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مارس 24, 2022

Southwest Performance Business Credit Card Review 2022

Select’s editorial team works independently to review financial products and write articles we think our readers will find useful. We earn a commission from affiliate partners on many offers, but not all offers on Select are from affiliate partners.Subscribe to the Select Newsletter!Our best selections in your inbox. Shopping recommendations that help upgrade your life, delivered weekly. Sign-up here.Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business credit card reviewSouthwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

RewardsEarn 4X points on Southwest® purchases; 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners; 2X points on rideshare; 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services; 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonusEarn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Annual fee$199 applied to first billing statement
Intro APR
Regular APR15.99% to 22.99% variable
Balance transfer fee
Foreign transaction fees
Credit needed

Welcome bonusThe Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card offers a lucrative 80,000-point welcome bonus after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. Note that you won’t be able to receive the welcome bonus if you already have this business card or if you’ve previously received a welcome bonus for the same card within the last 24 months, even if you’re no longer a cardholder.If you’re able to meet the minimum-spending requirement, you’ll have an impressive number of Southwest Rapid Rewards points to start out with. Since they’re generally valued at 1.3 cents per point, you’ll end up with roughly $1,100 in value within the first few months of card membership, reflecting a 22% return on your spend once you hit that mark.As you continue to spend more with the card and rack up Rapid Rewards points, you’ll be well on your way to earning the highly-coveted Southwest Companion Pass, a level of status that serves as a buy-one-get-one ticket for you and your chosen traveling companion — you’ll only have to pay taxes and fees for their flight once you reach the threshold of 125,000 qualifying points or 100 qualifying one-way Southwest flights in a calendar year, making it an extremely valuable perk. Plus, there’s no limit on how often you can use the Companion Pass as long as it’s active.Benefits and perksThe Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card offers cardholders access to a variety of benefits and features. By making the most of these perks, its $199 annual fee becomes much easier to justify.Cardholders receive the following benefits:

9,000 bonus points for each account anniversary
Four Upgraded Boardings per year (based on availability)
Up to 365 in-flight WiFi credits per year when flying with Southwest Airlines
A $100 credit every four years to put toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry enrollment
The chance to earn 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List elite status for every $10,000 you spend
A $500 fee credit each anniversary year when you transfer Rapid Rewards points to another member
The ability to add authorized users for no additional fee
Lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance and travel accident insurance
Travel and emergency assistance and roadside dispatch services
Auto rental collision damage waivers on car rentals booked with the card
Extended warranty protection and purchase protection
No foreign transaction fees when you use your business card abroad
$0 delivery fees on restaurant orders above $12 (or groceries over $25), reduced service fees and $10 off your next order when you use the card and activate your complimentary year of DoorDash membership by Dec. 31, 2024.

Earning points for spendingWhen you spend on the card, you’ll earn:

4X Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent on purchases made with Southwest Airlines
3X Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent with Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
2X Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent on social media and search engine advertising, as well as internet, cable, and phone services
2X Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent on transit and commuting, including ride-sharing services
1X Rapid Rewards point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases

Select calculated how many points the average American can earn in a year when using their Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card. We worked with the location intelligence firm Esri, who provided us with a sample annual spending budget of $22,126.The budget includes six main categories: groceries ($5,174), gas ($2,218), dining out ($3,675), travel ($2,244), utilities ($4,862) and general purchases ($3,953). Here’s what the average consumer would earn by using this card:

Groceries: 5,174 Southwest Rapid Rewards points
Gas: 2,218 Southwest Rapid Rewards points
Dining out: 3,675 Southwest Rapid Rewards points
Travel: 8,976 Southwest Rapid Rewards points (assuming all travel dollars are spent with Southwest Airlines).
Utilities: 4,862 Southwest Rapid Rewards points
General purchases: 3,953 Southwest Rapid Rewards points

With all spending considered, you would end up earning 28,858 Southwest Rapid Rewards points within the first year — if you were to include the 80,000-point welcome bonus, this type of spending would yield 108,858 Rapid Rewards points. Over a five year period, cardholders could potentially earn 224,290 Southwest Rapid Rewards points, although the total amount would depend more on an individual or business’ annual spending habits.How to earn and redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards pointsEarning Southwest Rapid Rewards pointsThere are two main avenues when it comes to earning Southwest Rapid Rewards points: fly with the carrier or spend with one of Southwest Airlines’ co-branded credit cards. Depending on your status and which Southwest credit card you’re using, you’ll earn a different amount of points per flight. By also paying for daily purchases with your card, you’ll see those points accumulate pretty quickly.Cardholders can also earn more points as they fly, though the amount varies by which fare is booked:

If you book a ‘Wanna Get Away’ ticket, you’ll earn 6X points per dollar on the base fare
If you book an ‘Anytime’ ticket, you’ll earn 10X points per dollar on the base fare
If you book a ‘Business Select’ ticket, you’ll earn 12X points per dollar on the base fare

