Why sometimes you simply need a credit card

29.07.2026

This page has an average rating of %r out of 5 stars based on a total of %t ratings
Reading Time 2 Minutes

Do you really need a credit card these days or can you get by without one in daily life and when travelling? We show you the situations when a credit card can be particularly helpful. 

At a glance 

  • Credit cards are particularly practical in many everyday situations, such as when shopping online, travelling or making reservations. 
  • In certain situations, credit cards are even required, for example for flight bookings, hotels or rental cars. 
  • If you use your credit card digitally, you can also make mobile payments with a smartphone or wearable device, such as a smartwatch.  
  • Would you like to make payments flexibly in daily life and when travelling? Find out which credit card suits you best.  
Compare cards

A credit card is particularly practical in these situations 

For last-minute gifts: order quickly with your credit card

Perfume for Mum, the panettone for your uncle: sometimes you simply don’t have time to think about birthday or Christmas presents early – let alone get them in the store. When shopping on the Internet, the delivery times are often just short enough for last-minute gifts to arrive on time. With a credit card, payment is also fast and easy.

For taking off: book flights with your credit card

Booking a flight online without a credit card? With many airlines and tour operators, that’s not possible. So a credit card comes in handy when booking flights. After all, credit cards are also virtually the only payment method accepted during flights.

For getting to sleep: use your credit card to buy something new to read right away

You just cannot fall asleep without reading – but unfortunately you’ve just reached the last page of your thriller and urgently need a new book. With your credit card you can immediately get more reading material for your e-reader in online bookstores.

City shopping: stay flexible with your credit card

Then whip out your credit card, which still has plenty of funds for you to spend. Paying by smartphone or wearables such as smartwatches is particularly quick and easy. To do this, you need to store the details of your credit card once and, depending on the card provider, it can then be used with Apple Pay or TWINT on your mobile phone, for example, or with Swatch or Fitbit smartwatches. You can even leave your wallet at home while you shop.

Heading off around the world: take advantage of a credit card when travelling 

Do you like to travel all over the world, ideally without a lot of cash in your luggage? Whether you’re in New York, Singapore or Cape Town, credit cards are accepted by countless shops, hotels and restaurants worldwide. What’s more, paying for hotels, rental cars and flights with a credit card guarantees your reservation. Debit cards are often not accepted.

Moving house: rent a vehicle easily with your credit card 

Whether clearing out, packing boxes or cleaning up, moving to another apartment is always stressful. And then there’s the question of how your things are transported from the old to the new apartment. You decide to hire a van. With a credit card, you can easily reserve and pay for the van – even outside the rental desk opening hours. Payment with prepaid and debit cards is usually not available.

What other benefits does a credit card offer?

As shown, a credit card isn’t just practical, it can do more in daily life than you might think. If you use it regularly, you can not only keep track of your expenses, but also often benefit from additional functions.

Find out more in the blog post “Credit cards: are you familiar with these functions?”

With many credit cards, for example, you can collect points and get part of the purchase amount back. Many providers also offer other benefits and discounts.

Good to know: the practical functions of credit cards

With a credit card you always have your finances under control.You can manage your credit card with ease via e-finance or the PostFinance App:

  • Real-time display of all transactions, your card limit and your available balance
  • Top up your card and increase your available balance at any time
  • Free notifications for executed transactions (push or SMS)
  • Block or unblock your card and order a replacement card with ease
  • Select your preferred payment method for your monthly credit card invoice

Practical, isn't it? Get an overview online now of which credit card suits you best and make a selection at your leisure.

Learn more about the different credit cards
This page has an average rating of %r out of 5 stars based on a total of %t ratings
You can rate this page from one to five stars. Five stars is the best rating.
Rate this article
Thank you for your rating

This might interest you too