Jan 16, 2019, 12:35 pm
Last edit by: jebr
Amex cards were converted to Visa in February, 2020 and the Pathfinder Rewards Visa product was opened to new applicants in December 2020. These benefits are offered by the $95-annual-fee (waived for Honors Advantage members) Visa card:
For airlines: Not the greatest value, around 0.75-0.85 cents per point on one way and RT flights. I did a brief search but it seems RT flights give you around 0.81 cents per point while one way is closer to 0.75 cents per point.
For gift cards: You can buy a $250 Amazon GC for 29,410 points, which is 0.85 cents per point.
Points expire in 5 years.
Few Data Points on Air Credit:
Worked.
1. AA e Gift Card ($100) worked 2/2021
2. AA gift certificate worked 9/2020 2/2021
3. Southwest ticket for $48.xx worked 3/2021
4. Southwest taxes/fees on points booking ($5.60) worked 3/2021
5. Frontier ticket for $31.xx worked 3/2021
6. Alaska ticket ($50ish) which was then converted to travel funds worked 12/2020
7. Alaska first class upgrade ($21)
8. AA seat upgrade ($18.xx)
9. Southwest wi-fi purchase ($8.00)
10. Frontier food/beverage on-board purchase ($23.00 and $10.00)
11. UA Travelbank $50 12/2022
12. DL fare differential (~$40) worked 5/2023
Did not work.
1. UA Travelbank load $50 12/2020
2. Southwest $100 GC purchased 12/20 was not reimbursed. $50 SW GC not reimbursed purchase 01/2021.
3. Delta e-gift card did not work Summer 2020
4. AA lounge food/beverage purchase ($7) did not work 01/2023
5. UA fare differential (over $100) did not work 4/2023
You must be a member of PenFed to apply. Either be an active, reserve, honorably discharged, or retired service member (or their relative), or have a job at a security/defense-related government department, or generally be an employee of a defense-related company, or pay $17 to join Voices for America's Troops or National Military Family Association.
The $95 annual fee is waived for Honors Advantage members, who qualify for such membership either through military service or by having and maintaining a PenFed checking account.
https://www.penfed.org/credit-cards/...vantage-points
$100 Airline Fee Details:
1. $100 annual airline travel credit (calendar year, best card without AF)
2. Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or Pre-TSA (every 5 years)
3. 3x points on all travel purchases. 4x points for Honors Advantage member. 1.5 x on all other purchases
4. 50,000 reward points with $3,000 spending within 90 days
5. Priority Pass basic membership ($99 value) with visits billed at at $32/each
This was the BEST AmEx credit card without annual fee. It had the following benefits:2. Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or Pre-TSA (every 5 years)
3. 3x points on all travel purchases. 4x points for Honors Advantage member. 1.5 x on all other purchases
4. 50,000 reward points with $3,000 spending within 90 days
5. Priority Pass basic membership ($99 value) with visits billed at at $32/each
1. 25,000 reward points with $2,500 spending
2. $100 annual airline travel credit (calendar year, best card without AF)
3. Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or Pre-TSA (every 5 years)
4. 3x points on all travel purchases. 4x points for Honors Advantage member. 1.5 x on all other purchases
Points value: You must use through their portal, which doesn’t provide great value and is generally awful as it requires you to select of time of day which idiotically actually affects the prices you see.2. $100 annual airline travel credit (calendar year, best card without AF)
3. Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or Pre-TSA (every 5 years)
4. 3x points on all travel purchases. 4x points for Honors Advantage member. 1.5 x on all other purchases
For airlines: Not the greatest value, around 0.75-0.85 cents per point on one way and RT flights. I did a brief search but it seems RT flights give you around 0.81 cents per point while one way is closer to 0.75 cents per point.
For gift cards: You can buy a $250 Amazon GC for 29,410 points, which is 0.85 cents per point.
Points expire in 5 years.
Few Data Points on Air Credit:
Worked.
1. AA e Gift Card ($100) worked 2/2021
2. AA gift certificate worked 9/2020 2/2021
3. Southwest ticket for $48.xx worked 3/2021
4. Southwest taxes/fees on points booking ($5.60) worked 3/2021
5. Frontier ticket for $31.xx worked 3/2021
6. Alaska ticket ($50ish) which was then converted to travel funds worked 12/2020
7. Alaska first class upgrade ($21)
8. AA seat upgrade ($18.xx)
9. Southwest wi-fi purchase ($8.00)
10. Frontier food/beverage on-board purchase ($23.00 and $10.00)
11. UA Travelbank $50 12/2022
12. DL fare differential (~$40) worked 5/2023
Did not work.