Note that the base fare is the price of the ticket alone, without any additional taxes or fees.Another way to earn Rapid Rewards points is by using credit cards that offer transferable points as a perk. Travel rewards cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® let cardholders earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to Southwest Airlines, one of its travel partners. Should you decide to fly with another airline like British Airways or United Airlines, Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to their loyalty programs as well.If you believe a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card is the best solution for your travel needs but aren’t 100% sold on the Performance Business Credit Card, here are some other co-branded cards to consider:PersonalBusinessRedeeming Southwest Rapid Rewards pointsOnce you’ve earned enough points for a free flight, the redemption process is simple. All you need to do is visit the Southwest Airlines website and log into your Rapid Rewards account. You can then begin searching for flights — just remember to click the “points” button rather than “dollars” before you submit.While the most valuable use by far of Rapid Rewards points is cashing them in for free flights, you can also choose to redeem them for car rentals, hotels, gift cards or other merchandise. Because the overall value of your points will be reduced, it’s best to use your hard-earned points for free flights, which offer the biggest bang for your buck.Rates and feesCard comparisonThe Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is a solid choice for small business owners looking to save on future Southwest flight costs. But is it the best card for you?Select analyzed two other business travel credit cards to see how they match up with the Southwest Performance Business card.Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express CardThe Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card is a fine airline card geared toward small business owners who enjoy flying with Delta. To get you started, the card comes with a lucrative welcome offer, which ends April 13, 2022, letting you earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening.The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business card comes with an array of benefits, including a status boost to help you get closer to Delta elite status, as well as priority boarding, a yearly Companion Certificate, 20% in in-flight savings, a $100 credit toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry and travel insurance coverage, among other perks, like no foreign transaction fees.As you spend on the card, you’ll earn 3X miles per dollar spent with Delta and directly with hotels, 1.5X miles per dollar spent on purchases over $5,000 (up to 50,000 miles per year) and 1X miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.If you’re trying to decide between the two cards, keep a few factors in mind. First of all, Delta has a much larger flight network featuring many international destinations while Southwest Airlines is primarily a domestic airline, though it does currently fly to 14 destinations in 10 countries outside the U.S. Also, if you know where you’ll be flying most, compare Delta and Southwest flights to those destinations to see which airline has more frequent and direct options from your home airport.Another thing to consider is how often you fly with someone else, as it may be worth going for the Southwest Companion Pass if this is something that happens a lot and you’re looking to continue that trend. Lastly, are you married to luxury benefits such as priority boarding and discounted lounge access when it comes to your flight experience? If the answer is yes, the Delta Platinum Business card may be the better option of the two.Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card On the American Express secure site

RewardsEarn 3X miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent on purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 1.5X miles per dollar on single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (that’s an extra half mile per dollar), up to 50,000 additional miles per year. 1X mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases.
Welcome bonusLimited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership. Offer ends 4/13/2022.
Annual fee
Intro APR
Regular APR15.99% – 24.99% variable on purchases
Balance transfer fee
Foreign transaction fees
Credit needed

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card vs. United Club^SM Business CardThe United Club Business Card is a suitable option for business owners who prefer flying with United Airlines. Once approved, you’ll be able to earn the 100,000- mile welcome bonus after spending $10,000 within the first three months of opening your account.The card offers terrific benefits for United frequent flyers, including access to United Airlines airline lounges, free first and second checked bags, premier access travel services such as priority boarding and check-in, travel insurance and Avis President’s club status, among other perks. There are also no foreign transaction fees to worry about if you’re using your card outside the U.S.When it comes to earning valuable United MileagePlus miles, the spending categories are quite simple — 2X miles per dollar spent on United purchases and 1.5X miles per dollar spent elsewhere.There is one big difference between these two cards: The United Club Business Card carries a hefty $450 annual fee, while the Southwest Performance Business Credit Card’s is just $199. If you’re considering both cards, think hard about which annual fee you’re willing to stomach and be honest about whether or not you’ll be able to use benefits such as airline lounges and priority boarding enough to justify it. Most importantly, before you select a new credit card, make sure your current budget is solid enough to absorb the new expenses.United Club℠ Business CardInformation about the United Club℠ Business Card has been collected independently by CNBC and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

Rewards2 miles per $1 spent on United purchases and 1.5 miles per $1 spent on all other purchases
Welcome bonus100,000 bonus miles after you make $10,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Annual fee
Intro APR
Regular APR16.49% to 23.49% variable
Balance transfer fee
Foreign transaction fees
Credit needed

Who the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card is best forThe Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is a great option for business owners who want to save money on flight costs, have a few perks when flying Southwest and potentially earn the Southwest Companion Pass, which over time would allow them to save even more.The Performance Business Card comes with a handful of helpful travel benefits and is a great fit for frequent flyers focusing on value over luxury. Flying with the budget airline doesn’t mean you’ll be sacrificing quality either, as Southwest is consistently ranked one of the best airlines to fly with in terms of customer service.Bottom lineCatch up on Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, click here.*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party. .

مارس 23, 2022

Rising gas prices? Here’s what you can do to save money

Select’s editorial team works independently to review financial products and write articles we think our readers will find useful. We earn a commission from affiliate partners on many offers, but not all offers on Select are from affiliate partners.In the past few weeks, Americans have experienced higher prices when filling up their tank at the gas station. While gas prices reached a record-high of $4.33 per gallon a few weeks ago, the national average price still remains elevated at $4.24 per gallon, according to AAA. In states like California, the average price of a gallon of gas is even higher, at nearly $6. So why are gas prices skyrocketing? There are two important factors causing the spike in gas prices: The war in Ukraine and the decline in oil production during the pandemic.Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in February, the Biden administration imposed sanctions on Russian oil in March, shutting down imports of oil, natural gas and coal from the country. Even though Russian oil only represents a small portion of the U.S.’s gas imports, the conflict in Ukraine and the U.S’s decision to ban Russian oil led to a spike in gas prices in the global market. The U.S. imports around 8% of its oil from Russia, according to analysis conducted by NBC News.Furthermore, during the pandemic, oil suppliers decreased production to meet reduced demand for gas. However, as lockdowns eased and people started traveling more, demand for gasoline surged, and oil companies couldn’t keep up with increased demand which drove global gas prices up.Though gas prices peaked on March 11, consumers may still be feeling the impact of gas prices on their wallet. Below, Select looks at few ways that consumers can save money on gas.Subscribe to the Select Newsletter!Our best selections in your inbox. Shopping recommendations that help upgrade your life, delivered weekly. Sign-up here.How to save money on gasUse a gas rewards credit cardYou might consider using a credit card to finance your gas expenses at the pump. Cards that offer big rewards on gas typically allow you to earn up to 5x points or 5% cash back on gas purchases. Select ranked the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card as the best gas reward credit card. The PenFed Platinum Rewards card offers 5X points on gas purchases at the pump and electrical vehicle charging stations and has no annual fee. In order to be a cardholder, you must be a member of the PenFed Credit Union which requires a $5 initial deposit. PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card

