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The credit card rewards landscape in the U.S. is one of the most aggressive business environments in the world. Rich rewards programs have emerged as a result of big, deregulated banks vying for market share.
While every bank takes a different approach to crafting a target market and suite of credit cards and benefits, you’ll notice that banks may offer similar perks.
In this guide, we’ll dissect credit card statement credits and provide you with a one-stop shop to figure out what statement credits are offered by what cards.
This guide will be comprehensive, covering tons of different statement credit types. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover, so let’s get started.
What Are Credit Card Statement Credits and What Types Are There?
Credit card statement credits are a particular benefit offered by credit card issuing banks. In simplest terms, a statement credit is a partial or full refund of specific charges on your credit card account after a qualifying activity is completed.
For example, if you have a $100 travel credit from a credit card and spend it on a qualifying plane ticket, you’ll get refunded up to $100, which basically discounts the cost by $100.
Credit card statement credits can come from a variety of means, such as redeeming rewards points or completing qualifying activities. In this guide, we’ll be focusing on the statement credits you get for completing a qualifying activity.
There are numerous types of statement credits, including, but not limited to, dining, airline fees, inflight Wi-Fi, and hotel spending.
Why Should I Care About Statement Credits?
If you play by the rules of the banks and put the right purchases on the right cards, you can get money back for your purchases. In other words, using statement credits is like picking up free money from the table.
You’d probably much rather pay $100 for something than $200 for that same thing, which is exactly how statement credits can work for you.
Hot Tip: Remember that every bank has different rules on what purchases will count towards the statement credit, so it’s essential to read the terms and conditions of each credit card’s benefits carefully before pulling the trigger on your purchases.
The statement credits we’re discussing will be ordered from highest to lowest in popularity and recognition, so just bear that in mind.
General Travel Credit
Our first statement credit is the general travel credit — this can encompass a broad variety of different transactions, which makes using the statement credit extremely easy.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best options out there.
The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.
Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!
Pros
10x points on car rentals, hotels, and dining booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
5x points on airfare booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases
$300 annual travel credit
Priority Pass airport lounge access
TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit
Access to Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
Rental car elite status with National and Avis
Cons
$550 annual fee
Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card, simply put, was the catalyst to the evolution of credit card rewards as we know them today. It’s long been one of the most valuable travel rewards credit cards on the market.
When this card was released in 2016, it offered a 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points sign-up bonus, which was an inconceivable number. However, this card has deservedly won over many hearts in doing so.
The ultra-premium card offers numerous benefits, including 10x points per $1 spent on car rentals, hotels, and dining booked via the Chase travel portal, 5x points per $1 spent on airfare booked via the Chase travel portal, and 3x points on travel and dining. Cardholders receive 50% more value in travel redemptions, airport lounge access, elite hotel benefits, car rental privileges, travel protections, and much more.
Perhaps the best part of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, however, is the $300 annual travel credit. Every cardmember year, you are eligible to get $300 in total reimbursements for the following categories:
Airlines
Hotels
Campgrounds
Car rental agencies
Cruise lines
Discount travel sites
Motels
Operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, and ferries
Parking lots and garages
Timeshares
Toll bridges and highways
Travel agencies
Whether or not you make a big purchase greater than $300 or multiple small purchases totaling up to $300, you’ll get reimbursed the full amount, as long as they fall under these categories.
Because the definition is so broad, it’ll be super easy to get the full value out of the $300 travel credit.
Citi Prestige® Card
Note: At this time, the Citi Prestige card is no longer available for new applicants.
The Citi Prestige card is Citi’s counterpart to Chase. In other words, it is Citi’s ultra-premium travel rewards credit card and it’s impressive.
This credit card offers a slew of fantastic and unique benefits, including 5x points on air travel and restaurants, complimentary fourth night free, and the ability to transfer ThankYou Rewards Points to several airline partners.
One of the benefits of the Citi Prestige card is the $250 travel credit. According to Citi’s terms and conditions, the credit can be used towards purchases from:
Airlines
Bridge and road tolls
Bus lines
Car rental agencies
Commuter railways
Commuter transportation
Cruise lines
Ferries
Hotels
Parking lots/garages
Passenger railways
Subways
Taxis/limousines/car services
Travel agencies/travel aggregators/tour operators
As you can see, this list of qualifying travel purchases is extremely broad, which is why we’ve lumped this credit into the general travel credit category.It’s just so easy to use the travel credit, whether you use it on Uber rides, Avis car rentals, hotel room rates, airline tickets, or even cruise bookings!
