Capital One’s Premier Collection Offers Luxury Hotel Perks

Capital One’s Premier Collection Offers Luxury Hotel Perks

Capital One made waves in the premium credit card space with the introduction of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and is working hard to keep the momentum going.One year after its launch, the Capital One Travel portal is adding a new feature, specifically for premium cardholders: the Premier Collection. Rivaling similar programs offered by American Express and Chase, the Premier Collection will offer cardholders an elevated experience and money-saving perks when staying at luxury hotels and resorts. Capital One says that its goal is ultimately to provide cardholders with a more authentic, local experience when traveling.Below, Select details everything that you need to know about Capital One’s Premier Collection and who will have access to this feature.Subscribe to the Select Newsletter!Our best selections in your inbox. Shopping recommendations that help upgrade your life, delivered weekly. Sign-up here.Capital One Travel Premier CollectionThe Premier Collection will provide premium Capital One cardholders a suite of exclusive, elite-like benefits when staying at hundreds of luxury hotels around the globe from brands like Small Luxury Hotels, The Leading Hotels of the World, Six Senses, 1 Hotels, Montage Hotels and Resorts and Proper Hotels.Some participating properties include The Ned NoMad in New York City, the Montage Laguna Beach in California, the 1 Hotel South Beach in Florida, the La Réserve Paris Hotel and Spa in Paris and more.BenefitsCustomers will enjoy the following benefits when booking through the Premier Collection:

  • A $100 USD experience credit (or the local equivalent) to use on dining, spa, and other activities during their stay
  • Daily breakfast for two
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Additional premium benefits when available, including early check-in, late checkout and a room upgrade

EligibilityWhile no exact date has been announced, the Premier Collection is set to launch in 2022 and will be accessible through the Capital One Travel portal.It will be available exclusively to those with the premium Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Spark Travel Elite, which is a business credit card currently only available through Capital One Relationship Managers. Authorized users will also have access.Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardInformation about the Capital One Venture X 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.

  • Rewards10X miles on hotels and rental cars, 5X miles on flights when booked via Capital One Travel; unlimited 2X miles on all other eligible purchases
  • Welcome bonusEarn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR19.99% – 26.99% variable APR
  • Balance transfer fee3% for promotional APR offers; none for balances transferred at regular APR
  • Foreign transaction fees
  • Credit needed

PricingPremier Collection room rates should be in line with the best publicly available rate. Capital One told Select that if a customer finds a better price for the same hotel within 24 hours of booking, it will refund the difference per its Price Match Guarantee terms and conditions. There’s also no minimum stay requirement so customers can still enjoy the $100 property credit and other perks on one-night stays.As with other Capital One Travel hotel bookings, Venture X cardholders will earn a generous 10X miles on Premier Collection bookings and can choose to either redeem their miles or up to $300 annual Capital One Travel credit toward their stays. Better yet, Capital One has confirmed that Premier Collection benefits can be stacked with hotel loyalty program benefits, meaning you can still earn hotel points and get elite benefits, when applicable.Alternatives to the Premier CollectionCapital One is going head-to-head with American Express and Chase with the launch of the Premier Collection. Both of the other issuers already offer similar programs which offer extra benefits when booking luxury hotels.Premium American Express cardholders, such as those who carry The Platinum Card® from American Express, have access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts program, which offers the following benefits, based on availability:

  • Daily breakfast for two
  • Complimentary room upgrades and Wi-Fi
  • 12 p.m. check-in and guaranteed 4 p.m. late check-out
  • A $100 credit to use toward on-property activities, dining or other perks like airport transfers, depending on your hotel

The Platinum Card® from American ExpressOn the American Express secure site

  • RewardsEarn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, 1X points on all other eligible purchases
  • Welcome bonusEarn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 within 6 months of card membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit Needed

Meanwhile, those with higher-end Chase cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, receive special benefits through The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, such as:

  • Daily breakfast for two
  • Complimentary room upgrades and Wi-Fi
  • Early check-in and late check-out
  • A special benefit worth up to $100

The main difference is that both of these cards carry significantly higher annual fees than the Venture X.Chase Sapphire Reserve®

  • RewardsEarn 5X total points on air travel and 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3X points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases plus, 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025
  • 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 APR
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit needed

Bottom lineCapital One continues to add value to its travel credit card lineup. In the past year, the issuer has launched a new travel portal, opened its first airport lounge and rolled out exclusive dining and entertainment platforms. It also just announced Capital One Landing, a culinary-focused alternative to the traditional airport lounge.The addition of the Premier Collection makes the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card even more compelling and its $395 annual fee easier to justify. Between the money-saving benefits available through the travel portal, airport lounge access, and now hotel perks, cardholders can expect a smoother travel experience from booking to check-out.If you don’t already have a Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and want to sign up, you can currently earn a large welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.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 Platinum Card® from American Express, 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. .

