Credit Card News
Six Flags and Credit One Debut Co-Branded Rewards Credit Card
With the summer now underway and domestic travel making a big comeback, one major amusement park chain is launching a co-branded credit card product. This week, Six Flags announced a partnership with Credit One Bank. The result is the new Credit One Bank Six Flags Rewards Visa.
In terms of rewards, the Credit One Bank Six Flags card will earn 3x points on all Six Flags purchases. This not only includes park admission but also such expenses as merchandise, in-park dining, and more. Outside of the parks, cardholders can earn 2x points on eligible gas, grocery, and lodging (including hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfasts, and resorts) purchases. All other non-category purchases will earn 1x points. These points can be redeemed for park admission, park dining passes, and more. Meanwhile, thanks to the new partnership between Credit One and Six Flags, all customers will be entitled to exclusive discounts at participating Six Flags locations
Not mentioned in the press release is that the Credit One Bank Six Flags Rewards Visa could carry an annual fee depending on the applicant’s credit. According to the product page, while those with “excellent credit” will pay no fee, those with “average credit” will be subject to a $39 annual fee. Elsewhere, the card will also charge a 3% foreign transaction fee, with a minimum fee of $1 per foreign transaction.
Announcing the card, Credit One Bank’s SVP of marketing John Coombe said, “If you are a thrill seeker and want to earn rewards just by using your credit card at a Six Flags park or filling up the tank on the drive there, then our Six Flags Rewards Visa is the credit card you’ve been dreaming of. It provides unique benefits that have been specifically tailored for theme park enthusiasts.” Six Flags’ VP of strategic marketing and partnerships Stephanie Borges added, “We are thrilled to partner with Credit One Bank to develop the Credit One Bank Six Flags Reward Visa card as a rewards-based credit card for our guests. Six Flags continues to identify innovative approaches to partnerships that enable us to deliver added value and unique offerings to our loyal fans and guests, maximizing their Six Flags experience.”
Although the Six Flags co-branded card is an interesting development for the amusement park company, the resulting product may not be the best choice for consumers. First, it’s unclear from the card’s materials whether points will be redeemable for regular cash back or if they’ll only be good for the aforementioned admissions, passes, etc. Second, while the 3x points on Six Flags purchases is nice, there may be better options. For example, the SavorOne card from the similarly-named Capital One offers 3% back on the much broader “entertainment” category, which includes theme/amusement parks and much more. Additionally, that card features 3% back on dining, 3% on popular streaming services, and 3% at grocery stores while carrying no annual fee. Of course, Capital One notes that the SavorOne is intended for those with “Excellent” credit, so this may not be an option for everyone. In that regard, those looking to earn some rewards (specifically Six Flags-related savings) while building their credit may still find the Credit One Bank Six Flags Rewards Visa appealing.