U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
Although U.S. Bank isn’t discussed much in the world of credit card points and award travel, it is definitely a force to be reckoned with for more simple rewards seekers.
The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve card is its ultra-premium credit card offering. This card has a hefty $400 annual fee, but you’ll get an awesome $325 travel credit per cardmember year.
This credit is automatic, and it can be used for purchases made directly from airlines, hotels, car rental companies, taxis, limousines, passenger trains, and cruise lines. Although not as flexible as the Chase Sapphire Reserve card or Citi Prestige card, this card still offers enough options for us to categorize it as a general travel credit.
This benefit is more restricted than others as it must be redeemed via the Capital One travel portal. However, you can find a variety of flights, rental cars, and hotels available via the portal, which makes easy to use each year.
Airline Fee Credit
Checked bag fees on Delta may be covered by your airline fee statement credit. Image Credit: Delta Air Lines
Now that we’ve discussed the broadest form of travel credits through the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, the Citi Prestige card, and the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve card, let’s move onto the next category of statement credits.
In a world where airlines continue to come up with ways to upcharge the customer in addition to the airline ticket, there’s definitely a place for airline incidental fee credits. Using the airline incidental fee credit is a bit more involved than the general travel credit.
Eligible fees for using airline fee credits from American Express include checked bags, inflight refreshments, and more. While it’s not completely clear what is considered eligible, American Express outlines ineligible purchases as follows:
Airline tickets
Award tickets (taxes and fees)
Duty-free purchases
Gift cards
Mileage points purchases
Mileage points transfer fees
Upgrades
As you can see, this is more restrictive than the general travel credits shown above, as you can’t use the fee credit to buy airplane tickets, for example.
To use American Express airline fee credits, you must activate and select from 1 of the following airlines:
Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Hawaiian Airlines
JetBlue Airways
Southwest Airlines
Spirit Airlines
United Airlines
Simply put, these credits don’t cover the ticket cost itself, but they can help absorb costs associated with ancillaries like baggage fees and seat selection costs. We’ll talk about the cards that offer this, then we’ll review other bank cards that offer airline incidental credits.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!
When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.
5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels at Amex Travel
Up to $200 annual airline fee credit on your selected qualifying airline
Statement credits on select purchases with your card
35% airline bonus when using Pay With Points (up to 1,000,000 bonus points per calendar year)
Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (cap applies)
Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags
Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
Unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on a curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by your one selected, qualifying airline to your Card.
$189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Business Platinum Card®.
The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
The first option we’ll be discussing is the Amex Business Platinum card. This card is an iconic symbol of American Express as a provider of business credit solutions.
The Amex Business Platinum card gives you thousands of dollars in value through its benefits every single year, and we believe that holding this card is absolutely worth it.
In addition to the $200 airline fee credit, you get up to a $400 Dell shopping credit (enrollment required) and a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee credit, which we’ll discuss in the later sections. You’ll also get Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold status.
Bottom Line: The Amex Business Platinum card is undoubtedly one of the best Amex Business cards available . Besides the $200 airline fee credit, there is a slew of different travel perks you get just by holding the card. Don’t sleep on this card if you want to upgrade your travel!
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
This card is undoubtedly the #1 card for luxury travel benefits. From the best lounge access (of any card) to statement credits, to complimentary elite status, you can’t go wrong.
This card is undoubtedly the #1 card for luxury travel benefits. From the best lounge access (of any card) to statement credits, to complimentary elite status, you can’t go wrong.
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.
Pros
The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges,Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
5x points per $1 spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year)
5x points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit)
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
$200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
$300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
$189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
$100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
This quintessential Amex card is loaded to the brim with perks. Similar to the Amex Business Platinum card, the Amex Platinum card offers a $200 airline fee credit, among other benefits.
You’ll earn a whopping 5 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or on Amex Travel. You’ll also earn 5x Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel. When you consider that we value each Membership Rewards point at around 2 cents per point, you’ll get an unbeatable 10% return on spend in these categories.
What’s better is that you’ll get so many other perks even if you don’t find yourself spending on this card every day. You’ll get benefits like access to the Global Lounge Collection, which is the only credit card airport lounge access program that includes proprietary lounge locations around the world (including the Centurion Lounges). You’ll also get complimentary access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts program, which provides an average total value of $550 per stay.
