What is the Alfa Travel Card and how does it work?

The Alfa Travel Card is a debit and credit card that offers a range of benefits for travelers, including free unlimited mobile internet and 0% interest rate on foreign transactions. It can be used to make purchases, withdraw cash, and exchange currency, and can be applied for online or at a bank branch.

How do I apply for the Alfa Travel Card?

You can apply for the Alfa Travel Card online or at a bank branch. The application process is easy and straightforward, and you can pick up your card the next day.

What are the benefits of the Alfa Travel Card?

The Alfa Travel Card offers a range of benefits, including free unlimited mobile internet, 0% interest rate on foreign transactions, and top-notch customer support. It also allows you to track your expenses and stay within budget.

Are there any fees associated with the Alfa Travel Card?

Yes, there are some fees associated with the Alfa Travel Card, including fees for cash withdrawals and currency exchange. However, these fees are generally lower than those charged by other credit cards.

Is the Alfa Travel Card accepted at all merchants?

No, the Alfa Travel Card is not accepted at all merchants. However, it is widely accepted at most major retailers and restaurants, and can be used to make purchases online and in-store.

Can I use the Alfa Travel Card to make purchases online?

Yes, you can use the Alfa Travel Card to make purchases online. It can be used to make purchases at most major online retailers, and can be used to pay bills and transfer money.

How do I track my expenses with the Alfa Travel Card?

You can track your expenses with the Alfa Travel Card by using the online banking platform or mobile app. This allows you to see your spending in real-time and stay within budget.

What happens if I lose my Alfa Travel Card?

If you lose your Alfa Travel Card, you can report it lost or stolen to the bank and have it cancelled. You will then need to apply for a new card, which can be done online or at a bank branch.

How do I contact customer support for the Alfa Travel Card?

You can contact customer support for the Alfa Travel Card by calling the customer service number or by sending an email. They are available 24/7 to help with any questions or issues you may have.

Alfa Travel Card Review: Save 60,000 Rubles on Your Next Trip

Name: How I Saved 60,000 Rubles in 1.5 Years with My Alfa Travel Card
Item: Alfa Travel Card
Rating: 5
Author: clever-sparrow-6797

I've never been one to use credit cards before, but when my partner and I were planning a big solo trip to Italy, I decided to get a credit card specifically for the trip. I'd heard great things about Alfa Travel, and it seemed like the perfect card for our adventure.

Alfa Travel is both a debit and credit card, with similar benefits and minimal differences between the two. I applied online in 2018 and was able to pick up my card the very next day at a branch of their bank. The service was top-notch, as always with Alfa-Bank.

Oh, where do I even start? The benefits change and update all the time, but I'll focus on the ones that really stood out to me and made a big difference during our trip.

ALFA TRAVEL CARD BENEFITS

Alfa Travel credit card reviewThe benefits of the Alfa Travel card are numerous, and I'll highlight the ones that made a significant impact on my travels.

1. Free unlimited mobile internet abroad.

This was the first perk that really won me over. The conditions for using it are super straightforward, and the website has a detailed guide for each operator - I use MTS.

You get 14 days of free, unlimited internet abroad, and you can use it on multiple trips. For example, when we were heading to Italy, I really needed the internet to navigate with our rental car and phone. I'd already downloaded the necessary maps, but with a data connection, the route would take into account traffic and other issues, and walking directions only work with an active internet connection.

I spent 10 days of my limit in Italy, and the remaining 4 days in the Czech Republic a few months later. Normal roaming rates kicked in exactly on the 15th day, according to MTS's international tariff.

Unfortunately, this free internet feature is only available once in your lifetime, so even after a year when I went abroad again, I didn't have any free internet – the promotion doesn't get reset.

If I calculate the savings, it's around 7,000 rubles, since 1 day of MTS roaming abroad costs around 500 rubles.

2. Free baggage wrapping in the airport

According to this perk, I could wrap my luggage up to 4 times a year for free. And I took full advantage of it. In reality, I only had to pay 1 ruble for each wrap. I didn't need to activate or confirm anything – I just paid with my Alfa Travel card at the terminal, and only 1 ruble was deducted instead of the full amount.

The list of locations where I could use this service was on the website, mostly in Sheremetyevo.

3. Alfa-miles accrual

I really like how Alfa implements this feature – it's probably the most thought-out system I've come across, and I use it fully.

Firstly, the miles are functional and can be spent for real.

Secondly, I can pay for either 100% of the flight or hotel cost. I've never saved up such a large amount, but I always spent everything on my card, ultimately saving around 18,000 rubles.

