As a traveler, you should be strategic while you choose a travel card to place in your wallet . In some cases, people opt for high rewarding travel cards with greater annual fees which puts a strain on their wallet. it is important to critically analyze your travel spending habits and preferences for reward structure when you opt for a travel card. If you are evaluating the travel cards it is important to comprehend the differences between premium travel cards vs mid-tier travel cards.
A lot of focus is laid on the best travel cards with no annual fee and best premium travel cards to analyze the best possible options for you. It is integral to know the key differences to choose the best possible option for you.
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How to compare Premium Travel cards vs Mid-tier travel cards?
As each travel card is unique and offers a distinct set of rewards to the users so it is important to choose the right one for you. Firstly decide what’s important for you, whether its welcome bonus, points or the other cardholder benefits that provide great value to you . When comparing Premium Travel cards vs Mid-tier travel cards, compare them on the basis of the following factors
- Welcome bonus
- Reward rate
- Flexibility of the point redemption
- Luxury perks
- Annual cost
When to choose a premium travel card?
The premium travel cards offer the first class benefits to all the frequent travelers who want to travel in luxury. If you prefer luxurious travel on frequent basis then premium travel cards deserves a special place in your wallet. With these cards you will be able to enjoy airport lounge access, travel issurance and other elite travel perks .
If you have a higher spending limit on travel than you would be able to easily get the most out of the premium travel cards. It is important to mention here that the premium benefits of the card also come with high annual fees. So, if you are ready to bear the annual fee charges then the benefits you will receive are worthwhile
When to choose a mid-tier travel card?
The mid-tier travel cards offer mediocre travel benefits for all the travelers who enjoy traveling but don’t specifically act a typical road warrior. If you want to go for business trips after few months then mid-tier travel cards are the great fit for you . It is important to mention here that as they come with minimal annual fees so have no airport lounge access. The best part of the mid-tier travel cards is that the annual cost is usually below $100 to facilitate a large user base.
American Express Premium Travel cards vs Mid-tier travel cards
American Express travel cards are best known for earning membership points. Being the top-class option for travel cards people are eager to opt for premium and mid-tier travel cards from this credit card issuer. Let’s draw the comparison of premium travel cards vs mid-tier travel cards from American Express
- The Platinum Card® from American Express – Top-tier premium travel card from Amex
- American Express® Green Card – Great pick among the mid-tier travel cards from American Express
| Feature | The Platinum Card® from American Express | American Express® Green Card |
| Annual fee | $695 | $150 |
| Rewards | 5x points on airfare booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1x), 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel, 10x points on eligible restaurants worldwide, 10x points on eligible U.S. supermarket purchases (on up to $15,000 per calendar year, then 1x), 1x points on all other eligible purchases | 3x points on dining worldwide and travel on American Express Travel, 1x points on all other eligible purchases |
| Required credit score | 700+ | Good/Excellent (670+) |
| Sign-up bonus | 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within your first 6 months of card membership | 45,000 points after you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within your first 3 months of card membership |
| Extra perks | $200 annual airline fee credit, $200 annual Uber Cash, $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit, $100 statement credit at Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, $100 statement credit for Equinox+ memberships, complimentary access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide, complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, complimentary Delta SkyMiles® Silver Medallion status, complimentary United Club membership | $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, complimentary access to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide, complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, rental car protection, travel accident insurance, return protection, purchase protection, extended warranty protection |
Best American Express Credit Cards for Travel
If you want to uncover the treasure trove of travel benefits, look none other than American Express travel cards. The cards provide luxurious hotel privileges, lounge access, greater sign up bonus and much more to maximize your travel rewards.
Chase Premium Travel cards vs Mid-tier travel cards
Chase also offers multiple credit cards that fall into the range of mid-tier and premium travel card options. The perks of the mid-tier and premium travel cards vary so it’s good to select the viable that won’t put a strain on your wallet. The top pick for both the premium and mid-tier travel cards are the following:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® – Premium Chase card for all the frequent flyers
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® – Reignited travel card for the moderate flyers
| Feature | Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Chase Sapphire Preferred® |
| Annual fee | $550 | $95 |
| Rewards | 1.5 cents per point when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 1 point per $1 on all other purchases | 2 points per $1 on travel and dining worldwide, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases |
| Required credit score | Excellent (700+ FICO) | Good to excellent (670+ FICO) |
| Sign-up bonus | 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening | 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening |
| Extra perks | $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass Select membership, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit of up to $100 every four years, complimentary two-year Lyft Pink All Access membership, complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription for at least one year | Travel credit of up to $50 per calendar year towards travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, DashPass subscription for 1 year, DoorDash 50% off orders of $15+ for 1 year, Lyft Pink membership for 1 year, extended warranty protection, purchase protection, travel insurance |
Best Chase cards for 2024
Chase is the ultimate winner when comes to travel cards. The travel cards offer numerous perks in the form of travel rewards, best sign-up bonus and other luxurious stays with world- class lounge access. Grab one of the Chase cards to reap its benefits.
Capital One Premium Travel cards vs Mid-tier travel cards
Like American Express and Chase, Capital One offers a special range of cards that are particularly for the travel. Although the differences between the premium travel cards vs mid-tier travel cards are not huge as these cards charge minimal annual fees. For all the loyal travelers who prefer Capital One Travel these are the top picks for premium and mid-tier travel card
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – Premium Capital One card in a moderate fee
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card – Mid-tier travel card with high bonus
| Feature | Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card |
| Annual fee | $395 | $95 |
| Welcome bonus | 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months | 60,000 miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months |
| Rewards | Unlimited 2X miles on all purchases, 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel | Unlimited 2X miles on all purchases, 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| Required credit score | Excellent | Good to excellent |
| Extra perks | $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass Select membership, Hertz President’s Circle status, cellphone protection, access to Capital One Lounges, complimentary subscription to PRIOR, free membership with The Cultivist, $300 toward an annual membership with Gravity Haus | Priority Pass Select membership, purchase protection, extended warranty protection, travel accident insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation insurance, rental car collision damage waiver |
Premium Travel cards vs Mid-tier travel cards: Conclusion
It is important to take in consideration your budget while you are selecting the premium and mid-tier travel cards . In a minimal budget you can opt for mid-tier travel cards with fewer perks, But if you are a heavy spender on travel who always prefer to travel in luxury go for the premium travel credit cards options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are premium travel cards worth the price?
The premium travel cards are geared towards all those who spend a considerable amount of money on travel. With good to excellent credit score you can easily avail these cards. If you prefer a single airline to travel then look for a specific airline card . Otherwise, it is preferable to get the co-branded travel card.
What are the different tiers in the credit cards?
There are altogether 5 different card categories that have different tier levels. The classic category is in the basic tier level, platinum in the intermediate tier level, signature in the above intermediate tier level and infinite in the Ultimate tier level.
What are the perks of the mid-tier travel cards?
The mid-tier travel cards offer multiple perks that include the airline miles, hotel loyalty programs and much more. Few of the mid-tier cards include the option of free checked bags, priority boarding and travel insurance that is covered in the cost of the annual fee.
