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PenFed Pathfinder Rewards 50K Points ⓘ Affiliate 50K points after $3K spend in 90 days$95 Annual Fee Click here to learn how to apply This is an affiliate offer. Frequent Miler may earn a commission if you are approved for this offer FM Mini Review: Meh. Points are only worth about 0.85 cents each. I recommended this card when it used to be fee-free, but not for $95 per year. Earning rate: 4X Travel for PenFed Honors Advantage Members ✦ 3X travel otherwise ✦ 1.5X everywhere else. Advantage membership is available to anyone who opens an Access America Checking account, or to military members. Card Info: Visa Signature issued by PenFed. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Noteworthy perks: $100 Domestic Airline Fee Credit ✦ $120 Global Entry credit ✦ Priority Pass Membership ($32 per visit) |
As a former military member, I keep the card with no annual fee and use it primarily for the $100 travel credit. Pays for a few glasses of wine!
It’s easy to avoid the annual fee with the small minimum balance parked in the checking account, or by being a current or former U.S. military member:
“Military service is not required for PenFed Honors Advantage qualification. You may also qualify with a checking account (either an existing one, or open a new one… Members with a Free Checking account must also 1) maintain a minimum $500 daily balance OR 2) set up monthly direct deposits of $500 or more in order to maintain Honors Advantage Eligibility.”
Sucks that the points are only worth 85/100ths of a cent each, but there are usually some retail gift cards on sale that bring the cpp value to about 95/100ths of a cent.
Sucks also that the airline credit only applies to those U.S. airlines. Otherwise a very useful travel card.
Parking $500 in an eligible checking account waives the annual fee on the card. Even valuing the $100 incidental credit at $50 and any other benefits/earnings at $0, parking the $500 in a checking account is 10% yearly interest. Not amazing, but still useful for someone who wants a base no-AF travel card (or just wants to maximize the credit every year.)