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Visa Infinite is an awards program at the top of Visa’s benefit levels. It was first launched in Europe and only came to the US in 2016. It remains relatively obscure in the states with little search volume for it on Google.
The program consists of three Visa tiers are Traditional, Signature, and Infinite, with Infinite being the top tier and Traditional the most basic. Every benefit encompassed within the Traditional and Signature tiers is included within the Infinite tier, with many additional perks on top of those at the Infinite level.
Visa Infinite members enjoy the best prizes and travel benefits Visa has to offer, and cards that qualify for this program are available through many banks. If your card is a Visa Infinite card, you’ll know—it’ll say “Visa Infinite” right on the front.
Here’s what the Visa Infinite program is all about and everything its awards package is likely to include.
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In this post you'll learn:
What is the Visa Infinite Program and Which Cards Apply?
The Visa Infinite Program is a perks-packed Visa offering, structured in three tiers, that only individuals with certain Visa credit cards have access to.
Generally speaking, these cards cater to higher net worth individuals that travel frequently. This is because many Visa Infinite cards require high credit scores and incomes to qualify, and many of the benefits associated with Visa Infinite are related to travel, and more specifically high-end travel.
The Visa Infinite card is available through many carriers—Chase, Citibank, and U.S. Bank, to name a few. Specific, popular Visa-branded credit cards within the Visa Infinite Program include:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- United Club℠ Infinite Card
- Citi Life Visa Infinite Credit Card
- U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card
- UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card
Privileges and Benefits of the Visa Infinite Program
The features of a Visa Infinite credit card vary by carrier, as most of the privileges within Visa Infinite are set by the banks that carry these cards rather than Visa itself. Just understand that your own card might have more or less perks than what we’re outlining below as a general standard.
Be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully for a thorough understanding of what your benefits package includes.
For an in-depth look at what the Visa Infinite program generally includes, at its base level, continue reading…
Visa Infinite Luxury Hotels
Hotels within the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection give members the “ultimate hotel experience” when they travel. All participating hotels provide seven benefits:
- VIP guest status,
- room upgrades at check-in,
- a best available rate guarantee,
- complimentary in-room breakfast,
- complimentary WiFi,
- late checkout, and
- a $25 food and beverage credit per stay.
Cardholders need to book through the Visa Infinite Hotels site to secure these benefits.
200 hotels from the Visa Luxury Hotel Collection also include an eighth benefit, which might be either an additional $75 food and beverage credit (on top of the included $25) or a $100 spa, golf, or room rate credit. The hotels decide what the eighth benefit will be.
Keep in mind that some of these features look a little different from one hotel to another, and all of these bonuses are subject to availability.
Visa Infinite Concierge Status
Visa Infinite members will get all of the travel help and advice they need 24/7 with Visa Infinite Concierge Services. This digital concierge service, available 365 days a year, can help with everything from booking reservations to helping you find the best prices for your stay. You can even ask for dining and entertainment recommendations, and you’ll get exclusive access to deals and dates.
Global Entry Statement Credit
This perk is best for those that do a lot of international travel. Global Entry, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection program that grants expedited clearance into the United States to pre-approved returning travelers, will cost you $100 less when you’re a Visa Infinite member.
Visa Infinite gives its users a $100 statement credit for Global Entry, the current price of the program’s application fee. This equates to free Global Entry, which you can apply for through the Trusted Travelers Program section of the Homeland Security site.
Visa Infinite Car Rentals
Visa Infinite car rental privileges are many, and they can be redeemed through Avis, Hertz, National, and Silvercar. The benefits are different for each rental agency.
With Avis, cardholders can enroll in Avis Preferred Plus—a car rental rewards program much like a frequent flyer program—, take advantage of rate discounts of up to 30%, and get weekend rentals for free. With Hertz, cardholders enrolled in Hertz Gold Plus Rewards have access to special savings and speedier service. Visa Infinite cardholders receive complimentary Emerald Club Executive level membership with National and 25% off. Finally, cardholders save up to 30% with Silvercar.
