Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy.
Those who bank with Bank of America or have Merrill Lynch or Merrill Edge investment accounts may qualify for credit card bonus points and other benefits. Benefits vary depending upon the total amount of money you have on deposit and/or invested, as follows:
Bank of America is known to be sensitive to the number of personal credit cards you have open with Bank of America. In my experience, they will not approve any new cards if you already have 5 open cards. If you need to cancel cards, wait a month or two after cancelling to apply for a new card. Also, you may have better luck with new applications by first lowering the credit limit on existing Bank of America cards (you do not need to wait after doing so).
Getting approved:
Make sure you have fewer than 5 personal Bank of America cards before applying
Consider first lowering the credit limit on existing Bank of America cards
If denied, call reconsideration. Up to date recon numbers can be found on our Best Offers Page.
If you apply for additional Bank of America cards within 30 days, Bank of America usually will not issue another hard credit inquiry (that’s good). Other good Bank of America offers can be found on our Best Offers Page.
Getting the signup bonus:
You must spend $3,000 within 3 months in order to earn the signup bonus.
The card’s $95 annual feedoes not count towards the required $3,000 spend.
“3 months” is based upon 3 billing cycles. In other words, make sure to complete the spend requirement before your third billing period closes.
Cash advances and fees do not count towards this total.
$100 Airline Incidental Reimbursements
Bank of America automatically reimburses up to $100 of airline incidental purchases each calendar year. For those who do not plan to keep the card long-term, this means that it is possible to sign up mid-year and earn $100 back this year and $100 back next year before the second annual fee is charged. For those who do plan to keep the card, the reimbursements can fully make up for the card’s $95 annual fee if you make full use of the reimbursements.
Which airlines are included?
The terms for the reimbursement say only that you will be reimbursed for incidental charges with “certain U.S.-domestic airline carriers“. Which “certain” carriers are included? We don’t yet know! We will update this section once more is known.
Charges that are officially reimbursed:
Qualifying transactions are purchases made on domestic-originated flights on certain U.S.-domestic airline carriers that include (all of these must be charged separately from airline ticket charges):
Preferred seating upgrades
Ticket change/cancellation fees
Checked baggage fees
In-flight entertainment
Onboard food and beverage charges
Airport lounge fees
Charges that are supposedly not reimbursed:
Airline ticket purchases
Mileage point purchases
Mileage point transfer fees
Gift cards
Duty-free purchases
Award tickets
Fees incurred with airline alliance partners
Charges that are reimbursed even though they aren’t supposed to:
With other cards, it is often possible to get reimbursed for things that are technically not covered (such as airline gift cards and award fees). We do not yet know what works and what doesn’t with this card. To see what works with similar Amex reimbursements, please see: Amex Platinum and PRG Airline Fee Reimbursements. What still works?
As we learn more, this section will be updated. Please comment below if you have experience with this!
Official Terms:
You are eligible for a statement credit of up to $100 each calendar year if you make qualifying airline incidental transactions. To qualify, you must use your Premium Rewards® credit card to pay all airline incidental transactions. Allow 7 days from qualifying for the statement credit to post to your account. You are responsible for payment of all charges until the statement credit posts to your account. Your account must be open and not in default at the time of statement credit fulfillment. Qualifying transactions are those purchases made on domestic-originated flights on certain U.S.-domestic airline carriers that include: preferred seating upgrades, ticket change/cancellation fees, checked baggage fees, in-flight entertainment, onboard food and beverage charges, and airport lounge fees affiliated with eligible airline carriers. Airline ticket purchases, mileage point purchases, mileage point transfer fees, gift cards, duty-free purchases, award tickets and fees incurred with airline alliance partners do not qualify. Airline incidental fee transactions must be separate from airline ticket charges.
$100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Reimbursement
Once every 4 years, cardholders can get reimbursed for using their card to pay for enrollment in Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($85). Since Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck, I recommend applying for Global Entry if you have access to a Global Entry enrollment center.
If you already have Global Entry, this benefit can be used for someone else if you’re willing to let them use your card to pay for enrollment.
Official Terms:
Airport Security Statement Credit. You are entitled to one statement credit per account every four years, in connection with either the TSA Pre✓® ($85) or Global Entry ($100) program. To qualify, you must use your Premium Rewards® credit card to pay the application fee. A statement credit will post to your account within 7 days after the application fee is charged to your card. You are responsible for payment of all charges until the statement credit posts to your account. If you apply for both programs, only one credit will be applied, to the fee that posts to the account first. Your account must be open and not in default at the time of statement credit fulfillment. TSA Pre✓® is a U.S. Government program, operated by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Global Entry is a U.S. Government program, operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Bank of America has no control over either program including, but not limited to, applications, approval process or enrollment, or fees charged by CBP or TSA, and no liability regarding the Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® programs. For complete details on the TSA Pre✓® program, go to tsa.gov. For complete details on the Global Entry program, go to globalentry.gov. The TSA Pre✓® trademark is used with the permission of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Travel Insurance
Overall, this card offers middle-of-the-road travel insurance protections. One positive exception is that it does offer emergency evacuation and transportation insurance. That is usually only provided by ultra-premium cards.
Here are the basics of the card’s travel insurance coverage:
Secondary rental car auto collision damage waiver
Trip Delay (12 hour delay): Up to $500 per ticket
Baggage Delay: Up to $100 per day for up to 5 days
Lost Luggage
Travel Accident Insurance
Emergency Evacuation and Transportation
Purchase Protection
This card covers the following:
Theft or damage reimbursement: Within 90 days of purchase
Double warranty: Up to 1 extra year
Return protection: Return items within 90 days of purchase, up to $250 per item
Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy.
I have been getting my $100 rebate every year for some years now – suddenly I got a 1099-INT for the $100, marked as “reward/gift”.
