The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card has the same welcome bonus but extra perks to justify its $99 annual fee. These include 6,000 anniversary bonus points, 2 EarlyBird check-ins per year, 25% back on inflight purchases and 1,500 TQPs towards A-List status for each $10,000 spent on the card. For more details, read our full review of the Southwest Premier card.
If you want a Southwest card with an even lower annual fee: The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus has a $69 annual fee and an anniversary bonus of 3,000 points. You’ll also receive 2 EarlyBird check-ins every card anniversary. For more information, read our full review of the Southwest Plus card.
If you want points you can use with Southwest and other airlines: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which you can transfer 1:1 to Southwest — as well as a wide range of airlines — for making flight redemptions. You’ll get numerous travel protections, a $50 annual hotel credit and robust earning categories, and the card has a $95 annual fee. For more information, read our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
For more options, check out our full list of travel credit cards.
Related: Comparing the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority, Premier, and Plus Credit Cards
Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card worth it?
If you fly Southwest at least a few times each year, you will come out ahead with the Southwest Priority Credit Card. The card’s everyday earning rates aren’t the most lucrative out there, but impressive built-in perks like upgraded boardings, a $75 annual travel credit and a 7,500-point anniversary bonus easily make up for it.
Bottom line
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is the most rewarding of Southwest Airlines’ personal credit cards, with a solid sign-up bonus and the most benefits of any of the airline’s offerings. If you fly Southwest often, it’s the card for you.
Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox, Benét J. Wilson, Jennifer Yellin, Joseph Hostetler, Christina Ly and Ryan Smith.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card overview
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card is the middle of the pack for Southwest personal credit cards. While airline credit cards generally don’t have too many perks, the absence of foreign transaction fees and 6,000-anniversary bonus points should help offset this card’s reasonable $99 annual fee. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½
*Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Savvy TPG readers know we generally don’t recommend building your points strategy around a single cobranded airline credit card, as these tend to offer fewer perks and less flexibility than a comparably-priced transferable points card.
When it comes to the Southwest Rapid Rewards card portfolio, you’ll generally find better earning rates and more flexible redemption options with cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points — such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card — which you can then transfer to Southwest Rapid Rewards at a 1:1 rate.
That said, Southwest credit cards are very popular among Southwest fans. The mid-tier version of the three personal Southwest cards — the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card — has a good balance of perks and an annual fee that could make it worthy of a spot in your card collection.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Southwest Premier Card to help you decide if it should earn a spot in your wallet.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card welcome offer
New applicants for the Southwest Premier card can earn 60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
TPG values Southwest Rapid Rewards points at 1.5 cents apiece, making the 60,000 points alone worth $900. While you can redeem points in several ways, the best value will come from using them for flights.
This is also the first time Southwest has offered a promo code as part of a sign-up bonus on a credit card. The code will appear directly in your Southwest.com account within eight weeks of meeting the spending requirement. It can be used — only once — on a single one-way or round-trip Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime and Business Select fare, and is available for use until October 31, 2024.
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Given it is a single-use promo code, it would be best to save this for a more expensive ticket. You’ll get the biggest savings when using the code for round-trip travel and/or during peak travel periods like the summer or the holidays.
Keep in mind that you can’t earn a sign-up bonus on the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card if you currently have any personal Southwest card, nor are you eligible if you earned a sign-up bonus on a personal Southwest card in the past 24 months.
Also, all of Southwest’s cobranded cards are subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. If you’ve opened five or more new accounts over the past 24 months (across all issuers, not just Chase), you’re likely to be denied for this card.
Related: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions
Earning points on the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
Most airline credit cards award bonus points or miles for purchases directly with the carrier, and that’s certainly true here: You’ll earn 3 points per dollar spent with Southwest on the Premier Card.
However, it also has some other enticing bonus categories: You’ll earn 2 points per dollar spent on local transit and commuting purchases, internet, cable and phone services and with select streaming providers. You’ll earn 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
This amounts to a 4.5% return on spending with Southwest and a 1.5% return on everyday spending, according to our valuations.
