New Cards Changing 2026 Travel: IHG Premier Select, Flagship Premier, U.S. Bank

The travel wallet just got a fall refresh

A metal card with 4X on travel, a hotel co‑brand layering $300 in on‑property credits, and a pair of small‑business cards that turbocharge cash back—all launched within weeks. If you’ve been waiting for a reason to rethink your setup, October is it.

Why these launches matter now

Card issuers aren’t simply tweaking multipliers; they’re packaging benefits that solve specific pain points—airline incidentals, hotel dining, and category drift between personal and business spending. Three timely examples:

• Navy Federal’s new Flagship Premier Visa Signature adds 4X on travel and 3X on dining with a $95 annual fee, a $100 annual airline credit, and up to $120 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck—without forcing you into a proprietary portal. That’s a clean, everyday traveler’s tool (launch offer: 50,000 points after $4,000 in 90 days, available for applications dated September 10, 2026–January 3, 2027). ([navyfederal.org](https://www.navyfederal.org/loans-cards/credit-cards/flagship-premier-visa-signature.html?intcmp=hp%7Chero%7C%7Cbrn%7CFlagPremier%7C%7C10012026%7C%7C%7C))
• Chase and IHG introduced the IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card at a $350 annual fee with an aggressive first‑year story: up to $300 in Food & Beverage Rewards at IHG properties, a $200 annual airline credit, 20 Elite Night Credits, and a limited‑time 200,000‑point welcome bonus after $5,000 in 3 months through November 18. For frequent IHG guests, it’s a one‑card path to richer stays. ([media.chase.com](https://media.chase.com/news/ihg-premier-select-card-portfolio-updates))
• U.S. Bank launched two Business Essentials cards that keep base earnings simple (unlimited 2% back) but add meaningful accelerators if you bank with them—up to 3.5% effective cash back on the Plus version, 5% on your top eligible spend category (up to $200,000/year), and 10% back on prepaid hotels and cars booked through the bank’s travel center. Welcome offers land at $500 and $1,000, respectively. ([ir.usbank.com](https://ir.usbank.com/news-events/news/news-details/2026/U-S--Bank-Launches-New-Credit-Cards-for-Small-Business-Owners-with-Jessica-Alba-as-Spokesperson/default.aspx))

A practical framework: build around your largest travel cash costs

Start by ranking your biggest trip expenses for the next 12 months—lodging, flights, dining on‑property, and ground transport—then map each to one of these new cards.

• Hotels at IHG: If 5–7 nights across Kimpton, InterContinental, or Holiday Inn are already on your calendar, Premier Select’s stack is hard to beat. A single five‑night points stay leverages the 4th Reward Night Free benefit; add the up to $300 in on‑property Food & Beverage Rewards and you’ve offset most of the $350 annual fee before considering the $200 airline credit. Earning up to 28X total on IHG stays plus 6X on dining and broader travel means your hotel‑heavy year effectively compounds in IHG currency. ([media.chase.com](https://media.chase.com/news/ihg-premier-select-card-portfolio-updates))
• Flights and mixed travel: If you’re airline‑agnostic or split carriers, Flagship Premier’s 4X “no portal required” approach plus a straightforward $100 airline credit fits real life. Commuters and road‑trippers benefit too: rideshare, parking, tolls, and transit code as travel and earn 4X. That breadth quietly outruns cards that silo multipliers behind a portal. ([navyfederal.org](https://www.navyfederal.org/loans-cards/credit-cards/flagship-premier-visa-signature.html?intcmp=hp%7Chero%7C%7Cbrn%7CFlagPremier%7C%7C10012026%7C%7C%7C))
• Small‑business spend that floats between categories: Business Essentials Plus turns ambiguity into yield. You still get an easy 2% everywhere, but the card auto‑identifies your top eligible category each cycle and pays 5% on it (up to $200,000/year). Pair a qualifying U.S. Bank business checking balance and you can lift everyday earn to 2.5–3.5% on up to $200,000 annually, then hit 10% on prepaid hotel and car bookings through the Travel Center when it’s time to travel. ([usbank.com](https://www.usbank.com/business-banking/business-credit-cards/offers/business-essentials-compare.html))

A quick numbers check: what could this look like in one quarter?

