topic Re: Does a True No Annual Fee Travel Card Exist? in Credit Cards

Does a True No Annual Fee Travel Card Exist?

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 18:45:10 GMT

The closest thing I've found to a no annual fee travel card is the regular Chase Sapphie that's not even available to be applied for directly. What I'm looking for is a card that gives more than 1% back on travel purchases. There's plenty of fake travel cards like the Discover IT Miles or the BoA Travel Rewards card which are just regular cash back cards that can only be redeemed for a travel credit. I'm looking for something that will give me cashback/points solely for spending on travel categories. Anything like that out there?

Re: Does a True No Annual Fee Travel Card Exist?

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 18:51:00 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
The closest thing I've found to a no annual fee travel card is the regular Chase Sapphie that's not even available to be applied for directly. What I'm looking for is a card that gives more than 1% back on travel purchases. There's plenty of fake travel cards like the Discover IT Miles or the BoA Travel Rewards card which are just regular cash back cards that can only be redeemed for a travel credit. I'm looking for something that will give me cashback/points solely for spending on travel categories. Anything like that out there?

I'm not clear what you want! If you are willing to get cashback, then there is a choice of no AF 2% everywhere cards. Yes, they will give you cashback outside travel as well, but you don't have to use them there!

Re: Does a True No Annual Fee Travel Card Exist?

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 18:57:13 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
The closest thing I've found to a no annual fee travel card is the regular Chase Sapphie that's not even available to be applied for directly. What I'm looking for is a card that gives more than 1% back on travel purchases. There's plenty of fake travel cards like the Discover IT Miles or the BoA Travel Rewards card which are just regular cash back cards that can only be redeemed for a travel credit. I'm looking for something that will give me cashback/points solely for spending on travel categories. Anything like that out there?
I'm not clear what you want! If you are willing to get cashback, then there is a choice of no AF 2% everywhere cards. Yes, they will give you cashback outside travel as well, but you don't have to use them there!

I know those exist. I'm just curious if there are still cards like this out there.

Re: Does a True No Annual Fee Travel Card Exist?

UpperNwGuy — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 20:23:08 GMT

The American Automobile Association has a no-fee credit card that gives 3% for travel. Is that what you're looking for?

Re: Does a True No Annual Fee Travel Card Exist?

wasCB14 — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 20:29:45 GMT

@UpperNwGuy wrote:
The American Automobile Association has a no-fee credit card that gives 3% for travel. Is that what you're looking for?

That card does have a broad definition of travel.

If you spend enough on travel that the extra 1% makes a significant difference, though, AF options may be worth exploring.

Re: Does a True No Annual Fee Travel Card Exist?

manyquestions — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 20:44:53 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
The closest thing I've found to a no annual fee travel card is the regular Chase Sapphie that's not even available to be applied for directly. What I'm looking for is a card that gives more than 1% back on travel purchases. There's plenty of fake travel cards like the Discover IT Miles or the BoA Travel Rewards card which are just regular cash back cards that can only be redeemed for a travel credit. I'm looking for something that will give me cashback/points solely for spending on travel categories. Anything like that out there?
I'm not clear what you want! If you are willing to get cashback, then there is a choice of no AF 2% everywhere cards. Yes, they will give you cashback outside travel as well, but you don't have to use them there!
I know those exist. I'm just curious if there are still cards like this out there.

The card you linked as an example gives:

2 miles for every $1 spent on travel and dining
1 mile for every $1 spent otherwise

I'm currious why you prefer a card that earns 2% on travel and dining and 1% on everything else, with those rewards only usable on travel redemptions, rather than a card that gives 2% cash back on every purchase that can be spent on anything?

I don't see how you would come out ahead.

Re: Does a True No Annual Fee Travel Card Exist?

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 20:52:15 GMT

@manyquestions wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
The closest thing I've found to a no annual fee travel card is the regular Chase Sapphie that's not even available to be applied for directly. What I'm looking for is a card that gives more than 1% back on travel purchases. There's plenty of fake travel cards like the Discover IT Miles or the BoA Travel Rewards card which are just regular cash back cards that can only be redeemed for a travel credit. I'm looking for something that will give me cashback/points solely for spending on travel categories. Anything like that out there?
I'm not clear what you want! If you are willing to get cashback, then there is a choice of no AF 2% everywhere cards. Yes, they will give you cashback outside travel as well, but you don't have to use them there!
I know those exist. I'm just curious if there are still cards like this out there.
The card you linked as an example gives:
2 miles for every $1 spent on travel and dining
1 mile for every $1 spent otherwise
I'm currious why you prefer a card that earns 2% on travel and dining and 1% on everything else, with those rewards only usable on travel redemptions, rather than a card that gives 2% cash back on every purchase that can be spent on anything?

I don't see how you would come out ahead.

It's not better, just a quick and easy example I was able to find. I haven't searched the AAA card mentioned above, but that looks more like what I was looking for. 3% > 2%.

Re: Does a True No Annual Fee Travel Card Exist?

red259 — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 21:06:46 GMT

What is a travel card to you? I don't understand the question. If you want a no AF card that can transfer points to travel partners then the amex everyday has no AF and and allows that. Unless you mean a card that gives you a bonus on travel then that would be different.

Re: Does a True No Annual Fee Travel Card Exist?

manyquestions — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 21:15:18 GMT

It might help if you describe how you see yourself using the card. How much do you spend on travel per year and what kind of travel is it? If you have enough spend, an annual fee card might earn more rewards. How do you see yourself using the rewards? If you read the travel forums, a lot of people suggest selecting cards by planning a couple of trips you want to take and then searching cards to see which ones will benefit you the most.

Re: Does a True No Annual Fee Travel Card Exist?