1. UA Travelbank load $50 12/2020
2. Southwest $100 GC purchased 12/20 was not reimbursed. $50 SW GC not reimbursed purchase 01/2021.
3. Delta e-gift card did not work Summer 2020
4. AA lounge food/beverage purchase ($7) did not work 01/2023
5. UA fare differential (over $100) did not work 4/2023
You must be a member of PenFed to apply. Either be an active, reserve, honorably discharged, or retired service member (or their relative), or have a job at a security/defense-related government department, or generally be an employee of a defense-related company, or pay $17 to join Voices for America's Troops or National Military Family Association.
The $95 annual fee is waived for Honors Advantage members, who qualify for such membership either through military service or by having and maintaining a PenFed checking account.
https://www.penfed.org/credit-cards/...vantage-points
$100 Airline Fee Details:
- Qualified transactions include baggage fees, flight-change fees, in-flight food and beverage, airport lounge day passes, pet kennel fees, and phone reservation fees.
- Ancillary purchases that count for the annual credit can be made at Alaskan Air, American Air, Delta Air, Frontier Air, Hawaiian Air, JetBlue, Southwest Air, United Air, and Virgin America.
PenFed Pathfinder Card [Consolidated]
Jan 16, 2019, 9:14 pm
#33
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,428
Originally Posted by thread Wiki
Please read: This is a community-maintained wiki post containing the most important information from this thread. You may edit the Wiki once you have been on FT for 90 days and have made 90 posts.
But members have been known to edit Wiki for someone who has not earned that privilege if they have the info @:-)
Jan 17, 2019, 5:27 am
#34
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 140
Yeah I saw that. I'll make a post and someone could copy it then. Also, as a DP for the travel credit, I bought a $50 Walmart GC on the United MPX app and it posted on 1/10 and still no credit, so that doesn't look hopeful. I will report back if i do ever get a credit.
Jan 17, 2019, 3:09 pm
#35
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 140
Wiki post:
Current sign up bonus: 25,000 points after spending $3,000 in 3 months. Link: https://www.penfed.org/credit-cards/...rican-express/
NO ANNUAL FEE is the reason this card is worth it long term.
You must be a member of PenFed to apply. Either be an active/retired (or relative of) service member or have a job at a security/defense related government department, or generally be an employee of a defense related company, or pay $17 to join Voices for America's Troops or National Military Family Association.
Travel purchases are worth 3x points and everything else is 1.5x points. If you are a PenFed Honors Advantage Members you get 4x on travel.
Main benefits:
$100 annual travel credit (calendar year)
$100 TSA pre check/global entry credit (every 5 years)
Points value: You must use through their portal, which doesn’t provide great value and is generally awful as it requires you to select of time of day which idiotically actually affects the prices you see.
For airlines: Not the greatest value, around 0.75-0.85 cents per point on one way and RT flights. I did a brief search but it seems RT flights give you around 0.81 cents per point while one way is closer to 0.75 cents per point.
For gift cards: You can buy a $250 Amazon GC for 29,410 points, which is 0.85 cents per point.
What works for the travel credit:
People over at Doctor of Credit are having around zero luck with anything in 2019, so may be best to hold tight and see what eventually works. In mid-2018 you were able to buy GCs on the United MPX app and that triggered (as well as Delta and AA GC), but it’s a TBD as of now. DoC link is here: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/what-...irline-credit/
Current sign up bonus: 25,000 points after spending $3,000 in 3 months. Link: https://www.penfed.org/credit-cards/...rican-express/
NO ANNUAL FEE is the reason this card is worth it long term.
You must be a member of PenFed to apply. Either be an active/retired (or relative of) service member or have a job at a security/defense related government department, or generally be an employee of a defense related company, or pay $17 to join Voices for America's Troops or National Military Family Association.
Travel purchases are worth 3x points and everything else is 1.5x points. If you are a PenFed Honors Advantage Members you get 4x on travel.
Main benefits:
$100 annual travel credit (calendar year)
$100 TSA pre check/global entry credit (every 5 years)
Points value: You must use through their portal, which doesn’t provide great value and is generally awful as it requires you to select of time of day which idiotically actually affects the prices you see.
For airlines: Not the greatest value, around 0.75-0.85 cents per point on one way and RT flights. I did a brief search but it seems RT flights give you around 0.81 cents per point while one way is closer to 0.75 cents per point.
For gift cards: You can buy a $250 Amazon GC for 29,410 points, which is 0.85 cents per point.
What works for the travel credit:
People over at Doctor of Credit are having around zero luck with anything in 2019, so may be best to hold tight and see what eventually works. In mid-2018 you were able to buy GCs on the United MPX app and that triggered (as well as Delta and AA GC), but it’s a TBD as of now. DoC link is here: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/what-...irline-credit/
Jan 22, 2019, 4:01 pm
#37
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: HHonors, TrueBlue, Delta SkyMiles, Hyatt Discoverist, Starwood Preferred Guest, American Airlines.
Posts: 2,035
I prefer redemptions equal to 1 cpp I would apply for this card. The rewards system in it's current state is too complicated. Yes, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out, but everything should be worth at least 1 cpp.
