The Norwegian Reward Card is a co-branded airline reward credit card from Synchrony Bank and low-cost airline Norwegian Airlines. The card rewards travelers who are loyal to the Norwegian brand with additional CashPoints . CashPoints are Norwegian’s frequent flyer cash back rewards program.
The Norwegian Card earns an additional 2% cashback on all Norwegian purchases, 2% back on both restaurant and supermarket purchases, and 1% back on everything else. New account holders also receive an additional $50 in CashPoints when they use their new card to make just $500 in purchases within the first 90 days of opening the account.
How It Works
Cardholders can expect the following from the Norwegian Reward Card:
How to Earn Rewards:
Airline Purchases with Norwegian: Norwegian Rewards members already earn CashPoints when they book with Norwegian, but Rewards Cardholders receive an extra 2% on all bookings with Norwegian. This works out as 2% of the value of flights USD, rounded up to the nearest whole dollar. This cashback value is in addition to the 2% back travelers already earn on Norwegian LowFare tickets, and the 10% back they get on Flex tickets.
Hotel Stays: Norwegian Rewards members earn 5% back when booking hotel stays with Norwegian partners through the dedicated Norwegian Rewards Portal. Using the Rewards Card provides an additional 2% back on bookings. Norwegian has partnerships with over 400,000 properties in more than 60 countries around the world.
Lounge Access: Rewards members are cardholders earn points when purchasing lounge access with select lounge membership programs. Members earn 8% on bookings with Lounge Pass, for instance, or a flat-rate 20 CashPoints per booking – plus 10% off of entry – at No1 airport lounges in the United Kingdom.
Other Travel Partners: Rewards members can also earn when booking with select Norwegian partners, including rental cars with Avis, up to 1,300 points with bookings with RocketMiles, 15% discounts on Get Your Guide tours, and activities, and more. Even better, since many of these bookings occur through the Norwegian portal, cardholders will earn 2% CashPoints extra!
Online Shopping:Members earn points when making purchases through the Reward ePortal, with card members earning an additional 2% on top of that.
Grocery Store and Restaurant Purchases: Cardholders also earn 2% CashPoints when using their Norwegian Reward Card to make purchases at both grocery stores and restaurants. It is important to note, however, that large box stores, such as Target or Walmart, are not eligible for 2% back.
All Other Purchases: Every other purchase made with the card earns a flat-rate 1% back on every dollar spent.
Anniversary Bonus: Cardholders receive an anniversary bonus of $100 CashPoints when they sue their card to make at least $20,000 in purchases within the calendar year.
How to Redeem Miles:
Flights: CashPoints are redeemable for Norwegian flights worldwide. CashPoints are applicable for both the full cost of the flight or as partial payment, with the rest of the booking paid for with another payment method. Norwegian flies to over 150 airports in 40 countries around the world. Destinations include flights to/from North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The number of points required to make a booking varies, so check with Norwegian for the most current rates.
Seat Reservations: Points are also applicable to seat reservations.
Extra Baggage: Points can also be sued to purchase additional baggage allowances on Norwegian flights.
Fees & Insurance: Members can also use points to pay for ticket change fees or cancellation insurance should they need to change their flight.
Blackout Dates: There are no blackout dates when booking with Norwegian.
Today’s Bonus Offer
New cardholders earn $50 in CashPoints when they use their new Norwegian Reward Card to make $500 in purchases within the first 90 days. CashPoints have a value of One Norwegian Krone per CashPoint. The Norwegian Krone has a value of about .10 USD, so one CashPoint has a rough value of ten cents. This valuation makes the signup bonus with the Reward Card very lackluster, indeed.
Airline and Airport Perks:
Priority Boarding:Cardholders also receive priority boarding when they fly with Norwegian Airlines.
Mastercard Airport Concierge:Cardholders save 15% on airport meet and greet services with Mastercard. Mastercard’s Meet & Greet Service helps escort you through over 700 airports worldwide, helping you reach your final destination promptly.
No blackout dates
Cardholder Protections:
Chip Card Technology: Chip technology is the latest innovation in card security. Chip technology offers enhanced security and is accepted in over 130 countries around the globe.
