The Discover Miles card is a great option for travelers, and one of its standout features is its rewards program. You can earn 1.5 miles per dollar spent on all purchases, which is a simple and straightforward way to rack up miles.
The miles you earn can be redeemed for travel purchases, such as flights, hotels, and rental cars, with no blackout dates or restrictions. This means you have flexibility in planning your trips.
You can also redeem your miles for cash back or statement credits, giving you options for how to use your rewards. This flexibility is a major advantage of the Discover Miles card.
Expand your knowledge: How Miles on Credit Cards Work
How the Card Works
The Discover it Miles card is a no-annual-fee credit card that earns you unlimited 1.5x miles on every dollar of every purchase.
You can earn miles on all your purchases, not just on specific categories or spending limits. This means you can rack up miles on your daily expenses, from groceries to gas.
Recommended read: How Do Airline Miles Work
The card also comes with a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases, which can be a huge help if you need to finance a big purchase. After that, the APR is 18.49% - 27.49% variable.
With the Discover it Miles card, you can turn your miles into cash or redeem them as a statement credit for your travel purchases. This gives you flexibility in how you use your rewards.
Here are some key benefits of the Discover it Miles card:
- Unlimited 1.5x miles on all purchases
- Discover matches all the miles you've earned at the end of your first year
- No annual fee
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases
It Pros
The Discover it Miles card has some great features that can help you save money and earn rewards. One of the best things about this card is that it earns flexible miles that you can redeem for a variety of travel purchases or simply cash them out.
The card also offers a unique welcome offer that doubles all miles earned during your first cardmember year. This means you can earn twice the miles you normally would in the first year, which can add up quickly.
Another benefit of the Discover it Miles card is that it has no foreign transaction fees. This means you can use the card to make purchases abroad without being charged extra fees.
One thing to keep in mind is that the card has a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases, followed by a variable APR of 18.49% - 27.49%. This can be a great option if you have big purchases coming up that you want to pay for over time.
Here are the key benefits of the Discover it Miles card at a glance:
- Earns flexible miles
- Unique welcome offer doubles all miles earned in the first year
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fee
The card also offers an introductory 0% APR on balance transfers for 15 months, but be aware that there is a 3% fee for transfers made within the introductory window.
Card Details to Watch
If you're considering the Discover it Miles, there are a few card details to watch out for.
The card offers redeemable miles that can be used as a statement credit on travel purchases made within the last 180 days, or as cash back via a direct deposit, or at checkout on Amazon.com or PayPal.com – all at one cent per mile.
You'll also get a free FICO Credit Scorecard, which can be a valuable tool for tracking your credit score.
Online privacy protection is another perk of the Discover it Miles card, helping to safeguard your personal info.
The Discover it Miles card is focused on simplicity and affordability, so don't expect a laundry list of benefits.
Travel Spending
You can earn a higher percentage of miles for spending in travel categories with some travel rewards credit cards. For example, you may earn one mile per dollar on general purchases but get a bonus of two or three miles per dollar if you buy airline tickets or hotel accommodations with your travel credit card.
Some credit cards offer a bonus for travel-related purchases, such as airline tickets or hotel accommodations. This can be a great way to rack up miles quickly if you're a frequent traveler.
If you're looking to maximize your miles earnings, consider using a credit card that offers a bonus for travel-related purchases. This can be a great way to earn more miles and redeem them for travel expenses.
Broaden your view: How Do Hotel Cards Work Credit
Here are some examples of travel-related purchases that may earn a bonus:
- Airline tickets
- Hotel accommodations
- Car rentals
- Travel agencies
Keep in mind that the bonus rewards will vary depending on the credit card issuer and the specific card you have. Be sure to check your card's terms and conditions to see what types of purchases qualify for bonus rewards.
Rewards and Earnings
The Discover it Miles card offers a simple and straightforward rewards program. You earn 1.5 miles per dollar spent on all purchases, with no bonus categories to track and no earning limits.
With the Discover Match program, your earnings will be matched automatically at the end of the first year, effectively making your earnings 3 miles per dollar during that year. This means that if you spend $20,000 on the card your first year, you'll earn 60,000 miles (worth $600), and if you spend $50,000, you'll earn 150,000 miles (worth $1,500).
You can redeem your miles at a rate of 1 cent apiece, with several redemption options, including a credit toward travel purchases made with your card in the past 180 days, a statement credit to pay off all or part of your bill, cash as an electronic deposit to your bank account, or pay at checkout for Amazon purchases.
