Travel Credit Cards FAQ

There’s more than one way to save money from your travel expenses, and that’s what a travel credit card will show you. The more you travel, the more benefits you will get, plus you get to enjoy some awesome perks offered only to exclusive travel credit cardholders.

How do travel credit cards work?

These cards give you mile points for purchases. Mile points can be converted to travel-related privileges, such as air tickets and seat upgrades with participating airlines. Other perks of owning travel credit cards can include free access to premium airport lounges, travel insurance, and exclusive accommodation deals.

What is the best travel credit card in 2019?

Bigger rewards don’t necessarily equate to better. A good travel credit card doesn’t just focus on churning different kinds of rewards to frequent travelers, it also comes with travel-centric benefits like free travel insurance, premium lounge accommodation, priority booking, and any service that will make your travel experience better.

These credit cards possess all the features that make the best travel credit cards:

Citi PremierMiles Card

Earn 1 mile for as low as ₱30 spent with this card. Earn non-expiring miles and have them exchanged for free flights to over 60 airlines, hotel accommodation, vehicle rentals, or even cruises. You even get 24/7 VIP airport lounge access and Visa Signature Concierge Service as well as free ₱5M travel accident insurance coverage.

  • Minimum income - ₱30,000
  • Annual fee - ₱5,000

Key features:

  • Earn 1 never-expiring mile for every ₱30 you spend both here and abroad.
  • Redeem flights and hotel stays instantly through Citi ThankYou Rewards with over 60 airlines and 8,000 hotels to choose from.
  • Enjoy VIP lounge access here and abroad with a FREE DragonPass membership with 2 complimentary lounge passes at select airport lounges.
  • Citibank credit cardholders get to enjoy exclusive deals and exciting privileges available only to them.

Citi Prestige Card

A premier travel card that makes a jetsetter lifestyle more rewarding. This card can grant you access to numerous airport lounges worldwide. You will also get to enjoy unlimited, 4th-night free accommodation at any hotel when using the concierge upon booking.

  • Minimum income - ₱83,333
  • Annual fee - ₱12,000

Key features:

  • FREE 2 roundtrip tickets to Japan! Promo is until October 31, 2019, only.
  • 5x ThankYou points on local dining, shopping, and all foreign currency spend.
  • Earn 120,000 welcome bonus points.
  • Free airport lounge access.
  • Unlimited 4th night free at any hotel booked through the concierge.

HSBC Platinum Card

Whether your travels are local or abroad, you can take advantage of this card’s exclusive deals and privileges in more than 27,000 establishments in over 160 countries all year round. You also get free travel accident insurance coverage of up to ₱20M, 10% fuel rebate on the first transaction and 3% on succeeding gas purchases at Caltex outlets.

  • Minimum income - ₱41,667
  • Annual fee - ₱5,000

Key features:

  • 4 Bonus Points for every ₱20.00 spend by simply charging your overseas purchases or shopping online to your HSBC Platinum Visa.
  • Free travel accident insurance of up to ₱10 million.
  • Earn 1 air mile with as low as ₱25 spend.

RCBC Bankard Black Card Platinum Peso

A travel credit card that offers world-class traveling convenience on your overseas payments in any currency. One of the very few credit cards that can convert up to 50% of your credit limit into cash advance (up to ₱250,000 or whichever is lower) and withdraw it at any MasterCard or Cirrus powered ATM across the US and in other countries worldwide.

Other perks include emergency assistance anywhere in the world, exclusive access to Miascor Airport Lounge service, and free travel insurance coverage worth up to ₱1M. Plus, every time you use your card, you receive Flexible Rewards Points which you can use in a variety of ways suited to your needs.

  • Minimum income - ₱41,667
  • Annual fee - ₱3,600

Key features:

  • Available in Peso and Dollar variant.
  • Flexible, non-expiring Rewards Points/AIRMILES/Cash Rebates.
  • Free Purchase Protection and Free Travel Insurance up to ₱1,000,000.
  • Free access to the Miascor and Skyview Lounges.
  • Up to five (5) supplementary cardholders with free annual membership fees for life.
  • Your passport to a world of superior convenience and world-class privileges.

What is the best travel credit card with no annual fee?

There are no travel credit cards that don’t have annual fees. However, this card will waive your annual fees for life if you manage to meet their conditions.

RCBC Bankard AirAsia Credit Card

A one-of-a-kind travel credit card that opens up many exclusive AirAsia travel privileges with no annual fees. It’s a perfect card for first-time credit cardholders who love to travel on a budget.

  • Minimum income - ₱19,167
  • Annual fee - ₱2,400

Key features:

  • Earn 1 BIG Point for spends as low as ₱22.
  • Free onboard Wi-Fi.
  • Get up to 8,000 Bonus BIG Points.

What is the best credit card for travel rewards?

Many travel credit cards have a high spend to points ratio, building up your rewards points faster than the average card. Among those cards are the following:

Citi PremierMiles Card

Earn 1 mile for as low as ₱30 spent with this card. Earn non-expiring miles and have them exchanged for free flights to over 60 airlines, hotel accommodation, vehicle rentals, or even cruises. You even get 24/7 VIP airport lounge access and Visa Signature Concierge Service as well as free ₱5M travel accident insurance coverage.

  • Minimum income - ₱30,000
  • Annual fee - ₱5,000

Key features:

  • Earn 1 never-expiring mile for every ₱30 you spend both here and abroad.
  • Redeem flights and hotel stays instantly through Citi ThankYou Rewards with over 60 airlines and 8,000 hotels to choose from.
  • Enjoy VIP lounge access here and abroad with a FREE DragonPass membership with 2 complimentary lounge passes at select airport lounges.
  • Citibank credit cardholders get to enjoy exclusive deals and exciting privileges available only to them.

How do I get a GetGo card?

GetGo card is a prepaid card from Cebu Pacific and is powered by UnionBank Philippines. A GetGo Card linked to a GetGo number, converting your purchases with the card into GetGo points. These GetGo Points can be used to purchase airline tickets in Cebu Pacific.

There are two ways to sign up and get a GetGo Card:

Option 1
  1. Visit getgo.com.ph
  2. Click on "Get A Card Now".
  3. Choose "GetGo Peso+" and complete the application form. You will be asked to upload your signature and a picture of your ID.
  4. Check your email for your application reference ID. To get the card, visit any of the distribution centers within 14 days after completing the application.
  5. Present the reference ID, the ID you submitted upon application and pay a one-time fee of only ₱150.
Option 2
  1. Download the mobile app in the App Store or Google Play. Search for "GetGo Peso+".
  2. Open the app, click the menu and select "Get A Card".
  3. Choose "GetGo Peso+" and complete the application form. You will be asked to input your signature and take a picture of your ID.
  4. Check your email for your application reference ID. To get the card, visit any of the distribution centers within 14 days after completing the application.
  5. Present the reference ID, the ID you submitted upon application and pay a one-time fee of only ₱150.

To find out more about this card, go to their website.

How do I link my GetGo card to my Getgo account?

A GetGo card can be activated without a GetGo account. If you have both and are not linked yet, here’s how you can do it.

  1. Visit www.getgo.com.ph
  2. Log in to your current GetGo membership account.
  3. Go to Profile and click on "Link Accounts".
  4. Click on "Link" under "Got a new GetGo Number?" and input the GetGo number shown/ printed on your GetGo Virtual Prepaid and/or GetGo Peso+ Prepaid Cards.

How do you earn GetGo Points?

GetGo Points can be earned by using your GetGo Prepaid or Virtual Card to pay for items or services from GetGo accredited merchants. Check this link to see the list of available merchants.