Meridian Visa Infinite Travel Rewards Card Review
Pros
- Earns 3 points per $1 spent on travel and dining purchases.
- 1.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees on purchases made in foreign currencies.
- Travel insurance coverage and mobile device insurance included.
- Priority Pass membership with 6 lounge visits per year.
- Meridian is a Canadian credit union providing personalized customer service.
Cons
- Has an annual fee of $129.
- Additional cardholders’ fee is $30.
- Credit card balance transfers and cash advances do not earn reward points.
- Priority Pass membership has a limited number of free visits before charges may apply.
- Does not have as many perks as some competing travel-focused cards.
- Meridian credit cards may not have as wide acceptance due to being from a smaller credit union.
How you earn rewards
Each card earns rewards differently. Part of choosing your card is deciding what type of rewards you want to get. With Meridian Visa Infinite Travel Rewards Card, here’s how you earn rewards:
| All Other Spend | 1 point |
How much your rewards are worth
The dollar value of your rewards depends on the specific Meridian rewards program and what you choose to redeem your points for.
For Meridian Visa Infinite Travel Rewards Card in particular, if you spend $2,000.00 per month, here’s our estimated rewards earned depending on which reward you choose:
| Redemption method | Annual rewards |
|---|---|
| Meridian travel | $240.00 |
Calculating your annual rewards
$24,000.00 annual spending x $1.00% return on spending = $240.00 annual rewards
$240.00 annual rewards – $99.00 annual fee = $$141.00 net annual rewards
Details and eligibility
| Do I qualify? | |
|---|---|
| Estimated Credit Score | 760 – 900 |
| Interest Rates | |
|---|---|
| Purchase | 19.5% |
| Cash Advance | 21.9% |
| Balance Transfer | 21.9% |
| Fees | |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $99.00 |
| Extra Card Fee | $0 |
| Card type | Visa |
Insurance coverage
| Extended Warranty | 1 year |
| Purchase Protection | 90 days |
| Travel Accident | 1000000 |
| Emergency Medical Term | 48 days |
| Emergency Medical over 65 | 15 days |
| Trip Cancellation | 2000 |
| Trip Interruption | 2000 |
| Baggage Delay | 500 |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage | 1000 |
| Rental Car Theft & Damage | Yes |
| Mobile Phone Insurance | 1000 |
| Price Protection Insurance | Yes |
Meridian Visa Infinite Travel Rewards Card Review
The Meridian Visa Infinite Travel Rewards Card is an excellent option for Canadians who frequently travel and prefer to earn rewards through their credit card spending. This review will break down the earning potential of the card, list four major benefits, and highlight two significant drawbacks of using the Meridian Visa Infinite Travel Rewards Card.
1. Earning potential with the card: With the Meridian Visa Infinite Travel Rewards Card, cardholders earn 3 points per dollar spent on eligible travel, dining, and gas purchases, and 1.5 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases. This tiered earning structure enables cardholders to maximize their rewards in popular spending categories.
2. Benefit 1: One substantial advantage of the Meridian Visa Infinite Travel Rewards Card is its comprehensive travel insurance package. Cardholders receive coverage for emergency medical, trip cancellation/interruption, baggage, car rental, and other travel-related protection measures – bringing peace of mind when on the go.
3. Benefit 2: The second significant advantage of this card is the no-fee airport lounge access with four complimentary passes per year. Cardholders can enjoy the comfort and relaxation of over 1,200 VIP airport lounges worldwide.
4. Benefit 3: The Meridian Visa Infinite Travel Rewards Card also offers 24/7 Visa Infinite Concierge service, offering personalized assistance with a wide range of services such as travel bookings, dining reservations, event tickets, and more.
5. Benefit 4: Another notable advantage is that this card is protected with Visa’s Zero Liability, which provides cardholders security from unauthorized use of their card and guarantees zero liability for fraudulent charges.
6. Drawback 1: A significant drawback of the Meridian Visa Infinite Travel Rewards Card is the annual fee of $169. While the range of benefits does help taper the cost, those who don’t travel as frequently may not find the fee worth the benefits provided.
7. Drawback 2: The second drawback to consider is the limited choice in travel rewards redemption. Points must be redeemed through the Meridian Rewards Program instead of transferring to another loyalty program, which may limit the flexibility in redeeming rewards for some cardholders.
8. Additional information: Notably, Meridian offers a first-year annual fee waiver, effectively providing all benefits at no cost for the first 12 months – a unique opportunity for Canadians to try out the card before committing to an annual fee.
In summary, the Meridian Visa Infinite Travel Rewards Card is a well-rounded option for Canadians who wish to maximize their travel-related rewards and benefits. The comprehensive travel insurance coverage combined with the lounge access and other value-added components make it a competitive travel rewards card; however, potential users should consider the annual fee and rewards redemption limitations before applying.
Interested in other credit cards? Canadians that like the Meridian Visa Infinite Travel Rewards Card credit card also like the Meridian Visa Infinite Cash Back Card. If you’re looking for other options you should consider the Meridian Visa Platinum Travel Rewards Card, and the Meridian Visa Platinum Cash Back Card.
FAQ
Key benefits
- Meridian Visa Infinite Travel Rewards Card
- Versatile reward points system for redemptions
- Enhanced security with Verified by Visa feature
- Award-winning customer service
- Complimentary travel accident insurance and emergency health care coverage
- Car rental collision/loss damage insurance
- Personalized financial guidance available
- Visa Infinite Concierge services for dining and event reservations
- Flexible payment plans for larger purchases
- Accessible online account management via Meridian Mobile Banking
- 24/7 fraud protection and Zero Liability protection
