seeing no one else posted it unless i missed it
http://www.doctorofcredit.com/ubs-launches-new-visa-infinite-card-premium-benefits-50000-signup-bonus-495-annual-fee/UBS Launches New Visa Infinite Card with Premium Benefits; 50,000 Signup Bonus + $495 Annual Fee
UBS Bank is launching a premium credit card product called UBS Visa Infinite on May 27, 2017. UBS Bank, is an international bank with footprint in USA, Switzerland, and elsewhere.
The card comes with a signup bonus of up to 50,000 points and an annual fee of $495. As expected, it comes with lots of benefits including a $250 airline incidental credit and potentially a $500 lounge credit.
Applications Information
The card will become available on May 27, 2017.
Apply at ubs.com/visainfinite or by calling 888-762-1232. It’s unclear if there will be an online application link or if the application process will take place over the phone. Should become clear on the 27th; we’ll update then.
Rewards Program
Signup Bonus
There are two versions of the signup bonus mentioned:
Get 50,000 points after spending $3,000 within the first three months
Get 25,000 points after spending $3,000 within the first three months
Signup bonus is valid through December 31, 2017.
It’s not yet clear why someone will get 50k or 25k. My guess is that the temporary signup bonus until year’s end will be 50k and then it’ll be 25k. We’ll see.
Standard Earning
This card earns at the following rates per $1 spent:
3x points on air travel
2x points on gas and groceries
1x points on all other purchases
There is no cap on how many points you can earn and points do not expire so long as the card is open.
Redeeming Rewards
At a minimum, points can be cashed out at one cent per point as a statement credit (minimum $100).
To maximize the value, you’ll want to redeem for travel on any commercial airline. These flights must be booked through UBS and paid for with the card. You’ll get the following redemption values:
50,000 points gets you a flight worth up to $900 (works out to 1.9 CPP)
25,000 points gets you a flight worth up to $350 (works out to 1.4 CPP)
If you book a flight that costs $250, you’ll still pay 25,000 points and you’ll get just 1 CPP. If you book a flight that costs MORE than $35o/$900, you’ll pay 5,000 points per $50. You must cover the full cost of ticket with rewards points.
Sample scenarios:
$1,101 flight will cost 75,000 points (50k + 25k)
$1,100 flight will cost 70,000 points (50k + 20k)
$950 flight will cost 55,000 points (50k + 5k)
$900 flight will cost 50,000 points
$800 flight will cost 50,000 points
$500 flight will cost 40,000 points (25k + 15k)
$351 flight will cost 30,000 points (25k + 5k)
$350 flight will cost 25,000 points
$200 flight will cost 25,000 points
You can also redeem 35,000 points to pay for the annual fee which give you roughly 1.4 CPP.
Card Benefits
Being a premium travel credit card, this card comes with a lot of different benefits:
$250 airline fee credit
You’ll get a $250 airline incidental benefit with one selected airline. You need to select one airline for the entire calendar year.
Since the year is based on calendar year, it’ll be possible to double-dip the first year and get two $250 credits. We’ll have to see what works and what doesn’t to get reimbursed. Sounds like reimbursements will be automatic without having to call in.
You can put the $250 spend on the primary card or AU card, but it all counts toward the same $250 limit.
“Qualifying” transactions are defined as ancillary airline fee transactions made at eligible U.S.-Domestic Airline Carriers, and include: preferred seating upgrades, ticket change/cancelation fees, checked baggage fees, in-flight entertainment, onboard food and beverage charges, airport lounge fees (excluding those credited by the UBS Any Airport Club program), and other airline travel fees.
Airline ticket purchases, mileage point purchases, mileage points transfer fees, gift cards, duty-free purchases, award tickets and fees incurred with airline alliance partners are not deemed to be Qualifying transactions. Airport lounge fees not affiliated with airlines and transactions made with travel agencies are not deemed to be Qualifying transactions. Ancillary airline travel fees must be separate charges from airline ticket charges.
In other words: this will work similar to Amex airline incidental credits, NOT like Sapphire Reserve or Prestige.
$500 Credit toward Lounge Access
Up to $500 reimbursement with Any Airport Club Program, which provides reimbursement for day passes or annual membership fees for airport lounges worldwide. To be eligible for this benefit, cardholders must spend at least $50,000 annually.
