Key takeaways

  • The Bank of America travel rewards program can be lucrative and flexible, but the specifics of how you'll earn points in this program depend on which credit card you sign up for.
  • Bank of America travel rewards points can generally be redeemed for eligible travel purchases, cash back and gift cards.
  • Bank of America Preferred Rewards members can earn an additional 25 percent to 75 percent more in rewards for each dollar spent.

Many credit card issuers boast a lineup of rewards credit cards that let you earn cash back, points or miles on travel, and Bank of America is no exception. Although not as popular as travel credit cards from Chase or American Express, Bank of America travel cards can be rather lucrative and flexible — but the specifics will depend on which credit card you sign up for.

If you’re ready to give the Bank of America travel rewards program a chance, you should find out which Bank of America credit cards let you earn rewards for travel, which travel rewards benefits are offered and how to use Bank of America travel rewards points to your advantage.

Which Bank of America cards earn travel rewards?

The main two Bank of America travel rewards cards are the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card and the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card. However, Bank of America also offers the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card* and the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card: Best for no annual fee

    • Welcome bonus: 25,000 online bonus points (a $250 statement credit value toward travel purchases) if you make $1,000 in purchases within 90 days of opening the account
    • Rewards rate: Unlimited 1.5X points per dollar on all purchases
    • Annual fee: $0
    • Notable perks: No foreign transaction fees, flexible travel rewards

Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card: Best for occasional travelers

    • Welcome bonus: 60,000 online bonus points (a value of $600) after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days
    • Rewards rate: Unlimited 2X points per dollar on travel and dining; 1.5X points per dollar on all other purchases
    • Annual fee: $95
    • Notable perks: Up to $100 in statement credits per year for incidental airline expenses to cover eligible costs; up to a $100 statement credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees every four years; no foreign transaction fees

Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card: Best for frequent travelers

    • Welcome bonus: 75,000 online bonus points (a $750 value) after you make at least $5,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
    • Rewards rate:Unlimited 2X points on dining and travel purchases; unlimited 1.5X points on all other purchases
    • Annual fee: $550
    • Notable perks: Up to $300 annually in airline incidental statement credits for qualifying purchases (like seat upgrades and baggage fees); up to $150 annually for eligible lifestyle conveniences (including video streaming services, food delivery, fitness subscriptions and rideshare services); up to a $100 statement credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees every four years; complimentary Priority Pass membership; 20 percent off on domestic or international airfare for any class when paid with points

Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students: Best for students

    • Welcome bonus: 25,000 online bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening
    • Rewards rate: 1.5X points on all purchases
    • Annual fee: $0
    • Notable perks: No foreign transactions fees, flexible travel rewards

Which Bank of America travel cards do not earn travel rewards points?

Bank of America also offers a surprising number of co-branded travel credit cards that are geared to loyalists with specific brands. However, these cards do not earn Bank of America travel rewards points. These include:

How to use Bank of America travel rewards points

When it comes to redeeming your Bank of America travel rewards, your options may vary depending on the card you have.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card and Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students

  • With the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card and the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students, you can use your points for:

    • Cash back in the form of a check or direct deposit to an eligible Bank of America or Merrill account
    • A statement credit to cover eligible travel-related purchases
    • Gift cards

    Unlike with other travel rewards programs, you can use your eligible card to book travel with any eligible providers, and Bank of America’s list of qualifying travel purchases is extensive. In addition to airlines, hotels, car rentals and eligible transit, travel-related purchases also include purchases made with eligible cruise lines, parking garages, travel agencies, tourist attractions, art galleries, amusement parks and more.

    From there, you can redeem your points for a travel credit statement through your Bank of America account. However, note that you’ll need at least $25 worth of points to redeem for a travel credit.

Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card

  • The Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card lets you cash in your rewards for:

    • Travel bookings through the Bank of America Travel Center
    • Cash back in the form of a statement credit or a direct deposit to an eligible Bank of America or Merrill account
    • Gift cards

Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card

  • With the Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card, you can redeem your points for:

    • Travel bookings through the Bank of America Travel Center
    • Cash back in the form of a statement credit or a direct deposit to an eligible Bank of America or Merrill account
    • Travel, experiences, event tickets and more through Bank of America’s Concierge service
    • Gift cards

How to maximize Bank of America travel rewards points

To get the most of your travel rewards points with Bank of America, you should try to be as strategic as you can. When you go to redeem points, consider the ways you may be able to earn more points on your spending and any ways you can maximize your rewards.

Join the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program

One major way to earn more Bank of America travel rewards involves signing up for the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program. Doing so can net you an additional 25 percent to 75 percent more in rewards for each dollar you spend. However, you do need to meet certain qualifications to enroll in this program, such as having:

  • An active, eligible Bank of America checking account
  • A three-month average combined balance of $20,000 or more in eligible Bank of America accounts and/or Merrill investment accounts

Also, keep in mind that the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program offers additional perks like savings boosters and loan discounts for members with cash on deposit. The following chart shows how much more you could earn in rewards as a member, as well as how much you need to keep in eligible accounts to qualify for each tier.

 

Tier 3-month combined average daily balance Credit card rewards bonus
Gold Tier $20,000 to $49,999 25%
Platinum Tier $50,000 to $99,999 50%
Platinum Honors Tier $100,000 to $999,999 75%
Diamond Tier $1 million to $9,999,999 75%
Diamond Honors $10 million or more 75%

While the minimum balance requirements are high, the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program can help you earn considerably more points on your spending if you qualify. For example, Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card members in the Platinum Honors tier have the potential to earn up to 3.5X points for every dollar spent on travel and dining purchases and up to 2.62X points on other purchases.

Compare pricing in the travel portal

The Bank of America Travel Center lets you make travel bookings with over 200,000 hotels and resorts and more than 200 airlines, among other options. Since some Bank of America travel rewards credit cards let you redeem your points for either travel-related statement credits or travel booked through the Bank of America Travel Center, you should compare the prices offered in the travel portal with other travel sites. By comparing prices, you can make sure you get the best deal.

Decide whether a card with an annual fee is right for you

Finally, make sure to think about your goals before you sign up for a travel credit card from this issuer. It’s often tempting to just choose a card with no annual fee — and that might be the right move for you. However, a card with an annual fee typically comes with more benefits and perks. For example, when you pay the $95 annual fee for the Bank of America Premium Rewards card, you’ll get higher rewards rates on travel and dining spending, up to a $100 annual credit for incidental airline expenses to cover eligible costs and up to a $100 application fee credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership every four years. All of this could easily make the annual fee worthwhile for some people.

The bottom line

Bank of America travel rewards can work differently depending on the card you sign up for, so make sure to compare the best rewards cards available before you decide on a card. In the meantime, spend some time comparing cards from this issuer to top travel rewards credit cards from other major issuers. You may find that Bank of America has what you’re looking for in a travel rewards card, but you’ll never know for sure unless you check.

*Information about the Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard®, Allways Rewards Visa® Credit Card, Royal Caribbean Visa Signature® card, Norwegian Cruise Line® World Mastercard®, Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature® card, Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® and Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Bankrate. Card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

Information regarding Bank of America credit cards was last updated on January 5, 2024.