Navy Federal's Flagship Premier Upgrade: 10x Travel Points, But Is It Worth It?

If you hold the Navy Federal Flagship credit card, you might have gotten an email about upgrading to the new Flagship Premier. The pitch: earn 10x points on travel purchases, up to a 15,000-point bonus, during your first 90 days after upgrading. Sounds tempting, right? But before you jump on it, let's break down what this really means and whether it's a good move for your wallet.

What Exactly Is Navy Federal Offering?

Navy Federal is giving existing Flagship cardholders the option to upgrade to the new Flagship Premier card. If you take them up on it, you'll earn 10x points on travel purchases for the first 90 days. That bonus is capped at 15,000 points total, so you'd need to spend $1,500 on travel to max it out.

The upgrade itself is straightforward: you keep your account history and just switch to the Premier card's terms. But here's the catch—the Premier card may have different benefits and fees than the original Flagship. So it's not necessarily a straight upgrade; it's more of a product change.

The 10x Travel Bonus: Generous or Gimmick?

On the surface, 10x points on travel sounds amazing. Most cards offer 2x to 5x on travel at best. But the 15,000-point cap puts a damper on things. Once you hit that cap, your earning rate drops back to whatever the Premier card normally offers.

Also, consider what counts as 'travel.' Navy Federal likely defines it as airlines, hotels, car rentals, and maybe some other categories. If you have a big trip coming up, you could easily hit the cap. But if you're not planning to travel soon, you might struggle to earn the full bonus.

• 10x points on travel purchases
• Bonus capped at 15,000 points
• Must upgrade and spend within 90 days
• Travel category definitions may vary

Is the Flagship Premier Upgrade Worth It?

That depends on what you value. The Premier card might come with a higher annual fee or different perks. If you already travel a lot and can easily spend $1,500 on travel in 90 days, the 15,000 points could be worth a few hundred dollars, depending on how you redeem them.

But if you're happy with your current Flagship card and don't want to deal with potential changes to your benefits, upgrading might not be necessary. The bonus is nice, but it's not life-changing. And if you don't travel often, you might not even max it out.

What to Watch Out For

Before you upgrade, read the fine print. Check if the Premier card has an annual fee, what benefits it offers, and how they compare to your current Flagship card. You don't want to upgrade only to lose a perk you liked.

Also, remember that upgrading might affect your credit score if it changes your credit limit or account type. Usually, product changes don't hurt your score, but it's worth monitoring.

Finally, make sure you can meet the spending requirement without buying things you wouldn't otherwise. Don't spend just to earn points—that's a quick way to lose money.

• Compare annual fees and benefits before upgrading
• Understand the travel category definitions
• Don't overspend just to hit the bonus
• Monitor your credit score after the upgrade

Bottom Line

• Upgrade offer: 10x points on travel, up to 15,000 bonus points, in first 90 days
• Bonus capped at 15,000 points, so max spend needed is $1,500 on travel
• Evaluate if the Premier card's benefits and fees align with your spending
• Only upgrade if you can comfortably meet the travel spending requirement

Common Questions