American Express has a reputation for premium products and above-and-beyond customer service, and Amex membership is generally pretty rewarding. Just how rewarding depends on which card–or cards–you carry. Two of the most popular American Express cards are also two of the most premium: Amex Gold and Platinum. These cards are often compared, with Gold being the next step above Platinum.

So what are the differences between the Amex Platinum and Gold cards?

These two premium metal credit cards are not as alike as you might think. Keep reading to find out more about the similarities and differences between Amex Gold and Platinum and decide which one is right for you.

Differences

To help you understand how these two credit cards really compare, we’ve put together a table outlining the differences.

Note that the American Express Gold and American Express Rose Gold cards are equal in every way and differ only in color.

	Amex Gold	Amex Platinum
Fees	– $250 annual fee – $10 or 5% for cash advances – $40 late or returned payment – No fee for adding more cards to your Gold account	– $695 annual fee – $10 or 5% for cash advances – $40 late or returned payment – $175 for each additional card you add to your Platinum account (up to 3 permitted)
Credit Score	670-700 minimum	690-700 minimum
Income Level	Estimated to be at least $50,000 per individual. Not disclosed by American Express.	Estimated to be between $50,000 and $100,000 annually per individual. Not disclosed by American Express.
Credits	$120 dining credit – up to $10 statement credit per month when you use your Gold card at: – The Cheesecake Factory, – Ruth’s Chris Steak House, – Grubhub, Seamless, – Boxed, and – select Shake Shack locations. – Up to $120 Uber Cash annually when you use your Gold card to pay for rides and UberEats orders, with $10 Uber Cash credit every month. – Also earn 4 points per dollar on Uber rides and UberEats purchases.	Total value: >$1,400 – Up to $200 Uber Cash when you use your Platinum card to pay for rides and UberEats orders, with $15 Uber Cash credit every month plus an additional $20 bonus in December. – $300 Equinox Credit – $25 per month toward your luxury fitness membership when you pay for Equinox All Access, Destination, or E by Equinox using your Platinum card. – $240 digital entertainment credit – up to $20 per month on partner subscriptions including Peacock, the New York Times, Sirius XM, and Audible. – $179 CLEAR credit per year when you pay for membership with your Platinum card (annual price is $179). – $200 airline fee credit per year when you charge incidental fees to your Platinum card. – $100 Saks credit per year (up to $50 every six months) when you make Saks Fifth Avenue purchases with your Platinum card.
Points	– 4 points per dollar at restaurants. – 4 points per dollar at grocery stores and supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year). – 3 points per dollar on flights booked direct or on amextravel.com. – 1 point per dollar on everything else.	– 5 points per dollar on flights booked direct or through American Express Travel and hotels paid for in full in advance of stay (up to $500,000 per calendar year). – 5 points per dollar on hotels included in the Hotel Collection and paid in full prior to stay – 1 point per dollar on everything else.
Welcome Bonus	– 75,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 within six months of signing up as a new Platinum card member.	– 100,000 bonus points when you spend $6,000 or more within six months of signing up as a new Platinum card member.   – Earn 10 points per every dollar you spend at restaurants and small businesses through the American Express Shop Small program (up to $25,000) in your first six months.
Rates	– 15.99% – 22.99% for Pay Over Time – 25.25% for Cash Advances – 29.99% penalty APR	– 15.99% – 22.99% for Pay Over Time – 25.25% for Cash Advances – 29.99% penalty APR

As you can see, most of the differences come in when you’re looking at points and perks. The majority of Platinum perks are related to travel–such as 5x points on flights and airline fee credits–and this card offers a number of generous bonuses and credits. If you were to use every single Platinum benefit available to you, you would receive about $1,419 in value.

Gold offers a variety of perks from dining benefits to purchase protection. This card doesn’t give you as many statement credits, but the points earning categories are ideal for everyday use when traveling, shopping, or paying bills. And that’s not to say that the Amex Gold card isn’t also good for travel–members receive annual Hotel Collection credits and 3 points per dollar on flights, and all American Express premium cardholders receive personalized travel services at no cost.

As for similarities, these cards charge the same interest rates and fees except for the annual membership premium and cost for adding additional cards.

You may be able to get the annual fee waived for either of these cards if you are an active-duty U.S. military member if you get in touch with customer support.

Which Is Better?

The better choice for you depends on your bottom line. Are you looking to save money on travel specifically or do you think you’d get more use out of a general card with several perks categories?

If you’re looking for a card with travel perks, then the Amex Platinum card is going to be the better option. Because the majority of additional benefits that come with this card are for travel, members can save more if they travel or fly a lot, but this card does cost considerably more than the Gold card. Unless you are offered the invitation-only Amex Black card, the Platinum card is the most elite card you can get.

If you travel a lot, you will probably find the American Express Platinum card to be more rewarding. It offers a number of travel perks including up to 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels as well as hotel and Uber credits, but you might not necessarily need or even use all of this enough to make the steep annual fee worth it. If you don’t travel a lot and you’re just looking for a great card for everyday use, the American Express Gold card is for you.

We also recommend the Gold or Rose Gold card if you want a less expensive option but you still want the benefits of being an American Express member. This card could also be better for you if you don’t think you’d qualify for Platinum, as it is easier for most applicants to qualify for than the Platinum card.

With that said, neither card is easy to get. Although income requirements are not provided for either card, applicants who do not have stable incomes will not be considered, and you may need excellent credit if your income isn’t great or a high income if your credit is lacking.

Or maybe neither card sounds quite right. American Express has many credit cards in its product suite, so you can explore these for more options. For example, with an annual fee of $150, the Amex Green card is a more affordable option that rewards you three points per dollar on restaurants and travel.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, these are both all-around good credit cards if you’re in the market for a premium metal card. Which one is right for you depends on what annual fee you’re willing to pay, what benefits you’re looking for, and how you’re going to use your card. If you take advantage of all perks offered with an American Express Gold or American Express Platinum card, you can get your money’s worth from the annual fee pretty easily and start saving.

Many airlines have classes of service that bridge the gap between coach fares and the much more expensive business and first class seats. In some cases there are a few types of fares that usually come with names like comfort and premium attached to them.

These fares are different from the basic fares that sprung up to compete with low-cost carriers. With those fares, which are generally the lowest offered on any route, you can’t pick a seat in advance and you need to pay extra for checked bags. You will also lose your money if you miss or cancel the flight.

But not everyone is looking for bargain basement fares. Some people just need a little extra legroom over what traditional economy seats offer, and they are willing to pay extra to avoid being cramped during their flight.

There are also some other fares that add extras. But it’s not always clear what you are getting for the extra price paid because many airlines use similar sounding names. There are also bundles that add extras to your flight experience which can make it all very confusing, and even subscriptions that allow you to book an Economy Plus fare class on all of your flights.

In this article we’ll take a look at United’s Economy Plus fares and outline what they include compared to other fare types offered by the carrier. We’ll also go over how much extra it might cost and whether it is worth it.

What is United Economy Plus?

Economy Plus was first introduced in 1999, so it has been around for over 20 years. The main thing you get with an Economy Plus fare on United is some extra space to stretch your legs. These seats come with up to six inches of extra legroom, and they may be wider or have extra recline though that varies by aircraft. You can check for specifics on a site like seatguru.com. They are also closer to the front of the economy cabin, which allows you to deplane sooner.

This type of fare is available on all United and most United Express flights, but not on Star Alliance partner flights. Don’t get it confused with Preferred Seating on the carrier. Those seats are actually located just behind the Economy Plus seats, but the preferred seat itself is the same as the one you get with a regular economy fare and even a basic economy fare. ​​Preferred seats cost from $9 per flight to upgrade from Economy tickets and from $16 per flight for Basic Economy ticket holders.

Economy Plus vs Premium Plus

United also has a new class of service called Premium Plus. It is considered a premium economy experience, but is only available on select domestic flights including premium transcontinental routes and select long-haul international flights, as well as flights to Hawaii.

This level of service includes a better seat than Economy Plus. Premium Plus seats are made of plush materials and include adjustable foot and leg rests, and include a dedicated power outlet and USB charger in the arm rest. 

You also get a larger entertainment screen and an upgraded dining experience complete with custom dinnerware, flatware and a cloth napkin. Complimentary alcoholic beverages are also included with this fare where it is available.

What is the Cost to Upgrade to Economy Plus?

You can book an Economy Plus fare when you book your flight, or you can choose to upgrade before your flight through the website, in the app or by calling customer service before your flight or at check-in online or at the airport if available. 

There are two basic ways to purchase United Economy Plus. You can buy it for a single flight, or you can get a subscription for the year and upgrade every time you fly on United as long as the fare  purchased is not Basic Economy. The cost to upgrade to Economy Plus from Economy ranges for a single flight ranges from $9 to $299 per person. 

An annual Economy Plus subscription costs from $499 to $1,099. It can be purchased by region, and it can be bought for multiple passengers if they are traveling on the same itinerary. You can also upgrade to a different region or add passengers to an annual subscription in your account, but that will automatically extend the subscription for another year and any value on your existing subscription will be applied to the new price.

Another way to get Economy Plus seating is by bundling your trip.  Bundles include a custom combination of Economy Plus seating, checked bags, Premier Access, a United Club trip pass, extra award miles, a seat assignment if you booked a Basic Economy fare and/or a Wi-Fi pass for the day. You can buy a bundle when you book your flight.

You can also switch from one Economy Plus seat to another prior to flying if the cost is the same as your original seat, but if it costs more than the original price will be refunded and the new seat must be purchased in full.

For United MileageClub members 

If you are a MileagePlus Premier Platinum member, you can request access to Economy Plus seats for yourself and up to eight passengers traveling with you. Premier Gold members get advance access for themselves and one companion, and Premier Silver members can request the upgrade at check-in. If the fare you booked is a Basic Economy ticket, you have to wait until check-in to upgrade and pay the appropriate fee.

If you purchased the upgrade and the airline is unable to accommodate you in Economy Plus, the extra charge will be refunded. You can also purchase a subscription for someone else. If you are the recipient of a Comfort Plus subscription you can activate it here.

