Skip to content

The top 10 most valuable World Mastercard benefits

May 01, 2021
6 min read
Young female traveller relaxing on bed in a hotel room, with a suitcase and straw hat by the bed
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.


When talking about points, I often stress the importance of building up a diversified portfolio of points and miles. This gives you the most flexibility, both for earning lucrative bonuses and increasing your redemption opportunities to book award travel. Credit cards are a huge part of this as they're the single most lucrative source of points and miles, but they can also provide valuable perks and benefits depending on the network (such as Mastercard, Visa and American Express). When traveling, I usually like carrying a Mastercard and Visa on me as they're accepted more than American Express internationally.

There are three levels of the Mastercard program: Mastercard, World Mastercard and World Elite Mastercard. World Mastercards are the midlevel cards in the Mastercard portfolio, and they come with an array of benefits and perks geared toward travelers.

Related: World Elite vs. World Mastercard: Benefits and value

You can check which type of Mastercard you own — it's usually found on the back of the card. Credit cards such as the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® and the JetBlue Card are both examples of World Mastercards. If you're a cardholder of either card (or another World Mastercard), here are my top 10 most valuable World Mastercard benefits.

The information for the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard and JetBlue Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

DoorDash benefits

(Photo by Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Mastercard just added this key benefit for World Mastercard holders. With your card, you'll enjoy three months of complimentary DoorDash DashPass (which normally costs $9.99 per month), offering free delivery on orders of $12 or more. Even better, you'll get $5 off your first two orders every month.

Related: Here are 20 food delivery promos to help you save money on your next meal

Lyft benefits

(Photo by Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images)

Whether you need a ride to the airport or a quick trip across town, you'll get a $5 credit once you take three Lyft rides in a month. This is a nice added benefit that requires little to no prior thinking — just watch the credits pile up each month the more rides you take.

Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

Related: The best credit cards for Uber and Lyft

Free ShopRunner membership

(Screenshot courtesy of ShopRunner)

We've all heard of Amazon Prime's two-day shipping (and sometimes even one-day or same-day shipping), but did you know you can get free two-day shipping on hundreds of stores from another company? As a World Mastercard holder, you can receive a complimentary ShopRunner membership. It's as easy as enrolling your card to unlock free two-day shipping (and free returns!) on stores such as Bloomingdale's and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Related: The best credit cards for online shopping

Cellphone protection

(Photo by Mirko Vitali/EyeEm/Getty Images)

It happens to the best of us — whether you drop your cellphone (resulting in expensive repairs) or it gets stolen, you'll be thankful that you're covered with World Mastercard's cellphone protection. To get coverage, you'll simply need to pay your cellphone bill with your World Mastercard. Then, you'll enjoy $1,000 in yearly coverage ($600 maximum per claim, up to two claims per year).

Related: How I got my cracked iPhone replaced for just $54.20 by using the right credit card

24/7 professional travel services

(Screenshot courtesy of Mastercard)

Perhaps one of the most underrated perks of the World Mastercard program is the access to Mastercard Travel & Lifestyle Services. The next six benefits are all part of this program, including 24/7 complimentary professional travel services via phone, chat or email. The Lifestyle Managers can help you plan, sort and refer you to valuable resources to ensure smooth travels.

Related: Battle of the premium credit cards: Comparing concierge services

Airport concierge

(Screenshot courtesy of Mastercard)

World Mastercard holders have access to 15% discounted prices on the Mastercard Airport Concierge service, which can make the hectic airport experience less chaotic. Your dedicated agent will meet you at the plane door and escort you through immigration, assist with baggage on departure or send a chauffeured luxury vehicle upon arrival.

It's a great perk if you need to get in and out of the airport in a hurry — whether it's for a business meeting or because you want to start the vacation that much faster. It is currently available at more than 700 locations worldwide.

Hotel stay guarantee

Grand Hotel des Sablettes Plage, Curio Collection by Hilton. (Photo courtesy of Hilton)

If you book a three-star (or higher) hotel through the Mastercard Travel & Lifestyle program and something goes wrong, the service ensures that they'll make it right.

Lowest hotel rate guarantee

(Photo by Nick Ellis and Benji Stawski/The Points Guy)

If you book a hotel through the Mastercard Travel & Lifestyle program, you'll get the lowest rate guaranteed. Otherwise, enjoy a refund of the difference.

Luxury hotel and resorts portfolio

(Screenshot courtesy of Mastercard)

Similar to American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts, World Mastercard offers its own portfolio of more than 3,000 luxury hotels and resorts. When you use the card to pay for your stay, you are automatically rewarded with a variety of elite-like perks depending on the property, such as daily complimentary breakfast for two, amenity credits and more.

Free nights, upgrades and savings on partner travel

Last but not least, you'll enjoy free nights at partner hotels, upgrades on car rentals, and savings on air, private jets and RVs. Some of Mastercard's partners include Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, IHG and Hyatt, so you could potentially snag some awesome perks by booking through the Mastercard Travel & Lifestyle program.

Bottom line

Here at TPG, we love talking about credit card perks such as Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit and complimentary hotel elite status. However, you don't want to sleep on perks that are offered by the card network itself. In this case, Mastercard offers numerous benefits for World Mastercard holders that can add up over time. Next time you travel, you'll want to consult the Mastercard Travel & Lifestyle program first or even get free delivery on your DoorDash orders — just because you can.

Featured image by Getty Images
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.