2021
Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards
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Travel credit cards can help you travel for free, while making your trips a bit less stressful and more enjoyable. You can earn valuable rewards — like points and miles — and, depending on your card, you'll get perks that can elevate your experience, like airport lounge access and elite hotel status. Travel cards also come with a variety of handy protections and insurance benefits, which can help if your trip is delayed or your bags are lost.
Our Selection Criteria Is a Travel Card Right for You?Credit Card Insider receives compensation from advertisers whose products may be mentioned on this page. Advertiser relationships do not affect card evaluations. Advertising partners do not edit or endorse our editorial content. Content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when it's published. Learn more in our Editorial Guidelines.
The information related to The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, American Express® Green Card, American Express® Business Gold Card, Capital One Spark Miles for Business, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, and Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card have been collected by Credit Card Insider and have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of these products.
Our Selection Criteria
- Redeeming rewards: Do you know how to get a good value for your rewards? This usually means redeeming for flights or hotel rooms, but take note that point values can vary widely. You should be able to redeem for purchases or experiences that fit with your travel plans.
- Introductory bonus: Introductory bonuses (or signup bonuses) are great ways to earn a ton of points fast. These bonuses often give you a return on your spending of around 20%, but are sometimes as high as 50% or even more, making them some of the most lucrative offers in the credit card game.
- Fits your travel habits: Do you love Delta, Southwest, Marriott Bonvoy, or any other travel brand? Then one of their co-branded cards might be for you. If you don’t have a favorite, consider a general travel rewards card instead.
- Travel perks: Premium and mid-range travel cards tend to have valuable, cost-saving benefits like travel credits, airport lounge access, elite hotel status, or fee credits for expedited airport screening. Understand what you’ll be getting before you apply so you can make the most of your new card.
- Protection benefits: When something goes wrong, it’s good to have some backup. The best travel cards will help in certain unfortunate circumstances, with reimbursement for delayed trips or damaged bags, for example. Some even provide primary auto insurance for rental vehicles so your premiums won’t go up if you get in an accident.
- Foreign transaction fees: Most travel cards don’t have foreign transaction fees, but some do. If you’re going to be traveling outside the U.S. or purchasing anything in foreign currency, be sure to use a card without a foreign transaction fee.
- Chip-and-PIN EMV technology: If you’ll be traveling abroad it’s often a good idea to bring along a card with chip-and-PIN capability. Although regular chip-and-Signature cards are accepted at many locations, some terminals outside the U.S. only accept PIN cards.
Is a Travel Card Right for You?
As long as you’re a responsible credit card user, a credit card with travel rewards can help you travel for free and have a better time while you’re at it.
The best travel card for you depends on your preferences and travel habits. It could make sense for you to get more than one card (if you travel a lot, this is probably the case).
Travel credit cards come in several types:
- General travel credit cards
- Airline credit cards
- Hotel credit cards
- Cruise line credit cards
If you travel infrequently, like once per year or less, you should probably consider a card with no annual fee. If you spend a lot of time in the air, an airline-oriented card might be right. And if you stay at hotels — that’s right, there are hotel credit cards for you.
Do you have a favorite airline or hotel brand? You might enjoy using a co-branded credit card, which offers rewards and special perks with that company. If you don’t have any favorites, that’s OK too — there are plenty of general-use travel cards that are good for a variety of travel spending.
Are you a student traveling abroad? Check out The Best Credit Cards for Studying Abroad.
If you’re planning to travel to a different state or country, be sure to set a travel notice ahead of time to prevent your card from being declined while making purchases away from home.
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What’s the Best Travel Credit Card?
BEST PICK FOR
General Travel
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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Review) makes a great first travel card.
It’s popular as an inexpensive and flexible way to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which can be transferred to a variety of travel loyalty programs. It has an excellent signup bonus which could be worth enough for a few trips, and it’s also known for being made out of metal.
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You can get a 25% point bonus by redeeming for travel expenses through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards portal, which would give you a value of 1.25 cents per point. At that rate you’d be earning a cash back equivalent of 2.5% on travel purchases and dining.
But to really maximize your point value you’ll need to transfer them to a partner airline or hotel. That could give you upwards of 2 cents per point, which comes to a cash back equivalent of 4% on travel and dining.
With travel cards like these it generally pays to hold your points until you can redeem them at a good rate; otherwise you should just pay with your card as normal to earn more points.
- Point transfer: Transfer points at a 1:1 rate to leading airline and hotel frequent travel programs, like Marriott Bonvoy or United MileagePlus.
- 15,000-point referral bonus: Get 15,000 points for every friend you refer who applies for the card and is approved, up to 75,000 bonus points per year.
- $60 Peloton credit: Enroll to get up to $60 back for an eligible Peloton Digital or All-Access Membership (through 2021). No fitness equipment is required.
- DoorDash membership: A free membership (DashPass) for at least a year, which provides free delivery and reduced service fees on orders over $12
- Luxury Hotel Collection: Book eligible rooms to get perks like daily breakfast for two, complimentary WiFi, room upgrades, early check-in, late check-out, and unique gifts.
- Shop through Chase/Chase Offers: Earn more points by shopping at participating retailers with the Shop through Chase and Chase Offers marketplaces.
- Visa Signature Concierge: Call to speak with your Visa Signature Concierge, any time, day or night.
- Premium Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Get primary coverage on eligible rental vehicles so your premiums won’t go up after an accident.
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card
- 2X points on:
- Travel
- Dining
- 1.5X points on everything else
- 50,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 90 days
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- 5X miles for Uber Eats (through 1/31/21)
- 2X miles on all other purchases
- 60,000 bonus miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit; mile transfer
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
- 5X miles with Uber Eats (through 1/31/21)
- 1.25X miles on all other purchases
- 20,000 bonus miles for spending $500 in the first 3 months after account opening
- Perks: Mile transfer; shopping and travel protections
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months, then 15.49% - 25.49% (Variable)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
American Express® Green Card
- 3X Membership Rewards points for:
- Travel
- Restaurants
- 1X Membership Rewards point for all other purchases
- 30,000 bonus points for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: $100 annual CLEAR credit; $100 annual LoungeBuddy credit
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $150
PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card
- 4X points per dollar on Travel for PenFed Honors Advantage members
- 3X points per dollar on Travel otherwise
- 1.5X points per dollar on all other purchases
- 50,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 90 days
- Perks: $100 annual air ancillary credit; Priority Pass Select membership; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
BEST PICK FOR
Premium Travel Rewards
Rewards
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The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Review) is the better (and more expensive) cousin of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Review).
It earns points at higher multiples for dining and travel, has a better redemption bonus, and comes with a variety of perks and services that can help you save money and access interesting experiences.
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You’ll get a 50% point bonus when redeeming for travel expenses through the Ultimate Rewards portal, which would make your points worth 1.5 cents each. That’d give you a cash back equivalent of 4.5% on travel and dining purchases, which isn’t too bad.
