Best Annual Credit Card Benefits Review

There’s a wide array of credit cards out there with unbelievably attractive perks and benefits that allows you to expand your travel experience. Let’s just take the time to appreciate the competition big credit card issuers have to pushing out credit cards with generous annual benefits in return for our card-membership. Furthermore, let’s take a better look at the annual benefits that you have to check out for yourself in 2017! Essentially, this will be our in-depth guide to what may very well be the “Best Annual Credit Card Benefits” of current.

Annual Travel Fee Credits

Let’s face it, the increasing ancillary fees airlines charge nowadays can leave your travel experience in quite the slump. Good news is that most credit card issuer’s premium credit cards offer such a perk to combat this fee. Note that each card issuer has specific guidelines as to what is a qualifying charge to trigger the credit reimbursement or not.

American Express: 

With the Platinum Card® from American Express and the Business Platinum Card® from American Express OPEN, you could earn yourself $200 airlines fee credit. Moreover, it has been brought to my attention that the Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express also offers annual fee credit of $100. Some things to note is that the fee credit for these cards will reset on January 1 and is valid for most non-ticket purchases (fees for ticket changes, seat selection, checked baggage, in-flight purchases and lounge day passes). Note that fees for upgrade to a different class of service is not eligible and you will not get reimbursement for it. Delta’s Comfort + Product also counts as a different class of service. To reap the credit, you must log into your Amex account and select a eligible single airlines for fee reimbursement.

Chase: 

Chase offers an annual $300 fee credit per calendar year on the Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card. Some things to note, the credit is not automatic and cardholders must call Chase within four billing cycles to request it. The credit can be used towards charges with any airline and will not be limited to any one definitive carrier. Eligible fees involve airline lounge access pass, yearly lounge memberships, in-flight internet and entertainment, in-flight meals, and baggage fees. Note that you can also use your credit for seat upgrades.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve also offers $300 annual fee with more flexible redemption, good for almost anything travel-related. This would include airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, campgrounds, cruise lines, car rental agencies, tarvel agencies, discounted travel agencies, trains, taxis, buses, parking lots, toll roads, etc.

The credit will count towards the calendar year in which the statement is closed. If you make a purchase on January 23, the statement will close in April of 2017. Purchases count towards the credit, while with the Ritz, the date of purchase determines the year’s credit used.

Citi:

 With the Citi Prestige Card, you will be able to earn $250 in annual airlines purchase credit. Citi derives eligible purchases made through airlines such as lounge access, in-flight purchases, baggage fees and even airfare. The credit can be used to cover a single eligible expense or multiple other small incremental expenses. The MasterCard Gold Card also offers $200 annual travel credit fee reimbursement as a benefit.

Citi’s credit cards are based on the month of your statement instead of the month of the charge. If a charge appears in your January through December statement, it will qualify for the calendar year even if the date of charge falls outside of the calendar year window. You can begin using your annual fee credits as soon as your January statement period begins.

Hotel Elite Status

Meet the necessary credit-card spending requirement in a calendar year, and you will present yourself with the ability to earn elite airline status miles.

Starwood:

With the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express and the Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express, you could earn Starwood Gold Status when you make a spend of $30,000 within each calendar year. Gold Status is quite valuable when it comes to SPG with the ability to get room upgrades, late check-out, and additional points per dollar towards purchases made through Starwood properties and resorts. Be mindful that there is a $95 annual fee attached, that is satisfyingly waived for the first year and there is no foreign transaction fees attached. Amex Platinum cardholders can also have the ability to earn Starwood Gold Status.

Hilton:

With the Citi Hilton Honors VISA Signature Card, you not only get a change to upgrade to Gold Status after making a spend of $20,000 or more in a calendar year, but you will also be presented with no annual fee attached, no hassle. If you’re looking for something more top-notch, the Hilton Honors Surpass Card from American Express with a $75 annual fee and the Citi Hilton Honors Reserve Card with a $95 annual fee offers a chance for you to upgrade to Diamond Status through the end of the next calendar year when you spend $40,000 or more on eligible purchases throughout the year.

Hyatt:

The Hyatt Credit Card from Chase offers Discoverist status just as soon as you become a cardholder. With the ability to expand your horizon towards an upgraded Explorist Status after making a spend of $50,000 annually on this card. Note that you will be getting a free Category 1-4 free night’s anniversary bonus for holding this card.

Elite Airline & Miles Status

Most premium cards offer the ability to earn elite-qualifying miles through credit card spending, transcending towards a next tier of elite status much more conveniently. Below is a list of the cards offer by different Airlines distributors that offer elite-qualifying miles, elite qualifying dollar requirement waivers or even elite status.

American Airlines (AA):

With the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite MasterCard, you will earn qualifying elite miles (EQMs) as well as full Admirals Club membership, same goes with all authorized users under you. This card offers 10,000 EQMs when you make a spend of $40,000 within a whole calendar year. You should expect this card to retain a $450 annual fee, with a attractive no foreign transaction fee attached.

