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Skip the Nightmarish TSA Lines: These 3 Credit Cards Offer Top-Notch Car Rental Perks

By U.S. News & World Report

With the partial government shutdown and a resulting shortage of Transportation Security Administration agents, travelers are being advised to arrive at the airport as much as three hours before their flight in order to assure they make it through security checkpoints in time. Faced with a nightmarish line that snakes out onto the sidewalk outside of the airport, you might think, “What the heck, I should just rent a car and drive there instead.”

If you decide to go that route, a credit card with rental car perks might just save your sanity — and your trip.

[Read: Best Credit Cards.]

Top 3 Credit Cards with Car Rental Perks

While many travel rewards credit cards have rental car perks like secondary vehicle insurance, only a select number of elite cards can help you skip the lines when picking up your car.

American Express Platinum Card®

The American Express Platinum Card® may have an $895 annual fee See Rates & Fees, but it’s loaded with VIP-level travel perks including car rental privileges. New cardholders can also earn up to 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $12,000 in the first six months from card opening.

You’ll enjoy complimentary premium status with three major rental car companies: Avis, Hertz and National. Although you’ll have to enroll and perks may vary, each unlocks upgrades, benefits — and less waiting. As an example, you’ll be bumped up to National Emerald Club, which gives you Emerald Aisle Access. This lets you choose any car from that aisle and bypass the counter.

[Read: Travel Credit Cards]

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

With this popular elite travel rewards card, you’ll get top-notch rental car benefits. You’ll pay a hefty $795 annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, but the card’s $300 annual travel credit helps offset that cost — and rental car purchases count.

You’ll also get primary rental car coverage, even on exotic cars, which is superior to the secondary coverage that most cards offer. Finally, via Visa Infinite perks, you’ll get complimentary status upgrades for Avis, Hertz and National.

The welcome offer is 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has elite rental car privileges for a lower annual fee of $395. With a sign-up bonus of 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 in the first three months from account opening, it could offer excellent value.

Cardholders get automatic Hertz Gold+ President’s Circle status. This means you can skip the line at select locations and have a dedicated call center line should you run into any issues.

Who Should Consider a Card With Rental Car Benefits

Waiting through long rental car lines can be exhausting and frustrating. An upgraded status perk with a major rental car company can help. Consider such a card if:

— You rent a car several times per year

— You go on a few trips per year with a large family (and a lot of luggage)

— You’re on the road for work often

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Skip the Nightmarish TSA Lines: These 3 Credit Cards Offer Top-Notch Car Rental Perks originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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