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A smarter alternative to paper tickets

The key contactless smartcard.

Our Key smartcard is an alternative to paper tickets, that makes it quicker and easier to travel.

If you have the Southeastern app you can quickly load your tickets on to your Key card at home, allowing you to reduce the time you spend at the station.

You can use your Key card to buy single, return and season tickets.

If you’re planning to travel to the office a couple of times a week, our Flexi Season ticket could be the perfect option for your commute. Exclusively available on The Key, the Flexi Season ticket offers 8 days of travel in 28 days – any time between two stations. Flexi Season tickets are on sale now .

You are also able to buy Key tickets for most other train companies across mainland Britain and TfL, so you can get straight to your destination with just one purchase.

Buy tickets for multiple Key smartcards

You can now buy tickets for multiple Key smartcards from one account, saving you time and making it easier to buy tickets for your friends and family. Whether you need to renew a Season ticket for a child or another family member, or want to take advantage of our GroupSave offer when travelling with a group of friends, buy tickets for other Key smartcards with ease. Other Railcard discounts are available too. Follow the instructions below to find out how.

Log into your online account and go to ‘The Key – Linked Accounts’ section in the menu.
Either enter the full Southeastern Key smartcard number, or the email address of the Southeastern Key account you wish to link.
An email will be sent to the Key account holder to approve the request to link. Once they have confirmed, their smartcard details will display in the ‘Linked Accounts’ section and appear as a ‘Collection’ option under the Key smartcard when you are buying a ticket. You can also review and manage linked accounts in the ‘Linked Accounts’ section.
After purchase, the smart ticket will be ready to load onto The Key instantly through the Southeastern app. Alternatively, load the smart ticket at the gate/validator or ticket vending machine at the chosen station two hours after purchase.

Some tickets are not currently available on The Key including Advance Tickets, Rovers, Weekenders, Anytime Open Returns and Off-Peak Returns.

Order a Key Smartcard now

Visit our Key FAQs

If your Key is lost or stolen, we’ll block it and replace it for free. If you need to get a refund simply log into your account and follow the easy steps, the money will be refunded directly to you. Plus, if your journey is delayed by 15 minutes or more it's easier to claim compensation under our Delay Repay scheme.

By having The Key, you’ll also get access to our Rewards Plus programme. Simply sign up to receive our promotions and offers emails and you’ll automatically be added into the Rewards Plus program and receive exclusive discounts, offers and competitions from attractions and brands.

4 steps to using The Key

Order your Key smartcard and receive it in the post within 4 working days.

Download the Southeastern app from the Apple Store or Google play to get started.

Download the Southeastern app

Buy single, return and season tickets and load them on to your Key by simply holding your card to the back of your phone.

You are now ready to travel on our trains, allowing you to tap in and tap out at the station.

Loading, viewing and activating tickets on The Key

Please ensure you have the latest version of the Southeastern app downloaded from your app store. We're frequently updating it with new features and bug fixes.

If you’re having trouble loading and viewing your Key smartcard ticket using the Southeastern app, or activating your Flexi Season ticket, please check the following:

Double check that you have purchased a ticket for your smartcard and not a different collection method.
It can take up to 5 minutes for a recently purchased ticket to become available to load. In some cases, it may take up to 15 minutes.
Make sure your device supports NFC – we use NFC to load and view your Key smartcard.
If you’re using an Android device, check NFC is switched on. If you’re using an iOS device, check if Apple Pay is working and that your device is running iOS 13 or later.
Hold your Key card against the upper back of your phone for 20 seconds – you may need to slowly move the card to find the NFC reader, once it does, don't move until the action is completed.
Try closing the Southeastern app and opening it again.
If the above does not work, please contact our Customer Services team.

If you do not want to use our app, once you've setup, simply login to your online account and buy tickets on our website. Go to your go to your nominated station and touch in at the yellow card reader on the gate or validator to load your ticket onto The Key.

If there is no gate or validator at your starting station, you can load your ticket at the ticket vending machine by touching the smartcard reader. When buying tickets in this way you will need to allow 2 hours between purchasing your ticket online and loading it onto The Key.

Remember to keep The Key card separate from other contactless cards to prevent ‘card clash’ when touching the reader.

The Key for kids

Children aged 5 – 15 can travel with their own specially created children's Key smartcard, complete with exclusively designed Key card wallet.

Key smartcards for kids are available to order online . Simply set up an account with us in your child's name, you'll also need an email address and passport-style photo when registering.

Explore Tickets explained

Advance Tickets
Off-Peak Tickets
Season Tickets
Digital tickets
Flexi Season tickets
Off-Peak Fridays
Pay As You Go for the South-East
Super Off-Peak Ticket
Key Smartcard Tickets
Travelcards

The Flexible Way to Pay

Effective July 1, 2023 - SEPTA Key cardholders receive a SECOND FREE TRANSFER when using Travel Wallet. And a Weekly and Monthly TransPass includes travel to/from all Zone 1, Airport Line, and Center City stations! Click for map !

Need to register, reload, check your balance, or adjust your autoload setting? Click here .

Check the date on your SEPTA Key card. Some SEPTA Key cards are set to expire at the end of this month. For instructions on what to do - scroll down.

Scroll down to learn about SEPTA Key Tix - a new and convenient way to pay using your smartphone!

To keep our region moving productively - SEPTA has developed a trio of cost-saving Partner Programs thoughtfully engineered for employers, colleges and universities, and social agencies. Scroll down to learn more!

Don't just tap your SEPTA Key. Flash it for money saving Perks !

Have a question about SEPTA Key? We bet you aren't the first to ask. Check out this list of frequently asked questions . Don't see what you're looking for? Email us at [email protected] .

Tell Me More - Including Fare Options!

The SEPTA Key card is a very different take on our current magnetic stripe passes, tokens (remember tokens?) and paper transfers (remember those?). This reloadable, contactless chip card offers a host of options for seamless travel and the self-serve flexibility of loading/reloading SEPTA fares to match your travel needs. Hate standing in line at a sales window? You can reload fares through the SEPTA Key website , at station Fare Kiosks, the SEPTA Key Customer Call Center, SEPTA Sales Offices, and from external sales outlets. The Key card can be set up with auto-load to automatically purchase the SEPTA fare you always use or you can make fare purchases as you need them - it's your choice.

Right now, you have the option of loading a Weekly or Monthly TrailPass, a Cross County Pass, a Weekly or Monthly TransPass, a One Day FleX (Anywhere and Neighborhood), a One Day FleX Pass 3-Day Bundle (Anywhere and Neighborhood), One Day Convenience Pass, a Three Day Convenience Pass , and/or Travel Wallet on your SEPTA Key. Travel Wallet allows you to pay as you go versus using a weekly or monthly pass. The benefit of the Travel Wallet is that you'll receive a discount for each ride and when riding Transit (bus, trolley, subway/elevated, and high speed) and two free transfers . A transfer is when a rider takes a single one-way trip on transit and then changes to a different transit line or service within two hours of that trip. Both free transfers must be taken within two hours of your first tap. Transfers do not apply to Regional Rail trips.

The SEPTA Key card can be used for travel on ALL SEPTA modes including: Regional Rail, Buses, Trolleys, Trackless Trolleys, Market-Frankford Line, Broad Street Line/Broad Ridge Spur, and Norristown High Speed Line.

For SEPTA Key Customer Service, please call the number printed on the back of your card 1-855-567-3782 .

Oh! And you're probably wondering why is there a Mastercard® logo on your SEPTA Key card? If you choose, you can use your SEPTA Key for non-travel purchases by activating and funding the Mastercard® Debit feature.

The SEPTA Key Prepaid Mastercard® is issued by Pathward, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated.

Where can I get a SEPTA Key?

You can get a SEPTA Key card from any Fare Kiosk or SEPTA Sales Office. Or at an External Retail Location. Click for locations.

Fare Kiosks can be found in all of our Broad Street and Market-Frankford Line Stations, at Bus Loops, at Center City Regional Rail Stations (Temple University, Jefferson Station, Suburban Station, 30th Street Station and Penn Medicine Station) and at the Airport. Kiosks accept cash, credit, debit and tokens. You can also use Apple Pay, Google Pay, & Samsung Pay to purchase/reload a SEPTA Key card at a Fare Kiosk.

SEPTA Key cards are also available at the major SEPTA Sales & Ticket Offices.

Please note, it costs $4.95 to get a Key card. As an incentive to protect your Pass or Travel Wallet funds, against loss or theft, SEPTA offers a reimbursement when you register a new Key card. If you register your Key card within 30 days of the purchase date, the $4.95 fee will automatically be applied to your Key card Travel Wallet which can be used immediately to pay for individual rides or towards the future purchase of any pass. Limited to two cards per customer account. You can register your card online at SEPTAKey.org or by calling the Key Customer Call Center at 1-855-567-3782 .

SEPTA Key cards are also available (for $4.95) at a number of External Retail locations. We have created a map showing all of the locations that will be updated regularly as new retailers join the SEPTA Key sales network.

How Do I Reload?

SEPTA Key cards can be reloaded at SEPTA Sales Offices, online, at Fare Kiosks, over the phone, and at external retail locations. Click here to find the SEPTA sales and External Retail Locations closest to you.

Loading a pass or funds to your Key card at a Fare Kiosk is easy. To begin, just tap your card at the contactless reader below the Fare Kiosk screen and then follow the prompts. The Fare Kiosks and the major SEPTA Sales Offices accept cash, credit cards, and debit cards. You can also use Apple Pay, Google Pay, & Samsung Pay to purchase/reload a SEPTA Key card at a Fare Kiosk or Sales Office. Fare Kiosks also accept tokens. Each token is worth $2.

You can also go online to the SEPTA Key website ( www.septakey.org ) to reload. Best part - you can opt for auto-reload so that you never have to worry. In order to use the auto-load feature you will need to have a credit card or bank account to use as your payment source. Please remember that if you are using a bank account or debit card for auto-load, you must have sufficient funds in the account you choose to draw against in order for the feature to work properly.

You can also call the SEPTA Key Customer Call Center at 855-567-3782 to reload.

You can also reload your SEPTA Key card at a number of External Retail locations. We have created a map showing all of the locations that will be updated regularly as new retailers join the SEPTA Key sales network.

Do I Need to Register My SEPTA Key?

You don't need to, but you should. Registering your SEPTA Key card is easy and it offers protection and peace of mind so you never have to worry if your card is ever lost or stolen. This protection allows you to report your lost or stolen Key card online or over the phone, and move your pass products and/or Travel Wallet to a replacement card. Plus SEPTA will reimburse the $4.95 purchase fee if you register your Key card within 30 days of the purchase date. The $4.95 fee will automatically be applied to your Key card Travel Wallet. These funds can then be used to pay for individual rides or towards the future purchase of a TransPass, TrailPass, One Day Independence Pass, or One Day Convenience Pass. This reimbursement does not apply to any SEPTA Key cards obtained prior to May 4, 2018 and will be limited to two cards per customer account.

No need to worry, signing up is simple and it's free.

To register your Key card, you must first create an account . To do this, go to the Key site www.septakey.org and click "create an account" in the blue box on the top left side of the homepage. This will bring you to the Account Registration page. Fill in the fields with your information. Follow the prompts on the screen until you've completed the account creation process. Once you are done, you will receive an email to confirm the creation of your account. Click the link "Confirm Registration" in the email and then your account will be ready to go. Now return to the SEPTA Key website homepage and log in by entering your User ID and Password in the blue "LOGIN" box and hitting enter. You will see a red icon on the left that says "Register Key card." Click the link and fill out the information on the page to register your Key card to your account. "Key card" means your Key card number, which is the 16-digit number on the front of your Key card. You will also need to choose a PIN for your card (like you would for an ATM card) that you will use if you have a question or inquiry about your Key card in the future. Once you have entered all of the required information, click "Submit" and your Key card is now registered to your account. Once you've set up an account and registered your Key card you will be able to use the site to manage your Key card including loading/reloading fare products and reviewing your trip history.

The website is open 24 hours a day/7 days a week.

Card to Card Replacement is available on www.septakey.org if you have a registered SEPTA Key card that is lost or expired. It just takes a few clicks and all Passes and Travel Wallet balances will transfer to your new card. If the new card already has funds in the Travel Wallet, the amount that you transfer will be added to the existing balance. If you had Autoload set on the old card your new card will automatically be set to Autoload.

Travel Wallet

The Travel Wallet is the perfect option for customers who currently use cash or tokens or tickets. It's also a convenient choice for riders who may only need SEPTA a few days a week or month as well as occasional customers because it eliminates the need to go out and buy tokens or tickets or have exact change/small bills. Your SEPTA Key card loaded with money in the Travel Wallet will always have the correct fare to pay for your ride. For added convenience, you can autoload money to the Travel Wallet. There's no need to get a new card until it expires.

As soon as you put money in the Travel Wallet on your SEPTA Key card you can tap on the validator on a SEPTA Bus, Trolley, or Trackless Trolley farebox or Market-Frankford, Broad Street/Broad-Ridge Spur, Norristown High Speed Line, or Regional Rail turnstile/platform validator. If your trip requires a transfer - you can seamlessly tap your Key card on the validator for your connecting trip to receive two free transfers for transit only. A transfer is when a rider takes a single one-way trip on transit and then changes to a different transit line or service within two hours of that trip. Both free transfers must be taken within two hours of your first tap. Transfers do not apply to Regional Rail trips.

You can load/reload your Travel Wallet at all SEPTA Sales Offices, Station and Bus Loop Fare Kiosks, online through the SEPTA Key website , or the SEPTA Key Customer Call Center.

Funds in your Travel Wallet can only be used to pay for one (1) person, including transfers. It cannot be tapped multiple times to pay for anyone traveling with you. You can have both a current TransPass, TailPass, Cross County, One Day Independence, or Convenience Pass and money in a Travel Wallet on a SEPTA Key card but you will not be able to access the Travel Wallet funds if there are still rides left on your Pass.

Please don't forget to register your SEPTA Key card to protect the funds in your Travel Wallet in the event your card is ever lost or stolen.

Additional Information: Travel Wallet FAQ's

Regional Rail

You can load Travel Wallet, a Monthly, Weekly or One Day FleX Pass (or bundle) to any SEPTA Key card. You can also purchase a single trip ticket - called a Quick Trip - from a Fare Kiosk at the Airport, Penn Medicine Station, 30th Street Station, Suburban Station, Jefferson Station, and Temple University Station.

Click here for the SEPTA Regional Rail Zone Map.