Lounge Access and Priority Pass
Priority Pass lounge access is granted to Visa Infinite cardholders. This provides entrance to more than 1,300 airport lounges in 148 countries and over 600 cities.
The credit card you have determines your access level, with Standard being the lowest, Standard Plus being the middle, and Prestige being the highest tier. Standard will get you the fewest free lounge visits annually and you’ll have to pay per guest, and Prestige will get you unlimited visits for yourself and a few free guest passes.
Airline Incidental Statement Credit
Airline incidental fees for checked baggage, flight changes, inflight amenities, etc. accumulate all too easily. But when you’re with Visa Infinite, you’ll get a statement credit in the form of rebates for some of these. How much and for what is determined by your card issuer.
Fine Wine and Food
The Fine Wine and Food benefit offered to Visa Infinite cardholders is great for foodies and wine aficionados. However, it is also available to Signature members and isn’t as all-inclusive as Visa makes it sound (“Enjoy world-class celebrity chefs and winemaker experiences”).
With this feature, you’ll get two wine tastings for the price of one when you purchase one with your Visa Infinite card. You’ll also have access to preferred pricing on wine tastings and dining at select Sonoma wineries. Call the winery you’re visiting to find out what offers you’re eligible for.
Golf
Love hitting the links? Have a Visa Infinite card? Then you should probably join the Visa Infinite Troon Golf Rewards program. With this, you’ll receive premium benefits when golfing at over 115 courses across the United States. These include the ability to reserve tee times, bring guests at discounted rates, play private courses, and more.
Infinite Chauffeured Car Service
Visa Infinite, in partnership with GroundLink, offers the option of chauffeured car services to cardholders. The GroundLink chauffeured black car service, which includes professional drivers and high-tech rides, is 15% off when you have a Visa Infinite card. You’ll also get a $30 credit toward the service, which is accessible worldwide.
Protection
In addition to cost-cutting and luxurious privileges and benefits, Visa Infinite extends additional protection to its members. This purchase protection insures many different aspects of travel. Please note that many of the following benefits are not exclusive to Visa Infinite as they are actually included in the Signature package as well.
Auto Collision Damage Waiver
Use your Visa Infinite card to pay when booking a rental car and receive insurance coverage automatically. Visa Infinite Auto Rental Coverage covers not only collision damage but also theft, towing expenses, loss-of-use charges, and more.
Extended Warranty Protection
Extended Warranty Protection under the Visa Infinite program is applied to qualifying items with warranties of three years or less. This benefit extends a manufacturer’s warranty by one year. You do not need to register or pay for this addition as long as a purchase is made with your Visa Infinite card.
Roadside Dispatch
Roadside Dispatch, while not a complimentary Visa Infinite feature, could prove to be handy. Use this service when you’re in trouble and help, a locksmith or tow, will be dispatched right to your location. You will pay a predetermined price, set by your card issuer, per service call.
Purchase Security
The Purchase Security Visa Infinite perk can be thought of as an extended return period. If you purchase something with your Visa Infinite card and that something ends up needing to be replaced or returned within 90 days of purchase, this is no problem. Even if an item is stolen, this policy is in effect. This, like Extended Warranty Protection, need not be applied or paid for. It can cover $10,000 per occurrence.
Travel and Emergency Assistance Service
The Travel and Emergency Assistance Services rolled into the standard Visa Infinite package is a 24/7 helpline that can help with any of the following needs that one might have while traveling:
- Medical Referral Assistance
- Emergency Transportation Assistance
- Emergency Message Service
- Emergency Translation Service
- Emergency Ticket Replacement
- Legal Referral Assistance
- Lost Luggage Locator Service
- Prescription Assistance and Valuable Document Delivery
These helplines are devoted specifically to providing emergency assistance and are available to you and any of your dependents at no cost.
Return Protection
Similar to Purchase Security, Visa Infinite Return Protection lets you make returns within 90 days of purchase if you are not satisfied with an item and a return is refused. So long as you use your Visa Infinite card to make the purchase and the item you are buying costs less than or equal to $300, you are covered under this benefit.