But the best way to use Ultimate Rewards points is to transfer them to a partner airline or hotel loyalty program. That could give you 2 cents per point or potentially quite a bit more, depending on how you use them.
At 2 cents per point you’d be earning a cash back equivalent of 6% on travel and dining, which is pretty competitive with the best credit cards.
- Point transfer: Transfer your points at a 1:1 rate to a variety of airline and hotel loyalty programs, like United, JetBlue, and Marriott.
- $300 annual travel credit: A $300 travel credit every year that will be automatically applied toward a broad range of travel-related expenses charged to the card
- $120 Peloton credit: Enroll to get up to $120 back for an eligible Peloton Digital or All-Access Membership (through 2021). No fitness equipment is required.
- Priority Pass Select membership: Provides access to over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide plus a selection of restaurants. The cardholder and two guests can enter for free; additional guests cost $32 each
- Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection: Provides complimentary services and benefits at participating hotels and resorts, including room upgrades, daily breakfast for two, and special gifts
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit: Get a statement credit to offset the cost of applying for Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($85), once every four years.
- Elite Hotel Benefits at Relais & Châteaux: Accelerated progress toward Club 5C member status with Relais & Châteaux luxury hotel and resort properties
- Visa Infinite Concierge: Call for non-emergency help of all kinds, like making dinner reservations or finding good tickets to a show.
- Special car rental privileges: Rental upgrades, discounts, and promotional offers at Avis, Silvercar, and National Car Rental
- Lyft Pink membership: One free year of Lyft Pink, which includes 15% off rides, relaxed cancellations, surprise offers, and priority airport pickup
- DoorDash membership: A free membership (DashPass) for a year, which provides free delivery and reduced service fees on orders over $12
- $60 annual DoorDash credit: Get $60 in DoorDash credits in 2020, and $60 in credits in 2021.
- Shopping and travel protections: Purchase Protection, a Primary Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Trip Delay Reimbursement, and more
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $550
The Platinum Card® from American Express
- 5X Membership Rewards points (starting 1/1/21, on up to $500,000 spent per calendar year) on:
- Flights booked directly through airlines or through American Express Travel
- Prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel
- 2X Membership Rewards points on other eligible travel expenses booked through American Express Travel
- 1X Membership Rewards point on all other purchases
- 75,000 bonus points for spending $5,000 in the first 6 months; 10X points on eligible purchases at U.S. Gas Stations and U.S. Supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, in the first 6 months
- Perks: Global Lounge Collection; $200 airline incidental fee credit through 2021; $200 in Uber credits; Elite hotel statuses; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $550
Want to see how these two premium travel cards compare? Check out The Chase Sapphire Reserve vs Amex Platinum: Which One Is Better for You?
Citi Prestige® Card
- 5X ThankYou points for:
- Air travel
- Restaurants
- 3X ThankYou points for:
- Hotels
- Cruise lines
- 1X ThankYou point for every other purchase
- 50,000 ThankYou points for spending $4,000 within 3 months of account opening
- Perks: Fourth night free for eligible hotel rooms; $250 travel credit; Priority Pass Select membership; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $495
U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
- 3X points for:
- Travel
- Mobile wallet purchases
- 1X point for all other purchases
- Perks: $325 travel credit; Priority Pass Select membership; Global Entry application fee credit
- 50,000 bonus points for spending $4,500 in the first 90 days of membership
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $400
BEST PICK FOR
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The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card (Review) is an excellent no-fee choice for general travel expenses, although hotels are its strong suit.
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The Venture miles you earn with this card are typically worth 1 cent each, but Capital One recently introduced the ability to transfer your miles to a variety of airline partners.
Transfers could provide 2 cents per mile or more, which would give you a cash back equivalent of 2.5% for everything you buy (other than Uber Eats, which would be 10%!).
Although this card’s base rewards are fairly small, it has valuable airline and hotel-related features that some travelers could find very useful.
- Mile transfer: Transfer mile to a variety of airline partners at a rate of either 2:1.5 or 2:1, depending on the airline.
- Luxury Hotel Collection: Get perks for eligible hotel stays, including a $25 food and beverage credit, room upgrades when available, complimentary in-room WiFi, and more.
- Visa Signature Concierge: Call any time for non-emergency assistance, like help making reservations or finding gifts.
- Shopping and travel protections: Purchase Security, Extended Warranty, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Travel and Emergency Assistance Services, Travel Accident Insurance
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months, then 15.49% - 25.49% (Variable)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card
- 3X points at the Bank of America Travel Center
- 1.5X points for every other purchase
- 25,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days after account opening
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 billing cycles, then 17.24%–25.24% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card
- 3X points on:
- Dining
- Gas
- Travel
- Streaming services
- 1X point for every other purchase
- 20,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 12 months, then 14.49%-24.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card
- 3% cash back in your choice of one category every month:
- Gas
- Online shopping
- Dining
- Travel
- Drugstores
- Home improvement/furnishings stores
- 2% cash back at Grocery stores and Wholesale clubs
- 1% cash back for all other purchases
- Spending limit: 3% and 2% categories are limited to the first $2,500 in combined spending per quarter (then 1%)
- $200 cash rewards bonus for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 12 billing cycles, then 13.99%–23.99% Variable
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%
- Annual fee: $0
Discover it® Miles
- 1.5X miles for every purchase
- Discover Match: Double miles earned during the first year, awarded at the end of the first year
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
BEST PICK FOR
Airport Lounge Access
Global Lounge CollectionRewards
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When it comes to lounge access, there’s really no beating The Platinum Card® from American Express (Review) and its Global Lounge Collection.
There are quite a few cards offering the popular Priority Pass Select membership, but the Platinum card grants access to that along with a host of other lounge brands, including Delta Sky Clubs and Amex’s own exclusive Centurion lounges.
It’s worth noting that the Platinum card’s Priority Pass Select membership excludes non-lounge experiences, though they’re still offered through competing premium cards, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Review).
The business version of this card provides the same excellent lounge access, though some other card features are different: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Review).
Premium credit cards aren’t your only options for lounge access; check out the full marketplace of credit cards that provide airport lounge access.
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Normal redemptions for flights will yield 1 cent per point, which is a poor way to use your rewards. It would be better to save up for point transfers, which could provide upwards of 2 cents per point.
At 2 cents per point you’d earn a cash back equivalent of 10% in the 5X categories. But those bonus categories are a bit limited compared to what you’ll get from some other premium travel cards, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Review) or Citi Prestige® Card (Review).
- $200 annual airline fee credit: Good for incidental costs like checked bags and inflight food (not flight tickets) at your selected airline (through 2021).
- $200 in annual Uber credits: $15 in statement credits for Uber rides each month, except for December which gets $35.