All of these factors, plus the complimentary Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, make having this card a no-brainer for most of us.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.
Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.
Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Aspire card from American Express after you use your new card to make $4,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership.
Paying hundreds of dollars for an annual fee on a co-branded hotel card might seem ridiculous, but you should know that the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is much more than your run-of-the-mill hotel credit card.
The Hilton Aspire card is not only a phenomenal card for Hilton Honors loyalists, but even those who visit Hilton hotels just a few times a year can still get excellent value out of all the benefits that are packed into this card.
So let’s have a look at what makes the card so valuable to travelers.
Pros
14x points per $1 on Hilton purchases
7x points per $1 on select travel and at U.S. restaurants
3x points per $1 on all other purchases
Complimentary Hilton Diamond status
$250 Hilton Resort statement credit
$250 airline fee credit
1 Free Weekend Night Award each cardmember anniversary
Priority Pass Select membership
$100 credit at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties
Cons
High annual fee of $450
Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Aspire card from American Express after you use your new card to make $4,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership. Plus, enjoy a free Weekend Night Reward within your first year and every year after renewal.
Earn 7x Hilton Honors Bonus Points for eligible purchases: on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants.
Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your card.
Enjoy up to $250 in Hilton Resort Credits on your card each anniversary year when you stay at participating resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
The Hilton Aspire card has a lot going for it. If you look at the benefits it offers, you might feel the immediate need to sign up for this card.
You wouldn’t be alone, because it offers unprecedented points-earning multipliers, complimentary top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status (including suite upgrades!), complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, a free weekend reward night on every cardmember anniversary, and $600 in statement credits.
We’ll be talking about the last 2 credits in the below sections, but rest assured that they are valuable. Notice that the first credit is actually $50 better than the airline fee credit from the Amex Platinum card and Amex Business Platinum card, which is also amazing.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card
The Bank of America Premium Rewards card is Bank of America’s flagship rewards credit card offering. You can earn 2 points per dollar on travel and dining and 1.5 points per dollar elsewhere.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
The Bank of America Premium Rewards card is a great travel rewards card for those looking for a simple approach to earning and redeeming rewards.
From travel and purchase protections to airline incidental and Global Entry credits, there is plenty to love about the Bank of America Premium Rewards card.
Plus, those that hold status in the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program can get even more value from the card by boosting their rewards by 25% to 75%!
Pros
2x points per $1 on travel and dining purchases
1.5x points per $1 on all other purchases
Up to $100 annual airline incidental statement credit
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credit
No foreign transaction fees
Travel protections
Purchase protections
Boost your rewards rate with the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program
Cons
$95 annual fee
Points are worth a fixed 1 cent per point, so it isn’t possible to get outsized redemptions via airline and hotel transfer partners
Receive 50,000 online bonus points – a $500 value – after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means you could earn 2.5-3.5 points on travel and dining purchases and 1.87-2.62 points on all other purchases, for every $1 you spend.
No limit to the points you can earn and your points don’t expire.
Redeem for cash back as a statement credit, deposit into eligible Bank of America® accounts, credit to eligible Merrill® accounts, or gift cards or purchases at the Bank of America Travel Center.
Get up to $100 in Airline Incidental Statement Credits annually and TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry Statement Credits of up to $100, every four years.
No foreign transaction fees.
Low $95 annual fee.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
<ul><li><a href="/finance/bank-of-america-preferred-rewards/" target="_self" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal">Guide to Bank of America Preferred Rewards</a></li><li><a href="/credit-cards/best-bank-of-america-credit-cards/" target="_self" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal">Best Bank of America Credit Cards for Cash-back and Rewards</a></li></ul>
Although not an ultra-premium credit card, this card will enable you to enjoy up to $200 in statement credits as follows:
Up to $100 airline incidental fee credit
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee statement credit of up to $100 every 4 years
We’ll be talking more in-depth about the TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit in the later sections. According to Bank of America, qualifying transactions for incidentals are made on domestic-originated flights on certain U.S.-domestic airline carriers including:
Airport lounge fees
Checked baggage fees
Inflight entertainment
Onboard food and beverage charges
Preferred seating upgrades
Ticket change/cancellation fees
Here’s what doesn’t count:
Airline ticket purchases
Award tickets and fees incurred with airline alliance partners
Duty-free purchases
Gift cards
Mileage point purchases
Mileage point transfer fees
All in all, the fee credit functions more like the American Express airline incidental fee credit than the Chase Sapphire Reserve card or Citi Prestige card travel credit.