Monthly TrailPasses have a 240 ride limit. Weekly TrailPasses have 56 ride limit. One Day FleX Passes have 10 ride limit.

We also offer a One Day FleX Pass Bundle which gives you three (3) One Day FleX Passes - at a discount. Each FleX Pass in the bundle is activated by the first tap (it works when you work). The remaining passes in the bundle can be used at any time and will only be activated when the Key Card is tapped at a farebox or turnstile.

If you're coming into the city, you need to "tap on" at your home station. Look for the validators on the platform. When you arrive at a Center City Station - you will tap at a turnstile to close your trip. On your return trip - you will tap your SEPTA Key card at a Center City Station turnstile to start your trip and when you arrive at your destination you must tap your card on the platform validator to close your trip.

If you're beginning your day in Center City, you will need to tap your SEPTA Key at a turnstile at a Center City Station to start your trip. When you arrive at your destination you must tap your card on the platform validator to close your trip. On your return trip, you will tap your SEPTA Key card at the platform validator to start your trip. When you arrive in Center City - you will tap at the turnstile to close your trip.

If you forget to tap before boarding the train - ask the Conductor to tap your SEPTA Key on his/her handheld device.

If you do not tap and tap off - you risk being charged the max fare (Zone 4) for the trip.

You can buy a SEPTA Key card and load/reload fare products at Regional Rail Ticket Offices during regular Ticket Office Hours and from the Fare Kiosks at the Airport, Penn Medicine Station, 30th Street Station, Suburban Station, Jefferson Station, and Temple University Station.

Added Perks

SEPTA Key cards are accepted as part of SEPTA's Perks* program. To learn more, click here .

Quick Trips

Quick Trips are available to purchase from Fare Kiosks at Market-Frankford Line and Broad Street Line stations as well as at the Airport, Penn Medicine Station, 30th Street Station, Suburban Station, Jefferson Station, and Temple University Station. A Quick Trip is a single ride fare, for one (1) person, (no transfers) that can be used for travel on the Market-Frankford and Broad Street/Broad Ridge Spur Line ($2.50 each) and on Regional Rail (price varies by zone and time of day). A Quick Trip gives riders the option to purchase their fare in the station without worrying about having a token, ticket, or exact change/cash beforehand. A Quick Trip is a disposable magnetic strip ticket that customers can swipe at the new Key turnstiles. A Quick Trip is valid for one-way travel, and must be used on the day it is purchased. Quick Trip tickets can be used for travel at any MFL/BSL station for use at any MFL/BSL station and at any Center City Regional Rail Station for use on Regional Rail.

Again - Quick Trip tickets must be used on the date of purchase. Date-of-purchase details are printed on the ticket. Also, a Quick Trip cannot be used in combination with a transfer.

Quick Trips are not reusable or reloadable so please, help us keep the SEPTA system clean and throw your used Quick Trip in the station trash can before you board the train.

Seniors (65 years old or older) ride FREE all day, every day on SEPTA Buses, Trolleys, Subways, AND Regional Rail with a SEPTA Key Senior Fare Card.

You can apply for a SEPTA Key Senior Fare Card at:

SEPTA Headquarters (Lower Lobby)

1234 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA

Cards are issued or renewed are by appointment only. Appointments can be made two ways:

By phone: call (215) 580-7145 and press 6

By requesting an appointment online

Appointments will be in the lower lobby of SEPTA Headquarters, 1234 Market Street . Appointment times are between 8AM and 5PM weekdays.

Participating Legislative Offices: New applications can also be submitted at participating Pennsylvania Senate and House offices in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Check with your legislator’s office for times and requirements.

If you come to 1234 Market, you will receive your SEPTA Key Senior Fare Card that same day. If you prefer to go to your legislator's office, you will receive your card in the mail in approximately 4 weeks

SEPTA Key Partner Programs

To keep our region moving productively - SEPTA has developed a trio of cost-saving programs thoughtfully engineered for employers, colleges and universities, and social agencies.

Each program offers unique benefits for both the organization and the rider.

This universal benefit program offers employers and colleges/universities the ability to purchase deeply discounted All-Access Passes for employees and students. Passes are purchased electronically and loaded right onto individuals’ SEPTA Key cards.

This opt-in benefit program offers monthly fare products and Travel Wallet for employees and college/university students. Fare products are purchased by employers and colleges/universities electronically on a monthly basis and loaded right onto individuals’ SEPTA Key cards.

This benefit program allows social agencies to pre-purchase and distribute paper passes in bulk on an as-needed basis. (NOTE: Partner Passes are not for resale.)

Choosing the best program for you and/or your organization is easy. Download our SEPTA Key Partner Program Guide for further details on each program and helpful “Program Selector”.

SEPTA Key Tix

Available in the official SEPTA App - SEPTA Key Tix is THE new and convenient way to pay for one or up to five (5) people using your smartphone!

Use a credit or debit card to download a QR-code “ticket” that can be read at fareboxes and turnstiles. Note: You cannot use Travel Wallet to purchase a SEPTA Key Tix.

Best part - SEPTA Key Tix gives families and friends traveling together the capability to scan once and pay fares for up to five (5) riders using a single barcode!

SEPTA Key Tix does not replace SEPTA Key cards - but instead provides a way for occasional - and regular - riders without a SEPTA Key card to enjoy some of the same benefits as cardholders - including a $2 fare and one free transfer per transit trip.

SEPTA Key Tix is available within the SEPTA App for trips on buses, trolleys, the Broad Street Line, Market-Frankford Line, and Norristown High Speed Line.

Not available on Regional Rail - yet! Click here for a how-to .

More info here .

Expired Key Card

SEPTA Key cards have an expiration date. So please take a moment to check the "GOOD THRU" date on the front of your card. If your card is not already registered, we recommend you do so immediately at septakey.org . Registering your card not only protects your card if it's misplaced, it also makes it much easier to transfer any Travel Wallet funds or unused passes. Instructions on how to register can be found above.

If you have a registered SEPTA Key card, you can move funds and passes to a new card online at septakey.org . It just takes a few clicks and all passes and Travel Wallet balances will transfer to your new card. If the new card already has funds in the Travel Wallet, the amount that you transfer will be added to the existing balance. If you had Autoload set on the old card your new card will automatically be set to Autoload.

Before you can transfer the fare product(s) on an expiring SEPTA Key card you will need to:

Purchase a new SEPTA Key card. You can purchase a new SEPTA Key card at Fare Kiosk or at a Regional Rail Sales Location or Ticket Office. You can also go to one of the External Retailers that sell SEPTA Key cards. You will need to pay the $4.95 purchase fee but if you register the card within 30 days, this amount will be credited to your Travel Wallet for use at a later time

Once you have a new SEPTA Key card, you have three options to transfer your fares:

1. Visit a SEPTA Sales Location - you can buy a new card and have your fare product(s) transferred on the spot in one transaction.

2. Call the SEPTA Key Customer Call Center (855-567-3782) (please note it can take up to 48 hours to process this request). Please note the Call Center cannot process unused passes. This transfer can only be completed at a SEPTA Sales Location.

3. Card to Card Replacement - Log on to your SEPTA Key Account and go to My Account then follow these steps:

Step 1: Select the card that is expiring then go to Card Options and click on Expiring Key Card

Step 2: Select Expiring as the reason for deactivating it and hit Proceed. You will see the message that you can transfer available funds to another card after you deactivate your current card.

Step 3: The Proceed action takes you to the Card Replacement screen. If you have another SEPTA Key card associated with your account, select the existing Key Card option and click Confirm. If you don't have any other cards linked to your account, you can select Register a New Card and click Confirm. You will receive a confirmation that all pass products and Travel Wallet funds have been transferred from your expiring card to the card you selected. Once you have completed this process, please destroy your deactivated card and begin using the SEPTA Key card with your transferred fare products.

If your card expires and it is unregistered, your only option is to contact the SEPTA Key Customer Call Center at 855-567-3782 to request a credit/refund for any unused Travel Wallet funds - so please remember to register your SEPTA Key card.

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The Key Smartcard

Our Key Smartcard is a smarter alternative to paper tickets, making it quicker and easier to buy a ticket. You can buy or renew season tickets online with Key Smartcard, and quickly load your tickets to your Smartcard on your phone with our app.

The Key Smartcard offers an easier and faster way to buy, renew and use train tickets.

To sign up, register on our website and select ‘Get the Key Smartcard’ as you go through the registration. You will receive your Key Smartcard in the post within five working days.

Once you’re signed up, it’s easy to access your account , simply login at any time to update your details and check your journey history.

Sign up for Auto Delay Repay notifications and you will automatically be prompted to claim compensation if you are delayed for 15 minutes or more.

Watch our video below to find out more.

Railcards can be used when buying tickets on the Key Smartcard include: 16-17 Saver, 16 – 25 Railcard, 26- 30 Railcard, Senior Railcard, Annual Goldcard, Network Railcard, HM Forces Railcard, Disabled Persons Railcard, Veterans Railcard, and Job Centre Plus.

Except for the 16-17 Saver Railcard, discounts are not valid on season tickets.

Using the Key Smartcard

Once you have received your Key Smartcard, you can buy tickets online and load them using our app. When prompted, simply tap your Key Smartcard to the back of your smartphone. Or, you can add your ticket to the Key Smartcard at your station by touching the gate or validator.

Pay-as-you go journeys

If you’re planning on travelling less frequently and would like to pay-as-you go for your journeys, adding keyGo to your Key Smartcard is a great option.

Add keyGo to your Key Smartcard to get the best day fares available on the day of travel for your pay as you go journeys.

Find out more about keyGo

Season tickets

If you’re making the same journey at least three times a week, you could make your regular trip cheaper and easier by choosing a Season ticket. As well as being cost-effective, this type of ticket gives you flexibility and makes getting to where you need to be a smooth, hassle-free process. With a Smartcard, it’s easier and faster to buy, renew and use your Season tickets.

Find out more about Season tickets

Flexible travel

The Flexi Season Ticket on Smartcard gives you eight passes over 28 days between two destinations, so you can make unlimited anytime journeys for the day, between the stations you choose. Load the Flexi Season Ticket onto your Key Smartcard, and travel when it suits you.

Find out more about Flexi Season Ticket

Ticket types you can have on the Key Smartcard and where you can purchase them

Collecting your tickets on your key smartcard.

When you buy a ticket online you must collect it from your chosen station by tapping your Key Smartcard against a reader at a gateline or validator, two hours after purchase
When you buy a ticket from a ticket machine it must be one of our ticket machines located outside of the London area
You can collect tickets and activate day passes for Flexi Season tickets on our mobile app from the App Store

Smartcard readers are located either at the ticket gates or near the entrance/exit for stations with freestanding validators. Either way, they are easy to spot with a yellow disk. When travelling in the London area, use the Oyster reader at valid locations.

If you board a train without loading a ticket onto your Key Smartcard you will be travelling without a valid ticket and may be liable for a Penalty Fare

* Travelcard season tickets, include travel on London Underground, London Overground, London Buses, London Trams, Docklands Light Rail and National Rail services within London Zones 1-6

**Super Off-Peak tickets are not currently available.

To get a Key Smartcard you will need to create an account with us and we will ask you for your name, address, date of birth and contact details.

If you are a parent or guardian of a child aged 5 to 15 years, you’ll need to provide the same information online as you do to register as an adult – name, address, date of birth and contact details. However, you’ll also need to provide a passport-style digital photograph of them for their smartcard. Make sure when registering for a Child Key Smartcard, you enter your child’s details for an online account.

To complete a child’s registration, you must also verify the child’s age at any Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern or Thameslink ticket office along with proof of identification, such as a passport or birth certificate.

Please note, child Keycards do take longer to issue than adult cards due to the extra steps involved in the process as stated above. If your child is 16 or over, please apply for an adult card.

More information about your online account is available here

Terms and conditions for the Key Smartcard are found here .

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The Key Smartcard

You can use the Key Smartcard at most stations for season ticket journeys into London and back. Your initial outward journey has to start outside London. Download our map to see where you can travel on the network using the Key Smartcard.

The Key Smartcard offers an easier and faster way to buy, renew and use train tickets.

To sign up, register on our website and select ‘Get the Key Smartcard’ as you go through the registration. You will receive your Key Smartcard in the post within five working days.

Once you’re signed up, it’s easy to access your account , simply login at any time to update your details and check your journey history.

Sign up for Auto Delay Repay notifications and you will automatically be prompted to claim compensation if you are delayed for 15 minutes or more.

Watch our video below to find out more.

Except for the 16-17 Saver Railcard, discounts are not valid on season tickets.

Using the Key Smartcard

Pay-as-you go journeys

If you’re planning on travelling less frequently and would like to pay-as-you go for your journeys, adding keyGo to your Key Smartcard is a great option.

Add keyGo to your Key Smartcard to get the best day fares available on the day of travel for your pay as you go journeys.

Find out more about keyGo

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Ticket types you can have on the Key Smartcard and where you can purchase them

Collecting your tickets on your key smartcard.

When you buy a ticket online you must collect it from your chosen station by tapping your Key Smartcard against a reader at a gateline or validator, two hours after purchase
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You can collect tickets and activate day passes for Flexi Season tickets on our mobile app from the App Store or Google Play

If you board a train without loading a ticket onto your Key Smartcard you will be travelling without a valid ticket and may be liable for a Penalty Fare

* Travelcard season tickets, include travel on London Underground, London Overground, London Buses, London Trams, Docklands Light Rail and National Rail services within London Zones 1-6

**Super Off-Peak tickets are not currently available.

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Please note, child Keycards do take longer to issue than adult cards due to the extra steps involved in the process as stated above. If your child is 16 or over, please apply for an adult card.

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Table of Contents

How the One Key loyalty program works

How to earn rewards on vrbo, hotels.com and expedia, can you transfer onekeycash, redeeming onekeycash, earning elite status through one key, how to earn one key elite status, one key elite status, is it worth using the one key program, drawbacks of one key, recap of the one key program.

Whether you’re thinking of renting a beach home or planning a multifaceted trip requiring a flight, hotel stay and car rental, you now have an opportunity to earn rewards, receive discounts and reach elite status through a new loyalty program.

Expedia Group brands including online travel agencies Hotels.com , Expedia and vacation rental site Vrbo are joining forces for a program called One Key.

One Key has replaced the existing travel rewards programs used by Hotels.com and Expedia. The inclusion of Vrbo makes it the first loyalty program among major vacation rental sites as well.

Note that there are some limitations around booking through an online travel agency, and previous Hotels.com Rewards loyalists may find earning a free night is more difficult under the new program.