If you get upgraded because of your status and no longer need Economy Plus seating, it will be automatically refunded unless the upgrade is a complimentary Premier upgrade or if you are given a seat that is of similar or greater value because of an aircraft change.

Premium Cabins

You can purchase a Basic Economy, Economy and Economy Plus on just about any United flight, but the choice of premium cabins has a lot to do with the destination you are flying to. Depending on where you are headed, there are different upgraded options beyond Economy Plus including Business Class, Polaris Business Class and First Class.

If you’re flying on a transcon flight between Boston or New York/Newark and Los Angeles or San Francisco, you have two upgraded options. You can choose to fly in Economy Plus or Business Class.

Economy Plus vs Business Class

You can book business class on United for flights between the US and select cities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Business class tickets come with Premier Access, which will get you through airport security and check-in quicker, and you’ll board earlier.

Flying business class on United will cost a lot more than upgrading to Comfort Plus. Ticket prices for business class on international flights vary based on a number of factors, but generally cost between $3,000 and $5,000. A flight from New York to London in United Business Class runs around $4,000 for example.

Polaris Business Class

Premium cabins vary by aircraft, but you can book the United Polaris business class product on select long-haul international routes. This is the airline’s most premium product which includes a suite-like space with ergonomically designed seats that lie flat and privacy dividers.

You can customize the recline on these seats, and for entertainment you have a 16-inch HD monitor and a full library of movies and shows to watch. You also get noise-reducing headphones and elevated service.

You also get access to the United Polaris lounge before you board if it is available in the airport. Polaris lounges can be found at Chicago O’Hare, Houston Intercontinental, Washington Dulles, New York/Newark, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Most were closed during the pandemic, but have reopened. The two California are expected to reopen in 2022. At the lounge you can take a shower and get a multi-course meal to eat before you board so you can sleep while flying.

On board the flight you get restaurant-quality meals created in partnership with the Trotter Project and complimentary alcoholic beverages. Or you can slip into 100% cotton pajamas and enjoy Saks Fifth Avenue bedding including a mattress cushion, cooling gel pillow, duvet and throw.

Economy Plus vs First Class 

United First will also get you extra space in its first class seats. These fares are available on flights throughout North America and Alaska and Hawaii. In addition to the added comfort of a first class seat in the front of the plane, you also get Premier Access. First class tickets on United also come with two free checked bags and priority handling of those bags.

These spacious leather seats have a six-way adjustable headrest and a padded seat cushion. They also have an in-arm slot for your tablet or laptop as well as a personal water bottle console and double pockets on the back of the seat.

The seats also come with a flip-up mobile device holder and charger, and a granite-topped table in the center of the console, which frees up the tray table for working or eating. You also get United Private Screening, which includes on-demand entertainment from DirectTV, and you can stream entertainment to your personal device. Youdo have to pay extra for United Wi-Fi though where available.

You’ll also get upgraded food and dining choices which vary depending on the length of the flight. They include a full meal with two entree choices, premium snacks, fresh fruit and Illy coffee. Alcoholic beverages are also included in the fare including On the Rocks Cocktails and craft beer selections.

Food and Beverages on United Comfort Plus

The meals and drinks served to Economy Plus passengers are the same as you would get in the rest of the main cabin. Flights that are less than two hours and 20 minutes don’t have any meal service or snacks, so bring your own or eat before you board. 

If the flight is longer than that or you are flying on a premium transcontinental flight in United Economy, you’ll receive a pack with two snacks and an 8.5 ounce bottle of water. Passengers on international flights receive a salad, entree, snack and a cup of ice cream if available, and complimentary beer, wine, soft drinks and tea/coffee.

Snacks include chookies, pretzels or snack mix. You can also choose to purchase Choice Menu Bistro meals on select flights or Choice Menu Snack boxes.

Non-alcoholic beverages are complimentary for all passengers, but if the flight is less than an hour you will need to request them. Wine and beer are only complimentary for United Economy passengers on premium transcontinental flights and long-haul international flights, but alcoholic beverages including beer, wine and spirits are available for purchase on other flights.

Baggage Allowances 

With Economy Plus you also get the same allowance for bags as coach passengers. You are allowed to bring a carry-on bag and a personal item for no charge. The maximum size for the bag is 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches including the handles and wheels. Personal items like a shoulder bag, backpack or laptop must be smaller than 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches.

If you have to check an item at the gate, the first checked bag costs $35, a second one is $45 and a third one is $150. If you purchased a basic economy fare, there is also a $25 charge to check the bag at the gate.

There is a fee of $200 if the bag is oversized, which is more than 62 linear inches. Bags that weigh more than 50 pounds (but under 70 pounds) will cost from $100 to $200 each depending on the cabin, status level and itinerary. If the bag weighs between 70 and 100 pounds, it can cost up to $400 per bag.

If you have Gold elite status with the carrier, you are allowed two complimentary checked bags at 70 pounds each for domestic destinations and up to three checked bags to select international markets. 

Is Economy Plus Worth it? 

That depends on how much the upgrade costs and how much you need the extra legroom. United Economy Plus will definitely give you more room, especially on transcontinental or international flights. But it may not be worth it to upgrade on shorter domestic flights unless you need the extra space.

Also, if boarding or getting off the plane sooner is important to you, an Economy Plus ticket will get you in an earlier boarding group ahead of Economy and Basic Economy passengers. And you’ll be closer to the front of the plane when it’s time to deplane.

You also earn extra Premier qualifying points in the United MileagePlus frequent flyer program for the purchase of a one-time or annual subscription to Economy Plus, which will help you achieve elite status faster. So if you’re chasing a higher status tier, this will help you attain that goal and the cost may be worth it to you.

JetBlue’s Travel Bank is an online account used to store travel credits. If you have been issued travel credits with JetBlue for one reason or another, you have your own personal Travel Bank account. You don’t need to be a TrueBlue loyalty member to have a Travel Bank account. 

This account is created automatically for you the first time you receive travel credits. If you have travel credits, you will need to know more about this “bank” account in order to cash in your credits before they expire and understand what they can be used for.

Below is a comprehensive guide on the JetBlue Travel Bank in 2022.

What is the JetBlue Travel Bank

A JetBlue Travel Bank account is where your travel credits go, which are issued when you cancel a flight, miss a flight, or are otherwise unable to use your flight ticket for when it was scheduled. Each flyer gets their own Travel Bank account with their own travel credits, even if they were originally traveling in a party. You will receive a Travel Bank account immediately after the first time you are issued credits.

Customers flying through JetBlue airlines may end up with travel credits for any number of reasons.

You can get them for:

• canceling a nonrefundable flight within 24 hours of the departure time,
• canceling a refundable flight at any time,
• not showing up for your flight, or
• missing your flight (for refundable fare).

Please note that travel credits will likely not be equal to the full cost of your ticket after cancellation fees are applied and that you forfeit the full amount of your ticket for nonrefundable tickets that you do not cancel or change before your flight’s departure. 

This is how customers receive travel credits when they need to cancel or change a flight, but you can also get travel credits if JetBlue needs to cancel or change your flight (this has happened many times this year as travel restrictions have been put in place due to the pandemic).

If your flight is canceled by JetBlue, you may choose to either take the next available flight to your destination, receive a refund in the form of travel credit, or receive a full refund issued to the original payment method. 

If your flight is changed by JetBlue, you may choose to cancel and receive a refund in the form of the original payment method or travel credit if it’s changed within more than 2 hours of the departure time, cancel and receive a travel credit refund if it’s changed within less than 2 hours but more than 1 hour of the departure time, or travel on the next available flight at no additional charge. If your flight is changed in less than 60 minutes from the time it was set to depart, you are not eligible for a refund or to travel on the next available flight without incurring typical change fees.

Who is the JetBlue Travel Bank For

Travel Bank is for anyone with JetBlue travel credits. You don’t need to open an account for yourself once you have credits—JetBlue will do that for you.

Travel credits are not to be confused with JetBlue Vacation travel credits, which are eligible to be used for any part of a Vacations package. This may include travel fare, hotel bookings, or VIP experiences. These credits are issued when a Vacations package is canceled or changed. Travel credits, on the other hand, are issued when a flight is canceled, changed, or missed and are only eligible to be used on future airfare.

Unfortunately for many, travel credits are issued per flyer rather than per party. This can quickly make things complicated as JetBlue allows only one Travel Bank to be used on each reservation. So if, for example, you’re flying in a party of four and all receive travel credit for canceling your flight, you will be able to use only one person’s travel credit when rebooking if you still wish to remain in your party. This policy is strict but JetBlue can help you to book everyone in your party separately within the same reservation if you give their help desk a call at 1-800-538-2583.

How Do I Access My JetBlue Travel Bank

From this login screen, use the username and password provided to you via two separate emails sent when you initially received travel credits to access your account for the first time. Once you’re in, you’ll be able to see the balance and expiration date of each travel credit. Hold onto this login information for future use as this is how you will access your Travel Bank each time (if you don’t have a TrueBlue account).

If you have a TrueBlue account, the loyalty rewards program through JetBlue airlines, you can access your Travel Bank account through this. Just use your regular email and password combo to login and navigate to the Travel Bank section by clicking the dropdown menu next to your name on the dashboard and selecting “Travel Bank.”

Can I Transfer My JetBlue Travel Bank

Travel Bank accounts are non-transferable, but you may choose to use the credits in your Travel Bank to book flights for someone else. The name on a booking does not need to match the name on the Travel Bank account, but only the person for which travel credits were issued may book travel with said credits.

How Long do the Travel Credits Last

The deadline to use travel credits is typically 12 months after disbursal. They are valid for one year after the date they are issued, which is usually immediately upon cancellation, and you are able to see the expiration date for each credit through your Travel Bank account. As mentioned, credits will be put toward reservation costs in order of which ones are nearest their expiration dates.

Another nice thing to be aware of when it comes to the expiration date is that you do not need to actually travel before credits expire in order to travel on credit. As long as you book a reservation with credits that are still valid, you can fly at any time after the credits were set to expire. Something to be cautious about, however, is canceling flights booked with travel credit. This can be done, but your credits’ expiration dates will not reset—they will expire when they were originally set to expire.