- One-year Eats Pass: Enroll to get a complimentary Uber Eats membership for one year, which provides free delivery and 5% off restaurant orders over $15, and free delivery on grocery orders over $30 (through 2021).
- $100 annual Saks credits: Up to $100 in statement credits each year for Saks Fifth Avenue: $50 from January through June, and $50 from July through December.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit: A statement credit for the application fee of either Global Entry ($100 every four years) or TSA PreCheck ($85 once every four and a half years).
- The Hotel Collection: A $100 hotel credit and room upgrades when available for every eligible two-night stay.
- Fine Hotels & Resorts: Daily breakfast for two, room upgrades when available, amenities valued at $100, and more at eligible properties.
- Elite hotel statuses: Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold status.
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $550
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Authorized users of the Sapphire Reserve cost $75 each per year, and they get their own Priority Pass Select memberships.
- Priority Pass Select membership: Provides access to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide plus a selection of restaurants; the cardholder and two guests can enter for free; additional guests cost $32 each
- 10X Ultimate Rewards points on Lyft rides (through 3/31/22)
- 3X Ultimate Rewards points on:
- Travel (after using the full $300 travel credit)
- Dining
- 1X Ultimate Rewards point on all other purchases
- 50,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months after account opening
- Perks: $300 travel credit; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit; Lyft Pink membership; DoorDash membership, $60 annual credits; primary auto rental collision damage waiver
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $550
Citi Prestige® Card
Authorized users of the Citi Prestige cost $75 each, and they get their own Priority Pass Select memberships.
- Priority Pass Select membership: Access to over 1,200 Priority Pass airport lounges and restaurants around the world. Free access for you and two guests; additional guests cost $32 each.
- 5X ThankYou points for:
- Air travel
- Restaurants
- 3X ThankYou points for:
- Hotels
- Cruise lines
- 1X ThankYou point for every other purchase
- 50,000 ThankYou points for spending $4,000 within 3 months of account opening
- Perks: Fourth night free for eligible hotel rooms; $250 travel credit; Priority Pass Select membership; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $495
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Authorized users of this card do not get their own Priority Pass Select memberships.
- Priority Pass Select membership: Complimentary airport lounge access for you and up to two guests (additional guests cost $32); excludes non-lounge experiences
- 14X Bonus points for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio
- 7X Bonus points for:
- Flights booked on Amex Travel or directly with airlines
- Car rentals from select companies
- U.S. restaurants
- 3X Bonus points on all other purchases
- 150,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening
- Perks: Diamond status; annual free weekend night award; $100 on-property credit; $250 resort credit; $250 airline fee credit
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $450
PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card
- Priority Pass Select membership
- 4X points per dollar on Travel for PenFed Honors Advantage members
- 3X points per dollar on Travel otherwise
- 1.5X points per dollar on all other purchases
- 50,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 90 days
- Perks: $100 annual air ancillary credit; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $450
UNFCU® Elite Visa® Card
Authorized users of this card do not get additional free visits.
- Priority Pass Select membership: Five free lounge/restaurant visits per year; additional visits cost $27 per person
- 2X points for:
- Grocery stores
- Restaurants
- Online food delivery
- 1X point on all other purchases
- Purchase APR: 0% for 6 months, then 9.90% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $50
- Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 10x points on eligible purchases on your new Card at U.S. Gas Stations and U.S. Supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, during your first 6 months of Card Membership. That’s an additional 9 points on top of the 1 point you earn for these purchases.
- Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member and Additional Centurion Cards only.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. Starting January 1, 2021, earn 5X points on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com.
- Enjoy complimentary access to the Global Lounge Collection, the only credit card airport lounge access program that includes proprietary lounge locations around the world.
- Receive complimentary benefits through American Express Travel with an average total value of $550 with Fine Hotels & Resorts® program at over 1,100 properties . Learn More.
- Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $550 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
BEST PICK FOR
Long Hotel Stays
Fourth Night FreeRewards
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Frequent travelers have had a long-lasting love affair with the Citi Prestige® Card (Review).
This card offer is unique for giving your fourth night free on hotel stays, a valuable perk that could help you save hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year, if you stay at high-end properties.
The Prestige used to be a powerhouse because you could use that benefit as often as you wanted, but now it’s capped at two uses per year.
This new limitation is a bit of a downer, but most people hopefully won’t mind too much as Citi stated that the average cardholder didn’t use that perk more than twice per year anyway.
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ThankYou points are only worth 1 cent each when redeeming for past travel expenses, and so, like with many travel cards, the best way to use your rewards is a point transfer.
Citi has a variety of airline travel partners, but unfortunately there are no hotel partners. You’ll find some popular and some less-popular airlines, and point values could reach 2 cents per point or higher.
At 2 cents per point, you’d be earning a cash back equivalent of 10% in the 5X categories, and 6% in the 3X categories. That’s as good or better than what you’ll get from other top travel cards, like The Platinum Card® from American Express (Review) and Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Review).
- Point transfer: To a variety of frequent flyer programs, including Etihad Guest, JetBlue TrueBlue, and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- Annual $250 travel credit: Good for airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals, and other travel expenses
- Complimentary 4th Night Stay: Get your fourth night free when booking four nights in a row through ThankYou.com and paying with your card, ThankYou points, or a combination of both; capped at twice per year.
- Priority Pass Select membership: Access to a vast array of Priority Pass airport lounges and restaurants around the world
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit: A credit for the application fee of either Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($85), once every five years
- Citi Prestige Concierge: Call for non-emergency help any time you need it.
- World Elite Car Rental Program: Elite memberships at Avis, Silvercar, and National
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $495
The Platinum Card® from American Express
- 5X Membership Rewards points (starting 1/1/21, on up to $500,000 spent per calendar year) on:
- Flights booked directly through airlines or through American Express Travel
- Prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel
- 2X Membership Rewards points on other eligible travel expenses booked through American Express Travel
- 1X Membership Rewards point on all other purchases
- 75,000 bonus points for spending $5,000 in the first 6 months; 10X points on eligible purchases at U.S. Gas Stations and U.S. Supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, in the first 6 months
- Perks: Global Lounge Collection; $200 airline incidental fee credit (through 2021); $200 in Uber credits; Elite hotel statuses; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $550
Want to see how these two premium travel cards compare? Check out The Chase Sapphire Reserve vs Amex Platinum: Which One Is Better for You?
