Everything you need to know about Visa Signature card benefits

As a Visa cardholder, you’re entitled to everyday card perks and benefits. Visa buckets these benefits into three tiers, depending on who the card issuer is and what specific card you have. The benefits fall into one of the following categories: Visa Traditional, Visa Signature, or Visa Infinite – each with more perks than the last.

Let’s dive into exactly what Visa Signature is and how those benefits can impact you.

How do I know if I have a Visa Signature card?

Visa Signature is in the middle of the benefits lineup and includes many common cards in the Visa network.

There are several ways to determine if you have a Visa Signature card. First, many cards simply have it in their name (i.e. Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card or the Prime Visa. Another way to find out if you have a Visa Signature is by simply looking at it. Most cards have the “Visa Signature” label located somewhere on the physical card. This includes one of the most common Visa Signature cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

Also, all Visa Signature cards will have a minimum credit limit of $5,000. This stipulation could mean the same card can be both a lower-tier Visa Traditional card and a more benefit-generous Visa Signature card.

For instance, if you’re approved for a card with a credit limit below $5,000, you’ll be given Traditional card benefits. However, if your limit is above this threshold, you’ll receive Signature benefits.

Overview of Visa Signature benefits

The Visa Signature benefits span a wide range, from extra travel and purchase protections to deals and concierge access. Please note that select cards may have different benefits than what is listed here, so please check with your issuer to find exactly what perks they are offering under Visa Signature.

Below is the minimum that Visa Signature-branded cards offer:

Visa Traditional benefits

Visa Signature benefits

These cards also offer a number of existing perks to cardholders — though you’ll want to check with the bank that issues your specific card to make sure you know the full extent of your benefits.

• Shipt: Get groceries, household essentials, and more delivered in as soon as one hour – enrolled Visa consumer credit cardholders get a free membership, which includes free same-day delivery on orders $35+.
• Sofar Sounds: This is a unique opportunity to explore music in a more personal, intimate way – and Visa consumer credit cardholders enjoy presale access to select Sofar events and eligibility for a free ticket per show with purchase.
• Skillshare: Enjoy a free three-month trial period that gives you access to thousands of classes plus a 20% discount on an annual membership.
• NortonLifeLock: ID Navigator Powered by NortonLifeLock helps provide you with tools so you can act quickly should the unexpected — your identity is stolen — happens.
• Travel and emergency assistance services: These include an array of benefits should you need help regarding a trip or emergency situation. These include things such as pre-trip assistance with visas and immunization, emergency transportation assistance, prescription assistance, emergency translation service, legal aid and much more. This perk just covers finding the resource — any actual service rendered would incur a fee. Within the U.S., you can call 1-800-992-6029 to get started. If you’re outside the United States, call collect at 1-804-673-1675.
• Roadside dispatch: This perk is a pay-per-use roadside assistance program that you can access 24/7 for a set price per service call.
• Emergency card replacement: If your card is lost or stolen, Visa will work with your issuing bank to expedite the shipment of a replacement card (generally within 24-72 hours).
• Visa Offers and perks: There are many retail partners and benefits that are available to Visa Signature cardholders. These include:
• Benefits and exclusive access to Visa Signature and Visa Infinite cardholders at more than 50 select Sonoma County Visa Signature wineries.
• Discover premium benefits at more than 95 golf courses across the United States and the world with the Visa Signature Troon Golf Benefit.
• Complimentary concierge services to assist with current and future travel needs, sending that special gift and helping make your life a bit easier.
• Rental car discounts with Avis and Budget
• Enjoy world-class celebrity chef and winemaker experiences

Related: Better together: The ultimate guide to the best credit card combinations

Visa Signature cards with added perks

Although Visa Signature cards come with a number of standard benefits (as listed above), some cards may come with even more. This depends on the issuer of the card in question. For instance, the Chase Sapphire Preferred also comes with the following perks:

• The Edit by Chase Travel: Some cards will receive elitelike benefits at more than 1,000 independent hotels, resorts, lodges and spas worldwide.
• Baggage delay and lost luggage reimbursement: Some cards will give you funds to purchase necessities when your bags are delayed (by six hours or more on the Sapphire Preferred), and some also offer reimbursement if an airline or other common carrier permanently misplaces your bags.
• Trip delay reimbursement: This covers necessary expenses, such as food and lodging, when your trip is delayed. On the Sapphire Preferred, this kicks in after a 12-hour delay (or unexpected overnight) and covers up to $500 per ticket.
• Trip cancellation or interruption reimbursement: This perk can refund the prepaid, nonrefundable costs of a trip that had to be canceled (or interrupted) due to covered emergencies.
• Purchase protection: A qualifying Visa Signature card covers your new purchases, On the Chase Sapphire Preferred, this is for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.
• Visa Signature concierge: Get a concierge to help you with reservations, entertainment, sporting events, and more. To access this service, you have to call 1-800-953-7392.

Other Visa Signature cards can offer even more benefits and perks, so again, it’s critical to check with your issuing bank for a full breakdown.

Visa Infinite benefits

Visa Infinite includes all the benefits you’ll get from Visa Signature and Visa Traditional — and then some. Visa Infinite cards are at the top of Visa’s lineup, with higher annual fees and more lucrative extras. One of the most popular Visa Infinite cards is the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

You’ll be guaranteed to receive the following (at a minimum) for Visa Infinite cards:

You might notice that the Chase Sapphire Preferred and other Visa Signature cards already have many of these Infinite benefits. This is because the card issuer (e.g., Chase or Bank of America) may be even more generous than Visa when it comes to perks.

An important note about card issuers vs. card network

While it’s good to know what the baseline Visa Signature benefits are, it’s worth noting that there are many cards that have unique perks that are not part of one of the Visa tiers. That’s because it is entirely up to the card issuer (such as Chase cards, Capital One cards, etc.) to determine which benefits you’ll actually receive.

Visa is a card network, not an issuer, meaning it only functions to determine swipe fees and to build out a payment infrastructure so merchants can accept their cards. Having these benefits helps to create some consistency across a card portfolio, but it’s really up to the bank to decide what those benefits will be. That’s why you should always check your card’s fine print in addition to this list here.

Bottom line

It pays to know what benefits are out there for the specific card you have in hand — or a card that you’re considering applying for. However, because Visa benefits vary between cards based on the issuer’s preferences, do a little more digging to find out what other perks are available. Pick a card that offers your preferred combination of fees and rewards.

Of course, TPG can help you with that endeavor. Here are several categories of the best cards that you may be interested in: