Christa Avampato looks at ways to get travel perks by using your credit card benefits. Much like all the other habits you need to build, empower yourself by taking time to understand the benefits.
Credit card benefits aren't just about rewards and cash back. This is especially true when you travel. Pick the right card, and it could save you more than a pretty penny on your next trip.
Here are some travel benefits your card may include that you aren't aware of.
Concierge
Some cards carry concierge services, meaning you can call the number on the back of the card and they can help with tasks such as travel planning, restaurant reservations, and special events tickets. While useful for those who feel incredibly strapped for time, the options they find are often pricier than what we'd find on our own and not always exactly what we'd pick for ourselves. Still, if you need some last minute details taken care of and absolutely can't take care of it yourself, this benefit may prove very useful.
Status Upgrades
Many co-branded credit cards for airlines and hotels offer automatic status upgrades in their respective loyalty programs. This allows you to enjoy additional benefits like room upgrades or airport lounge access, usually only reserved for those who have gained status through frequent patronage.
Priority Boarding
One benefit that's increasingly common for cards geared towards travelers is priority boarding. Usually, airlines offer early boarding for the more expensive seats (first class or business) and frequent flyers. Credit cards that offer priority boarding often come with an annual fee.
EMV Smart Chip Security
More and more credit cards are being equipped with the EMV chip which uses the chip-and-pin technology that's already been in place in Europe for a decade. It adds security and prevents fraud by authenticating the chip in your card (which is harder to copy than the information stored on the magnetic strip) and requires a 4-digit PIN.
Car Rental Insurance
This is a benefit that many credit cards carry, but it comes with a catch. Most of the time, it's not complete bumper-to-bumper coverage. It often excludes collision insurance, and there are usually high deductibles. Check your card's fine print on car rental insurance so you're clear on the terms and what's covered.
Companion Tickets
While increasingly rare, there are some credit cards that still offer companion fare deals. Some cards provide a certain number of deeply discounted companion tickets per year. Others give you an opportunity to apply your rewards points toward free or inexpensive companion tickets. Those who travel frequently as a family may find this benefit to be a huge money saver.
Free Currency Exchange
One of the best travel benefits a credit card can offer is free currency exchange. When you trade U.S. dollars for foreign currency, you usually pay a fee to make the exchange. When you use a credit card abroad, you're usually charged a 3% foreign transaction fee. However, some cards offer a 0% foreign transaction fee, and that's the card you should be using when you're traveling.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance benefits come in all shapes and sizes on different cards. Some protect your entire trip in the event of its cancellation. Others will protect your luggage should it be lost or stolen while you travel. Some cards include these benefits (including travel accident insurance) free. Before you book your vacation, check which credit card offer the best travel insurance for your needs, and use that card to make the purchase.
Airport Lounge Access
Delays are a commonplace occurrence when we travel. All of us have had that unfortunate experience that leaves us stranded on the floor of a very crowded airport hungrily searching for an outlet to charge our phones and tablets. Some credit cards provide free or discounted access to certain airline lounges complete with comfy seats, snacks, drinks, and plenty of outlets. Sometimes being a little more comfortable is all it takes to prevent a delay from ruining your trip.
Travel Rewards
Rather than forking over cash for your vacation expenses, let all the shopping you do every day rack up points that you can redeem for travel. Increasingly, credit card companies are broadening the number of ways you can redeem points. Use them for airline tickets, car rentals, hotel stays, cruises, and even that special evening out on the town.
Fee Credits
Save even more with cards that offer fee credits on travel incidentals like checked bags, in-flight refreshments or even for the application fee for Global Entry and TSA Pre Check. There's usually a limit so check your credit card for full details.
Global Assistance Hotline
When we travel, there's a high probability that something somewhere along the way won't go as expected. Given the current state of the world, we never know where or when we might find ourselves in trouble. When you book your trip through your credit card that has a Global Assistance benefit, you'll be able to contact a toll-free number in the event of an emergency whether that involves a medical emergency or your car breaking down on the side of the road. A Global Assistance Hotline is your helping hand when you're away from home.
Special Access
Certain cards provide you with access that may be difficult to come by for non-cardmembers. Heading to New York to take in a Broadway show? Want those hard-to-come-by concert tickets or a table at the hottest new restaurant in town? Many credit cards provide advance purchase opportunities and even reservations that non-credit cardholders won't have access to until later.
It's important to note that not all cards carry the same benefits, and benefits change from time to time without notice. The best way to find out what travel benefits your cards carry is to call the number on the back of your card and ask to be connected to a representative who specializes in travel benefits. Enjoy your vacation, and pack the cards that will make your trip cheaper and more enjoyable.
Have you taken advantage of your credit card's travel perks? Which? Tell us your story in comments!
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Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
Christa is a Journalist for The Motley Fool, Allvoices, and The Intersector Project; Freelance pieces for various outlets including PBS, The Boston Globe, and Business Week. She has been featured in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, and Bundle.com.
