The Chase Travel Plus Platinum Visa Compared
August 24th, 2010 Filed under: Travel Credit Cards — Credit Card Author
Chase has recently added the Chase Travel Plus Platinum Visa to its large offering of rewards credit cards. This low APR, low annual fee travel rewards credit card offers consumers the ability to choose their travel rewards without blackout dates. The question is: how does it compare to other travel credit cards?
Travel Plus Platinum Visa Benefits: Like most travel rewards credit cards, the Travel Plus allows consumers to earn 1 mile for every dollar in purchases. Points can be redeemed for a variety of travel rewards including airline tickets, hotel stays, cruises, and car rentals. Additionally, you can travel domestically or internationally with no blackout dates and choose from over 250 airlines without restrictions. The Travel Plus rewards program is similar to the Flexible Rewards program offered by Chase in that it gives consumers flexibility in using their rewards.
Travel Plus Rate Information: Unlike many travel rewards credit cards that charge exorbitant annual fees, the Travel Plus charges a reasonable $29 a year. However, this small annual fee is easily offset by the value of the 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers that is in effect for up to 1 year. After that, the variable interest rate is as low as Prime plus 5.99%.
Comparable Credit Cards: The Travel Plus Platinum Visa is unique in that it offers flexibility with regard to how your travel rewards can be used. However, consumers that are willing to sacrifice flexibility may find general airline rewards credit cards to be of better value. For example, The Miles Card from Discover ® Card offers consumers 5,000 bonus miles after their first purchase and charges no annual fee. However, rewards are limited strictly to airline travel. Similarly, the Citi PremierPass (SM) Card offers consumers similar benefits. With this card, you can get up to 15,000 bonus miles after your first purchase. However, an annual fee of $75 is charged. This fee can be avoided by choosing to only receive 5,000 bonus miles and a downsized reward program.
Lastly, Chase offers a number of credit cards that offer Flexible Rewards, including the Chase Platinum card and the Chase Flexible Rewards card. With these no annual fee credit cards, consumers can choose from not only a variety of travel rewards, but also, cashback, giftcards, and merchandise. For those looking to avoid the $29 annual fee, but still seeking flexibility with their credit card rewards, these Chase credit cards may provide the best overall value.
Final Words: The Chase Travel Plus Platinum Visa is among the better travel rewards cards currently on the market, and for individuals looking to earn general travel rewards, it may be the best currently available. However, there are a number of other travel and general rewards credit cards from Chase as well as other issuers that may be worth taking a look at. And, as I always say, read the fine print before making your decision.
The author is President of Credit Card Depot Inc, http://www.credit-card-depot.com, an online credit card comparison site that hosts detailed credit card information on over 70 current offers. For more information on the Travel Rewards Credit Cards featured in this article, including the Chase Travel Plus Platinum Visa, visit Credit Card Depot.
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