3 Marriott Credit Cards Offering Free Nights, up to 100,000 Points

3 Marriott Credit Cards Offering Free Nights, up to 100,000 Points

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.Marriott’s new credit card welcome bonusesHotel co-branded rewards cards provide an easy way for any type of traveler to earn points to use for free stays. Whether you’re a road warrior for work or you only plan to stay somewhere twice a year, the welcome bonuses from these three cards can help save you hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars in hotel costs. And with Marriott Bonvoy’s robust portfolio of more than 7,000 hotels spanning 30 brands across 131 countries, you’ll be hard-pressed to find somewhere without a location to cash in your hotel rewards.Here’s a look at the welcome bonuses and unique benefits of each Marriott Bonvoy credit card:Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit CardThe Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is now offering the opportunity to earn three free nights after spending $3,000 within the first three months of card membership. Note that the three free nights represent a value of 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, with each night being redeemable for a stay of up to 50,000 points per night.Cardholders will also be able to earn the following by spending with the card:

  • Up to 17X points per dollar at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties—that’s 6X points per dollar for using your card, 10X points per dollar for bring a member of Marriott Bonvoy® and 1X points per dollar for your included Silver Elite Status
  • 3X points per dollar on the first $6,000 you spend each year in combined purchases on dining and at grocery stores and gas stations
  • 2X points per dollar on other purchases, travel-related or otherwise

Cardmembers will also earn one elite night credit for every $5,000 spent, as well as a free night certificate, worth up to 35,000 points, each year following your account anniversary. You’ll also score automatic Silver Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and be eligible to receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year.This card is a great fit for someone who travels a few times per year and doesn’t want to pay a hefty annual fee. There is a $95 annual fee, while other benefits include trip delay insurance, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage and trip delay reimbursement, purchase protection, complimentary Visa Concierge service, no foreign transaction fees and access to complimentary premium Wi-Fi at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties. Points also won’t expire if you keep your account active by making purchases every 24 months.Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

  • RewardsEarn 3X Bonvoy points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining; 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 spent; up to 17X total points for every $1 spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®, and 2X points for every $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Welcome bonusEarn 3 Free Nights (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR16.24% to 23.24% 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

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® CardThe Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a step up from the Boundless card in terms of benefits and features. After being approved, you’ll have the opportunity to earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and one Free Night Award, redeemable up to 85,000 points, after spending $5,000 in eligible purchases within the first three months of account opening.Cardholders will also be able to earn:

  • 6X points per dollar at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties
  • 3X points per dollar on dining, takeout and delivery at U.S. restaurants, as well as in-flight meals booked directly with the airline
  • 2X points per dollar for all other purchases

The card is loaded with travel benefits, including the following perks:

  • Automatic Gold Elite status and premium Wi-Fi access
  • A $300 Marriott Bonvoy statement credit each year of membership
  • 1 Free Night Award each year following your card renewal month, redeemable for a stay of up to 50,000 points
  • A $100 Marriott Bonvoy property credit to use toward qualifying charges when you book a stay of at least two night at participating St. Regis or Ritz-Carlton properties
  • 15 Elite Night Credits to use toward achieving your next level of elite status
  • Priority Pass Select membership, allowing access to more than 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries
  • A statement credit to use for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry enrollment
  • *Baggage, trip cancellation and interruption insurance; trip delay insurance; rental car loss and damage insurance; and access to the Premium Global Assist Hotline.

While this card does have a $450 annual fee (see rates and fees), if you fully take advantage of its many benefits and earn the welcome bonus responsibly, the perks can definitely outweigh the price.Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® CardOn the American Express secure site

  • Rewards6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program, 3X points at U.S. restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines, 2X points on all other eligible purchases
  • Welcome bonusEarn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points and 1 Free Night Award after you use your new card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months.
  • Annual Fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit needed

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit CardWhile the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card is the lowest-tier card on our list, it can still be valuable for those who don’t travel as frequently. The card is currently offering a welcome bonus of 30,000 Marriott Bonus points after you spend $1,000 within the first three months of account opening.Cardholders will be able to earn the following:

  • Up to 14X points per dollar at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels — that’s 3X points for using your card, 10X points for being a member of Marriott Bonvoy and 1X points per dollar for your included Silver Elite Status
  • 2X points per dollar on travel-related purchases
  • 1X point per dollar spent everywhere else

