If you travel a lot there are 3 cards you need. They which will make the experience better and get your the most rewards; one for immigration, one for relaxation and one for rewards. Global Entry, Chase Sapphire Reserve and Priority Pass.
Global Entry
Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program that allows you to go to a separate expedited immigration lane. So instead of waiting in line with everyone, you go around the line and follow the signs for Global Entry. This will lead you a number of kiosks right in front of immigration. You insert your passport, then place you fingers on the scanner for verification and then push the button and it takes a picture of you (you can take it again if you dont like the picture :). After this a receipt with your picture comes out and you go right to up to the Global entry immigration line and the official will take that receipt, ask you a question or two and you are through.
This saves so much time which is great after a long flight and is really important if you need to make a connecting flight. I was able to go around the line and get through immigration in 15 minutes while it took my friend over an hour. Because I had to wait for him, we missed our connection and needed to stay there until the next day to get another flight so make sure your travel companions gets one too!
You must be pre-approved for the Global Entry program. You must apply for the card, pay a fee, go in for an interview and they conduct a background check for approval. To apply go to Global Entry Program.
Please note the Global Entry Program includes the TSA Pre-check which will allow an expedited check in at many airports (it will be noted on your plane ticket when you check in whether you can use the TSA Pre-check line or not). The Global Entry Program is open to U.S. Citizens and also to citizens of a number of select countries which can be seen on the Global Entry page.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
The best credit card for rewarding travelers is the Chase Sapphire Reserve Visa. The annual fee is very high ($550) but it is worth it for frequent travelers because of the travel credit, the money back and all the perks.
You get:
- $300 in annual travel credits
- For 1st timers- 50,000 points (Points are worth about 1.5 cents so this is a value of $750) after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of getting the card
- 3x points on travel
- 3x points on dining
- 1 point per $1 on everything else
- A statement credit of up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application every 4 years- $Value 25)
- Free Priority Pass lounge access card (Value $99).
- No foreign transaction fees
- also you get more points if you purchase some items (flights, hotels, rental cars, dining) through their Chase Rewards Program, 10x points on Lyft and some special promotions from Door Dash and Peloton.
For the $300 travel credit, what is defined as travel is very broad so even my subway card and Uber trips count so its very easy to satisfy the $300 credit for travel each year.
When you deduct the $300 travel credit, $99 credit for Priority Pass (see below why you want this) and the $25 Credit for Global Entry from the $550 annual fee, the effective annual fee is $126. Then the 3x points back for travel and dining is what make this really worth it for the frequent traveler. This is without the 50,000 point ($750) for 1st time users which makes it a great deal for 1st timers.
Also Chase Visa has a seperate line for reserve card holders so you can get help quickly if needed.
Priority Pass
This card has been a god send. When you are traveling a lot, it is great to have a place to relax and unwind before flights. If there is a good lounge where I am going I will go to the airport an hour or 2 early to use it. Priority Pass claims to gives access to 1300 lounges and airport experiences worldwide and that is for you and one guest (if you have more people you can pay an additional fee). The drawback to this pass is that the airport may not have a Priority Pass lounge, they may have one but it is not in the terminal you are departing from, the lounge is closed (usually late at night to early morning) and that each lounge seems to have different rules and amenities.
There seem to be two different styles for the lounges. One is the traditional airport lounge; only those with a pass can get in, there is free food, drink, wifi and areas to relax. The other is a restaurant, like Bobby Van’s Steakhouse at JFK or Cafe Kalik in Fort Lauderdale which are normal restaurants open to all but if you present your pass you get $28 off your bill (and another $28 if you have a guest). This does not include the tip so you should still tip and tip on the full amount. Even with the those drawbacks, most airports I have used had a Priority Pass lounge and the lounges and restaurants were very accommodating. I highly recommend getting the pass as it makes the airport experience much better.
Conclusion
While traveling is a great experience; immigration, airports and paying are not. Trust me, these cards will take a lot of the pain out! Please let us know if you have cards or other tips to help us travelers and I hope your transit experience is a good one!
Great tips! Pointing out the value vs annual fee on the CC was particularly helpful.
Thanks Tony. Glad it was helpful, will try to post more values for travelers as I find them. Hope you are well, cheers
Very helpful Brent! Thank you!
Thank you and thanks for sharing!