This Discover card offers unlimited double miles on all your spending, plus the ability to earn 25,000 bonus miles easily, at a reasonable price.
Who the Escape by Discover Card Is For
- People who want to earn travel rewards.
Credit Rating Required
- Good to Excellent (700+)
About the Escape by Discover Card
Pros
- Attractive, unlimited travel rewards.
- Double miles on all purchases.
- No blackout dates or restrictions.
Cons
- Annual fee
Rewards
- Unlimited double miles on all purchases.
- 1,000 bonus miles for each month you use the card (up to 25,000 miles).
APRs
- 0% for the first six months on purchases and balance transfers
- 10.99 to 15.99%, depending on credit history.
- Penalty rate: 15.99 to 20.99%.
Fees
- Annual fee: $60.
- Late fee: Up to $35.
- Returned payment fee: Up to $35.
- Balance transfer fee: 3% of balance upon application, then 5%.
- Foreign currency fee: 2% of U.S. balance.
Escape by Discover Credit Card Review
Discover offers two credit cards that reward you in airline miles, not cash back. Escape by Discover card is better than the Miles by Discover card, although Escape does carry a $60 annual fee.
However, for that $60, you earn double miles on all your spending, unlike the Miles card, where you earn only double miles on the first $3,000 of spending on travel and restaurants. In addition, you can earn up to 25,000 bonus miles - 1,000 miles a month - just for using the card at least once a month. The Miles card limits your bonus miles to just 12,000.
Both cards carry the same APRs: 0% on purchases and balance transfers the first six month, then 10.99 to 15.99% depending on your credit history. That means you have to have pretty good credit to qualify for either card.
There's no cap on the miles you can earn, and the miles have no expiration data. There are also no blackout dates or other restrictions. Miles are redeemable for gift cards at any airline.
Recommendation
Escape by Discover is the better of the two Discover travel rewards cards, even after factoring in the $60 annual fee. You can earn many more miles and bonus miles than the Miles by Discover card.
However, it's not quite as good as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. That card also offers double miles on all spending. Its annual fee is a dollar less, at $59, and it's waived the first year. Capital One eliminates foreign transactions fee, which could be an issue if you travel overseas a lot.