Crystal® Visa Infinite® Credit Card
City National Bank is a private bank focused on more affluent consumers, particularly in the media space. Its ultra-premium credit card is the Crystal Infinite card.
Besides earning 3 points per $1 spent on gasoline, grocery, airline, hotel, taxi (including Uber and Lyft), limousine, rental car, train, bus, and dining (including fast food and takeout) purchases, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases, you’ll get a $350 statement credit for airline fees. Authorized users do not get additional statement credits.
The airline fee credit counts for eligible U.S.-domestic airline carriers and includes:
Besides this, you can enjoy other benefits found here.
The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card
The Ritz-Carlton card is a Chase credit card that is actually no longer available to new applicants. You can upgrade a Chase Marriott Bonvoy card to the Ritz-Carlton card as long as you’ve had the previous card for at least 12 months.
If you have the card, you’ll enjoy these benefits (among other perks):
6x Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 at Marriott properties
3x Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 on dining, car rentals, and airline purchases
2x Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 on all other purchases
$300 annual travel credit per calendar year
Free Night Certificate every year after account anniversary, valid for a 1-night stay at a property with a redemption level of up to 85,000 points
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year
This particular travel credit functions a little differently than any other credit in the sense that you must call 855-896-2222 after your purchase has been processed to apply the travel credit.
Here are the non-ticket purchases that count towards the $300 travel credit:
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
This card focuses on the Southwest traveler with anniversary points, travel credit, upgrades, and money back on inflight purchases.
Not only does the card offer multiple bonus categories to help you earn more Southwest Rapid Rewards points, but it is also loaded with benefits that are sure to offer quite a bit of value to Southwest flyers.
Here is a full overview of the card to help you decide if it is a good fit for your wallet.
Pros
3x points per $1 on Southwest purchases
2x points per $1 on local transit and commuting, including rideshare purchases
2x points per $1 on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming purchases
1x point per $1 on all other purchases
7,500 points each year on your cardmember anniversary
$75 annual Southwest travel credit
4 Upgraded Boardings per year
25% back on inflight purchases
1,500 tier qualifying points towards elite status for every $10,000 spent
Travel and purchase protection
Cons
$149 annual fee
Does not earn transferable points
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
7,500 anniversary points each year.
Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
The credit card that offers a Southwest travel credit is the Southwest Priority card — this comes with a $75 Southwest travel credit each cardmember year.
You’ll get a generous welcome bonus by signing up for the card and meeting the spending requirements, in addition to a bonus of 7,500 points after every anniversary.
The $75 Southwest travel credit can be used for all Southwest Airlines purchases except:
Upgraded Boardings
Inflight purchases
Plus, you’ll get statement credits for 4 Upgraded Boardings (A1-A15) per year when available!
Reward Flight Statement Credit
One of the most interesting statement credits is a Reward Flight Statement Credit. Whenever you book award travel, you’ll always be on the hook for taxes and fees.
One significant component of taxes and fees is fuel surcharges. If you’re booking a British Airways award ticket, you’ll routinely find one-way business class fuel surcharges of $500 and one-way first class fuel surcharges of $900.
This will put a massive dent in your wallet… unless you have a card that can offset these taxes and fees in the form of a statement credit.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
This card is great for British Airways frequent flyers, and traveling couples will find great value in the Travel Together Ticket.
The British Airways Visa Signature® Card is a stellar option for travelers who regularly travel with the airline. From all of the Avios the card helps you earn, to a 10% discount off cash tickets, and the award flight statement credits, you can get tons of value out of the card each year.
Pros
3x Avios per $1 on British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL purchases
2x Avios per $1 on hotel accommodations purchased directly through hotels
1x Avios per $1 on all other purchases
10% off British Airways flights starting in the U.S. (when booking through the designated website)
Travel Together Ticket after $30,000 in card spend in a calendar year
Up to $600 in award flight statement credits each year
No foreign transaction fees
Baggage delay insurance
Lost luggage insurance
Purchase protection
Extended warranty protection
Cons
$95 annual fee
Does not earn transferable rewards
Earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL.
Earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel. Plus earn 1 Avios per $1 spent on all other purchases.
10% off British Airways flights starting in the US when you book through the website provided in your welcome materials.
Every calendar year you make $30,000 in purchases on your British Airways Visa card, you’ll earn a Travel Together Ticket good for two years.
Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad.
Simply tap to pay with your contactless British Airways Visa Signature Card. Just look for the contactless symbol at checkout. It's fast, easy and secure!
<ul><li><a href="/travel/airlines/how-to-earn-british-airways-avios/">Best Ways To Earn British Airways Avios</a></li><li><a href="/travel/airlines/how-to-redeem-british-airways-avios/">Best Ways To Redeem British Airways Avios</a></li><li><a href="/travel/airlines/best-ways-to-use-10000-british-airways-avios/">The Best Ways to Use 10,000 British Airways Avios</a></li><li><a href="/travel/airlines/using-british-airways-avios-without-huge-fuel-surcharges/">Ways to Use British Airways Avios Without Huge Fuel Surcharges</a></li></ul>
Currently, the only credit card that offers a statement credit specifically for reward flight taxes and fees is the British Airways Visa card.
Also, if you spend $30,000 in a calendar year, you’ll earn a Travel Together Ticket that will enable you to get a second award seat for a companion on the same flight in the same cabin when you book a reward flight on a British Airways mainline flight originating in and returning to the U.S. You’ll just have to pay for the taxes and fees.If you pay for your British Airways reward flight taxes and fees with the British Airways Visa card, you’ll receive a statement credit of $100 for an economy or premium economy booking or $200 for a business or first class booking. You can receive 1 statement credit per reservation up to 3 times per year.
This means that if you book 3 business or first class award reservations, you can earn up to $600 in reward flight statement credits per year!
Bottom Line: This unique benefit is a welcome addition to the statement credit world, and it goes a long way to easing the financial burden of British Airways award travel.
Uber Cash
The crowdsourcing ride-share app Uber is one of the most convenient additions to make personal and business travel easier. If you have the right card, you can get free Uber rides, meals via Uber Eats, and even elite status!
Amex Platinum Card
We discussed the Amex Platinum card in detail above as it relates to the airline fee credits and other perks. However, the Amex Platinum card also comes with $200 in annual Uber Cash.
The structure is the Uber Cash benefit is split into $15 increments every month, plus an additional $20 in December. Additionally, you’ll become an Uber VIP, connecting you to drivers who have at least a 4.8-star rating and “high-quality cars.”
To use it, all you have to do is add your Amex Platinum card to your Uber account. Once you add your card, you’ll see Uber Cash as a payment option. Choose that and simply begin taking rides.
American Express® Gold Card
Similar to the Amex Platinum card, the Amex Gold card receives $10 in Uber Cash per month, up to $120 a year, to use for U.S. Uber Eats and Uber rides. Ensure that you add your Amex Gold card to the Uber app to receive the benefit.
Saks Fifth Avenue Credit
In the spirit of unique benefits, Amex also offers a shopping credit for Saks Fifth Avenue purchases on some cards.
Amex Platinum Card
The first Amex card that offers the Saks Fifth Avenue credit is the ultra-premium Amex Platinum card. The structure of the Saks credit is such that you’ll get 2 equal statement credits up to $50 each half of the year. Specifically, you’ll get up to $50 from January to June and then another $50 from July to December.
This credit is valid only at Saks Fifth Avenue online or at U.S. and U.S. territories store locations. It’s not valid for Saks Fifth Avenue gift cards, purchases at outlet locations (both in-store and online), restaurant purchases located within the store, online bill pay for Saks credit, online purchases shipped outside the U.S., or at Saks OFF 5th locations.
You need to enroll in this benefit to use it. After that, simply use the card as normal and you’ll see a statement credit within 2 to 4 weeks.
Dining Credit
The Amex Gold card offers dining credits at participating restaurants. Image Credit: American Express
With gourmet dining options all around the world and a growing need for convenience, it’s not terribly surprising that people are spending more at restaurants and food delivery. Dining credits can help offset some of the costs of eating out, so let’s take a glance at how you can get dining credits.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
This is the go-to card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants and those who want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points atU.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.
There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are a number of other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.
