Quick insights
- Many rewards credit cards come with travel benefits and perks that may save you time and money on your next trip.
- Common travel benefits include auto rental coverage, trip insurance and baggage insurance.
- Many credit cards offer travel benefits and perks, such as reimbursements for TSA Precheck, Global Entry and airport lounge access.
Credit cards with travel benefits—also known as travel rewards cards—can be a great asset for your next trip. While the focus is often on their travel rewards programs, these cards may also offer enticing perks and benefits that may help with the costs if something happens on your trip and lead to less stressful travel experiences. With so many cards in this category, it’s helpful to get up to speed on the most common benefits. That way, you can find the best travel credit for you.
Here’s what you need to know about credit cards with travel benefits.
Travel protection benefits you may be able to get with a credit card
The right rewards credit card with travel benefits may help you get the most out of your next trip. The credit card issuer will spell out their benefits in the guide to benefits.
Before applying for a travel card—including Chase travel credit cards—consider whether these common benefits provide value to you.
Auto rental car coverage
When you’re at the car rental counter, it’s hard to know if you need to purchase rental car coverage. Your credit card with travel benefits might be able to help. Often these cards come with an auto rental collision damage waiver.
This valuable coverage may reimburse you for damages from a collision or theft, and this insurance is usually secondary to the protection in your personal auto policy. In other words, your personal auto insurance pays out first, and then the rest will be covered according to the credit card auto rental car coverage.
Premium credit cards may offer primary coverage, and your insurer won’t need to be involved.
Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance
It’s disappointing when you have to cancel or cut short an expensive trip. When this happens, your credit card may help you limit your losses. Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance can give you peace of mind, whether you’re booking a weekend getaway or a long international trip.
This coverage can help if something goes wrong with your vacation plans, as you may be reimbursed for eligible expenses. The coverage only applies if the trip ends or is interrupted for qualifying reasons, so be sure to review the terms and conditions and familiarize yourself with how credit card travel insurance works. There may be limits on how much you can be reimbursed for a single trip or in total over the course of a year.
Lost or delayed baggage insurance
Over two million bags per year are mishandled, according to data collected by the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Perhaps that’s why many travelers try to fit everything in a carryon, but that approach isn’t always possible. Even though most bags do arrive intact, it helps to have a plan for lost luggage.
Some credit cards offer insurance for lost or delayed luggage. This coverage may offer you a daily allowance for eligible expenses within a set timeframe so that you can purchase essentials while you wait for your luggage to arrive.
Some recurring travel perks you can get with a credit card
A travel benefits credit card may also come with perks that streamline the travel experience. Here are some popular perks that many cards offer.
TSA Precheck
TSA Precheck has become a sought-after status for savvy travelers. This trusted traveler program run by TSA offers expedited security screening for all domestic and some international flights.
You may face a much shorter line at airport security and won’t have to remove your belt, shoes and jacket. You can also leave your electronics in your bag. This potentially saves you time on a single trip, which can really add up if you’re a frequent traveler.
Some credit cards will reimburse you for the application fee, essentially allowing you to get TSA Precheck for free.
Global Entry
When you return to the U.S. after an international flight, you’re due for a stop at U.S. Customs and Border Protection. If you’re a member of Global Entry, another trusted traveler program, you can avoid processing lines and paperwork and have access to expedited entry. Certain credit cards will reimburse you for the Global Entry application fee. Find out more abouthow to apply for Global Entry by reading this guide.
Airport lounge access
As post-pandemic travel increases and the costs of food and drink at the airport rise,airport lounge access is an increasingly valuable perk for travelers. Airport lounges can help weary travelers avoid the crowds and overpriced food. If you stop by a lounge on your next trip, here are some the amenities you might find:
- Power outlets and free Wi-Fi
- Workstations
- Complimentary food and drinks
- Quiet atmosphere
Many travelers feel that lounge access means an all-around better and less stressful experience, especially if they have a long layover.
If any of this sounds appealing, you may be looking to get airport lounge access., which some travel rewards credit cards come with as a complimentary benefit. Check out which Chase credit cards give you lounge access. Typically, many of these benefits come with credit cards that have an annual fee, but with high airport prices, if you’re a frequently traveler, you may find that lounge access alone could justify the fee.
In summary
From auto rental coverage to TSA Precheck application fee reimbursement, you can put a credit card with travel benefits to work for you on your next trip. You may find that credit cards in this category save you time and money and make for a better travel experience.