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
- 6X Bonus points for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with participating Marriott Bonvoy properties
- 3X Bonus points for:
- Flights booked directly from airlines
- U.S. restaurants
- 2X Bonus points for all other purchases
- 75,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: $300 hotel credit; annual Free Night Award; Priority Pass Select membership; Gold Elite hotel status; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $450 (Rates & Fees)
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
- 14X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio
- 7X Hilton Honors points on:
- Flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com
- Car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies
- U.S. restaurants
- 3X Hilton Honors points on all other purchases
- 75,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: $300 hotel credit; annual Free Night Award; Priority Pass Select membership; Gold Elite hotel status; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $450 (Rates & Fees)
- 5X ThankYou points on Air travel and Restaurants
- 3X ThankYou points on Hotels and Cruise Lines
- No limit to the amount of points you can earn
- Rewards never expire
- $250 travel credit
- Complimentary 4th night free on eligible hotel stays, capped at twice per year
- Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership
- Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ Application Fee Credit
- No foreign transaction fees
- $495 annual fee
Citi is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
BEST PICK FOR
Business Travel Rewards
Rewards
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Frequent business travelers need to know about The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
Some may find the rewards a bit wanting, but the travel perks can’t be beat. You’ll get the best airport lounge access possible on a credit card, elite status at Marriott and Hilton to up your hotel game, and all the valuable protections and services you’d expect with a premier business travel card.
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The annual fee may seem a bit high at first glance (Rates & Fees), but consider everything you’ll get from the benefits, plus any rewards you earn: With enough travel each year you should be able to justify this card without much problem.
- Global Lounge Collection: Complimentary access to Priority Pass, Centurion, American Express International, Delta Sky Club, Escape, Airspace, Lufthansa, and Plaza Premium Lounges.
- Up to $200 in airline fee statement credits annually: Good for incidental costs like checked bags and in-flight food, not tickets, at your selected airline
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit: A statement credit for the application fee of either Global Entry ($100 every four years) or TSA PreCheck ($85 once every four and a half years)
- Complimentary elite hotel statuses: Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
- The Hotel Collection: A $100 hotel credit and room upgrades (when available) for every eligible two-night stay
- Fine Hotels & Resorts Program: Daily breakfast for two, room upgrades when available, amenities valued at $100, and more at eligible properties
- $200 Dell statement credit: Enroll to get an annual $200 statement credit for U.S. purchases with Dell: $100 from January through June, and $100 from July through December (COVID-19 update: Now get $200 in additional credits; $100 from 5/1/20–6/30/20, and $100 from 7/1/20–12/31/20).
- 35% airline bonus: Get 35% of your points back when booking eligible airfare through Amex Travel using Membership Rewards Pay with Points.
- Point transfer: To a selection of airline and hotel partners
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $595
- Employee cards: Get up to 99 employee cards, at various annual fees depending on the card type ($0–$300 annually)
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- 5X Ultimate Rewards points on Lyft rides
- 3X Ultimate Rewards points on up to $150,000 spent per year for:
- Travel
- Shipping purchases
- Internet, cable, and phone services
- Advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines
- 1X Ultimate Rewards point on all other purchases
- 100,000 bonus points for spending $15,000 in the first 3 months after account opening
- Perks: 25% point bonus for travel redemptions via Ultimate Rewards; point transfer; shopping and travel protections; primary auto rental collision damage waiver
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
American Express® Business Gold Card
- 4X Membership Rewards points in the two categories you spend the most in each month, up to $150,000 per year (then 1X):
- Airfare purchased directly from airlines
- U.S. purchases for advertising in select media
- U.S. computer hardware, software, and cloud computing purchases made directly from select providers
- U.S. shipping
- U.S. gas stations
- U.S. restaurants
- 2X Membership Rewards points on eligible travel expenses booked through Amex Travel
- 1X Membership Rewards point for all other purchases
- 35,000 bonus points for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: 25% airline redemption bonus; The Hotel Collection; point transfer
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $295
- Employee cards: Get up to 99 employee cards; the first card costs $50 per year, and all subsequent cards are free
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
- 5X miles per dollar for hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per dollar for every other purchase
- 50,000 bonus miles for spending $4,500 in the first 3 months
- Perks: Mile transfer; Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit; Visa Signature Business benefits
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 intro for first year; $95 after that
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
- 2X Membership Rewards points on the first $50,000 in purchases each year (then 1X)
- Perks: Point transfer; Amex Offers; ShopRunner membership; shopping and travel protections
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months from date of account opening, then 13.24% - 19.24% Variable (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: No annual fee (Rates & Fees)
The information related to The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
BEST PICK FOR
Co-Branded Hotel Rewards
Rewards
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You can get a lot out of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card if you’ll stay at Hilton properties several times per year. You’ll earn lots of points, and there are a variety of hotel credits and perks to make your stays less expensive and more enjoyable.
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As you can see, there’s no shortage of points with this card. But Hilton points aren’t usually valued as highly as points with other hotel reward programs.
At a value of 0.4–1 cent per point, you’ll be earning a cash back equivalent of 13.6%–34% at Hilton properties, and 2.8%–7% in the three 7X categories.
See the best hotel credit cards here for more great options for different hotel brands.
- Hilton Honors Diamond status: With a 100% bonus on Base points, digital check-in, gym access, and more
- $250 annual Hilton resort statement credit: Good for charges from Hilton resorts
- $100 Hilton on-property credit: Good for incidental charges at participating Hilton properties, for every eligible stay of two-nights or more
- $250 annual airline fee credit: Good for incidental airline fees, not ticket prices
- Two annual Weekend Night Rewards: One free weekend night per year, and you can earn an additional night by spending $60,000 in a given year
- Priority Pass Select membership: Complimentary airport lounge access for you and up to two guests. Additional guests cost $32 per person. Excludes non-lounge experiences.
- Personal Concierge: Call for assistance with a variety of tasks, like making reservations at restaurants or for travel.
- Shopping and travel protections: Baggage Delay Insurance, Trip Delay Insurance, Premium Roadside Assistance, Travel Accident Insurance, Purchase Protection, Return Protection, and more
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $450 (Rates & Fees)
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
- 6X Bonus points for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with participating Marriott Bonvoy properties
- 3X Bonus points for:
- Flights booked directly from airlines
- U.S. restaurants
- 2X Bonus points for all other purchases
- 75,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: $300 hotel credit; annual Free Night Award; Priority Pass Select membership; Gold Elite hotel status; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $450 (Rates & Fees)
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- 12X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio
- 6X Bonus points at:
- U.S. restaurants
- U.S. supermarkets
- U.S. gas stations
- 3X Bonus points for all other purchases
- 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus points for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $95
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card
- 6X Marriott Bonvoy Bonus points per dollar for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties
- 2X Bonus points for all other purchases
- 75,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: Annual free night stay; Silver Elite status; 15 annual Elite Night credits
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card
- 25X points at IHG properties
- 10X Bonus points from the card
- 15X Base points for IHG Platinum Elite status
- 2X Bonus points at:
- Gas stations
- Restaurants
- 1X Bonus point for all other purchases
- 140,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $89
Radisson Rewards™ Premier Visa Signature® Card
- 35X points per dollar at Radisson properties
- 10X Bonus points per dollar from the card
- 25X Base points per dollar on eligible purchases for being a Radisson Gold member
- 5X Bonus points per dollar on all other purchases
- 50,000 points after first purchase; 35,000 points after spending $2,500 in the first 90 days
- 40,000 Bonus points each year after renewing your card
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $75
- Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you use your new Card to make $4,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, enjoy a free Weekend Night Reward within your first year and every year after renewal.
