Turkish Airlines releases new credit card: Another way to earn Miles&Smiles

If you’re a Turkish Airlines loyalist, there’s a new cobranded credit card that just hit the market for your consideration. Turkish Airlines has just released its first credit card for the U.S. market. The $99 annual fee Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Premier Visa Signature credit card is issued by First Electronic Bank and is only open to U.S. applicants.

Applications are now open as of July 10, and the first 5,000 approved customers will receive the card’s exclusive, limited-edition metal version.

Previously, the only way to earn Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles with a credit card was to transfer them from Citi ThankYou as a Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees) cardholder or through a card that earns Capital One Miles, such as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

Check out the card details to help you decide if this card is right for you.

The information for the Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Premier Visa Signature credit card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Premier overview

New cardholders will earn 40,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 within 90 days of account opening. The bonus offer is enough to get a one-way economy ticket from anywhere in North America to Istanbul.

Cardholders will earn 3 miles per dollar spent on Turkish Airlines purchases, 2 miles per dollar spent on dining, groceries, entertainment and lodging and 1 mile per dollar spent on all other qualifying purchases. As a travel credit card, it does not charge foreign transaction fees.

As a Visa Signature card, the Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Premier comes with benefits such as access to the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection, Visa Signature Rental Car Privileges and other perks.

Is the Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Premier worth it?

As a fan of Turkish Airlines, I’m happy to see the carrier introduce a card for the U.S. market. Although the card earns bonus miles in several categories, it falls short compared to other airline-cobranded cards or cards offering Turkish Airlines as a transfer partner.

For example, the Citi Strata Premier offers 3 points per dollar in many categories, including dining, groceries and hotels. Meanwhile, the Miles&Smiles Premier card offers only 2 miles per dollar. In that regard you’re better off spending on the Citi Strata Premier and transferring your points to Turkish Airlines.

With Turkish Airlines devaluing their award chart, several sweet spots like North America to Turkey for 45,000 points in business class one-way and 47,000 points in business class one-way to the Middle East have disappeared. Higher award costs and additive pricing for multisegment journeys will affect whether this card is worth it.

The card also lacks additional perks and benefits when flying Turkish Airlines, not to mention no benefit to help cardholders earn elite status with the airline and, thus, Star Alliance.

Bottom line

The Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Premier Visa Signature credit card is the newest card in the marketplace. It’s great to see international airline carriers getting into the world of credit cards for U.S. applicants, as this increases competition. Although the card has a low annual fee and decent earning rates, it lacks some benefits. More Turkish Airlines-specific benefits such as upgrades, a pathway to elite status or statement credits could have set this card apart, but for now it is only average.