Many travel cards charge $120 or more a year before you earn a single point. The Aspire Travel Platinum Mastercard from Capital One takes the opposite route: a $0 annual fee and 1 reward mile for every $1 you spend, on every purchase, with no cap and no expiry date.
Why we recommend the Aspire Travel Platinum Mastercard
Redemption does not depend on finding an award seat. Miles are applied against travel already charged to the card, including flights, hotels, car rentals and taxis, within 90 days of the transaction. There are no blackout dates, and miles also convert to gift cards and statement credits.
Adding an authorized user costs nothing, and Quick Check tells you within seconds whether you are pre-approved through a soft check. A hard inquiry only happens if you go ahead with the full application.
The card carries Mastercard Zero Liability, customizable real-time alerts for due payments, duplicate charges and suspicious activity, and support through live chat, self-serve tools and phone agents available 24/7.
Author’s opinion
For someone who takes a trip or two each year and refuses to pay an annual fee, this works well as an everyday card. Put groceries, gas and bills on it, pay in full and let the miles pile up quietly.
It is the entry card of the family, so the insurance is lighter than on premium travel products, and there is no lounge access. The standard rate is set at approval at 19.8%, 21.9% or 25.9%, and a carried balance quickly outweighs the miles. Quebec residents have their own minimum payment rule, so read your provincial agreement.
I want to learn more about the Aspire Travel Platinum Mastercard!
Eligibility, the full fee table, what you need to apply and the link to the official Capital One page are on the next page. Tap the button below.