However, for some travelers, One Key will provide an avenue to earn rewards for almost every element of their trip, from flights to hotels to vacation rentals to experiences.

Here are some things to know about the One Key program.

The One Key program combines the booking possibilities from three sites into a lot of earning potential. It’s probably most beneficial for the more infrequent travelers who may not stay or fly enough with one brand to earn perks but could use rewards on all of their travel spending combined.

In other words, it doesn’t matter which of the three sites you’re using. Loyalty currency you earn and elite status progress you make will all count toward a single program.

Like with most loyalty programs, One Key is free to join.

The One Key program will use a new loyalty currency: OneKeyCash. Members will be able to earn through:

Eligible stays on Hotels.com.

Eligible rentals on Vrbo.

Eligible flights, hotels, rental cars or activities on Expedia.

Members will receive 2% in OneKeyCash for every dollar spent on eligible hotels, vacation rentals, activities, packages, car rentals and cruises and 0.2% in OneKeyCash for every dollar spent on eligible flights. That means if you spent $100 for a hotel night, you’d earn $2 worth of OneKeyCash.

You can double dip and earn more rewards by using a travel credit card to pay for your booking and adding your frequent flyer account number to any flight reservations.

The earnings rates get higher for certain hotel reservations as members earn elite status in the One Key program.

In a nice benefit for families, whichever member makes the booking earns the rewards for their whole traveling party. So, a parent reserving flights and a hotel for the whole family would earn all of the OneKeyCash for the trip.

You won’t be able to transfer OneKeyCash to another member’s account. However, you will be able to book travel for another member. So, if you have OneKeyCash in your account and no plans to use it, you can book a trip for a family member or friend with your rewards.

OneKeyCash is equal to $1. For most bookings where you pay upfront, you’ll be able to apply the OneKeyCash you’ve earned toward the cost. For example, if you had $20 worth of OneKeyCash, you could apply it to your next hotel booking on Hotels.com for a $20 discount off the total price.

There is one key exception: For flights booked with OneKeyCash, you’ll need to have enough in your account to cover the entire booking.

OneKeyCash can be used on booking participating rentals in U.S. dollars.

The earnings, discounts and perks improve as you earn status in the One Key program. And because the loyalty program encompasses flights, hotels, rental cars and more, it is possible to earn elite status in just one trip.

Trip elements

Many major loyalty programs are built around revenue-based models for elite status, but One Key uses what it calls “trip elements.”

A trip element includes any of the following:

One air ticket.

One room night.

One vacation rental night.

One night on a cruise.

One day’s car rental.

One round-trip ground transportation ticket — like a taxi, shuttle, etc.

One activity ticket.

Trip elements must be worth $25 or more (not including taxes or fees) to count.

Members reach elite status levels by accumulating trip elements. Here’s what it takes to qualify for each tier:

You can see how it’s possible to quickly reach status levels. Let’s say a member books the following as part of a trip:

A flight for a family of four (on Expedia) = 4 trip elements.

A seven-day car rental (on Expedia) = 7 trip elements.

A seven-night rental property stay (on Vrbo) = 7 trip elements.

Two activities during the week (on Expedia) = 2 trip elements.

This fairly ordinary vacation booking totals 20 trip elements, enough for the One Key member to reach Gold status and be two-thirds of the way to Platinum.

For any of these trip elements to count and to earn status and loyalty currency, the member will need to book while logged-in to their One Key account.

Clearly, earning elite status in the One Key program is easy. But what does it get you?

Members who join the One Key program (known as Blue members from the outset) enjoy some limited benefits like discounts on some hotel stays and free price tracking. The latter is a great tool for finding the best deal.

Like with any tiered loyalty program, as you work your way up the ladder, you’ll retain the lower-tier benefits but accumulate new perks along the way.

Here are the perks for One Key’s elite status tiers:

Some of the most notable benefits of elite status are the perks at VIP Access properties, which are a collection of hotels that "consistently receive the highest guest reviews on Expedia Group and meet stringent standards of quality." For flights, the price drop protection is a great way to ensure you're getting the lowest price. If your fare drops in price, you'll get the difference refunded to your account in the form of OneKeyCash.

Though booking through an online travel agency or using the One Key loyalty program may not make sense for most avid travelers, it can certainly be helpful for others.

Here are a few of the benefits to consider.

Search a full range of options when booking

One of the compelling reasons to use an online travel agency like Expedia or Hotels.com is that it searches a wide range of brands. This can be helpful in finding the cheapest prices and, in some cases, alternative options like a small, family-run, boutique hotel off the beaten path.

Bundling your bookings

Another benefit of using a site like Expedia to book your trip is that it can help you keep all the details of your trip organized in one location, including the hotel stay, flight reservation and car rental. Sometimes, bundling can help you tap in to discounts, too.

Earn rewards for Vrbo stays

Even the most avid points, miles and travel enthusiasts will want to take advantage of Vrbo’s participation in the One Key program. Previously, there was no true way to earn rewards for stays at a Vrbo property (such as a beach house).

By logging-in to your One Key account when booking your Vrbo reservation, you'll be able to earn OneKeyCash, which you could use for a future flight, hotel stay, rental car, activity or rental property.

Great for infrequent travelers hoping to earn perks

Though online travel agencies often don’t make sense for frequent travelers who are pursuing elite status and points or miles with airline and hotel loyalty programs, the One Key program can be a great way for less frequent (or less loyal) travelers to get some return on their investment.

Don’t have any hope of reaching elite status with the likes of Hilton or Marriott but planning a trip or two for the family with a car rental, Vrbo stay and maybe even a flight?

A weeklong Vrbo stay with an accompanying car rental and flight is enough to earn you Gold status. This alone could help you potentially enjoy a room upgrade and perhaps a food and beverage credit at your next hotel stay, when available (provided it’s at one of the program’s VIP Access hotels).

Earn for one thing, use for another

Likely the most notable benefit of the One Key program is that you can earn loyalty currency for one booking activity and use the rewards on another.

Booking a rental car will help you earn OneKeyCash and make progress toward elite status you can redeem or enjoy during a hotel stay. Booking a flight could help offset the cost of a future Vrbo stay. And so on.

The interconnectivity of the program across Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo’s platforms makes it possible to earn and redeem in a variety of ways.

Though there are some enticing reasons to use the One Key program, there are some clear drawbacks — when it comes to the program itself and to online travel agencies more broadly .

Earning free nights harder than with Hotels.com Rewards

For travelers who have used the Hotels.com Rewards program through the years, the earning and redeeming setup of the One Key program may well come as a disappointment.

With Hotels.com’s previous program, you earned a free night by collecting “stamps” — one stamp for each night stayed, and 10 stamps got you a free night. The free night was worth the average of the rate of the 10 nights you stayed. So, if you stayed five nights at a rate of $50 and five nights at a rate of $100 (a total of $750 in spending), your free night would be worth $75 — a 10% return on your investment.

Under One Key, you get 2% OneKeyCash for every dollar spent at hotels and Vrbo properties — a significantly lower rate of return.

Harder to earn and use other hotel loyalty program benefits

Oftentimes when you use an online travel agency, you’re not able to earn points or enjoy elite status perks with a separate hotel loyalty program.

So, if you’re a frequent traveler who has reached (or is pursuing) elite status with a major hotel chain, note that you may not earn any points or elite qualifying credit for the stay with the hotel’s loyalty program. For this reason, avid travelers may be better off booking direct.

It is worth noting, though, that when it comes to booking flights, you will earn both airline miles and OneKeyCash.

Reservation changes can be more complicated

Booking through a third party (as opposed to directly with a hotel or airline) can complicate reservation changes .

For instance, airline customer service representatives frequently have more limited ability to change a ticket booked through an online travel agency. While all of these booking sites do offer their own customer service representatives and, indeed, enhanced customer support for the higher-level elite status members, having a "go-between" can often be a headache.

Elite status perks limited to certain reservations

Another noticeable weakness of the One Key loyalty program is that some of the elite status perks are confined to certain types of reservations.

Sure, you can earn and redeem OneKeyCash (and earn elite status) for a hotel stay, a flight, a rental car reservation, a cruise or an activity.

However, to fully enjoy the program’s complement of elite status benefits like property credits and upgrades, you’ll need to book a hotel through Hotels.com and Expedia — and not just any hotel; it’ll need to be one of the VIP Access properties.

The new program is unlikely to be a groundbreaking option for the most experienced travelers. And Hotels.com Rewards loyalists may find the path to a free night a bit trickier.

But it does make it possible to earn rewards on one site and redeem on another — particularly for those who frequently rent vacation homes with Vrbo. And it figures to give even more infrequent travelers a path to elite status.

Regardless of whether you’re booking with Expedia, Hotels.com or Vrbo, be sure to use a travel credit card that offers bonus earnings categories for general travel purchases, which will allow you to rack up credit card rewards on top of your earnings in the One Key program.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 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 Travel℠.

1.5%-6.5% Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

$300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

What the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa Card offers

How other travel cards compare to the wells fargo autograph journey℠ visa® card, 3 key benefits cardholders get from the autograph journey , move over, chase sapphire preferred. this new travel credit card is turning heads.

Wells Fargo's newest card has one key advantage over the gold standard in travel cards.

Holly Johnson

Contributor

Holly Johnson is a credit card expert and writer who covers rewards and loyalty programs, budgeting, and all things personal finance. In addition to writing for publications like Bankrate, CreditCards.com, Forbes Advisor and Investopedia, Johnson owns Club Thrifty and is the co-author of "Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You'll Love."

Tiffany Connors

Tiffany Wendeln Connors is a senior editor for CNET Money with a focus on credit cards. Previously, she covered personal finance topics as a writer and editor at The Penny Hoarder. She is passionate about helping people make the best money decisions for themselves and their families. She graduated from Bowling Green State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism and has been a writer and editor for publications including the New York Post, Women's Running magazine and Soap Opera Digest. When she isn't working, you can find her enjoying life in St. Petersburg, Florida, with her husband, daughter and a very needy dog.

The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card * -- Wells Fargo’s latest and best travel card -- recently launched with an impressive set of features. Its competitive rewards, welcome bonus and redemption options take aim at incumbent travel credit cards from Chase, American Express and Capital One.

What gives Wells Fargo’s first foray into the point-transfer space an edge is that you don’t have to book travel in a portal to earn the highest rewards rates.

Here’s why we think the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey could go toe-to-toe with some of the best travel credit cards, plus three insider tips to help you decide if you should add it to your credit card lineup.

Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect with the Autograph Journey:

Earn 60,000 welcome bonus rewards points after spending $4,000 in purchases within three months of account opening.
Earn unlimited 5x points on hotels, 4x points on airlines, 3x points on other travel and dining and 1x on other purchases.
Receive an annual statement credit with a $50 minimum airline purchase.
No foreign transaction fees.
Other benefits include trip cancellation and interruption insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, roadside dispatch and cell phone insurance.
$95 annual fee.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Here’s a rundown of four facts we discovered about the Autograph Journey that you should know when deciding whether to apply.

1. You can transfer points with Wells Fargo point-based cards

The launch of the Autograph Journey also marks the first transferable points program from Wells Fargo, which joins other card issuers like Chase and Capital One, which have their own pooling programs .

Autograph Journey will be able to do a points transfer with the no-annual-fee Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card . This is especially notable since the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card offers bonus rewards in different categories than the Autograph Journey.

For example, the Autograph card earns unlimited 3x points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans, plus 1x points on other purchases. So you can maximize your point earning across different categories, then transfer your points to your Autograph Journey account to access premium travel redemptions.

2. It offers more options for earning bonus miles on travel than some competitors

The Autograph Journey will offer more flexibility than many travel rewards cards when it comes to earning more points on travel purchases. For example, cardholders earn unlimited 5x points on hotels booked directly with hotel brands and 4x points on airfare booked with airlines.

This helps the card stand out from other popular travel credit cards that offer the most bonus points only if you book travel through their portals. For example, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card * and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card * only offer the highest bonus rewards on travel booked through Capital One Travel. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card also offers its highest rate of 5x points on travel booked through Chase Travel℠, whereas other travel purchases earn 2x points.

Autograph Journey cardholders also earn a minimum of 3x points on other travel purchases, which could include rental cars, cruises and travel booked through online travel agencies like Expedia and Priceline.

3. The card may grow in value as more transfer partners join

The Autograph Journey Card will earn flexible travel rewards points that transfer to a selection of airline and hotel partners, similar to Amex Membership Rewards points or Chase Ultimate Rewards . While the list of transfer partners is limited, Wells Fargo stated in its initial press release that “more partners will continue to be added throughout the year.”

Points transfers could dramatically change the value proposition of the Autograph Journey, especially if new partners include domestic airlines and popular hotel loyalty programs.

Wells Fargo point transfers will be available to new cardholders starting on April 4. For now, Wells Fargo transfer partners include the following:

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Key Travel is the world’s largest travel management company specialising in humanitarian, faith and academic travel

As a travel management company, we make travel simple, cost-effective, safe and sustainable for people who travel to do good. Having developed the first ever missionary air contract , we subsequently pioneered the development of charity, humanitarian and academic specialist fares, offering customers more flexible conditions and savings versus published fares.

We offer 24/7 global travel support for non-profit organisations , full access to our award-winning online booking tool and our experienced team of travel experts.

Operations in 9 countries across UK, North America, Europe and Africa
Out of hours support, at no extra cost
Most successful booking tool adopted by the not-for-profit sector

The widest range of specialist humanitarian and academic air fares, saving you up to 80%, plus a host of extra benefits

As the leading non-profit specialised travel management agency, we offer first class travel account management, supported by powerful travel intelligence to inform and manage your travel programme, including savings opportunities and carbon reporting..

Duty of care and risk management

State-of-the-art tools for managing risk and keeping travellers safe, including COVID-19 destination risk assessments, digital in-trip security alerts and 24/7 traveller GPS tracking. Plus, our new KT Care solution offers travellers health and well-being support, delivered through an app

Sustainable travel solutions

We want to help protect our planet through supporting our customers to reduce their travel-related carbon footprint, which we achieve through our sustainable travel programme. This includes carbon reporting and offsetting through our own trademarked travel de-carbonsiation audit, developed in partnership with WWF-UK.

What our customers say

With an 'excellent' Trustpilot score gathered from over 250 reviews, we're confident you'll be more than happy with the best in class service we offer through our expert consultants who understand complex travel needs.