Rewards5X points on gas purchases at the pump and electrical vehicle charging stations, 3X points on supermarket purchases, 1X point on all other purchases
Welcome bonus15,000 points when you spend $1,500 in the first 3 months from account opening
Annual fee
Promo APR0% promotional balance transfer rate for 12 months on transfers made from now until March 31, 2022.*
Regular APR13.49% to 17.99% variable on purchases; 17.99% non-variable on balance transfers
Balance transfer fee
Foreign transaction fee
Credit needed

*After the promotional balance transfer period, the APR for the unpaid balance and any new balance transfers will be 17.99%. A 3% balance transfer fee applies to each transfer. This transaction is subject to credit approval. If you take advantage of this balance transfer, you will immediately be charged interest on all purchases made with your credit card unless you pay the entire account balance, including balance transfers, in full each month by the payment due date.The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is another good choice for people who anticipate spending a lot on their gas purchases. Cardholders don’t have to worry about manually activating spending categories. Instead, Citi will automatically determine your highest spending category (including gas) for the billing cycle and apply 5% cash back on up to $500 worth of purchases in that category. If you’re a big spender on gas, you could earn up to $25 back per billing cycle.Citi Custom Cash℠ Card

Rewards5% cash back on purchases in top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent (then 1%); unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome bonusEarn $200 cash back after spending $750 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. The bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou^® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Annual fee
Intro APR0% APR on balance transfers and purchases for first 15 months
Regular APR
Balance transfer fee5% of each balance transfer ($5 minimum)
Foreign transaction fee
Credit needed

If you’re looking for a card that doesn’t require credit union membership, you could opt for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express which offers 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and a $300 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases within the first 6 months. The Blue Cash Preferred has a slightly lower rewards rate than the PenFed Platinum but consumers will get high rewards rates on other categories: 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%) and 3% cash back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more. The Blue Cash Preferred has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95. (See rates and fees)Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American ExpressOn the American Express secure site

Rewards6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, 3% cash back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
Welcome bonusEarn a $300 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
Annual fee$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95
Intro APR0% for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening; N/A for balance transfers
Regular APR
Balance transfer fee
Foreign transaction fee
Credit needed

The PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® is a good option for cardholders looking for a card without an annual fee. The PNC Cash Rewards card offers 4% cash back at gas stations, 3% cash back on dining, and 2% cash back at grocery stores, for the first $8,000 in combined purchases in these categories per year.PNC Cash Rewards® Visa®Information about the PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

Rewards4% cash back at gas stations, 3% cash back on dining, and 2% cash back at grocery stores, for the first $8,000 in combined purchases in these categories annually, 1% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus$100 bonus after you make $1,000 or more in purchases during the first 3 billing cycles following account opening
Annual fee
Intro APR0% for the first 12 billing cycles on balance transfers
Regular APR14.49% to 24.49% variable
Balance transfer fee3%, $5 minimum, within the first 90 days from account opening, then 4%, $5 minimum
Foreign transaction fee
Credit needed