Pros
4x points per $1 at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
4x points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
3x points per $1 on flights purchased directly from airlines or at Amex Travel
Up to $120 annual dining credit: up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations
Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash: get $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
$120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
Currently, the only card that offers a dining credit is the Amex Gold card. Incidentally, the Amex Gold card also offers an abundance of key benefits that foodies and travelers will love.
The Amex Gold card, is, quite possibly, one of the most useful cards. The earning structure is epic:
4 Membership Rewards Points per dollar spent at restaurants
4 Membership Rewards Points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases (1x thereafter)
3 Membership Rewards Points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline, as well as airfare, prepaid hotels, vacation packages, or cruises booked through Amex Travel
1 Membership Rewards Point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Besides the jaw-dropping points-earning categories for normal spending, you’ll get up to a $10 statement credit per month (up to $120 per year) at participating restaurants, including Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. All you have to do is enroll and make purchases at these restaurants with your Amex Gold card and you’re all set!
If you make the most of it, you’ll come out saving lots of cash. If you pair this with a welcome bonus, you’ll find that the Amex Gold card is really worth it.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.
Earn two 85K Free Night Awards after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card in your first 6 months. Each award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Card Members could enjoy a value of up to $1,200 when redeeming each reward. Certain hotels have resort fees. Offer ends 11/1/2023.
$300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card at restaurants worldwide.
With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
Marriott Brilliant Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select an Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
$100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy® member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited access to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card is an ultra-premium hotel credit card that offers loads of perks including a dining credit. The annual credit of up to $300 is spread out across 12 months for a maximum benefit of up to $25 in statement credits per month. You get to enjoy up to $25 per month in dining statement credits each calendar year for eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide.
Digital Entertainment Credit
One of the newest statement credits available is the digital entertainment credit, which was created in the aftermath of COVID-19.
Let’s see what it’s all about!
Amex Platinum Card
The Amex Platinum card offers up to a $240 digital entertainment credit that comes in the form of up to $20 in statement credits every month.
Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your card on one or more of the following:Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
After spending on your Amex Platinum card, you’ll see a statement credit posted to your account within 6 to 8 weeks.
Equinox Credit
Equinox is known as a chain of luxury gyms — in practice, it’s a luxury lifestyle brand that even encompasses hotels!
And whether Equinox is relevant to you in the context of brick-and-mortar gyms or on-demand fitness streaming, this credit will be useful to you.
Amex Platinum Card
The Amex Platinum card offers a total of up to $300 in Equinox statement credits every year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with card upon enrollment.
To receive the credit after enrollment, you must visit this link to verify your eligibility using your Amex Platinum card, whether you’re a new or existing Equinox member. After you make your Equinox purchases, expect a statement credit within 2 to 4 weeks.
Dell Credit
Office supplies and electronics can make up a bulk of your expenses, depending on the nature of your business. This is where a statement credit from Dell might come in handy. When this particular statement credit is leveraged properly, you can seriously upgrade your computer set-up, headphone game, audio accessories, and much more.
Amex Business Platinum Card
The only card that offers the Dell statement credit is the Amex Business Platinum card. This card was refreshed to include the full gamut of business perks.
The $400 Dell credit is split up into 2 semi-annual credits of up to $200. You’ll get a credit of up to $200 valid from January to June and the remaining credit of up to $200 valid from July to December.
You have to activate the benefit by logging into your Amex online account. This benefit is valid only on purchases made directly with Dell or at dell.com in the U.S. and U.S. territories where Dell is the merchant. It’s not valid for online purchases shipped outside of the U.S.
Once you keep that in mind, just spend your card on Dell.com or at a Dell shop and you’ll see a statement credit back 2 to 4 weeks later.
Hotel Statement Credits
Enjoy a statement credit on your next hotel stay with our recommended cards. Image Credit: Monkey Business Images via Shutterstock
If you’re traveling a lot, you’re going to want to make the best of hotel statement credits to avoid paying an arm and leg for your lodging costs. Let’s talk about the cards that currently offer a hotel-specific credit.
Amex Platinum Card
The Amex Platinum card offers up to $200 in prepaid hotel credits, which is one of the only benefits of its kind that can be used at more than 1 hotel chain.
Here’s how it works – get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your card.
Typically, you make 1 of 2 booking types through Amex Travel:
Prepaid (can earn 5x points)
Pay at hotel (can’t earn 5x points)
And you might be curious about what is defined as “prepaid.” Don’t worry, because prepaid bookings made through Amex Travel are almost always flexible and cancellable.
