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For travelers, the right credit card not only gets you points to put towards future trips, but it can also provide you with a range of benefits that help make your trips more enjoyable. Many cards come with some form of trip protection or offer ancillary travel perks like airport lounge access, waived baggage fees, and complimentary elite status.
For travelers, the right credit card not only gets you points to put towards future trips, but it can also provide you with a range of benefits that help make your trips more enjoyable. Many cards come with some form of trip protection or offer ancillary travel perks like airport lounge access, waived baggage fees, and complimentary elite status.
Our rating:4.4
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
Recommended credit
740-850 (Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Your approval oddsWhen you click “See my approval odds” we’ll run a soft credit check to determine if you have Excellent, Good, Low, or Poor odds of being approved for cards on our site. Approval Odds serves as a guide to help you find the right credit card and will never affect your credit score.
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
5X
5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel.
2X
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
At A Glance
Intro offer
75,000 miles
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Annual fee
$395
Regular APR
17.24% - 24.24% variable
Recommended credit
740-850 (Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Your approval oddsWhen you click “See my approval odds” we’ll run a soft credit check to determine if you have Excellent, Good, Low, or Poor odds of being approved for cards on our site. Approval Odds serves as a guide to help you find the right credit card and will never affect your credit score.
Our rating:4.6
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
3x
3x on dining.
2x
2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
At A Glance
Intro offer
80,000 points
Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Annual fee
$95
Regular APR
16.24% - 23.24% variable
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Our rating:4.1
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Your approval oddsWhen you click “See my approval odds” we’ll run a soft credit check to determine if you have Excellent, Good, Low, or Poor odds of being approved for cards on our site. Approval Odds serves as a guide to help you find the right credit card and will never affect your credit score.
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
2X
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
At A Glance
Intro offer
75,000 miles
New Venture cardholders can earn 75,000 miles once they spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Annual fee
$95
Regular APR
16.24% - 24.24% variable
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Your approval oddsWhen you click “See my approval odds” we’ll run a soft credit check to determine if you have Excellent, Good, Low, or Poor odds of being approved for cards on our site. Approval Odds serves as a guide to help you find the right credit card and will never affect your credit score.
Our rating:4.4
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
5X
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
At A Glance
Intro offer
Earn 100,000 points
Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Annual fee
$695
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
See if you’re pre-approved for this card using our CardMatch tool.
Our rating:4.1
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Your approval oddsWhen you click “See my approval odds” we’ll run a soft credit check to determine if you have Excellent, Good, Low, or Poor odds of being approved for cards on our site. Approval Odds serves as a guide to help you find the right credit card and will never affect your credit score.
Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
3X
Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Hotels
1X
Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
At A Glance
Intro offer
60,000 points
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Annual fee
$95
Regular APR
16.74% - 24.74% variable
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Your approval oddsWhen you click “See my approval odds” we’ll run a soft credit check to determine if you have Excellent, Good, Low, or Poor odds of being approved for cards on our site. Approval Odds serves as a guide to help you find the right credit card and will never affect your credit score.
Our rating:4.3
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
4X
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
3X
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
At A Glance
Intro offer
60,000 points
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.
Annual fee
$250
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
See if you’re pre-approved for this card using our CardMatch tool.
Our rating:3.7
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Your approval oddsWhen you click “See my approval odds” we’ll run a soft credit check to determine if you have Excellent, Good, Low, or Poor odds of being approved for cards on our site. Approval Odds serves as a guide to help you find the right credit card and will never affect your credit score.
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
1.25X
Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day.
At A Glance
Intro offer
20,000 miles
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
15.24% - 25.24% variable
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Your approval oddsWhen you click “See my approval odds” we’ll run a soft credit check to determine if you have Excellent, Good, Low, or Poor odds of being approved for cards on our site. Approval Odds serves as a guide to help you find the right credit card and will never affect your credit score.
Our rating:3.8
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
2X
Earn 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming.
1X
Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
At A Glance
Intro offer
Earn 40,000 points.
Earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
Annual fee
$69
Regular APR
16.24% - 23.24% variable
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Our rating:3.7
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire.
At A Glance
Intro offer
25,000 points
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
14.24% - 24.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Our rating:4.3
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
Recommended credit
740-850 (Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
5x
Earn 5x total points on air travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
3x
Earn 3x points on other travel and dining.
1x
Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
At A Glance
Intro offer
50,000 points
Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Annual fee
$550
Regular APR
17.24% - 24.24% variable
Recommended credit
740-850 (Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Our rating:3.2
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Your approval oddsWhen you click “See my approval odds” we’ll run a soft credit check to determine if you have Excellent, Good, Low, or Poor odds of being approved for cards on our site. Approval Odds serves as a guide to help you find the right credit card and will never affect your credit score.
