Sep 25, 2014, 2:08 am

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

American Express
Platinum ($450 Annual fee) http://www304.americanexpress.com/ge.../Platinum-Card
Plum Card (Business) ($250 Annual Fee) https://www.americanexpress.com/us/s...dit-cards/plum
Delta Reserve Card ($450 Annual Fee) https://www304.americanexpress.com/c...ta-credit-card
Delta Platinum Card ($195 Annual Fee) https://www304.americanexpress.com/credit-card/skymiles
Delta Gold Card ($95 Annual Fee) https://www304.americanexpress.com/c...delta-skymiles
Starwood Preferred Guest Card ($95 Annual Fee)https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...referred-guest

Associated Credit Union Visa Platinum Preferred (no annual fee) http://www.acuonline.org/home/products/credit

Bank of America
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature cards, both personal and business ($75 Annual Fee) see the wikipost in this thread for signup links (which periodically change)
Amtrak Guests Rewards (two versions, one version with no annual fee) http://agr.amtrak.com/apply/
BankAmericard Travel Rewards (no annual fee; includes chip with online PIN as backup CVM) https://www.bankofamerica.com/credit...credit-card.go
Celebrity Cruises ($69 Annual Fee) https://www.bankofamerica.com/credit...credit-card.go

Barclays
Arrival Card ($0 Annual Fee) http://www.barclaycardarrival.com/ar...4&cellNumber=1
Arrival Plus Card ($89 Annual Fee) http://www.barclaycardarrival.com/
Carnival Cruises FunPoints ($0 Annual Fee) https://www.barclaycardus.com/apply/...2&cellNumber=2
Hawaiian Airlines ($89 Annual Fee) http://www.hawaiianairlinescard.com/
Lufthansa Miles & More Card ($79 Annual Fee, waived for certain miles & more members) https://www.barclaycardus.com/apply/...erid=BCSHP1214
Princess Cruises Card ($0 Annual Fee) https://www.barclaycardus.com/apply/...1&cellNumber=3
AAdvantage Aviator Red MasterCard ($89 Annual Fee; new applications not available)
Priceline Rewards ($0 Annual Fee)https://home.barclaycardus.com/cards...visa-card.html

Capital One --all cards http://www.capitalone.com/creditcard...ts/browse-all/ also see partner cards http://www.capitalone.com/creditcard...04_T_CCBRWPTNR

Chase
IHG Rewards Club Select ($49 fee, waived 1st yr, one free hotel night cert. yearly) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...edit-card.aspx (previously known as Priority Club Select)
Hyatt ($75 annual fee, one free hotel night cert. yearly for category 1-4 hotels) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...yatt-card.aspx
Marriott Rewards Premier ($85 annual fee, waived 1st yr, one free hotel night cert. yearly for category 1-5 hotels) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...dit-cards.aspx
British Airways ($95 annual fee, 2-for-1 cert. after $30k annual spend) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...edit-card.aspx
JP Morgan Select Visa (has both chip & signature and magnetic strip--$95 fee, waived 1st yr, has primary rental car coverage) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...lect-card.aspx
Sapphire Preferred ($95 fee, waived 1st yr, 20% point discount on travel, 7% annual points bonus) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...rred-card.aspx
United MileagePlus Club card ($395 annual fee, $100 statement credit, United Club membership, 2 free checked bags on UA, UA Premier Access) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...edit-card.aspx
United MileagePlus Explorer card ($95 annual fee waived first year; 30K-55K sign-up bonus, depending on landing page offer [see UA forum for more info], free checked bag on UA, priority boarding on UA) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...edit-card.aspx
Ink Bold Business ($95 annual fee, waived first year)
https://www.chase.com/online/busines...s/ink-bold.htm
Ink Plus Business ($95 annual fee, waived first year)
https://creditcards.chase.com/ink-bu.../ink-plus-card
Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card (has both chip & signature and magnetic strip--$395 Annual fee. Has primary rental car coverage) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...lton-card.aspx http://www.ritzcarltonrewardscard.com/home.php?pid=home

Citi
ThankYou Premier ($125 annual fee, waived 1st yr) https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/cr...er-credit-card
Prestige ($450 annual fee) https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/cr...-prestige-card
Executive AAdvantage ($450 annual fee) https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/cr...ite-mastercard
Expedia+ Voyager ($95 annual fee) https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/cr...a-plus-voyager
Hilton HHonors Reserve ($95 annual fee) https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/cr...s-reserve-card
AAdvantage Platinum MC ($95 annual fee, waived first year, retention offers may be possible subsequent years) -- as of 15 Nov 2015
Costco Anywhere Visa (no separate annual fee, requires a paid Costco Membership) https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/cr...sa-credit-card

Discover --all cards. no annual fee.
http://www.discovercard.com/credit-cards/

HSBC--several cards (But be careful--many of these cards have *very* low limits. The
Premier card, no annual fee, is a notable exception.) http://www.premiercardbenefits.com/1/2/3/

PenFed --all cards
examples:
Amex (no annual fee) https://www.penfed.org/productsandra...cards/amex.asp
Promise Visa (no annual fee) https://www.penfed.org/productsandra...romisecard.asp