So as long as the booking is made with your Amex Platinum card, the booking is prepaid, and the booking is at a Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection property, you’ll get up to $200 in statement credits back per calendar year.
Hilton Aspire Card
As we’ve mentioned above, there are so many different benefits you get from the Hilton Aspire card. We won’t go through all of them again; instead, we’ll focus on the hotel-specific credits you get.
When you hold the Hilton Aspire card, you’ll get these hotel credits:
$100 credit at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties
The $250 is usable at any qualifying Hilton resort, and almost everything counts towards this credit. You’ll get reimbursed even for room rates, as long as it’s not an Advance Purchase rate.
The $100 credit is a bit harder to use in the sense that you must use a specific rate code ZZAAP1 and book a minimum 2-night stay using the special rate code. You can use this towards a massage, food, and other on-property purchases. Find out more details at this link.
The $100 property credit must be used on a Marriott Bonvoy account linked to your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card. It is booked via the “$100 Property Credit, Luxury Credit Card Rate” when searching online. The good news is that this particular credit isn’t usually more expensive than the member rate. Remember that stays must be 2 nights or longer to qualify.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cardson the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.
Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.
Pros
5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
5x points on select Peloton purchases over $250 (through March 31, 2025)
5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
2x points on all other travel worldwide
$50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
Excellent travel and car rental insurance
10% annual bonus points
No foreign transaction fees
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
Complimentary Spot Club Platinum status with The Parking Spot for 2 years, 20% off of your first reservation, and points for 1 free day of parking (enroll by October 26, 2023)
Cons
$95 annual fee
No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
Because of how new this benefit is, it’s available now for new cardmembers; for existing cardmembers, you’ll need to wait until your next cardmember anniversary to use this credit.
All you need to do is book a stay through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal at any available property!
CLEAR Plus Credit
CLEAR is a biometric system for making airport security more streamlined and painless. It charges a membership fee, which can be reduced by leveraging a CLEAR Plus Credit.
Amex Platinum Card
The Amex Platinum card offers up to $189 in statement credits towards a CLEAR Plus membership per year. And since a CLEAR Plus membership for an individual costs $189 per year, you’re basically getting a free CLEAR Plus membership every year just by holding the Amex Platinum card.
American Express® Green Card
The Amex Green Card offers an enrollment-required CLEAR Plus credit of up to $189 per calendar year. Simply enroll your card by going to the Benefits page of your online American Express account and you’ll be good to go.
LoungeBuddy Credit
LoungeBuddy is an airport lounge service that allows you to purchase access to a global network of airport lounges, regardless of cabin class or elite status. You’ll typically be charged on a per-visit basis.
Amex Green Card
The Amex Green card has an up to $100 LoungeBuddy credit that you can use per calendar year. All you have to do is put your charges on the Amex Green card and you’ll see a statement credit anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks after your purchase.
All information about the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.
Inflight Wi-Fi Credits
If you travel around the world back and forth for business, you’ll find that inflight Wi-Fi charges can add up over time. The best way to avoid these charges is to get cards that offer inflight Wi-Fi statement credits.
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®
The AAdvantage Aviator Red card from Barclays is an example of a card that reimburses you for inflight Wi-Fi. Every cardmember year, you’ll get up to $25 in inflight Wi-Fi statement credits when flying on American Airlines-operated flights.
This includes its subsidiaries such as Compass Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, and more. Simply use your card and you’ll see a statement credit around 4 weeks later.
AAdvantage® Aviator® Silver Mastercard®
The AAdvantage Aviator Silver card from Barclays is a more premium card than the AAdvantage Aviator Red card. Instead of getting a $25 inflight Wi-Fi credit every cardmember year with the AAdvantage Aviator Red card, you’ll get a $50 credit every cardmember year.
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
Southwest frequent flyers will love the upgraded boarding positions, inflight Wi-Fi credits, and bonus points on each cardmember anniversary.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is a phenomenal option for business owners who are Southwest frequent flyers. It helps you earn more points on all of your business expenses, offers upgraded boarding certificates and Wi-Fi credits, and helps you reach higher levels of Southwest elite status.