- Earn 14X Hilton Bonus Points when you make eligible purchases on your Card at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton Portfolio.
- Earn 7X Bonus Points for eligible purchases: on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies & at U.S. restaurants.
- Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
- Enjoy up to $250 in Hilton Resort Credits on your Card each anniversary year, when you stay at participating resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
- Enjoy complimentary Diamond status with your Hilton Honors Aspire Card.
- $450 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
The information related to Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
BEST PICK FOR
Co-Branded Airline Rewards
- Min. credit levelExcellent
- Annual Fee$0 intro annual fee, then $525
- Regular APR16.49% - 23.49% Variable
Rewards
Key FeaturesRunners Up6
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The United Club℠ Infinite Card (Review) is the premier card for flying United, with perks like access to the United Club lounge, free first and second checked bags, and priority treatment at the airport.
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See the best airline credit cards for more airline cards for different travel brands, or learn more about the other co-branded cards available from United.
- United Club membership: Complimentary membership to the United Club airport lounge, with free access for you and two guests
- Premier Access airport travel services: Includes priority check-in and security screening, and boarding/baggage handling privileges
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit: Get a $100 credit for the application fee of Global Entry, or $85 for TSA PreCheck, once every four years.
- Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection: Hotel perks like daily breakfast for two, complimentary WiFi, and room upgrades when available
- World of Hyatt Discoverist status: A 10% point bonus, room upgrades, and other benefits at Hyatt properties
- Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle Elite Status: Get a 25% point bonus, upgrades, and exclusive offers at Hertz.
- Complimentary Premier Upgrades on United award flights: MileagePlus Premier members can get award ticket upgrades when available.
- Free first and second checked bags: For you and one traveling companion on United flights
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee, then $525
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- 3X SkyMiles for purchases made directly with Delta Air Lines
- 1X SkyMile on all other purchases
- 40,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: Delta Sky Club and Centurion Lounge access; annual companion certificate; first checked bag free; Main Cabin 1 priority boarding; complimentary upgrades; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual Fee: $550
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
- 7X AAdvantage miles for American Airlines purchases
- 5X miles as an AAdvantage member
- 2X miles from the card
- 1X AAdvantage mile for every other purchase
- 50,000 AAdvantage bonus miles for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months of account opening
- Perks: Admirals Club lounge access; enhanced airport experience; first checked bag free; 25% in-flight discount; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $450
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Credit Card
- 3X miles on Alaska Airlines & Virgin America purchases
- 1X mile on all other purchases
- 40,000 bonus miles and a Companion Fare for spending $2,000 in the first 90 days
- Perks: Annual Companion Fare credit; first checked bag free; 20% in-flight discount; Alaska Lounge discount
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $75
United℠ Explorer Card
- 2X United miles for:
- With United Airlines
- On hotel accommodations made directly with the hotel
- At restaurants
- 1X United mile on other purchases
- 40,000 bonus miles for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
- 2X points at:
- Southwest Airlines
- Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
- 1X point for every other purchase
- 50,000 bonus points for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months; 30,000 bonus points for spending $10,000 in the first 9 months
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $149
JetBlue Plus Card
- 6X points for JetBlue purchases
- 2X points at:
- Restaurants
- Grocery stores
- 1X point everywhere else
- 40,000 bonus points for paying the annual fee and spending $1,000 on purchases in 90 days
- Perks: 10% redemption bonus; first checked bag free; 50% discount on in-flight purchases
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $99
BEST PICK FOR
Chip-and-PIN Card
Why We Picked ItRewards
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If you’ll be traveling outside the U.S., you’ll probably want a credit card or two with chip-and-PIN capability.
Most cards in the U.S. are only chip-and-Signature, and, although many checkout terminals in foreign countries accept both signature and PIN cards, some terminals only accept PIN cards (like some automated kiosks in Europe and other regions). So if you’re looking for the best credit cards for international travel it’s useful to have some chip-and-PIN cards in the mix.
A few U.S. credit card issuers offer chip-and-PIN cards (see a full list here), and out of those options it’d be tough to beat the Citi Prestige® Card (Review). Although this premium credit card is known for its fourth night free perk on hotel stays, its PIN capability will come in handy while traveling abroad.
If these bonus categories and benefits aren’t very appealing, check out the runners up for some other PIN cards with different features, including some cards without annual fees.
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Your ThankYou points will be worth from 1 cent to potentially over 2 cents each, depending on how you redeem them. Point transfers will be your best option.
At a rate of 1–2 cents per point, you’d be earning a cash back equivalent of 5%–10% in the 5X categories, and 3%–6% in the 3X categories.
- Point transfer: To a variety of airline loyalty programs, including Etihad Guest, JetBlue TrueBlue, and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- Annual $250 travel credit: Good for airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals, and other travel expenses
- Complimentary 4th Night Stay: Get your fourth night free when booking four nights in a row through ThankYou.com and paying with your card, ThankYou points, or a combination of both; capped at twice per year.
- Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership: Access to a vast array of Priority Pass airport lounges and restaurants around the world
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit: A credit for the application fee of either Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($85), once every five years
- Citi Prestige Concierge: Call for non-emergency help any time you need it.
- World Elite Car Rental Program: Elite memberships at Avis, Silvercar, and National
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $495
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card
- 2X points on:
- Travel
- Dining
- 1.5X points on everything else
- 50,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 90 days
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card
- 3X points at the Bank of America Travel Center
- 1.5X points for every other purchase
- 25,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days after account opening
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 billing cycles, then 17.24%–25.24% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Citi Premier® Card
- 3X ThankYou points at:
- Air travel
- Hotels
- Gas stations
- Supermarkets
- Restaurants
- 1X ThankYou point on all other purchases
- 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening
- Perks: $100 annual hotel credit; point transfer
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer
- 2% cash back on every purchase (must pay at least the minimum due on time)
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers, then None
- Annual fee: $0
- 5X ThankYou points on Air travel and Restaurants
- 3X ThankYou points on Hotels and Cruise Lines
- No limit to the amount of points you can earn
- Rewards never expire
- $250 travel credit
- Complimentary 4th night free on eligible hotel stays, capped at twice per year
- Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership
- Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ Application Fee Credit
- No foreign transaction fees
- $495 annual fee
Citi is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
BEST PICK FOR
Student Travelers
Rewards
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Student travelers actually have several good options here, of travel cards designed for people with limited credit histories.
The Bank of America Cash Rewards™ Credit Card for Students (Review) may be the best all-around student card for travel, but you’ll need to plan your travel spending a bit in advance to get the most out of it. That’s because this card allows you to choose your 3% bonus category each month, and you’ll need to set it to Travel for the appropriate time frame before making purchases.
