Why Travelers Are Spending More on Convenience Than Luxury

Anyone who has spent an hour in a security line or eaten a $22 airport sandwich knows travel stress is real. A new survey from Barclays found that many travelers are willing to pay for perks that make trips smoother, quieter, and more convenient.

According to the Barclays U.S. Consumer Bank Travel Rewards and Loyalty Pulse Survey, people are less focused on luxury travel and more interested in time-saving, stress-reducing upgrades that offer a sense of control.

I’ve noticed this same shift in my own travel habits. Though I typically book cheap flights and budget-friendly hotels, I’m willing to pay more for perks that help make travel less stressful. Usually, that means paying annual fees for credit cards that provide airport lounge access, expedited security, seat selection, free bags, and priority boarding. Those perks don’t add extravagance, but they do make my trips easier to manage.

Survey Results: Travelers Pay for Comfort Upgrades

Luxury travel usually means flying in business class or staying at high-end resorts, but data from the same Barclays survey suggests comfort is how many travelers define luxury today. Rather than typical splurges, many are paying for upgrades that make travel smoother and less stressful.

The survey found that 68% of travelers pay for expedited security and 58% use airport lounges to enhance their experience. These aren’t indulgences so much as ways to make trips feel less chaotic by avoiding long lines and crowded gates.

That shift aligns with my travel habits: I often book cheap fares but still pay more for a more convenient travel experience.

For example, I pay an $895 annual fee for the Platinum Card^® from American Express (rates & fees).

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Platinum Card^® from American Express

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The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

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Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.  

As High As 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $3,850

Annual Fee

$895

APR

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Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

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 & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,550 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
• Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash and Uber One, Resy, lululemon 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 and Amex International Airline Program
• Access to Amex transfer partners
• No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

 

Cons

• $895 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

 

 

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Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards^® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel^®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts^® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel^® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
• With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection^®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club^® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
• $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card^® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card^® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
• $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card^® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
• $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel^® using the Platinum Card^®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card^® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card^®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
• $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card^®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card^® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
• Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts^® through American Express Travel^®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
• $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card^® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card^®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
• Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
• $895 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

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• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Here’s what I actually get out of the card:

• Access to over 1,550 airport lounges in the Global Lounge Collection, saving me money on airport food, and giving me a quieter space to relax or work before a flight
• $209 CLEAR+ credit and a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit, getting me through security more quickly
• Up to $200 back annually for incidental fees, such as fees for seat selections or checked bags when I fly United Airlines (my selected airline with Amex)
• Elite hotel status perks with Hilton Honors, Leaders Club, and Marriott Bonvoy upon enrollment, such as upgraded rooms and food and beverage credits
• Rental car elite status with National, Avis, and Hertz upon enrollment, making it easy to upgrade and sometimes bypass the rental counter for a faster pickup experience
• Travel protections, including trip delay and trip cancellation and interruption insurance, which give me peace of mind for unexpected expenses

Some benefits require enrollment.

My Frontier Airlines World Mastercard^® has a much lower $99 annual fee, but its features make flying on Frontier Airlines solid for an ultra-low-cost carrier. It covers many of the fees I’d normally have to pay for a more comfortable flight, including baggage and seat selection.

With the Frontier Airlines World card, I get:

• 2 free checked bags on all Frontier flights
• Elite Gold status (with card spending), which gives me a free carry-on bag, upgraded seat selection, and Group 1 boarding

I also fly on United Airlines fairly often, and the United℠ Business Card is well worth its $150 annual fee.

ELEVATED OFFER

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United℠ Business Card

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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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 business card from Chase for United loyalists with benefits such as free checked bags and discounts on inflight purchases.

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United℠ Business Card

A business card from Chase for United loyalists with benefits such as free checked bags and discounts on inflight purchases.

Welcome Offer

Earn up to 110,000 United MileagePlus bonus miles and 2,000 PQP after spending $5,000 on qualifying purchases in the first three months of opening an account (100K + 10K more miles after adding an authorized user in the first 3 months).

