Credit card users want to earn the best credit card rewards on their card spend. These rewards typically come in the form of cash back or loyalty points with the most popular type of loyalty point offering being frequent flier miles. Unfortunately, frequent flyer credit cards have many drawbacks, especially due to the fact that large airlines have been limiting award availability while raising the number of miles needed to for many flights, thereby decreasing the value of miles.

Due to adverse miles revaluations, customers have become increasingly frustrated with this reality, and in response, banks have begun to promote their own loyalty point systems. Citi’s proprietary ThankYou program lets cardholders earn points that can be redeemed for cash back, travel, gift cards or a variety of merchandise rewards.

How the Citi ThankYou Rewards Program Works

Eight different Citi credit cards allow members to earn ThankYou points. These products are the Citi ThankYou Preferred Card, Citi Forward Card, Citi ThankYou Premier Card, Citi ThankYou Prestige Card, AT&T Universal Savings & Rewards Card, CitiBusiness World MasterCard, and the AT&T Universal Business Rewards Card. Continue Reading »

The credit card industry has always had an obsession with the idea of exclusivity. How else can one explain the proliferation of cards named after precious stones and metals such Gold, Platinum, Diamond and Sapphire?  While it is no longer the least bit exceptional to have a gold colored card in one’s wallet, there are still many other non-reward perks that a bank can offer its cardholders that might not be available to the general public.

Citibank’s Private Pass website – www.citiprivatepass.com is a prime example of how credit card companies are striving to create a sense of exclusivity in order to appease consumers seeking unique experiences.

How Private Pass Works

Holders of any Citi credit card or Citibank debit MasterCard – regardless of whether it offers credit card rewards – can gain access to the Private Pass web site.   Through Citi’s relationship with Live Nation, cardholders can gain access to various concert, theater, and entertainment and sporting events. Citi offers ticket presales, preferred seating, and VIP packages. For example, in 2102, Citi offered an Alumni Super Bowl Weekend VIP Package that included two tickets to the Super Bowl in Indianapolis Indiana, as well as hotel accommodations and access to many different NFL Alumni events over the weekend. Continue Reading »

Over the past few months, the Citi ThankYou Rewards program has been vastly improved. The value of ThankYou Reward points earned has been increased substantially as has the overall quality of promotional offers made available to new customers. At present, there are three different Citi ThankYou cards available and four different offers to choose from. Here, we’ll take a look at these offers and consider who can benefit the most from the various promotions.

Offer #1: The Citi ThankYou Card

While the basic Citi ThankYou card is lacking in the sign-up bonus relative to other offers, it does presently offer the longest 0% introductory period of any rewards credit card on the market. With a 0% APR for 15 months on balance transfers and purchases, this ThankYou card is definitely the best option for consumers who currently have credit card debt – and can benefit from a 15 month balance transfer – as well as those who may incur some debt in the coming months. Continue Reading »

One of the lesser known benefits of credit card rewards are the benefits of using a card for expenses that are reimbursed by a third party. For example, a business traveler can easily spend $2,000 a week on a modest trip that includes airfare, rental car, hotel, and meals.

When using his or her personal credit card, the business traveler is entitled to retain any cash back, miles, or loyalty points earned through their credit card spending. Most feel that this benefit is deserved due to the administrative costs of incurring debt, seeking reimbursement, and paying off the balance.  Others cite the inconvenience of business travel itself as more than enough justification for the rewards that can be earned by charging expenses to one’s personal card. Continue Reading »

Smart credit card users know how to cash in on frequent flier miles, cash back and loyalty points. But as cardholders have grow smarter about credit card rewards, credit card issuers have been forced to steadily increase the amount of points and miles their customers are earning for spending and as sign up bonuses. In many instances, account holders have become disillusioned with points and miles that, at times, can be difficult to redeem.

In response, credit card issuers have begun to add more perks to their hotel and airline reward credit card products that go far beyond mere points and miles. However, consumers often have multiple options with big travel branded credit cards and the most expensive options are not always the best.

Airline Credit Cards Offering More than Just Miles

Delta is leading the field of airline cards by offering the most non-mileage perks. For example, their Delta SkyMiles Reserve card from American Express grants cardholders priority access at check in, security, and during boarding, as well as checked bag fee waivers. Furthermore, it offers customers upgrade priority over others at the same status levels that do not hold this card. However, this card carries a hefty $450 annual fee. For those who want miles and free checked bags, the lower fee Gold Delta SkyMiles card is a much better option. Continue Reading »

It would be an understatement to say that the credit card industry is intensely competitive at the moment. Banks are trying absurdly hard to earn new business and are offering applicants some truly astounding sign up bonuses that range as high as $500. When advertising these bonuses, banks often specify that customers may earn “up to” a certain number of points or “as many as” a specific amount of miles. Nevertheless, these offers come with conditions that must be fulfilled in order to receive these bonuses. Therefore, cardholders must take several steps to ensure that they receive all of the bonus points and miles that they are entitled to.

First, customers should thoroughly read the terms and conditions of each offer. When doing so, it is important to explore all asterisks and footnotes in order to learn the complete set of conditions necessary to comply with the terms of the offer. In some instances, the entire sign up bonus is awarded upon the cardholder’s first purchase. In other instances, cardholders must complete a minimum spending requirement within a certain time period. This is the most common string tied to cash back credit card bonuses, most of which require $500 of spending within three months. You can view these types of offers below. Continue Reading »

The greatest lure of travel reward credit cards is the promise of a free vacation.  While some believe that this dream is unattainable, smart travelers are able to choose the right credit card that can help them realize their ideal trip.

The key to getting the most out of a travel rewards credit card is to choose an airline or hotel you frequent, as opposed to one that offers the largest sign up bonus. This will help out in two ways. First, it will allow you to utilize frequent flyer miles or hotel points that have already been earned in addition to what is gifted as a sign up bonus. Plus, with airline credit cards in particular, choosing a card from a carrier that you fly frequently likely means that you won’t have difficulty finding flights with that airline when planning your trip.

Here are five travel reward credit cards that can go a long way in paying for an upcoming vacation.

1. United Explorer Card From Chase. As it concludes its acquisition of Continental Airlines, United is emerging as a leading international carrier. To offer its customers a competitive travel rewards card, it replaced its existing product with the MileagePlus Explorer Visa card. This card offers new customers a sign up bonus of up to 40,000 miles, more than enough for a free round-trip domestic economy class award. In addition, cardholders will receive priority boarding , checked bag fee waivers, and double miles on United purchases. There is a $95 annual fee that is waived the first year. Continue Reading »