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services
2X
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
1X
Earn 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
At A Glance
Intro offer
10,000 miles
Earn 10,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles and receive a $50 statement credit after making $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
16.74% - 25.74% (Variable)
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Your approval oddsWhen you click “See my approval odds” we’ll run a soft credit check to determine if you have Excellent, Good, Low, or Poor odds of being approved for cards on our site. Approval Odds serves as a guide to help you find the right credit card and will never affect your credit score.
Our rating:4.1
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases
1.5X
Unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
At A Glance
Intro offer
50,000 points
Receive 50,000 online bonus points - a $500 value - after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
Annual fee
$95
Regular APR
16.24% - 23.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Our rating:3.7
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase - with no annual fee.
At A Glance
Intro offer
Discover Match®
Unlimited Bonus: Only Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you've earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There's no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
12.24% - 23.24% variable
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Our rating:4.4
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Earn up to 17X total Bonvoy points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card.
3X
New Benefit! Earn 3X Bonvoy points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
2X
2X Bonvoy points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
At A Glance
Intro offer
Earn 3 Free Nights (each night valued up to 50,000 points)
Earn 3 Free Nights (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases.
Annual fee
$95
Regular APR
16.24% - 23.24% variable
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Our rating:4.0
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
2x miles on dining, select streaming services & all other travel
1X
1X on all other purchases.
At A Glance
Intro offer
70,000 Bonus Miles
Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Annual fee
$250
Regular APR
16.74% - 23.74% variable
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Our rating:3.0
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
580-740 (Fair to Good)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Your approval oddsWhen you click “See my approval odds” we’ll run a soft credit check to determine if you have Excellent, Good, Low, or Poor odds of being approved for cards on our site. Approval Odds serves as a guide to help you find the right credit card and will never affect your credit score.
Earn 5x points on eligible Recreational & Amusement Park purchases
3x
Earn 3x on eligible restaurant & lodging purchases
1x
Earn 1x points on all other purchases
At A Glance
Intro offer
No current offer
Annual fee
$95
Regular APR
24.24% variable
Recommended credit
580-740 (Fair to Good)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Your approval oddsWhen you click “See my approval odds” we’ll run a soft credit check to determine if you have Excellent, Good, Low, or Poor odds of being approved for cards on our site. Approval Odds serves as a guide to help you find the right credit card and will never affect your credit score.
All information about the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by CreditCards.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Comparing the best travel credit cards of 2022
Credit card
Best for
Intro bonus
Annual fee
CreditCards.com rating
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Unlimited miles on purchases
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening (equal to $750 in travel).
Best for unlimited miles on purchases: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Best features: When you book through Capital One Travel, you’ll get unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights. All other purchases will earn 2X miles. The first-year savings are impressive thanks to the sign-up bonus. Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Biggest drawbacks: When it comes to luxury travel cards, the $395 annual fee isn’t the highest on the market, but it’s still worth noting.
Alternatives: If you’re a no-frills person who is more comfortable traveling on a budget, take a look at the more budget-friendly Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
Bottom line: Frequent travelers who want to enjoy perks along the way and will be able to make the most of all the benefits will find it hard to pass up this card.
Best welcome bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Best features: Earn a generous welcome bonus of 80,000 points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of card membership. That bonus comes out to $1,000 in travel purchases at current valuation when redeemed via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. You’ll also earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3X points on dining, 2X points on other travel purchases and 1X points on all other purchases.
Biggest drawbacks: The Chase Sapphire Preferred isn’t for travelers looking for luxury features. You won’t find premier perks, such as travel credits or lounge access.
Alternatives: For those who spend big on travel and can make the most of the $550 annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a generous $300 annual travel credit to put towards airfare or bag fees.
Bottom line: The $95 annual fee will be well worth it if you don’t need luxury and can take advantage of all that the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers.
Best general-purpose travel card: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Best features: For a reasonable $95 annual fee, this popular Capital One credit card offers simplicity without skimping on rewards. Cardholders earn a generous 2X miles on every purchase, which can be redeemed as a statement credit toward travel, including hotel and airline purchases.
Biggest drawbacks: Capital One doesn’t have many domestic travel transfer partners. This can make it harder to get as much value as possible out of your miles when booking domestic flights. Plus, most Venture miles transfer at a 1:1 ratio, which might feel like a letdown to rewards maximizers.
Alternatives: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card comes with a valuable sign-up bonus, worth up to $1,000 when redeemed for travel through Ultimate Rewards (80,000 points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months). Plus its everyday bonus categories could prove more valuable depending on your spending habits.
Bottom line: This card will certainly appeal to those looking for a travel credit card with high earning potential. But travelers who mostly fly domestic and are looking for top-drawer travel perks should look elsewhere.
