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What Benefits Come With a World Elite Mastercard?
The highest of Mastercard's three benefit levels includes all the perks of the lower tiers, plus a few extras.
Lindsay is a former NerdWallet writer and credit cards expert. Lindsay wrote much of NerdWallet's foundational content about credit cards and credit scoring and helped developed our "house views" on building credit and using credit cards wisely. She later moved on to become head of NerdWallet's user operations team. In that role, she helped users understand their choices in financial products and make smart buying decisions.
"World Elite" was once the is the highest Mastercard benefit level, before the "World Legend" tier was added in 2025. Even so, World Elite offers nearly all the benefits that Mastercard makes available to cardholders. It includes all the benefits of the lower two tiers — "Standard" and "World" — plus a few of its own, including concierge service and benefits at specific merchants.
The benefits listed here are offered by Mastercard, but individual card issuers have some discretion in which benefits are actually included on a specific card. Plus, issuers often offer benefits beyond those provided by Mastercard. The Mastercard benefits website warns: "Additional terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Contact your issuing financial institution for complete coverage terms and conditions."
Standard benefits included in World Elite
These benefits are included on all Mastercard credit cards, at all levels:
Zero fraud liability.
Mastercard Global Service, a worldwide hotline for emergency assistance.
Identity theft protection, which monitors your credit for suspicious activity.
Nerdy Perspective
Visa or Mastercard: Do you have a preference?
Melissa Lambarena
writer, credit cards
"A card’s network isn’t high on the priority list when choosing most cards. I look at the cost of annual fees, value of rewards and introductory offers, long-term value and perks I’m likely to use. The only exception has been when I’ve sought out a travel credit card. In that case, a Visa or Mastercard network merits more consideration."
"A card’s network isn’t high on the priority list when choosing most cards. I look at the cost of annual fees, value of rewards and introductory offers, long-term value and perks I’m likely to use. The only exception has been when I’ve sought out a travel credit card. In that case, a Visa or Mastercard network merits more consideration."
Melissa Lambarena
writer, credit cards
Sally French
writer/ spokesperson, travel rewards
"I always ensure there’s a Visa in my wallet, as that’s most widely accepted. I’ve had my American Express rejected as a payment method at multiple places (though this happens more frequently outside the U.S.). And Costco won’t even take my Mastercard, as they’re Visa-only."
"I always ensure there’s a Visa in my wallet, as that’s most widely accepted. I’ve had my American Express rejected as a payment method at multiple places (though this happens more frequently outside the U.S.). And Costco won’t even take my Mastercard, as they’re Visa-only."
Sally French
writer/ spokesperson, travel rewards
Kenley Young
editor, credit cards
"Six of one, half-dozen of the other. Both Visa and Mastercard will be widely accepted globally, and neither payment network offers benefits that are distinctive enough for me to be a deciding factor. (AmEx and Discover are different stories because of their more limited acceptance outside the U.S.)"
"Six of one, half-dozen of the other. Both Visa and Mastercard will be widely accepted globally, and neither payment network offers benefits that are distinctive enough for me to be a deciding factor. (AmEx and Discover are different stories because of their more limited acceptance outside the U.S.)"
Kenley Young
editor, credit cards
Melissa Lambarena
writer, credit cards
"A card’s network isn’t high on the priority list when choosing most cards. I look at the cost of annual fees, value of rewards and introductory offers, long-term value and perks I’m likely to use. The only exception has been when I’ve sought out a travel credit card. In that case, a Visa or Mastercard network merits more consideration."
"A card’s network isn’t high on the priority list when choosing most cards. I look at the cost of annual fees, value of rewards and introductory offers, long-term value and perks I’m likely to use. The only exception has been when I’ve sought out a travel credit card. In that case, a Visa or Mastercard network merits more consideration."
Melissa Lambarena
writer, credit cards
Sally French
writer/ spokesperson, travel rewards
"I always ensure there’s a Visa in my wallet, as that’s most widely accepted. I’ve had my American Express rejected as a payment method at multiple places (though this happens more frequently outside the U.S.). And Costco won’t even take my Mastercard, as they’re Visa-only."
