Turkish Airlines releases new credit card: Another way to earn Miles&Smiles
If you're a Turkish Airlines loyalist, there's a new cobranded credit card that just hit the market for your consideration. Turkish Airlines has just released its first credit card for the U.S. market. The $99 annual fee Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Premier Visa Signature credit card is issued by First Electronic Bank and is only open to U.S. applicants.
Applications are now open as of July 10, and the first 5,000 approved customers will receive the card's exclusive, limited-edition metal version.
Previously, the only way to earn Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles with a credit card was to transfer them from Citi ThankYou as a Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees) cardholder or through a card that earns Capital One Miles, such as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
Check out the card details to help you decide if this card is right for you.
The information for the Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Premier Visa Signature credit 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.
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Premier overview
New cardholders will earn 40,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 within 90 days of account opening. The bonus offer is enough to get a one-way economy ticket from anywhere in North America to Istanbul.
Cardholders will earn 3 miles per dollar spent on Turkish Airlines purchases, 2 miles per dollar spent on dining, groceries, entertainment and lodging and 1 mile per dollar spent on all other qualifying purchases. As a travel credit card, it does not charge foreign transaction fees.
As a Visa Signature card, the Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Premier comes with benefits such as access to the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection, Visa Signature Rental Car Privileges and other perks.
Is the Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Premier worth it?
As a fan of Turkish Airlines, I'm happy to see the carrier introduce a card for the U.S. market. Although the card earns bonus miles in several categories, it falls short compared to other airline-cobranded cards or cards offering Turkish Airlines as a transfer partner.
For example, the Citi Strata Premier offers 3 points per dollar in many categories, including dining, groceries and hotels. Meanwhile, the Miles&Smiles Premier card offers only 2 miles per dollar. In that regard you're better off spending on the Citi Strata Premier and transferring your points to Turkish Airlines.
With Turkish Airlines devaluing their award chart, several sweet spots like North America to Turkey for 45,000 points in business class one-way and 47,000 points in business class one-way to the Middle East have disappeared. Higher award costs and additive pricing for multisegment journeys will affect whether this card is worth it.
The card also lacks additional perks and benefits when flying Turkish Airlines, not to mention no benefit to help cardholders earn elite status with the airline and, thus, Star Alliance.
Related: Post-Miles&Smiles devaluation: Why I'm using Aeroplan for Star Alliance redemptions
Bottom line
The Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Premier Visa Signature credit card is the newest card in the marketplace. It's great to see international airline carriers getting into the world of credit cards for U.S. applicants, as this increases competition. Although the card has a low annual fee and decent earning rates, it lacks some benefits. More Turkish Airlines-specific benefits such as upgrades, a pathway to elite status or statement credits could have set this card apart, but for now it is only average.
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.