Use an app to find the cheapest gas and discountsApps like Gas Buddy and AAA (both are available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store) can help you hunt down the cheapest gas prices near you. With Gas Buddy, the app uses your location and shows you the price of a gallon of gas at stations in your vicinity. However, you shouldn’t bother traveling too far for cheaper gas as the cost of driving there could erase any of the money you would be saving.Gas buddy also offers the Pay with GasBuddy Card, a rewards card that offers cardholders up to $0.25 off per gallon. Pay with GasBuddy is not a credit card, does not require a credit check and is free to join.Get Upside has an app that will help you find the cheapest gas stations in addition to offering extra discounts on gas. Get Upside is a rebate app, so users fill up their gas tank, paying with their credit or debit card, and then upload the receipt to the app in order to earn cash-back.Join a gas loyalty programIf you find yourself visiting a specific gas station chain frequently, you might want to join a gas loyalty program to earn rewards on your regular fill-ups. Companies like BP, Shell and ExxonMobil all offer their own rewards programs.BPme by BP is free to join and users get $0.05 off of every gallon of gas they purchase from a BP gas station within the first month of membership. Afterwards if users spend a minimum of $100 a month at BP they’ll continue to receive $0.05 off per gallon. Users can then redeem their points for things like gift cards, bottles of wine or theme park attractions.ExxonMobil Rewards+ is also free to join. Users receive $0.03 back for every gallon of gas they purchase at ExxonMobil gas stations and are then able to redeem their points for future gas purchases at ExxonMobil gas stations.Don’t use premium gasIf you’ve been opting for premium gasoline over regular gas even though your car doesn’t technically need it, you may be needlessly spending extra money. Premium gas has a higher octane level than regular gas.Your car’s manual should specify whether your car requires premium gas or whether it’s optional. If you’re using lower octane gas on a car that requires premium gas, the car’s engine may function more poorly than if you had used higher octane gas. However, if your car doesn’t require premium gas, you likely won’t get any added benefits.”The noticeable difference [between premium and regular gas] is the price. If regular gas is recommended for your vehicle, that’s all you need. Opting for premium [gas] when your car doesn’t require it will only cost you money and doesn’t improve fuel economy,” says Andrew Gross, Public Relations Manager at AAA.Don’t drive too fast or be an aggressive driverWhen you’re driving on the highway you might consider slowing down, as driving above 50 mph may reduce fuel efficiency. According to a 2013 U.S. government study, you can assume that for every 5 mph you drive above 50 mph, you’re paying an extra $0.30 per gallon of gas than you would if you were driving at 50 mph. Of course while driving at slower speeds can save you money, it may increase the length of your trip so consider how much longer you’ll spend driving if you’re cruising at 50 mph versus the speed limit on the highway. Additionally, speeding up quickly and braking suddenly can reduce fuel efficiency. Using cruise control can help improve fuel efficiency.”The harder your engine works, the more gas it’s going to take. Rapid acceleration and high-speed driving make your engine work harder, and therefore, it sucks up more gasoline,” says Jack Gillis, executive director of the Consumer Federation of America.Bottom lineWhile it’s unclear how long high gas prices will stick around but getting a gas rewards credit card, enrolling in a gas loyalty program, hunting down cheap gas and making tweaks to how you drive could all help you save dollars when filling up your tank.Catch up on Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card, click here.Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party. .

مارس 9, 2022

Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card Review: Rewards, Fees and More

RewardsEarn unlimited three miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases and one mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus60,000 bonus miles after you make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening.
Annual fee
Intro APR
Regular APR
Balance transfer fee3% of each transaction (minimum $10)
Foreign transaction fees
Credit needed

Welcome bonusThe welcome bonus for the Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card is simple: you can earn 60,000 Alaska bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in the first 90 days of card membership.And if you’re able to meet the spending requirement, you’ll have a minimum of 63,000 miles in your account to get started. So at a modest one cent per point value, that is $630 in value right away. However, many people value Alaska miles much higher than 1 cent apiece, so it’s possible to get significantly more value than $630 depending on how you use your miles.And what’s more is that you’ll also receive an Alaska Companion Fare™, which is a buy-one-get-one ticket for an Alaska Airlines flight. You’ll receive this each year after paying your $75 annual fee. And when you redeem your pass, you’ll only need to pay $99 for the companion’s fare plus taxes and fees.Benefits and perksWhile there are other airline credit cards available that may offer more benefits, the Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card is concise in its value with its great welcome bonus and solid benefits for Alaska flyers. The card offers the following benefits:

Free checked bag on Alaska Airlines for you and up to six guests on the same reservation
20% back on all Alaska Airlines inflight purchases
50% off day passes at the Alaska Lounge when you pay with your card
Receive an Alaska Companion Fare every year
$0 liability protection
No foreign transaction fees

While the card isn’t packed with a ton of benefits, the value in the ones included are solid. For example, the free checked bag benefit on one round-trip will save you $60 — almost covering the entire annual fee for the card. And if you travel internationally, you won’t be charged a pesky 3% foreign transaction fee on purchases made outside the U.S. And if you desire to visit an Alaska lounge before your flight, your entry is sliced in half from $60 to $30 when you pay with the card.So in short, the card’s annual fee can be justified quickly just by using the benefits it offers.Earning miles for spendingAs you spend on the card, you’ll earn:

3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases
1 mile for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases

This makes the card simple enough for consumers to know that all non-Alaska purchases will earn 1 mile per dollar, whereas some cards have multiple spending categories.Select calculated how many points the average American can earn in a year when using their Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card. We worked with the location intelligence firm Esri, who provided us with a sample annual spending budget of $22,126.The budget includes six main categories: groceries ($5,174), gas ($2,218), dining out ($3,675), travel ($2,244), utilities ($4,862) and general purchases ($3,953). Here’s what the average consumer would earn using this card:

Groceries: 5,174 Alaska Airlines miles
Gas: 2,218 Alaska Airlines miles
Dining out: 3,675 Alaska Airlines miles
Travel: 6,732 Alaska Airlines miles (Assuming all travel dollars are spent with Alaska Airlines).
Utilities: 4,862 Alaska Airlines miles
General purchases: 3,953 Alaska Airlines miles