Removing the complexity of non-profit travel

We take the complexity out of your academic, charity and faith travel needs and allow you to focus on what's important, changing the world for the better

World-wide service in English, French, Dutch, Italian & German

24/7 support via email, phone, WhatsApp and SMS

Award-winning online booking tool.

see us in action

ready to get started?

Key travel tips you need to know — whether you’re a first-time or frequent traveler

The holiday travel season is fully upon us. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen a record number of passengers this Christmas, and the TSA already broke a daily record. They screened a whopping 2.9 million travelers on Nov. 26, 2023, alone ... the most passengers ever screened in a single day.

As millions of travelers take trips by plane , cruise ship or road , we've gathered some essential travel tips on how best to book and enjoy your journeys.

Whether you're an occasional road-tripper or a frequent globe-trotter, these TPG-backed top travel tips can help you avoid unnecessary headaches when you spend time away from home.

How to find travel deals

Flexibility is key when it comes to finding cheap airfare any time of year.

Changing your arrival or departure date by a single day can save you hundreds of dollars on airfare. If you don't mind altering your family's plans slightly, consider booking travel directly on major holidays like the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas for cheaper prices and thinner airport crowds.

One of our favorite tools at TPG for finding deals is Google Flights . You can use the search field to find the cheapest (or best) flights. Google will also give you a historical view of how prices have ranged and will even send you email alerts if fares jump or drop on specific routes you've selected.

It also has some fun tools you can use to find a cheap destination. By clicking the "Explore" button on the sidebar and putting your departure airport, Google will give you a map or list view of the most wallet-friendly destinations.

However, Google isn't the only place to find deals: TPG publishes regular deal alerts. You can sign up for Twitter alerts and subscribe to our daily newsletter for the latest deals news.

Don't sleep on mileage awards, either. If you've been hoarding miles during the pandemic, it's time to spend them. Cash prices are high, so it can be a good time to burn those miles.

No matter how much you think you know about redeeming miles for flights , there are always new tips and tricks for turning those earnings into dream trips. Turn to TPG for guidance on sweet spots for redemptions. Sites like ExpertFlyer (part of Red Ventures, like TPG) supply additional redemption ideas or even business class upgrade inventory.

You may even want to consult a travel agent to get access to special deals that aren't available anywhere else. Travel agents can sometimes get you extra perks at hotels or even cheaper business-class airfare to your dream destination.

Be your own best advocate

Since there are still air traffic controller shortages and little room for error in the system these days, travelers have to be their own best advocates.

There are ways to get ahead of any possible travel nightmares.

First, be smart when booking. Try to find a nonstop flight rather than one with connections, even if it costs a little more. You'll eliminate the risk of missing connections and lessen the chance of having your luggage go in a different direction than you during a transfer.

You could also take one of the first flights of the day, as those are least likely to face afternoon thunderstorms and most likely to depart on time. Read our article 5 reasons to book the first flight of the day for all the data.

Related: Your flight is canceled or delayed – here's what you should do next

Download your airline's mobile app to keep track of potential flight delays in real time. The airline app is a secret weapon in case things go wrong. Not only will you know when boarding starts, but you'll also learn of any delays first. Some airlines allow you to even rebook yourself in the app.

If your flight is canceled, you'll want to beat everyone else on your flight who is also looking to get rebooked.

We recommend heading for the customer service desk (or lounge desk if you have access). You could also get on the phone with the airline or contact them via social media if there's a delay . Sometimes, an airline's Twitter representative will help you faster than a phone or in-person agent can. You have to use every tool at your disposal when things go south.

Many airlines also now have live chat capabilities to help navigate delays and cancellations.

I always have an alternate plan (or two) in the back of my mind in case a flight gets canceled or delayed. I also look to see what other airlines are flying the route I'm booked in case something goes awry. This way, I'll know what to ask for if I need to be rebooked.

Also, save all the receipts for the expenses you incur during delays or cancellations. You'll want excellent documentation in the case of meltdowns like the one Southwest passengers experienced during the holidays .

If you're stuck at an airport for an extended period, seek out your airport's secret quiet spaces for a brief escape from the travel chaos.

Get Global Entry and/or TSA PreCheck

One of our favorite ways to speed through the airport and avoid those summertime mega lines is via Trusted Traveler programs like TSA PreCheck and Global Entry .

Essentially, the government pre-screens you for security and thus you save a bit of time during your travels. You'll need to apply ahead of time and pay a fee. The great news, however, is that many credit cards will give you a statement credit for these fees. TSA PreCheck is a $78 application fee for five years, and Global Entry is $100.

Related: 7 ways to get Global Entry, TSA PreCheck and/or Clear for free

TSA PreCheck allows you to speed through airport security without removing your shoes, laptops or liquids. With Global Entry , you can breeze through customs when you return from an international trip.

If you have the time, going for Global Entry rather than simply TSA PreCheck makes sense. Global Entry requires an interview with Customs and Border Patrol ahead of time, but once you're approved, TSA PreCheck will be included.

Get Clear for the ultimate security trifecta

The other security tool we recommend you have in your travel toolbelt is Clear .

Related: Why you should get TSA PreCheck and Clear

The expedited security program allows you to bypass long security lines by using a separate lane at many airports. You'll approach a kiosk where your identity is confirmed via an iris scan or fingerprint. A Clear employee will then escort you to the front of the security screening line.

A Clear membership combined with TSA PreCheck will enable you to go to even shorter lines at some airports with designated Clear/PreCheck lines. Clear isn't perfect at all airports where it's so popular, and there are now long lines (cough, Atlanta). However, it will still generally lead to shorter lines overall.

Related: Guide to using the Amex Platinum Clear benefit

Make copies of your important documents

Make digital and hard copies of all your important travel-related documents. Start by photographing your driver's license, your state ID and/or your passport.

You should have copies of your IDs in your phone's library in case you get separated from the actual document. Sometimes, it also helps in a pinch if you are asked for ID, and you didn't bring the hard copy. For example, I was recently asked for my ID to enter One Vanderbilt to have dinner at the new American Express Centurion Lounge in New York. The receptionist would have accepted a photograph of the ID if I didn't have the physical document.

TPG also recommends having an actual photocopy in a separate place. Editor Kristy Tolley says she stores a hard copy in a separate place from where she keeps her passport in case she loses a bag. "I also leave a copy of it at home if I'm traveling alone," she said.

Check expiration dates

If you aren't 100% certain of the expiration date of your passport and other travel documents, go check them now. Renewing passports takes time, and some countries require six months of future passport validity to allow entry. Remember that child passports expire every five years, which can sneak up on you.

Related: How and when to renew your passport

Double-checking the expiration dates for your driver's licenses and state IDs is also a good idea. Remember that TSA checks the expiration dates on your documents when they screen you for security. Don't forget to check the expiration dates for your Trusted Traveler programs like Global Entry, Clear and TSA PreCheck, too. It can take a while to get a Global Entry interview appointment if you need one to renew.

Few things are worse than getting to the front of the security line and realizing the PreCheck mark is gone from your boarding pass.

Finally, check the entry requirements if you are traveling internationally. Some countries require visas that you must acquire before arrival.

Consider travel protection

When booking your travel, try to use a credit card that offers some built-in travel protection . Many credit cards, including TPG favorites like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or The Platinum Card® from American Express , offer this when you use those cards to purchase your airfare and similar.

Related: Best credit cards for trip delays and cancellations

If the coverage offered by your credit card isn't enough, you might also want to purchase travel insurance . These policies can sometimes go beyond trip cancellations to cover things like medical evacuations. Warning: Read the fine print on any extra policies very carefully to ensure it covers the situations that matter the most to you.

Those who frequently travel abroad may want to consider purchasing an annual travel insurance policy instead of buying one on a trip-by-trip basis. Some TPG staffers purchase annual policies because of the cost savings for multiple trips. Some will find having an annual policy is easier than juggling separate policies or various credit card coverage terms and conditions.

Tips for your luggage

TPG has a ton of tips when it comes to luggage.

First and foremost, try to be on "team carry-on" whenever possible. If you don't check baggage, you are much less likely to become separated from it. Many of us at TPG refuse to check luggage except under extreme circumstances.

Of course, other folks with families or those embarking on long journeys may still want to check bags. If that's the case for you, you can still do many things to lessen the chance you get separated from your stuff. For example, make sure your luggage is in good working order, your contact info is attached, the bag is within the weight limits, you get to the airport early (but not too early) to check it and confirm your luggage is tagged to the right destination or connection.

Related: 7 tips to keep the airline from losing your luggage

After last year's baggage delays and luggage disasters , we strongly suggest you put Apple AirTags (or the Android equivalent ) into your luggage so you can track your items if they go missing .

If you check a bag, keep extra medicine or medical supplies in your carry-on bag in case your luggage goes missing or gets delayed. "As a diabetic, I keep a tiny emergency kit in my backpack with enough supplies to keep me going in an emergency," TPG writer Tanner Saunders said.

Former TPG credit card writer Ryan Smith also offered words of advice regarding luggage. "The last items you pack in your carry-on will be most accessible, so use this for your passport, ID, ticket, headphones or whatever else you need during the trip," he said. By making sure those items you'll use most are easiest to reach, you'll save yourself the hassle of having to dig around (or partially unpack) your bag to grab what you need.

Finally, be sure and get compensated if your bags are late or lost. Many airlines will give you points or even cash for delayed bags, and the government has rules on compensation if your bags are lost.

Staying safe on your journeys

From potentially getting robbed while on the road to experiencing bad weather or natural disasters while traveling, there are many scenarios that could arise when you're away from home.

To mitigate those risks, pay attention to U.S. Department of State warnings about a destination you plan to visit and check local sources for the latest news from that country or region for additional context. Although the State Department tends to err on the side of caution with its warnings, it's still best to be aware of what you may face during your trip.

Also, know the local number in case of emergencies. In many places, including Mexico and much of Europe, if you dial 9-1-1 on your cellphone, you will be connected to emergency services just like in the U.S. However, you should know the local emergency numbers of whichever country you visit.

Let people at home know your itinerary and stay in touch with them throughout your trip. If something goes amiss, at least someone will know where you're supposed to be or the last place you visited.

If you're arriving at night, contact your hotel or home-share host to ask about the best way to get there at the time you're arriving and the safest ways to travel at night in that area.

Also, be strategic about how you check into a hotel. Some solo travelers request two keycards to imply someone else is on the trip. Giving thought to the hotel room's security swing bar can also make sense, with some taking steps like placing a hand towel over it to make it harder to dislodge from the outside.

Some final tips

For cruisers, TPG principal cruise writer Gene Sloan suggests arriving in port at least a day in advance (if not several days ahead of time). This will eliminate the risk of missing your ship's departure time and help you get acclimated to the local time zone.
When taking road trips to out-of-the-way destinations, go old school and bring paper maps with you or download offline maps from Google. Using a paper map or an offline version means you always have a way to navigate around your chosen destination, even if you lose cellular service.
One other note, you should reserve airport parking ahead of time during peak travel times. Some airport parking areas fill up fast around holidays, so reserving your spot ahead of time will save you from wasting time looking for a space when you need to catch a flight. You can also sometimes save by booking online in advance, too.

Bottom line

Whether you're fresh to the world of traveling or a seasoned expert, you can always learn new tips to maximize your time away from home. The more research and preparation you do before your trip, the better your experience will be — especially if things go wrong, as they sometimes do.

Some of our favorite tools are deal alerts, Google Flights , sign-up bonuses and credit card rewards . Learn those tools and use them for better travel every time.

Remember that these days when things go wrong, you have to be your own best advocate. For more travel tips and tricks, read the stories below.

KeyBank Key2More Rewards credit card review

Written by: Kelly Dilworth

Balance Transfer
Low Interest

In a Nutshell:

With an expensive balance transfer fee and a stingy 6-month introductory promotion, this overrated rewards card ranks low on our list of balance transfer cards.

Other Notable Features: Car rental insurance, price protection, purchase protection, extended warranty, identity theft services, travel assistance, concierge services, MasterCard Travel Services

With its low APR and brief 0 percent introductory period on balance transfers and new purchases, the Key2More Rewards card can help you save some money on interest, though you can find cards with much longer introductory periods and lower interest rates.

With a decent APR and a higher-than-average rewards rate, the Key2More Rewards MasterCard sounds like a great deal; but when you add up the value of the card’s inflated rewards points, you’ll find this card isn’t as generous as it seems.

The KeyBank Key2More Rewards card offers more points per dollar spent than most travel rewards credit cards. However, don’t be fooled by its misleadingly high rewards rate – what you see won’t necessarily be what you get. Like other rewards cards that try to lure new cardholders with an artificially inflated rewards rate, the Key2More Rewards card’s points are only worth a fraction of the average card rewards point.

The KeyBank card does offer an appealing spending bonus if you pass a monthly spending threshold. But to get the most benefit from it, you’ll have to spend at least $2,000 or more per month. If you can pass that monthly threshold, the card’s rewards rival some of the best cards on the market. But if you’re not that heavy of a spender, you can almost certainly find a better deal somewhere else.

The Key2More Rewards card’s availability is also limited. Only cardholders living near a KeyBank are eligible to apply.

A deceptively high rewards rate

At first glance, the Key2More Rewards card seems to offer one of the most generous rewards programs around. Cardholders are awarded five points for every dollar they spend, plus an additional 25 percent points bonus when they spend at least $1,000, and a 50 percent points bonus when they spend more than $2,000. However, if you look more closely at the Key2More Rewards program, you’ll find the card’s rewards program isn’t nearly as valuable as it seems.

Do the math before you apply

When a credit card offers a rewards rate that seems too generous to be true, it’s a good idea to pull out your calculator and check out how much those points are actually worth. In most cases, the rewards points are deliberately valued at just a fraction of the average credit card rewards point, which typically goes for about a penny each.

In the case of Key2More Rewards, we estimate that each point is worth $0.002, which is conveniently equal to one-fifth of a penny. As a result, the card’s effective rewards rate – when compared to other cards – is actually just one point for every dollar you spend, not five points. Meanwhile, the card’s sign-up bonus is worth just $100, not nearly as impressive as it sounds.

Best for heavy spenders

The card’s monthly spending bonuses help make up for the card’s anemic rewards value, but you have to spend a significant amount to earn the maximum amount. For example, if you spend $2,000 a month – the minimum amount you need to spend to earn a 50 percent bonus – you effectively earn 2 cents in rewards for every dollar you spend. That’s pretty generous for a travel card , particularly since KeyBank doesn’t limit how much you can earn.

