Thrifty Traveler Launches Free Credit Card Tracker Tool to Help Travelers Maximize Benefits

Thrifty Traveler has launched a complimentary tool to help travelers track and maximize benefits from nearly 20 popular travel credit cards. The tool includes features such as visual warnings for expiring benefits, automatic tallies of used benefits, and customizable tracking for lounge access and free baggage benefits. The spreadsheet is available for free via Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel.

Thrifty Traveler, a prominent travel news and deals website, has introduced a free tool designed to help travelers effectively track and utilize benefits from nearly 20 popular travel credit cards. The tool aims to simplify the process of managing complex travel credit cards, which often come with annual fees and use-it-or-lose-it benefits.

The new tool, available via Google Sheets or downloadable Microsoft Excel files, offers a range of features to enhance user experience. Travelers can select from a list of travel credit cards, with each card appearing as a separate tab. The tool provides visual warnings when benefits are about to expire, turning orange 30 days before expiration and red two weeks before. It also automatically tallies the value of used benefits and whether users have recouped their annual fee.

Additionally, the tool allows for customizable tracking of other perks such as lounge access and free baggage benefits. This comprehensive approach ensures that travelers do not miss out on valuable benefits and can make the most of their travel credit cards.

The tool was developed in response to the increasing complexity of travel credit cards, as banks introduce more features and higher annual fees. Thrifty Traveler's executive editor, Kyle Potter, stated, "Our new tool gives travelers an easy way to keep tabs on all their travel credit cards in one place so they don't forget to use valuable benefits that might expire monthly, quarterly, biannually, or once each year."

The tool includes cards from major banks like American Express, Capital One, and Chase, as well as Delta Air Lines. Future updates will expand the list to include additional cards from various banks, airlines, and hotel chains. No personal data is required to use the tool, which is available for free. Users can sign up for the spreadsheet via email to receive Thrifty Traveler's weekly points and miles newsletter, "The Extra Mile."