Credit Card News

Priceline and Barclays Announce Priceline VIP Rewards Visa

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When it comes to co-branded credit cards, travelers are likely well aware of options available for a specific airline or hotel brands. Yet, more recently, there’s also been a growing list of cards that cater to customers of third-party booking platforms. The latest example of this is the Priceline VIP Rewards Visa — which is being issued by Barclays.

One of the card’s main benefits is that it includes automatic VIP Gold status. With Gold status, customers can enjoy exclusive hotel and rental car discounts, Express Deal coupons after each trip, priority customer service, and more. Typically, travelers would need to complete five Priceline-booked trips in order to obtain VIP Gold.

As for rewards, the Priceline VIP Rewards Visa earns 5x points on Priceline bookings, 2x points on gas, 2x points on restaurant purchases (including delivery services), and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. These points can then be redeemed at a rate of 1¢ each for statement credits.

Notably, the card does not carry an annual fee nor does it charge foreign transaction fees. Plus, those who spend more than $10,000 in purchases on the card in a year can earn up to $100 in statement credits toward Global Entry or TSA Precheck application fees after their cardholder anniversary. Customers can also choose between two different card designs, including one that features the Priceline Negotiator (AKA William Shatner).

With the launch of the card, Barclays and Priceline are also offering a welcome bonus. Currently, new cardholders can earn 10,000 points (worth $100) when they make $1,000 in purchases with the card during their first 90 days after approval.

Commenting on the new card, Priceline’s Senior Director of Ancillary Products Denise Bialek stated, “Priceline continues to prove it’s possible to get more – more travel deals, more rewards, more benefits – out of everything you do with the new Priceline VIP Rewards Visa Card. We’re giving our customers something that few travel cards can deliver – rewards on anything you book on Priceline, even Pay Later rates when the hotel or rental car supplier are paid directly.” Bialek added, “That, along with automatic VIP Gold Status, makes it easy for deal-seekers to get to their next trip faster.”

On the one hand, the no-annual-fee Priceline VIP Rewards Visa has some decent perks, including the VIP Gold status, 5x points on bookings, and various 2x categories. It’s also notable that points can be redeemed for statement credits instead of being platform-specific. At the same time, 2x is a bare minimum thanks to the growing number of 2% back cards, the welcome bonus is fairly lackluster, and this particular Gold status may not move the needle much for some. Nevertheless, if you’re a regular Priceline customer — or just a big Shatner fan — then the Priceline VIP Rewards Visa might still make sense for you.

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