ID Theft Protection: Cardholders have around the clock online ID theft monitoring with their Mastercard®.
Mastercard Global Service:Cardholders have 24/7 assistance via telephone to Mastercard’s Global Service hotline, offering personalized services and unique privileges worldwide.
Additional Benefits:
ShopRunner: Cardholders have access to ShopRunner online shipping, which provides unlimited two-day shipping on purchases from over 140 online merchants.
Onefinestay: Cardholders can access 1,000s of high-end and luxurious rental homes and properties through onefinestay. They’ll also receive a 10% discount on bookings as a World Mastercard holder.
The Plane Facts
Can you expect a smooth flight from the Norwegian Reward Card, or will there be turbulence?
Annual Fee:The Norwegian Reward Card features no annual fee. This is a great perk considering the number of CashPoints users can earn. While the card might not offer the same level of perks you’d find with an ultra-premium airline rewards card, it also doesn’t have an ultra-premium price tag, making it ideal for those who prefer to fly with low-cost carriers like Norwegian.
The Perks That Make the Norwegian Reward Card Worthwhile:
What are some of the Pros that set this card ahead of the rest?
No Annual Fee: The Rewards Card doe does not feature an annual fee, which is always a nice bonus.
Extra CashPoints on Norwegian Bookings: Cardholders earn 2% extra back on bookings made through Norwegian’s online portal. This applies to flights, where members already earn between 2% and 10% back; hotels, where Rewards members already earn 5% back; and any other bookings made through the portal. Earning an additional 2% on top of typical member savings is a great perk for those who regularly fly with Norwegian or vacation often, as they can earn extra points for their hotel stays, rental cars, or anything else!
No Foreign Transaction Fees:Norwegian flies to nearly 150 destinations around the world. Having no foreign transaction fees mean this card is a useful tool anywhere Norwegian Airlines flies.
No Blackout Dates: No blackout dates with Norwegian – always welcome news.
Priority Boarding: Cardholders receive priority boarding when they fly with Norwegian. This saves them time and letting them get comfortable on the plane first.
Potential Turbulence with the Norwegian Reward Card:
What are some cons that take the wind from beneath this card’s wings?
Sign-Up Bonus: The signup bonus with this cardleaves a lot to be desired. $50 CashPoints after spending $500 in the first 90 days of opening an account was never going to turn many heads to begin with, but when the actual value of these points is determined, the bonus looks very weak. $50 CashPoints has a value of about 5 USD – a bonus of about 1%. 1% is essentially free, given you’ll also be earning CashPoints off of the $500 needed to get the reward. It probably isn’t going to sway those on the fence to apply, however.
Anniversary Bonus: Like the sign-up bonus, the anniversary bonus with the Norwegian Rewards Card isn’t very impressive either. Spending $20,000 on purchases within a calendar year nets a bonus of $100 CashPoints. This reward offers even less value for money than the sign-up bonus and doesn’t entice cardholders to spend big.
Thoughts Before Takeoff
What then should we make of the Norwegian Reward Card from Synchrony Bank? The card offers solid point-earning potential and plenty of value for money – even if the sign-up bonus leaves a lot to be desired. Earning bonus points on top of the CashPoints Rewards members already earn makes it easy to quickly amass a big tally of points. These points are applicable towards flights with Norwegian, or for additional baggage, seat reservation, fees, and more.
Norwegian is the third-largest low-cost carrier in Europe and operates an impressive route that spans the Americas, North Africa, Asia, and Europe. The airline has flights from several major U.S. cities, including Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, New York City, Las Vegas, Denver, Boston, Orlando, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and more. This wide availability of flights makes it a solid option for the budget world traveler. So too does the ability to earn extra points when booking hotels through the airline’s online portal.
The Norwegian Reward Card might not be for everyone, but it wasn’t designed for everyone anyways. The card is targeted towards the frequent traveler who prefers to fly with Norwegian. And for them, it is a very capable credit card. The card earns 2% back on both restaurants, and grocery stores, which, combined with no foreign transaction fees. This means you can enjoy a home-cooked meal at your house and a decadent dinner in Paris. While all while earning points and with no additional fees to worry about.