Best luxury travel card: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Best features: The popular premium card from American Express comes fully-loaded with travel benefits, including luxury lounge access and Hilton Honors gold status (enrollment required), which entitles you to free Wi-Fi, late checkout and room upgrades (upon availability). There’s also a laundry list of travel credits that’ll help you recoup its pricey $695 annual fee. These include an up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, as well as up to $200 in annual Uber Cash credits for rides or eats in the U.S. (that’s up to $15 a month plus a $20 bonus in December using the Uber app).
Biggest drawbacks: The $695 annual fee is a real commitment, so carefully consider whether you travel enough to justify the price. You must redeem travel rewards through American Express Travel – and, unlike with many Chase credit cards, you won’t get a bonus for doing so. Some of the travel credits come with caveats that make them a bit tricky to track or maximize. For instance, the Platinum comes with up to a $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit (enrollment required), $50 in statement credits that can be redeemed from January through June and $50 that can be redeemed from July through December.
Alternatives: American Express® Gold Card comes with a much lower annual fee than the Platinum but includes a lot of the same great perks such as car rental insurance, purchase protection and Hotel Collection benefits.
Bottom line: This card ticks off all the boxes for big spenders and frequent travelers looking for luxury travel perks, particularly complimentary airport lounge access.
Best for rewards on travel & everyday spending: Citi Premier® Card
Best features: For a $95 annual fee, cardholders earn 3X points on air travel, hotels and restaurants, but they also get a bonus (3X points) on supermarkets and gas stations, two popular everyday spending categories, along with 1X points on all other purchases. There’s also a competitive sign-up bonus: Cardholders can earn 60,000 ThankYou points if they spend $4,000 in their first three months.
Biggest drawbacks: You have a lot of redemption options, including statement credits, gift cards and travel, but none of them let you maximize your earnings through specific bonus categories similar to what you would find with other cards. You’re also limited in your destination options as most of Citi’s airline transfer partners are based overseas – JetBlue is their only partnering domestic carrier.
Alternatives: The Chase Sapphire Preferred is similar but may be a more attractive option due to its travel protection coverage. Plus, Chase’s Ultimate Rewards program includes a robust list of airlines and hotel partners with its Ultimate Rewards program.
Bottom line: Someone looking to earn rewards on travel and everyday expenses will appreciate the versatility of the Citi Premier Card, not to mention its excellent welcome bonus.
Best for traveling foodies: American Express® Gold Card
Best features: Traveling foodies, rejoice – this card offers an industry-leading 4X points at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. You’ll also earn 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then one point per dollar) and 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or Amextravel.com. Trips with common carriers that are booked with your Gold card are covered for baggage insurance worth up to $1,250 for carry-on bags and $500 for checked bags.
Biggest drawbacks: The annual fee is $250, pricier than the annual fees charged by many travel credit cards. Unless food is a significant portion of your spending, you’ll probably get more value from a different travel card.
Alternatives: The Citi Premier® Card is on par with the Amex Gold in terms of rewards rates but its $95 annual fee is much lower than the Amex Gold Card.
Bottom line: If you’re a traveler who makes dining out a staple of their vacations and staycations, you’ll find a lot of value in this card. But if your top spending categories don’t include groceries at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants, you may be better served by a general rewards card or something with a bit more flexibility.
First-time travel credit cardholders: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Best features: The VentureOne Rewards card is a basic travel card for beginners who aren’t ready to commit to a better travel card with an annual fee. Cardholders can earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel as well as 1.25X miles on every other purchase. These miles can be transferred to numerous airline and hotel partners.
Biggest drawbacks: Other no-annual-fee travel cards offer higher rewards than the VentureOne’s 1.25X miles and better perks.
Alternatives: Travelers not yet ready to commit to a travel rewards card with an annual fee might get better value out of a general-purpose credit card like the Citi® Double Cash Card. It doesn’t charge an annual fee and has a higher rewards rate for cardholders who can pay off their balances on time. These rewards are more flexible and can be used in a variety of ways, even travel.
Bottom line: Budget-friendly travelers can get a decent amount of value out of this starter travel card.
Best airline credit card: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Best features: Earn 125,000 points in a year and you can score one of the most coveted perks in all of travel rewards: the Southwest Companion Pass®. On top of a competitive sign-up bonus, this card also offers 2X points for Southwest purchases, as well as partner hotel and car rental purchases. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus has no blackout dates and no seat restrictions. And while it has long been a great domestic carrier, Southwest is increasingly expanding to go abroad.
Biggest drawbacks: Sadly, the anniversary bonus of 3,000 points is lower than the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card’s bonus, and there’s an annual fee of $69 that isn’t waived the first year. This is a Southwest-centric card so if you don’t frequently fly the discount carrier, you’ll be better served by a different travel rewards credit card.
Alternatives: The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card comes with an excellent welcome offer, a complimentary first checked bag, and is nearly equal to the Southwest Rapid Rewards in perks. But Delta and its partner network are much more extensive than Southwest.
