How to use Bank of America travel rewards points

The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for . The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
Key takeaways
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 ($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; 3X points on Bank of America Travel Center 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 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:
- Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card
- Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard®*
- Allegiant World Mastercard®*
- Royal Caribbean Visa Signature® card*
- Norwegian Cruise Line® World Mastercard®*
- Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature® card*
- Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard®*
- Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®*
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 our 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, note that you do need to meet certain qualifications to enroll in this program, including:
- 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 | $1,000,000 to $9,999,999 | 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.
Also, it’s worth noting that there is one more Bank of America Preferred Rewards program tier, Diamond Honors.
Compare pricing in the travel portal
Keep in mind that 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.
Pick a card with an annual fee
Finally, make sure to think about your goals before you sign up for a travel credit card from this issuer. After all, a card with an annual fee 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 leave you “ahead” in a financial sense.
The bottom line
Bank of America travel rewards can work differently depending on the card you sign up for, so make sure to compare all the rewards card options available before you decide on a card. In the meantime, spend some time comparing cards from this issuer to 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.
The Bank of America content in this post was last updated on June 28, 2023.
The information about the Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card was updated on June 28, 2023.
*The information about the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card, Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard®, Allegiant World Mastercard®, 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.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
Related Articles



Is the Bank of America Premium Rewards card the travel card you should get?