Redeeming points on the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
When it’s time to use your rewards, one of the best things about redeeming Southwest Rapid Rewards points is the simplicity of the process. Whether you select the cheapest Wanna Get Away fares or the most expensive Business Select tickets, the cost of your award ticket is tied to the cash price of the flight.
This means you don’t have to worry about getting the highest possible cent-per-point redemption value. If you have Rapid Rewards points, you can redeem them for gift cards or merchandise, but the best value comes from using your points for Southwest flights — including options to Hawaii and international destinations.
Remember that Southwest’s policy of no change or cancellation fees means you can reprice your award ticket if the price drops. This offers valuable flexibility to get the best possible redemption.
Read more: How to change or cancel a Southwest Airlines flight
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card benefits
While you don’t expect an airline credit card with a $99 annual fee to come loaded with perks, there are quite a few benefits on the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card.
You’ll receive 6,000 bonus points on each account anniversary, which TPG values at $90 — meaning that the anniversary bonus nearly offsets the card’s $99 annual fee.
Also, you’ll enjoy additional benefits like two EarlyBird check-ins per year with the Southwest Premier Card — helping you get on the plane early to snag a better seat — and 25% back on inflight purchases.
You may also be interested in earning Southwest A-List elite status to further enhance your travels with the carrier. Doing so requires completing 25 qualifying flights or earning 35,000 tier-qualifying points (TQPs) in a calendar year. You can earn bonus TQPs by spending on the Premier card: 1,500 TQPs for every $10,000 spent per calendar year.
Related: Battle of the airlines: Why I think Southwest Airlines is the best
Which cards compete with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card?
The Southwest Premier card has two obvious competitors: the other Southwest credit cards from Chase. However, it’s worth also considering a general travel credit card with a similar annual fee to see whether this is better for your wallet. Let’s see how they stack up:
For more options, check out our full list of travel credit cards.
Related: Comparing the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority, Premier, and Plus Credit Cards
Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card worth it?
The Southwest Premier card with a $99 annual fee is mostly offset by the 6,000 anniversary bonus points, which have a value of $90, according to TPG’s valuations. If you value its other perks at more than $9, that covers the annual fee. However, most Southwest loyalists should apply for the Priority card instead, as it has more benefits.
Bottom line
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card can be a good option for frequent Southwest flyers. If you fly with Southwest occasionally, this card’s price point and perks could make it a good fit for your wallet without the higher price tag on other travel credit cards.
Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox, Stella Shon, Christina Ly and Ryan Smith.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
Summer is just around the corner — and it’s shaping up to be a bumper travel season with big crowds, flight delays, and high temperatures (and tempers!)
You’ve probably booked your flights and hotels by now (if not, you should do that right away). However, one part of your trip may be lacking: tips on how to make your trip more comfortable.
This could include anything from zipping through the airport to avoiding crowds, taking advantage of more comfortable seats on your flight and getting freebies or upgrades along the way.
Today, let’s look at the best credit cards for making your next trip more enjoyable.
Premium credit cards that improve your travel experience
Having a premium credit card can offer a lot of perks. You can breeze through airport security, skip the line at rental car facilities and wait comfortably at an airport lounge simply by having a premium credit card in your wallet.
Here’s how these cards can make your travel experience better:
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express provides access to numerous travel benefits to make your next trip more comfortable.
First, you can access numerous lounges while waiting for your flight at the airport. These include American Express Centurion lounges, Delta Sky Club lounges (when flying Delta that day), Priority Pass Select lounges, Escape Lounges — The Centurion Studio Partner, Airspace lounges, Plaza Premium lounges, Lufthansa lounges and other Global Lounge Collection partner lounges (search for locations here). Enrollment is required in advance for some benefits.
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To move quickly through security checkpoints, you can receive reimbursement from your Amex Platinum Card when paying for your membership fees to Global Entry, TSA PreCheck and Clear. These programs provide dedicated security lanes, which often mean shorter waiting times. Enrollment is required in advance for these benefits.