Bottom line: The Rapid Rewards Plus card is a decent choice for occasional Southwest flyers looking for a cheap rewards travel card. But if you fly Southwest frequently and want to double your anniversary points while avoiding foreign transaction fees, consider upgrading to the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card and its higher annual fee of $99.
Best for occasional travelers: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Best features: Instead of booking through a designated travel portal, you can redeem your points for any travel and dining purchases made on your credit card within the last 12 months. That includes third-party sites like Expedia or Travelocity. Cardholders can earn 25,000 online bonus points after they spend $1,000 in their first 90 days. Also, cardmembers who can take advantage of the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program can get a 25% to 75% boost on rewards earnings.
Biggest drawbacks: The best rewards are reserved for Bank of America customers with sizable bank accounts of $50,000 or more. If that’s not you, you can likely find another card that rewards your travel purchases at a higher rate
Alternatives: The Capital One VentureOne is similar in that it also does not charge an annual fee and, good news for travelers, doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee.
Bottom line: The Bank of America Travel Rewards card is a solid choice for occasional travelers focused on earning some rewards and avoiding an annual fee.
Best sign-up bonus & welcome perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Best features: This top-of-the-line card comes with a wealth of travel perks, including a sign-up bonus worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards (50,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months). There’s also a $300 annual credit for travel purchases that can be used for flights, hotel stays, taxi rides and public transportation.
Biggest drawbacks: If dining rewards and traveling in comfort and style are not your main focus, this card and its $550 annual fee won’t provide much value.
Best no annual fee airline card: American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card
Best features: In addition to 2X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases, you’ll also get the same rate at grocery stores, which increases the earning potential for the average consumer. All other purchases earn 1X miles. Those who spend modestly and travel occasionally will appreciate the low spend threshold for the sign-up bonus: Spend just $500 within the first three months of opening an account and you’ll earn 10,000 miles and a $50 statement credit.
Biggest drawbacks: The AAdvantage® travel program does have some limitations, including possible blackout dates, limited seating for award bookings and restrictive routing requirements.
Bottom line: This is an excellent option for frequent American Airlines flyers looking for a no-annual-fee credit card. But those who don’t fly American or its partners often and don’t live near an American hub may not get much out of this card
Best for airline incidentals: Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
Best features: To help offset the $95 annual fee, cardholders get up to $100 annually in airline incidental statement credits, which will automatically be applied to your card statement for qualifying purchases like baggage fees and seat upgrades. If you’re a qualifying Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, you get a 25% to 75% boost on your rewards. The welcome bonus of 50,000 online bonus points (after you make $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening) has a value of $500.
Biggest drawbacks: The Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card lacks the flexibility of other cards with an annual fee. The best rewards are reserved for people with large bank accounts, and you won’t be able to transfer your points to any airline or hotel partners.
Alternatives: The Citi Premier card offers 3 points per dollar on flights, hotels and dining versus the Bank of America Premium Rewards card’s 2 points per dollar. Citi Premier also offers 3 points per dollar on gas and grocery spending.
Bottom line: This card could be a good fit for heavy packers who can take advantage of the airline incidental fee credits or people who already have a Bank of America checking account. Those who are loyal to one airline or don’t bank with Bank of America may not find much value in this card.
Best no-annual-fee travel credit card: Discover it® Miles
Best features: The Discover it® Miles offers simplicity and flexibility without the annual fee. All purchases earn 1.5X miles, which is a fairly average offer. But Discover sweetens the deal by matching all the miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. You can redeem your rewards at any time without fear of blackout dates, expiration dates or mile limits.
Biggest drawbacks: Discover it Miles only matches the miles earned at the end of your first year, so your earning potential takes a big dip after that. You should also consider the fact that you can’t transfer miles to any airline frequent-flyer programs, which limits any possibility of miles boosts in that way.
Alternatives: Also without an annual fee, the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card offers 2X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases, at grocery stores, plus 1X miles on all other eligible purchases.
Bottom line: This card’s generous first-year welcome offer is ideal for budget-friendly travelers or someone looking for their first travel credit card.
Best hotel credit card: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
Best features: Cardholders earn 6X points at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2X points on all other purchases. They also enjoy a bevy of other Marriott benefits, including free in-room Wi-Fi, late checkout and a fifth night free on any rewards stay of five consecutive nights or longer.
Biggest drawbacks: The card carries a $95 annual fee, so make sure you spend and travel enough to recoup that charge.
Alternatives: Though it charges a much higher annual fee of $450, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card delivers much more in terms of perks and can help you reach elite status much faster.
Bottom line: The rewards apply to Marriott hotels, so if you don’t frequent the brand, you’ll be better served by a different hotel credit card. Marriott hotel fans who travel enough to recoup a $95 annual fee will appreciate this card.
