Bank of America travel points are earned through specific credit cards and can be redeemed for flights, hotels, rental cars, and cash back
Bank of America offers travel rewards through two main card families: the Travel Rewards card and the Premium Rewards card. Both earn points on every purchase, but the Premium Rewards card earns at a higher rate and includes travel protections. Points can be redeemed through the Bank of America travel portal, transferred to airline and hotel partners, or converted to cash back at a fixed rate. The redemption value depends on how you use the points — booking through the portal typically gives you more value per point than converting to cash.
Key Takeaways
- The Travel Rewards card earns 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases with no annual fee, while the Premium Rewards card earns 2 points per dollar but charges $95 yearly.
- Points can be redeemed through Bank of America's travel portal, transferred to airline and hotel partners, or converted to statement credits at a fixed rate.
- The Premium Rewards card includes trip cancellation insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and emergency medical coverage that the basic Travel Rewards card does not offer.
- Transferring points to airline partners often yields better value than redeeming through the portal, but availability depends on which airlines participate in the program.
Earning rates on the two main Bank of America travel cards
The Bank of America Travel Rewards card earns 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases, everywhere. There is no annual fee, no bonus categories, and no caps on earning. This simplicity makes it useful for people who do not want to track spending categories or pay a yearly cost.
The Bank of America Premium Rewards card earns 2 points per dollar on all purchases and costs $95 per year. It also includes a sign-up bonus (the amount varies by offer), travel protections like trip cancellation insurance and emergency medical coverage, and a $100 annual travel credit that offsets some of the annual fee. The higher earning rate and protections make it more valuable for frequent travelers, though the $95 fee means you need to earn enough points to justify the cost.
Neither card earns bonus points in specific categories like dining or gas. Both cards earn the same rate everywhere, which simplifies tracking but means you do not get extra rewards for spending patterns.
How to redeem Bank of America travel points
Bank of America points can be redeemed in three ways: through the Bank of America travel portal, by transferring to airline and hotel partners, or by converting to a statement credit. Each method has different value.
The travel portal lets you book flights, hotels, rental cars, and vacation packages directly. Points are worth a fixed value — typically 1 cent per point when redeemed this way. This is straightforward but often the least valuable redemption method.
Transferring to partners is usually worth more. Bank of America has partnerships with airlines including American, United, Delta, Southwest, and others, plus hotel chains like Hilton and Marriott. When you transfer points to a partner, you can often get more value — sometimes 1.5 cents per point or higher — depending on the airline, the route, and current award availability. The downside is that partner availability changes, and you need to search for award space before transferring.
Converting to a statement credit gives you the least value: typically 0.7 cents per point. This option is useful only if you have leftover points you cannot use elsewhere or if you want to simplify redemption.
Travel protections included with the Premium Rewards card
The Premium Rewards card includes several travel insurance benefits that the basic Travel Rewards card does not. These protections cover situations that can be expensive to handle out of pocket.
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance reimburses you if you have to cancel or cut short a trip due to illness, injury, or death of a family member. The coverage typically reimburses prepaid, non-refundable trip costs up to a set limit per person and per trip.
Lost luggage reimbursement covers baggage and personal items if an airline loses or damages your luggage. This covers items the airline does not reimburse.
Emergency medical and dental coverage pays for emergency medical or dental treatment while you are traveling outside the United States. This is useful if you are injured or become ill far from home.
Emergency evacuation and transportation covers the cost of emergency evacuation by air ambulance or other means if you become seriously ill or injured while traveling.
The Travel Rewards card does not include these protections, so if you travel frequently or take expensive trips, the Premium Rewards card's protections may justify the $95 annual fee.
Comparing Bank of America travel cards to other issuers
Bank of America travel cards compete with cards from Chase, American Express, and Citi. The main difference is earning rate and annual fee structure.
Chase's Sapphire Preferred earns 2 points per dollar on travel and dining, 1 point elsewhere, and costs $95 per year. It earns more on specific categories but requires you to track spending. The Sapphire Reserve earns 3 points per dollar on travel and dining, costs $550 per year, and includes a $300 annual travel credit.
American Express's Gold Card earns 4 points per dollar on flights and hotels, 4 points on restaurants, and 1 point elsewhere, with a $250 annual fee. It focuses rewards on travel and dining rather than all purchases.
Bank of America's advantage is simplicity: the same earning rate everywhere, no category tracking, and a no-annual-fee option. The disadvantage is that the earning rate (1.5 or 2 points per dollar) is lower than cards that offer bonus categories. If you spend heavily on travel and dining, a card with bonus categories may give you more value. If you prefer a flat rate and do not want to track categories, Bank of America's cards are more straightforward.
How Bank of America points expire and what happens to unused points
Bank of America travel points do not expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing. This is different from some airline loyalty programs, which require activity within a set period or points will be forfeited.
If you close your credit card account, you keep your points and can still redeem them through your Bank of America online banking portal. The points stay in your account indefinitely, so closing the card does not cause you to lose rewards you have already earned.
If your account is inactive for an extended period, Bank of America may close it, which could affect your ability to redeem points. Keeping the account open — even if you do not use the card — preserves your points balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer Bank of America points to any airline?
No. Bank of America has partnerships with specific airlines and hotels. The list includes American, United, Delta, Southwest, Hilton, and Marriott, but not every airline or hotel chain participates. You can see the full list of transfer partners in your online account. If your preferred airline is not a partner, you can redeem through the travel portal or convert to a statement credit instead.
What is the difference between the travel portal and transferring to partners?
The travel portal books flights and hotels for you at a fixed point value (usually 1 cent per point). Transferring to partners gives you access to their award inventory, which often provides better value (sometimes 1.5 cents per point or more), but you have to search for available award flights yourself and the value varies by route and date.
Do I lose points if I close my Bank of America credit card?
No. Your points remain in your account even after you close the card. You can still redeem them through your Bank of America online banking portal. Points do not expire as long as your account stays open, so you can close the card and redeem points later.
Is the $95 annual fee on the Premium Rewards card worth it?
It depends on how much you travel and how much you spend. The card includes a $100 annual travel credit, which covers most of the fee. If you travel at least once or twice per year and use the travel credit, the card likely pays for itself. If you rarely travel, the basic Travel Rewards card with no annual fee is a better choice.
Can I earn bonus points on sign-up with Bank of America travel cards?
Yes. Both cards periodically offer sign-up bonuses for new cardholders who meet a minimum spending requirement within a set timeframe. The bonus amount varies by offer and changes over time. You can check the current offer on Bank of America's website or by calling their customer service line.