For example, if you spend just $2,000 a month, you can end the year with rewards worth up to $480 or more. If you spend $4,000 a month, you can earn a whopping $960. If you’re not such a heavy spender, though, you’re going to have a tough time earnings enough points for big rewards.

Pricey redemption

The KeyBank Key2More Rewards card also loses points as a travel rewards card because it reserves the right to charge cardholders “fulfillment fees” when they redeem points for airfare, travel vouchers or other rewards purchases. Like most rewards credit cards, KeyBank also makes you go through the bank’s website to book travel purchases and it doesn’t let you transfer points to other loyalty programs. Unlike many travel cards, though, it doesn’t impose any travel blackout dates, so you can travel whenever you please.

Why get the KeyBank Key2More Rewards card?

You plan to spend more than $2,000 a month and so can earn the 50 percent spending bonus.
You want more flexibility with rewards-funded travel and want to be able to choose when you fly or stay in a hotel.
You’re already a customer of KeyBank and want a card with the same bank.

How to use the KeyBank Key2More Rewards card:

To get the most value out of this card, use it for all or most regular monthly purchases so you have a better chance of earning the 25 to 50 percent spending bonus.
If you can, try to pay off purchases in full. The card’s regular APR is relatively high.
Shop around before redeeming points for travel. You may get more value from your spending if you redeem points for cash and use the money to pay for travel you bought elsewhere.

Our reviews and best card recommendations are based on an objective rating process and are not driven by advertising dollars. However, we do receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Learn more about our advertising policy

All reviews are prepared by CreditCards.com staff. Opinions expressed therein are solely those of the reviewer and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, presented in the review is accurate as of the date of the review. Check the data at the top of this page and the bank’s website for the most current information.

Responses to comments in the discussion section below are not provided, reviewed, approved, endorsed or commissioned by our financial partners. It is not our partner’s responsibility to ensure all posts or questions are answered.

CreditCards.com is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. The offers that appear on this site are from companies from which CreditCards.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they may appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and the likelihood of applicants' credit approval also impact how and where products appear on this site. CreditCards.com does not include the entire universe of available financial or credit offers. CCDC has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover.

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computer Learn About System

Travel booking - key travel.

Key Travel is one of several booking options within the Stanford Travel Program . Key Travel specializes in academic travel and offers a designated team of travel agents to assist with complex trips and to provide Fly America Act guidance for travelers booking federally funded flights. Other booking channels included in the Stanford Travel Program may be more appropriate for the travel need.

Key Travel is the world’s largest travel management company specializing in the humanitarian and academic sectors. In addition to Stanford-negotiated rates, Key Travel offers flexible academic international airfares that are exclusive to university travelers. A unique feature is the ability to book multiple travelers (e.g., family members) on the same reservation online or with a travel agent.

When to Use Key Travel

It is highly encouraged that Stanford travelers use Stanford Travel Program booking channels when booking flights, hotels, and rental cars for university-sponsored travel. Stanford Travel booking channels automatically register itineraries and any booking updates to the Travel Registry , streamline the reimbursement process, and offer discounts, benefits, and perks to travelers. In addition, the Stanford Travel team can provide specialized assistance as needed to travelers who book through Stanford Travel.

While Stanford Travel booking channels are a great option for most domestic and international travel, there are certain types of travel that need to be booked directly with the airline or hotel. These may include regional air travel offered by local carriers, travel for field research, ticket exchanges or reissues, or certain group reservations. See the Airfare and Lodging pages for more detail on booking and managing those travel arrangements. For information on the booking processes for various types of travelers, see Topic Overview: Planning and Booking Travel .

For more information about business and travel policies see the Topic Overview: Business and Travel Expense Policies .

Key Travel Features and Benefits

Book online or with an experienced travel agent.
Book multiple travelers on the same reservation online or with an agent.
Provides Fly America Act guidance online or with an agent.
Provides exclusive flexible academic rates for international airfare.
Search for the “greenest” flight options using sustainable travel solutions.
Pay with a Stanford Travel Card (preferred) or personal credit card.
Arrange travel on behalf of other faculty, staff or visitors.
Earn applicable supplier loyalty points and eligible benefits.
Reservations are automatically sent to and updated in the Travel Registry , which connects the reservation to Stanford’s provider of traveler assistance.

Transaction Preparers: When completing a travel expense report, be sure to select "Stanford Travel – FCM/Key" as the booking method.

All active Stanford faculty, staff, students, and postdoctoral scholars have Key Travel profiles. To access your profile, log into Key Travel Online . Click on the purple my KT icon and select Profile Manager .

Request a Key Travel Profile .
After the profile has been created, log in to Key Travel with your SUNet ID and password.

Maintaining Your Travel Profile

Review your profile to ensure your name is an exact match to your government ID . Learn how to change your travel profile name .
Add your cell phone number. (If based in the US, international code is +1)
Add your frequent flyer and loyalty numbers.
Add your known traveler number (TSA PreCheck or Global Entry) if you have one.
Add your passport details, if available.

Visit Manage your Profile in Key Travel for additional instructions

Individuals Booking Online The Key Travel Online booking tool is only recommended for booking multiple travelers (up to 4 individuals) on the same reservation or booking federally-funded travel.

Guest names and pertinent information can be added in the booking path. Even though there is an option to “Create a Traveler Profile,” for privacy purposes, do not save any guest or companion information as a profile.

Key Travel’s online booking tool will flag flights that do not qualify for the Fly America Act or the Open Skies Agreement.

Service fees may apply when booking travel online.

Booking Travel with an Agent For agent assistance with individual, or multi-person travel, contact Key Travel:

By phone: call 1-646-289-6816, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
By email: contact [email protected]

Service fees may apply when booking travel with an agent.

Group and Program Travel

Key Travel can provide support when booking travel for large groups and programs. Reach out to a Key Travel representative for assistance at [email protected] .

FIN-0400: Traveling for Stanford

This course is required for Stanford Travel Card (TCard) holders and is recommended for all business travelers.

Assign a Profile Manager in Key Travel
See additional guidance for groups and multiple travelers .
Book Guest Travel Using Key Travel
Change Travel Profile Name for Stanford University Travelers
Manage Your Profile in Key Travel

Managing Expenses Related to Travel Cancellations including:

Flight cancellations and exchanges
Unused nonrefundable airline tickets
Conference cancellations and reimbursement
Cancellation fees
Expense accruals

Stanford Travel Program Submit a Support Request 1-650-497-1214

Should You Use a Credit Card Travel Portal?

Unlock the details of credit card travel portals and learn how to maximize your benefits.

Using a Credit Card Travel Portal

Happy couple at home booking a trip online using their laptop computer.

Getty Images

Using a credit card portal to book travel could help you save money and help you earn more points or redeem travel credits.

Key Takeaways

Credit card travel portals search across multiple travel options, giving you the power to compare prices.
You can use your credit card or rewards to book travel with your credit card issuer's travel portal.
Some cards may offer travel credits and benefits when you book using the associated travel portal.

You have many options for booking travel, whether you want to book directly with airlines and hotels, use an online travel agency or book with your credit card's travel portal. Using a credit card travel portal may allow you to take advantage of cardholder benefits and credits and give you additional choices for your booking.

Understand how to use credit card travel portals to save money on your next trip and maybe get some elevated perks along the way – but also recognize when it doesn't make sense.

What Are Credit Card Travel Portals?

Similar to online travel agencies, such as Expedia or Booking.com, credit card travel portals are online travel booking platforms. Cardholders can use credit card travel portals to browse and book travel options, including flights, hotels, rental cars and experiences using your credit card or rewards.

Credit card travel portals include:

American Express Travel.
Capital One Travel.
Chase Travel.
Citi Travel.

Some credit cards offer cardholder savings or perks when you book travel using the issuer's credit card portal, such as travel credits or cardholder privileges, including free breakfast or late checkout.

How Credit Card Travel Portals Stack Up

When you use a credit card travel portal, the amount and method of payment may be the deciding factors in how you book. Using a credit card travel portal to book travel can save you money, but not always.

We compared a midweek economy flight from Los Angeles to New York and a weeklong stay at a three-star hotel in Manhattan. In some cases, credit card travel portals were competitive, but Expedia had the lowest overall price for flight and hotel costs on this test trip.

Still, this is just one example, and travel prices can fluctuate depending on how you book. It's always a good idea to compare all of your options.

Benefits of Credit Card Travel Portals

Booking your travel with a credit card travel portal can help you earn more points or redeem travel credits. Some examples:

Cardholders of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card get a $300 annual travel credit for bookings through the Capital One Travel site. When booking on the Capital One Travel site, cardholders earn unlimited 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars and 5 miles per dollar on flights. ( See Rates and Fees )
With The Platinum Card ® from American Express , cardholders get a $200 annual hotel credit for prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel and earn five points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. ( See Rates and Fees )
Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card holders get a $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit and earn five points per dollar on Chase Travel purchases.

"Using the travel credits is huge," says JT Genter, editor in chief of rewards and travel tracking tool AwardWallet. "Card issuers are leaning more towards those only being accessible through the portal."

Credit card travel portal bookings may help your points go further, too. "Because I have a Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, when I use the (Chase) portal to book travel, my points get an extra 25% bump," says Chip Chinery, personal finance blogger at Chip's Money Tips. For example, you'd only pay 100,000 points for a flight or hotel that would require 125,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book without the points boost.

Helpful features can add up to savings on credit card travel portals. For example, Capital One Travel offers a price match guarantee. Genter used the Capital One Travel price match feature on a flight from Cairo to Marrakech, Morocco. Although he booked with Capital One Travel, an online travel agency had a better price. He was able to price match with Capital One Travel to get a travel credit.

Genter points out that cardholders of The Platinum Card from American Express can take advantage of the International Airline Program for potential savings on international flights in first, business or premium economy.

You may also get benefits for booking with credit card travel portals, particularly when booking hotels. For example:

Cardholders of The Platinum Card from American Express get elite benefits at participating hotels, including early check-in, room upgrades, breakfast for two, a $100 experience credit, complimentary Wi-Fi and guaranteed 4 p.m. check-out.
If you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve ® , you can book The Edit properties through Chase Travel and receive benefits, including daily breakfast for two, a $100 on-property credit, room upgrades, early check-in and late check-out and complimentary Wi-Fi.

Drawbacks of Credit Card Travel Portals

Travel credits and on-property perks are compelling reasons to use a credit card travel portal. However, it pays to compare pricing among your card's portal, direct booking or an online travel agency, because the lowest-priced option depends on the trip you're taking. Also, you may forfeit some benefits, as credit card travel portals are third-party bookings.

With a third-party booking, you'll have less flexibility in customer service and cancellation than you would if you booked directly. For example, if you're dealing with a delayed flight and need service from the airline, you may be directed to the travel portal customer service. You may have limited options for cancellation and how you get your money or rewards back.

Another major point to consider with third-party bookings: You generally won't be able to earn points or miles with the airline or hotel, though you can earn points with your card. Additionally, you may not be able to use elite benefits for any status you hold. For example, if you have Hilton Honors status that entitles you to a daily food and beverage credit, you're not likely to get it when you book a stay with your credit card travel portal.

When to Use a Credit Card Travel Portal

Booking travel with a credit card travel portal can make sense in some scenarios. For instance:

You want to compare your travel options across multiple airlines or hotels in the portal.
You have a travel credit available that can only be redeemed through the issuer's travel portal.
You have rewards you want to redeem on the portal, and booking this way offers a good redemption value.
You want to take advantage of benefits, such as elite hotel perks that you can get when using a credit card travel portal.
Your booking options on the portal are priced lower compared with other options.
Booking on the portal earns elevated rewards, and the prices and benefits are comparable to those of other booking options.

"It makes sense if you want to take advantage of the credits but also to earn bonus points," says Genter. "And sometimes, they have promotions such as hyper-targeted offers."

Tags: credit cards

Comparative assessments and other editorial opinions are those of U.S. News and have not been previously reviewed, approved or endorsed by any other entities, such as banks, credit card issuers or travel companies. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired.

5 key things to look for when choosing a travel credit card

Posted: October 24, 2023 | Last updated: October 24, 2023

<p>If you spent all summer watching everyone else's excursions to Europe and are finally ready to plan a vacation of your own, you may be in the market for a credit card to help maximize your budget.</p> <p>Everyone loves to score a good deal—and credit card companies know it. Card issuers offer plenty of perks to lure consumers, from no annual fees to massive reward points early on. But tantamount to maximizing the potential of these deals is understanding how the offers work. To that end, <a href="https://www.travelperk.com">TravelPerk</a> analyzed credit cards on the market today to identify five of the best travel perks available to cardholders.</p> <p>Most major card companies offer travel benefits, whether airline, hotel, or bank cards—the latter of which may allow points to be transferred to specific airlines or hotels. Smart travelers prioritize the perks they know they'll exercise the most, from free checked bags to strategically picked rewards from a frequented hotel.</p> <p>The first thing smart shoppers watch for while researching a new credit card is the annual percentage rate, or APR. The average APR today is about 22% as of May 2023, according to a July 10 update from <a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/TERMCBCCINTNS">Federal Reserve Economic Data</a>, marking the highest average interest rate paid by consumers since 1994, when the Federal Reserve began tracking rates.</p> <p>That figure rightly rattles some hesitant consumers: Credit card interest rates are often higher than other forms of debt, including mortgages. But high interest rates don't necessarily mean paying more, so long as consumers manage card balances strategically.</p> <p>Only a <a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/RCCCBSHRMIN">handful of users let their credit card balance carry over</a> from one month to the next—and they're the class of users issuers make their money from. Per the most recent FRED information (last updated July 5, 2023), fewer than 9% of large-bank customers cap their monthly balance payments at the minimum allowable. Plenty of others limit spending to what can be paid off each month. Managing your credit this way allows you to reap the benefits of credit card perks without the penalty of high fees if your budget allows for it.</p> <p>It's important to remember that credit card interest compounds daily. Put simply, missing a monthly payment results in many card issuers charging you for interest on every single day's average card balance. In that scenario, you'd end up paying interest on your interest. It doesn't take much for those fees to snowball out of control quickly in a high-rate environment.</p> <p>Keep reading to learn more about five of the most universally beneficial rewards for travelers.</p>

5 high-flying perks to look for when choosing a travel credit card

If you spent all summer watching everyone else's excursions to Europe and are finally ready to plan a vacation of your own, you may be in the market for a credit card to help maximize your budget.