Delta Sky:

Delta offers quite the wide selection of credit cards: The Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express and the Delta Reserve Credit Card from American Express both offer their cardholders the rewarding ability to earn Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) at sign-up and every year when you meet the certain spending threshold.

Current offer for Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card includes 35,000 Bonus Miles on top of 5,000 MQMs after making a spend of $1,000 in the first three months + $100 statement credit after making your first Delta purchase within the first three months of account opening. You can also earn 10,000 MQMs each calendar year when you make a spending threshold of $25,000 on the card and another 10,000 MQMs  + 10,000 Bonus Miles when you reap $50,000 in spend. It’s important to keep in mind that there is a $195 annual fee attached.

The Delta Reserve and Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card from American Express offers a sign-up of 10,000 Bonus Miles + 10,000 MQMs after making your first purchase. You will also have the ability to earn 15,000 MQMs and 15,000 Bonus Miles every calendar year when you make $30,000 in purchases on top of another 15,000 MQMs when you reap $60,000 in purchases each calendar year. Important to keep in mind that there is a $450 annual fee attached to this card.

 Note: Spending $25,000 on any co-branded Delta American Express card will waive the MQD requirement to achieve SkyMiles Medallion Status.

JetBlue:

With the Barclaycard JetBlue Plus MasterCard®, you will have the ability to earn JetBlue Mosaic Status for one year after making a spending of $50,000 annually.

Southwest:

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card as well as it’s Business variant from Chase will offer you 1,500 Tier-Qualifying Points (TQPs) for every $10,000 you make in purchases up to 15,000 TQPs each calendar year. A-List Status for this card requires 35,000 TQPs or 25 paid one-way flights; qualifying for the bonuses will get your just near the halfway mark. Note that this card comes with an attached $99 annual fee (for each card).

United:

There’s a variety of cards in the United family ranging from the United MileagePlus Explorer Card, the United MileagePlus Explorer Business Card, the United MileagePlus Club Card or the United MileagePlus Club Business Card. Once you spend $25,000 on any United Co-branded Card, United will waive the Premier Qualifying Dollar (PQD) requirements for up to Premier Platinum Status. You can combine purchases across these cards to meet the $25,000 requirement and you’ll also be able to earn 10,000 Bonus redeemable miles after spending $25,000 annually on the Explorer Card.

Virgin America:

With the Virgin America Premium Visa Signature Card from Comenity Bank, you could earn 15,000 Status Points per calendar year rated art 5,000 points for every $10,000 spent. You will also be allowed to roll over any unused points to the next year with a $149 annual fee attached.

Virgin Atlantic:

The Virgin Atlantic World Elite MasterCard from Bank of America, you will earn tier points along with your Flying Club miles. You get 25 tier point per $2,500 in purchases (maximum of 50 per month) and additional tier points when you fly Virgin Atlantic or their airline partners with a $90 annual fee attached.

Other Benefits

Lounge Access:

With many cards offering Priority Pass Select Membership nowadays, it’s almost exciting to see a credit card issuer push further towards Lounge Access with respect to their affiliated airlines. Few Co-branded credit cards offer such a perk that allows you to get into the most luxurious of lounges around the world. Premium Cards with a $450+ Annual Fee attached like the Platinum Card® from American Express offers Centurion Lounge Access with an expanded network throughout 2017-2018. For lounge access, the Platinum will be your best bet!

Reduced Mileage/Point Awards:

Carriers American Airlines and JetBlue allows co-branded cardholders to get 10% of their redeemed miles or points back.  Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select MasterCard holders will be able to get 10% mileage rebate on redeemed miles with a maximum annual benefit yielding at 10,000 miles per calendar year.

JetBlue Plus Cardholders also get 10% of their redeemed points back with no annual cap. The Barclay Aviator Silver and Red also qualifies for the rebate.

With Hotels in mind, the IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card will get you 10% of redeemed points back up to 100,000 points per year.

Free Onboard Wi-Fi:

On-board wifi includes the ability to connect in the air for free making flying so much more convenient. Cards that include this perk include the Business Platinum Card® from American Express OPEN for 10 free Gogo passes annually, the U.S. Bank Flexperks Travel Rewards Visa Signature Card for 12 annual passes. The City National Bank Crystal Visa Infinite is a harder card to get your hands on, so I was contemplating even putting it on here, however, it does also earn you 12 free Gogo flight Wi-fi per year. You can only apply for this card in-branch within select states, and a perfect credit score may be necessary for approval.

Conclusion:

Benefits can be a key factor in determining whether the card is worth it or not for our travel necessities. Being able to maximize the benefits in the most suitable way possible is also a key indicator as to whether or not the card proves of value to you. With the wide variety of card that you can possess in your portfolio, it’s necessary that you are able to track your annual benefits in an organized manner to maximize travel credits and status. Also be sure to check out our complete list of Credit Card Promotions for any other credit card necessities you might have!

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