Expensive Credit Cards That Don’t Seem Worth It, But Are

There are a lot of expensive credit cards on the market these days: Some of them have annual fees that can be as high as $500, so it’s natural to wonder if they’re really worth it. In most cases, the answer is no—at least not for everyone. That said, there are cards out there that are both expensive and can be a good choice for many people. Some cards come with statement credits and benefits that can offset a lot of the cost. Here are some expensive credit cards that might not seem worth it, but just might be.

Capital One Venture X

The Capital One Venture X is perhaps the #1 card with a high $395 annual fee that can easily be worth it—even when compared to the $95 annual fee Capital One Venture or even a no-annual-fee card. For anyone who travels—even if only once per year—the Venture X is a solid choice.

The Venture X’s benefits that offset the annual fee include:

• $300 annual travel credit on bookings through Capital One Travel
• 10,000-anniversary bonus miles

After these two benefits alone, you’ll break even on the annual fee. Most people who travel will have no problem using the $300 annual travel credit, and the 10,000-anniversary miles, at worst, are worth $100 toward travel.

Additionally, Venture X cardholders receive:

• $100 TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee credit
• Priority Pass, Plaza Premium and Capital One lounge access with 2 guests per visit (authorized users, which are free to add, also get this)
• Minimum of 2 miles per dollar spent on purchases (more in specific categories)
• Cell phone insurance
• No foreign transaction fees
• Transfer miles to partners
• A welcome bonus

Airline credit cards if you fly domestically and check bags

If you fly domestic airlines often and always or usually check bags, an airline credit card could be worth it. Southwest includes free checked bags for everyone, but it’s possible to get free checked bags on the other airlines through their co-branded credit card. How often you fly a specific airline, whether or not you usually fly the same airline, how many bags you check and how many people you travel with are a few things that will determine whether or not it’s worth paying an annual fee, but as a general rule, checking three bags per year is around the breakeven point.

Some airline credit cards that are worth considering include:

• Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card: $75 annual fee, free first checked bag for cardholder and up to six additional passengers on the same reservation.
• American Airlines AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard: $99 annual fee, free first checked bag for cardholder and up to four additional passengers on the same reservation for domestic itineraries.
• Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card: $99 annual fee (waived the first year), free first checked bag for cardholder and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation.
• JetBlue Plus Card: $99 annual fee, free first checked bag for cardholder and up to three additional passengers on the same reservation.
• United Explorer Card: $95 annual fee (waived the first year), free first checked bag for cardholder and up to one additional passenger on the same reservation—you must purchase your ticket with the card in order to receive this benefit.

Many hotel credit cards

Many hotel credit cards offer a free night at a hotel in that chain (often valid at hotels costing up to a certain number of points per night). Most hotel credit cards charge a $95 annual fee, so if you’re likely to stay in a hotel of a specific chain each year and that hotel costs more than $95 per night, you’re going to come out ahead, not to mention the card’s other benefits. It is extra mental overhead to track an extra card and make sure you’re utilizing benefits, but it could be worth it.

Some of the hotel credit cards that are worth considering include:

• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card: $95 annual fee, free night worth up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points (can top up with up to 15,000 additional points from account).
• World of Hyatt Credit Card: $95 annual fee, free night at Category 1 to 4 Hyatt property.
• IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card: $95 annual fee, free night worth up to 40,000 IHG points.