A fresh viewpoint: Can You Pay Early Chase Pay over Time Plan
Bonus
The Discover it Miles credit card offers a unique bonus system through its Discover Match program, which matches all the rewards you earn at the end of your first year of opening the card.
You can earn a significant amount of miles with this card, with no limit to what Discover will match, whether you've earned 5,000 miles or 50,000 miles.
For big spenders, this deal is excellent, as it effectively makes your earnings on the Discover it Miles equivalent to 3% back (3x miles) for the first year of account opening.
You can earn bonus miles just for signing up with some travel credit cards, but with the Discover it Miles credit card, you'll have to wait until the end of your first year to get matched by Discover's Match program.
The Discover it Miles card has a static earning rate of 1.5 miles per dollar on all purchases, which equates to 3 miles per dollar for all purchases during the first year through the Discover Match program.
For your interest: Discover It Card Cashback Match
If you spend $20,000 on the card your first year, you'll earn 30,000 miles from spending and have them doubled to 60,000 miles (worth $600), or if you spend $50,000, you'll get 150,000 miles (worth $1,500).
There is no minimum spending requirement to earn bonus miles, nor is there a cap, making this an attractive option for those who want to earn a lot of miles quickly.
You might enjoy: Are Cash Back Credit Cards Worth It
It Earning Rates
Earning rates can vary depending on the credit card you have. For example, the Discover it Miles card earns 1.5 miles per dollar spent on all purchases with your card, with no bonus categories to track and no earning limits.
The Discover it Miles card also has a unique feature called Discover Match, which matches your earnings at the end of the first year, effectively making your earnings 3 miles per dollar during that year.
Some credit cards offer a welcome bonus, but the Discover it Miles card doesn't. Instead, it offers a matching program that matches all the rewards you earn at the end of your first year, regardless of the amount.
Here's a comparison of the Discover it Miles card's earning rate and another credit card's earning rate:
Ultimately, the best earning rate for you will depend on your spending habits and what type of rewards you value most.
Credit Card Earnings
You can earn credit card miles as a percentage of credit card spending. Most major travel rewards cards earn at least one mile per dollar spent.
The Discover it Miles credit card offers a simple earning structure: you earn 1.5 miles per dollar spent on all purchases with your card. There are no bonus categories to track and no earning limits.
The Discover Match program matches all the rewards you earn at the end of your first year of opening the card. This means that if you earned 30,000 miles in the first 12 months, Discover would match an additional 30,000 miles, for a total of 60,000 miles.
You can earn credit card miles on everyday purchases, not just travel purchases. This makes it easy to accumulate miles quickly.
The Discover it Miles card doesn't offer a traditional welcome bonus, but through Discover Match, the card will automatically match all the miles you earn during your first cardmember year. This effectively makes your earnings on the Discover it Miles equivalent to 3% back (3x miles) for the first year of account opening.
Here are some key points about the earning structure of the Discover it Miles card:
- Earn 1.5 miles per dollar spent on all purchases
- No bonus categories to track and no earning limits
- Discover Match program matches all rewards earned in the first year
- 3% return on all purchases during the first year
Using Credit Card Rewards
You can redeem your credit card miles for travel expenses or even cash. Credit card miles are different from frequent flyer programs, which are typically loyalty-based for a specific airline.
The Discover it Miles credit card offers flexible redemption options, including a statement credit for travel purchases made within the last 180 days. You can also use miles to offset recent travel purchases, including Uber rides, flights, and Airbnb bookings.
One of the benefits of the Discover it Miles card is that your miles never expire. If you close your account, Discover will either credit your account or send you a check for the remaining rewards balance.
You can redeem your Discover Miles in several ways, including as a statement credit for travel purchases, cash out to your bank account, or using miles at checkout with Amazon and PayPal. No matter the redemption method, your Discover Miles are worth 1¢ each.
Here are some ways to redeem your credit card rewards:
- Redeem as a statement credit for travel purchases made within the last 180 days
- Cash out your miles directly to your bank account
- Use miles at checkout with Amazon and PayPal
The cash back redemption option is straightforward, with no minimum redemption amount. The funds will be deposited directly into your bank account within three business days.
Using Rewards
You can redeem your Discover Miles in several ways, including as a statement credit for travel purchases, cashing out to your bank account, or using miles at checkout with Amazon and PayPal.
Redeeming miles for travel purchases is a great option, covering the cost of flights, hotels, rental cars, rideshares, and other travel expenses made with your card within the previous 180 days.