You also can make your flights more comfortable thanks to up to $200 in statement credits per year for airline incidentals. You must select a preferred airline in advance, and then you can be reimbursed for expenses like checked bags, preferred seats or even inflight Wi-Fi purchases. Enrollment is required.
Related: How to use the Amex Platinum $200 airline fee credit
Amex Platinum cardmembers also have access to Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection and can enjoy up to a $200 annual hotel credit in the form of a statement credit on prepaid Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings with Amex Travel. Note that there is a two-night minimum stay for The Hotel Collection bookings. These programs provide access to high-quality hotels and benefits like room upgrades, free breakfast or late checkout.
Other hotel benefits come in the form of room upgrades and earning points at higher rates, thanks to elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors. Amex Platinum cardmembers can enroll for complimentary Gold status in both programs.
To elevate your rental car experience, enroll for elite status in rental car programs, including Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, Avis Preferred and National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive. This will provide benefits like car upgrades, a free second driver and the ability to skip the line when picking up your car — meaning you can head straight to your car and get on the road.
Related: Is the Amex Platinum worth the annual fee?
Plus, if you need a ride to an airport or hotel during your trip, you can take advantage of up to $200 in Uber Cash per year. You can use this for rides or Uber Eats orders in the U.S. by adding your Amex Platinum card as a payment method in your Uber account. Enrollment is required.
The Amex Platinum Card’s benefits come with an annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees).
Official application link: The Platinum Card® from American Express
The American Express® Green Card
The American Express Green Card offers 3 points per dollar on broader travel, restaurants and transit, as well as annual statement credits for Clear (up to$189) and LoungeBuddy ($100) that more than cover its $150 annual fee (see rates and fees), making it a compelling offer for any occasional traveler.
The card also offers extended warranty protection, purchase protection and return protection when you purchase eligible items with your card, as well as baggage insurance and secondary car rental loss and damage insurance, with the option to upgrade to primary coverage through Amex’s Premium Car Rental Protection.
Right now, Amex is offering new cardmembers 60,000 Membership Rewards points after they spend $3,000 on purchases in their first six months of card membership. Based on TPG’s valuation of Membership Rewards points at 2 cents each, the welcome offer points are worth at least $1,200.
You’ll also get 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases in your first six months to earn up to $200 back, making the total welcome offer worth up to $1,400.
In all, the card’s a great option for the modern traveler.
Official application link: The American Express® Green Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a slightly lower annual fee ($550) than the Amex Platinum and also comes with numerous perks to make your next trip more comfortable.
Like Platinum cardmembers, Sapphire Reserve cardholders also have access to over 1,300 Priority Pass lounges worldwide. They also have access to Chase Sapphire Lounges, coming to nine airports. These will include popular airports like New York-LaGuardia, San Diego, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Washington-Dulles. The first lounges are already open in Boston and Hong Kong.
The Sapphire Reserve card also reimburses your application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or quicker access between the U.S. and Canada through Nexus.
If you need help securing difficult reservations or booking activities during your trip, Sapphire Reserve cardholders have access to a concierge service to assist.
And those looking for boutique hotel experiences can access the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection. These bookings provide benefits like daily breakfast for two people, a $100 on-property credit and room upgrades (when available).
While the Sapphire Reserve card doesn’t provide credits strictly allocated to airline incidental credits, ride-hailing apps or even elite status, it does have something that can offset these expenses. Cardholders have up to $300 in annual travel credits that apply automatically to the first $300 they spend in broad travel categories each year — such as rides to the airport, airport parking, seat upgrades or even the beachside cabana that requires a paid reservation at a resort.
When renting a car, you’ll enjoy complimentary National Emerald Club Executive membership plus benefits with Avis and Silvercar.
Official application link: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
With an annual fee of just $395, the Venture X card may seem like a bargain compared to the Amex Platinum Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve. However, it still comes packed with benefits to make your next trip more comfortable.
Along with access to Priority Pass lounges, cardholders also have unlimited visits to Capital One lounges and Plaza Premium lounges. Lounge benefits also extend to your authorized users, who can also bring two guests of their own — meaning your whole family could access a lounge for free during your next trip.
