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Liza Carrasquillo is an editor on the Bankrate credit cards team who focuses on providing accurate educational content to those at all stages of their credit card journey.
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Many credit card issuers boast a lineup of rewards credit cards that let you earn cash back, points or miles on travel, and Bank of America is no exception. Although not as popular as travel credit cards from Chase or American Express, Bank of America travel cards can be rather lucrative and flexible — but the specifics will depend on which credit card you sign up for.
If you’re ready to give the Bank of America travel rewards program a chance, you should find out which Bank of America credit cards let you earn rewards for travel, which travel rewards benefits are offered and how to use Bank of America travel rewards points to your advantage.
Bank of America also offers a surprising number of co-branded travel credit cards that are geared to loyalists with specific brands. However, these cards do not earn Bank of America travel rewards points. These include:
When it comes to redeeming your Bank of America travel rewards, your options may vary depending on the card you have.
Unlike with other travel rewards programs, you can use your eligible card to book travel with any eligible providers, and Bank of America’s list of qualifying travel purchases is extensive. In addition to airlines, hotels, car rentals and eligible transit, travel-related purchases also include purchases made with eligible cruise lines, parking garages, travel agencies, tourist attractions, art galleries, amusement parks and more.
From there, you can redeem your points for a travel credit statement through your Bank of America account. However, note that you’ll need at least $25 worth of points to redeem for a travel credit.
To get the most of your travel rewards points with Bank of America, you should try to be as strategic as you can. When you go to redeem points, consider the ways you may be able to earn more points on your spending and any ways you can maximize your rewards.
One major way to earn more Bank of America travel rewards involves signing up for the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program. Doing so can net you an additional 25 percent to 75 percent more in rewards for each dollar you spend. However, you do need to meet certain qualifications to enroll in this program, such as having:
Also, keep in mind that the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program offers additional perks like savings boosters and loan discounts for members with cash on deposit. The following chart shows how much more you could earn in rewards as a member, as well as how much you need to keep in eligible accounts to qualify for each tier.
| Tier | 3-month combined average daily balance | Credit card rewards bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Tier | $20,000 to $49,999 | 25% |
| Platinum Tier | $50,000 to $99,999 | 50% |
| Platinum Honors Tier | $100,000 to $999,999 | 75% |
| Diamond Tier | $1 million to $9,999,999 | 75% |
| Diamond Honors | $10 million or more | 75% |
While the minimum balance requirements are high, the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program can help you earn considerably more points on your spending if you qualify. For example, Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card members in the Platinum Honors tier have the potential to earn up to 3.5X points for every dollar spent on travel and dining purchases and up to 2.62X points on other purchases.
The Bank of America Travel Center lets you make travel bookings with over 200,000 hotels and resorts and more than 200 airlines, among other options. Since some Bank of America travel rewards credit cards let you redeem your points for either travel-related statement credits or travel booked through the Bank of America Travel Center, you should compare the prices offered in the travel portal with other travel sites. By comparing prices, you can make sure you get the best deal.
Finally, make sure to think about your goals before you sign up for a travel credit card from this issuer. It’s often tempting to just choose a card with no annual fee — and that might be the right move for you. However, a card with an annual fee typically comes with more benefits and perks. For example, when you pay the $95 annual fee for the Bank of America Premium Rewards card, you’ll get higher rewards rates on travel and dining spending, up to a $100 annual credit for incidental airline expenses to cover eligible costs and up to a $100 application fee credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership every four years. All of this could easily make the annual fee worthwhile for some people.
Bank of America travel rewards can work differently depending on the card you sign up for, so make sure to compare the best rewards cards available before you decide on a card. In the meantime, spend some time comparing cards from this issuer to top travel rewards credit cards from other major issuers. You may find that Bank of America has what you’re looking for in a travel rewards card, but you’ll never know for sure unless you check.
*Information about the Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard®, Allways Rewards Visa® Credit Card, Royal Caribbean Visa Signature® card, Norwegian Cruise Line® World Mastercard®, Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature® card, Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® and Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Bankrate. Card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
Information regarding Bank of America credit cards was last updated on January 5, 2024.