COVID-19 Updates and Extensions

There are no current COVID-19 extensions for JetBlue Travel Bank credits. In the past, due to travel complications caused by COVID-19, JetBlue has extended the deadline for credits issued during certain time periods. We will update this section if any such extensions return due to the Omicron variant.

Final Thoughts

Overall, JetBlue’s Travel Bank is fairly user-friendly, but it has its limitations. The biggest of these is the fact that credits are issued per individual rather than per party, rendering them inconvenient when rebooking travel for more than one person. Otherwise, however, this Bank is straightforward to access and navigate and the travel credits are fairly typical.

If you’re turned off by the idea of Travel Bank of JetBlue’s travel credit program in general, try to avoid missing flights or canceling if at all possible and don’t choose credits over refunds or flights.

The American Express Gold Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve are popular credit cards for travelers because they offer a flexible points currency. Amex Gold rewards cardmembers with Membership Rewards points and Chase has the Ultimate Rewards program.

Both programs are similar in that they offer cardholders the ability to transfer points to travel partners, book travel through an online portal or cash points in for experiences, statement credits or gift cards. Points don’t expire in either program as long as you hold a card that earns them.

These cards have very different annual fees. The mid-tier Chase Sapphire Preferred is the most affordable at $95 a year, Amex Gold is also considered a mid-tier card but it costs $250 a year to hold, and the premium Sapphire Reserve is $550 annually.

As you can see, if you’re considering signing up for one of these cards, the annual fee is a big consideration.

The fee can be offset by travel credits and the card’s earning potential, but only if you use the benefits and maximize the rewards earning potential. It’s important to evaluate the earning opportunities of each card to see if it fits your lifestyle, spending patterns and travel goals.

Sign-up Bonuses, Credits and Bonus Categories

Another big consideration for many is the sign-up or welcome bonus, which is pretty similar for these three cards. The Sapphire Preferred and the Amex Gold both offer 60,000 points after spending $4,000, but the key difference is that American Express gives you six months to meet that minimum spending requirement.

Surprisingly, the card with the most expensive annual fee of the three cards has the smallest bonus. The premium Chase Sapphire Reserve only offers a 50,000 point sign-up bonus after spending $4,000 in the first three months.

If the sign-up bonus is your main motivation for signing up for one of these cards, then the Chase Sapphire Preferred is your best bet.

Travel and Other Credits 

In addition to the value of the sign-up bonus, you can easily offset about half of the annual fee on any of these cards if you take advantage of the travel credits offered. The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers a $50 credit on a hotel booking through its Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. The Chase Sapphire Preferred gives you up to $300 in statement credits on travel purchases through its portal every year. 

The American Express Gold card offers $10 a month in Uber credits for rides or Uber Eats. You just need to add your card to your Uber account to get the Uber Cash each month. You also get another $10 a month in dining credits that can be used for Boxed, GrubHub, Seamless, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, The Cheesecake Factory and participating Shake Shack locations, for a total of $240 a year in credits.

Bonus Points Categories 

The next thing to consider if you are trying to figure out which of these three cards is the best one for you, is how many points you can earn each year. Bonus points earning categories can really boost your balance and help you achieve enough points to book an airline award ticket or free hotel stay sooner.

The Preferred card offers 5x bonus points per dollar spent on any travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal with the exception of the hotel booking that qualifies for the $50 credit. You’ll earn 2x on all other travel including airfare, hotels, taxis and trains.

Other bonus categories for the Chase Sapphire Preferred include 3x for online grocery purchases, dining and select streaming services. All other purchases earn one point per dollar spent.

The Reserve card offers 5x on airlines booked through the bank’s portal after you receive the $300 annual credit for those bookings, and 10x on hotel stays and car rentals booked through its portal. You’ll also earn 10x with Chase dining partners, 3x on all other dining, and one point per dollar spent on everything else.

The Amex Gold card offers 4x at restaurants worldwide and the same 4x bonus at US restaurants on up to $25,000 a year so these points can really add up whether you are dining out or eating at home. The Gold card also offers 3x on airfare purchases through the airline or amextravel.com, and one point per dollar on everything else.

You should review your spending habits to determine the best card for earning points. Clearly the Sapphire Reserve offers bigger bonus categories, but the 10x ones are tied to purchases made through its Ultimate Rewards site, so if you don’t intend to use the portal for travel or prepaid dining, takeout or cooking events, then this may not be the best card for you especially considering the high annual fee.

The 4x bonus on food purchases and 3x on any travel purchased with the Amex Gold is also very tempting, but that card also carries a substantial annual fee so it’s a good idea to crunch the numbers on how much you expect to spend on the card to figure out if the bonus points and other perks are worth it.

Membership Rewards vs Ultimate Rewards

One of the best ways to get the most value out of the points you earn in each of these programs is to transfer points to a travel partner to get an award flight or free hotel stay. While there is some overlap of partners, you should review the list of travel suppliers each card issuer partners with to see if they are ones that you hope to use for your reward travel if you plan to transfer points to a loyalty program.

Travel Partners

Points can be used to top off a balance in an airline or hotel loyalty program or you can transfer the full amount for a redemption. All three cards have airline partners that cover the three major alliances so you can probably fly to any destination you like, but booking a partner airline can be even more complicated than just finding award space on the carrier’s program that you transferred points to, so this is another consideration.

American Express Membership Rewards Partners

American Express partners with 12 airline programs and three hotel chains for its Membership Rewards program. Airline partners include Asia Miles, British Airways Executive Club, Delta SkyMiles, Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, Finnair Plus, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, Iberia Plus, Qantas Frequent Flyer, SAS EuroBonus, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. 

Most transfer at a 1:1 ratio, but there are some exceptions, and transfers can take up to five days. Check here for more details. 

Amex hotel partners include Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy and Radisson Rewards. Transfer rates vary and can take up to 10 days. Check the website for more details. Other travel transfer partners include Club Eurostar and Nectar.

Chase Ultimate Rewards Partners

Chase partners with 11 airlines and three hotel chains. Airline partners include AerLingus Aer Club, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club, Emirates Skywards, Flying Blue (Air France/KLM), Iberia Plus, JetBlue TrueBlue, Singapore Airline KrisFlyer, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, United MileagePlus and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

Chase hotel partners include IHG Rewards Club, Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt. Ultimate Reward Points transfer to all travel partners at a 1:1 ratio in 1,000 point increments. Most points transfer by the next business day, but it can take up to a week.

Chase transfers are generally quicker and the points transfer ratio is simpler for many frequent traveler programs, so this is a plus, especially if there is limited award availability. You take a chance on transferring points and losing your desired airline seat if there is limited availability and a delay in transfer.

When it comes to domestic airline programs, If you’re loyal to Delta then the Amex Gold is a good choice. But if you prefer to fly on United, JetBlue or Southwest then one of the Chase cards is your best bet if you plan to transfer points to an airline loyalty program. 

As far as hotel programs, both the Sapphire cards and the Amex Gold partner with Marriott, but if you are loyal to Hyatt, the Chase cards are a better option. If Hilton is your preferred hotel program, then Amex is the best fit.

If you’re not familiar with airline and hotel loyalty programs, or you don’t like searching for space or being limited by award availability, there are other options to redeem your points for travel.

Travel Booking Portals

You can use your reward points in either program to book your travel through the American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards booking portals. They both work like traditional travel booking sites so they are easy to use. The Chase portal is powered by Expedia and Amex uses its own online booking portal for redemptions. 

Booking through the portal is a good option if there are limited award seats available as both of these sites will show all flights and hotel rooms available so you don’t have to worry about finding award space. It’s also a good approach if you want to keep your travel booking experience simple.

Because award redemption is tied to the price of airline fares and hotel accommodations though, this can cost more than using your points in an airline frequent flyer program or hotel frequent guest program.

The standout card for booking through the issuer’s portal is the Chase Sapphire Reserve. That’s because it offers a 50% bonus on points used. The Sapphire Preferred comes in second in this category with a 25% point bonus when booking through the portal. Amex offers points rebates to its business card holders, but not on the personal Gold card so those points are worth a penny each when booking travel through amextravel.com.

The sign-up bonus alone on each of the Sapphire cards is equal to $750 in free travel when booked through the Chase portal. Even though the Reserve bonus is 10,000 points lower, it is still worth the same amount because of the 50% point bonus when booking through the portal.

Chase also has a Pay Yourself Back feature that lets you redeem your Ultimate Rewards points for statement credits in select rotating categories. If you hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, you’ll get a 25% bonus, and Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders get a 50% bonus for these redemptions.

Benefits of Each Card 

All three of these cards come with great travel benefits including no foreign transaction fees when making purchases overseas. 

The Chase Sapphire cards come with car rental insurance coverage, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, emergency assistance, as well as extended warranty protection and purchase protection when you use your card to make purchases.

The Amex Gold gives you access to the Hotel Collection, personalized travel service, car rental loss and damage insurance, baggage insurance and the Global Assist Hotline. The card also comes with purchase protection, extended warranties and dispute resolution, as well as access to American Express Experiences and American Express Preferred Seating, which gives you access to premium seats for select cultural and sporting events.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve also includes Priority Pass Select membership which gives you access to 1,300 airport lounges worldwide, and it comes with a statement credit of up to $100 every four years as reimbursement for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS expedited security screening programs.

Both the Sapphire cards also come with a complimentary DashPass subscription from DoorDash, which gets you unlimited deliveries with no fee and reduced service fees. This benefit needs to be activated by March 31, 2022.

Also, through March 2022 if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred card you can earn 5x on Lyft rides, which is 3x points in addition to the 2x you earn on travel. If you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the bonus for Lyft rides is 10x through March. There are similar bonuses for Peloton bikes and equipment purchased using one of the Chase Sapphire cards if that is on your radar in the new year.

Issuer Rules 

You may have made up your mind about which of these three cards you are interested in, but one big consideration is whether the bank will approve you. They all require a good or excellent credit score to have a successful application, but there are also some other things you should be aware of.

Chase has a 5/24 rule, which means if you have applied for more than five cards from any issuer in the past two years, then you will be denied. Also, you can only hold either the Sapphire Preferred or the Sapphire Reserve, so if you already have one of these Sapphire cards you would have to upgrade or downgrade to get the other.

