Credit Cards
X1 Opens Waitlist for New X1+ Credit Card
A neo-credit card issuer is looking to build upon its early success and expand its line-up. This week, X1 announced the upcoming X1+ card while opening a waitlist for the product. With the X1 being billed as “the world’s smartest credit card,” this latest offering is being hailed as the only credit card for smart travel. The X1+ is expected to launch this spring and will carry an annual fee of $75 (compared to the no annual fee original card).
As for what the X1+ card will offer, the card will earn 4x points on Expedia, Hotels.com, and VRBO purchases. Meanwhile, the X1+ card will match the existing X1 card in offering a base of 2x points on all other purchases, which increases to 3x for those who spend at least $1,000 per month (the 3x rate kicks in on purchases you make after you reach $1,000 in spending and is capped at a total of $7,500 in spending for the month). Additionally, the X1 and X1+ feature offers for up to 10x points on purchases from brands such as Apple, Nike, Sephora, and more. Cardholders can also earn bonus rewards when they refer people to the card.
While the rewards of the X1+ card resemble the previous product, what makes the card unique is its benefits. For one, the card will offer complimentary airport lounge access for cardholders and up to 4 guests if a flight is delayed by one hour or more. Cardholders will also have access to on-demand lounge passes that they can purchase. Additionally, the X1+ card will feature enhanced travel coverage. This includes what they call “smart baggage protection.” If a customer’s baggage is delayed, they will receive $100 in protection per day for up to 3 days while lost baggage will be eligible for $3,000 in protection per trip.
Like the X1 card, the X1+’s physical card is made of stainless steel and weighs in at 17 grams. However, the + version will be available in three colors: silver, gold, or rose gold.
Overall, there are a lot of interesting aspects to the X1+ card. For one, finding a card with an annual fee of less than $100 that offers airport lounge access is rare — even if that complimentary access is contingent on delays. Nevertheless, those curious about lounge life may want to try the card on for size before committing to more expensive options.
Like the X1 itself, the new edition’s rewards structure could definitely be beneficial to those who spend more than $1,000 per month (especially early in the month). That said, those considering the card should be sure to compare what they get with the regular X1 to the X1+ to see if the $75 annual fee is worth it for them.