Everyone loves to score a good deal—and credit card companies know it. Card issuers offer plenty of perks to lure consumers, from no annual fees to massive reward points early on. But tantamount to maximizing the potential of these deals is understanding how the offers work. To that end, TravelPerk analyzed credit cards on the market today to identify five of the best travel perks available to cardholders.

Most major card companies offer travel benefits, whether airline, hotel, or bank cards—the latter of which may allow points to be transferred to specific airlines or hotels. Smart travelers prioritize the perks they know they'll exercise the most, from free checked bags to strategically picked rewards from a frequented hotel.

The first thing smart shoppers watch for while researching a new credit card is the annual percentage rate, or APR. The average APR today is about 22% as of May 2023, according to a July 10 update from Federal Reserve Economic Data , marking the highest average interest rate paid by consumers since 1994, when the Federal Reserve began tracking rates.

That figure rightly rattles some hesitant consumers: Credit card interest rates are often higher than other forms of debt, including mortgages. But high interest rates don't necessarily mean paying more, so long as consumers manage card balances strategically.

Only a handful of users let their credit card balance carry over from one month to the next—and they're the class of users issuers make their money from. Per the most recent FRED information (last updated July 5, 2023), fewer than 9% of large-bank customers cap their monthly balance payments at the minimum allowable. Plenty of others limit spending to what can be paid off each month. Managing your credit this way allows you to reap the benefits of credit card perks without the penalty of high fees if your budget allows for it.

It's important to remember that credit card interest compounds daily. Put simply, missing a monthly payment results in many card issuers charging you for interest on every single day's average card balance. In that scenario, you'd end up paying interest on your interest. It doesn't take much for those fees to snowball out of control quickly in a high-rate environment.

Keep reading to learn more about five of the most universally beneficial rewards for travelers.

The points game

The modern-day rewards programs many of us are familiar with have been around since the mid-1980s. Accrual and points-redemption rates can vary from one loyalty program to the next, with most credit card issuers offering their own unique points schemes. Today, an entire subsection of media and true believers work overtime to poke holes in and perfect the points game to maximize potential perks. Most cards will let you earn points for certain types of purchases and even more when you purchase through their rewards platforms.

The sign-on bonus

Many credit cards offer massive sign-on bonuses: either tens of thousands of points toward spending on airfare, hotels, and other goodies, or cold, hard cash—often $150 or more. Such incentives have a catch, of course: To redeem the bonuses, you have to charge a certain amount of expenses to the card in a set time frame.

These offers may be worth pursuing if you're fairly certain you can reach the threshold in a financially healthy way, as would be the case with already-anticipated expenses such as necessary home renovations, vehicle repairs, or private student loans. Expenses you're already budgeting for are more likely to be paid off without accruing interest and fees that are guaranteed to dilute the value of the bonus you're theoretically earning.

In the case of bonus travel miles, consumers are wise to read the fine print. Are these points only good on certain flights? When do they expire? It's great to have a lot of points, but how will you spend them and what are they worth in cash?

A valuable tidbit is the fact that any purchases you make and then refund will not count toward the bonus , nor will cash advances or balance transfers from another credit card.

After all these considerations, those for whom the sign-on bonus requirement is too steep may consider a card with a lower threshold.

Transferable points

Some cards will allow you to perform a 1:1 transfer to other loyalty programs, which may offer further bang for your buck. Capital One's points, for example, have a 1:1 transfer ratio to more than a dozen loyalty programs .

Calculating and keeping track of how your loyalty points or miles translate between companies can be complex, but tools like the Point Calculator offer ways to log into your loyalty program and easily determine partners and transfer rates.

<p>It's hard to overstate the sense of luxury airport lounges can offer to weary travelers with long layovers or missed connections. Lounges may offer (often free!) food and drink in the form of buffets or fine dining; charging-port access; and sometimes even a place to shower and freshen up. Not to mention, they're a giant step up from uncomfortable plastic seating at gates.</p> <p>Card issuers are stepping up their games in this capacity by expanding their lounge footprints at airports, so even bank cards may have lounges. Some cards with lounge perks require large annual fees that might not offset the use of lounges for more casual travelers. In that case, it may be best to find a card with credits to a program such as LoungeBuddy, which helps travelers find and book lounge visits.</p>

Lounge access

It's hard to overstate the sense of luxury airport lounges can offer to weary travelers with long layovers or missed connections. Lounges may offer (often free!) food and drink in the form of buffets or fine dining; charging-port access; and sometimes even a place to shower and freshen up. Not to mention, they're a giant step up from uncomfortable plastic seating at gates.

Card issuers are stepping up their games in this capacity by expanding their lounge footprints at airports, so even bank cards may have lounges. Some cards with lounge perks require large annual fees that might not offset the use of lounges for more casual travelers. In that case, it may be best to find a card with credits to a program such as LoungeBuddy, which helps travelers find and book lounge visits.

<p>Flight delays are one thing. Cancellations, though? They're a whole separate mess that can entail spending an extra night in cities where you didn't plan to stay.</p> <p>Some cards will offer companion tickets for free or at a deeply discounted rate. More utilitarian than most one-time freebies, however, is trip insurance. That may be especially true in today's era of air travel where more frequent extreme weather events are causing flight cancellations and airport meltdowns.</p> <p>Often called trip cancellation and interruption insurance, this perk can vary a bit depending on the card. Typically, it reimburses you for charges from airlines and hotels that would otherwise not be refundable. If your trip is interrupted or canceled due to an injury or weather, you can file a claim through the credit card company. Watch out for each card's exclusions.</p> <p><em>Story editing by Nicole Caldwell. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick.</em></p> <p> <em>This story originally appeared on TravelPerk and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.</em> </p>

Trip insurance

Flight delays are one thing. Cancellations, though? They're a whole separate mess that can entail spending an extra night in cities where you didn't plan to stay.

Some cards will offer companion tickets for free or at a deeply discounted rate. More utilitarian than most one-time freebies, however, is trip insurance. That may be especially true in today's era of air travel where more frequent extreme weather events are causing flight cancellations and airport meltdowns.

Often called trip cancellation and interruption insurance, this perk can vary a bit depending on the card. Typically, it reimburses you for charges from airlines and hotels that would otherwise not be refundable. If your trip is interrupted or canceled due to an injury or weather, you can file a claim through the credit card company. Watch out for each card's exclusions.

Story editing by Nicole Caldwell. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick.

This story originally appeared on TravelPerk and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

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Best no annual fee travel credit cards of April 2024

Fortune Recommends™ has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Fortune Recommends™ and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Travel rewards cards are a lot like gyms. The best ones may come with tons of added benefits (saunas, yoga class, etc.) but they also cost a lot, usually with a big financial commitment upfront.

As a result, whether you’re considering a Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card (with its $95 annual fee) or a CrossFit membership, you probably have the same question on your mind: will I really use it enough to justify paying for it?

While there aren’t any free gyms we know of, there thankfully are plenty of no-annual-fee travel rewards cards that require essentially zero commitment. And just like an ab roller or a Richard Simmons DVD, you can simply use them a few times, forget about them, and put them in a drawer until beach season. Or, you can stick with it and make them part of your daily routine—whatever works for you.

You’re also far more likely to see “instant results” with these cards, too. From 100,000-point welcome bonuses to rewards for paying rent, free travel insurance to 3X on gas, these cards offer way more than you’d expect for a fee of $0 per year.

The best no-annual-fee travel cards for April 2024

Best overall: bilt mastercard, best for hotel rewards: ihg one rewards traveler credit card, best for airline rewards: united gateway℠ card, best for travel earnings: wells fargo autograph℠ card, best for flat-rate earnings: capital one ventureone rewards credit card.

The Bilt Mastercard allows you to earn points from paying rent and transfer them 1:1 to well over a dozen different travel partners including United MileagePlus and Marriott Bonvoy. Toss in some surprisingly robust travel insurance and you have our unconventional—yet logical—choice for the best overall no-annual-fee travel card of 2024.

Bilt Mastercard®

Special feature.

Rewards Rates

1x Earn 1X points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year
1x Earn 3X points on dining
2x Earn 2X points on travel
1x Earn 1X points on other purchases
Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points.
Uniquely earns points on rent
Rent Day bonus every first of the month offers double points (excluding rent)
Robust travel transfer partners
Cash redemption rate is poor
No traditional welcome bonus
Travel perks: Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection, Trip Delay Reimbursement, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
See this page for details
Foreign Transaction Fee: None

Why we like this card: As mentioned, the Bilt Mastercard’s most compelling feature is that it allows you to pay rent with a credit card—even if your landlord doesn’t take plastic—and avoid the transaction fee paying rent by credit card would typically incur. Then, as long as you complete five transactions each month, you’ll trigger 1X rewards on your rent payments.

Note that rewards on rent are capped at 100,000 points per year.

In terms of earning potential, if you pay the median ~$2,000 rent in the U.S., you could earn approximately 24,000 points per year which can be used to book travel in Bilt’s portal at a value of 1.25 cents per point or transferred to any of Bilt’s airline or hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio. In other words, you could likely earn a domestic flight with United or a weekend stay at Hyatt, all for simply paying rent on time.

The Bilt card also provides trip cancellation and interruption protection, trip delay reimbursement, and primary rental car insurance (terms apply)—perks you wouldn’t typically find on a no-annual-fee credit card.

If you’re looking for a hotel rewards card that offers the most free nights for no annual fee, wait until you read about the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card. With a six-figure welcome bonus, up to 17X on stays and other compelling rewards, it’s currently the gold standard for no-fee hotel rewards.

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

Intro bonus.

17x Earn up to 17X points when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
3x Earn 3X points on dining, utilities, internet, cable, and phone services, select streaming services, and at gas stations
2x Earn 2X points on all other purchases
Generous welcome bonus not typically seen in a $0 annual fee card
Travel protections that are unusual for a no-annual-fee card
Fourth night free on award bookings
Limited redemption options outside of IHG
IHG points are worth less than some other rewards currencies
Silver status granted with the card has limited benefit
Additional perks: Trip cancelation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, purchase protection, ability to spend to Gold status
Foreign transaction fee:None

Why we like this card: We like calling the IHG One Rewards Traveler card the “Liam Hemsworth” of travel rewards cards because it lives in the shadow of its big brother—the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card —but still delivers plenty of quality and substance in its own right (with no annual fee, to boot).

For starters, you can get a welcome bonus of 80,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, potentially worth around $500 to $700 in IHG redemption.

Plus, enjoy up to 17X points when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts, instant Silver Elite status and a handy bonus where you redeem points for three consecutive nights and get the fourth night in your stay free. So, if you book a three-night stay using your welcome bonus, you’ll essentially be getting a complimentary four-night stay at a nice IHG property for no annual fee. The IHG One Rewards program could be very rewarding for the right traveler.

Check out our full review of the IHG One Rewards Traveler .

As a no-annual-fee airline card, the United Gateway℠ Card currently edges out its rival the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card by offering a more generous welcome bonus and travel insurance that the Delta card does not provide. If you fly occasionally and would like to earn miles, but aren’t willing to make the commitment of $95 or more for a mid-tier airline card with more perks, the Gateway is a strong choice.

United Gateway℠ Card

2x 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, including tickets, Economy Plus, in-flight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, baggage service charges and other United purchases.
2x 2 miles per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare services, taxicabs, train tickets, tolls, and mass transit.
1x 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
No annual fee or foreign transaction fee
Reward bonus categories outside of United Airlines
Robust travel protections for a no-annual-fee card
No baggage or expanded award availability benefits like with other United cards
Subject to Chase 5/24 rule.
United perks: 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Gateway Card
Other perks: Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Trip Cancellation/Interruption insurance, Purchase Protection, Extended Warranty
Foreign transaction fee: None

Why we like this card: The United Gateway card offers 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting plus 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Considering a United Mile is worth roughly around 1.2 cents these days, effectively earning 2.4 cents back on everyday purchases is a solid value proposition.

You’ll also get a welcome bonus of 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. And, you can save with a discount of 25% back on United in-flight and Club Premium drink purchases.

New cardholders will enjoy a 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, after 21.99%–28.99% variable applies.

If the United Gateway card has a small lead on the Delta Skymiles Blue Amex at this point, it soars ahead (pun intended) when you look at the included travel and shopping protections. Both cards offer secondary rental car insurance, but only the Gateway includes trip cancellation and interruption insurance, purchase protection and extended warranty protection.

So, if you’re seeking a no-annual-fee card you can use to rack up miles—and you either tend to fly United most of the time or you’re at minimum not devoted to a competing airline—the United Gateway is the card to beat.

Check out our full review of the United Gateway Card for more info.

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, see this page

With a generous welcome bonus in exchange for an attainable spend amount, 3X on travel, and a fancy name, you’d think the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card would command an annual fee of at least $95. But it doesn’t, making it a superb candidate for general travel use.

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Intro bonus.

3X 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans
1X 1X points on other purchases
No annual fee
20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months (that's a $200 cash redemption value)
Points transfer to partners
Car rental insurance is secondary
No travel insurance
Transfer partners are limited
Additional perks: Cell Phone Protection: Provides up to $600 in cell phone protection when you pay your monthly cell bill with your Wells Fargo Autograph card. Coverage is subject to a $25 deductible and limited to two claims every 12-month period.
Foreign transaction fee: N/A

Why we like this card: The Wells Fargo Autograph offers unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans and even your landline bill too if you have one, plus 1X points on other purchases—all without charging an annual fee. And, to make traveling a little cheaper/less stressful, you’ll also get $600 worth of cell phone protection (minus a $25 deductible) as long as you pay your phone bill with this card and secondary rental car insurance.

Cardholders can transfer points at a 1:1 ratio to Wells Fargo’s first wave of transfer partners including Air France‑KLM Flying Blue, Avianca Lifemiles, British Airways Executive Club, AerClub, and Iberia Plus and 1:2 to Choice Privileges.

But even if you aren’t a member of those loyalty programs, earning 3X on dining, travel, gas, and more is hard to pass up. You can redeem points at a value of 1 cent each to offset past purchases on your account, meaning you can wield the Autograph either as a no-annual-fee travel card or as a cash-back card effectively earning unlimited 3% back in a wide swath of useful categories.

Check out our full review of the Wells Fargo Autograph .