This card also gives you 15 Elite Night Credits per year, which will qualify you for Silver Elite Status. It also comes with many of the same travel and protection benefits as the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card, such as travel insurance, baggage delay insurance, trip delay and lost luggage reimbursement and no foreign transaction fees — all without an annual fee.Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

  • RewardsEarn up to 14X total points for every $1 spent at over 7,000 participating Marriott Bonvoy® hotels, 2X points on other travel purchases (from airfare to taxis and trains) and 1X point on all other purchases
  • Welcome bonusEarn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR16.24% to 23.24% 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

How to maximize Marriott Bonvoy pointsAs you start to rack up Marriott Bonvoy points, it’s important to keep a few things in mind to ensure you’re getting the biggest bang for your buck.Stretch the value of each Marriott Bonvoy pointDo your best to redeem your points for the highest cost per point available. Generally, Marriott Bonvoy points are worth roughly 0.8 cents per point, according to several travel rewards websites, so as you’re searching for hotels, keep the following formula in mind:(The cost of the hotel stay including taxes and fees) / (the number of points) = the cost per point.If you can get this value to 0.8 cents per point or above, it’s considered to be a worthwhile redemption.For example, in May 2022 you can use around 97,000 to 115,000 Marriott points per night to stay at the The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, a luxurious resort in the Maldives with overwater villas. However, cash prices during this same timeframe are anywhere from $1,700 to $4,000 per night. This would give you well over 1 cent per point in value and would make for a fantastic redemption.Redeem five nights for the price of fourKeep in mind that as you redeem your rewards, you can get one night free if you pay for a stay of at least five nights completely with Marriott Bonvoy points. For example, if a stay at your desired Marriott hotel goes for 20,000 points per night, a five-night stay will only end up costing you 80,000 points, giving you a 20% boost in the value of your points.Put those points to useRemember that all points and miles earned through airline, hotel and travel brands are susceptible to devaluation. This happens when the brand itself requires more points for the same booking, which results in your points suddenly becoming less valuable, and often without any notice. To fight back against this, it’s best to try and use your hard-earned points and miles regularly. Whether you’re taking a trip for yourself or booking a hotel room for a friend, it’s not wise to hold onto a large sum of points for a long period of time since their value could drop at any given time.Bottom lineThese three updated Marriott Bonvoy credit card welcome bonuses are among the most valuable available right now. Before you apply, it may be advantageous to check your credit score, as all of the cards mentioned above require at least a good credit score in order for you to be approved.Should you decide to apply, be sure you have a plan that lets you earn the welcome bonus responsibly. It’s never advised to make more purchases on a credit card just to earn a welcome bonus. If you need help earning one, consider talking to friends or family about making some purchases on their behalf and then getting reimbursed.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 Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® 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. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by thirdparty service providers. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. 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. .

How to maximize the Capital One Venture X 100,000-mile welcome bonus

How to maximize the Capital One Venture X 100,000-mile welcome bonus

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.If you’re in the market for a new premium travel rewards credit card that really packs a punch, look no further than the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, which is currently offering an impressive 100,000-Mile welcome bonus. That’s enough to cover $1,000 worth of travel when booking flights and hotels through one of its 17 transfer partners or through Capital One Travel. Earning Capital One Miles is easier than ever with the Capital One Venture X card. Not only can you pick up 100,000 Capital One Miles after spending $10,000 within the first six months of opening your account, you’ll earn 2X Miles on all purchases, plus 5X Miles on flight and 10X Miles on hotels and cars booked through Capital One Travel. Cardholders also receive an annual up to $300 travel credit, 10,000 bonus Miles on each account anniversary, a $100 statement credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years and the chance to visit more than 1,300 Priority Pass and Capital One Lounges worldwide.While the $395 annual fee may seem intimidating, remember that you’ll get $300 back in travel credits when booking through Capital One Travel and for a limited time, an extra $200 back via statement credits when booking vacation rentals through Airbnb, VRBO, Vacasa, or TurnKey. The annual fee really does pay for itself if you use all your perks properly, making the Capital One Venture X a top-tier premium travel rewards credit card.Below, Select breaks down the best ways to maximize 100,000 Capital One Miles.Subscribe to the Select Newsletter!Our best selections in your inbox. Shopping recommendations that help upgrade your life, delivered weekly. Sign-up here.Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

  • Rewards10X miles on hotels and rental cars, 5X miles on flights when booked via Capital One Travel; unlimited 2X miles on all other eligible purchases
  • Welcome bonus100,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 on purchases within the first six months of account opening
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR16.99-23.99% variable APR
  • Balance transfer feeEither $10 or 4% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
  • Foreign transaction fees
  • Credit needed

