Our Verdict
The UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card* is a solid but lesser-known premium travel rewards card. It returns up to 1.8 cents per point in value toward travel redemptions (more realistically in the 1.4 to 1.6 cents per point range) and packs in the benefits. Cardholders who can spend at least $25,000 on the card each year will be rewarded with a $500 dining or airline lounge credit. However, the spending requirement will be waived if your UBS assets exceed $1 million. Even if not, this credit more than covers the card’s hefty annual fee.
Pros
- Air travel, dining and airport lounge credits
- No foreign transaction fee
- Earns rewards at competitive rates
- Points can be worth more than one cent each
Cons
- No welcome bonus
- High annual fee
- Relatively difficult to maximize value of points
Highlights
- No foreign fees
- Earn 3 points per dollar spent on commercial air travel, 2 points on gas and groceries, and 1 point on all other eligible purchases
- Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership
- Earn up to $500 in annual credits after spending $25,000 in a calendar year
- $250 credit for qualifying air travel expenses, enrollment required
- Statement credit toward either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee
- Primary collision and theft insurance coverage on rental cars
- Travel accident insurance, emergency medical evacuation coverage and lost luggage, as well as reimbursements for delayed or cancelled trips
Introduction
The UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card* is a premium travel rewards credit card that stands up to competition—even against some of the best travel reward cards out there. It offers competitive rewards earnings on purchases and points earned with the card can be worth more than 1 cent each depending on how they’re redeemed. However, it doesn’t have as many redemption options as its competitors.
The card has a high $495 annual fee, but it can cover that with $250 in annual credits for qualifying air travel purchases and a possible $500 dining and airport lounge credit (for cardholders who spend at least $25,000 on the card per year), as well as up to a $100 credit to cover a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee and access to over 1,300 Priority Pass airport lounges worldwide.
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Quick Facts
- $495 annual fee
- Earn 3 points per dollar on commercial air travel, 2 points per dollar on gas and groceries and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases
- This card does not offer a welcome bonus
- $250 annual credit for qualifying air travel purchases
- $500 annual credit for dining and airport lounges for cardholders who spend at least $25,000 on the card per year
- Priority Pass airport lounge membership with enrollment
- Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card Rewards
Earning Rewards
Cardholders earn 3 points per dollar on commercial air travel, 2 points per dollar on gas and groceries and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Redeeming Rewards
Rewards can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, merchandise or against the card’s annual fee. The base redemption rate for most redemptions is 1 cent per point, but it’s possible to get more value out of UBS points by redeeming for travel.
A fixed number of UBS points can be redeemed for an airline ticket up to a specified amount at the following rates:
- 25,000 points for a ticket up to $350
- 50,000 points for a ticket up to $900
This is a better deal in specific cases. If an airline ticket costs between $250 and $350 (max value is 1.4 cents per point), it’s advantageous to redeem the fixed value of points rather than redeem at 1 cent per point. Similarly, tickets costing between $500 and $900 will offer more value for the points by redeeming at the fixed rate (max value is 1.8 cents per point).
Otherwise, it’s better to make the redemptions at 1 cent per point or save the points for the next redemption that falls in the above ranges.
Rewards Potential
Forbes Advisor uses data from various government agencies to determine baseline income and spending averages across various categories, which we used to compile rewards potential for various credit cards. The 70th percentile of wage-earning households brings in $116,000 annually and has $36,177 in expenses that could reasonably be charged to a credit card.
|
Category
|
Earning Rate
|
Estimated Annual Spend
|
Estimated Annual Earnings
|
|
Airfare
|
3X
|
$2,443
|
7,329
|
|
Groceries and Gas
|
2X
|
$9,171
|
18,342
|
|
All Other Purchases
|
1X
|
$30,563
|
30,563
|
|
Total: 56,234 points
|
|||
These points could be redeemed for at least $562.34.
Other UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card Benefits
- $250 air travel credit. Receive an annual credit for qualifying air travel purchases of $250.
- $500 annual dining and lounge credit. Cardholders who spend at least $25,000 on the card per year can earn an additional $500 credit for dining and airport lounges.
- Lounge access. Cardholders get access to Priority Pass airport lounge membership with enrollment.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit. Get up to $100 credit for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application.
- Primary car rental insurance coverage. When paying for a car rental with this card, eligible rentals will be covered by primary car rental insurance coverage.
- Discounts with select car rental companies. Cardholders receive discounts with select car rental companies Avis, Silvercar and National.
- Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection. Enjoy premium benefits and a unique portfolio of hotels.
- VIP amenities at select hotels. VIP Amenities at select Ritz-Carlton, Fairmont and Park Hyatt properties.