Lastly, you can only receive the sign-up bonus once every 48 months for either card in the Chase Sapphire family, so make sure it’s been at least four years since you last got a bonus on a Sapphire card or you’ll miss out on those bonus points.

American Express on the other hand, will only give you a bonus on any of its cards once in a lifetime. So if you’ve previously signed up for the Amex Gold card and gotten a bonus, then you should go for one of the Sapphire cards if you meet their criteria to get a sign-up bonus. 

Amex also has a rule that only allows you to hold five personal credit cards at any time, but you can have up to 10 charge cards and the Amex Gold card is considered a charge card with no pre-set spending limit so this should not be an issue unless you already have nine other Amex cards. 

Final Thoughts 

All three of these credit cards are great for travelers as they offer bonus earning opportunities, credits for travel and other benefits. They all offer elevated welcome bonuses occasionally, and that is a great time to apply for one of these three cards so watch for that.

But if you want to add one to your wallet right now, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is your best bet if you want to keep the annual fee low and if you’re not sure how much of the travel credits you can use in the year ahead. It’s also the only one of the three that offers a 10% anniversary bonus on points earned, so this card is actually worth keeping in your wallet at least for the next four years. 

If you apply now that will let the clock start ticking on when you can upgrade to the Sapphire Reserve and still get a sign-up bonus. It’s also a good idea to apply for Chase cards if you’re under the 5/24 rule, so many people apply for those cards sooner rather than later as you never know when the next attractive sign-up offer will catch your eye and that may push you over the limit of card applications that Chase allows.

If you’re a fan of Delta Air Lines and you like to fly comfortably and save money, Premium Select might be for you. Delta Air Lines offers six different flight classes including two premium options, three economy options, and an option between premium and economy: Premium Select.

Today, we’re focusing on Premium Select, the newest flight class available on select international flights. As with any flight class, you may or may not feel like Premium Select is worth the added price of a ticket. In this article, we’ll compare Delta Premium to the options above and below it to help you decide if your next ticket should be for one of these roomy reclining seats.

What Is Delta Premium Select?

Delta Premium Select is designed to give passengers more comfortable long-haul flights. This class offers priority services, exclusive amenities, and oversized seating among other perks. It is the flight class between Delta Comfort+ and Delta First Class, which is actually the airline’s version of business class. Delta Premium Select was introduced in fall 2017 and has been growing in popularity and expanding to more planes and flight routes ever since.

Premium Select seats are not available on every flight. At this time, they are only on four different aircraft including Airbus A350s, some Boeing 757-200s (75H), and, more recently, Boeing 767-300s and Airbus A330s. On certain planes, Delta Premium Select is the most elite seat class available. On others, Delta One or First Class are above Premium Select.

Features and Perks

Delta Premium Select seats are positioned in groups of two on the outside and three on the inside (depending on the plane) in a cabin of their own. This flight class is ideal for parties of two or three or those flying alone.

From Billboard noise-canceling earbuds to adjustable foot and leg rests and 13.3” entertainment screens, Premium Select passengers fly in comfort and are well taken care of in the air and on the ground. They also enjoy priority boarding and a cabin of their own on the plane.

To give you a better idea of what sets Premium Select apart from other classes on Delta flights, let’s break down the differences between these seats and the seats below and above it. Here are all the features and perks included in Delta Premium Select.

Premium Select vs. Comfort+

Delta Comfort+ is the seat class below Premium Select and previously the best of economy seating. Comfort+ has the most amenities and roomiest seats in economy, but Premium Select is a step better. Here is how these two flight classes differ starting with the flight itself.

The first difference is that Premium Select seats are larger and more comfortable. They are wider and have a greater pitch compared to Comfort+ and feature in-seat power ports as well. Premium Select seats have a pitch of 37” or 38” and a width of 18.5-21”, depending on the plane. Comfort+ seats have a pitch of 18” and a width of between 17.2 and 17.3”. Passengers in Premium Select can recline and Comfort+ passengers cannot.

Premium Select seats also feature adjustable footrests, leg rests, and headrests that Comfort+ seats do not. Amenity kits are available to all Comfort+ and Premium Select passengers, but Premium Select passengers enjoy more amenities in their TUMI kits including premium facial and hygiene products. Both flight classes offer complimentary pillows, blankets, and headsets upon request on long-haul flights.

You’ll also notice differences in accommodations. For example, the Premium Select cabin has the largest entertainment screens Delta has to offer at 13.3” while Comfort+ entertainment screens are standard for economy passengers when they are available.

Additional in-flight services available to Premium Select passengers include Signature Service on dining and meal service on every flight. Meal service is offered on select Comfort+ flights.

Before the flight, Premium Select passengers enjoy Sky Priority services when checking in and boarding their flights. Premium Select passengers are prioritized over Comfort+ passengers, who use Comfort+ boarding services to check in and board before other economy passengers.

Finally, we searched several flights to figure out the difference in fare price. For a Premium Select ticket, you’re looking at a price tag of about 20% to 30% more per person compared to the same Comfort+ ticket

Premium Select vs. First Class

There are also several differences between Premium Select and First Class, the first of these being that Premium Select is technically an economy ticket and First Class is a premium ticket (often considered to be closest to a business class). First Class isn’t as premium as it gets, that’s Delta One, but it is more premium than Premium Select.

On the plane, First Class seats are a little wider on average and recline ever so slightly more. Whereas a Premium Select seat has a pitch of 37” or 38” and a width of between 18.5” and 21”, First Class seats have a pitch of between 38” and 39” and a width of between 20.5” and 20.9”. The seats and comfort level are pretty similar but there may be a little more space between First Class seats on some planes.

Both flight classes put you in a cabin separate from the rest of the plane for privacy and comfort. When they are on the same plane, the Premium Select cabin is located behind the First Class cabin in front of the Main Cabin for economy travelers. First Class passengers have a dedicated flight attendant in their cabin.

The meal service First Class passengers receive depends on the duration of their flight but is similar to Premium Select service on long international flights. Amenities are also comparable between the two flight classes.

Both First Class and Premium Select passengers use Sky Priority check-ins for expedited baggage delivery and priority boarding, but First Class passengers board first before everyone else and at the same time as One passengers.

Elite members of Delta SkyMiles are eligible for complimentary upgrades to First Class but complimentary upgrades are not offered for Premium Select. You can also use points to purchase First Class tickets when award seats are available.

But the biggest difference is in the price. Premium Select tickets are significantly cheaper than First Class tickets. When we compared multiple flights, we found that a First Class ticket costs upwards of $3,000 more than a Premium Select ticket for the same route. On some routes, you could be paying greater than twice as much for First Class.

How to Upgrade

Anyone with a Main Cabin or Comfort+ ticket (but not those in Basic Economy as this class is not eligible for upgrades) can purchase an upgrade to Premium Select if it is offered on their flight. You can do this when booking a ticket or before flying. Reserve your seat as early as possible as they are limited.

When you pay for your ticket and any post-purchase upgrades with cash, you qualify to earn Medallion Qualification Dollars and Medallion Qualification Miles that can help you reach the next SkyMiles tier.

Can You Use Points?

Yes, you can use Delta SkyMiles points to upgrade your ticket to Premium Select from an economy ticket. This option is subject to availability and may end up costing you more in points than it would in dollars, but this could still be a good way to save money.

And if you are a Diamond Medallion member, the highest tier, you are eligible to upgrade to Premium Select using Global Upgrade Certificates, which you may receive as a Choice Benefit. You can upgrade to Delta Premium if you purchased a Main Cabin or Comfort+ ticket or ask to be waitlisted for Delta One if you prefer. Upgrade requests must be made and cleared in advance of your flight before you check in or you may not be approved.

Delta Diamond and Platinum Medallion members can also save money on Premium Select by requesting complimentary upgrades to Comfort+ right after booking a flight and then paying the difference from Comfort+ to Premium Select with cash or points.

Note that Delta does not offer complimentary upgrades to Premium Select for any passengers regardless of their membership tier or ticket type.

Is It Worth it?

You’re going to notice a big difference between Premium Select and Basic Economy and Main Cabin tickets. From priority boarding to roomier seats and better inflight service, Premium Select is much more…well, premium. The cost of the ticket includes better food, faster check in and boarding, a more comfortable flight, and more amenities. Of course, it also costs about twice as much as an economy ticket, on average, so you’re getting what you pay for.

When you compare the price of Premium Select to the price of the next lowest seat class, Comfort+, you find that the difference is pretty insignificant. So if you’re already paying for an international long-haul ticket, you might as well shell out the extra $250 or $300 for Premium Select. Even better if you have points to spare and can use those to cover the difference.

Another thing to consider beyond just a more comfortable flight is that you can earn more elite qualifying miles with a Premium Select ticket than you do with lower fare classes. Premium Select fares, which can begin with an A, P, or G, are eligible to earn 150% Medallion Qualifying Miles. Comfort+ tickets and all other economy tickets earn only 100% Medallion Qualifying Miles. For 50% more miles, we think the price difference is more than worth it.

You just have to remember that Premium Select isn’t always going to be available. This is a disadvantage of the flight class that can make your life a little more difficult when booking.

If you’re trying to make the choice between Premium Select and Comfort+, it’s almost definitely worth the minimal added cost for Premium Select. It’s also worth noting that if you’re on a connecting flight and you’ve booked Premium Select, you may find yourself in Comfort+ seats, so you might not get to choose in certain instances.

And compared to First Class and Delta One, you’ll save a ton booking Premium Select for a flying experience that’s still pretty luxurious. For potentially less than half the price, you’re getting a flight that arguably shares more in common with premium than economy and you’re definitely not slumming it.

It doesn’t hurt to look at the seat map for your plane before flying to get an idea of how your Premium Select seat will compare to others. You may find that you prefer to book Premium Select on A350s, for example.

The only time we don’t recommend Premium Select is if you’re used to flying Basic Economy and your main priority is cutting costs.

Final Thoughts

When Premium Select is available for a long-haul flight you’re booking, you should generally book it. Premium Select strikes the perfect middle ground between a stripped-down economy ticket and a pricy premium ticket, both in terms of price and accommodations. For the extra miles alone, this flight class is worth booking if you’re working your way toward elite status. Use points to upgrade when possible or cash in a Global Upgrade Certificate.

