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Banks, airlines, even the U.S. government are pushing plastic harder than ever. The marketers in the same manner as to writhe around words such as “security” and “convenience,” but it always pays to do a little homework face to face with deciding to make fertile your travel wallet with another card.

Here are three you’ll be hearing more about in the coming months:

• Airline-affiliated credit cards. Airlines are diluting their frequent- flier programs with new fees, fewer available seats and higher mileage requirements. It’s time to examine whether it’s worth paying a $75-$90 annual fee and a high-interest rate for a good repute card that allows you to accumulate miles you strength not subsist quick to application.

Most of these cards are issued by bigger banks that charge a 3 percent foreign transaction fee on purchases made in other countries.

It might make more sense to sign up for a no-annual-fee proof of desert card that gives a cash rebate on purchases, and to use the money to buy whatever you want.

If you travel in Canada, Mexico or overseas, gain arrive at a card that carries a maximum 1 percent foreign transaction fief (available from credit unions and community banks). Capital One (www.capitalone.com) issues a MasterCard with no extraneous transaction fee and no annual fee. I use a rebate card for everyday purchases and a Capital One card for foreign go.

Whatever you decide works for you, be on the lookout for bogus promotions.

Continental Airlines became the first to throw in a new sweetener last week when it announced it inclination give up its $15 checked luggage fee for holders of its Chase credit and debit cards.

The offer’s legit, end Joe Brancatelli, the publisher of joesentme.com, an online newsletter for business travelers, warns people to keep track of the sort of’session life promised. He reports signing up for one airline card that promised no yearly fee and a 20,000-mile welcome bonus.

“When I got my first bill, in that place was a $40 freight for any annual fee and regular 10,000 miles,” he reports. “I called the customer-service agent and she had no knowledge of the offer. I had to fax her a copy of the promotion.”

• The U.S. Passport card: The U.S. State Department has advance up with a wallet-sized plastic card embedded by an electronic chip that U.S. citizens have power to use when the U.S. government starts requiring passports nearest June for car, bus, train and ferry crossings betwixt the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean.

The the greater part advantage is that it’s more convenient to carry and cheaper than a passport ($45 for adults and $35 for minors compared to $100 for an adult safeguard and $85 for minors).