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With this flexible card you can adjust your bonus category each month to fit your expected spending. So if you’re going on a trip beginning at the end of a month, for example, you could use the Travel category to get 3% back on your airfare and hotels, and even a car rental. Then, when the new month begins, you can switch your category to Gas to help fuel your adventure.
- Bank of America Preferred Rewards: Eligible bank account holders get a 25%–75% bonus on rewards earned, depending on how much money is held in BofA bank accounts.
- Free credit score: Check your FICO Score 8 for free, based on your TransUnion credit report.
- Visa Platinum or Signature benefits: Depending on creditworthiness
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 12 months, then 16.24%–26.24% Variable
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%
- Annual fee: $0
Bank of America Travel Rewards® Credit Card for Students
- 3X points on purchases from the Bank of America travel center
- 1.5X points for all other purchases
- 25,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months, then 17.24%–25.24% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Deserve Edu Mastercard
Applicants of Deserve credit cards have a better chance of approval because Deserve checks factors like education and income potential, in addition to the typical credit scoring criteria.
- 1% cash back for all purchases
- One year of Amazon Prime Student for spending $500 in the first 3 billing cycles
- Limited one-year Priority Pass Select membership for spending $1,000 in 120 or 155 days; $27 fee per visit, per person (not all cardholders will receive this offer).
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Take note that Deserve will need to connect to your bank account to verify your balance. If you have privacy or security concerns this might worry you, but it seems logical because Deserve bases its decision on more than the typical credit approval criteria.
- $200 cash rewards bonus for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
- New Offer: Maximize your cash back in the category of your choice: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement /furnishings
- Now earn 3% cash back in your choice category and 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases), and unlimited 1% on all other purchases
- You can update your choice category for future purchases once each calendar month using the Mobile banking app or Online banking, or do nothing and it stays the same.
- No changing categories and no expiration on rewards
- 0% Introductory APR for 12 billing cycles for purchases and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days, then, 16.24%–26.24% Variable APR. 3% fee (min $10) applies to balance transfers.
- If you’re a Preferred Rewards client, you can increase that bonus to 25% – 75%. Click “Apply Now” to learn more about Preferred Rewards.
- Now with chip technology for enhanced security and protection at chip-enabled terminals
- No annual fee
BEST PICK FOR
Various Hotels
Why We Picked ItRewards
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The Citi Prestige® Card (Review) has an excellent rewards program for anyone who tends to stay with different hotel brands, with 3X points for every stay (plus other handy categories for travel).
But the best part? You’ll get your fourth night free on hotel bookings, up to twice per year, when you book with ThankYou.com. Plan to use those on a nice vacation, at a fancy hotel or resort, and they could easily be worth over $1K per year.
There’s also solid airport lounge access through Priority Pass, and a travel credit to help offset the annual fee.
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- Complimentary 4th Night Stay: Get your fourth night free when booking four nights in a row through ThankYou.com and paying with your card, ThankYou points, or a combination of both. Capped at twice per year.
- Point transfer: To a variety of frequent flyer programs, including Etihad Guest, JetBlue TrueBlue, and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
- Annual $250 travel credit: Good for airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals, and other travel expenses.
- Priority Pass Select membership: Access to over 900 Priority Pass airport lounges and restaurants around the world.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit: A credit for the application fee of either Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($85), once every five years.
- Citi Prestige Concierge: Call for non-emergency help any time you need it.
- World Elite Car Rental Program: Elite memberships at Avis, Silvercar, and National.
- No foreign transaction fees
- Annual fee: $495
The Platinum Card® from American Express
- 5X Membership Rewards points (starting 1/1/21, on up to $500,000 spent per calendar year) on eligible prepaid hotels and flights booked through Amex Travel, and flights booked directly with airlines
- 75,000 bonus points for spending $5,000 in the first 6 months; 10X points on eligible purchases at U.S. Gas Stations and U.S. Supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, in the first 6 months
- Annual fee: $550 (Rates & Fees)
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- 10X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on Lyft rides (through 3/31/22)
- 3X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on travel (after using the full $300 travel credit) and dining worldwide
- 50,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months
- Annual fee: $550
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- 5X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on Lyft rides (through 3/31/22)
- 2X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar for:
- Travel
- Restaurants
- 1X Ultimate Rewards point per dollar on all other purchases
- 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
- Annual fee: $95
- 5X ThankYou points on Air travel and Restaurants
- 3X ThankYou points on Hotels and Cruise Lines
- No limit to the amount of points you can earn
- Rewards never expire
- $250 travel credit
- Complimentary 4th night free on eligible hotel stays, capped at twice per year
- Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership
- Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ Application Fee Credit
- No foreign transaction fees
- $495 annual fee
Citi is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
BEST PICK FOR
Hilton Hotels
Why We Picked ItRewardsKey FeaturesRunners Up3View card details
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American Express issues four different cards that are co-branded with Hilton hotels, including one luxury card and one business card. The luxury card obviously offers the best perks, and comes with the highest annual fee.
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card will cost $450 per year, but it comes with a variety of rewards and cost-saving benefits to offset that price.
- 14X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio
- 7X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar at:
- U.S. restaurants
- Select car rentals
- Flights booked directly with airlines
- 3X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar for all other purchases
- 150,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status: Includes a 100% bonus on Base points earned, room upgrades to suites when available, executive lounge access, a 48-hour room guarantee, and more
- Annual free Weekend Night Award: One free night every year, and earn another free weekend night by spending $60,000 in a calendar year
- $100 Hilton on-property Credit: Good for every eligible stay of two nights or more, valid for incidental fees only
- Annual $250 Hilton resort statement credit
- Annual $250 airline fee statement credit: For incidental fees only
- Airport lounge access: Complimentary access to Priority Pass Select airport lounges (excludes non-lounge experiences)
- No foreign transaction fees
- Annual fee: $450
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- 12X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio
- 6X bonus points at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. restaurants, and U.S. gas stations
- 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus points for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months
- Hotel status: Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, and Diamond status for spending $40,000 per year
- Weekend Night Awards: Spend $15,000 on purchases in a given year to earn a Weekend Night Award, with another Weekend Night Award for spending $60,000
- Airport lounge access: 10 free visits to Priority Pass Select airport lounges (excludes non-lounge experiences)
- Annual fee: $95 (Rates & Fees)
Hilton Honors American Express Card
- 7X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio
- 5X bonus points at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. restaurants, and U.S. gas stations
- 80,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Hotel status: Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, and Gold status for spending $20,000 per year
- Annual fee: $0 (Rates & Fees)
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
- 12X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio
- 6X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar at:
- U.S. gas stations, U.S. restaurants, U.S. wireless telephone services, U.S. shipping, select car rental agencies, and flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel
- 130,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- Hotel status: Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, and Diamond status for spending $40,000 per year
- Weekend Night Awards: Spend $15,000 on purchases in a given year to earn a Weekend Night Award, with another Weekend Night Award for spending $60,000
- Airport lounge access: 10 free visits to Priority Pass Select airport lounges (excludes non-lounge experiences)
- Annual fee: $95 (Rates & Fees)
- Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you use your new Card to make $4,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, enjoy a free Weekend Night Reward within your first year and every year after renewal.