Delta Air Lines is probably going to continue making this flight class available on more planes, so hopefully, it becomes easier to book.

If you’re planning on flying with United Airlines this year then you’ll want to know what to expect in terms of potential fees and luggage restrictions for both your carry-on items and checked bags.

So for your convenience, whether you’re traveling with carry-ons, checked bags, or both, here’s a comprehensive list of every important United baggage policy all passengers should be aware of in 2021.

United Airlines Carry-On Allowance

Don’t risk arriving at the airport for your flight and having your carry-on luggage turned away or unexpectedly checked. United Airlines lets most passengers travel with one carry-on bag and one personal item each, free of charge, as long as the items do not go over the airline’s size and weight restrictions.

Basic Economy tickets allow for one personal item only and do not include free carry-on luggage. If you do bring a full-sized carry-on bag when flying economy, you will be required to check the bag and pay the checked bag fee (whatever it is for your flight) and a $25 gate handling charge on top of that. All other flight classes include one free carry-on and one personal item.

Your carry-on bag technically has no weight restrictions, but it is expected to fit in the overhead bin. This means it must not exceed 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches or 22 centimeters x 35 centimeters x 56 centimeters. This includes all exterior hardware such as handles and straps. Your personal item, which is expected to fit under the seat in front of you, must not exceed 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches or 22 centimeters x 25 centimeters x 43 centimeters.

Other items that all passengers may bring in addition to their carry-ons include standard “special” items such as umbrellas, FAA-approved child restraint systems and safety seats, assistive devices such as wheelchairs and walkers, and pet carriers.

Carry-On Allowances for Toddlers and Children

If you are going to be traveling with an infant or young child, there are a number of necessary items you can bring that United Airlines will not charge you for. These include: 

• A diaper bag
• A breast pump and milk
• An FAA-approved child or infant restraint seat
• A compact folding stroller that meets carry-on size restrictions (9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches or 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches)

All children under the age of two may travel with one car seat and one stroller. This allowance is included in all flight classes and on all flights. Strollers usually need to be checked at the gate but if they do not collapse, you’ll need to check them at the ticket counter.

Bringing Pets Onboard

Small dogs and cats are allowed on most domestic and international flights, but you will, of course, need to pay for your pet to travel with you in the cabin. A service charge of $125 is charged each way for a pet, and an additional charge of the same amount is assessed for every stopover of greater than four hours.

Service animals are not under the same restrictions as pets. See this page for information on traveling with service animals.

Pit Bull breeds are not permitted on the airplane at all.

The requirements for traveling with pets are as follows:

• Puppies and kittens must not be younger than 16 weeks old
• Unaccompanied minors are not permitted to fly with pets
• Additional pets require an extra ticket and an additional $125 each way
• Pets that don’t fit in kennels may not accompany you in the cabin and will need to travel in a separate compartment of the plane through United Airlines’ PetSafe transport program
• You and your pet must be on the same flight
• Oxygen services are not available for pets in the event of an emergency

Your pet will need to be up-to-date on its rabies vaccinations and you must bring a health certificate showing that they are to the airport. Some states, like Hawaii, have their own restrictions in place that you need to research.

Musical Instruments

Small instruments such as violins and guitars are permitted as long as they are in a hard case. If they are placed in the overhead bin, they’ll count as your carry-on. If they are placed beneath the seat in front of you, they’ll count as your personal item.

Prohibited Items

Certain items are strictly prohibited on United Airlines flights. These restrictions are put in place by the federal government and there are no exceptions.

Items never allowed on a flight include:

• Self-balancing or self-riding bags
• Camping equipment that contains fuel of any kind
• Defense sprays such as pepper spray, tear gas, or mace
• Explosives including but not limited to fireworks, flares, and gunpowder
• MREs containing flameless heaters
• Shock absorbers
• Smart bags with batteries that cannot be removed
• Tasers
• Select electronic devices
• Perishable items

Items allowed on flights with restrictions include:

• Batteries
• Power tools
• Mobility devices
• Firearms

United Airlines Checked Baggage Allowance

How many bags you can check for a United flight and how much each of those bags will cost to check depends on your loyalty status with the airline and the flight class you’ve chosen. Size and weight restrictions are also dependent on flight class and loyalty status.

Here’s a Visual Breakdown:

For United Economy flyers, checked baggage may weigh up to 50 pounds or 23 kilograms. United Business, United First, and United Polaris checked baggage may weigh up to 70 pounds. The latter is also the restriction for passengers with Premier Silver, Premier Gold, Premier Platinum, Premier 1K, and Star Alliance Gold (First, Business, or Polaris) MileagePlus status. 

No bag may exceed a combined total of 62 inches (length + width + height) unless checked by an active-duty U.S. military member traveling for official business.

You can pay for your checked baggage, provided that it meets size and weight requirements, online before your flight or at check-in.

How Much Do Checked Bags Cost on United?

To get the most accurate cost breakdown on how much it will cost to check your bags on your next United flight, use their baggage cost calculator.

The cost varies not only by route but also by which cabin you’re sitting in (economy, premium economy, business or first) as well as your membership and status. Your membership and status are determined by the credit cards you hold and whether or not you are active in the U.S. military.

In general, for North American economy flights you can expect to pay $30-$35 per bag depending on whether you prepay or not. If you need to carry a second bag this will cost an additional $40-$45.

For flights to Europe the first checked bag is free even for those in the economy cabin, however second bags will cost up to $100 to check.

Here’s a closer look of what you can expect to pay per bag from the US to popular international destinations:

If you’re flying any level above economy both your first and second bag will be checked free of charge. Same goes for acting U.S. military members. You can read more about this in our “Exceptions and Waivers” section further below.

Checked Baggage for Children

The same checked baggage policies apply to children with purchased tickets and infants flying internationally on 10% of adult fare as for adult passengers. Should a child’s baggage exceed their personal allowance, the fare-paying adult accompanying them will need to assume the excess baggage as part of their own allowance.

Excessive Baggage Fees

If you must bring a bag that exceeds the above size and weight restrictions or you want to bring an additional bag, you may do so for a fee. Some flights do not allow oversized or overweight bags at all, so be sure to look into this every time you fly.

Checked baggage may never exceed 115 linear inches. Most baggage may never exceed 100 pounds. Musical instruments and mobility devices, however, may weigh up to 165 pounds. Overweight bags (weighing over 70 pounds but less than 100) can cost up to $200 each. Oversized bags measuring more than 62 linear inches also incur a fee, which is dependent on the flight destination and subject to change.

Please note that if a bag is more than one of these things—extra, overweight, or oversized—you’ll be charged more than one service fee. Extra bags are permitted only when there is space available on the plane.

Fragile and/or Bulky Items

If you happen to be flying with an oversized, bulky or fragile item that is too delicate to transport as checked baggage, you may choose to purchase a ticket for it and have it sit next to you or in another open seat. This item and ticket purchase must be approved by a United Airlines agent.

Some examples of cabin-seat baggage that would be approved by United may include the following:

• large musical instruments
• electronic devices (cameras, computer hardware, medical devices)
• artifacts
• garment bags

Please note the following cabin-seat baggage restrictions:

• Item(s) must not exceed 165 pounds (75 kg).
• Item(s) must be safely covered in a way that avoids injury to other customers.
• Item(s) must be secured in a seat adjacent to the owner.
• Item(s) must be properly secured by a seat belt to avoid shifting during flight.
• Item(s) must not restrict access to, or use of, any regular or emergency exit or aisle of the cabin.
• Item(s) must not obscure any customer’s view of “seatbelt,” “no smoking” or “exit” signage.
• Item(s) must not contain dangerous goods.
• Item(s) must be reserved in advance and applicable charges paid.

You can read more on United’s cabin-seat baggage restrictions here.

Exceptions and Waivers

Both active-duty U.S. military personnel and their dependents and MileagePlus Premier members and their travel companions can have checked baggage fees waived. For these flyers, a maximum weight of 70 pounds is enforced rather than the standard 50 pounds.

Active-duty military personnel and their dependents receive 3 complimentary checked bags for personal travel, 2 for travel orders, and 5 for official business travel. MileagePlus Premier Silver members receive 1 complimentary checked bag on most domestic and select international economy flights, Gold receive 2 complimentary checked bags on economy flights, and Platinum and 1K members receive 3 complimentary checked bags on economy flights. All premium cabin travel permits 3 complimentary checked bags for those with Silver, Gold, Platinum, or 1K status.

Some destinations such as flights to San Salvador and Havana have additional restrictions in place when it comes to complimentary checked baggage. See these here.

Credit Cards That Give You a Free Checked Bag With United Airlines

As you can see, United Airlines does not offer free checked baggage to just any customer, as some budget airlines do, but there are a couple of ways to check a bag for free when you’re a United passenger. 

Not a member of the military or a United Airlines favorite customer? A United Airlines credit card might be the way to go for you. United offers five different credit cards through Chase bank and all cardholders receive at least one checked bag for free.

Here’s how many free bags you can check when you’re a United cardholder:

• United Explorer Card: 1
• Club Card: 2
• Presidential Plus Card: 2
• United Business Card: 1
• United Club Business Card: 2

According to United, having the United Explorer card (first card on the list above) can save you up to $140 per round trip! The primary card holder plus one companion on the same United reservation both get their first standard checked bag for free on all United-operated flights. You’ll have to make the purchase with the United Explorer card for the deal.

Wayfair, the online retailer known primarily for inexpensive furniture and home decor, just launched new credit cards in September of last year. But since you probably don’t make a habit of collecting store credit cards without doing your research, we’re going to break down the advantages and disadvantages of the two different Wayfair credit cards on the market.

This article will answer all of the questions you’ve probably had about Wayfair credit cards from whether they’re worth it, which one is right for you, and how to sign up and use your card. Let’s get into it.

About the Wayfair Credit Cards

Wayfair offers two different credit cards: the Wayfair Credit Card and the Wayfair Mastercard. These credit cards are issued by Citibank and are available to all Wayfair customers as of 2021.

