What to know about benefits and perks

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If you’re carrying a Visa card in your wallet, chances are you haven’t spent time scrutinizing Visa’s benefits. I hadn’t until I noticed the word “Signature” below Visa on my Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. While I assumed that I could thank Chase for most of the perks, it turns out that Visa deserves some of my appreciation, too. 

Visa Signature is the middle tier of Visa cards. Cards with this branding offer more perks than standard Visa cards and most likely carry a higher credit limit, too. However, they aren’t as powerful as the top-of-the-line Visa Infinite, which is comparable to Mastercard’s World Elite program. 

Visa Signature card benefits

Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection

To take advantage of one of the most valuable pieces of the Visa Signature program, you’ll have to leave home. If you have a card with the Signature branding, you have access to great perks when you book a room in the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection.

There are more than 900 properties in the collection including stand-out hotels like The Peninsula in Chicago, the Faena on South Beach in Miami, and the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills. Here’s what you’ll get as a Luxury Hotel Collection guest:

• Automatic room upgrade when available
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Complimentary breakfast for two
• $25 food and beverage credit
• VIP guest status

The complimentary breakfast for two is the sweet spot here, because a morning meal at luxury properties can wind up adding a hefty tab to your bill. And if you aren’t sure of where you want to go, the website’s directory of special offers can point you toward where you can stretch your dollars with a full rundown of current dining credits available, third-night-free promotions, and other discounts. 

Other Visa Signature travel perks and protections

Regardless of where you wind up staying on your getaway, a Visa spokesperson confirmed that all Visa Signature cards come with these standard features.

Secondary car rental insurance

You can skip the hassle of dealing with your own auto insurance or paying for coverage at the rental counter. Visa Signature cards will provide reimbursement for damage from collision or theft on most rental cars. Pay extra attention to the “most” disclaimer, though. A lot of Signature cards — including the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — exclude exotic cars. If you want those protected, you will want a card with the Visa Infinite insignia, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which offers coverage up to $75,000.

Concierge service

Whether you’re looking to score tickets to a Broadway performance (when those lights shine again), send a gift to someone, or make reservations at a restaurant, Visa Signature cards offer access to a 24/7 concierge service. The number is 800-953-7392.

Roadside dispatch

Signature cards come with access to emergency roadside assistance, towing, and locksmith services. It’s important to note, though, that you’ll likely need to pay for these services. Being a member of AAA may be a more convenient and cost-effective option in these worst-case scenarios.

Travel and emergency assistance services

If you’re traveling and need help, you can call the Visa Signature center at 800-992-6029 for emergency translation services, legal referral, prescription assistance, and a range of needs. Keep in mind any third-party costs incurred are still the cardholder’s responsibility.

Extended warranty protection

Even if you are just traveling to the mall, using your Visa Signature card can make a difference. If you use it for a product that comes with a manufacturer’s warranty, the card will extend the duration of that warranty by up to an extra year. 

Optional Visa Signature benefits

There is a long list of other features that might be included in your card, but Visa doesn’t guarantee any of these. Instead, they’re up to your bank. Here’s a general rule: If you’re paying an annual fee, you’re likely to receive more of these benefits:

Keep a lookout for news from Visa in 2021 — the company has plans to add some extra benefits to Visa Signature cards this year.

The final sign-off on your card’s benefits comes from your bank

While Visa Signature can deliver meaningful value, the bank that issues the card has the final say in each card’s benefits and pricing. For example, here’s a comparison of the Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card issued by Bank of America against the Wells Fargo Visa Signature® Card.

If you’re a frequent Alaska Airlines flyer, the $75 annual fee on the Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card is well worth it for travel perks on the carrier. Meanwhile, Wells Fargo’s introductory rewards offer is limited, but this no-annual-fee card comes with more Visa Signature benefits than the Alaska card.

3 great Visa Signature cards to consider

Here are some of the other popular Visa Signature credit cards available right now. To find out all the benefits offered by the Visa Signature card you have, check your guide to benefits or call the number on the back of your card.

David McMillin has written about credit cards, mortgages, banking, taxes, and travel for the past 10 years. His goal is simple: help readers figure out how to minimize fees and maximize rewards.

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