- Other travel insurance. Cardholders are covered with travel accident insurance, emergency medical evacuation, and reimbursement for lost luggage and delayed and canceled trips.
- Return protection. Purchases are covered for 90 days if the retailer will not allow a return.
- Purchase security. Purchases are covered against damage and theft for 90 days after the date of purchase.
- Price protection. If a purchase goes down in price within 90 days of purchase, the price difference (up to $500 per item or $1,500 per year) is covered.
- Roadside assistance. The cardholder is covered up to $50 per event for roadside assistance when traveling more than 50 miles from home for services such as a flat tire, dead battery or mechanical breakdown.
- Event ticket protection. A cardholder can be reimbursed up to $500 per event ticket, $2,000 per event and $5,000 per year for the cost of unused, nonrefundable event tickets.
- Zero fraud liability. Cardholders are not liable for unauthorized purchases.
Fine Print
Interest Rates
- Regular APR: 23.49% variable
- Purchase Intro APR: N/A
- Balance Transfer Intro APR: 0% introductory APR for 12 billing cycles for balance transfers within 90 days of account opening
Fees
- Annual Fee: $495
- Balance Transfer Fee: $10 or 5% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater
- Foreign Purchase Transaction Fee: $0
How the UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card Stacks Up
UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card* vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The $550-annual-fee Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns 5 points per dollar on flights and 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals when purchasing travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points per dollar on other travel and dining and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers many benefits similar to the UBS Visa Infinite card, including Priority Pass airport lounge access, travel protections, primary car rental insurance coverage, no foreign transaction fees and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit.
One major difference between the two cards is the additional point redemption option the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers: point transfers. Chase Ultimate Rewards® points can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to many travel partners including United Mileage Plus and World of Hyatt. This increases the versatility of the points.
The Reserve also offers a sizable welcome bonus: 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
The better option between these two cards likely depends on where money is spent and how much is spent. Both cards offer 3 points per dollar spent on travel, but the Sapphire Reserve also offers that on dining whereas the UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card* offers 2 points per dollar spent at gas stations and grocery stores. For potential cardholders who think they’ll spend more than $25,000 on their card each year, the $500 dining/airport lounge credit offered by the UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card* will go a long way toward covering the annual fee.
UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card* vs. The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the most well-known premium cards. It charges a $695 annual fee (terms apply, see rates & fees) and really sets itself apart when it comes to lounge access. Not only do cardholders have access to the Priority Pass network of lounges with enrollment, but they also have access to American Express’ exclusive Centurion Lounges and Delta SkyClub lounges when flying Delta same-day (terms and limitations apply).
The The Platinum Card® from American Express earns 5 Membership Rewards Points per dollar for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year, 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases. The Platinum Card also offers a welcome bonus: 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases on the card in the first 6 months of card membership. Plus, cardholders receive up to a $200 statement credit annually toward airline incidental fees (on one eligible airline you select each year) like checked bags and seat selection. Enrollment is required.
Other benefits offered by the Platinum Card include up to $200 in annual Uber Cash (valid for U.S. Uber rides or Eats) when you link your eligible card to your Uber account and access to Amex Offers. Cardholders receive $15 in Uber Cash each month, and an additional $20 in December. Membership Rewards points also transfer to airline and hotel partner programs, offering increased flexibility when it comes time to redeem.
UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card* vs. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The $395 annual fee Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card earns 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25 and 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel (rates & fees). It’s not hard to see how it could be easier to earn points more quickly with this card compared with the UBS Visa Infinite for the frequent traveler.
The Venture X also provides a 10,000 anniversary points bonus and a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel. Those two alone may justify the annual fee when you’re doing the math to determine whether the card makes sense for you.
Capital One miles can also be transferred to travel partners for increased redemption options.
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Is the UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card for You?
Even though the UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card may not be as well known as some of its premium competitors, it’s not one to write off without a closer look. The card offers solid rewards, is packed with benefits and offers the ability to more than cover the annual fee in the form of a dining or airport lounge credit for cardholders who spend at least $25,000 annually. As always, it’s worth comparing this card with others based on personal circumstances to determine which card is the best fit.
Methodology
Forbes Advisor considers a variety of criteria when assigning credit cards a rating. Cards are graded based on numerous factors, including:
- Annual fees
- Welcome bonus offers
- Ongoing earning rates
- Value of individual points
- Included travel or merchant credits
- Additional cardholder benefits
Card features we expect cardholders to use the most often are weighted more heavily in our ratings. Altogether, the factors came together to provide a star rating for each individual card.
Read more: How Forbes Advisor Rates Credit Cards
To view rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page.
*The information for the following card(s) has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor: UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