Related: Big family? No problem! Get unlimited lounge guests with this credit card
Venture X cardholders can also enjoy reimbursement for their Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee to help move through security quickly.
For rental cars, Venture X cardholders (and Venture X authorized users) enjoy top-tier Hertz President’s Circle status.* After registering for this benefit, you can enjoy skip-the-line privileges, guaranteed upgrades, the widest range of selection and a free additional driver. Moreover, once you have rental car status with one company, you can use this to match your status to other rental car programs.
*Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program, and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.
Related: Is the Capital One Venture X worth the $395 annual fee?
For other comforts during your trip, you can take advantage of 10,000 bonus miles on every account anniversary and up to $300 in annual statement credits for travel booked through the Capital One Travel portal. Great uses of these credits would be booking a boutique hotel or even stacking benefits with your Hertz car rentals.
Official application link: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Airline cards that make your flight more comfortable
Breezing through security without the need to take off your shoes or wait in a long line is great. So is waiting comfortably in an airport lounge. However, your trip doesn’t end there.
Here’s how cobranded airline credit cards can make your next flight more comfortable:
A free checked bag is a key feature of nearly every airline credit card. This can save you money and improve your airport experience since you won’t carry as many things through security or onto the plane.
You can enjoy a free first checked bag on your flight across various credit cards and annual fees. This includes the United Explorer Card ($0 introductory annual fee, then $95), the Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card ($95 annual fee), Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® ($450 annual fee) and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card ($550 annual fee; see rates and fees).
Many credit cards also extend the checked bag benefits to other people on your same reservation. However, the number of people this perk covers depends on the card and can vary widely. And while this benefit generally extends to any trip associated with your frequent flyer account number, United Airlines and Alaska Airlines credit cards are an exception. To get free checked bags, you must pay for the ticket with your United Airlines or Alaska Airlines credit card, respectively.
For more details, see the following:
Beyond offering free checked bags, you can enjoy other comfort-adding perks from airline credit cards. Examples include priority boarding and access to preferred seats or seat upgrades.
However, those holding credit cards with Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines or United Airlines will enjoy some level of preferred boarding when flying on those airlines. Generally, this means boarding before economy passengers but after business- and first-class passengers. By boarding early, you can access overhead storage bins before they’re full.
Airline credit cards can also offer the chance to upgrade to better seats. Aside from using airline or travel credits on the premium credit cards discussed above, United and Delta flyers can access preferred seats in other ways.
Those who hold the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex can request complimentary upgrades before their flight, potentially moving up to Comfort+ seats. These cardholders receive upgrades ahead of those with the same status and seating cabin who don’t hold the Reserve card. Those with the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card can also receive upgrade priority after meeting the Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD) waiver requirement of spending $25,000 on the card in a calendar year.
With United Airlines, those with elite status normally don’t receive upgrades on award flights — just on paid flights. However, those who hold a United Airlines credit card with an annual fee can receive complimentary upgrades according to their elite status level even when flying on award tickets. Thus, you could get a roomier seat if you have status with United Airlines — and you can even get that roomier seat on an award flight if you also hold a card like the United Quest Card.
Related: 4 reasons someone in your family needs a United credit card
Hotel cards that improve your stay
When you think about adding comfort to your hotel stays, your first thought probably includes upgraded rooms. However, free (or faster) Wi-Fi, breakfast and parking, and expedited check-in lines can also elevate your stay.
Having the right credit card in your wallet could offer you automatic entry-level status, netting you a few extra points and a free bottle of water. But it also might offer top-tier elite status that qualifies you for upgrades to suites and luxury treatment during your stay.
Hilton Honors credit cards
If you want top-tier Diamond status with Hilton — which includes perks like suite upgrades based on availability at check-in, lounge access at hotels that have these, bonus points, free breakfast and more — you can get this without the effort of counting your hotel nights every year.
Simply holding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card confers Diamond status automatically for as long as your account is open. The card’s annual fee is $450 (see rates and fees), but this may be less than what you would spend on the necessary hotel stays to qualify for Diamond status annually.