Best for United MileagePlus members: United Quest℠ Card
Best features: There are many ways to offset the card’s $250 annual fee. The sign-up bonus (70,000 miles after spending $4,000 in your first three months) could be worth up to $1,064 in United travel, given we estimate an average value of 1.52 cents per mile. You’re eligible to receive up to two 5,000-mile anniversary award flight credits each year if you take an eligible flight booked with rewards, a perk that has an estimated worth of $150, assuming the same mile valuation.
Biggest drawbacks: You can only transfer miles to United partner airlines. Plus, the sign-up bonus is generous, but the spending requirements to receive the offer are quite high.
Alternatives: The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers a similar rewards rate but cardmembers also earn 3 miles per dollar on direct hotel bookings and 2 miles per dollar on restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases. Cardmembers also receive an annual companion certificate for an eligible round-trip domestic flight each year upon renewal (not including taxes and fees).
Bottom line: Even semi-frequent United flyers can come out ahead with this premium airline credit card, thanks to its anniversary bonus, checked baggage fee waivers and the up to $100 credit for TSA Precheck or Global Entry application fee.
Best for fair credit: Credit One Bank® Wander™ Card
Best features: This is the rare travel rewards credit card that is accessible to people with fair credit. It focuses on earning elevated rewards in a number of recreational categories, such as sporting events and visits to national parks, as well as dining and lodging.
Biggest drawbacks: You won’t earn bonus rewards on airfare or on everyday spending like gas or groceries. People with good-to-excellent credit can find rewards cards that have better features and travel benefits for a similar annual fee. And people with fair credit who are wary of paying that $95 annual fee have better credit-building options available to them. Plus, the card charges foreign transaction fees, so it’s not ideal for international travel.
Alternatives: The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is a flexible rewards credit card for people with fair credit. It doesn’t have any high bonus rewards categories. But it charges a smaller annual fee of $39, has no foreign transaction fees and comes with unlimited 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases.
Bottom line: This is a good choice for people with fair credit who can take advantage of the card’s featured bonus rewards categories.
Travel rewards credit cards let you earn points or miles you can redeem for travel purchases. Some offer a flat-rate of return on general purchases, but many offer bonus rewards for typical travel purchases or tangential travel spending categories, like restaurants, gas or even groceries. Earning points or miles is usually as easy as swiping your card in the right spots, and some cards provide limited-time offers and sign-up bonuses as opportunities to sprinkle more on top.
When it comes to exchanging your miles or points for trips, your redemption options will vary by card. Most travel credit cards stipulate that you redeem points or miles for travel purchases. (Some let you redeem for gift cards or cash back.) You can typically redeem points or miles by booking future trips through a designated portal, like Amextravel.com or Chase Ultimate Rewards, or transferring rewards to an issuer’s travel partners to book flights or hotel stays.
The basics of points and miles cards are pretty much the same. You swipe, tap or insert to make purchases, earn and accumulate rewards, and redeem for a discount on your next trip. Both points and miles cards often let you apply your earnings as a statement credit to refund eligible purchases, but there are some differences between the two that are useful to know.
How travel miles work
Travel miles are typically associated with an airline frequent flyer program. You’ll be able to earn miles by using an airline credit card to book flights with the co-branded airline or by making other kinds of eligible purchases. However, some general-purpose travel credit cards also use miles as their reward currency without tying them to a single airline or hotel brand.
The most common method of redeeming air miles is to use them for free flights, sometimes called award flights. In fact, some airlines have established award charts that give you information on what each flight would cost in miles, while others have switched to a dynamic pricing model that bases award pricing on multiple factors, including seasonality and route popularity.
How travel points work
Travel points usually come in two forms: general-purpose points earned with non-branded credit cards and points earned with co-branded hotel and airline credit cards. You can earn these points by using your card to book travel and make other eligible purchases.
Co-branded hotel points are usually redeemed for free nights at that particular hotel brand while general-purpose points offer more flexibility in how you redeem them since they aren’t tied to any individual brand. Based on what card you have, your options could include redeeming these points for statement credits to help pay for previous travel purchases, booking current travel purchases or transferring them to the issuer’s hotel and airline partners.
Types of travel cards
How general travel credit cards work: General travel credit cards let you redeem points or miles for most travel expenses, regardless of brand. They also often let you earn points or miles on general purchases. While some general travel cards simply let you redeem rewards through a statement credit, others offer boosted rewards when redeeming for travel through an issuer-specific portal. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card allows cardmembers to earn 25% more value when redeeming via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. When redeeming via an issuer’s portal, you’ll often find partnerships with select airlines and hotel brands.