Both Wayfair credit cards allow you to choose how you want to be rewarded. You get a choice between 5% back in rewards on all qualifying Wayfair purchases and no-interest financing when you pay in full after 24 months. You do not get both and need to contact customer service to request a change to your perk after signing up if you change your mind.

If you select the rewards option, you earn 5% rewards on all net qualifying purchases through Wayfair and sites under the Wayfair brand. These can be redeemed through Wayfair retail sites only as transaction credits for future purchases. Sites include wayfair.com, allmodern.com, jossandmain.com, perigold.com, and birchlane.com.

If you select the no-interest financing option, you can make payments on purchases interest-free for a specified time period (up to 24 months) on all orders over $99. The time periods by purchase amount are as follows:

• Orders over $99: 6-month financing
• Orders over $499: 12-month financing
• Orders over $1499: 18-month financing
• Orders over $2999: 24-month financing

If you fail to pay off your purchase completely within the promotional period, you will incur interest at the rate associated with your card (see “Fees”) immediately when your time is up.

Not that these are personal credit cards not intended for business or travel use. If you are a business owner, you can apply using your personal information but will not receive any business discounts or perks when using your card. For this, consider Wayfair Professional.

This program offers special pricing and perks including expedited shipping and personalized services to business owners who shop at Wayfair for furniture and decor. Wayfair Professional is free to join and all you need to do is verify your business using your business identification number to get approved. You can use a Wayfair credit card for Wayfair Professional purchases.

Perks

Besides the rewards and no-interest financing perks, the Wayfair Mastercard also offers rewards on non-Wayfair purchases (but the Wayfair Credit Card does not). These include 3% rewards at grocery stores, 2% rewards on online purchases, and 1% on everything else.

Not all purchases qualify. Recurring payments for subscriptions and bills, insurance payments, taxes, and personal and business service transactions, and promotional financing purchases, for example, do not earn rewards when you pay with the Wayfair Mastercard.

Rewards do not expire and there is no minimum that you must maintain in your account or use when redeeming. You can earn a maximum of $2,500 Reward Dollars per month with either the Wayfair Credit Card or Mastercard. Rewards can be redeemed for Reward Dollars that can be used toward Wayfair purchases at checkout. You can check your balance from your Wayfair account.

You can not use Reward Dollars to pay for non-Wayfair purchases with the Wayfair Mastercard.

Another perk available to all cardmembers (you do not need to choose this perk over rewards) is Major Purchase Plans. In a nutshell, cardmembers may qualify for reduced interest rates on large Wayfair purchases, subject to credit approval, and have up to 60 months to pay in full. Here is a breakdown of the repayment plans available:

• Orders over $1,999: 0% APR for 36 months
• Orders over $3,999: 9.99% APR for 48 months
• Orders over $4,999: 9.99% APR for 60 months

Note that special financing payments and promotional payments must be made with a Wayfair credit card but are not eligible to earn rewards. Also, the 0% APR on orders of $1,999 or more is a limited-time offer only available through January 5, 2022.

Fees

The Wayfair Credit Card and Wayfair Mastercard do not have annual fees. There is a fee of 3% on foreign transactions and a balance transfer fee of $10 or 5% (whichever is greater). The fee for late payments can be up to $40 and for returned payments also up to $40 each.

The Wayfair Credit Card has a variable APR of 26.99% and the Wayfair Mastercard has a variable purchase APR of 26.99% and cash APR of 29.99%. There is a minimum interest charge of $2.

Old Wayfair Credit Cards

Previously, Wayfair had a Credit Card Program in partnership with Comenity Bank that included only one credit card. If you have this card, you can no longer use it to make purchases or redeem rewards still in your account.

There used to be more rewards for Wayfair cardmembers as well, including exclusive or early access to select items and free shipping on everything. But with the release of a second credit card and a new partnership with Citibank, these free perks disappeared and the rewards program was stripped down to savings and financing.

Pros and Cons

The best thing about the Wayfair credit cards is the savings. If you find yourself on websites within the Wayfair family often, it is probably worth it for you to sign up for a card just for the rewards. Membership doesn’t cost a penny, so you don’t have to worry about spending a certain amount to make the card worth it.

Another advantage to both of these credit cards is that they give you the option to pay off purchases over time. Between No Interest Financing and Major Purchase Plans, you have payback flexibility (as long as you choose financing as your perk).

Now onto the bad. Like most store-branded credit cards, you can’t use the Wayfair Credit Card just anywhere. You are restricted to Wayfair sites. This is one of the main reasons we recommend the Wayfair Mastercard over the Credit Card, if you have the choice, because you can use the Mastercard anywhere Mastercard is accepted.

But the main disadvantage to these cards is that the rewards program is pretty lacking. Rewards are capped to a maximum of $2500 Reward Dollars each month, and you are very limited in how you can use them. They can only be applied to Wayfair retail purchases, which is not unusual for a co-branded store credit card, but it would be nice to at least have the option to redeem for cashback.

Wayfair’s program also doesn’t have any of the additional cardmember perks that many store credit cards do. Many stores offer extras like free shipping, members-only events and discounts, waived fees, added purchase protection, etc.

The Target RedCard, for example, gives you free shipping and a 5% discount on every in-store or online purchase. The Walmart Rewards Mastercard automatically enrolls you in MasterRental Insurance at no cost and also comes with extended warranties and price protection on every purchase.

It’s also worth noting that the introductory offers are disappointing. $40 off your first order is nothing to get excited about and you only get it if you choose the rewards perk, which brings us to another disadvantage. You can’t earn rewards and take part in no-interest financing, so you’re going to miss out on something no matter what perk you choose.

And the APRs for these cards are high outside of promotions, so don’t carry a balance if you can help it.

How to Apply

If you don’t already have a Wayfair account, you’ll need to sign up for one. It only takes a few minutes to apply for a Wayfair credit card. From your Wayfair account, you can see if you pre-qualify and submit an application. Checking to see if you pre-qualify does not require a hard credit pull and therefore has no effect on your credit.

Most people who apply for a Wayfair credit card get approved. You only have to have a credit score of at least 580 to qualify. But if you have poor credit and do get approved, you might not qualify for perks such as Major Purchase financing (or may get stuck with higher monthly payments). You have to apply each time for promotional financing, and there is no guarantee that you will qualify even if you have in the past.

When you apply, you will automatically be considered for both credit cards though your application only includes one hard credit inquiry. You can choose your preferred card if approved for both. The Wayfair Credit Card is easier to qualify for than the Wayfair Mastercard, but you’ll want to choose the Wayfair Mastercard if you get approved for it.

You may receive a small bonus for applying if you have chosen rewards instead of financing. The current welcome offer gives you $40 off your first qualifying Wayfair order of at least $250.

How to Use Your Wayfair Credit Card

To use your Wayfair Credit Card, you need to sign in to your Wayfair account when checking out and should see your card in your saved payment methods. Wayfair Credit Card members receive a digital version of their card and cannot request a physical card.

Using your Wayfair Mastercard, a physical card that you will receive in the mail about a week after your application is accepted, is just like using any other credit card. This is a contactless chip card that you can swipe or tap at most terminals. Rewards will deposit to your account automatically following qualifying transactions. You can use this card at checkout when shopping online at Wayfair and other retail sites.

Sign into your Wayfair account to check your rewards balance. If you have Reward Dollars, you can use them toward whatever purchases you want. There is no minimum requirement for how many points you may use at a time. Just remember that rewards have no cash value, so the only way to use them is to credit them toward Wayfair purchases. You can’t cash out.

The process is the same when shopping at Wayfair family sites such as All Modern and Joss and Main. From your account, add your Wayfair credit card to your saved payment methods, then just select this option when checking out.

You can also pay your bill or make changes to your account from your Wayfair profile where you will be redirected to Citibank. Alternatively, you can pay bills directly through your Citibank account or over the phone by calling 1-800-365-2714. Citibank allows you to enroll in paperless statements and AutoPay at no cost.

If you have a Wayfair credit card issued through Comenity, you will need to contact Comenity to pay any outstanding bills and manage your account.

Final Thoughts

If you shop often enough at Wayfair and its affiliate sites, then a Wayfair Mastercard might be worth it for you. We definitely recommend the Wayfair Mastercard over the Wayfair Credit Card, as this option is the much more flexible and rewarding of the two. However, this isn’t a great credit card either.

The Wayfair credit cards can help you save money at Wayfair and finance large purchases, but the card rewards program is below average in a lot of ways. For example, there are no cardmember perks other than rewards and promotional financing. For most people, a free cashback rewards credit card such as the Chase Freedom Flex Card or the Citi Double Cash Card is going to be a much smarter and more rewarding option.

Many people sign up for a credit card to get bonus miles and points for travel, but some prefer their rewards in the form of cash. The Blue Cash Everyday Card by American Express is a good cash back card that offers bonus earning opportunities in popular everyday spending categories.

The card doesn’t have an annual fee, and it offers 0% introductory APR on purchases. It also comes with a $200 welcome bonus which is credited on your statement once you meet the minimum spend of $2,000 in the first six months.

Bonus Categories

Cardholders earn 3% cash back on up to $6,000 in purchases at US supermarkets per year. You won’t max out this bonus category unless you spend more than $500 a month on groceries.

Purchases at gas stations and select department stores including Bloomingdale’s, JCPenney, Kohl’s, Macy’s and Nordstrom earn 2% cash back, and all other purchases earn 1% cash back per dollar spent.

Cash back is received in the form of reward dollars that can be cashed in at a rate of one penny per point, so 25,000 points = $25.00, which is the minimum amount needed to get a statement credit.

Who is the Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card For?

This card is good for someone who doesn’t want to pay an annual fee for a credit card, but still wants to earn rewards for their spending. While many travel rewards cards offer bonuses for travel and dining, the bonus categories on the Amex Blue Cash Everyday rewards those that use their card to buy groceries and gas.

The $200 welcome bonus is also accessible for people that don’t spend $1,000 or more a month. Many travel rewards cards require a minimum spend of $3,000 or more in the first three months of having the card. The Amex Blue Cash Everyday card gives you half a year to meet the $2,000 in spend needed to earn the bonus, which amounts to less than $350 a month in spending.

