Full Review of Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit CardPros Show
Cons
Pros Explained
Cons Explained
This card could be a worthy choice if you're looking for a rewards card with no annual fee that earns points at a flat rate on every purchase—and you're fine with spending its rewards on travel. While you can redeem this card's awards in other ways than as a travel credit, those alternatives are less lucrative and require more work. And the purchases to which you apply the travel credit are broad, and include spending not only on flights and hotels but bus and taxi fares along with entertainment spending on admissions to zoos, amusement parks, and the like. The card's absence of a foreign transaction fee is another travel plus if you often take trips outside the U.S. This card is also richly rewarding for those who have a combined balance of at least $20,000 in Bank of America or Merrill Investment accounts. Those customers can earn 25%, 50%, or 75% more rewards on purchases, depending on their balance. All About Rewards Credit CardsBank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card One-Time OfferThis card offers a fairly generous bonus for eligible new card members. You receive 25,000 points when you make at least $1,000 in purchases within 90 days of opening your account. This bonus is worth $250 if taken as a travel or dining statement credit. While there are cards that offer two to three times that many points as a bonus, they typically require two to three times the spending of this card—that is, $2,000 to $3,000 in the same three-month period. Also, those bigger-bonus cards often have an annual fee. Rewards Earning DetailsMembers earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 on all purchases, from travel to everyday spending to anything else. There are no limits on the number of points you can earn and no spending caps to observe. The 3 points per $1 rewards rate (comprising 1.5 basic points plus 1.5 bonus ones) is good on all travel purchases made through the Travel Center, excluding travel insurance. Bonus points available through the Preferred Rewards Program are applied automatically, as long as your account remains open and in good standing. Rewards Redemption DetailsWhile you don't have the option of transferring your rewards to partner travel programs, you do have multiple choices for redeeming them. The first is as a statement credit, which is the most beneficial option, as a rule. You can redeem rewards for travel and dining statement credits starting at 2,500 points, making each point worth $0.01 apiece. This credit can be applied to eligible travel purchases, including airfare, hotels, motels, timeshares, campgrounds, rental car companies, and tourist attractions. In-flight purchases may or may not qualify for travel statement credit redemption, depending on how it is coded. For example, a food purchase made with Delta may code as a travel purchase, and Wi-Fi purchased through Boingo may code as a wireless purchase and, in those cases, would qualify. Duty-free airport purchases do not qualify for travel statement credit redemption, however. You can also redeem your points for cash rewards in the form of a paper check or an electronic deposit into a Bank of America checking or savings account. The minimum number of points required to redeem is 2,500, which is equal to $15 in cash rewards. This puts the points value for these redemptions at $0.006 each. Finally, you can redeem rewards for gift cards. Gift card redemptions start at 3,125 points, and the redemption value varies based on the card. As long as your account remains open and in good standing, your rewards points never expire. How to Maximize Your RewardsThere are four ways to maximize rewards with this card. The first is to meet the $1,000 minimum spending requirement within the first 90 days to qualify for the 25,000 point bonus. Next, you can maximize regular rewards by charging all purchases, travel or otherwise, to the card. The third way to get the most rewards is to become a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member and earn point bonuses of 25% to 75%. Membership has a high bar, however. The program requires you to have a combined three-month average balance in your accounts of $20,000, $50,000, and $100,000, respectively, corresponding to the program's Gold, Platinum, and Platinum Honors levels. Lastly, consider the best way to redeem rewards. You'll get the most value with the lowest number of points required to redeem if you apply them as a travel statement credit at a rate of $0.01 each. Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card's Outstanding Benefits
Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card's Standard Benefits
Cardholder ExperienceBank of America earned a rating of 805 in J.D. Power's 2021 Credit Card Satisfaction Study, which is slightly below average. Overall, it ranked fifth in satisfaction among credit card issuers. Bank of America cardmembers can manage their accounts online or through the Bank of America mobile app. You can also add this card to digital wallets to shop in-store or in-app using Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and Apple Pay. If you have questions about your account or need help with something, customer service is available by phone at 800-732-9194. You can also connect with a customer service representative through live chat. Security FeaturesAs do other card issuers, Bank of America monitors your account for suspected fraudulent or suspicious activity and alerts you if any unusual patterns are detected. Like its competitors, fraudulent transactions are covered by a $0 liability guarantee, meaning you won't be held responsible if your card is used to make unauthorized purchases. Hidden Fees to Watch out ForThe fees for this card are fairly transparent, and the charges for balance transfer and cash advances are in line with what you'll find with other rewards cards. One fee you do need to be aware of is the cash advance protection fee if you decide to use your card as overdraft protection for a Bank of America checking account. This fee is $12 per transaction. Our VerdictThe Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card is a good basic travel rewards option. This card doesn't come with a lot of bells and whistles, but it may appeal to someone who wants to earn rewards on every purchase that you can redeem for travel spending. If you already have high-balance bank accounts or investment accounts at Bank of America or Merrill, the Preferred Rewards member bonus is also a nice additional incentive to get this card. With its absence of travel perks, the Bank of America Travel Rewards card may not be a great fit, however, for someone who's seeking such luxury benefits as a travel concierge or automatic elite status in a hotel loyalty program. Does Bank of America credit card have trip cancellation insurance?Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
It includes trip cancellation/reimbursement coverage for prepaid, unused, non-refundable travel expenses that are interrupted or canceled for a covered reason (included in your card agreement) up to $2,500 per person per trip.
Does Bank of America premium rewards card have travel insurance?Benefits: The Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card comes with travel perks, including trip-delay reimbursement, trip-cancellation or -interruption insurance, baggage-delay insurance, lost-luggage reimbursement, emergency evacuation and transportation coverage and purchase protection and extended warranty ...
Does Bank of America travel Rewards cover TSA PreCheck?Apply for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card comes with a $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit, valid every four years.
Does Bank of America World Mastercard have travel insurance?Benefits: The Bank of America Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard credit card offers cardholders travel accident insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation coverage and trip delay reimbursement.
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