The card_name is a travel rewards card that offers 4x points for Honors Advantage members, an annual $100 domestic air ancillary travel statement credit, Priority Pass membership, and Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit.
This credit card review will cover everything you need to know about this card to determine if you should add this card or a different card to your wallet. Let’s dive right in.
Welcome Bonus
The PenFed Pathfinder Visa currently offers the following welcome bonus:
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Points are worth about 0.85 cents per point, so this bonus is worth about $425.
You are required to become a PenFed credit union member to apply for the card, but it’s a fairly easy process by opening a PenFed savings account with a $5 deposit.
Earning Points
The PenFed Pathfinder Visa earns points at the following rates:
- 4 points per dollar on all travel categories for PenFed Honors Advantage Members;
- 3 points per dollar on all travel categories for non-Honors Advantage Members; and
- 1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases.
To become a PenFed Honors Advantage member, you must either be a military member (active duty, reserve, honorably discharged, or retired) or maintain a PenFed Checking Account.
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.
Annual Fee
The PenFed Pathfinder Visa has a $95 annual fee, which is waived for exisiting PenFed Honors Advantage members.
If you were not eligible for Honors Advantage at the time of application but later become eligible, the annual fee will be waived for the following year. To continue enjoying the annual fee waiver, you must maintain your Honors Advantage membership.
Card Benefits and Perks
Below are the benefits and perks of the PenFed Pathfinder Visa:
0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers
This card offers a 0% Intro APR for 12 months on balance transfers. After that a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR applies. There is also a 3% balance transfer fee.
$100 Annual Domestic Travel Statement Credit
Cardmembers get an annual $100 statement credit covering ancillary purchases with domestic airlines, including baggage fees, in-flight food and beverage purchases, airport lounge day passes, pet kennel fees, flight change fees, and phone reservation fees.
Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Credit
This card offers a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit like many other travel cards.
TSA PreCheck is a membership program offering dedicated airport security lines and faster security screening (typically 5 minutes or less) at more than 200 airports across the United States and includes over 81 airlines.
Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck and expedited immigration upon arrival from an international trip back to the United States.
Priority Pass Airport Lounge Access
This card comes with Priority Pass airport lounge access, which gets you access to over 1,300 airport lounges.
Nothing is better than escaping the hustle and bustle of the airport and to escape the crowds to get free food and drinks.
However, you will be charged a $32 fee per person per visit to an airport lounge. Most other cards that offer Priority Pass offer unlimited benefits like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
This card has no foreign transaction fees on purchases outside the U.S., which is helpful if you travel internationally to help you avoid paying a 3% fee on those international purchases.
Pros and Cons
Here’s a quick overview of this card’s advantages and disadvantages:
Pros:
- Waivable annual fee for PenFed Honors Advantage members.
- 4x points on travel for PenFed Honors Advantage members.
- Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Credit.
Cons:
- $95 annual fee for non-Honors AAdvantage members.
- Priority Pass visits require a per-fee visit.
Alternatives to the PenFed Pathfinder
Now that you know about this credit card’s various benefits and pros and cons, it’s time to see its alternatives.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Better for Travel
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review) is one of the most popular travel rewards cards because it offers nice welcome bonus and extra points on travel and dining, which can be transferred to airline and hotel partners or redeemed directly for travel at a rate of 1.25 cents per point through Chase Travel℠. The Sapphire Preferred also offers great travel and purchase protections for a card with a $95 annual fee.
Welcome Bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
Earning Rewards: 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2x points on all other travel purchases, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Card Benefits: Ability to transfer to airline and hotel partners, 25% bonus when redeeming points through Chase Travel, $50 annual hotel stay credit via Chase Travel, 10% anniversary points bonus, no foreign transaction fees, primary rental car insurance, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty.
Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Emirates, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Hyatt, IHG, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Singapore KrisFlyer, Southwest, United, and Virgin Atlantic.
Citi® Double Cash Card
Better for Cash Back
The Citi® Double Cash Card stands out with its straightforward approach to rewards, offering up to 2% back on every purchase – 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay. This no-nonsense card becomes even more powerful when paired with a premium Citi card, allowing you to transform your cash back into valuable transferable ThankYou points.
Welcome Bonus: Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.
Earning Rewards: 2% cash back on all eligible purchases (1% cash back when you buy and 1% when you pay for your purchases).
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Better for Airport Lounge Access
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (review) delivers both everyday value with unlimited 2x miles on purchases and premium comfort through comprehensive airport lounge access for you upon enrollment. You’ll also receive $300 in annual travel credits plus 10,000 anniversary bonus miles, creating substantial ongoing value.
Welcome Bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months.
Earning Rewards: 10x miles on hotels and rental cars and 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel; 2x miles on all other purchases.
Card Benefits: $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary, airport lounge access (Capital One and Priority Pass) upon enrollment, Global Entry / TSA PreCheck credit, Hertz President’s Circle elite status, primary rental car insurance, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation insurance, and cell phone protection.
Transfer Partners: Accor (2 to 1), Aeromexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Emirates, Etihad, Finnair, I Prefer Hotels (1 to 2), Japan Airlines(2 to 1.5), JetBlue (5 to 3), Qantas, Qatar, Singapore KrisFlyer, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Red, and Wyndham Rewards.
Is the PenFed Pathfinder Worth It?
The PenFed Pathfinder Visa can be worth it if you are a Honors Advantage Member due to the 4x points on travel and waived annual fee.
But if you’re not an Honors Advantage member, there are better options out there with a similar annual fee, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