"I always ensure there’s a Visa in my wallet, as that’s most widely accepted. I’ve had my American Express rejected as a payment method at multiple places (though this happens more frequently outside the U.S.). And Costco won’t even take my Mastercard, as they’re Visa-only."
Sally French
writer/ spokesperson, travel rewards
Kenley Young
editor, credit cards
"Six of one, half-dozen of the other. Both Visa and Mastercard will be widely accepted globally, and neither payment network offers benefits that are distinctive enough for me to be a deciding factor. (AmEx and Discover are different stories because of their more limited acceptance outside the U.S.)"
"Six of one, half-dozen of the other. Both Visa and Mastercard will be widely accepted globally, and neither payment network offers benefits that are distinctive enough for me to be a deciding factor. (AmEx and Discover are different stories because of their more limited acceptance outside the U.S.)"
Kenley Young
editor, credit cards
Melissa Lambarena
writer, credit cards
"A card’s network isn’t high on the priority list when choosing most cards. I look at the cost of annual fees, value of rewards and introductory offers, long-term value and perks I’m likely to use. The only exception has been when I’ve sought out a travel credit card. In that case, a Visa or Mastercard network merits more consideration."
"A card’s network isn’t high on the priority list when choosing most cards. I look at the cost of annual fees, value of rewards and introductory offers, long-term value and perks I’m likely to use. The only exception has been when I’ve sought out a travel credit card. In that case, a Visa or Mastercard network merits more consideration."
Melissa Lambarena
writer, credit cards
Sally French
writer/ spokesperson, travel rewards
"I always ensure there’s a Visa in my wallet, as that’s most widely accepted. I’ve had my American Express rejected as a payment method at multiple places (though this happens more frequently outside the U.S.). And Costco won’t even take my Mastercard, as they’re Visa-only."
"I always ensure there’s a Visa in my wallet, as that’s most widely accepted. I’ve had my American Express rejected as a payment method at multiple places (though this happens more frequently outside the U.S.). And Costco won’t even take my Mastercard, as they’re Visa-only."
Sally French
writer/ spokesperson, travel rewards
Kenley Young
editor, credit cards
"Six of one, half-dozen of the other. Both Visa and Mastercard will be widely accepted globally, and neither payment network offers benefits that are distinctive enough for me to be a deciding factor. (AmEx and Discover are different stories because of their more limited acceptance outside the U.S.)"
"Six of one, half-dozen of the other. Both Visa and Mastercard will be widely accepted globally, and neither payment network offers benefits that are distinctive enough for me to be a deciding factor. (AmEx and Discover are different stories because of their more limited acceptance outside the U.S.)"
Kenley Young
editor, credit cards
World benefits included in World Elite
The biggest jump in value occurs when you move from the Standard level to World level. These benefits are included on middle-tier World Mastercard cards, and they roll up to the World Elite level:
Cell phone insurance. (World Elite cardholders get a bigger claim limit than World cardholders. See below.)
"Mastercard Travel & Lifestyle Services," a suite of benefits that includes trip planning assistance, a lowest hotel rate guarantee, a hotel satisfaction guarantee, luxury hotel benefits and an airport concierge service.
Discounts and memberships, including for Shoprunner, Onefinestay and "exclusive golf offers and experiences."
World Elite-only benefits
Cell phone insurance. Pay your monthly cell bill with your card and get coverage against damage or theft for up to $800 per claim (maximum $1,000 per year). There's a $50 deductible. (At the World level, the per-claim limit is $600.)
Concierge service. Help with getting tickets, making dinner reservations and other tasks is available by phone. This benefit used to be offered at the World level but has been kicked up to World Elite.
Fandango. Get $5 off future movie tickets or at-home purchases for every two movie tickets you buy.
Lyft. Earn a $10 Lyft credit when you take at least five Lyft rides in a calendar month and pay with your card. The credit expires after 30 days and is good only for future rides. (It's not a credit for past rides.)
Boxed. Earn 5% "cash rewards" on purchases from this online wholesale club. Rewards apply only to the price of goods, not taxes, fees, shipping and handling. Rewards can be used for future Boxed purchases.
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