Sometimes, you just want a card that offers a little more than 1X on every purchase—without having to worry about what this quarter’s rotating rewards are, or whether a specific merchant qualifies as “groceries” for the purposes of your card’s rewards. If you value simplicity and the lack of an annual fee in your travel card, you’ll probably be a fan of the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card and its straightforward rewards program.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Reward Rates

5x Earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
1.25x Earn 1.25x miles on every other purchase
Flexible travel rewards
No foreign transaction fee
Maximizing Capital One Miles requires a learning curve
Cash redemption value is limited
The VentureOne offers travel accident insurance, rental car coverage, extended warranty protection, exclusive access to events through Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment

Why we like this card: The Capital One VentureOne Rewards offers 1.25X miles per dollar spent on everyday purchases and 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. That’s pretty much all that you have to remember. You can also get a nice welcome bonus of 20,000 miles after spending $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, which is a solid payout for a very attainable spending target.

Capital One Miles can be transferred to well over a dozen airline and hotel partners, most at a 1:1 rate. Partners include Air Canada’s Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club, Choice Privileges, Virgin Red, and Wyndham Rewards, among others. Other ways to book travel include redeeming miles through Capital One’s portal or making the purchase directly, paying with your card like normal, then using miles for a statement credit to cover the transaction.

The Venture One also offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months (after that, the variable APR will be 29.99%). There’s an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account during the first 15 months that your account is open , then 4% per transfer for any promotional APR offered after.

Come to think of it, provided you have the excellent credit needed to apply, the VentureOne could make a great travel companion for a grad student given its simplicity, lengthy intro APR period and low spending threshold required to trigger the welcome bonus.

Check out our full review of the Capital One VentureOne Rewards .

Frequently asked questions

Which card is best for international transactions without extra charges.

Zero foreign transaction fees is actually a common benefit among travel rewards cards, including many with no annual fee. For example, neither the Bilt Mastercard nor the United Gateway card charges a foreign currency conversion fee.

What is the best travel credit card for a young person?

If you’re still paying rent, the Bilt Mastercard is an excellent choice since it can generate points from rent payments which can then be transferred 1:1 to well over a dozen airline and hotel partners. If you’d prefer a card with a welcome bonus, which the Bilt card lacks, the IHG One Rewards Traveler card currently offers a massive welcome bonus for a no-annual-fee card—potentially worth hundreds of dollars toward a future IHG hotel stay.

Is a travel card with an annual fee worth it?

Using a travel rewards card with an annual fee can be worth it as long as you’re extracting enough points and benefits to justify paying the fee each year. If you travel infrequently or just want one less fee to worry about, consider one of the no-annual-fee cards on our list above. But, the best perks and protections are typically available on cards with annual fees.

For example, the Capital One Venture X card offers a $300 annual travel credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel. If you use that every year, you’ve gone a long way toward offsetting the $395 annual fee. You also get 10,000 bonus miles, worth at least $100 toward travel, every year starting on your account anniversary.

Methodology

To bring you our top picks for the best travel rewards cards with no annual fee, the Fortune Recommends surveyed more than a dozen cards currently available from today’s top issuers. From there, we ranked each one based on the following core categories and weights:

Welcome bonus (10%): Some cards—even those with no annual fee—offer welcome bonuses that you can earn once you make enough purchases within a certain time frame, such as spending $1,000 within three months of account opening.
Travel earnings (25%): These are the point rewards you’d earn by making travel-related purchases (e.g. 3X on hotels, 2X on airfare).
Car rental insurance (15%): Many, but not all travel-centric rewards cards include an auto rental collision damage waiver, which allows you to decline a portion of the rental company’s insurance and save potentially up to $30 per day. We gave extra consideration to if a card offers primary rental car insurance versus secondary, because primary kicks in immediately in a covered scenario—whereas secondary only applies after your own, personal insurance.
Travel insurance benefits (15%): Some travel rewards cards automatically apply trip cancellation/interruption insurance, lost/delayed luggage reimbursement and even travel accident insurance on travel bookings made using the card.
Gas earning (5%): Since road trips remain a common form of travel, whether or not a card offers points rewards at the pump factored into our rankings.
Dining earning (10%): If a no-annual-fee travel rewards card offered 2X or more on restaurant purchases it favored well in this category.

The remaining 20% was based on the card’s main focus: hotel, airline or general travel rewards.

For general travel—points transferrable to partners (20%): Points are literally worth more if you can transfer them to certain partners, so a card’s ability to transfer rewards to airline and hotel partners factored into our rankings.
For hotel rewards—free award night with booking (20%): Some hotel rewards cards offer a BOGO-like perk where if you redeem a certain number of nights with points you get an extra tacked on for free.
For airline rewards—ability to spend towards status (20%): Most airline rewards cards allow you to earn miles, but not all of them count those miles towards your next loyalty status. If a card treated them as “qualifying miles,” it fared better in this category.

Lastly, just keep in mind that virtually every aspect of a travel rewards card—from the rewards to the welcome bonus and fee structure—is subject to change, which could impact how many miles or points you earn.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefits guide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.

EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE : The advice, opinions, or rankings contained in this article are solely those of the Fortune Recommends ™ editorial team. This content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of our affiliate partners or other third parties.

Guide to travel rewards credit cards

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Fees and sign-up bonuses

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Ink Business Preferred: A Comprehensive Comparison

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate credit cards to write unbiased product reviews .

Introduction

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is Business Insider's choice for the best credit card and the best travel rewards credit card .

Its small-business equivalent, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card , is our choice for the best small business credit card as well as the best business credit card for travel .

Overview of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

If you're considering both credit cards, you may find it hard to choose between these two options — you'll often find that many entrepreneurs have both in their wallets.

Finding the right card for you will come down to evaluating the benefits you will be able to use, and understanding which card's rewards-earning structure is most suited to your spending habits.

Here's a detailed look at the biggest differences between the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.

Chase Ink Business Preferred vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred

Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. Earn 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries. Earn 2x on all other travel purchases. Earn 1x on all other purchases.

21.49% - 28.49% Variable

Earn 60,000 bonus points

Good to Excellent

Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. High intro bonus offer starts you off with lots of points
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Strong travel coverage
con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Doesn't offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit

If you're new to travel rewards credit cards or just don't want to pay hundreds in annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a smart choice. It earns bonus points on a wide variety of travel and dining purchases and offers strong travel and purchase coverage, including primary car rental insurance.

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 Travel℠.
Enjoy beneﬁts such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. 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.
Member FDIC

Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.

21.24% - 26.24% Variable

Earn 100,000 bonus points

Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. High sign-up bonus
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Offers 3x bonus points on several spending categories, including travel and advertising purchases
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Includes comprehensive travel coverage
con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Welcome bonus has a very high minimum spending requirement

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers a huge welcome bonus and solid earning and benefits for a moderate annual fee. If your small-business expenses line up with the card's bonus categories and you like redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards® points for travel, this is one of the best small-business credit cards to consider.

Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.

Annual fees and sign-up bonuses

These two cards have a lot in common; in fact, you could consider them to be counterparts of each other, designed for consumers or for small business owners.

Comparison of annual fees

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a $95 annual fee, and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has a $95 annual fee.

Sign-up bonus offers

Welcome bonuses, often called sign-up bonuses, are initial boosts of rewards that new cardholders can earn after reaching a certain spending requirement.

The Sapphire Preferred Card currently offers 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, while the Ink Business Preferred Card offers 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

There are two components to a welcome bonus offer should take into account: The number of bonus points you can earn, and the minimum spending requirement you must complete in order to earn those points. These cards field very different minimum spending requirements that might sway your decision in one direction or the other.

Reward earning potential

Both cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points , which are incredibly valuable by Business Insider's valuations . Chase points are worth 1.8 cents apiece, on average, when redeemed for travel through the Chase Travel portal . They can be worth far more if transferred to Chase's airline and hotel partners for first- and business-class travel redemptions.

Compare earning rates: Sapphire Preferred Card vs. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Here, too, the cards diverge significantly. The Sapphire Preferred Card earns:

5 points per dollar on Lyft rides through March 2025
5 points per dollar on all travel purchased through Chase Travel
3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
2 points per dollar on other travel
1 point per dollar on everything else

For its part, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card earns 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in the following categories each account anniversary year (1 point per dollar after that):

Shipping purchases
Advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines
Internet, cable, and phone services

You'll earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

The best card for you will be the one that complements your spending habits. If your business requires a lot of purchases in the categories where the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card excels, then the card is a clear winner. Even if your main expense is travel, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers 3x points for up to $150,000 in spending, which is pretty high — instead of the Sapphire Preferred Card's uncapped 2x points.

However, if dining is your major purchase segment, then the Sapphire Preferred Card pulls ahead since the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card doesn't even offer it as a bonus category.

Compare redemption opportunities: Sapphire Preferred Card vs. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Travel through chase ultimate rewards.

This is one of the areas where the two cards are most similar. With either, the points you earn are worth 1.25 cents apiece toward travel reservations booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal℠ . For some perspective, that means the welcome bonus from the Sapphire Preferred Card is worth $750 when cashed in this way, while the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card bonus is worth $1,250.

The interesting play here is that, if you also have the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, your points are worth 1.5 cents apiece through Chase Travel, upping your value even more. As mentioned above, carrying the Chase Sapphire Reserve® will preclude you from earning the welcome bonus with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, but you might still be able to combine your points with the account of someone else in your household who has the Reserve.

On the other hand, there's no crossover exclusion between the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, so that might be an easier combo to carry.

The best card in this respect really depends on your spending habits. However, think again about the Chase Sapphire Reserve® double-play with the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card since you can combine your points and redeem them through the Chase portal at 1.5 cents apiece.

Aside from that, you can cash in points for 1 cent apiece toward statement credits, gift cards, and Apple purchases with either card and at a lower rate when redeemed directly on Amazon for purchases.

Point transfer to partners

With either card, you can transfer your Ultimate Rewards points to the program's 14 airline and hotel transfer partners.

Travel Benefits and Protections

Both cards come with generous travel benefits and purchase protections. Here's what you should know.

Travel insurance and protections

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers one of the most comprehensive collections of travel protections of any rewards credit card. Its trip cancellation or interruption coverage maxes out at $10,000 per trip, $20,000 per occurrence, and $40,000 per 12-month period. If your trip is delayed 12 hours or overnight, you can claim up to $500 per purchased ticket to cover meals and lodging. Its baggage delay insurance goes into effect at six hours, with up to $100 per day for up to five days, while lost or stolen luggage is covered up to $3,000.

The Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the few cards to offer primary rental car insurance against theft or damage. Finally, its purchase protection remains in effect up to 120 days after you buy an item, and is capped at $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.

By contrast, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers up to $5,000 per person and $10,000 per trip for interruption and cancellation. Its auto rental coverage is primary for business rentals in the US and both business and personal rentals internationally. As for purchase protection, items are covered up to 120 days out, for as much as $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account — so if you're making a large purchase, this is the card to do it on.

The other major difference is that the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers cell phone protection against theft or damage. It's capped at $1,000 per claim and up to three claims per 12-month period with a $100 deductible per occurrence. Even with those limitations, though, this perk is one of the best the card offers.

No foreign transaction fees

Neither the Sapphire Preferred Card nor the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card charges foreign transaction fees, which saves you an average of 3% per transaction when making international purchases.

Additional perks

Each of these cards offers many more benefits. As you can imagine, some of them diverge — here's how the two stack up.

Sapphire Preferred Card benefits

The Sapphire Preferred Card offers the following supplemental benefits:

Up to $50 in annual statement credits toward hotel stays booked through Chase Travel
10% anniversary point bonus
Complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership through December 2024 (activation required)
Six-month complimentary Instacart+ membership (activate by July 31, 2024)
Primary rental car insurance
Up to $15 per quarter in Instacart credits through July 2024

Learn more in our Chase Sapphire Preferred card review .

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card benefits

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers the following supplemental benefits:

Primary car rental insurance on business-related rentals in the U.S., and all international rentals
Cellphone protection on phones that are billed monthly to this card

Learn more in our Chase Ink Business Preferred card review .

Which Chase card is suitable for you?

With all of these features and benefits compared side-by-side, it may seem harder than ever to choose between the Sapphire Preferred Card and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.

You can get both cards

You could always consider getting both cards. That way, you can earn even more bonus points with two welcome offers, and spread your bonus earning potential across several categories with two cards rather than having to choose between them. That might be an overreach, but if the spending requirements are within your purview, it's something to think about.

If you simply must choose between the two cards, here is what you should consider:

Personal vs. business use

When evaluating either-or between these two cards, consider this: Would a business credit card be more useful than a personal one — both for things like helping you separate personal from work expenses, but also for the extensive purchase protections it might provide?

If you're a sole proprietor selling a few items on eBay each year, there aren't many repercussions for you using the Sapphire Preferred Card for business use.

But if you plan to expand your business, run a cottage industry out of your home kitchen, or operate a larger company, you should definitely get a business credit card to help you separate your personal and professional expenses for tax and accounting reasons. Responsible financial management includes keeping clear records, and holding a dedicated credit card can help with that.

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a dedicated business credit card, and offers business-friendly features and benefits that the Sapphire Preferred does not.

Frequent travelers vs. business spenders: Choosing the right card for your spending and travel habits

Your travel habits should also come into consideration when evaluating these two cards. The Sapphire Preferred Card offers better travel insurance benefits and elevated dining rewards. However, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card also offers generous travel protection and earns bonus points on business expenses, and includes cellphone insurance whereas the Sapphire Preferred does not.

Eligibility Requirements

This might not be top-of-mind, but if you currently have (or have had in the past) other Chase cards — or if you have applied for several other credit cards recently — you might find yourself ineligible for one or both of these offers.

Chase has what's informally known as the 5/24 rule . This means if you have opened five or more credit cards, from any bank, within the past 24 months, you won't be approved for a new Chase card. So look at your accounts and make sure that you have not voided your ability to be considered for these cards off the bat.

Additionally, in the case of the Sapphire Preferred Card, Chase states: "This product is available to you if you do not have any Sapphire card and have not received a new cardmember bonus for any Sapphire card in the past 48 months." So if you have the more-premium Chase Sapphire Reserve® open, you'll be precluded from this offer. Likewise, if you opened either the Sapphire Preferred Card and received the bonus within the past 48 months, you won't get this welcome bonus, even if you have since closed your other account.

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card does not have such eligibility requirements. However, because it's a small business credit card , you may be asked to prove that you actually have a small business , even if it's just a sole proprietorship for your side hustle, in order to open the card. So be prepared to jump through a few hoops unless you can very clearly demonstrate that this card is for your business and you can verify your income.

You can't go wrong with either — or both — of these exceptionally popular Chase credit cards. The most important consideration should be your personal and business spending needs, and how you plan to utilize your credit card.

