FNBO has updated their TravElite American Express card, and in addition to a decent sign up bonus, the ongoing benefits of this card have been updated and are now quite good for a card with no annual fee. We have added this card to our Best Offers page.
The Offer
- 25,000 points for spending $2,500 in the first 3 billing cycles (worth $250)
- $100 annual Travel Discretionary Fund (requires registration, can be used towards things like baggage fees, lounge access, and onboard food & drink)
- $100 Global Entry fee credit
- 3X points on travel
- 1.5X points everywhere else
- Points worth $0.01 each
Our Thoughts
Each point is worth $0.01 (which can be redeemed in the form of gift cards or cash back), therefore the sign up bonus is worth $250. On its own, that isn’t a bad sign up bonus for a card with no annual fee. However, the ongoing benefits are what make this card particularly interesting. The $100 annual travel fee credit is very generous for a card with no annual fee. While the terms state that this credit can not be used for things like airline tickets, gift cards, point purchases, and upgrades, we do not yet have data points indicating what will trigger the credit. The terms state that you must enroll in the benefit before making an associated purchase. At the very least, this looks like free bags and/or food onboard in economy class. Additionally, this card will have access to Amex Offers. While many readers probably have access to a Global Entry fee credit with other cards, it is yet another generous benefit considering the lack of an annual fee.
Between Amex Offers and the $100 annual travel credit, the ongoing value proposition of this card is strong. While not the most rewarding card for everyday spend, 3% on travel isn’t bad for a card with no fee, especially considering the other benefits and lack of foreign transaction fees. It’s definitely worth a look.
Note that according to the comments at Doctor of Credit, it seems that instant approval is uncommon. Reports there suggest that those with many recent applications may be denied, though we don’t have enough data points to know how many is too many. Application status can be checked here.
H/T: DoC