Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card Review: Full Details

Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card Overview
No youthful fees Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card If you are a member of the Bank of America’s preferred Rewards® program, you have the potential to be a solid flat rate card. However, without the preferred bonus, the card is not in a good way compared to other flat rate cards on the market. Card rating*: ⭐⭐
*Card ratings are based on the opinions of TPG editors and are not affected by the card issuer.
Points and mileage seem daunting for beginners. For some newbies who get credit card rewards, the idea of transferring points and trying to find the absolute best redemption can be exciting, but also disturbing – if it is you, you are not alone.
Many beginners give up using credit card rewards to pay for travel because it seems too complicated.
That’s a choice like this Bank of America Travel Reward Card Work. It has no annual fee and we recommend that applicants have a credit score of 670 or higher to increase approval opportunities.
Points and mileage advantages may not be moved by the privileges and redemption options on this card, but its revenue rate and simplicity of the redemption process provide a good starting point for beginners.
Let’s study card details so you can determine if it’s right for you.
Bank of America Travel Rewards Pros and Cons
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Bank of America Travel Rewards Welcome Offer
New Bank of America Travel Rewards Cardholders spend $1,000 in the first 90 days of opening and earn 25,000 online bonus points.
These points can be redeemed at a flat rate of 1 cent per point for travel or dining purchases, so the bonus is worth $250, which is a reliable offer but much less than what you find on other top travel cards.
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This is not a flashy reward, but it is easy to earn as it is easy to meet the minimum spending requirement. And, since the card has no annual fee, you are actually earning rewards without usually making any upfront fees. This is the standard welcome bonus on the Bank of America travel reward card.
When it comes to eligibility, the Bank of America travel rewards card does have a 24-month limit, although the details vary by card. The wording of the travel reward card states:
“If you currently have or have the card within the first 24 months, the card may not be available.”
This means that if you previously held a travel reward card, you can get a second travel reward card; you just need to make sure that at least 24 months have passed since you closed your previous travel reward card account.
Related: Final Guide to Credit Card Application Restrictions
Bank of America Travel Reward Benefits
The real benefits Bank of America Travel Rewards It’s its simplicity. There are no reward categories, earn caps or transfer partners. For beginners, this may be a great way to start your points and mileage journey.
As a cardholder, you will not enjoy foreign transaction fees when you swipe your card outside the United States, and many unfamiliar cards have foreign transaction fees, so this is a great benefit.
As expected, you won’t get any luxury items. However, since it is a visa card, you still have access to certain travel protections and benefits, including zero fraud liability and roadside assistance.
Again, this is not an extensive list of benefits, but the benefits you get are good for an unfamiliar card. Check out your travel rewards guide for a comprehensive list of all the perks you receive through this card’s Visa Signature Brand.
Related: Get rewards for free with these unenjoyed credit card strategies
Win points on Bank of America Travel Rewards
this Bank of America Travel Reward Card It has a simple income structure, but not just the eyes.
For beginners, you will earn 3 points per dollar on a trip purchase booked through Bank of America Travel Center. You will also spend an unlimited 1.5 points per purchase. There is no cap on rewards every year, and your opinion won’t expire as long as your account is open.
This is a fairly standard income rate for an unfamiliar card, although you can find cards with a more competitive reward structure. However, if you are eligible for the Bank of America’s preferred rewards program, the reward structure will become more valuable.
To sign up for a preferred reward, you will need a qualifying Bank of America personal checking account with an average daily balance of at least $20,000 in your Bank of America and Merrill Lynch accounts.
There are four levels of preferred rewards, each with bonuses on the Travel Reward Card.
Preferred reward layer | Required cross-account balance | Earn bonuses | Minimum income rate |
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standard | N/A. | N/A. | 1.5 points per dollar |
Gold | $20,000 | 25% | Spend 1.875 points per dollar |
platinum | $50,000 | 50% | 2.25 points per dollar |
Platinum Honors | $100,000 | 75% | Spend 2.625 points per dollar |
diamond | $1,000,000 to <$10,000,000 | 75% | Spend 2.625 points per dollar |
As you can see, people with platinum honors and diamonds can earn at least 2.625 points per purchase, which is an impressive reward for every day purchase.
Additionally, you will receive savings account interest bonuses, discounted banking and investment expenses, and discounted interest rates on car loans and mortgages.
That said, if you are not your preferred reward member, there is a lack of revenue rate per dollar of 1.5 points. Even members of the Golden Layer may do better on another reward card.
Related: All information about Bank of America’s preferred rewards program
Redemption Points for Bank of America Travel Rewards
Bank of America points act more like cash rewards, because each point is worth 1 cent. You can redeemed points for a statement credit for travel or dining purchases (starting at least 2500 points).
When you purchase, simply log in to your account and select any qualified transactions for the first 12 months.
Although travel enthusiasts may consider this a disadvantage, beginners may be happy about this stress-free process.
You don’t have to consider maximizing reward redemption or finding out the best transfer partner to book a trip, which can be a headache for those looking for a simple, meticulous way to make money and use their perspective.
You can also use points for cash rewards – checks or deposits into a U.S. eligible bank account. However, you will get a value of 0.6 cents per point this way (2,500 points = $15), so you’d better use them for travel or dining purchases.
Finally, you can redeemed points for gift cards, although the exact value varies from merchant to merchant.
Related: The Best Bank Credit Cards in the United States
Which cards compete with Bank of America travel rewards?
If you want more allowances or a different income structure, one of them might be a better option Bank of America Travel Reward Card discount.
- If you want more privileges: this Bank of America® Premium REWARDS® Credit Card It is an intermediate travel card with an annual fee of $95. It’s the same base rate as the Travel Reward Card for 1.5 points per dollar, but you can also earn 2 points on travel and dining purchases and get more travel allowances. To learn more, see our full review of Bank of America’s premium reward cards.
- If you want more flexible rewards: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Cards cost 1.25 miles a day, 5 miles a day, per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel. However, the card shines by giving you access to the issuer’s more than 15 transfer partners, including British Airways, Turkish Airlines and Wyndham. To learn more, see our full review of Capital One Ventureone Rewards.
- If you want more cash back: this Chase for Freedom® (See rates and fees) is another nice unfamiliar card option. It offers a 5% cashback, which can be returned via Chase Travel, 3% at restaurants and drugstores, and 2% cashback on Lyft rides until September 30, 2027, all other purchases. For more information, see our complete review of Infinity of Freedom.
For additional options, check out our full list of the best cashback credit cards.
Is Bank of America travel reward worth it?
If you are looking for simplicity of making money and redemption points, that’s not the cost Bank of America Travel Reward Card May be a good choice, especially if you are a reward client that Bank of America likes. However, more experienced points and miles travelers may want a card with higher income rates and more redemption options.
Bottom line
Bank of America Travel Reward Cards offer simple income rates that many beginners will appreciate in redemption options. However, travelers who often want better income rates and transfer partner flexibility should consider other options.
Apply here: Bank of America Travel Reward Card
Related: 5 Reasons for I Love Chase Freedile Unlimited As a Credit Card Beginner