US Airways Credit Card Review: Premier World MasterCard

Frequent US Airways flyers can use the US Airways Premier World MasterCard to help earn 2 miles per $1 on US Airways and American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per $1 spent everywhere else. As an incentive to sign up, you earn 50,000 bonus miles after your first purchase and payment of the $89 annual fee. The card is best suited for frequent travelers, as there is an $89 annual fee.

12/10/2014 Update: The US Airways® Premier World MasterCard® is no longer available on CreditDonkey. This offer may have been discontinued or may no longer be available to new applicants.

Rewards: Airline Miles

Every time you buy something with the US Airways Premier World MasterCard, you earn miles. This card earns 1 mile for every $1 you spend on most purchases. It earns double miles for every $1 you spent on US Airways and American Airline purchases. If you book all your US Airways flights directly with the airline using this card, your air miles really start to add up.

Once you’ve earned enough miles, you can redeem them for flights. You can get a flight starting at 20,000 miles. That's a 5,000 mile discount off each eligible award ticket, as award travel redemption starts at 25,000 miles for non-cardholders.

Signup Bonus

When you first sign up for the US Airways Premier World Card, you will be eligible for a couple of nice bonuses.

After your first purchase and payment of the $89 annual fee, you’ll automatically receive 50,000 bonus miles, already enough for an award flight.

In addition to the bonus miles, this card also offers a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for 15 months. After that, the APR will be a variable rate, currently 15.99% - 24.99% depending on your creditworthiness.

Travel Benefits

US Airways © redlegsfan21 (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Flickr

With the US Airways Premier World Card, you automatically become eligible for some travel perks with US Airways. This card allows you to use First Class check-in for US Airways flights. It gives you Zone 2 boarding for your US Airways flight. This means you’ll get on-board before the crowds and usually will have plenty of room for your carry-on luggage. Lastly, each year you own this card you receive one companion certificate for up to two guests to travel with you on US Airways operated flights (redemptions start at $99 plus taxes and fees). Companion certificates are valid only for travel in the Continental U.S. or Canada (with a minimum fare purchase of $250).

Pros

• Earn 50,000 bonus miles after first purchase and payment of the $89 annual fee.
  
• 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for 15 months
  
• Earns double miles for purchases with US Airways and American Airlines; 1 mile per $1 spent everywhere else
  
• Redeem flights starting at 20,000 miles (compared to 25,000 miles for non-cardholders)
  
• First Class Check-in
  
• Companion certificate

Cons

• $89 annual fee
  
• 3% foreign transaction fee

Bottom Line

If you plan on travelling with US Airways, even for a few flights a year, this card is worth having. Between the bonus miles and the travel perks, this card is well worth its $89 annual fee for frequent US Airways domestic travelers.

International travelers should be aware that this card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee. If you plan to travel overseas, consider using a credit card with no foreign transaction fee instead.

12/10/2014 Update: The US Airways® Premier World MasterCard® is no longer available on CreditDonkey. This offer may have been discontinued or may no longer be available to new applicants.