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 21:21:19 GMT

I guess I wasn't clear enough. I spend ~$2000 per year on travel which I know isn't much so an annual fee wouldn't cut it. I was just looking to see if there was a card that offered something like 3% back on airlines and/or hotels without an annual fee and without being specifically geared towards one brand. I'd like to get the rewards back in cash back if possible since I'm not brand loyal. But it seems like that card doesn't exist and I'll just stick to putting it on my cards now. Or get a 2% back on everything card.

I'm planning a Europe trip this winter which is why I was looking into it. That trip would increase my travel spend for the year. But this is a once in a while type of trip.

Re: Does a True No Annual Fee Travel Card Exist?

Kforce — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 21:37:15 GMT

The also extinct "FNBO Travel-Elite"

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/First-National-Bank-TravElite-American-Express-Card/td-p/4912222

Re: Does a True No Annual Fee Travel Card Exist?

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 21:58:30 GMT

That fbno card looks about as close to perfect as I was looking for. Maybe next time they offer it.

Re: Does a True No Annual Fee Travel Card Exist?

Themanwhocan — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 22:18:35 GMT

Penfed Premium Travel Rewards American Express

5X on Airfare purchases

1X everything else

points are worth about 0.8 cent each

First Hawaiian Bank Priority Destinations World Elite MasterCard

5X on travel on first $6000 per year, 2X after that

2X everyday purchases (gas, grocery, cable TV, phone, and other monthly utilities)

1X everything else

Sams Club MasterCard

5% on Gas

3% on Dining and Travel

1% everything else

requires a Sams Club membership

InFirst Federal Credit Union VISA Rewards

4% Gas

3% Restaurant and Travel

2% Grocery store, Superstores, Wholesale clubs

1% Everything else

https://www.infirstfcu.org/personal-banking/credit-cards/visa-rewards/

Huntington Voice

3x on Travel/Entertainment

Re: Does a True No Annual Fee Travel Card Exist?

happypill — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 22:25:19 GMT

I think the OP is differentiating between a card that earns points but must be redeemed for travel (like the BofA travel rewards), and a card that actually awards more points when you spend on travel and can be redeemed for either points/miles/cash. Basically, the difference between earinig and redeeming.

There are some out there. The SSFCU Power Travel rewards is my favorite as it offers 3.3% on travel, dining & gas but is geographically restricted. There's the Penfed Travel Rewards Amex that gives 5x on Airfare. There's a number of hotel cards out there that give additional rewards with no AF (the basic Hilton card from Citi or Amex comes to mind). There's the AAA card that someone else already mentioned.

That's what I can think of off the top of my head. There are others out there.

Re: Does a True No Annual Fee Travel Card Exist?

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 22:56:51 GMT

@happypill wrote:
I think the OP is differentiating between a card that earns points but must be redeemed for travel (like the BofA travel rewards), and a card that actually awards more points when you spend on travel and can be redeemed for either points/miles/cash. Basically, the difference between earinig and redeeming.

There are some out there. The SSFCU Power Travel rewards is my favorite as it offers 3.3% on travel, dining & gas but is geographically restricted. There's the Penfed Travel Rewards Amex that gives 5x on Airfare. There's a number of hotel cards out there that give additional rewards with no AF (the basic Hilton card from Citi or Amex comes to mind). There's the AAA card that someone else already mentioned.

That's what I can think of off the top of my head. There are others out there.

Yes that is exactly what I was asking. And thank you. That Penfed 5% on airfare card is what I was looking for.

Re: Does a True No Annual Fee Travel Card Exist?

Blodreina — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 01:29:36 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I guess I wasn't clear enough. I spend ~$2000 per year on travel which I know isn't much so an annual fee wouldn't cut it. I was just looking to see if there was a card that offered something like 3% back on airlines and/or hotels without an annual fee and without being specifically geared towards one brand. I'd like to get the rewards back in cash back if possible since I'm not brand loyal. But it seems like that card doesn't exist and I'll just stick to putting it on my cards now. Or get a 2% back on everything card.

I'm planning a Europe trip this winter which is why I was looking into it. That trip would increase my travel spend for the year. But this is a once in a while type of trip.

I think the Orbitz card is decent, and I considered it myself. I think the reward redemption may be restricted to booking hotels only. Worth a look, at least.

Re: Does a True No Annual Fee Travel Card Exist?

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 01:44:20 GMT

OP question does not really make sense. There are tons of cards out there that are 1%+ back that you can use on travel or cashback if you like.

Re: Does a True No Annual Fee Travel Card Exist?

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 01:35:36 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
OP question does not really make sense.

I already clarified it. And it made sense to some people cause they were able to answer. I think I got all the information I need. Thanks.

Re: Does a True No Annual Fee Travel Card Exist?

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 02:10:07 GMT

I'll just add one thing. Just because a card calls itself a 'travel' credit card does not make it a real one. A lot of those no AF cards have horrible redemption rates and they offer none of the benefits of a true travel credit card. It's marketing pure and simple and it's shown to work. In most of those cases, you'd would be far better to get a 2% cash back card. While a card may say it earns 3X, 4X. 5X or whatever on travel, in reality those points are worth very little because they have ridiculously low and limited redemption rates.

Re: Does a True No Annual Fee Travel Card Exist?

MrDisco99 — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 03:08:18 GMT

If you're not wanting to pay an AF there are lots of cards aimed at travel that waive the AF the first year.

I'm getting a bunch of travel cards so I can rack up points for a big trip next year. I'll only keep a few of them past the first year so I won't have to pay fees on the rest. I plan to spend very little on travel before then but I still get points on regular purchases that will help me fly for free. The Amex ED/EDP, Citi TY Premier, and CSP+Freedom+FU are good cards to use for that kind of strategy.