Travel Card Issuers Pushing an Upgrade?: The Offer Might Make Sense (but So Might a Downgrade)
Travel card "families" offer a range of options
Many travel credit cards, whether offering points and miles for hotel chains and airlines or flexible proprietary points, come in card families. The cards in these families range from free cards that can get you started in your quest for travel rewards to cards with annual fees of over $500 that are packed with luxury benefits.
Over the past few weeks, we have published eight posts, each focusing on a different credit card family. In these posts, we covered current bonus offers, spending bonus structures, benefits, and annual fees. Additionally, we have provided commentary on who might find each card useful.
When we create your unique Travel Rewards Optimizer plan, we take a range of inputs (your travel style, destinations of interest, spending patterns, etc.) into consideration so that you can meet your travel goals as efficiently as possible. Some of the most productive travel rewards cards come with annual fees and, if appropriate, we recommend you apply for them. But also, in the interest of keeping your annual credit card fees under control, we often recommend downgrading a card you might have to a less expensive card in the same family. After all, we don’t work for the banks; we find ways to make them work for you.
We hope you have seen some of these posts on credit card families, but if not, here are links to the entire series.
Chase Freedom/Sapphire: From cashback cards to cards creating a foundation for a robust travel rewards program
https://www.travelrewardsoptimizer.com/chase-freedom-and-sapphire-credit-cards-in-points-and-miles
American Express: Cards that leverage different purchase patterns and offer different benefits
Delta Airlines: Four cards to accommodate very different types of Delta flyers
https://www.travelrewardsoptimizer.com/amex-delta-cards-a-range-of-options-for-very-different-flyers
United Airlines: From a basic, no fee card to a card loaded with benefits
American Airlines: From a free card to Admiral’s Club access
https://www.travelrewardsoptimizer.com/american-airlines-credit-cards-from-a-no-fee-option-to-admirals-club-access
Southwest Airlines: Straightforward and basic cards for Southwest enthusiasts
Hilton Hotels: Solid performers at different price points
https://www.travelrewardsoptimizer.com/hilton-credit-cards-delivering-value-at-different-price-points-for-the-right-traveler
Marriott Bonvoy: A mixed bag with some solid cards
https://www.travelrewardsoptimizer.com/marriott-bonvoy-credit-cards-five-cards-from-two-issuers
We are ready to help you turn your routine credit card spending into the travel of your dreams.
