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US Bank Flex Perks Travel Credit Card Review

Application Link:

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Basics

  • Sign-up bonus: 25,000 Flex Perks points after spending $2,000 in the first four months
  • Earning rates: 2x points on whichever of the following three categories is your highest spend: airfare, gas, or groceries; 2x on cell phone providers and charitable purchases; 1x on everything else
  • Redemption: 1.5c/p toward airfare, hotels, and car rentals; 1c/p for statement credit
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • $49 annual fee (waived the first year)

Highlights

  • Real Time Rewards: Through Real-Time Mobile Rewards (RTMR), you can redeem points for airfare, hotel, and car rental purchases at a value of 1.5c per point. After activating RTMR, each time you make a purchase in an eligible category, you will receive a text message asking whether you want to use points to offset that purchase. Redeeming points for these categories now gives 1.5c per point, while other categories redeem at 1c per point.
  • Extra perk in the Rewards Center: If you book airfare, hotels, or car rentals through the US Bank Rewards Center and redeem points, each point is worth 1.5 cents, which is better than redeeming for statement credit. In addition, if you redeem more than 10,000 points for a round-trip flight, you can also get up to $25 in airline incidental reimbursement for that ticket’s itinerary, such as baggage fees, in-flight snacks, or airport lounge charges. However, you need to call 866-311-5550 within 90 days after the charge posts to request reimbursement. Note that you must redeem through the Rewards Center or by phone to qualify for the $25 reimbursement; RTMR redemptions do not qualify.
  • FlexPerks Rewards Center 5x: 5x on hotel or car rental bookings made through the FlexPerks Rewards Center (effective in Q1 2020)

Drawback

  • The fee for booking award flights by phone increased from $35 to $39 (effective November 1, 2019)

My Take

This card’s points are worth 1.5c/p toward travel, which works out to 3% back on whichever of airfare, gas, or grocery purchases is your highest spending category, and 3% back on cell phone bills as well, with no cap. That makes it a solid option for people who spend a lot in those categories. The annual fee is also fairly reasonable, so it can still be worth it. Redeeming points is simple too, either by booking through the rewards center or using Real-Time Rewards.

Application

  • Application difficulty: US Bank is sensitive to HPs and new accounts. If you have a checking or savings account with them, approval is usually easier.
  • Application status: Official application status check link
  • Notes: Before applying, it is best to freeze your reports with the two less common bureaus, ID Analytics and Advanced Resolution Services. See this article. This may help improve your odds of approval for US Bank credit cards, and there is no obvious downside.

Application Link

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