With all spending considered, this would net 26,614 Alaska Airlines miles in the first year of card membership, and if you include the 60,000-point welcome bonus, this would yield 86,614 Alaska Airlines miles in just the first year. Over a five-year period, cardholders could potentially earn 193,070 Alaska miles — although the total amount will depend on an individual’s annual spending habits.How to earn and redeem Alaska Airlines milesEarning Alaska Airlines milesThere are two obvious ways to earn Alaska Airlines miles: spend on the Alaska Airlines card as well as fly on the airline.However, there are a few more ways you can earn Alaska miles.First, you can fly with one of their many airline partners, including domestic partners like American Airlines. When you book your flight, be sure to have your miles credited to your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plant loyalty account.You can also transfer points from other loyalty programs into your Alaska Airlines account, such as Marriott Bonvoy points at a 3:1 ratio. In addition, you can earn an additional 5,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred.Finally you can earn miles when shopping with select retailers through the Alaska shopping portal, making hotel bookings with Alaska hotel partners and dining with restaurants that are apart of Mileage Plan dining.Redeeming Alaska Airlines milesOnce you’ve earned the miles you need for a free flight, the exciting part is redeeming them for a (nearly) free flight.To redeem your Alaska Airlines miles, visit the Alaska Airlines website and log in to your loyalty account. And then start searching for your preferred itinerary, but be sure to select “use miles”.Additionally, if you’re earning transferable credit cards rewards such as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points or American Express Membership Rewards® points, you can transfer your miles to any Oneworld partner, like British Airways, and redeem them for a flight on Alaska Airlines.However, the best part of redeeming Alaska miles is you can roughly estimate how much your flight will cost using their award chart. This is rare for domestic airlines as many have shifted to dynamic pricing, which means each flight and seat can cost a different amount based on their supply and demand.So for example, if you want to book a flight from Los Angeles to Miami in economy, it will cost between 12,500 and 50,000 miles each way. While the range of miles needed is large, it’s still helpful to know how far your miles can take you.You can get great value when redeeming Alaska Airlines miles for international business and first class flights. For example, you can book a one-way ticket from the U.S. to Asia in first class on Japan Airlines or Cathay Pacific for 70,000 Alaska miles. That flight can easily cost upwards of $7,000 when paid for in cash.Rates and feesCard comparisonThe Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card is a great airline credit card for Alaska flyers. It’s a concise card as it offers a valuable welcome bonus, great spending categories and a modest annual fee. But how does it match up against other similar cards?Select analyzed two other travel credit cards to see how they match up against the Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card.Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express CardThe Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is another great airline card that earns Delta SkyMiles when its used for purchases. With the card, you’ll earn:

2X miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases, U.S. supermarket purchases and restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
1X mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases

Additionally, you can earn a solid welcome offer bonus of: 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months. Offer ends 4/13/2022. Terms apply.The card also comes with helpful benefits for your travels, including: first checked bag free, a $100 Delta travel credit when you spend $10,000 or more in a calendar year, *rental car insurance and 20% off in-flight purchases.The card has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99 after that. (See rates and fees)If you’re deciding between these two cards, it really comes down to your home airport, preferred airline and where you’re traveling to. If you live on or near the West Coast, the Alaska Airlines card may be a better fit as Alaska Airlines hubs are all located along the left side of the country. If you live in Atlanta or along the east coast, or travel internationally regularly, the Delta Gold card may suit your needs a bit better.Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card vs. United℠ Explorer CardThe United℠ Explorer Card is another great pick for an airline credit card as it earns United miles on all eligible purchases for a low annual fee.As you spend on the card, you’ll earn:

2X miles per dollar spent on dining, hotel stays when booked with the hotel and United® purchases
1X mile per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases

And when you’re approved for the card, you’ll be able to earn the welcome bonus, which is: 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. these 50,000 miles can be redeemed on United and its airline alliance partners.The card comes with great perks, including: two United Club one-time passes per year, free first checked bag, a $100 credit to enroll in TSA PreCheck/Global Entry and 25% back on United in-flight purchases.The card has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, and then $95 thereafter.Similar to the matchup above, the difference between the two cards comes down to where you live and your flight preferences. If you primarily travel up and down the West Coast, the Alaska Airlines card may be the better card. If you like to travel internationally and live in either the middle or East Coast of the U.S., the United card could be the better option.Who the Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card is best forThe Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card is a solid choice for anyone who lives on the West Coast, flies at least occasionally with the airline and wants a simple card without a long list of features or spending categories to track. So if you appreciate simplicity while earning valuable airline miles, this card is a great pick.Additionally, the card is great for someone who enjoys traveling with someone else as it comes with an annual Companion Fare — which is essentially a buy-one-get-one ticket. When you use the Companion Fare, your travel partner will travel for just $121. So if you have an expensive flight coming up you’d like to take with someone, this benefit can be a big money saver.Lastly, if you have plans to travel internationally, Alaska Airlines has a great award chart for international travel (especially in premium cabins). So if you want the flexibility of earning miles that can be redeemed on other airlines (including American), this card could be a good fit.Bottom lineCatch up on Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, click here.*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/ benefitsguide for more details. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party. .

فوریه 23, 2022

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card Review

RewardsEarn 3X points on Southwest® purchases, 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonusEarn Companion Pass® through 2/28/23 plus 30,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
Annual fee
Intro APR
Regular APR15.99% to 22.99% variable
Balance transfer fee
Foreign transaction fees
Credit needed

Pros

Southwest upgraded boarding on up to 4 tickets per year
7,500 bonus points on each account anniversary
$75 Southwest annual travel credit
4 upgraded boardings per year when available

Cons

$149 annual fee
No special financing offers

Estimated points earned after 1 year: 52,672
Estimated points earned after 5 years: 196,030

Rewards totals incorporate the miles earned from the welcome bonusWelcome bonusThe welcome bonus for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is a bit different than a simple chunk of airline miles. After signing up for the card you can earn the Southwest Companion Pass® through Feb. 28, 2023, plus 30,000 Rapid Rewards points by spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.This welcome bonus is great: not only will you have the highly-regarded Companion Pass but you’ll also earn a minimum of 35,000 Southwest points to use on a flight of your choosing. The Companion Pass allows you to bring along anyone of your choosing onto a Southwest flight for free, all you have to do is pay taxes and fees for your companion’s ticket (usually just $5.60 for a one-way domestic flight within the U.S.). Plus, as long as it’s active, there’s no limit on how many times you can use the Southwest Companion Pass.Keep in mind that this bonus isn’t available to everyone. You can’t currently have a personal Southwest credit card and also must not have received a welcome bonus for a personal Southwest credit card in the last 24 months.Benefits and perksThe Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card offers cardholders access to the following benefits:

7,500 bonus points for each account anniversary
$75 Southwest travel credit per year
Four upgraded boardings per year
25% back on inflight purchases
You can earn 1,500 tier qualifying points towards Southwest A-List elite status for every $10,000 spent, with no limit on the amount of elite points you can earn.
DoorDash benefits
No foreign transaction fees when you use the card abroad

All points earned with the card count toward the highly-coveted Southwest Companion Pass®, which allows one person to fly with you for free (except for taxes and fees) when you buy or redeem points for flights after reaching the threshold of 125,000 qualifying points or 100 qualifying one-way Southwest flights in a calendar yearEarning miles for spendingWhen you spend on the card, you’ll earn:

3X Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent on purchases with Southwest Airlines
2X Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
2X Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare services
2X Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent on internet, cable, phone and select streaming services
1X Rapid Rewards point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases

Other benefitsSouthwest Airlines is a favorite airline for many as you get to enjoy two free checked bags per person and no change fees on tickets. And all of the points you earn through flying or spending on a Southwest credit card will never expire.And when you hold the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, you’ll also receive these benefits at no charge:

Complimentary travel accident insurance and emergency assistance, reimbursement for lost luggage, auto rental collision damage waivers for car rentals, roadside dispatch service, purchase and extended warranty protection and baggage delay insurance
DoorDash benefits, including $0 delivery fees on restaurant orders above $12 (or groceries over $25), reduced service fees and $10 off your next order when you use the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card after you activate your complimentary year of membership by Dec. 31, 2024.

Select calculated how many points the average American can earn in a year when using their Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card. We worked with the location intelligence firm Esri, who provided us with a sample annual spending budget of $22,126.The budget includes six main categories: groceries ($5,174), gas ($2,218), dining out ($3,675), travel ($2,244), utilities ($4,862) and general purchases ($3,953). Here’s what the average consumer would earn using this card:

Groceries: 5,174 Southwest Rapid Rewards points
Gas: 2,218 Southwest Rapid Rewards points
Dining out: 3,675 Southwest Rapid Rewards points
Travel: 6,732 Southwest Rapid Rewards points (Assuming all travel dollars are spent with Southwest Airlines).
Utilities: 4,862 Southwest Rapid Rewards points
General purchases: 3,953 Southwest Rapid Rewards points

With all spending considered, this would give a cardholder 26,614 Southwest Rapid Rewards points in the first year, and if you include the 30,000-point welcome bonus, this would yield 56,614 Rapid Rewards points. Over a five year period, cardholders could potentially earn 133,070 Southwest Rapid Rewards points — although the total amount will depend on an individual’s annual spending habits.How to earn and redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards milesEarning Southwest Rapid Rewards pointsEarning Southwest points is simple: either spend on one of the Southwest credit cards or fly with the airline.However, it’s difficult to earn heaps of points since you can only earn one welcome bonus every two years with a personal co-branded Southwest credit card. And unless you fly multiple times per month with Southwest, earning hundreds of thousands of points may not be realistic through these avenues.If you want to earn large amounts of points, consider earning rewards through credit cards with transferable rewards. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which can be transferred directly to Southwest Rapid Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. These cards are some of the best travel credit cards because you have the flexibility to redeem your rewards in a variety of ways, including transferring them to Southwest.If you’re thinking of adding a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card to your wallet but aren’t sure if the Southwest Priority card is right for you, consider another one of the airline’s co-branded personal or business credit cards:PersonalBusinessRedeeming Southwest Rapid Rewards pointsOnce you earn enough points for a free flight, then comes the fun part of booking award travel.And while some airlines make it difficult to use their rewards programs, Southwest has a straightforward redemption process. To use your miles, simply log into your Southwest Rapid Rewards account and when you search for a flight, click “points” rather than “dollars”. Southwest points have a fixed value of around 1.3 to 1.4 cents apiece and prices for award flights are dependent on the current cash price of the ticket. So if a flight costs $100 you can expect to pay 6,000 to 7,000 points for that flight.As you search for flights, you’ll notice that you fill have to pay taxes and fees, depending on where you fly. If you’re flying within the United States, you will pay $5.60 for each one-way flight. International fees will vary.And you don’t need to pay your taxes and fees with a Southwest credit card credit card, so feel free to use another card that you prefer.Rates and feesCard comparisonWhile the Southwest Priority credit card is a solid pick for Southwest flyers, how does it fare other value-packed rewards credit cards?Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card vs. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardThe Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great travel credit card as it earns a consistent 2X miles per dollar spent on all eligible purchases. And it has benefits including a valuable 60,000 bonus miles welcome offer once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.You’ll also receive up to $100 statement credit for your application fee for either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry every four years.So if you’re deciding between the two cards, it comes down to a few factors:

Do you only fly Southwest? If so, the Southwest card may be the better option.
Do you prefer having spending categories or earning a flat-rate on all purchases? The Venture card has a flat-rate on all purchases, while the Southwest Card has different earnings for various category purchases.
Do you value transferable rewards more, or the Companion Pass?