Pros
4x points per $1 spent on Southwest purchases
3x points per $1 spent on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases
2x points per $1 spent on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services
2x points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare services
9,000 bonus points each year after your cardmember anniversary
Up to 365 inflight Wi-Fi credits per year
4 Upgraded Boarding certificates per year
Earn 1,500 tier qualifying points towards Southwest status for every $10,000 spent on the card
Up to a $500 fee credit for points transfers when you use your card to transfer points to another Southwest Rapid Rewards member
Employee cards at no additional cost
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit
No foreign transaction fees
Lost luggage reimbursement
Baggage delay insurance
Extended warranty protection
Purchase protection
Cons
$199 annual fee
Doesn’t earn transferable rewards
Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
Earn 4X points on Southwest® purchases.
Earn 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
Earn 2X points on rideshare.
Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services and 1X points on all other purchases.
One of the perks is that you’ll receive inflight Wi-Fi credits for Wi-Fi purchases on Southwest flights. You can use the $8 Wi-Fi credit a total of 365 times every year. You’ll see it credited back to you within 1 to 2 business cycles.
Inflight Food and Beverage Credits
There’s also a way to get refunded for inflight food and beverage without using a travel credit. This is through inflight food and beverage credits, which are specifically for inflight meals/drinks.
AAdvantage Aviator Silver card
The AAdvantage Aviator Silver card also card offers an astonishing benefit of up to $25 back per day as statement credits on inflight food and beverage purchases when you use your card on American Airlines-operated flights. In theory, if you flew American Airlines every day, you could max out the credit by getting $25 of free food every day.
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Application Fee Statement Credit
One of the most universal credits for ultra-premium and even premium credit cards is the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit. Global Entry/TSA PreCheck will reduce your waiting time at the airport, often dramatically.
To apply for Global Entry, you’ll need to pay $100 and renew every 4 years. For TSA PreCheck, the application fee is $78 and you renew every 4.5 years.
Wow! What a whirlwind of credit cards we just discussed. As you can see, the world of credit card statement credits is growing and will continue to grow. Whether it’s general travel credits you can use on airplane tickets, luggage credits, lounge day pass credits, or even hotel statement credits, there are so many different ways to reduce your day-to-day costs.
Now you have an idea of the top credit card statement credits and the major rewards credit cards that offer these statement credits. Let us know about the best refunds you’ve received with statement credits!
The information regarding the U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card and Crystal® Visa Infinite® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information for the Citi Prestige® Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the American Express® Green Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding AAdvantage® Aviator® Silver Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here. For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here. For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® card, click here.
Featured Image Credit: Antonio Guillem via Shutterstock
Frequently Asked Questions
Whenever you get some sort of refund, whether you return an item or utilize a credit card benefit, you’ll see a credit adjustment on your credit card statement.
This adjustment is simply giving you back the money so you don’t have to pay for the bill.
A statement credit is the opposite of a payment in the sense that you get money credited back to your account which reduces your credit card bill instead of adding to it.
This is a common type of reward that credit card companies use.
Depending on the exact type of statement credit and what bank is offering it, you might need to enroll and go through a process to use it.
Some banks make it easy and you can automatically use statement credits just by swiping your card.
How you’ll receive the credit depends on the exact terms and conditions of your benefit.
A travel statement credit is a statement credit that is specifically for travel purposes. Different banks have different definitions of travel. Some are extremely broad and some are quite restrictive.
In order to find out what qualifies, you’ll want to check the terms and conditions of the exact credit card you are using.
Generally, statement credits are considered refunds, and they’re therefore not taxable. This isn’t financial advice, so consult your local tax professional.
Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.
Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments.
2 comments
DaveS
January 11, 2020
Do things like the airline fee credits and Saks credit deduct from the amount spent toward an enrollment bonus? For example, if I’ve spent $5,125, but I get $250 back, have I reached the $5,000 threshold or not?
This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.
![The Ultimate Guide to Credit Card Statement Credits [Travel, Airline, Uber, Shopping & Dining]](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Statement-Bill-scaled.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1420&height=650&fit=crop)
2 comments
DaveS
January 11, 2020
Do things like the airline fee credits and Saks credit deduct from the amount spent toward an enrollment bonus? For example, if I’ve spent $5,125, but I get $250 back, have I reached the $5,000 threshold or not?
Jarrod West
January 13, 2020
Hi Dave,
Credits earned from the card, and the annual fee, do not count towards the minimum spend requirement.
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