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- The
X1+ Card - Product Name Only is a travel credit card version of the previously releasedX1 Card - Product Name Only . - This
X1+ Card - Annual Fee annual fee card comes with benefits like airport lounge access for flight delays of at least one hour. - The card isn't available yet, but you can join its waitlist.
- Read Insider's guide to the best travel rewards credit cards.
The
The
- Free airport lounge access for flight delays of one hour or more
- Primary rental car insurance
- Baggage delay insurance
- More ways to redeem your points for travel
These are not small improvements, as you'll see. The card also retains all the lovable attributes of the
There is no welcome bonus for this card.
Let's take a look at what you can expect from the
We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
The X1+ Card brings big improvements for travelers
Generous lounge access for flight delays
When your flight is delayed by at least one hour, the
Priority Pass has more than 1,300 lounges around the world. You can often buy day passes to these lounges, either directly with Priority Pass or through a third party such as Lounge Buddy. You can expect to pay $30+ for these passes — and sometimes considerably more. So the ability for a group of five travelers to gain access for free is a good deal.
Many credit cards offer Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership, which gives you the ability to visit Priority Pass lounges whenever you want — even when your flight isn't delayed. However, the only publicly available credit card that allows you to bring more than two guests is the
Just consider whether you'll actually make use of Priority Pass access during a flight delay. Flights are often delayed incrementally, meaning unless a Priority Pass lounge is extremely close to your gate, it may not be worth the trek to visit it.
Better travel insurance
The
- Baggage delay insurance — This is an excellent perks that has personally reimbursed me several hundred dollars during my travels. When your bags are delayed, you'll get $100 per day for up to three days. It is unclear at this moment how many hours your bags must be delayed before the benefit activates.
- Lost luggage reimbursement — If your bag is never found, you're entitled to up to $3,000 in coverage per trip.
- Trip cancellation coverage — You can receive up to $5,000 in coverage per person per trip when illness, weather, or other complications prevent you from completing your travel. The
X1 Card - Product Name Only also has trip cancellation/interruption insurance, but it only offers $2,000 in coverage. - Primary rental car insurance — When you use the
X1+ Card - Product Name Only to pay for your rental car and decline the rental agency's CDW, you'll receive primary car insurance. That means you won't have to use your personal insurance (which is vulnerable to increased premiums if you get in a wreck) and you don't have to buy the in-house rental car coverage. TheX1 Card - Product Name Only only offers secondary coverage for domestic rentals.
More ways to earn and redeem points with travel brands
The
You'll still earn 2 points per dollar on all purchases — except for any month where you spend at least $1,000, in which case you'll earn 3 points per dollar on all purchases (retroactively applied). The only stipulation is that your 3x earning rate is capped at $7,500 per month. After that, your earning rate will revert to 2x.
The
- Four Seasons
- InterContinental Hotels
- Westin
- Emirates
- Hawaiian Airlines
- JSX (a private jet charter)
This card will presumably still only offer 0.7 cents per point in value when simply cashing your points out, so the addition of more qualifying merchants is a big deal. Read our X1 Card review for examples of other qualifying merchants.
Is the X1+ Card a good deal?
The
For example, you'll get Priority Pass lounge access whenever your flight is delayed by at least one hour. Most credit cards that offer Priority Pass access (though there is an exception or two) charge annual fees well over $400. The difference is that you don't have to rely on a delayed flight to enter the lounge for free.
If you fly regularly, it could be worth splashing out for a travel credit card that offers improved benefits, such as the
- Up to $300 in statement credits per cardmember year toward travel purchases
- Priority Pass Select membership (enter whenever you want — and bring two guests for free)
- Primary rental car insurance
- Baggage delay insurance that kicks in after six hours of delay. Receive up to $100 per day for up to five days
- Trip delay insurance that kicks in after six hours of a flight delay (or an overnight stay). Receive up to $500 for meals, hotel, transportation, etc.
- TSA PreCheck/Global Entry application fee reimbursement
X1 again brings innovative ideas to the credit card world. The addition of primary travel insurance, baggage delay insurance, and an increased inventory of merchants with which to redeem points with the
Still, if you plan on traveling a lot, there are other travel rewards credit cards that may fit your lifestyle better.