Expensive Credit Cards That Don’t Seem Worth It, but They
There are many expensive credit cards on the market these days: some of them have an annual fee that can be as high as $500, so it’s natural to wonder if they’re really worth it. In most cases, the answer is no, at least not for all. However, there are cards that are expensive and can be a good choice for many people. Some cards come with credits and benefits that can offset most of the costs. Here are some expensive credit cards that may not seem worth it, but they can be.
Capital One Venture X
Capital One Venture X is arguably the #1 card with a high $395 annual fee that can easily be justified – even when compared to Capital One Venture’s $95 annual fee or even a card with no annual fee. For those who travel, even if only once a year, the Venture X is a good choice.
Venture X benefits that offset the annual fee include:
- $300 annual travel credit when booked through Capital One Travel
- 10,000 anniversary bonus miles
Only after these two benefits will you pay back the annual fee. Most people who travel will have no problem using a $300 annual travel credit, and 10,000 anniversary miles cost $100 per trip at worst.
In addition, Venture X cardholders receive:
- $100 TSA PreCheck or Global Entry Fee Credit
- Lounge access to Priority Pass, Plaza Premium and Capital One with 2 guests per visit (authorized users who can add for free also get this)
- Minimum 2 miles per dollar spent on purchases (more in certain categories)
- Cell phone insurance
- No fees for foreign transactions
- Transfer miles to partners
- Welcome Bonus
Airline credit cards if you are flying domestically and checking in luggage
If you frequently and always fly domestic flights or usually check in luggage, you may need an airline credit card. Southwest offers free baggage check-in for everyone, but it is possible to get free checked baggage on other airlines using their joint credit card. How often do you fly with a particular airline, do you usually fly with the same airline, how much luggage do you check in and how many people do you travel with are a few things that will determine if it’s worth paying the annual fee, but as a general rule: checking three bags per year is the breakeven point.
Some airline credit cards worth considering include:
- Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card: $75 annual fee, free first checked bag for cardholder and up to six additional passengers per booking.
- American Airlines AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard: $99 annual fee, free first checked bag for cardholder, and up to four additional passengers per booking for domestic routes.
- Delta SkyMiles American Express Gold Card: $99 annual fee (waived in the first year), free first checked bag per cardholder, and up to eight additional passengers per booking.
- JetBlue Plus Card: $99 annual fee, free first checked bag for cardholder and up to three additional passengers per booking.
- United Explorer Card: $95 annual fee (wasted in the first year), free first checked bag for cardholder and up to one additional passenger per booking – you must purchase the ticket with the card to receive this benefit.
Many hotel credit cards
Many hotel credit cards offer a free night at a hotel of this chain (often valid at hotels worth up to a certain number of points per night). Most hotel credit cards charge an annual fee of $95, so if you’re likely to stay at a certain chain hotel every year and that hotel costs over $95 a night, you’ll come out ahead, not to mention the other benefits. cards. Keeping track of the extra card and making sure you’re using the benefits takes some extra mental effort, but it’s worth it.
Some of the hotel credit cards worth considering include:
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card: $95 annual fee, free night of up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points (can be recharged with up to 15,000 extra points from your account).
- World of Hyatt Credit Card: $95 annual fee, free night at a Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel.
- IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card: $95 annual fee, free night up to 40,000 IHG Points.