To book flights, I need to do it on the Alfa website, and if I pay with my Travel card, I get a boosted cashback of 4.5% of the order cost. I used this feature twice when flying to Prague and the Czech Republic:

Alfa Travel miles spentAnd when flying to Rome, Italy: Expenses accumulated with Alfa TravelI was happy to find that the markups on flights and hotels are minimal. For example, when I compared prices on Skyscanner, the cheapest flight combo cost around 45,000 rubles, while on the Alfa Travel website it was 45,700 - just 700 rubles extra, considering I'm buying from a trusted middleman.

Another thing I liked is that miles are earned on all purchases, whether it's groceries, building materials, or cosmetics. The cashback rate for these categories is just 2%. At first, I didn't think it was worth it, but then I realized I could just use my credit card for all my purchases and transfer the money from my salary account to avoid any debt. It was especially useful during our recent home renovation, which, as expected, was quite expensive. After 1.5 years of using this strategy, I've accumulated almost 63,000 miles, which is equivalent to 63,000 rubles. When I plan our next trip, our flights will essentially be free.

Alfa Travel milesThe miles are accrued transparently and monthly, and you can always check your status on the website:

I think the logic is pretty straightforward - you just use this card for your regular purchases, and then spend your accumulated miles on flights and hotels. It's definitely possible to save up for a completely free trip!4. Priority Pass card.

This card came with the alpha card for free. And when my main card expired and I replaced it, they also gave me a new Priority Pass card.

This card lets you access airport lounges for an extra fee. If you don't have it, you won't be able to get into those lounges for free (I also have a Visa Platinum card, so having this extra card wasn't a big deal for me).

5. Free travel insurance.

This only covers the cardholder, but it did help me save some money (around 1,500 rubles a year). My husband always gets travel insurance through his work, so I only needed to buy it for my kid.

6. Transparent credit line

It's as transparent as it gets, to be honest. The terms are super clear and straightforward.

First of all, if you've made any purchases on the card, you can always check your current status in a special section of the mobile app. It breaks everything down for you.

Plus, every month you'll get an email with information about your credit card. So, try to avoid going over the interest-free period.Honest 60-day interest-free period. If you close the credit within the period (reset the interest-free period), you can start making new purchases again from the next day, and you'll get another 60 days of interest-free period. I use this feature all the time, and it's been a lifesaver, especially when we were buying an apartment and had a lot of unexpected expenses.

If you don't pay off the amount you've spent within the first 30 days of the interest-free period, you'll need to make the minimum payment on the card the following month. For example, with a 100,000 ruble balance, the minimum payment was never more than 1,500 rubles.

But there are also some small nuances and drawbacks:

I almost forgot to close my credit within the first 30 days of the promotional period, and I got a small charge on the 7th of the month with a description of 'insurance organization'. You can either avoid that or just deal with it.The interest rate on this credit card is absolutely outrageous. I got the card back in 2018, and ever since then, my interest rate has been 29.9%. Luckily, I've never exceeded the promotional period.Commissions and maintenance are relatively reasonable. For example, I pay 99 rubles a month for the alpha-check feature.

I pay 990 rubles a year for card maintenance as a salaried client, and 1,490 rubles for everyone else, which is still pretty okay.

Recently, I lost my card, so I immediately blocked it and ordered a new one, and the next morning, my new card was ready, and I could pick it up. It cost me 300 rubles, so it's not worth losing your cards

The bank sets the credit limit itself based on your income. When I applied for the card, I requested a limit of 300,000 rubles, and they gave it to me.

A year later, the bank increased it to 500,000 rubles on its own.

Later, the limit increased to 700,000 rubles.

Currently, I have a million rubles available, but I've never approached those numbers; the most I've come close to is the initial 300,000, and that's still scary

Essentially, if you're financially literate and can plan your budget, a credit card in itself doesn't come with any extra expenses or traps, as long as you approach it with a clear head.

7. The ability to rent a car abroad with a discount.

This feature is available, but I've never used it because I've always used services from other companies that aren't part of the alpha-travel program.

8. A discount on taxis.

This only applies to business-class taxi orders. I haven't used this feature because it's easier for me to order through Yandex Taxi.

I'd say the Alfa Travel credit card has met all my expectations and more. It's saved me a pretty penny on my travels, and I haven't seen the need to get another credit card since. The bank's transparency is top-notch, and I love that I can use my miles without any hassle. No hidden fees or surprises - it's a no-brainer for travelers like me!