The information for the Hilton Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Another option for Hilton status is carrying the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, which confers automatic Hilton Gold (mid-tier) status. There’s an annual fee of $95 (see rates and fees). For this fee, your Gold status will confer benefits like bonus points on paid stays, room upgrades (but not suites) based on availability at check-in and either food and beverage credits or free breakfast, depending on the hotel.
Related: How to choose the best Hilton credit card for you
IHG One Rewards credit cards
If you’re looking for elite status with IHG One Rewards, you can receive complimentary Platinum Elite status (the third-highest of the four tiers) pretty easily. Cardholders of the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card receive Platinum Elite status automatically; the card has a $99 annual fee. Platinum Elite status offers benefits like bonus points on paid stays, upgraded rooms (including suites at some properties), welcome gifts of points or snacks and discounts on reward nights.
Related: IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card review
Marriott Bonvoy credit cards
For those aiming for elite status with Marriott Bonvoy, you can unlock Platinum Elite status simply by having the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. This status offers benefits like bonus points on paid stays, welcome gifts (which can range from points to a complimentary breakfast), lounge access at hotels that have these and upgrades to suites, based on availability at check-in. These benefits come with an annual fee of $650 (see rates and fees) on this card.
The next status tier below Platinum is Marriott Bonvoy’s Gold Elite status. You can get this status automatically with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful credit card. Both cards carry an annual fee of $250 (see rates and fees of the Bonvoy Bevy card). Gold status provides benefits like enhanced internet speeds in your hotel room, upgrades to preferred rooms when available at check-in, late checkout and a welcome gift of bonus points.
The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Which Marriott credit card is right for you?
World of Hyatt credit cards
It’s also possible to gain elite status with World of Hyatt by holding a credit card. However, you’ll only gain Discoverist status by holding the World of Hyatt Credit Card, which has an annual fee of $95. This status offers benefits like space-available upgrades to preferred rooms — such as a preferred location within the hotel or a nicer view — complimentary bottled water each day during your stay, premium internet access and late checkout.
Hyatt elites also can match their status to MGM Rewards and enjoy benefits from Hyatt’s partnership with American Airlines. This will include earning Hyatt points for spending money on AA flights.
Related: ‘One of the most valuable hotel cards’: A review of the World of Hyatt Credit Card
Wyndham Rewards credit cards
You can gain automatic status with Wyndham Rewards through credit cards, as well. The Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card offers automatic Platinum status (the third-highest of four tiers), providing benefits like rollover nights, free Wi-Fi, preferred rooms, late checkout, early check-in and a status match to Caesars Rewards. The card has a $75 annual fee.
The no-annual-fee Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card offers automatic Gold status, providing benefits like free Wi-Fi, preferred rooms and rollover nights.
The information for the Wyndham Earner and Wyndham Earner Plus cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Which Wyndham Rewards credit card is right for you?
Bottom line
Multiple credit cards can make your next trip more comfortable. From better seats on your flight to better rooms at your hotel and better experiences at airport security, what you hold in your wallet could elevate your next trip and remove stress points.
Premium credit cards can offer a range of perks and help you skip the lines at multiple points in your journey. Airline credit cards can offer perks like free checked bags, better seats and priority boarding. And hotel cards can get you free breakfast, room upgrades and late checkout.
Summer travel is hectic. These cards can remove some hassle from your trip, leaving your travel companions as one of the only potential stressors during your vacation.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Green Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Delta Reserve card, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Hilton Aspire card, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Hilton Surpass card, click here. For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex card, click here. For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Amex card, click here.
Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox, Summer Hull and Stella Shon.
Working at 36,000 feet may not feel like living the dream, but if you’re traveling for work (or fun), every minute counts. Some U.S. airlines are making it easier than ever to stay connected whether you have your head in the clouds or on the ground.
For the past decade, it was standard to require passengers to pay either by the minute or by the hour to access the airline’s Wi-Fi network on most domestic flights. And for those who were winging it by working through the flight, those Wi-Fi costs added up fast.
Don’t toggle your phone into airplane mode just yet because many national and international air carriers are bringing Wi-Fi service to their fleets. While you can’t take phone calls mid-flight, here are the airlines where flying the connected skies comes standard with your ticket.