Anyone else?
Jim and Lori Barlow
2 years ago
Can any employee working for Bank of America answer the following question: Does “Airline Incidentals reimbursement up to $100. Every 4 years” INCLUDE all International Flights or is it only Domestic Flight?
patty
6 years ago
I was thinking of getting this card. Besides other reasons, including the bonus, I am quite interested in the emergency evacuation and transportatrion perk, yet cannot find any details about it. Even in searching reviews of this card some do not even mention this.
Do you have any information about it, or know of anyone’s experience with it?
Trip Delay Reimbursement.
Provides up to $500 per ticket purchased for you and your eligible family members for reasonable expenses if a covered trip is delayed (due to a covered hazard) for more than 12 hours.
Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption.
Provides reimbursement of up to $5,000 per person, per trip, for the unused prepaid non-refundable travel expenses including passenger fares, tours, and hotels if you have to cancel due to a covered reason.
Baggage Delay.
Provides reimbursement of up to $100 per day (up to five days), when your bags are delayed or misdirected by a common carrier for more than six hours for essential items including clothing. Coverage is secondary to the common carrier.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement.
Provides you coverage for luggage and its contents if they are lost or stolen due to theft or misdirection by the common carrier (airline, bus, train, cruise ship).
Emergency Evacuation and Transportation Coverage.
If you or a member of your immediate family are injured or become sick during a trip far from home that results in an emergency evacuation, you can be covered for eligible medical services and transportation.
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services.
Lets you get help coordinating medical, legal, and travel services when you are traveling. The cost of any goods or services is your responsibility.
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver.
Provides you reimbursement for damage due to collision or theft. Coverage is supplemental to and in excess of other insurance. You must decline the collision/loss damage waiver offered by the auto rental agency.
I would not expect that to work. It’s not an airline fee and its not TSA or Global Entry
Rich T
6 years ago
Great guide! Any data points if Airline gift cards will trigger the Airline incidentals statement credits as has historically worked on some other credit cards such as Amex?
[…] launched a new card this morning: the Bank of America Premium Rewards card. Greg even wrote a Bank of America Premium Rewards Card Complete Guide. I’m sure he will soon have more analysis and thoughts about this new offering, but in the […]
I have been getting my $100 rebate every year for some years now – suddenly I got a 1099-INT for the $100, marked as “reward/gift”.
Anyone else?
Can any employee working for Bank of America answer the following question: Does “Airline Incidentals reimbursement up to $100. Every 4 years” INCLUDE all International Flights or is it only Domestic Flight?
I was thinking of getting this card. Besides other reasons, including the bonus, I am quite interested in the emergency evacuation and transportatrion perk, yet cannot find any details about it. Even in searching reviews of this card some do not even mention this.
Do you have any information about it, or know of anyone’s experience with it?
Thank you.
There aren’t many details, but a sentence or two about it can be found here: https://www.bankofamerica.com/credit-cards/premium-benefits/
Can anyone tell me if this card offers Travel Accident Insurance benefit? If yes, what is the coverage limit.
Here’s what is covered:
Trip Delay Reimbursement.
Provides up to $500 per ticket purchased for you and your eligible family members for reasonable expenses if a covered trip is delayed (due to a covered hazard) for more than 12 hours.
Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption.
Provides reimbursement of up to $5,000 per person, per trip, for the unused prepaid non-refundable travel expenses including passenger fares, tours, and hotels if you have to cancel due to a covered reason.
Baggage Delay.
Provides reimbursement of up to $100 per day (up to five days), when your bags are delayed or misdirected by a common carrier for more than six hours for essential items including clothing. Coverage is secondary to the common carrier.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement.
Provides you coverage for luggage and its contents if they are lost or stolen due to theft or misdirection by the common carrier (airline, bus, train, cruise ship).
Emergency Evacuation and Transportation Coverage.
If you or a member of your immediate family are injured or become sick during a trip far from home that results in an emergency evacuation, you can be covered for eligible medical services and transportation.
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services.
Lets you get help coordinating medical, legal, and travel services when you are traveling. The cost of any goods or services is your responsibility.
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver.
Provides you reimbursement for damage due to collision or theft. Coverage is supplemental to and in excess of other insurance. You must decline the collision/loss damage waiver offered by the auto rental agency.
This card doesn’t offer accidental travel insurance
Any more information on which “certain carriers” qualify for “airline incidental fees”? Thanks!
I found this list on: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/triggers-bank-america-premium-rewards-100-travel-credit/
They list the following merchant category codes as qualifying:
3000, 3001, 3057, 3058, 3063, 3066, 3132, 3174, 3196 or 3256
3000 – United.
3001 – American Airlines.
3057 – East/West Airline (Australia)
3058 – Delta
3063 – US Airways
3066 – Southwest
3132 – Frontier
3174 – Jet Blue
3196 – Hawaiin
3256 – Alaskan
Are Emergency Travel Benefits covered if you pay partial towards incidentals for booking air tickets with this card similar to CSR?
I don’t think so
Any luck getting CLEAR membership covered under the airline or security program?
I would not expect that to work. It’s not an airline fee and its not TSA or Global Entry
Great guide! Any data points if Airline gift cards will trigger the Airline incidentals statement credits as has historically worked on some other credit cards such as Amex?
Yes, Doctor of Credit has been collecting those datapoints here: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/triggers-bank-america-premium-rewards-100-travel-credit/
[…] launched a new card this morning: the Bank of America Premium Rewards card. Greg even wrote a Bank of America Premium Rewards Card Complete Guide. I’m sure he will soon have more analysis and thoughts about this new offering, but in the […]
[…] see our Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card Complete Guide for more details on this card and its […]