Transfer Capital One Miles to airline partnersCapital One Rewards is connected to 14 airline partner rewards programs, which extends your redemption options across all three airline alliances: Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam. Nearly all of them transfer at a 1:1 ratio — EVA Air converts at a 2:1.5 ratio — so you’ll be getting the best value by booking flights through the following carriers and their alliance partners:

  • Aeromexico (Club Premier)
  • Air Canada (Aeroplan)
  • Air France KLM (Flying Blue)
  • Avianca (LifeMiles)
  • British Airways (Avios)
  • Cathay Pacific (Asia Miles)
  • Emirates (Emirates Skywards)
  • Etihad (Etihad Guest)
  • EVA Air (Infinity MileageLands) — transfer ratio is 2:1.5, not 1:1
  • Finnair (Finnair Plus)
  • Qantas (Qantas Frequent Flyer)
  • Singapore Airlines (KrisFlyer)
  • TAP Air Portugal (TAP Miles & Go)
  • Turkish Airlines (Miles & Smiles)

While there aren’t any domestic carriers listed as airline partners, that doesn’t mean it’s not impossible to fly them for free. Thanks to airline alliances, you can convert Capital One Miles to British Airways Avios, then use those to book domestic U.S. flights on American Airlines, its Oneworld alliance partner. You could also transfer Capital One Miles to Turkish Airlines or Avianca, then use those to book flights on Star Alliance partner United Airlines.Redeem Capital One Miles for free nights at hotelsCapital One Rewards has three hotel transfer partners — Choice Privileges, Wyndham Rewards, and Accor Live Limitless (AccorHotels) — letting cardholders cash in Capital One Miles for free nights at hotels worldwide.Capital One Miles can be transferred to Choice Privileges points at a 1:1 ratio, allowing you to book free nights at more than 7,000 properties in over 40 countries at brands including Quality, Comfort, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, MainStay Suites, Clarion, Clarion Pointe, and Surburban Extended Stay Hotel, Cambria Hotels and The Ascend Hotel Collection. Thanks to connections with Penn National Gaming, Inc., Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Nordic Choice Hotels, and AMResorts (all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and the Caribbean by brands like Dreams and Secrets) you can also redeem for stays at casino hotels and independent boutiques.Here’s an idea of what you can redeem through Choice Privileges for 100,000 Capital One Miles:

  • Four nights at the Comfort Inn Manhattan – Midtown West in New York City (25,000 points a night)
  • Five nights at Avenue Hotel, Ascend Hotel Collection, in Los Angeles (20,000 points a night)
  • Eight nights at Comfort Hotel Nation Pere Lachaise Paris 11 in France (12,000 points a night)

Wyndham Rewards also lets you transfer Capital One Miles at a 1:1 ratio, giving you access to free nights at over 9,000 hotels in more than 80 countries at brands including Wyndham, Wyndham Grand, Wyndham Garden, Registry Collection Hotels, AmericInn, Tryp, Dazzler, Esplendor, Wingate, Trademark Collection, Dolce Hotels and Resorts, La Quinta Inn & Suites, Ramada, Baymont, Microtel, Days Inn, Super 8, Howard Johnson, Travelodge and Hawthorn Suites.With redemptions from 7,500, 15,000 or 30,000 Wyndham Rewards points per night, here’s what transferring 100,000 Capital One Miles could yield:

  • Three nights at Wyndham Grand Athens in Greece (30,000 points a night)
  • Six night at Ramada by Wyndham Queenstown Central in New Zealand (15,000 points a night)
  • 13 nights at Ramada by Wyndham Princess Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic (7,500 points a night)

