Business travel rewards credit cards
Business travel rewards cards are designed for both business owners and employees. These cards offer points or miles that can be redeemed for travel-related items. The Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® is both an airline and business travel rewards credit card. With this card, you earn 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants and gas stations. The card also offers flight perks, including first checked bag free and preferred boarding.
Other credit cards that offer travel rewards
Travel rewards credit cards are not tied to a specific airline. For instance, the Citi Strata℠ Card allows you to earn points that you can redeem in several different ways:
- On cititravel.com to book flights, hotels, car rentals and experiences
- By transferring to partners like American Airlines AAdvantage®, JetBlue TrueBlue, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Flying Blue (Air France/KLM), Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Choice Privileges®, Wyndham Rewards®, and Preferred Hotels & Resorts
- At participating merchants like Amazon, PayPal, CVS and others
- As gift cards to your favorite participating retailers and more at thankyou.com
With the Citi Strata℠ Card, you earn 5 points on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on cititravel.com, 3 points at supermarkets, 3 points on select transit and at gas and EV charging stations, 3 points on a category of your choice, 2 points at restaurants and 1 point on all other purchases.
How to redeem points or miles
A common way to redeem points or miles is through a credit card issuer or partner portal.
For Citi credit cards that earn ThankYou® Points, you can go to the Citi Travel℠ portal to redeem your points for travel.
Citi cards that participate in the American Airlines AAdvantage® program, including the Citi Strata℠ Card, the Citi Strata Premier® Card and the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card, let you redeem your miles at aa.com.
Some rewards programs also allow you to redeem your points or miles for gift cards or merchandise from participating retailers.
What are the benefits of travel rewards credit cards?
Different cards can have different benefits. Here are some benefits you can expect.
Hotel room discounts
With the Citi Strata Premier® Card and the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card, you can enjoy discounts on hotel stays. The Citi Strata Premier® Card offers $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees), and the Citi Strate Elite℠ Card offers $300 off a single hotel stay of 2 nights or more. Both of these offers apply when booked through cititravel.com, once per calendar year.
Hotel perks
When you book at hotels in the Reserve Collection with your Citi Strata Premier® Card or Citi Strata Elite℠ Card, you can enjoy additional hotel benefits. The Reserve Collection, a collection of participating hotels on cititravel.com, offers on-property benefits including daily, complimentary breakfast for 2, free Wi-Fi, and a $100 experience credit (varies by property). Other benefits, subject to availability, include early check-in, late check-out and room upgrades.
An enhanced airport experience
With Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, you can enjoy Admirals Club® Membership, including access to nearly 100 Admirals Club® and partner lounges worldwide. You’ll also receive priority check-in and screening (where available), as well as priority boarding privileges for you and up to 8 travel companions on the same reservation.
The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card offers a host of airport perks as well, like a Priority Pass™ Select membership that offers complimentary access to 1,500+ airport lounges worldwide. You’ll also receive 4 Admirals Club® Citi Strata Elite℠ Passes for access to nearly 50 Admirals Club® lounges each year. Finally, you’ll receive a statement credit, up to $120 every 4 years, as reimbursement for your application fee for Global Entry® or TSA PreCheck®.
Making the most of travel rewards credit cards
If you want to make the most of your travel rewards credit card, here are a few things you can do:
Meet bonus requirements
Many travel rewards credit cards offer a bonus when you open an account. These offers usually require you to spend a certain amount within the first few months of opening your account to earn bonus points or miles.
Take advantage of spending categories
Many travel rewards credit cards offer additional points or miles in specific spending categories like eligible airfare for specific airlines, hotels or restaurants. If you want to earn more points or miles, it’s important to understand your card’s rewards program and use your card in the categories that offer additional points or miles.
Be aware of all fees before applying
Some travel rewards credit cards come with annual fees, foreign transaction fees and other charges. It’s important to be aware of all the fees before you apply for a card so that you can make sure it’s the right fit for your financial situation.
Choose the right card for you
There are many different travel rewards credit cards on the market, so it’s important to choose the right one for you. Consider factors like annual fees, bonus offers and benefits when you’re comparing credit cards. If you prefer a specific airline, look for its partnered travel rewards credit card.