It’s also a good choice for someone who wants to finance a big purchase and pay over time without having to pay interest because it has no interest on purchases for the first 15 months. Most travel rewards cards do not offer 0% interest for purchases.

This card is probably not the best option for someone who travels frequently for business and eats out often, but it’s a great choice for families that prepare most meals at home and travel primarily by car. It’s also good for someone who frequents the department stores that offer double rewards.

Credit Score Range Typically Required

Your credit score needs to be 700 or more, which means it has to be on the high end of a good score which is between 690 and 719. Or your score needs to be in the excellent range, which is 720 to 850. 

Both FICO and VantageScore use a range of 300-850 to determine credit scores. If your score is in the fair range (630-689) or below, then you will most likely not get approved for the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express.

What’s included in my credit score?

Just over a third (35%) of your FICO credit score is based on your payment history, and another 30% is calculated based on the amount owed. These two factors together make up two-thirds of the overall score. 

Your credit history, which looks at the length of time you have been granted credit, makes up 15% of the model, and new credit and the mix of credit mix account for 10% each. These last two metrics are concerned with how many new lines of credit you have applied for and the different types of credit you have, which can include home, car and student loans in addition to credit cards.

Income Level Required

In addition to reviewing your credit score, and even possibly modifying the weight given to the factors involved in it, American Express also asks what your income is on your credit card application. They also ask what your housing cost is to help them determine your ability to pay your credit card bills.

There is no specific income requirement for the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card, but what you make is one of the important factors when deciding whether or not to approve your application. It will also come into play when Amex decides what credit limit the card will come with if your application is successful.

Odds of Approval

If your credit score is good to excellent, your income levels are sufficient, and you’re not carrying too much debt on your credit cards, you have a good chance of getting approved.

A typical successful applicant would be someone who has had a mix of credit over a number of years, a good payment history on those lines of credit, and someone who hasn’t opened a lot of new credit lines recently. 

Your credit card balance should also not exceed more than 30% of your combined credit lines. A lower debt-to-credit ratio improves your odds, and likewise a higher ratio of debt to credit will decrease your odds. But keep in mind that this is only one factor being considered.

American Express Rules

Your credit score and other factors noted above are not the only things that come into play when your application is getting reviewed. Like most credit card issuers, American Express has certain rules that may block you from getting approved.

For example, you can only apply for two American Express cards in a 90-day period, and you have to wait five days in between applications. Also, you can only have five active Amex cards with a preset spending limit at a time, including both personal and business cards. Amex charge cards like the popular Gold and Platinum cards don’t count as they don’t have a pre-set limit.

Also, another important consideration is that you will only receive the welcome bonus one time for each of its products, so if you’ve ever had the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express before and gotten a welcome bonus, you will not be eligible for the $200 bonus if you apply again.

Amex Blue Cash Everyday Preferred Card

If you are thinking about signing up for the Blue Cash Everyday card, but you’ve had it before or you want to earn greater rewards, you might want to consider the Blue Cash Everyday Preferred Card from American Express.

This mid-tier version of the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card does have a $95 annual fee in the second year, but it includes a statement credit of $300 as a welcome bonus once you spend $3,000 in the first six months. 

If your spend is closer to $500 a month rather than just a few hundred, this might be the better option for you because the annual fee is waived the first year and the bonus earnings are greater. 

Bonus Categories for the Blue Cash Everyday vs. the Blue Cash Everyday Preferred

The Preferred version of the card lets you earn 6% cash back at US supermarkets up to $6,000, which is double the rewards offered by the no-annual-fee Blue Cash Everyday card. Subscriptions to select US streaming services also earn 6% cash back with the Preferred card. This is not a bonus category for the Blue Cash Everyday card so it only earns 1% cash back for streaming.

You’ll also earn 3% cash back at domestic gas stations and eligible transit such as buses, trains, parking, rideshare, taxis, tolls and other transit costs. The Blue Cash Everyday card only earns 2% at gas stations and no bonus rewards on transit. All other purchases on the Blue Cash Everyday Preferred card earn 1% cash back.

0% Introductory Offers for Blue Cash Everyday vs. the Blue Cash Everyday Preferred

The Blue Cash Everyday Preferred by American Express also offers a 0% into APR for the first year, but that is three months less than the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card offers, so if you want longer to pay off a balance for a big purchase then the no-annual fee version might be a better choice.

Both cards offer a buy now, pay later Plan It financing option that allows you to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Any plan created during either card’s intro 0% APR period will have no plan fees. Plans created for purchases after the introductory period ends will have a monthly plan fee of up to 1.33% of each purchase over $100 based on the length of time in the plan, the APR that would normally apply and other factors.

Travel and Shopping Benefits

Both the Amex Blue Cash Everyday and the Preferred version come with the same package of travel benefits and shopping protection. If you use your card to pay for a car rental, you can decline the collision damage waiver and you will have secondary coverage for theft or damage in a covered territory.

Cardholders also have access to the Global Assist Hotline when they travel more than 100 miles from home including help with lost luggage, translations, and legal and medical emergencies, though the card member will be responsible for costs by third-party service providers.

Both cards also come with protection on purchases made with the card. If you need to return something you bought with the card and the merchant won’t take it back, Amex will refund you up to $300 per item with a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year. You also get theft and accidental damage protection on purchases up to 90 days and $1,000 per occurrence for a maximum of $50,000 per calendar year.

Credit Score Needed for Amex Blue Cash Everyday Preferred

The Preferred version of the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card requires a similar credit score and history as the no-annual fee version, so you should compare both cards to see which is a better fit for your needs.

If you want to take some of the guesswork out of whether you will be approved for either one of these cards, especially if your credit score is borderline and you’re not sure if you qualify, you can see if you pre-qualify on the American Express site. 

It’s not guaranteed that you will be approved if you do pre-qualify, but it is a good indicator of whether you will be successful in obtaining a particular Amex card.

Bottom Line

If you’re in the market for a credit card that offers cash back on everyday spending like groceries and gas and you don’t want to pay an annual fee, then the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express is a great choice. It offers a good cash back welcome offer and the minimum spend is very manageable.

If you can meet a slightly higher minimum spend ($3,000 vs. $1,000 in the first six months), then the Blue Cash Everyday Preferred will get you more rewards for your gas station and supermarket purchases. The Preferred version also offers 6x bonus rewards on streaming services so the typical family can really rack up rewards with these bonus categories.

The downside of the Everyday Preferred card is that it does carry a $95 annual fee, which is waived the first year. The extra $100 welcome bonus ($300 for the Preferred vs. $200 for the no-annual-fee version) can offset that difference, but once the annual fee kicks in you would have to evaluate whether you spend enough in the bonus categories to maximize the rewards and justify the annual fee.

Both cards require the same good to excellent credit score, but the Preferred version may have a higher threshold of creditworthiness because mid-tier cards often have higher lines of credit. But if you have excellent credit, the Preferred version offers greater rewards and you can always downgrade to the no annual fee version after the first year if you want to avoid the annual fee. 

If you carry several credit cards in your wallet, the Blue Cash Everyday Card by American Express or the Preferred version can be a great addition that lets you earn 2x, 3x or 6x on categories outside of travel and dining which are the most popular bonus categories for most travel rewards cards.

Don’t believe the lie that you’re out of luck for big travel savings if you live in a small town.

Yes, it is admittedly harder to snag cheap flights if you’re not within driving distance of a major hub. There’s also the issue of limited availability for certain routes.

However, there are some savings to be found even if you live in a flyover spot. Just be prepared to get creative, have a willingness to take the road less traveled and the ability to lengthen travel times if you want to pocket some savings when departing your pocket-sized town.

Take a look at these five tips for how to get cheap flights if you live in a small town.

Get Acquainted With Your Local Airport’s Website

Third-party booking sites might not show you the whole story on the routes available out of your city. While those platforms are great when you’re comparing options for multiple airports, they’re less helpful when you already know the airport you want to fly out of for your next trip.

Why? The good flights near you might not make the front page.

It’s actually smarter to go directly to your local airport’s website to take a look at the carriers that serve your city.

Scan the list to check for budget carriers before going deeper to check out actual destinations.

Next, plug in some different dates and times to see just how low you can get the price to go based on your travel needs.

You’ll likely want to go with whatever budget carrier offers the best rates out of your airport.

Embrace Connecting Flights

You have to be realistic enough to understand that flying directly to Paris on a dime from your sparsely populated town might not be happening on the cheap.

However, an inexpensive connecting flight or two can be the next best thing to actually living near a major hub.

What’s more, connecting flights out of smaller airports can actually be less expensive than the cost of paying for a ride to an airport located a few hours away from you.

It’s also just a lot easier than asking family members or friends to shuttle you to a faraway airport.

Longer connecting flights can actually save you a surprising amount of money when you’re able to book international fares out of major hubs.

Taking a connecting flight to one of the coasts to snag a rock-bottom fare for an international departure may give you access to the cheapest flights around if you’re willing to invest just a little bit of time and money on the front end.

Consider Ground Transportation

Are you really going to let yourself pass up a $79 fare to the Bahamas? Those flash deals that you see advertised by airlines don’t have to be the exclusive bounty of those lucky enough to live near major airports. Thinking outside the box to save money on travel sometimes comes down to thinking inside the boxcar. Consider taking a train or bus to get to a major airport if connecting flights out of your area aren’t affordable.

Pivot From Airline Points to Rental Car Points

Airline rewards definitely steal the thunder when it comes to redeeming your credit card points for travel perks.

However, you might want to consider a slightly tweaked strategy if you live in a small town.

First, focus on using hubs to book rock-bottom fares without even taking into account the travel points you’ve accumulated with your favorite credit card. The savings you’ll get from booking through a hub can easily be greater than the savings you’d get from trying to make your points do anything for you when booking a pricier fare out of a smaller airport.

Next, focus on using those points you have stocked away to redeem rewards that can be used for a cheap rental car. Finally, use that next-to-nothing price for a rental car to simply drive to the hub you want to fly out of to get to your destination.

Play “Travel Agent” With Some Different Flight Combinations

Don’t be so married to using roundtrip flights for your trips.