Your Discover Miles are worth 1 cent each, so 1,000 miles are worth $10 in rewards.
You can redeem miles for cash, which can be deposited directly into your bank account within three business days.
One of the benefits of the Discover it Miles card is that your miles never expire, and if you close your account, Discover will either credit your account or send you a check for the remaining rewards balance.
You can also use miles to offset recent travel purchases, as well as some non-travel purchases, such as those made at restaurants and gas stations.
Here are the ways you can redeem your Discover Miles:
- Redeem as a statement credit for travel purchases
- Cash out your miles to your bank account
- Use miles at checkout with Amazon and PayPal
With no minimum redemption amount, you can cash in as little as 1 mile (1 cent) for cash or travel purchases.
Fees and Costs
The Discover it Miles card has a 15-month 0% APR period, which means you won't pay interest on purchases during that time. However, if you carry a balance after the introductory period, you'll pay between $11 and $20 each month per $1,000 borrowed, depending on your credit.
Worth a look: Discover Balance Transfer Card 18 Months
The card doesn't charge an annual fee, which is a major plus for those who want to avoid extra costs. However, there are late payment fees after your first late payment.
You'll also pay a variable APR of 18.49% - 27.49% after the introductory period, which is higher than what you'd find on some other credit cards.
Annual Fees and Costs
The Discover it Miles doesn't charge an annual fee, so you won't have to pay a yearly fee to hold the card.
However, if you carry a balance after the card's 15-month 0% APR period, you'll pay between $11 and $20 each month per $1,000 borrowed, depending on your credit.
Some credit cards with rewards programs do charge high interest rates, but the Discover it Miles doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, which can save you up to 3% on international purchases.
If you pay off your card every month, the Discover it Miles can be a lucrative option, earning you 54,000 miles per year with a typical spending habit of $3,000 a month.
On a similar theme: Discover Card Dispute Charge
But remember, if you're not careful, interest charges can quickly negate your rewards earnings, so it's essential to stay on top of your payments.
The Discover it Miles will match all the miles you earned over the past 12 months after your first year with the card, bringing the first-year total earnings for a reader with a hypothetical budget to 108,000 miles.
Introductory 0% Apr
The introductory 0% APR offer on the Discover it Miles card can be a lifesaver for big purchases. This offer lasts for 15 months, giving you plenty of time to pay off your balance without incurring interest charges.
You'll want to make sure you have a plan to pay off your account balance before the introductory period ends, or you might end up getting stung by high interest charges. These charges can quickly wipe out the value of any rewards you'd earn.
The introductory 0% APR period is followed by a Variable APR of 17.24% - 28.24% or 18.49% - 27.49%, depending on the card terms. This is significantly higher than the introductory rate, so it's essential to pay off your balance before the introductory period ends.
If you do carry a balance after the introductory period ends, you can expect to pay between $11 and $20 each month per $1,000 borrowed, depending on your credit. This can add up quickly, making it essential to avoid carrying a balance if possible.
You might enjoy: Does Discover Card Have Interest
Benefits and Perks
The Discover it Miles card has some benefits that are worth considering. One of the main perks is that miles can be redeemed in multiple ways, including as a statement credit on travel purchases made within the last 180 days, as cash back via a direct deposit, or at checkout on Amazon.com or PayPal.com.
You can redeem your miles at one cent per mile, which is a straightforward and easy process. This flexibility makes it easier to get the most out of your rewards.
The card also offers some other benefits, including a Free FICO Credit Scorecard and online privacy protection. These features can help you stay on top of your credit score and keep your personal info secure.
Here are the benefits and perks of the Discover it Miles card at a glance:
- Miles can be redeemed as a statement credit on travel purchases made within the last 180 days, as cash back via a direct deposit, or at checkout on Amazon.com or PayPal.com—all at one cent per mile
- Free FICO Credit Scorecard
- Online privacy protection
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is 1000 Discover miles worth?
1000 Discover Miles are worth $10.00 in rewards, redeemable towards your monthly bill or at Amazon.com checkout
Sources
- https://www.wsj.com/buyside/personal-finance/credit-cards/discover-it-miles-review
- https://www.discover.com/credit-cards/card-smarts/how-do-credit-card-miles-work-for-travel-rewards/
- https://awardwallet.com/blog/new-discover-it-miles-travel-rewards-credit-card-review/
- https://thepointsguy.com/loyalty-programs/how-to-redeem-discover-it-miles/
- https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/credit-cards/discover-it-miles-review
Featured Images: pexels.com