Thanks to a nifty partnership with Vacasa, you can also redeem Capital One Miles for free nights at more than 15,000 hotels, vacation clubs and home rentals, while a separate connection allows for redemptions at Caesars Rewards casino hotels around the U.S. Wyndham Rewards is also linked with Margarita Vacation Club, Club Wyndham, Cottages.com, Shell Vacations Club, Worldmark and Landal Greenparks so you can opt to redeem for vacation rental brands around the world.Another hotel transfer partner of Capital One is ALL Accor Live Limitless, which offers hotel redemption options at a ratio of 2:1 and works a little differently from the last two programs. For starters, you’ll need to have at least 2,000 ALL Rewards in your account, which means you’d need to transfer over 4,000 Capital One Miles, and redeem them in increments of 2,000 ALL Rewards points — 2,000 points gets you 40 euros (about $45) off your stay, while 4,000 translates to 80 euros (about $90) and so forth. While you likely won’t get the best value for your points this way, the ALL Accor Live Limitless program can still be beneficial depending on your travel plans and style, as award options through it include more than 5,100 hotels in over 100 countries at brands like Fairmont, Raffles, Faena, Delano, Sofitel, SLS, Museum Hotel, Mondrian, Pullman, Swissôtel, Mövenpick, Mantra, Novotel and Ibis, among others. While there are just 100 hotels in North America, Accor brands are seemingly omnipresent throughout Europe, Asia and Oceania, so this is still a valuable points-transfer option.Book flights, hotels and car rentals through Capital One TravelIf you enjoy having the flexibility to book flights, hotels, and rental cars without having to worry about award availability or blackout dates, consider making your reservations through Capital One Travel, a new travel portal that offers added benefits like cancel-for-any-reason travel insurance (for a small fee), a freeze-your-price feature that helps you lock in lower rates, price drop protection (if you find a lower price, Capital One will refund you the difference), and a nifty price match guarantee (if you happen to find a better price within 24 hours of booking, you could get a refund). While this also allows you to book travel at a fixed redemption rate of 1 cent per mile, it’s always worth comparing redemption rates — in other words, seeing how many points and miles are needed for an award redemption directly through the carrier or hotel versus booking through the Capital One travel portal.Depending on your points and miles status goals, you may also want to consider booking travel directly to maintain elite status or double-dipping by reserving tickets or rooms through another third-party website, then simply “erasing” the travel purchase (more on that below).Use Capital One Miles to “erase” recent travel purchasesOne of the most valuable perks of the Capital One Venture X card is the ability to “erase” or redeem Capital One Miles to cover travel purchases made within the last 90 days. Simply use the card to book fights, hotels, car rentals or make other travel-related expenses (like Uber rides or Airbnb stays) then click on “Redeem Travel Purchases” to select which ones you’d like to cover or put your Capital One Miles toward — partial credit is fine, too, as long as you redeem more than 2,500 Miles.Capital One Miles are worth 1 cent per mile when choosing this redemption option, meaning 100,000 miles could erase $1,000 in travel purchases.Redeem miles for gift cards and online shoppingIf you know you won’t be traveling for a while, there’s always retail therapy. With the Capital One Venture X card, you’ll be able to redeem Capital One Miles at a rate of 1 cent per point for gift cards to all your favorite restaurants and retail shops like Apple, Bath & Body Works and Starbucks.Note that if you’re redeeming Capital One Miles for Amazon gift cards — or using Capital One Miles to shop online via Amazon or PayPal — the redemption rate drops to 0.8 cents per point (you’d get $0.80 cents in value per 100 Miles) so it won’t be the best value among all your other options.Cash back is a low-value redemptionWhile this is the least valuable redemption option for your newly earned Capital One Miles, you can still opt to exchange them at a rate of 0.5 cents per mile for cash in the form of an account credit or a check.Other cards with large welcome bonusesIf you’re interested in other cards with large welcome bonuses, consider the following. The value and utility of the rewards from each card varies, but you’ll still be able to get plenty of “free” travel with their hefty welcome bonuses.The Platinum Card® from American ExpressOn the American Express secure site

  • Rewards5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (starting January 1, 2021, this applies on up to $500,000 per calendar year), 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, 1X points on all other purchases
  • Welcome bonus100,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 within 6 months of account opening. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit Needed

British Airways Visa Signature® Card

  • Rewards5 Avios for every $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and LEVEL within your first 18 months from account opening, thereafter 3 Avios; 3 Avios for every $1 spent on hotel accommodations when booked directly with the hotel within your first 18 months, thereafter 2 Avios; 1 Avios for every $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Welcome bonusEarn 100,000 bonus Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, earn a Travel Together Ticket after you spend $30,000 on purchases every calendar year, and 10% off British Airways flights starting in the U.S. when you book through the website provided in your welcome materials.
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR15.99% to 22.99% variable
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fees
  • Credit needed

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® CardInformation about the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

  • Rewards12X points per dollar for eligible purchases on your card made directly with a participating hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio; 6X points for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations; 3X points for other eligible purchases
  • Welcome bonusEarn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the card in the first 3 months of card membership.
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR15.74% to 24.74% variable
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit needed

For rates and fees of the Platinum Card from American Express, click here.For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Surpass card, click here.Information about the Capital One Venture X 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. .

Find Airfare Bargains Around the World

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:

  1. Go to Scott’s Cheap Flights
  2. Sign up either by entering your email address, first name and a password, or by connecting your Google account
  3. After an intro to Scott’s Cheap Flights, you’ll be prompted to set your home airport
  4. Next, enter up to 6 destinations that you’d like to visit
  5. 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. .