Petal https://www.petalcard.com/ (Issued by WebBank, no AF, 1-1.5% cashback based on on timely payment, non-traditional approvals without credit scoring possible)

Navy Federal Credit Union --all cards
https://www.navyfederal.org/products...reditcards.php

Andrews FCU GlobeTrek Rewards Visa (No Annual Fee/Supports Chip & Pin) https://www.andrewsfcu.org/credit_ca...k_rewards.html

State Dept FCU Visa Platinum EMV Card (No Annual Fee/Supports Chip & Pin) https://www.sdfcu.org/emv-creditcards

San Francisco Fire Credit Union Platinum Visa (no annual fee) http://www.sffirecu.org/loans/credit-cards

Synchrony Bank/Cathay Pacific Signature Visa ($95 AF, no waiver, 1.5 Asia Miles per USD): https://us.cathaypacific.com/offers/credit-card/

Union Bank Graphite American Express ($99 annual fee, waived first year)
https://www.unionbank.com/personal-b...ards/index.jsp

**please check UA Fan's excellent list to see current bonus sign-up offers**
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...er-thread.html

USA Cards with no Foreign Transaction Fees

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Aug 22, 2013, 2:24 pm

#331

jamar

Join Date: Aug 2008

Programs: HHonors Gold, Marriott Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, OZ*G, AA Gold, AS MVP

Posts: 1,874

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshwex90

So I'd recommend the Bank of America TravelRewards card. No annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, relatively decent conversion rate, and comes with a chip. It's Chip & Signature, though I haven't used it yet at unattended kiosks to try the cash advance PIN to see if that works.
But it's good when you're not in the touristy places, and especially in France.

Plus, it's very easy to get approved for someone's first credit card.

I don't know if anyone's mentioned this before, but during my travels in Taiwan, the unattended kiosks I bumped into ask for "transaction or cash advance PIN", so watch the prompts.

Aug 22, 2013, 2:29 pm

#332

joshwex90

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: HaMerkaz/Exit 145

Programs: UA, LY, BA, AA

Posts: 13,167

Unfortunately, what works in Taiwan may not work in many places in Europe. But good to know there!

Aug 22, 2013, 4:52 pm

#333

Stripy

Join Date: Aug 2008

Programs: AA EXP

Posts: 1,714

Quote:

Originally Posted by jatink129

The two cards that come to mind that shouldn't be too hard to get is
1. Discover.

2. BoA Travel Rewards.

Both should be much easier to get than any no fee card from Chase like United or Sapphire and those aren't easy to get without a credit history.
I very highly doubt that Chase would give your friend the CSP as his first card.

I have limited knowledge about cards from Capital One etc, so I can only talk about cards that I have owned.

If he's just looking for a card that has no FT fee then how about getting a secured card from BoA to build credit and the Charles Schwab debit card that not only has no FT fee, it also has zero ATM fees ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD and there's no limit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexmt

B of A Travel Rewards is obviously best if he really does have a good credit score, otherwise any no-fee Capital One (QuickSilver is best but a student card like Journey maybe all he can get if his score isn't really as good as he thinks it is)

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshwex90

^ Thanks for all the advice....I think we have a winner

Aug 26, 2013, 2:21 pm

#334

romerun

Join Date: Jul 2013

Posts: 3

can you recommend a few good ones with no annual/foreign fee and easy to get ?

I just tried one of the capital one cards and got rejected by the software immediately. Pretty sure my credit score is good enough, maybe I put 0 on my income, which is the fact, but I have load of cash in the banks, do I really need to have income to get a card ?

Aug 26, 2013, 2:56 pm

#335

golfmad

Moderator: British Airways Executive Club

Join Date: Nov 2010

Location: TPA/ABZ

Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.

Posts: 13,303

There's clearly something in your credit profile that's a concern to the banks. If you have cash in the bank then your best option might be a secured credit card (secured against your cash). That way you will be able to build up a better credit profile over time and then try again.

Might be a good idea to talk to the credit rating agency and find out which part of your profile is hurting you. Then set about fixing that.

Aug 26, 2013, 4:30 pm

#336

themicah

Join Date: Jan 2003

Location: NYC

Posts: 8,509

Quote:

Originally Posted by romerun

I just tried one of the capital one cards and got rejected by the software immediately. Pretty sure my credit score is good enough, maybe I put 0 on my income, which is the fact, but I have load of cash in the banks, do I really need to have income to get a card ?

I'm pretty sure most banks won't give you a credit card if you say you have zero income. Remember it's not just the income you report on your tax return that counts. You can count all your interest and investment income, any allowance or stipend you get from a family member or school, etc.

Dec 1, 2013, 2:16 pm

#337

Wayfahrer

Join Date: Jan 2009

Location: EU

Programs: My travel agent

Posts: 611

Probably not true:

The Capitalistic Nature of Polish ATMs
Long ago, when beginning my foreign travel career, I received some good advice.

When abroad, it's almost never beneficial to pay for anything with a credit card. When possible, use cash you pull from an ATM machine.

