Chase's newly released travel rewards credit card, the United TravelBank Card, offers a rare combination of travel perks and cash-back rewards that make it an appealing option for travelers. Here are the details....
The United TravelBank Card
Consumers who choose the United TravelBank Card will receive 2 percent of the money they spend on airline tickets from United Airlines in TravelBank cash. Consumers will also receive 1.5 percent of the money spent on all other purchases in TravelBank cash. As an additional perk for new clients, Chase is offering a $150 TravelBank cash bonus for consumers who spend $1,000 on the card within the first three months of opening the account.
There's no limit on the amount of TravelBank cash consumers can accumulate. Cardholders can check their TravelBank cash balance in their United TravelBank account on United Airlines' website.
Cardholders can use their TravelBank cash to pay for flights, food, baggage fees, and any other product or service offered by United Airlines. Every $1 in TravelBank cash earned translates to $1 consumers can use to make United Airlines purchases, and cardholders don't have to accumulate a minimum balance before they can begin cashing in.
When cardholders use TravelBank cash to purchase food or drinks onboard United Airlines flights, they will be rewarded with a 25 percent statement credit, which amounts to a 25 percent discount on these purchases.
The United TravelBank Card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee. Other travel perks include interruption insurance, trip cancellation insurance, and auto rental collision-damage waiver.
In addition, cardholders have access to certain special events sponsored by JPMorgan Chase. However, unlike some of the other cards Chase has developed with United, this card does not offer access to United's clubs, priority boarding or free checked bags. Likewise, this card's rewards also exclude Global Entry, TSA PreCheck credits, and other travel credits.
The United TravelBank Card has an ongoing variable purchase APR ranging from 16.99 percent to 23.99 percent. The balance transfer APR ranges from 16.99 percent to 23.99 percent. For cash advances, the APR is 25.99 percent. The card imposes no penalty APR.
If cardholders decide to transfer balances to the card, the fee will equal either $5 or 5 percent of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater. For cash advances, cardholders will pay the greater of $10 or 5 percent of the amount of the transaction.
Competing Travel Rewards Cards
The United TravelBank Card is different from the other travel cards available from Chase. It's ideal for travelers who fly a few times each year, don't want to pay an annual fee, and prefer cash back over other potential rewards.
Travelers interested in higher-end perks, who travel more frequently, or want different United-specific airline perks, may prefer one of Chase's other travel cards, such as the United MileagePlus Explorer Card or the ultra-popular Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
Editor's Note: This content is not provided by any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed here are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the aforementioned entities.