Based on these questions, you should quickly know which one of the two is a better fit for you. But at a high level, if you travel with a companion regularly and mainly travel domestically, the Southwest card will likely be the better fit. If you travel on various airlines and prefer to go outside the U.S., the Capital One Venture card would probably be the better choice of the two.Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card vs. Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is a great choice for someone who enjoys flying internationally, and possibly lives near an American Airlines hub airport like Miami, Phoenix or Los Angeles.With this card, you’ll earn 2X miles for every $1 spent at restaurants, gas stations and on eligible American Airlines purchases. All other eligible purchases will earn 1X mile per dollar spent.The welcome offer packs a punch as you can earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage^® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first three months of account opening. In addition, there are no foreign transaction fees and a waived annual fee the first year ($99 after that).When you’re comparing the two cards, it simply comes down to which airline loyalty program will serve your needs and if you value Southwest’s Companion Pass benefit. The American Airlines loyalty program is part of the Oneworld airline alliance, which has 14 total airlines that partner to serve one another’s customers. This means you can use American miles to fly around the world on over a dozen different airlines.While Southwest isn’t part of an airline alliance, the card comes with an extremely valuable automatic benefit in the Companion Pass, giving you the ability to travel with someone for free, less taxes and fees.Who the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is best forThe Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is a solid airline credit card and designed for consumers who fly regularly with Southwest. And with the new welcome offer the card is targeted towards those flying with a companion.But if you aren’t flying regularly with a companion to make the welcome offer ‘worth’ it, you may be better off selecting another card or waiting for a welcome bonus that is solely Southwest points.The card has a hefty $149 annual fee but does offer ample benefits to Southwest flyers that can help offset the cost. For instance, just the annual $75 Southwest credit and anniversary 7,500 Southwest points alone can be worth more than $150. Plus, you’ll get four Upgraded Boardings every year and 25% back on Southwest inflight purchases. These perks are geared toward Southwest flyers but if you can use them, which shouldn’t be too hard if you fly Southwest a handful of times per year, then you’ll likely enjoy having the Southwest Priority card in your wallet.Bottom lineThe Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is a great choice for someone who flies Southwest often.The recently refreshed welcome bonus which includes the Companion Pass, as well as the benefits of earning Southwest Rapid Rewards points on all eligible purchases, a $75 Southwest annual credit and multiple Upgraded Boardings each year make the card worth considering. And now that the Companion Pass is obtainable by spending $5,000 in the first three months of card membership, it’s a great fit for someone who travels with a partner or friend often.However, even though welcome offer is extremely appealing for avid travelers, it can be tempting to hastily spend the $5,000 needed to earn it. But as always, its never advised to apply for a credit card when you’re not in a solid financial situation. But as long as you follow your budget carefully and continue to invest for the future, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is worth considering for any avid Southwest flyer.Catch up on Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.Information about the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party. .

فوریه 20, 2022

Find Airfare Bargains Around the World

Select’s editorial team works independently to review financial products and write articles we think our readers will find useful. We may receive a commission when you click on links for products from our affiliate partners.Scott’s Cheap Flights just celebrated its 6th birthday. In those 6 years, plenty of other email-based flight deal subscription services have popped up to try to replicate Scott’s success. But, for many travelers, Scott’s Cheap Flights is still king of the flight deals.Let’s dig into the three subscription tiers and review what we like about Scott’s Cheap Flights — and what can be improved.What is Scott’s Cheap Flights?Scott’s Cheap Flights is an email subscription service that sends out flight deals for international and domestic (U.S.) destinations. It has free and paid options, and the service claims that most of the deals it sends out are 40% to 90% off average prices.Scott’s Cheap Flights free serviceScott’s Cheap Flights operates on a “freemium” model. That means you can sign up to receive flight deal emails for completely free as a “Limited” member. If you like what you’re seeing, you can upgrade to the Premium version to get more deals and faster notifications.Free subscribers get limited international economy deals from up to 5 origin airports. For infrequent travelers, this may be all you need. You’ll get a heads up about great deals, such as a recent alert of $462 round-trip flights from airports across the U.S. to Athens, Greece:Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwardsHowever, flight deals are delayed by about 30 minutes from when Premium subscribers receive the deal. Also, you won’t get emails about domestic deals, error fares or premium cabin deals. But, it’s a free service, so it’s hard to complain about these limitations.The emails include instructions on how to book the flight deals, including what travel dates and airlines are available and what platform to book the flight through (either directly with the airline or through an online travel agency like Expedia).Scott’s Cheap Flights “Bestie Test”With the proliferation of low-cost carriers like Spirit Airlines and Ryanair, it isn’t hard to find cheap flights. However, not all airlines and itineraries are created equal. One of my favorite aspects of Scott’s Cheap Flights is “The Bestie Test,” where the service will only send out a deal it would recommend to its best friend.That means a cheap airfare isn’t enough. The itinerary needs to have a good routing that minimizes your travel time, so either a nonstop flight or one with a reasonable connection time. Plus, the deal needs to be on an airline that’s not considered a low-cost carrier and not for last-minute travel.Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwardsHow to sign up for Scott’s Cheap FlightsHere’s how to sign-up for Scott’s Cheap Flights:

Go to Scott’s Cheap Flights
Sign up either by entering your email address, first name and a password, or by connecting your Google account
After an intro to Scott’s Cheap Flights, you’ll be prompted to set your home airport
Next, enter up to 6 destinations that you’d like to visit
Finally, you’ll get the chance to enter up to 4 additional airports from which you also want to get flight deals. These can be nearby airports or airports you don’t mind flying to for a great deal.

Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwardsThe last prompt is about what types of deals you want to see. If you’re just hoping to test out the free version, select “economy class deals” and click next.However, if you want better deals — like premium cabin deals, mistake fares or weekend getaways — you’ll need to upgrade to either a Premium or Elite membership. If you want to see if these paid subscriptions are worth the cost, you have the option to test drive either service for free for 14 days:Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwardsIs it worth it to upgrade to Scott’s Cheap Flights Premium?If you’re a semi-frequent flyer, it’s probably worth upgrading to Scott’s Cheap Flights Premium. For $49 per year, the subscription unlocks:

All economy deals (international and domestic) for up to 10 origin airports
Mistake fares from your chosen airports
Weekend Getaway ideas
Bucket-list deals, such as deals to the Galapagos Islands, Cuzco (for Machu Picchu), Buffalo (for Niagara Falls) and Munich (during Oktoberfest)

Plus, becoming a paid subscriber helps support the Scott’s Cheap Flights team to search for and find flight deals. I’ve been a Scott’s Cheap Flights Premium subscriber since May 2016 — back when Scott’s emails were a bit more simple:Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwardsEach time my subscription comes up for renewal, it’s been an easy decision to continue to pay for another year of Premium deals. Scott’s error fares have helped me book absolutely incredible deals, including:

Atlanta to Santiago, Chile for $62 round-trip nonstop on Delta
Miami to Barcelona, Spain, in business class, for $264 round-trip (this mistake fare was cancelled by the airline before I could fly)
Miami to Tokyo for $312 round-trip, one-stop on American Airlines
New York to Singapore, then to New Delhi, then back to New York for $364 round-trip
Los Angeles to Nani, Fiji for $395 round-trip nonstop on Fiji Airways

These are just the best deals I’ve booked over the years. Depending on how many origin airports you select, you can expect to receive multiple flight deals each day — from domestic destinations to trips around the world.The only question is if getting premium deals like these is worth $49 of your travel budget. And that’s going to be a personal decision.For many, the amount of money they save on flights from just one deal could easily pay for the subscription itself.New Scott’s Cheap Flights Elite serviceIn June 2021, Scott’s Cheap Flights unveiled an even more premium membership level called Elite that costs $199 per year. In addition to all of the Premium perks, Elite members get mistake fares from all airports and premium cabin deals (premium economy, business class and first class).Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwardsTo see if it’s worth the cost, I have taken the Elite service for a test drive for the past few weeks (I received a complimentary preview of the Elite membership from Scott’s Cheap Flights). In just a few weeks, I’ve been alerted to premium cabin deals such as:

Premium economy to Istanbul for $983 round-trip
Premium economy to Kenya for $1,248 round-trip
Business class to Patagonia for $1,535 round-trip
Business class to Seychelles for $2,595 round-trip
First class to Geneva for $3,167 round-trip

While I find the Premium subscription price easily worth its cost, I’m not convinced quite yet if Elite is worth $199 per year to me. With that said, I primarily book economy tickets. For those looking for a really special getaway — or looking for the increased elite earnings of premium cabins — the $199/year price may be a worthwhile investment for curated premium deals.Potential improvements to Scott’s Cheap FlightsScott’s Cheap Flights generally does a pretty good job of filtering down to just the information you need to know in the deal alert emails. However, some deal alerts may have misleading information. Take for instance this recent deal alert to Austin (AUS):Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwardsAs Atlanta is my home airport, Scott’s Cheap Flights only shows this one route and even indicates that the deal is available nonstop. But, of the airlines listed, only Southwest has a nonstop option.Also, Delta isn’t listed but also had flights pricing out at $117 roundtrip nonstop — although these Delta fares may have been added after Scott’s Cheap Flights sent out this deal alert.Best credit card for Scott’s Cheap FlightsWhich credit card to use for Scott’s Cheap Flights subscriptionsAlthough it’s a travel-related service, unfortunately, Scott’s Cheap Flights subscriptions don’t code as travel purchases. So, you won’t get bonuses for using travel-focused credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve.So, if you’re working toward a sign-up bonus on a new credit card, it’s best to use that card to pay for your subscription. Otherwise, you’ll want to use an everyday spending credit card:Best cards to take advantage of Scott’s Cheap Flights dealsHowever, when it comes to booking a flight deal, you have plenty of ways to earn bonus points. Chase offers an industry-leading 5X points per dollar on airfare booked through its Ultimate Rewards® portal on four of its cards — including two no-annual-fee cards:Plus, by booking through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® travel portal, you can apply Ultimate Rewards® points to your booking. That can turn a cheap flight into a completely free flight. For example, Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders can apply 20,000 Ultimate Rewards® points to book a $300 round-trip flight for nothing out-of-pocket.The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is currently offering a welcome bonus where you’ll earn 60,000 Ultimate Rewards® points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening. Those 60,000 points are worth $750 towards travel booked through the Chase Travel portal. Meaning, you could book two $300 round-trip flights with the welcome bonus alone.Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Rewards$50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3X points on dining, 2X points on all other travel purchases, 5X points on Lyft rides through March 2022, and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonusEarn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Annual fee
Intro APR
Regular APR15.99% to 22.99% variable on purchases and balance transfers
Balance transfer feeEither $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fee
Credit needed

However, sometimes flight deals aren’t available through the travel portal. So, if you’re booking directly with the airline, your best options are:Bottom lineScott’s Cheap Flights has alerted me to many airfare deals that have saved me thousands of dollars over the years. If you’re looking to be alerted about cheap airfares, it’s strongly worth considering. Fortunately, you can sign-up for the free service to test it out and then upgrade to the paid version if you want the extra benefits.Information about the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the cards prior to publication.Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party. .