The logic--and it's pretty sound, goes something like this. When you charge something, your credit card will charge you the worst exchange rate that your currencies exchange during the billing period. When you pull money out of an ATM, you receive the exchange rate as it exists during the day you pull out your cash. This may seem to be a small distinction, but it can, in fact, really add up.

But can you refute it?

Dec 1, 2013, 2:36 pm

#338

MOC991

Join Date: Jul 2013

Programs: AA Platinum, UA Gold, Bonvoy Platinum

Posts: 179

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayfahrer

You get ripped off at ATMs now but it usually by your own bank. Almost every US bank charges 3% for foreign ATM withdrawals and sometimes a flat $5 fee in addition to this. Capital One Bank briefly broke this trend with their checking until they bought ING changing to 360. My Amex and Chase Visas that do not have foreign fees usually charge right at the trading amount for that day. My Amex has actually charged less than the exchange rate. The only issues with no fee credit cards is the lack of EMV chip and that merchants don't take them in quite a few places abroad. I have two recent airline tickets purchased in EUR and GBP both posted at the exchange rate for reference. My former BB&T account charged me 3% + $5... and it was more than the posted exchange rate(which may have been attributable to the ATM, but more likely BB&T).

Last edited by MOC991; Dec 1, 2013 at 2:41 pm

Dec 1, 2013, 6:03 pm

#339

fliesdelta

Join Date: Jul 2012

Location: RDU

Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(EXP) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)

Posts: 2,686

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOC991

Some US banks have arrangements with foreign banks, such that you can use those ATMs at no charge.

For example, I'm with BofA, and I was able to use the following ATMs in Europe with no fees:

RBS in Scotland
Barclays in England
Deutsche Bank in Germany
PNB in France

According to BofA website, Banco Santander in Spain and Mechanics Bank in China also offer a similar arrangement.

The exchange rate was rather favorable as well (i.e., spot rate).

Dec 1, 2013, 8:55 pm

#340

jamar

Join Date: Aug 2008

Programs: HHonors Gold, Marriott Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, OZ*G, AA Gold, AS MVP

Posts: 1,874

Sounds mostly right, but in my experience with BofA they do charge a little on top (1%-ish). Also, there is no such bank as "Mechanics Bank" in China.

Dec 1, 2013, 9:50 pm

#341

Uh Clem

Join Date: Sep 2010

Location: Scottsdale, Berlin, Wherever

Programs: Marriott titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, AS, UA, AA, TWA, PAN AM, PSA

Posts: 558

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamar

Sounds mostly right, but in my experience with BofA they do charge a little on top (1%-ish). Also, there is no such bank as "Mechanics Bank" in China.

Just returned from Germany and saw that BofA charged me 3% for using my BofA Debit card at Deutsche Bank ATM's. I called and was told the rate was raised from 1% to 3% last month. Not sure if the rate hike is only with Deutsche Bank or all overseas ATMs.

Dec 2, 2013, 4:08 am

#342

ajnaro

Join Date: Jun 1999

Location: Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL

Programs: AA 4MM EXP; Starwood Lifetime Plt

Posts: 2,498

Any traveler using dollar-based funding outside of the USA will probably be better off with a Schwab checking account. Schwab charges no foreign use or exchange fees, uses the bank wholesale rate for exchange, and reimburse any ATM-usage fees imposed by other banks (but not other fees, such as exchange fees). In my experience, the Schwab ATM card works without any problem around the world and is, by far, the best product in the market as far as cash machines are concerned. For credit card use, any of Chase's or CapitalOne's no foreign fee rewards cards will do fine. The AMEX Platinum card also has no foreign fees, but offers far less acceptance at small/medium merchants outside of the USA.

Dec 2, 2013, 5:56 am

#343

fliesdelta

Join Date: Jul 2012

Location: RDU

Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(EXP) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)

Posts: 2,686

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamar

Sounds mostly right, but in my experience with BofA they do charge a little on top (1%-ish). Also, there is no such bank as "Mechanics Bank" in China.

I stand corrected on the Chinese bank, it's China Construction Bank.

Dec 2, 2013, 7:56 am

#344

bkafrick

Join Date: Dec 2007

Location: SYR

Programs: US/AA-Platinum, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Gold, AVIS-Presidents Club, National-Executive Elite

Posts: 2,755

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uh Clem

Its all International ATM uses.

https://www.bankofamerica.com/deposi...aq-atm-fees.go

Your deposit account statement will reflect the U.S. dollar equivalent of your foreign ATM withdrawal. Bank of America will assess an international transaction fee of 3% of the US dollar amount for all ATM withdrawals processed in foreign currency.

Dec 2, 2013, 7:57 am

#345

sdsearch

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jan 2005

Location: home = LAX

Posts: 25,939

Quote:

Originally Posted by fliesdelta

Some US banks have arrangements with foreign banks, such that you can use those ATMs at no charge.

For example, I'm with BofA, and I was able to use the following ATMs in Europe with no fees:

Banks plural? Are there any other examples? Every time I hear about this, it's always about BofA. It makes me wonder if any other major US banks does this, or if it's a BofA-only thing.