- Earn 14X Hilton Bonus Points when you make eligible purchases on your Card at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton Portfolio.
- Earn 7X Bonus Points for eligible purchases: on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies & at U.S. restaurants.
- Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
- Enjoy up to $250 in Hilton Resort Credits on your Card each anniversary year, when you stay at participating resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
- Enjoy complimentary Diamond status with your Hilton Honors Aspire Card.
- $450 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
The information related to Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
BEST PICK FOR
Hyatt Hotels
Why We Picked ItRewardsKey Features
Your only option for a Hyatt-branded credit card is the The World Of Hyatt Credit Card (Review) from Chase, but it comes with quite a few perks you’ll be able take advantage of every year.
- 9X points per dollar on eligible purchases from Hyatt
- 4X points per dollar from the card
- 5X points per dollar for your Hyatt Discoverist status
- 2X points per dollar for:
- Restaurants
- Local transit and commuting
- Flights purchased directly from airlines
- Fitness club and gym memberships
- 1X point per dollar on all other purchases
- 25,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months after account opening
- Value: $250–$500 (assuming 1–2 cents per point)
- Return on spend: 8.33%–16.67%
- 25,000 bonus points for spending $6,000 in the first 6 months after account opening
- Value: $250–$500 (assuming 1–2 cents per point)
- Return on spend: 4.17%–8.33%
- Free Night Stay: Get one free night stay at a category 1–4 Hyatt hotel or resort, every year after your cardmember anniversary
- Additional Free Night Stay: Spend $15,000 in an anniversary year to get another free night stay at a category 1–4 Hyatt hotel or resort
- World of Hyatt Discoverist status: Includes perks like premium internet, free bottled water, room upgrades when available, and more
- Visa Signature Concierge: Call for help with all sorts of non-emergency tasks, like travel information or dining reservations
- No foreign transaction fees
- Annual fee: $95
BEST PICK FOR
IHG Hotels
Why We Picked ItRewardsKey FeaturesRunner Up1
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If you’re looking for a credit card branded with the InterContinental Hotels Group the IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card (Review) is your best option, allowing you to earn a wealth of points at IHG properties.
- 25X points per dollar at IHG properties
- 10X Bonus points per dollar from the card
- 15X Base points per dollar for IHG Platinum Elite status
- 2X Bonus points per dollar at:
- Gas stations
- Grocery stores
- Restaurants
- 1X Bonus point per dollar for all other purchases
- 140,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- Free Night Stay: An annual free night’s stay at any eligible IHG property worldwide
- Fourth Night Free: Fourth reward night is free when redeeming points for stays of four nights or more
- Point Discount: 20% discount when purchasing points
- Complimentary IHG Rewards Club Platinum Elite status: Includes a 50% bonus on base points earned, free internet, priority check-in, room upgrades when available, and guaranteed room availability (72 hours in advance)
- Annual bonus offer: 10,000 Bonus points for spending $20,000 and making one additional purchase per account anniversary year
- No foreign transaction fees
- Annual fee: $89
IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card
- 15X points at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- 5X points from the card
- 10X points for IHG Rewards Club Member status
- 2X points at:
- Gas stations
- Grocery stores
- Restaurants
- 60,000 bonus points for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
BEST PICK FOR
Marriott Bonvoy Hotels
Why We Picked ItRewardsKey FeaturesRunners Up3View card details
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Since the merger of Marriott with Starwood, which included Ritz-Carlton, there are now three consumer cards and one business card that are co-branded with these hotel chains and open for new applicants. Each card earns points through the Marriott Bonvoy rewards program.
That includes one luxury card with a $450 annual fee, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card (Review). (Rates & Fees)
- 6X Marriott Bonvoy Bonus points per dollar for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with participating Marriott Bonvoy properties
- 3X Marriott Bonvoy Bonus points per dollar:
- For flights booked directly from airlines
- At U.S. restaurants
- 2X Marriott Bonvoy Bonus points per dollar for all other purchases
- 75,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- $300 annual Marriott Bonvoy hotel credit: Up to $300 in statement credits for eligible purchases
- Free Night Award: Every year after your account anniversary you’ll get a Free Night Award, good for redemption values of 50,000 points or less.
- Priority Pass Select membership: Free access to Priority Pass airport lounges for you and up to two guests (excludes non-lounge experiences)
- Application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck: A statement credit for the application fee of either Global Entry ($100 every five years) or TSA PreCheck ($85 every four-and-a-half years)
- Complimentary Gold Elite hotel status: Includes perks like a 25% bonus on base points, 2 p.m. late checkout, and more
- 15 Elite Night Credits: Each year you’ll get 15 Elite Night Credits towards a higher member status
- $100 property credit: Earn up to $100 in property credits when booking at least two nights direct with a special rate code at The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis
- Bonus points for airline transfers: Get 15,000 bonus points for every 60,000 points transferred to airline programs
- Annual fee: $450 (Rates & Fees)
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card
- 6X points per dollar at Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- 2X Bonus points per dollar for all other purchases
- 75,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- Annual fee: $95
Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card
- 3X points at Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- 30,000 Bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Hotel status: Silver Elite (must redeem the 15 Elite Night Credits)
- Annual fee: $0
Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card
- 6X Marriott Bonvoy Bonus points per dollar for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Marriott Bonvoy Portfolio
- 4X Marriott Bonvoy Bonus points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. wireless telephone providers
- 75,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- Hotel status: Silver Elite
- Free additional cards to distribute to employees
- Annual fee: $125 (Rates & Fees)
- Earn 75,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months.
- Enjoy up to $300 in statement credits each year of Card Membership for eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
- Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy Hotels. 3 points at U.S. restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive 1 free Night Award every year after your Card account anniversary. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points) at a participating hotel. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy unlimited airport lounge visits when you enroll in Priority Pass™ Select membership.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $450 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
BEST PICK FOR
Radisson and Club Carlson Hotels
Why We Picked ItRewardsKey FeaturesRunner Up1
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You’ll have a couple different options for Radisson-branded hotel cards. The Radisson Rewards™ Premier Visa Signature® Card is the best offer, but there’s also a no annual fee card for those who won’t stay at Radisson very often.