• A four‑city work sprint: $3,000 airfare + $900 rideshare/parking + $1,200 dining on the road. Flagship Premier would earn 4X on $3,900 of travel (15,600 points) and 3X on $1,200 dining (3,600 points) = 19,200 points, plus the $100 airline credit when you cross $100 in flight purchases. No portal gymnastics required. ([navyfederal.org](https://www.navyfederal.org/loans-cards/credit-cards/flagship-premier-visa-signature.html?intcmp=hp%7Chero%7C%7Cbrn%7CFlagPremier%7C%7C10012026%7C%7C%7C))
• A five‑night IHG conference stay averaging $230 nightly before taxes/fees: book on points to trigger the 4th Reward Night Free, charge $250 of on‑property dining to chip away at the up to $300 F&B balance, and log paid flights against the $200 airline credit. Layer 20 automatic Elite Night Credits and you’re on the board for IHG Milestone Rewards faster. ([media.chase.com](https://media.chase.com/news/ihg-premier-select-card-portfolio-updates))
• A small‑business month: $18,000 total spend across digital ads, SaaS, meals, shipping, and random vendor charges. Business Essentials Plus yields 2% base ($360), auto‑ups your top category to 5% (assume $6,000 in ads = $300), and—if your qualifying U.S. Bank balance lands in the top tier—boosts everyday earn to 3.5% on up to $200,000/year. If a trip pops up, prepay cars/hotels in the Travel Center at 10%. ([usbank.com](https://www.usbank.com/business-banking/business-credit-cards/offers/business-essentials-compare.html))

Should you apply—and who each card fits best

• IHG One Rewards Premier Select (Chase): Best for travelers who sleep in IHG properties multiple times a year and will use both the up to $300 on‑property Food & Beverage Rewards and the $200 airline credit. The limited‑time 200,000‑point welcome offer through November 18 sweetens the first year and can easily tip you into premium redemptions. If your hotel loyalty lives elsewhere, the fee may not pencil. ([media.chase.com](https://media.chase.com/news/ihg-premier-select-card-portfolio-updates))
• Flagship Premier (Navy Federal): A strong “set‑and‑go” travel card with a low $95 fee, 4X breadth across real‑world transit, and no foreign transaction fees. If you’ve wanted premium‑lite travel perks without a big‑bank portal, this is the moment—especially while the 50,000‑point intro offer runs through January 3, 2027. Note that Navy Federal membership is required. ([navyfederal.org](https://www.navyfederal.org/loans-cards/credit-cards/flagship-premier-visa-signature.html?intcmp=hp%7Chero%7C%7Cbrn%7CFlagPremier%7C%7C10012026%7C%7C%7C))
• U.S. Bank Business Essentials Plus Visa Signature: Tailor‑made for owners who keep accounts at U.S. Bank (or are open to it). The $1,000 welcome offer after $15,000/150 days is competitive, and the 5% top‑category + up to 3.5% everyday earn tiering can out‑earn flashy 4–5X category cards over a year—especially if your spending mix shifts month‑to‑month. If you won’t keep a qualifying checking balance, you’ll still get a clean 2% baseline and the 10% prepaid travel kicker. ([ir.usbank.com](https://ir.usbank.com/news-events/news/news-details/2026/U-S--Bank-Launches-New-Credit-Cards-for-Small-Business-Owners-with-Jessica-Alba-as-Spokesperson/default.aspx))

Make the strategy effortless with SuperPay

Juggling a hotel co‑brand, a general‑travel earner, and a business cash‑back machine is where most people leave value on the table—not because the math is hard, but because life is busy. SuperPay’s Smart Card Picker solves that: when you walk into a Kimpton or pull up to airport parking, real‑time notifications tell you which card to tap (IHG Premier Select for the on‑property charge, Flagship Premier for rideshare, Business Essentials Plus for that last‑minute ad buy).

If you’re mapping a first‑year plan—meeting minimums, timing big purchases, and deciding when to prepay hotels—SuperPay’s Rewards Roadmap (PRO+) builds a month‑by‑month sequence tailored to you. Snap a photo of any receipt with Receipt Scanner to see what you earned versus what you could have earned, then adjust your plan without spreadsheets.

Your next move

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