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Ink Business Preferred frequently asked questions

The consumer-focused Sapphire Preferred Card offers fantastic travel insurance and bonus points on travel and restaurant spend, while the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card for small business owners has cellphone insurance and bonus points on office supplies and travel.

Yes, both cards offer generous welcome bonuses for new cardholders who meet certain spending requirements within the first few months of opening the card.

While both cards offer a suite of travel protections including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, the Sapphire Preferred Card comes out slightly ahead with some of the best protection in the industry.

Yes, points earned from both theSapphire Preferred Card and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card can be transferred to more than a dozen airline and hotel partners through Chase Travel.

Both cards are excellent for international travelers, with no foreign transaction fees and a number of travel benefits.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

**Enrollment required.

Main content

Money latest: Bank criticised for making 'ludicrous' decision to limit cash deposits

Barclays is criticised for making the decision to limit how much cash its customers can deposit in a year. The bank says the change was being made to help it identify "suspicious activity". You can also listen to the latest Sky News Daily podcast about inflation as you scroll.

Friday 19 April 2024 13:00, UK

Barclays criticised for making 'ludicrous' decision to limit cash deposits
Scammers targeting pet owners - here's what to look out for
Do solar panels work in Britain's wet and cloudy climate?
Ketchup swaps that could eliminate tablespoons of sugar from your diet

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By Jess Sharp , Money team

Barclays has been criticised for making the "ludicrous" decision to limit how much cash its customers can deposit in a year.

Ron Delnevo from the Payment Choice Alliance said the move was a "disgrace" and accused the bank of trying to force businesses to stop accepting cash.

From July, the change will mean Barclays customers can only deposit up to £20,000 per calendar year into their personal accounts.

The limit will reset every January.

It comes after Natwest made a similar decision last year, capping deposits to £3,000 a day, or £24,000 in any 12-month period.

"The decision by Barclays is ludicrous. This is plainly an anti-cash move," Mr Delnevo told Sky News.

"It is trying to take free choice from people. It's like it is saying, 'if you are using cash, then we think you are a criminal'.

"It's a disgrace quite frankly and there is no excuse for it. It's just wrong."

Asked if he was concerned other banks could follow suit, he said: "Definitely."

He gave the example of someone selling a car for cash. "How would you deposit the money into your account?" he asked.

Barclays said the change was being made to help it identify "suspicious activity".

"We take financial crime and our responsibility to prevent money laundering seriously," a spokesperson said.

"We have contacted customers to let them know that from July we are making some changes to the amount of cash customers can deposit into their Barclays accounts.

"We have set the limit at an amount that will allow us to better identify suspicious activity, while still ensuring our customers have access to cash."

The UK's estimated 23 million pet owners are at risk of a new kind of scam, one that took nearly £240m in the first six months of last year.

Scammers are now targeting the most vulnerable owners – those who’ve lost their pets.

Fraudsters are turning to lost pet forums and websites to claim they've found missing pets, demanding a ransom payment for their return.

Figures from UK Finance reveal this type of fraud – known as Authorised Push Payment (APP), when a victim is tricked into sending money directly to a criminal’s account - cost British consumers £239.3m in the first six months of 2023.

James Jones, head of consumer affairs at Experian, has some tips on how to avoid the scam...

Never pay the ransom – If someone is demanding a large sum of money in exchange for your pet's safe return, call the police immediately. Never pay the money upfront, as it will most likely be a scam. Be sure to take a step back and analyse the situation.
Examine the photos - is it a fake? – In an era where the use of artificial intelligence to fabricate photos is becoming increasingly commonplace, spotting a fake is becoming more challenging. But if you do receive a suspicious photo, make sure to take a closer look to determine whether it is in fact your pet. To do this, check if the photo has been taken from your social media profile and reframed to pass as a recent photo. You should also check for any signs of photoshopping. This could be the way the image has been cut, or the lack of shadows. It is also always helpful to get a second opinion – what you might miss, another person could spot.
Spotting fabricated stories – Scammers may share specific personality traits you recognise about your pet to convince you they legitimately have it in their possession. However, they may be getting this information from adverts you’ve shared on missing pet websites, or even details shared about your pet on your social media profiles. Be extra cautious and question their authenticity.
Be careful not to overshare on social media – While sharing information of pets on social media channels is commonplace, this can make them a goldmine for fraudsters. Always be careful about posting personal details, such as your address, pet’s name, or your location in real time. This is all information a fraudster could use to their benefit. Even if you have a private account, you still need to be cautious, as fraudsters have sophisticated methods for obtaining personal information.
Avoid using your pet’s name as your password – The easiest password to remember is your pet’s name, but unfortunately fraudsters know this too. Of course, you need to be able to remember your passwords, but it’s vital not to make them too simple. The ideal password should contain a minimum of 10 characters using a mix of letters, numbers and symbols. As a rule of thumb, it’s also best to ensure you are using muti-factor authentication, when possible.

The British public donated some £13.9bn to charity last year, but higher earners who give to their chosen causes could be missing out on a tax break.

"Many may be missing out on the tax perks of giving to charity, which can help to reduce their tax bill and save them from tax traps," Charlene Young, pensions and savings expert at AJ Bell, said.

There is some £500m of unclaimed Gift Aid rebates - which you could be eligible for - according to data seen by AJ Bell.

In order to get to the bottom of this, we need an understanding of Gift Aid.

"Gift Aid is a tax incentive that gives a top up on donations from UK taxpayers to a UK registered charity or community amateur sports clubs (CASC)," Charlene explains.

Within the scheme, the government tops up the charity donation by 25% - turning a £100 donation into £125 for the charity or CASC.

"But there’s a tax break on offer for higher and additional rate taxpayers too - they can claim up to 20% or 25% on their donations," Charlene adds.

Not only does the scheme mean charities can access more money at no extra cost - higher band taxpayers can claim some cash back.

This table shows how much you can claim back...

"Claims are usually made via a self-assessment tax return, but you can ask HMRC for a P810 form to fill in if you don’t normally file a return. You can also backdate claims for up to four years, so it is worth looking into this as soon as possible," Charlene says.

Although 94% of higher earners donating to charity have heard about Gift Aid, only 52% are aware they could claim a tax rebate on their donations, according to HMRC data.

That leaves expected unclaimed rebates at around £500m.

Geoff, a higher rate UK taxpayer, pays £780 in charitable donations over the course of a year.

Gift aid tops this up to £975.

Geoff is eligible to claim back £195 (20% of £975) in tax relief from HMRC via self-assessment, or by contacting HMRC directly.

In total, this means the charity has received £975 - but it has only cost Geoff £585.

Avoiding tax traps

"If you're caught by tax traps, gift aid could help you lower your tax bill and put money towards good causes," Charlene says.

"You might be a parent who has gone over the £50,000 high income child benefit charge, meaning you'd start to lose child benefit [HICBC].

"Or if your earnings have breached £100,000 you start to lose your tax-free Personal Allowance at a rate of £1 for every £2, a whopping effective rate of tax of 60% on earnings between £100,000 and £125,140.

"Making a charity donation and claiming Gift Aid means the full value of the donation [what you pay plus the government top up] is deducted from the income that would otherwise count towards the £100,000 limit [or £50,000 for HICBC]."

By James Sillars , business reporter

The market reaction to Israel's attack on Iran is muted so far.

While Brent crude oil rose by 2% in response initially, it is currently just over 1% up on the day at $88 a barrel.

That is below where it started the week after Iran had launched its drone and missile strikes on Israel.

The future direction will probably depend on how Iran chooses to respond to events overnight.

Stock markets are also feeling some strain and, being Friday, we could see a rush to protect positions over the weekend later in the day.

Japan's Nikkei was 2.6% down though the Hang Seng was just 0.9% lower.

In Europe, the reaction was similar to that seen in Hong Kong.

The FTSE 100 fell 0.4% at the open - with small gains in energy stocks offsetting some of the wider hit to sentiment from events in the Middle East.

Travel-related stocks were seeing some of the worst pain due to the threat of disruption.

British Airways owner IAG shed 3.5% while easyJet was 2.3% off and Ryanair not far behind that figure.

By Ollie Cooper, Money team

It can be hard to balance getting nutritious foods that make you feel good without emptying your wallet.

In this series every Friday, we're trying to find the cheapest ways to identify the healthiest options in the supermarket.

We've asked Sunna Van Kampen, founder of Tonic Health , who went viral on social media for reviewing supermarket products in the search of healthier choices, for his input.

The series does not aim to identify the outright healthiest option, but to help you get better nutritional value for as little money as possible.

Today we're looking at ketchup - which contains a surprising amount of sugar.

What's the worry with sugar?

"Reducing added sugars in your diet can lead to significant health benefits, including weight loss and decreased risk of heart disease," Sunna says.

"But fear not, ketchup connoisseurs: there's a way to enjoy your sauce and look after your health too."

How much sugar?

The average bottle of ketchup has around 4g of sugar per tablespoon.

If you're having a generous dollop of ketchup three times a week, you're adding more than 600g of sugar to your diet each year from one condiment.

"That's a whole lot of sweet for something that's supposed to be savoury," Sunna says.

"Another way to look at it is that you're having a teaspoon of sugar drizzled over your French fries - it feels wrong, doesn't it?"

The good news is there's plenty of options.

Avoiding premium ketchups can save your wallet and your sugar intake - they tend to up sugar content by 35% to more than 30g per 100g.

A standard bottle of Heinz contains 22.8g of sugar per 100g.

"Without getting into the taste debate, Heinz's rival Hellman's comes up trumps for your health by lowering the sugar content to 18g per 100g," Sunna says.

Heinz has created two lower-sugar versions: a 50% less sugar option (at 11g per 100g) and Heinz's No Added Sugar & Salt (4.4g of sugar per 100g).

"But watch out here," Sunna says, "as they do add artificial sweeteners in their place (sucralose)".

In his view, there are two newer challenger brands that deserve a mention as they cut sugar without the artificial additives.

"Dr Wills Ketchup using dates instead of sugar (15g per 100g) and Hunter & Gather keep the sweet stuff out entirely (6g per 100g).

So, he says, there is "plenty to choose from to suite your taste buds and health needs".

What does that look like over time?

Making small changes for your health can build up to a big impact over the long term.

"Going from standard Heinz to the brand's no sugar option will save you more than 500g of sugar a year in your diet," Sunna says.

What's the cost?

"Surprisingly, opting for a healthier ketchup doesn't mean squeezing your wallet dry," Sunna says.

A bottle of Heinz No Added Sugar & Salt costs around £0.80 per 100g and is the most expensive.

The 50% less sugar version is cheaper at £0.54 per 100g.

That's only 4% more than the standard, more sugary version, which costs £0.52 per 100g.

"This way you'll save 32% on the price of your ketchup (compared with no sugar) and 50% of the sugar content for your health - that's a win-win," Sunna says.

"In the grand scheme of dietary changes, switching ketchup varieties might seem small. But it's these little tweaks that can add up to a big difference in your health."

The nutritionist's view - from Dr Laura Brown , senior lecturer in nutrition, food and health sciences at Teesside University

"I would say that yes, they are correct in that the focus should be health over money and the reduced sugar version does not make too much of a difference.

"Also, there is the option of making your own ketchup too, in which you could manipulate the ingredients to add more natural flavours that will reduce the need for the added sugar - provided it is consumed within a shorter space of time."

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Key Travel
KEY TRAVEL MOBILE APP. The Key Travel App is a simple and convenient way to stay on top of your trips whilst on the move. View all elements of your trip in one place, from itineraries, flight and hotel bookings to rail and car hire. The app will also alert you in real time to any alterations or delays that may impact your journey and provides ...
Money latest: Do solar panels work in Britain's wet and cloudy climate
Money latest: New savings account offers 7% interest. A complaints expert has warned local authorities are making it "increasingly difficult" to claim for pothole damage. Read this and all the ...
PDF KT Online User guide
A choice of room rates will be offered. The choice of options will depend on your company policy. 'Billback rates' allow breakfast to be added at checkout (if not already included) Customer negotiated rates can be found by looking for symbol 'C' ('K' represents Key Travel negotiated. 27 March, 2020 rates) YOUR GUIDE TO KEY TRAVEL 19.

A smarter alternative to paper tickets

Buy tickets for multiple Key smartcards

4 steps to using The Key

Loading, viewing and activating tickets on The Key

The Key for kids

Explore Tickets explained

The SEPTA Key Prepaid Mastercard® is issued by Pathward, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated.

The Key Smartcard

Using the Key Smartcard

Pay-as-you go journeys

Season tickets

Flexible travel

Ticket types you can have on the Key Smartcard and where you can purchase them

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The Key Smartcard

Using the Key Smartcard

Pay-as-you go journeys

Season tickets

Flexible travel

Ticket types you can have on the Key Smartcard and where you can purchase them

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Stay up-to-date

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The Complete Guide to the One Key Rewards Program

How the One Key loyalty program works

Trip elements

Search a full range of options when booking

Bundling your bookings

Earn rewards for Vrbo stays

Great for infrequent travelers hoping to earn perks

Earn for one thing, use for another

Earning free nights harder than with Hotels.com Rewards

Harder to earn and use other hotel loyalty program benefits

Reservation changes can be more complicated

Elite status perks limited to certain reservations

How to maximize your rewards

What the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa Card offers

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

1. You can transfer points with Wells Fargo point-based cards

2. It offers more options for earning bonus miles on travel than some competitors

3. The card may grow in value as more transfer partners join

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Key Travel is the world’s largest travel management company specialising in humanitarian, faith and academic travel

We offer 24/7 global travel support for non-profit organisations , full access to our award-winning online booking tool and our experienced team of travel experts.

The widest range of specialist humanitarian and academic air fares, saving you up to 80%, plus a host of extra benefits

Duty of care and risk management

Sustainable travel solutions

What our customers say

Removing the complexity of non-profit travel

World-wide service in English, French, Dutch, Italian & German

24/7 support via email, phone, WhatsApp and SMS

see us in action

ready to get started?

Key travel tips you need to know — whether you’re a first-time or frequent traveler

How to find travel deals

Be your own best advocate

Get Global Entry and/or TSA PreCheck

Get Clear for the ultimate security trifecta

Make copies of your important documents

Check expiration dates

Consider travel protection

Tips for your luggage

Staying safe on your journeys

Some final tips

Bottom line

KeyBank Key2More Rewards credit card review

In a Nutshell:

A deceptively high rewards rate

Do the math before you apply

Best for heavy spenders

Pricey redemption

Why get the KeyBank Key2More Rewards card?