Up to 110,000 miles + 2,000 PQP

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,320

Annual Fee

$150

APR

19.74% - 28.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The United℠ Business Card is a compelling option for traveling business owners that are also frequent United flyers. Not only will this Chase business card help you earn more United miles, but it also offers great perks such as free checked bags, priority boarding, a discount on inflight purchases, and much more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 8x miles per $1 on United flights
• 2x miles per $1 on other United purchases
• 2x miles per $1 on dining

Cons

• Doesn’t earn transferable rewards
• Other United cards are more rewarding for United purchases

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Card Highlights

• Earn up to 110,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
• $150 Annual Fee.
• NEW! 8x total miles on eligible United flights.
• 2x miles on all other eligible United^® purchases. 2x miles on dining including eligible delivery services, at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting.
• 1x mile on all other purchases. Plus, employee cards at no additional cost - miles earned from their purchases accrue in your account so you can earn rewards faster.
• Receive a 5,000-mile "better together" bonus each anniversary when you have both the UnitedSM Business Card and a personal Chase United^® credit card.
• Enjoy a free first checked bag - a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip (terms apply), 2 United ClubSM one-time passes per year, and priority boarding privileges.
• NEW! Save at least 10% when booking flights with miles. Premier members earn even more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.74% - 28.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

With the United Business card, I get the following perks:

• A traveling companion (and the ability to check our first bags for free)
• Group 2 boarding, along with my companions on the same reservation
• 2 United Club passes each year
• Saver Awards, which make it easier to book award travel for less

My credit card benefits don’t necessarily make my flights shorter (or my airplane seat any cushier), but my travel days are much easier to manage. I can avoid long security lines, unwind in a relaxing airport lounge, and board early without stressing over overhead bin space. My seat selection is decent, even if it’s not first class — and altogether, these small upgrades add up to a much smoother journey.

Travel protections are another standout benefit for me. I can get help reimbursing unexpected costs if my flight is delayed, canceled, or interrupted, which makes it easier for me to book cheap flights without worrying about what could go wrong.

Travel Frustrations Change How People Spend

The survey also suggests that everyday travel annoyances influence how people spend money. With crowded airports, loud passengers, and poor etiquette, many are willing to pay for upgrades that offer more space and control.

Results from the survey show that 83% of travelers said coughing without covering it is a top travel pet peeve, and 80% find loud audio or line-cutting to be major annoyances. Though minor, these kinds of situations can add to the chaos of busy travel days.

Many travelers choose upgrades to help avoid the most stressful parts of the journey, and the survey indicated strong interest in benefits that provide more space, quiet, or flexibility, such as expedited security and airport lounge access.

Using Points and Miles To Upgrade the Travel Experience

The Barclays survey found that travelers are often using rewards and benefits to pay for upgrades. According to the survey, 81% of travelers said they are more likely to upgrade if they can use points.

The most popular upgrades are practical:

• 68% would use rewards for expedited security
• 67% for early or late hotel check-in
• 66% for skip-the-line access
• 62% for priority boarding

Though the most valuable redemptions are typically for first or business class flights or high-value resorts, many travelers are finding value in using points and miles as a second currency to make every trip better.

My travel habits align with the survey’s findings: I typically don’t use rewards for luxury travel and instead use them to make budget travel more manageable.

For example, I frequently redeem points and miles for flights to take my family of 5 on domestic trips and use free night rewards to lower the cost of hotel stays. I combine those rewards with credit card benefits to take advantage of hotel perks and avoid many of the hassles that come with flying on cheap fares.

Instead of viewing rewards as a way to travel luxuriously once in a while, I’m using them to make every trip more comfortable with less stress. With credit card benefits, loyalty programs, and rewards that help cover costs, it’s easier to travel comfortably without dramatically increasing my travel costs.

Travelers Use AI for Planning but Still Want Human Help

The survey also found that travelers increasingly use artificial intelligence to plan trips, but prefer human guidance when making complicated travel decisions.

The survey reported that 72% of travelers use AI tools for some part of planning, such as researching destinations, comparing prices, or finding flights. But 52% still prefer to use a human travel expert when planning more complex or expensive trips.

I’ve found myself doing the same thing, using deal tools, price alerts, and apps to find the best fares or check award availability. I used ChatGPT to help plan a couple of quick sightseeing days and transportation in and around New York City. But even with AI’s help, I still confirmed everything with more reliable sources.

Final Thoughts

The Barclays U.S. Consumer Bank Travel Rewards and Loyalty Pulse Survey supports the idea that a smooth travel day is worth paying for — and though the destination matters, many travelers just want a smoother journey.

Crowded airports and unpredictable itineraries have made comfort and control more valuable than traditional luxury. Travelers don’t just want to get from one place to another, but they want to save time, reduce stress, and stay in control along the way.

I still look for cheap flights and budget-friendly family hotels, but my travel rewards cards ultimately make my travel experience easier. With helpful perks, I can avoid long lines, find quiet places to rest, and feel more confident that my trip will go smoothly.