Domestic and International Airlines That Offer Free In-Flight Wi-Fi
Want to use those hours in the air to clear your inbox or level up in that guilty pleasure mobile game? Check it off your to-do list because these airlines offer complimentary Wi-Fi as part of your in-flight experience.
Domestic Flights With Free Wi-Fi
Delta Air Lines
The latest airline outfitting its entire fleet with Wi-Fi is Delta. Delta — in partnership with T-Mobile — made free in-flight Wi-Fi available to all passengers on domestic flights in February. By the end of 2024, Delta CEO Ed Bastian promises to have its entire fleet on board with free unlimited Wi-Fi, including regional and international flights.
There’s just one tiny hitch. To access the Wi-Fi, Delta Airlines requires passengers to sign up for a free Delta SkyMiles account. If you don’t want to join the Delta SkyMiles members club, you can still purchase Wi-Fi for a $10 fee per device.
Considering getting an airline credit card? We’ve got the scoop on which ones give you more miles and extra travel perks.
JetBlue
For JetBlue, free Wi-Fi is so 2017 that they coined a word for it: Fly-Fi. For a while, they were the only U.S. airline where unlimited access to the plane’s high-speed Wi-Fi came with your JetBlue ticket.
JetBlue also partners with Amazon, so you’ll earn extra TrueBlue points — JetBlue’s loyalty program — for shopping in-flight. Plus, you’ll get access to Amazon Prime’s library so you can stream Amazon video, music, audiobooks and more.
Other Domestic Airlines With Free Wi-Fi
While JetBlue and Delta are the only national carriers that offer free in-flight Wi-Fi to all passengers, most other airlines are piloting similar programs and perks on select domestic flights.
American Airlines offers some flights where passengers watch a sponsored video to receive 30 minutes of in-flight Wi-Fi. On United Airlines flights, Mileage Plus loyalty members use miles instead of paying a fee to access in-flight Wi-Fi. And Alaska Airlines and SouthWest provide free texting and messaging through iMessage and Whatsapp.
International Carriers With Free Wi-Fi
Domestic airlines aren’t the only game in town for scoring free Wi-Fi. Check out the select international aircraft that help you stay connected for cheap.
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand not only provides free Wi-Fi on all domestic flights, but it comes complimentary on all international Wi-Fi-enabled flights.
Nok Air
Nok Air is a budget carrier out of Thailand, but there’s nothing cheap about their in-flight benefits. They provide complimentary Wi-Fi access on all Boeing 737 flights.
Qantas
Grab free high-speed Wi-Fi on board B737-800 and A330-200 Qantas flights, courtesy of a partnership with Viasat.
Japan Airlines
Japan Airlines passengers get free Wi-Fi on domestic flights with the exception of a few aircraft that are not yet equipped to provide the service.
Other International Airlines With Free Wi-FI
There are a few other international air carriers that provide in-flight Wi-Fi, but don’t return your tray tables to their upright position just yet because it comes with strings attached.
On Qatar Airways, you can only get 15 minutes or 10 MB of free Wi-Fi via a sponsor. Norwegian Airlines provides 15 minutes of free in-flight WiFI on select flights, and Philippine Airlines offers a complimentary 3 MB chat plan.
At China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines, in-flight Wi-Fi is first come, first serve. The first 100 lucky passengers on the flight who register 30 days in advance connect to the Wi-Fi free.
Other Ways to Get Free In-Flight Wi-Fi
If you’re stuck schlepping it on a carrier that doesn’t offer free Wi-Fi, you might still be able to snag a cheap (or free) connection. Here’s how.
Leverage Credit Card Perks
Some airline credit cards let you redeem points or miles to reimburse you for in-flight Wi-Fi costs. These include airline credit cards and reward programs from Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines and Alaska Airlines.
Earn Premium or Elite Status
Several international and national air carriers allow premium or elite members to earn free Wi-Fi. This includes national carriers like Southwest and international airlines like Emirates, Finnair, Icelandair, Singapore Airlines and Turkish Airlines.
