topic Re: Travel card in Credit Cards

Travel card

Jnbmom — Sat, 30 Oct 2021 22:52:09 GMT

My daughter who is currently in grad school is going to do her final 2 years in Seattle 😞I am happy for her but sad she is going to be across the country. Anyhoo she plans on flying home here and there and I was wondering if there is a good airline card or rewards card that would benefit her?

She has discover card and CR navy card . So she would like to get third card. Her scores high 780's .

Any suggestions that would benefit her? She's a grad student so she doesn't spend a ton.
Thank you

Re: Travel card

Remedios — Sat, 30 Oct 2021 23:10:37 GMT

@Jnbmom wrote:
My daughter who is currently in grad school is going to do her final 2 years in Seattle 😞I am happy for her but sad she is going to be across the country. Anyhoo she plans on flying home here and there and I was wondering if there is a good airline card or rewards card that would benefit her?
She has discover card and CR navy card . So she would like to get third card. Her scores high 780's .

Any suggestions that would benefit her? She's a grad student so she doesn't spend a ton.
Thank you

I'll take yours and send you mine.

I'd go for travel-lite cards like Premier, CSP, or Altitude Connect (AF waived first year).

Premier might be her best bet, SUB is great, earning structure fits with college life (restaurants, groceries, gas).

Re: Travel card

Aim_High — Sun, 31 Oct 2021 00:51:47 GMT

Since you mentioned Seattle and flying across the country, Alaska Airlines is very big in the Northwest. The Bank of America Alaska Airlines card has a 50K point bonus SUB that could be worth up to $900 in travel. The spend is pretty low for such a large bonus: $2,000 spend in 90 days. Since she'll be traveling across the country, it's noteworthy that the card includes a free checked bag, which would normally cost $30 per flight. There's a $75 AF. The card earns 3x points on Alaska flights and 1x points elsewhere. Since Alaska miles can be worth up to 1.8 ccp, that's a potential 1.8% earnings rate also. Alaska recently joined the One World Alliance so it would be possible to book flights on other One World carriers, including American Airlines domestically.

For other suggestions, that Premier card that Remedios recommended might be good, or perhaps a Navy Flagship Rewards where she could earn 2% or more on everything and redeem for airfare. Both also have good SUBs.

Re: Travel card

Gunnerboy — Sun, 31 Oct 2021 01:36:44 GMT

+1 for the Alaska Airlines card

Re: Travel card

SouthJamaica — Sun, 31 Oct 2021 15:26:13 GMT

@Jnbmom wrote:
My daughter who is currently in grad school is going to do her final 2 years in Seattle 😞I am happy for her but sad she is going to be across the country. Anyhoo she plans on flying home here and there and I was wondering if there is a good airline card or rewards card that would benefit her?
She has discover card and CR navy card . So she would like to get third card. Her scores high 780's .

Any suggestions that would benefit her? She's a grad student so she doesn't spend a ton.
Thank you

I agree with @Remedios that the Citi Premier card is a good choice. It gives 3 points per dollar on dining, groceries, gas, hotels, and air transportation, and the points can be redeemed for travel ~~at $1.25 per dollar~~ on the Citi travel portal. I don't know if its travel partners will fit, but even if not she would still be coming out pretty good. It presently has an 80,000 point signup bonus on $4000 spend over 3 months. That's worth ~~$1000~~ $800 on the travel portal.

Re: Travel card

Anonymous — Sun, 31 Oct 2021 02:20:38 GMT

American Express Platinum Card is running great 100k membership rewards offer at the moment. The caveat is she'd have to spend $6k within the first 6 months. If your daughter is not on a typical college Ramen noodle diet, she can earn +10X bonus points at restaurants.

The current state of the travel industry may be the best time to get good deals on travel cards.

Re: Travel card

simplynoir — Sun, 31 Oct 2021 02:21:41 GMT

@SouthJamaica wrote:
@Jnbmom wrote:
My daughter who is currently in grad school is going to do her final 2 years in Seattle 😞I am happy for her but sad she is going to be across the country. Anyhoo she plans on flying home here and there and I was wondering if there is a good airline card or rewards card that would benefit her?
She has discover card and CR navy card . So she would like to get third card. Her scores high 780's .

Any suggestions that would benefit her? She's a grad student so she doesn't spend a ton.
Thank you

I agree with @Remedios that the Citi Premier card is a good choice. It gives 3 points per dollar on dining, groceries, gas, hotels, and air transportation, and the points can be redeemed for travel at $1.25 per dollar on the Citi travel portal. I don't know if it's travel partners will fit, but even if not she would still be coming out pretty good. It presently has an 80,000 point signup bonus on $4000 spend over 3 months. That's worth $1000 on the travel portal.

Citi got rid of the 1.25x multiplier through their travel portal with the Premier card earlier this year. Still worth it though and can always cash out the points if @Jnbmom's daughter can't find a good transfer partner

Re: Travel card

FinStar — Sun, 31 Oct 2021 02:22:18 GMT

@Remedios wrote:
@Jnbmom wrote:
My daughter who is currently in grad school is going to do her final 2 years in Seattle 😞I am happy for her but sad she is going to be across the country. Anyhoo she plans on flying home here and there and I was wondering if there is a good airline card or rewards card that would benefit her?
She has discover card and CR navy card . So she would like to get third card. Her scores high 780's .

Any suggestions that would benefit her? She's a grad student so she doesn't spend a ton.
Thank you

I'll take yours and send you mine.
I'd go for travel-lite cards like Premier, CSP, or Altitude Connect (AF waived first year).
Premier might be her best bet, SUB is great, earning structure fits with college life (restaurants, groceries, gas).

Echoing the above, especially TY Premier @Jnbmom. There is more versatility with the latter (even CSP) should your daughter's needs change over time (i.e. product changes/downgrades to no AF options).

Re: Travel card

Jnbmom — Sun, 31 Oct 2021 12:28:48 GMT

thank you all for the suggestions 👍

Re: Travel card

SouthJamaica — Sun, 31 Oct 2021 14:24:38 GMT

@simplynoir wrote:
@SouthJamaica wrote:
@Jnbmom wrote:
My daughter who is currently in grad school is going to do her final 2 years in Seattle 😞I am happy for her but sad she is going to be across the country. Anyhoo she plans on flying home here and there and I was wondering if there is a good airline card or rewards card that would benefit her?
She has discover card and CR navy card . So she would like to get third card. Her scores high 780's .

Any suggestions that would benefit her? She's a grad student so she doesn't spend a ton.
Thank you

I agree with @Remedios that the Citi Premier card is a good choice. It gives 3 points per dollar on dining, groceries, gas, hotels, and air transportation, and the points can be redeemed for travel ~~at $1.25 per dollar~~ on the Citi travel portal. I don't know if it's travel partners will fit, but even if not she would still be coming out pretty good. It presently has an 80,000 point signup bonus on $4000 spend over 3 months. That's worth ~~$1000~~ $800 on the travel portal.
Citi got rid of the 1.25x multiplier through their travel portal with the Premier card earlier this year. Still worth it though and can always cash out the points if @Jnbmom's daughter can't find a good transfer partner

Oops. Thanks for the correction.