Benefits: You have a ton of flexibility when it comes to redeeming rewards, including the ability to put points or miles toward travel booked through travel fare aggregators, like Expedia. There are generally no blackouts or miles expiration dates. Earning rewards on general purchases is decidedly low maintenance. Many premium credit cards offer widespread complimentary airport lounge access.
Drawbacks: You may get more points valuation with an airline card, and hotel cards are packed with perks you may not see with these cards. Ancillary travel benefits or special perks are sometimes scant, though many general travel credit cards do offer car rental insurance and travel accident insurance.
Who general travel cards are best for: If you need flexibility in choice of airlines and hotel brands or you are a last-minute booker, then a general travel card is probably the best option, because they typically partner with a variety of brands and blackout dates are often not a problem with these cards.
How airline credit cards work: An airline credit card lets you earn miles and special perks at a particular carrier. Typically, you earn boosted miles by spending on specific items, such as plane tickets, in-flight purchases, and sometimes such expenditures as restaurants, gas stations and even grocery stores.
Benefits: You generally get access to a ton of extra perks with the carrier co-sponsoring the card, including a free checked bag, priority boarding, airport lounge access, elite status, companion fares and more.
Drawbacks: Those perks are restricted to that one particular airline. Airline cards are notorious for having blackout dates and requiring more miles during peak periods. They’re also more likely to impose expiration dates on miles. While an airline program may allow redemptions for merchandise and gift cards, it’s usually best to redeem for airline purchases.
Who airline credit cards are best for: If you are loyal to a specific brand or you live near a hub of a specific airline, airline cards can be a good choice. Also, If you enjoy the idea of looking for ways to maximize your rewards and redemptions, airline credit cards offer frequent promotions and they generally allow you to pool points earned with the credit card with points earned by being a member of an airline’s loyalty program.
How hotel credit cards work: Like an airline card, a hotel credit card encourages loyalty to a specific hotel brand, whether through using a favored credit card or choosing the brand’s properties for stays. With a hotel card, you can enjoy specific perks for staying at that brand’s locations while earning points for making purchases. In exchange, you can enjoy free nights and other benefits with your award points.
Benefits: You can often pair points earned with your card with points earned as a member of the hotel’s loyalty program, increasing your ability to earn free nights faster. Cardholders are often entitled to free amenities, like complimentary Wi-Fi, express check-in, late checkout and even free bottles of water. Blackout dates are less of an issue with hotel rewards programs, although there may be limited available rooms during a peak period.
Drawbacks: Hotel rewards programs usually have multiple tiers, each with their own perks, making it potentially tough to understand what you qualify for. Rewards are restricted to the partnering brand and you may not find a chain in the locale that you are going to. Annual fees may be waived the first year, but plan on it appearing on your statement every year thereafter.
Who hotel credit cards are best for: Like airline cards, a hotel card best serves the cardholder who favors that brand or travels to a certain area. The reason is two-fold: You get better deals on your points and perks specific to the chain and you can then redeem the points you’ve earned at the brand you’ve chosen.
Pros and cons of travel credit cards
Although the travel benefits and rewards offerings of travel credit cards are enticing, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of each card to determine if it’s the right fit for your travel and spending habits.
Pros
Rewards are relatively easy to earn: Rewards categories are often designed to earn points or miles for purchases directly related to travel, particularly expenses such as airfare, hotel rooms, rental cars and more. Combine that with earnings on day-to-day purchases and outsized bonus opportunities and you can really rack up a good bit very quickly.
They offer a lot of value: Once you’ve accumulated a decent amount of points, or miles, you can apply those towards future trips. These rewards can be quite valuable when redeemed for luxury travel, such as seats in business class or room upgrades. You’ll still be expected to pay applicable taxes and fees, but the final cost is much less than it would be otherwise.
Card benefits are travel-friendly: Many travel credit cards offer helpful perks such as travel insurance and other consumer protections, free checked bags, seat or room upgrades, and statement credits for Global Entry or TSA Precheck.
Cons
Rewards programs can be complex: Redeeming rewards and transferring miles or points to travel partners can require some effort on your part. The seats you want, the room you like, and your preferred dates can sometimes be unavailable or blacked out. What’s more, points and miles calculations can become tricky when trying to meet redemption thresholds and get maximum value for your rewards.
Point and mile values are often inflated: Yes, that whopper sign-up bonus seems too good to pass up, but you may be surprised by how little it’ll actually get you when it comes time to redeem. Always do your homework on point valuation, particularly for hotel credit cards which are some of the worst offenders when it comes to point inflation.
Annual fees are common, and sometimes quite high: Determining whether an annual fee is worth it can be difficult, and many of the best travel credit cards have yearly costs starting in the $95 to $100 range while some of the high-tier hotel and airline cards and luxury travel cards could have annual fees in the $200 to $700 range.
