Transit (Trains, Subways, etc.) Credit Cards

[Anonymous]

With me going back to work soon, I was curious about getting a new credit card that worked best for transit purchases, trains and subways etc. Was wondering what people recommend!

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

With me going back to work soon, I was curious about getting a new credit card that worked best for transit purchases, trains and subways etc. Was wondering what people recommend!

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If you are looking for cash back, you can get 5% (capped at 2k per quarter) on any ground transportation with the US Bank Cash+

[FormerCollegeDJ]

The US Bank Cash+ Visa mentioned above is probably your best option for ground transportation, assuming you choose ground transportation as one of your two 5% rewards categories.  It should be noted US Bank has a 1/12 rule (applicant can receive no more than one credit card among all issuers in the preceding 12 months in order to be approved for a US Bank credit card).

Another viable option is the Bank of America Cash Rewards Visa, which provides one selectable 3% rewards category among six different options; travel is one of the six options.  The relatively similar BOA AAA Member Rewards Visa is also a possibility if you live in an area where the card is offered; travel is one of the card's preset 3% rewards categories.

Finally, if at least some of your "transit" use involves Amtrak, the Bank of America Amtrak Guest Rewards Mastercard, particularly the World version ($79 annual fee), could be a possibility.  It provides 3% rewards on Amtrak travel (you also receive 2% rewards for Amtrak travel as an Amtrak Guest Rewards member, meaning you get a total of 5% on Amtrak travel between the credit card and the passenger rail carrier's rewards program) and 2% rewards on all other travel.  The BOA Amtrak Guest Rewards World Mastercard also provides one free companion pass annually, one free class upgrade annually (particularly useful on Acela trains in the Northeast Corridor), and a one-time use Club Acela pass at card sign-up.

The Wells Fargo Propel American Express card would have been another option (3% rewards on travel) but it was literally pulled as an offering by Wells Fargo today (4/19/21).  It is possible Wells Fargo will release an updated card in the near future that might retain the 3% travel rewards category, but that is unknown at this point.

NOTE: Besides the BOA Amtrak World card I mentioned, all other cards identified above are no annual fee cards.

[K-in-Boston]

Cash+ is definitely a great option for cash back.  Since you already have Amex Gold, perhaps pairing it with an Amex Green?  Really depends how you value MRs, but transit and essentially everything else counts for the 3x travel category which could be more than the 5% cash back depending on your redemptions.

[Slabenstein]

If you're also in the market for a grocery card, BCP is another option, but you have to have the grocery spend to make up for the AF and the rewards rate on transit is only 3%.

[notmyrealname23]

The Chase Sapphire Preferred (2x, $95) and Reserve (3x, $550) count transit as a bonus category as well, as well as the Chase Hyatt card (2x, $95, comes with a Hyatt Cat 1-4 night every year).

[jcooks]

Does your employer offer commuter benefits?  It's a prepaid debit card that is strictly used for public transportation purposes.  It's funded per pay check pre tax (you set monthly amount).  Which is probably more cost effective than getting a credit card strictly for public transportation.

[K-in-Boston]

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@jcooks wrote:

Does your employer offer commuter benefits?  It's a prepaid debit card that is strictly used for public transportation purposes.  It's funded per pay check pre tax (you set monthly amount).  Which is probably more cost effective than getting a credit card strictly for public transportation.

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That's actually a great point to make.  More commonly, monthly bus/subway/ferry/rail passes are issued though that either automatically renew each month or your employer gives you a new one each month.  While they are taken out pre-tax, note that they're not the same as health insurance for example - they are pre- some of the payroll taxes but not all of the ones included with a 125 plan for example.  Still indeed probably saves most people far more than they would earn in rewards, though, and here in Boston it's very simple for even small businesses to set that up with the MBTA.

[blossom_rebuilding]

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@Anonymous wrote:

With me going back to work soon, I was curious about getting a new credit card that worked best for transit purchases, trains and subways etc. Was wondering what people recommend!

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I don't have this card just yet, but I have been considering adding the Chase United Gateway card to my lineup when I head back to working in-person in the office.  I used to travel a lot for work, but I'm pretty sure the post-pandemic world order will be different enough that the travel expectations will be far less than they had been in the past. Even so, I hope to travel more for leisure in the future, so I'm looking for more ways to rack up miles since I doubt I'll be traveling as much for work. The Chase United Gateway card offers 2x miles on gas stations, local transit, and commuting. My job does offer a monthly commuting allowance, but it isn't nearly enough to cover the cost since I have a long commute and also pay for parking, so the Gateway card would be a good way to make my out of pocket costs get some rewards. I already have the annual fee Explorer card (the free checked bags cover the annual fee, plus the early group boarding perk is something I would definitely want to keep, so I would keep purchasing tickets using the Explorer), but pairing it with the no-annual fee Gateway would cover more spending bases and help generate more miles. Something to consider! [edited for typos!]

[jcooks]

Yes, my employer here in NYC didn't have the commuter benefit until I started.  I asked HR if there's a way and they signed up for it relative quickly.  I think pre-tax deductions strictly for commuting costs outweight any rewards that can be had through any credit card.