Air Travel Reimbursement
If you ever get annoyed with being nickel and dimed by airlines’ never ending in-flight fees such as entertainment (headphones and television access), in-flight food purchases, checked baggage fees and the like, then Visa Infinite will alleviate some headaches. With Visa Infinite you’ll receive reimbursements for air travel fees including the things mentioned above and more. Just remember though that the card issuer sets the statement credit amount.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement
Visa Infinite cardholders are eligible for reimbursement of lost or stolen carry-ons and checked bags—when a flight ticket is purchased with a Visa Infinite card, of course. This benefit is applied automatically.
Lost or Stolen Card Reporting
This benefit, which is really more of a necessity than a benefit, gives you access to global call centers that will initiate replacements and notify authorities for you in the event of a lost or stolen Visa Infinite card.
Trip Delay Reimbursement
Visa Infinite cardholders don’t have to pay out of pocket for fees caused by trip delays that are out of their control with Trip Delay Reimbursement. When members are stuck for more than six hours due to a covered hazard—equipment failure, inclement weather, strike, or hijacking/skyjacking—and they purchased their fare with their Visa Infinite cards, they are eligible to be reimbursed up to $500.
Zero Liability
Visa’s Zero Liability policy states that you will not be liable to pay for transactions that you do not authorize. This protects cardholders from identity theft and even purchases made with lost or stolen cards.
Trip Cancellation / Trip Interruption Reimbursement
When you book a trip with your Visa Infinite card and you need to cancel at the last minute or cut it short, Visa will reimburse you for all or part of your non-refundable fare (your benefits package should cover this in detail). In addition to air travel, this covers trains, buses, ferries, and cruise ships.
Emergency Cash Disbursement
If a Visa Infinite cardholder is ever in a pinch and needs a wire transfer fast, Visa will arrange for this. If you are in need of emergency assistance because you lost a card and are waiting on a replacement, Visa can make a wire cash transfer to you to a local Western Union location within 2 hours of your request being approved.
Emergency Card Replacement
If your Visa Infinite card is lost, stolen, or damaged, Visa will work with your bank to have it replaced in as little as 24 hours and no more than 72 hours. Emergency Card Replacement can be applied no matter where you are in the world.
Visa Infinite VS Visa Signature
Because Visa Infinite was originally launched in Europe, the Visa Infinite suite has significantly larger market share there than here in the United States. The Visa Signature line of cards is much more prevalent in the U.S. That said, there are very little differences between the two.
The main difference lies with the luxury hotel chains included and the perks offered at each. In terms of perks for example, Visa Signature offers room upgrades if available, $25 food and beverage credit, free continental breakfast, free Wi-Fi and late check out. Whereas the Visa Infinite offers all of that PLUS a $75 food and beverage credit (vs just $25 with Signature) and a $100 resort fee credit (not applicable at all hotels and destinations). In terms of luxury hotel chains, Visa Infinite has a larger roster of superior hotels to choose from with over 900 luxury hotels around the word.
Final Thoughts
The Visa Infinite program is like many other premium credit card rewards programs in that it offers a nice range of luxurious benefits to card holders. The top tier has elite benefits and securities that are going to be most attractive to a wealthier demographic, especially those that travel often and wish to do so in luxury. But there are many Visa Infinite perks provided to Visa Signature cardholders as well, which has much broader acceptance.
Just remember, the specific benefits you are entitled to can vary and change sporadically.
✈️ Looking for a new travel credit card this year? See today’s top offers below:
- Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards
- Best Airlines Credit Cards
- Best Hotel Credit Cards
- Best Business Credit Cards
- Best Cash Back Credit Cards
- Best Overall in 2022
About the Author:
Lauren is a writer and editor specializing in personal finance and education. She works for the digital publishing company, Dotdash, as a content update editor and writes for APYGUY and SavingforCollege when she's not writing for FlyerGeek.