Upgrade to Business or First Class
The perks of business class and first class are more than just extra legroom and bottomless mimosas. These airlines extend complimentary in-flight Wi-Fi on personal devices to those who pay extra not to get stuck hugging their knees in economy class.
Aer Lingus
Emirates Airlines (Emirates Skywards members only)
Icelandair
Philippine Air (100 MB limit)
SAS (Scandinavian Airlines)
Singapore Airlines (First class free, Business class 100 MB limit)
Turkish Airlines (1 GB limit)
Alitalia (Magnifica members only, 50 MB voucher)
Finnair (one-hour, intercontinental flights only)
Swiss Airlines (50 MB voucher)
Pay close attention to the Wi-Fi terms, however, because most airlines listed here have some limitations to internet access.
Trying to find a way to afford first class? Here’s how (and when) to book cheap flights to 8 popular destinations during the shoulder season.
Connect With T-Mobile and Sprint
T-Mobile customers can buckle up and get connected because they’ve already have in-flight Wi-Fi on Alaska, American and Delta flights through their wireless provider. T-Mobile and Sprint Unlimited, Sprint ONE and Sprint Max passengers get free messaging through iMessage, Google Hangouts and Whatsapp, as well as an hour of free data.
Other Airline Perks Worth Checking Out
If you’d rather kick back and not spend your flight streaming, there are a few other airline perks to check out, from free cocktails to complimentary checked bags.
Free In-Flight Beer and Cocktails
Have a flight of beer or wine on your way to Canada, courtesy of Porter Airlines, serving up local brews and vintages. Air Canada has similar alcoholic offerings when you book a flight between Toronto and Montreal. Even WestJet, a low-cost carrier based out of Canada, offers a free glass of beer or wine on regional flights.
Horizon Air will quench your thirst with Northwestern wines and microbrews — and your wine flies free. That is, you can check a case of wine for free from 32 West Coast cities on Alaska, Horizon and SkyWest flights. And of course, a complimentary glass of bubbly or wine comes with the ticket on all long-haul AirFrance flights.
Free Layover From Icelandair
Having a layover doesn’t sound like a perk, but hear us out. What if it’s in Iceland? Icelandair invites all passengers who book their flights to arrange a free stopover for one to seven days — coming and going, if you want — in Iceland to get a taste of what the country has to offer.
Kid Travel Perks
Baby on board? These airlines are on standby to ease your suffering. British Airways feeds kids first on all flights, so you can rest easy when it’s your turn to eat. Some international airlines offer other perks, like Gulf Air’s sky nannies who make the rounds to entertain kids in-flight.
South Korea’s Asiana Airlines literally puts moms first with front-row seats to the bathroom for all expectant mothers and free baby slings and nursing blankets for infants.
Free Checked Bags
If you’re traveling with a lot of baggage (and really, who isn’t), many airlines provide ways to waive the fees and check your luggage for free on most flights. Delta SkyMiles, United Explorer and Alaska Airline Visa members all earn free checked baggage for cardholders and, in some cases, for traveling companions. You always get two free checked bags on Southwest though.
Pro Tip
Looking to duck the baggage fee? Before you try cramming your oversized duffle into a bin, here’s how you can pay less for luggage and avoid other traveling costs.
Priority Boarding
If all you really want is to be first in line to snag a window seat or a coveted overhead bin, you’re in luck. Elite flyers, premium members and some airline credit cardholders earn priority boarding with major airline carriers, including American, United Airlines and Southwest.
Next time you need to fire up the Wi-Fi at 36,000 feet, and you’re not on a JetBlue or Delta flight, consider keeping these tips and tricks in your back pocket to avoid in-flight connection charges. In this case, time really is money, so spend (and stream) wisely.
Looking to snag a flight for cheap? Consider these low-cost air carriers where a heavily discounted ticket price is the best perk of all.
Kaz Weida is a senior staff writer at The Penny Hoarder covering saving money and budgeting. As a journalist, she has written about a wide array of topics including finance, health, politics, education and technology for the last decade.