How to choose a travel credit card
Who should get a travel credit card
Frequent flyers. If you’re someone who spends lots of time up in the air or booking hotel stays, you can absolutely benefit from earning rewards towards flights and free nights with a travel credit card. Regular travelers will also appreciate the additional benefits that relieve certain stresses of the travel experience. If you’re new to travel, look for cards that are less risky, like cards with no annual fee or ones with easy-to-understand rewards. Globetrotters both new and old will also appreciate the lack of foreign transaction fees many travel cards offer.
Brand loyalists. Fans of particular airlines and hotel chains can reap some serious rewards with their go-to brands. If you’re someone who sticks to the same spot when it comes to booking your travel, there’s strong rewards and perks for loyal customers with a card like the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus, American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp or the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless.
Luxury travelers. Vacationers looking for top-shelf travel perks and lucrative rewards programs may have to pay a pretty penny to carry their card, but options like The Platinum Card from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve can easily offset their annual fees. You’ll find high-end earnings rates on your purchases and benefits to back it up. Take advantage of exclusive add-ons, like access to airport lounges, free checked bags, specialty offers and more.
Who should skip a travel credit card
Someone looking for flexibility. If you aren’t a frequent traveler or tend to spend the majority of your money on non-travel-related expenses, you may be able to get greater value out of a cash back credit card. These general-purpose cash rewards cards are more versatile than the majority of travel cards. They can help you maximize the amount of points you earn on spending in multiple everyday categories like supermarkets, gas, transit, streaming services or online purchases. And redeeming can be far less complicated and far more flexible. Depending on the credit card, redemption options may include statement credit, direct deposit, check, and travel.
Someone prone to overspending. The best travel rewards credit cards can help you save a lot of money but only if you use them strategically. Since rewards cards typically come with higher interest rates, you need to pay your balances in full each month to get the best value. If you can’t, you run the risk of losing more money to interest charges than you earn in rewards. You may even fall into credit card debt. If you aren’t able to pay your balances in full, a low-interest credit card may be a better option.
How to make the most out of your travel credit card
Now that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its travel guidance related to the coronavirus pandemic – including allowing fully vaccinated Americans to travel domestically without testing before or quarantining after their trip – you may be ready for a long, overdue vacation. A travel credit card can help fund or sweeten your trip. Here are some ways to best leverage one.
Score a welcome offer. These promotions award you big bonus points if you spend a certain amount of money within a set timeframe, usually between your first three to six months as a cardholder. Consider charging the airfare or hotel stay on a new travel credit card with a strong offer to fund the remaining or future travel expenses. If you’re looking for a large welcome bonus, look no further than the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card which is offering a generous 80,000 points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months of card membership.
Redeem rewards through a travel portal or transfer partner. If you’re using existing points or miles, these options tend to give you the most bang for your buck. For instance, if you have a premium Chase credit card, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can redeem points for travel through the Ultimate Rewards travel site for a 50% bonus. Meanwhile, transferring American Express Membership rewards to an airline partner, like Delta, garners the best cent-per-point ratio.
Know what perks are available to you. It’s likely been a while since you’ve redeemed your travel rewards, so if you’re unfamiliar with your redemption options, revisit your rewards program’s terms and conditions. That’ll help you identify any additional perks you can take advantage of during your vacation, like supplemental travel insurance or free checked bags. In just one trip, a family of four could easily recoup a card’s annual fee through baggage fees alone. Likewise, your card may also cover incidentals in the event your baggage is lost. That means the issuer could reimburse you for any clothing, toiletries or medication you had to purchase, even if your bag was only delayed by a few hours (up to a specified amount).
Skip the foreign transaction fees. Make sure to take along a card that skips this common overseas charge if you are traveling internationally. Many travel credit cards waive foreign transaction fees, but so do Capital One and Discover credit cards.
In the news: How to speed through security using your credit card
Having access to expedited security lanes via TSA Precheck and Global Entry can certainly take the sting out of an otherwise tedious travel experience. Yes, there’s a membership fee to join ($85 for five years of TSA Precheck membership and $100 for five years of Global Entry membership), but the convenience is worth the price for anyone who travels more than a couple of times a year. International travelers will find Global Entry to be more useful as it also covers TSA Precheck for just an additional $15.
Select travel enthusiasts may already have a credit card that covers the cost of a membership with TSA Precheck and Global Entry. This is a benefit offered by many premium travel credit cards, including the Capital One Venture X and the Chase Sapphire Reserve. But if you aren’t interested in paying sky-high annual fees, there are credit cards that cover your TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or Clear membership cost for a far more modest annual fee.
Want to learn more? CreditCards.com’s Ana Staples and Aaron Broverman round up the very best travel cards for expedited airport security screening.
