[REVIEW] Alterna Savings Visa Infinite Card
A new fixed rewards card has been introduced to the market, just as the Capital One World Elite Aspire Travel MasterCard has been discontinued. Today, I will discuss the Alterna Savings Visa Infinite Card. Alterna Savings actually has quite a few credit cards to choose from, but I will be discussing its most premium credit card, as it usually has the most perks.
Below are the highlights of the Alterna Savings Visa Infinite Card:
- $120 annual fee
- $50 annual fee for a supplementary cardholder
- Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on all purchases
The annual fee puts it right between the BMO World Elite MasterCard ($150) and MBNA World Elite MasterCard ($89), which offer the same 2 points for every $1 spent is right in line with some of the other fixed reward cards available. BMO made a slight change to its program whereby you earn 3 BMO Rewards points for every $1 spent on travel, dining and entertainment purchases and 2 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases. However, 1 point is worth 0.7 cent a piece.
Unlike those two cards, which are World Elite MasterCards, this is a Visa Infinite card which offers slightly different benefits.
Visa Infinite Benefits
Some of the Visa Infinite benefits include:
- Concierge Services (helps you make reservations and plan trips)
- Dining Series (access to dining events)
- Luxury Hotel Collection (access to room upgrades, best available rate, free wifi, complimentary breakfast, VIP guest status and late checkout)
Protection and Warranty
This credit card also gives you 90 days purchase protection and doubles the manufacturer’s warranty (to a maximum of 1 additional year).
Travel Insurance
It also includes some of the better travel insurances:
- Trip Cancellation up to $2,000
- Unlimited Trip Interruption
- Emergency Health Care up to $5,000,000
- Lost or Delayed Baggage up to $1,000
- 24/7 Travel Assistance
- Auto Rental Collision/Loss Insurance
- Common Carrier Accident Protection up to $1,000,000
Conclusion
This may not be an ultra competitive card, especially since there is no sign up bonus promotion whatsoever. But it is a nice addition to the credit card market.
If they want to attract new customers they will need to offer extras to lure us and not just come up with an existing product in the market. It seems more targeted for their own credit union customers.
Let’s just say it is a good start. Now they need to be more competitive. Better than other companies shutting cards down instead.
Although the point earning rate is the same, one point is worth 1 cent here, effectively giving %2 cashback on all purchases. That is better than the BMO world elite, unless I am mis-interpreting the value of BMO reward points?
You are correct, now 1 BMO point is worth 0.7 cent, instead of its old 1 cent per point.
Made a slight mortification to the post.
Alterna Savings & Credit Union is not the issuer of this credit card, but rather a sales agent. Collabria Financial is the actual issuer. Collabria credit cards (Visa & Mastercard) are sold primarily through Credit Unions. This same Visa card is available through multiple Credit Union brands (example: Windsor Family Credit Union), but all are issued by Collabria.
That’s for the heads up ARB!
any feedback on usability ie. redeeming travel? blackouts, choices in rewards etc?
I believe it should be used like cash back. You purchase any plane ticket and you credit the rewards against that purchase.