This requires a bit of a time investment because you’ll be playing around with all kinds of different configurations to get to the right price point.

First, look for inexpensive one-way tickets from your city to a big hub that’s offering lots of cheap fares to your destination. Is it cheaper to book two flights to-and-from a departure city featuring a great deal on a trip you want to take, rather than getting a roundtrip flight from your local airport?

The perk here is that you can really choose any departure city you want because distance really isn’t an object when you’re flying before you fly.

The trick is that closer doesn’t mean cheaper. You may not mind flying an extra hour to get to a departure hub if it means saving hundreds of dollars.

The math here just needs to work out so that your cost of each connecting flight combined with your main roundtrip flight is cheaper than a roundtrip flight to your destination from your original starting point.

This can actually be really fun if you’re willing to take on the mindset that there are no rules when it comes to the where, when and why of how you travel. You’re willing to put in a little time and planning to get rates that elude others!

Bonus Tip: Consider a Different Type of Vacation

The truth is that paying more for flights is one of the most frustrating parts of living in a small town that’s several hours away from any major hubs.

This frustration might be inspiring you to think about annual vacations a little differently.

One good strategy for taking a good vacation every year without necessarily needing to do a complicated dance of the fares is to simply identify an airline serving your local airport that offers affordable flights to a spot that’s a big departure point for cruise lines.

You’ll get the benefit of booking what is essentially a cheap connecting flight while also skipping the need for a “main” roundtrip flight because you’ll be hopping on a cruise ship that bundles your costs for transport, food and hotel room in one.

Final Thoughts

Small-town living can be compatible with a jet-setting lifestyle if you’re willing to put a little more planning into how you book your trips.

Of course, it’s inevitable that you’ll simply need to pay more to get to destinations some of the time if you live in a place where flight offerings are sparse.

The first step to flying for less when you live in a small town is to start keeping up with the offerings at your local airport. Focusing on routes offered by the resident budget carrier is the starting point because this airline will become your gateway to better fares at bigger airports around the country.

If you’re a fan of Apple, you may be wondering if the tech giant’s branded credit card is a good fit for you. This titanium card designed by Apple is a card that lets you earn cash back on your purchases rather than earning miles or points like many other rewards cards. So does the Apple card deserve a place in your digital wallet?

For starters, it has no annual fee so you don’t have to worry about getting charged to carry this card. The card also doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees or even late fees, so you don’t have to worry too much about those either, though a late payment will cause you to accrue more interest and it will affect your credit score negatively so that’s something to avoid.

Pre-Approval Without a Credit Inquiry

You can usually see if you’re approved for this card in less than a minute without taking a ding on your credit score initially, which usually goes down by a few points with a hard inquiry. Apple’s card issuer will tell you what your credit limit and interest rate will be, but your credit score will not be impacted unless you accept the offer. Don’t worry though, because hard inquiries are usually removed within a few months.

Before you fill out an application for the Apple card, let’s go over the earning potential to see if it’s a good choice for your spending patterns. There are many generous credit card offers in the market, and many card issuers have rules about how many cards you can apply for in a specific period of time so you should keep that in mind if you plan to apply for other cards in the near future.

Bonus Earning Categories

You’ll earn 3% cash back on purchases at Apple stores, within the App Store and for Apple services. But most people don’t shop at the Apple store that often so unless you spend a lot on apps as well, this bonus category is limited.

You can also earn 3% cash back at select merchants when you use the Apple card with Apple Pay, which is the digital wallet on iPhones. Merchants include Uber and Uber Eats, Walgreens and Duane Reade drug stores, in-store T-Mobile, Nike (in US stores, on the website or through Nike apps), Exxon and Mobil gas stations, and Panera restaurants. All of these purchases must be made using Apple Pay to qualify for 3% cash back.

All other purchases made using the card through Apple Pay earn 2% cash back, and everything else purchased using the Apple card earns 1% cash back. Keep in mind that Apple Pay is not accepted everywhere in the US and is even more limited in acceptance overseas.

Who is the Apple Card For?

The Apple card is good for someone who buys Apple products. You may be planning to purchase a new iPhone or MacBook from the Apple store and if that’s your goal, you can get 3% cash back and you can even choose to pay in installments and avoid interest for a period of time.

It’s also good for iPhone users that use Apple Pay for contactless payments as this category earns 2-3% cash back depending on the merchant. The list of merchants that offer 3% are limited to those listed above, so unless you use those merchants regularly the Apple credit card may not be very rewarding.

If you don’t like waiting, then this card might be a good choice for you. You can apply for the card through Apple Pay on your iPhone, and if your application is successful you can start using the card through the app immediately.

Also, you won’t have to wait a month to get your rewards with the Apple card because cash back is applied every day so you don’t have to wait until the next billing cycle as you do with most other cash back cards. You do need to have an Apple Cash account to get the cash immediately, but if you don’t have one then it will be applied as a statement credit.

The Apple card also has a neat feature that lets you choose an amount to pay on your card and it will estimate the interest cost in real time, which may help with financial planning. You might pay off your card faster when you see the savings.

You do need to be 18 years or older and a US citizen or lawful resident. You also need to use two-factor authentication with your Apple ID and sign into iCloud with your Apple ID to be eligible for this card. You also may be required to use your driver’s license or state-issued ID to verify your identity 

Credit Score Range Typically Required

There is not a lot of information on what specific credit score is likely to be approved for this card because that information is largely crowd sourced, and because this Apple card was only introduced in 2019 so the amount of feedback from applicants is limited.

Apple primarily uses the FICO Score 9 which ranges from 300 to 850, and on their website it indicates that a score of 660 or more is considered “favorable” to obtain the Apple card.

This card is issued by Goldman Sachs, who will use your FICO and other credit scores, your credit report and the income you report on your application to make a decision. If you have a freeze on your credit report, be sure to lift that temporarily before you apply for the card.

What’s included in my credit score?

The most important factor in determining your credit score is payment history. It accounts for 35% of your score and it will help the lender determine the risk they are taking if they give you a line of credit.

The second most important factor is the amount you owe, which is also known as your debt-to-credit ratio. This is calculated by looking at how much of your available credit you are using, and this accounts for 30% of the score.

The length of credit history makes up 15% of your score. A longer credit history is preferable, but not critical for a good credit score. This part of the score includes the age of your oldest account, the age of your newest account and the average age of all your other accounts. It also looks at usage to see how long ago you used some accounts.

Your credit mix, which includes credit cards and different types of loans including mortgages, student loans and car financing, makes up 10% of your score. New credit accounts for the last 10% so this part of your score is lowered if you have opened a number of new credit accounts recently.

Income Level and Other Factors Considered

There is no specific income level required to be approved for the Apple Card, but you will be asked what your income is on the application and you’ll also be asked how much you pay for housing.

Credit card issuers have their own data that they can use to compare your income and obligations against current customers with a similar profile to help them determine your creditworthiness. 

The key thing they are trying to determine is your ability to pay off your debt, so if more than half your income is going toward housing and you have debt like student loans that you are paying off, then you may not be a good credit risk and will be declined.

If approved for the card, the initial credit limit is determined by looking at your income and the minimum payments due on your existing debt to determine your ability to pay off your new Apple card.

Odds of Approval

Even though Apple indicates that a score of 660 is favorable for approval, that is only considered a fair credit rating. If your score is in the good or excellent range you will have a much better chance of getting approved.

If your score is below 600, you likely won’t be approved. There are some other things that might cause you to be declined for the Apple card including being past due on payments recently, having a checking account closed for overdrafting your account, having a judgement against you from litigation, having property that’s been repossessed or having negative public records like a tax lien or bankruptcy filing,

If you’re heavily in debt and you don’t earn enough to meet your obligations that will also lead to a declined application. And if you’ve maxed out your credit lines in the last three months or you’ve opened a lot of new accounts recently those are also red flags.

Issuer Rules

One thing you don’t have to worry about are the rules that many credit card issuers have implemented in recent years to try and stop people from applying for too many cards to get sign-up bonuses. Chase for example has a 5/24 rule, where you can’t apply for more than five cards with any card issuers in two years or you will be automatically denied.

Also, because Wells Fargo does not issue as many credit cards as Chase, Citi or American Express you likely don’t have to worry about the Apple card issuer denying you because you already have too many credit cards or lines of credit with the bank.

Why the Apple Card May Not Be Right For You

Now that we’ve gone over all the reasons why you might want to apply for the Apple credit card, let’s talk about why this card may not be a good choice.

This card is not good for someone who is interested in a sign-up bonus as the card does not come with one. Many cash back cards offer a welcome bonus of $200 like the Blue Cash Everyday Card by American Express. The Preferred version of this card offers a $300 sign-up bonus.

There is no 0% APR introductory offer, though you can use your card to pay for Apple products in monthly installments if you check out using that option. But if you buy your Apple device from another retailer you can’t pay off that purchase over time and avoid interest. 

If you’re thinking of getting the Apple card to pay for a new tech product, you might want to consider the Citi Custom Cash card for more flexibility on where you make the purchase. The Citi card comes with a 0% introductory APR for 15 months and it includes a $200 sign-up bonus after you spend $750 in the first three months of having the card.

If you don’t own an iPhone 6 or later, then this is probably not the best card for you because bonus points are primarily earned when making purchases through Apple Pay and that does not work on older phones. And if you’re an Android user, this also won’t be a good card for you as you won’t have access to Apple digital wallet and will be limited to 1% cash back on purchases. 

There are plenty of other cash back cards that offer 1.5% or more in cash back on all purchases, so one of those cards might be more rewarding. The Capital One Quicksilver for example offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases and the Citi Double Cash credit card offers 1% cash back when you make the purchase and another 1% when you pay off the balance.

Final Thoughts

If you’re planning a big purchase from the Apple store, the Apple card may be a good choice. And if you use Apple Pay for most of your purchases, this card can be very rewarding especially if you order Ubers to get around and for meal deliveries or if you use the merchants that offer 3% cash back.

If you don’t plan to pay off your card when the statement comes due, then a 0% interest card will give you time to pay off your balance and save you money in the long run because paying interest on a credit card will totally negate any rewards you’ve earned.