Typical Payment Card Perks
Many payment cards include benefits that are marketed especially to travellers and active consumers. However, you don’t need to get all of these benefits through a card, as some services are also available separately.
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Airport lounges
Lounge access is one of the most well-known benefits of premium payment cards. It is typically provided through programs such as Priority Pass, LoungeKey, or similar lounge membership schemes. Depending on the card issuer, users may receive a few free visits per year, discounted entry, or unlimited access to airport lounges.
This benefit can be genuinely valuable for frequent travellers, but for occasional travellers, paying for a single lounge visit (around €25–40) is often significantly cheaper than holding a card with an annual fee. If you want to purchase a one-time lounge visit without getting a payment card, Lounge Pass is a solid option. On our travel website Finnoy Travel, we have published a review of the Priority Pass lounge membership as well as a comprehensive guide to Helsinki Airport lounges.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is one of the most common benefits included with payment cards. While it can be a useful addition, its validity often depends on several conditions. Typically, the trip must be paid at least partially with the specific card for the insurance to apply. Coverage limits may also be lower, and deductibles higher, than with standalone travel insurance.
For many travellers, purchasing separate travel insurance is a clearer option, as it allows you to choose the most suitable coverage without being tied to a specific card. If you want to get travel insurance quickly online, SafetyWing offers flexible travel medical insurance that can be activated quickly without requiring a payment card.
Rental car excess insurance
Many premium credit cards include additional coverage for rental car excess (deductible). This benefit can lead to significant savings, as the deductible in rental companies’ own insurance policies can reach thousands of euros. However, full protection is not guaranteed, as these policies often include limitations that should be reviewed carefully.
Rental car excess protection can also be purchased separately, for example, directly from the rental company. A standalone excess insurance policy is often affordable (around €5–10 per day) and can be a sensible option if you do not want to commit to a payment card.
Hotel benefits
Some payment cards offer higher status in hotel loyalty programs, room upgrades, late check-out, and other small perks. These benefits can be useful for frequent travellers, but they are rarely completely free. In many cases, they require booking directly with the hotel, which can result in higher prices. Similar benefits are often available without a credit card by joining hotel loyalty programs directly. Membership is usually free, but benefits accumulate more slowly.
Bonus programs, airline miles, and cashback
Bonus programs linked to payment cards are common. The most typical forms include cashback, airline miles, and reward points earned from purchases. These points can be valuable, but in practice, they work best as an additional perk rather than as the foundation of a travel budget.
Points or cashback generally cannot be obtained as a standalone service in the same way as lounge access or insurance, so in this case,e the payment card itself is the core product. If your goal is cashback, check out our guide to payment card cashback programs. When collecting airline miles, it is worth paying attention to the earning rate, the value of points, and the card's ongoing costs. In most cases, the value of points is only a few per cent of spending.
Purchase protection and consumer security
Purchase and insolvency protection are commonly included in credit and charge cards. Their value becomes apparent in problem situations, such as when a service is not delivered or a product does not arrive. Purchases made with a credit card may therefore be better protected than those paid with a debit card.
Similar protection can sometimes be obtained through separate insurance, but it is most often included specifically with the payment card. For this reason, purchase protection is one of the benefits that is not as easy to replace with a separate service.
Low-cost currency conversion
Banks almost always charge a currency conversion fee on foreign transactions. However, new payment cards have entered the market, offering significantly lower fees or even no conversion fees. This is especially beneficial for travellers and those who shop from international online stores.
Curve Pay is suitable if you want to use your existing cards while benefiting from lower currency conversion costs. Wise, on the other hand, is a stronger option if you want to hold money in multiple currencies and make low-cost conversions before or during your trip. Both services are quick to set up and have no monthly fees.
How should you evaluate these benefits?
The basic rule is simple: start by considering your own needs, and only then choose a card with the right benefits. Frequent flyers benefit from lounge access and insurance, frequent car renters from excess coverage, and budget-conscious travellers from low currency conversion fees. However, annual card fees can exceed the total value of the benefits, so it is important to carefully evaluate the overall value. On the other hand, many free credit cards today also offer solid benefits, so you don’t necessarily need to pay much to get good perks.
Not sure which card is right for you? Check out our comparison of different payment cards to find the option that best suits your needs.