Elite status of hotel and car rental companies can bring many benefits, from free breakfasts to upgraded vehicles.
But achieving these lofty layers is growth for the average traveler. Or are they?
Upgraded loyalty status and other travel perks come with several credit cards, many of which are advertised by the banks that issue them.
However, some benefits are not much advertised. You can find them by going directly to the credit card company itself.
Find your card
This report accesses the benefits of two credit card companies: MasterCard and Visa.
If you have a credit card from either company, look at your card to see if you own one of these.
Mastercard: Standard or Gold Mastercard, Mastercard Platinum or Titanium, Mastercard World, Mastercard World Elite Visa: Visa Classic, Visa Gold, Visa Platinum, Visa Signature, Visa Infinite
The benefits and conditions of the card vary from country to country, but you can find CNBC trips where CNBC trips available in the Asia Pacific region are found.
Entry-level perks
Don’t be afraid for those who think that a decent perk only comes with a first-rate card. Credit card companies also give perks to entry-level cardholders.
Standard Mastercard owners are entitled to a free extra night with automatic “gold” status in Capella Hotels and Resort (certain restrictions and selected properties) and Wyndham Hotels and Resorts’ loyalty programs.
Visa Classic card holders can get 20% off participating restaurants under the “Dine and Save” program, but other discounts with airlines and travel booking portals are often advertised.
Top-class perks
Owners of MasterCard World Elite Cards may not know the quality of their “titanium” status at GHA Discovery, the highest tier of the Global Hotel Alliance’s hotel loyalty program. The Alliance includes 45 hotel brands, including Capella, PARKROYAL, Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts.
Meanwhile, MasterCard’s World Card Holder can obtain “Platinum” status with GHA Discovery, the second highest tier.
Typically, to qualify for titanium status, travelers must spend 30 nights, $15,000 or stay in three different brands in a calendar year. This level gives you up to 7% members in a “double upgrade” of the room, a complimentary breakfast, and a “reward currency” that can be applied to future stays.
Similarly, Visa Signature and Visa Infinite Cardholder is a luxury hotel worldwide that comes with $25 dining credits, late check-outs and automatic room upgrades. The collection’s brands include Mandarin Oriental, Park Hyatt, Shangri-La and Sixth Sense Hotel.
Do you have a catch?
it depends. CNBC has found that conditions associated with some offers may be limited.
For example, some offers must be booked through a specific landing page or be subject to a blackout date. Some “free” offers require paid customers before “free” perks are distributed.
For elite status programs, membership expires after a certain period of time. Cardholders will then need to recertify via normal routes. For example, registration for the GHA Discovery program begins a year of registration and continues for a year.
Consciousness
It’s great to have these benefits, but if the issuing banks aren’t pushing them, are they used?
When asked, MasterCard told CNBC “a significant proportion of cardholders recognize the benefits of cards, find out what is related to them and enjoy using them.”
The credit card network also said that its top-class global elite cardholders tend to be wealthy, but are more likely to use profits than other cardholders.
Adeline Kim, Visa Country Manager in Singapore and Brunei, said discounts on bookings on travel booking platform KLOUT are “effectively used.” KLOUT discounts tend to be advertised and can be found on the DBS, HSBC and Citibank Singapore websites.
“Compared to similar travel platforms, cardholders are relatively seeing almost four times the number of transactions compared to what they spend on KLOUK,” she said.
She also nominated another perk that is popular with cardholders. Visa Infinite Cardholders in Singapore enjoy golf discounts at the Sentosa Golf Club and Tanah Merah Country Club on weekdays. “This is 100% used,” Kim said.