One good thing is that you get the $500 allowance for $50,000 spend whether it’s during the current calendar year-to-date or the prior calendar year. So if you spend $50k before the end of 2017, for example, you’ll be able to get two $500 credits based for that spend alone – one in 2017 and one in 2018.
Airport club day pass or annual airport club membership must be purchased using your UBS Visa Infinite credit card. You are eligible for a statement credit of up to $500 if your total spending on your card was $50,000 or greater during either the current calendar year-to-date or the prior calendar year. You may claim the credit only once for each year in which you qualify for a credit. If you do not claim the credit in a year, it will not carry over into subsequent years. You must claim the credit during the same calendar year in which the fee posted to your card account.
12 Gogo In-flight Sessions
Enrollment is required at visa.gogoair.com/UBS prior to flying; registration is not available in flight.
Passes are valid for 12 months from the date you register your card for this benefit. Any unused Passes at the end of the 12 month period will expire.
$100 Global Entry/ TSA Precheck
UBS Visa Infinite credit cardholders are entitled to one $100 statement credit per card every four years in connection with the Global Entry program application fee. The $100 statement credit will be processed after the application fee is charged to a valid UBS Visa Infinite credit card. (Sounds like AU cards get their own credit.)
Access to 1000+ lounges worldwide
The Priority Pass Select offers access to over 1,000 participating airport lounges worldwide. Membership is required to access participating lounges. To request your complimentary membership card, visit ubs.com/prioritypassselect.
Visa Infinite $100 Discount Air Benefit
The card DOES get the Infinite benefit of $100 discount when you purchase 2 or more tickets.
You can read our full review on this benefit here.
Primary Car Rental Insurance
The card comes with primary coverage reimbursement for collision or damage up to the value of most rental cars.
You’ll also get rental car discounts at Avis, National, Audi Silvercar, Enterprise, Alamo, and more.
No foreign transaction fees
This card doesn’t charge you any fees if you make a purchase in a foreign transaction. You’ll receive the rate that Visa uses, you can read more about how this rate is determined by going here.
Variety Of Insurance Products
Trip delay reimbursement up to $500 per ticket to reimburse cost of meals and lodging if trip is delayed more than 6 hours
Purchase security up to $10k per claim and $50k per year
Price protection up to $500 per claim and $1,500 per year
Return protection up to $300 per claim and $1,000 per year
Event ticket protection up to $500 per event ticket, $2,000 per event, and $4,000 per year
Extended warranty up to 12 additional months; max $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year
Up to $15,000 in ID theft insurance
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance up to $5,000
Medical evacuation up to $100,000
Travel accident insurance up to $1M
Baggage delay up to $100 per day for 3 days and a total of $300 spend per 12 month period
Lost luggage reimbursement up to $5,000
Roadside assistance up to $50 per event, max 4 events per year
Miscellaneous Details and Benefits
Annual fee of $495, NOT waived the first year
Get up to 24 authorized users for free
Card is made out of metal
24/7 concierge service
Private aviation (NetJets) benefit
Jet charter services
Baggage delivery services
ATM rebates, up to $10 each
No cash advance fees if you have sufficient funds to repay that night; otherwise, there’ll be cash advance fees and interest charges.
Access to Visa Luxury Hotel Collection, with benefits including room upgrades (when available), complimentary breakfast, and early/late check-in/-out (when available) at participating hotels14. Access to additional luxury hotels and amenities, such as Relais and Chateaux, Mandarin Oriental, Starwood Luxury, Villas of Distinction.
If you voluntarily close your card, you will be allowed 60 days following the effective date of termination of the UBS Account or Cards to redeem outstanding points for gift cards or merchandise. In the event UBS Bank USA closes your Card for any reason other than inactivity, your points will be immediately forfeited.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, there’s a 50,000 points signup bonus (we’re waiting to find out more on that) which is worth a minimum of $500 and covers the annual fee. If you can get closer to 1.8 CPP on the signup bonus, it starts looking more interesting. Another big question mark is how easy it will be to use the $250 airline credit. And then there’s the $500 lounge credit, but that’s only if you’re ready to put $50k on the card.
The points earnings are the card are okay, but nothing amazing. In the end, the first year will probably be worthwhile if it comes with a 50k bonus. Beyond that it would really depend if you can make heavy use of the benefits and whether you have other premium cards with overlapping benefits.
ht to doc