- Using rewards credit cards and tacking time onto business trips helps travelers go farther for less.
- Look for rewards cards that include benefits that offset fees and make travel more convenient.
Rising operating costs for airlines and cruise operators are pushing ticket prices higher, but the lines aren't getting any shorter at check-in counters. In fact, global air travel recently hit a record number of daily flights.
Consumers clearly don't want to cut back on travel, but they do want to get more value out of every trip. So they're getting creative about how they spend — one example is the rise in "bleisure" travel, where travelers combine business and pleasure on one trip.
Travelers are also turning to rewards credit cards and other perks to stretch travel dollars without compromising on the travel experience. "Consumers increasingly want premium travel benefits without paying several hundred dollars in annual fees," said Rahul Chaudhari, vice president of consumer lending products at Navy Federal Credit Union.
Getting more out of every getaway
As costs rise, business travelers are finding ways to make their trips do double duty by extending their stay at a business destination to enjoy some vacation time, with the company covering the cost of the round-trip flight. One recent survey found that most Americans (55%) add more time to business trips to have some fun off the clock.
Rewards credit cards also help travelers save money, even when they come with membership fees. The key to getting the most from such cards, Chaudhari said, is finding one that doesn't make consumers jump through hoops for benefits. "Today's travelers are looking for rewards that fit naturally into how they already spend, whether that's flights for work, dining with clients, or extending trips for personal time," he said.
Long lines at crowded airports are helping to fuel demand for additional travel-related perks such as TSA Pre✓® and Global Entry. "Modern travelers care just as much about convenience as they do about rewards earning," Chaudhari said.
Premium perks without the premium price
For current and retired U.S. armed forces service members and their families, the Flagship Premier Visa Signature® Credit Card from Navy Federal offers a unique set of benefits.
Like other cards aimed at frequent travelers, it comes with an annual fee.1 At $95, that's lower than many comparable rewards cards. The Flagship Premier Card also comes with an annual $100 airline statement credit2 that pays toward eligible airline purchases, making it easy to offset the annual fee.
Cardholders earn 4X points on all types of travel and 3X points on dining.3 Points can be redeemed toward the statement balance or for rewards. Plus, international travelers benefit from one complimentary 3 GB, 15-day global mobile data plan, through GigSky®.4
This new card from Navy Federal is designed for premium and frequent travelers without the premium pricing. It's also the credit union's first metal credit card, for that premium heft and feel, not to mention the satisfying clatter on the checkout counter. "This card will unlock strong travel value that is delivered hassle-free and at a low annual fee," Chaudhari said.
Investing in connection
Travel may be getting more expensive, but that isn't stopping value-conscious consumers from finding ways to get the human connection and life experiences they crave. With the Flagship Premier Card from Navy Federal, Chaudhari said, "benefits like TSA Pre✓® or Global Entry statement credits, airline credits, and international connectivity can make the overall travel experience significantly smoother."
Learn more about Navy Federal's new Flagship Premier Visa Signature® Credit Card at navyfederal.org/FlagshipPremier.
Thissponsored post was created by BI Studios with Navy Federal Credit Union.
1As of 09/14/2026, the Purchases, Balance Transfers, and Convenience Checks APRs range from 15.74% to 18%, are based on creditworthiness, and will vary with the market based on the U.S. Prime Rate. The Cash Advance APR is 18%. The Penalty APR is 18% and may apply to an account if it becomes over 60 days past due. ATM cash advance fees: None if performed at a Navy Federal branch or ATM. Otherwise, $0.50 per domestic transaction or $1.00 per foreign transaction. $95 annual fee for Flagship Premier Visa Signature® applies.
2Receive a $100 statement credit each year after you spend a total of $100 or more on eligible airline purchases using your Flagship Premier Visa Signature® Card. Your eligibility for the credit begins on the date your account is opened and renews each year on that date. This date appears in the Member Since field under My Profile in the Navy Federal Rewards Center. Any unused credit will not carry over to the next year. The $100 spending requirement may be met through a single purchase or multiple purchases totaling at least $100. Merchants are assigned codes by payment networks based on what a business primarily sells. Only purchases coded as airlines or air carriers qualify as eligible airline purchases and will count toward the required $100 or more to earn the statement credit. Charter or private jet flights do not qualify. After the $100 in eligible airline purchases posts to your account, it may take 6-8 weeks for the statement credit to appear. The statement credit may not be posted or may be reversed if the purchase(s) is/are canceled, modified, or returned. Your account must be open and not in default when the statement credit is scheduled to post to your account. Only the primary cardholder is eligible for this credit. Purchases made by authorized users count toward the $100 spending requirement. Navy Federal may modify or end this offer at any time without notice.
3Flagship Premier Visa Signature® Credit Cards earn 4 points for every $1 of eligible purchases made on travel, 3 points for every $1 of eligible purchases made at restaurants (dining), and 1 point for every $1 of other eligible purchases. Eligible purchases are purchases for goods and services, minus returns and other credits. Eligible purchases do not include fees, interest charges, balance transfers, gambling, convenience checks, cash advances, or other cash-equivalents (e.g., money orders, gift cards, prepaid cards). Merchants are assigned codes by payment networks based on what they primarily sell. We rely on this information to identify travel and restaurant purchases. Travel is typically coded as airline, hotel, car rental, bus lines, taxis, cruise lines, time shares, parking, rideshare, and transit. A travel or restaurant purchase may only earn 1 point per dollar spent, depending on the code used to process the transaction. If the purchase is not identified as a travel or restaurant purchase, it will receive 1 point per dollar spent. For example, purchases made at restaurants within another establishment (e.g., casino, grocery store, event venue) may not be assigned a restaurant code, which means they will only receive 1 point per dollar spent. For more information, view the Program Description for the Flagship Premier Card.
4Flagship Premier Visa Signature® Cardholders are eligible to receive 1 complimentary 3 GB Global Mobile Data Plan, valid for up to 15 days after activation, for use in eligible countries when the Flagship Premier Visa Signature® Card is set as the default payment method in the GigSky App. GigSky and Navy Federal reserve the right to modify or end this offer any time without notice. Refer to GigSky's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy for complete details prior to participating.
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