How we picked the best travel cards
Research methodology: We analyzed 300 travel rewards credit cards to identify the best offers currently on the market. The major factors we considered include:
Rewards rate: Does the card offer a competitive rewards rate for the travel category? For general purpose travel cards, this rate is generally between 1.25X to 2X rewards. For co-branded hotel or airline credit cards, we looked for a rate between 3X and 10X points on brand purchases, plus a competitive rate in other bonus categories.
Welcome offer: Many travel credit cards offer a welcome offer or sign-up bonus that’s equivalent to a hotel stay or airline ticket when you spend a certain amount of money in a specific time frame, usually your first three to six months. Annual fee travel credit cards, in particular, may offer a welcome bonus valued between $500 to $900. We considered the value of the sign-up bonus, alongside the required spend to receive it.
Ancillary travel perks: We considered whether the card offers additional travel benefits beyond base rewards. For instance, for airline credit cards, we considered whether they offered priority boarding, a free checked bag or lounge access. For hotel credit cards, we considered whether they offered upgrade opportunities, for Wi-Fi and free hotel stays with a card anniversary. For premium travel credit cards, we considered whether the card touted travel credits, travel insurance and other benefits that justified the high annual fee.
Rates and fees: Travel credit cards do tend to carry annual fees and higher APRs than low-interest credit cards. However, we considered how a card’s APRs compared to the current credit card industry average and whether any fees could be avoided or recouped by its travel rewards and benefits.
All criteria used: Rewards rates, rewards categories, sign-up bonus, point values, transfer partners, redemption options, redemption flexibility, annual fee, other rates and fees, travel credits, airport lounge access, travel accident insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, concierge service, other travel benefits, travel portal functionality, credit needed, customer service, events or other perks.
More information on travel credit cards
For more information on all things travel cards, continue reading content from our credit card experts:
Frequently asked questions about travel credit cards
When you’re shopping for a travel credit card, you’ll likely have two rewards currencies to choose from: points and miles.
Credit card points are the more flexible of the two options, usually allowing you to redeem your rewards for flights or hotel stays with a number of brands. Some cards allow you to redeem points for cash back, gift cards or merchandise, but often at a lower value than a travel redemption.
Credit card miles usually refer to frequent-flyer miles with a particular airline, such as Delta or United. If you have a miles-earning card, this usually means you can only redeem your miles for flights with one particular airline, though there are exceptions. These types of cards are also called co-branded cards and often come with additional perks like free checked bags.
Due to the higher rewards rates and numerous benefits that come with a high-level travel card, your best shot at getting approved will come with a good or excellent credit score. However, if you have less-than-stellar credit, there are options available, but they may not be specifically labeled as travel cards. You can always opt for a card within your credit range that offers cash back rewards that are credited to your account and in turn can be used to pay for travel expenses.
Points or miles, which are basically the same on a travel card, are valued differently from card to card and from rewards program to rewards program.
For example, the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, according to ThePointsGuy.com’s valuation system, rewards at a whopping 2:1 rate, or 2 cents for every point. Compare that with Hilton Honors, which rewards at 0.6 cent for every one point. However, keep in mind that cards may reward generously and more than make up for the low valuation.
Whether you have an airline credit card or a general travel card, you can use your or miles to book award tickets. How many miles for a free flight, however, is determined by the type of credit card you have and whether your card offers bonus value on travel redemptions.
For example, If you book through AMEX, your points are worth 1 cent apiece on travel redemptions. That means if a flight costs $500, you’ll need 50,000 points to book.
If you book through Capital One or use your card to book and redeem rewards as a statement credit, each mile is worth 1 cent each. So if the cash price of the fare is $250, you’d need 25,000 miles to book.
Through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, you’ll get at least 1 cent per point in value. But if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, you’ll get 1.25 cents per point on flights and other travel booked through Chase. And if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve, your points are worth 1.5 cents each.
If you have a card that earns Citi ThankYou Rewards, you’ll typically get 1 cent per point when booking a flight. That means a $750 flight would cost 75,000 points.
About the Author
Jeanine Skowronski
Jeanine Skowronski is a credit card expert, analyst, and multimedia journalist with over 10 years of experience covering business and personal finance. She has previously served as the Head of Content at Policygenius, Executive Editor of Credit.com, Deputy Editor at American Banker, Staff Reporter at TheStreet and a columnist for Inc. Magazine.
About the Editor
Tracy Stewart
Tracy Stewart is a personal finance writer specializing in credit card loyalty programs, travel benefits, and consumer protections. He previously covered travel rewards credit cards, budget travel, and aviation news at SmarterTravel Media. His money-saving tips have appeared in the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, Consumer Reports, MarketWatch, Vice, People, the Zoe Report and elsewhere.
About the Reviewer
Stephanie Zito
Stephanie Zito is a professional traveler, humanitarian and credit card points collector sharing savvy travel tips she has learned firsthand from more than 20 years of circling the globe as a backpacker, expat and premium traveler in more than 125 countries and all seven continents.
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