World Elite Mastercard credit cards offer top-tier travel and lifestyle benefits. When you apply for a specific World Elite Mastercard from a card-issuing bank, your total benefits will be a mix of what your bank offers and what Mastercard offers.
Note that in some cases, your bank may opt out of some of the benefits offered by Mastercard, so be sure to read your Guide to Benefits carefully before making any assumptions. But generally speaking, most World Elite Mastercard credit cards will include important benefits to make life—especially travel—easier.
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What Is a World Elite Mastercard?
The World Elite Mastercard is Mastercard’s top-tier card program out of the trio it offers (the other two being the World Mastercard and the Mastercard). The program’s benefits are generally geared toward improving hotel stays with things like rate guarantees and free upgrades at three-star hotels and up.
World Elite Mastercards typically require excellent or good credit to apply—defined by FICO as a score of 670 and up—and may carry an annual fee. If you don’t frequently stay at high-end hotels, you may find a World Mastercard or the standard Mastercard to be a better fit.
Current World Elite Mastercard Offers
World Elite Mastercards currently provide the following short-term offers from third-party merchants, which also extend to regular World Mastercards:
- Peacock: Get $3 off Peacock Premium or $5 off Peacock Premium Plus each month.
- Instacart: Get two free months of Instacart+ and $10 off your second order each month.
- Fandango: Spend $20 on tickets at Fandango/Vudu and get a $5 Fandango Reward (one-time offer).
- ShopRunner: Get a free annual membership ($79 value).
- McAfee: Get a discounted 13-month subscription to McAfee Total Protection.
World Elite Mastercard Benefits
Here are some of the most important benefits included with a World Elite Mastercard:
Hotel Stay Guarantee
If you book a three-star or higher hotel stay through Mastercard Travel & Lifestyle Services and you encounter any problems with the hotel, you can contact the number on your itinerary and a 24/7 lifestyle manager will attempt to “make it right” through the remainder of your stay.
If arrangements cannot be made with your existing hotel, your lifestyle manager can use up to $1,000 to find you a comparable stay nearby.
Lowest Hotel Price Guarantee
If you book a qualified, prepaid hotel stay through Mastercard Travel & Lifestyle Services and then later find that exact same stay for less, Mastercard will refund the difference.
You must submit your claim at least 72 hours before the date of your check-in (not the hour) and any hotel-specific cancellation fees may be deducted from your refund amount.
Luxury Hotel Benefits
Your World Elite Mastercard grants you access to exclusive upgrades, perks and discounts at over 4,000 four- and five-star luxury hotels and resorts worldwide. These may include complimentary breakfast for two, late checkout, room upgrades, rate discounts and more, subject to availability.
To access these perks, you must book your stay through Mastercard Travel & Lifestyle Services.
24/7 World Elite Concierge
Your World Elite Mastercard also grants you 24/7 access to a personal assistant who can arrange last-minute bookings, reserve tables, track down hard-to-find items and more.
Priceless.com Access and Discounts
All Mastercard holders get access to Priceless.com, which is a booking site for “unforgettable experiences and valuable everyday discounts” in travel destinations worldwide.
These can range from tours of the Louvre to watching batting practice for the Atlanta Braves. There are also dozens of complimentary digital experiences, such as virtual cooking classes.
Mastercard Golf
In addition to your 24/7 World Elite concierge, you’ll get access to a separate Golf Concierge Service that can help you book tee times at exclusive courses in the U.S., Scotland and Ireland.
The program offers access to exclusive tickets, discounts and events at major championships like the Open, Women’s Open and Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Cellphone Protection
Some World Elite Mastercards may include up to $1,000 in annual cellphone protection ($600 max per claim, 2 claims per year) if your phone is damaged or stolen.
However, card issuers like Chase and Capital One may not always honor the full suite of benefits offered by Mastercard. Be sure to read your Guide to Benefits before assuming you’ll have cellphone protection or any other benefits we’ve mentioned.
Fraud Protection and Security Benefits
Finally, your World Elite Mastercard includes ID theft protection, zero liability protection and discounts on McAfee cyber security. You can also call Mastercard Global Services any time to report a lost or stolen card and receive an emergency replacement.
For a more in-depth look at the best options available, check out our list of best Mastercards.
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Bottom Line
World Elite Mastercard credit cards offer some of the strongest travel and lifestyle benefits you can find from a payment processing company. While card-issuing banks will offer most of the traditional rewards card benefits—such as cash-back earnings, travel redemption bonuses and trip interruption insurance—Mastercard’s umbrella benefits can still help your travel plans, especially your hotel stays, go much more smoothly.