You're figuring this card is truly a 3.83%/1.28% back card.... Which doesn't fly for me.
You're figuring this card is truly a 3.83%/1.28% back card.... Which doesn't fly for me.
Jan 23, 2019, 1:22 pm
#38
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 140
I prefer redemptions equal to 1 cpp I would apply for this card. The rewards system in it's current state is too complicated. Yes, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out, but everything should be worth at least 1 cpp.
You're figuring this card is truly a 3.83%/1.28% back card.... Which doesn't fly for me.
You're figuring this card is truly a 3.83%/1.28% back card.... Which doesn't fly for me.
Mar 3, 2019, 11:42 am
#42
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Tokyo
Posts: 586
Several data points here (10-year customer of Penfed products including around 6 or 7 cards I've churned).
1) Got $100 travel credit for 2019 in Jan unexpectedly (forgot about that benefit) when I used this card to pay for Hawaiian Airlines miles redeposit fee ($150).
2) These cards can be churned based on my experiences and a conversation a few years ago with the rep. Have churned at least 2 of the same card products (2 products 4 cards).
3) The pre-approved offers on your login never have a hard pull and often keep coming back when you open any type of loan online (around 4 to 6 months after).
4) Points (IMO) were worth around 0.75 cents back in 2010 for travel and about 0.80 cents for gift cards back then. Seems like now the selection is crap. As of now I see the points are around 0.5 cents to 0.7 cents in value for travel depending on if it is high season for hotels (that's when you get the best value).
5) Agree with the posts above about the redemption being junk. It still is some 10 years later. It's extremely difficult to search hotels in specfic areas that are not programmed into their city database. I live in Tokyo, and I try to find anything outside the major cities here it becomes really tedious to find anything in a medium-sized city. Forget about finding stuff in smaller cities. It can be done, but selection is very limited.
One benefit is that you don't get charged a fee for cash advances on the Penfed side (valuable overseas - still got to look out for rip-off ATM fees like in Cancun). You only get immediate interest which can be paid off the next day via online.
Rewards typically take 3 years to expire.
1) Got $100 travel credit for 2019 in Jan unexpectedly (forgot about that benefit) when I used this card to pay for Hawaiian Airlines miles redeposit fee ($150).
2) These cards can be churned based on my experiences and a conversation a few years ago with the rep. Have churned at least 2 of the same card products (2 products 4 cards).
3) The pre-approved offers on your login never have a hard pull and often keep coming back when you open any type of loan online (around 4 to 6 months after).
4) Points (IMO) were worth around 0.75 cents back in 2010 for travel and about 0.80 cents for gift cards back then. Seems like now the selection is crap. As of now I see the points are around 0.5 cents to 0.7 cents in value for travel depending on if it is high season for hotels (that's when you get the best value).
5) Agree with the posts above about the redemption being junk. It still is some 10 years later. It's extremely difficult to search hotels in specfic areas that are not programmed into their city database. I live in Tokyo, and I try to find anything outside the major cities here it becomes really tedious to find anything in a medium-sized city. Forget about finding stuff in smaller cities. It can be done, but selection is very limited.
One benefit is that you don't get charged a fee for cash advances on the Penfed side (valuable overseas - still got to look out for rip-off ATM fees like in Cancun). You only get immediate interest which can be paid off the next day via online.
Rewards typically take 3 years to expire.
Last edited by scwam; Mar 3, 2019 at 11:48 am
Mar 5, 2019, 9:38 am
#43
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Western US
Programs: Costco Executive Member, Amazon Optimus Prime
Posts: 1,251
SUB Posting Data Point. Met MSR over the wknd of 3/2 and bonus posted Monday morning on 3/4. Never seen anything post that fast !
For those who want to track their real time spend - for meeting a MSR - click into rewards and look at individual transactions, summed up from when you opened the card.
Note that any travel credits utilized reduce your spend total for meeting this requirement.
And for those who might care, Amex Connect offers can be attached to this card.
There are not many, but some of the hotel ones for the big branded chains ($50 off $300 Hilton etc.) are typically available.
For those who want to track their real time spend - for meeting a MSR - click into rewards and look at individual transactions, summed up from when you opened the card.
Note that any travel credits utilized reduce your spend total for meeting this requirement.
And for those who might care, Amex Connect offers can be attached to this card.
There are not many, but some of the hotel ones for the big branded chains ($50 off $300 Hilton etc.) are typically available.
Mar 6, 2019, 12:26 pm
#44
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: Hilton, Marriott, Club Carlson, AA, UA, AS, SQ, AF
Posts: 124
I finally had my sign up bonus post. I'm now getting a $320 four day rental car (through Hertz using my Amex Plat) now for 25,453 points total on this Penfed Pathfinder. Pretty sweet redemptionit seems like. Seems way better than the hotel or air redemptions I toyed around with.