- 35X points per dollar at Radisson properties
- 10X Bonus points per dollar from the card
- 25X Base points per dollar on eligible purchases for being a Radisson Gold member
- 5X Bonus points per dollar on all other purchases
- 50,000 Bonus points after making your first purchase
- Value: $150–$500 (assuming 0.3–1 cent per point)
- 35,000 Bonus points for spending $2,500 in the first 90 days after account opening
- Value: $105–$350 (assuming 0.3–1 cent per point)
- Return on spend: 4.2%–14%
- 40,000 Bonus points each year after renewing your card
- Value: $120–$400 (assuming 0.3–1 cent per point)
- Radisson Rewards Gold status: Includes perks like a bonus on Base points, a 15% discount on food and drink, welcome gifts, room upgrades, and more
- Free Night E-Certificates: Earn one Free Night E-Cert for each $10,000 spent in a given year, up to 3 free nights per year
- Concierge: Call for non-emergency help with travel planning, making reservations, finding restaurants, and more
- Visa Signature perks: Like entertainment offers, shopping discounts, and invites to sports events
- Foreign transaction fee: 2%
- Annual fee: $75
Radisson Rewards™ Visa® Card
- 23X points at Radisson hotels
- 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days
- Hotel status: None
- Annual fee: $0
- 10X points per dollar spent in eligible net purchases at participating Radisson Family of Hotels
- 5X points per dollar spent in eligible net purchases everywhere else
- 40,000 renewal bonus points each year when you renew your card
- Up to 85,000 Bonus Points – receive 50,000 points after your first purchase plus 35,000 points once you spend $2,500 on your card within the first 90 days
- Earn up to three Free Night E-Certs when you charge up to $30,000 then renew your card. One E-Cert per $10,000
- Exclusive Gold Status Radisson Rewards membership upgrade with included benefits
- Earn free stays at more than 1,100 hotels across the globe
- $75 annual fee
BEST PICK FOR
Alaska Airlines
Why We Picked ItRewards
Key FeaturesRunner Up1
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The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Credit Card is one of the more popular airline cards thanks to the yearly Companion Fare, which can completely offset the annual fee and make this card basically free to use.
In fact, as long as you avoid interest and other fees, you’re effectively getting paid to use this card as long as you always take advantage of the Companion Fare.
This is also one of the best credit cards for earning airline miles, offering 3X miles for flight purchases when most airline cards only provide 2X, along with extra miles at some restaurants.
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- Annual Companion Fare credit: A yearly Companion Fare credit ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22)
- Additional mile-earning opportunities: Use Alaska Airlines’ shopping portal to earn bonus miles at select retailers.
- First checked bag free on Alaska Airlines flights: For you and up to six other travelers on the same reservation
- 20% in-flight purchase discount: 20% back on all Alaska Airlines in-flight purchases
- Alaska Lounge discount: Get 50% off day passes at the Alaska Lounge.
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $75
Alaska Airlines Visa® Business credit card
- 3X miles per dollar for purchases made directly from Alaska Airlines
- 1X mile per dollar on all other purchases
- 40,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare from $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from just $22) with this offer. To qualify, make purchases of $2,000 or more within the first 90 days of opening your account
- First checked bag free on Alaska Airlines flights: For you and up to six other travelers on the same reservation
- 20% in-flight purchase discount: 20% back on all Alaska Airlines in-flight purchases
- Alaska Lounge discount: Get 50% off day passes at the Alaska Lounge.
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $50 for the company and $25 per card
- NEW – 40,000 Bonus Mile + Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ Offer.
- Get 40,000 bonus miles and Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare from $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22) with this offer. To qualify, make purchases of $2,000 or more within the first 90 days of opening your account.
- Save with a free checked bag on Alaska flights for you and up to six other guests on the same reservation.
- Get Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ every year! EACH YEAR on your account anniversary get a companion fare from $121 ($99 plus taxes and fees from $22). Valid on all Alaska flights booked on alaskaair.com.
- Earn 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases and 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Get exclusive access to discounted redemption levels when you redeem miles for hotel stays at over 400,000 properties using Alaska Airlines Hotels.
- Earn unlimited miles and travel with no blackout dates and no foreign transaction fees.
BEST PICK FOR
American Airlines
Why We Picked ItRewards
Key FeaturesRunners Up5
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The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (Review) is the premier card for flying American Airlines, with a hefty price tag of $450 per year. But if you’re already spending a lot of money and time with the airline, this card’s benefits, particularly the Admirals Club airport lounge membership, could make your life quite a bit more comfortable.
Authorized users of this card have no cost and actually get Admirals Club access as well, a rare feature on premium travel cards like this. Up to ten authorized users can be added.
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- Admirals Club membership: You and up to ten authorized users have access to the Admirals Club airport lounge.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application credit: Get a credit for the application fee of either Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($85) once every five years.
- Elite Qualifying Miles: Earn 10,000 Elite Qualifying Miles after spending $40,000 on purchases in a given year.
- Reduced Mileage Awards: Get discounted travel for round trip (7,500 miles off) and one-way flights (3,750 miles off).
- Enhanced Airport Experience: Including priority check-in, screening, and boarding privileges
- 25% discount on in-flight purchases on AA flights: The 25% discount will be applied to in-flight purchases of food and beverages only.
- First checked bag free on AA flights: For you and up to eight traveling companions
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $450
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard®
- 2X AAdvantage miles per dollar spent on:
- American Airlines
- Gas stations
- Restaurants
- 1X AAdvantage mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
- Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.
- Perks: First checked bag free, Preferred Boarding, 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $99, waived for first 12 months
AAdvantage® Aviator™ Red World Elite Mastercard®
- 2X AAdvantage miles per dollar spent at American Airlines
- 1X AAdvantage mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 60,000 AAdvantage bonus miles and a Companion Certificate for 1 guest at $99 (plus taxes and fees) after making a purchase in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee
- Perks: First checked bag free, Preferred Boarding, 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases, $25 annual credit for in-flight WiFi
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $99
American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card
- 2X AAdvantage Miles per dollar on:
- Eligible American Airlines purchases
- Grocery Stores
- 1X AAdvantage Mile per dollar for everything else
- 10,000 AAdvantage bonus miles and a $50 statement credit for spending $500 in the first 3 months
- Perks: 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%
- Annual fee: $0
AAdvantage® Aviator™ Business Mastercard®
- 2X AAdvantage miles per dollar at:
- American Airlines
- Telecom merchants
- Office supply merchants
- Car rental merchants
- 1X AAdvantage mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 65,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days; 10,000 bonus miles after a purchase on an employee card
- Perks: First checked bag free, Preferred Boarding, 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases, 5% AAdvantage mileage bonus
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard®
- 2X AAdvantage miles per dollar spent on:
- American Airlines
- Cable and satellite providers
- Gas stations
- Select telecommunications merchants
- Car rentals
- 1X AAdvantage mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
- Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.
- Perks: First checked bag free, Preferred Boarding, 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $99, waived for first 12 months
- Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage®bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- Admirals Club® membership for you and access for up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you
- Earn 10,000 AAdvantage® Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) after you spend $40,000 in purchases within the year
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
- Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
- First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation
- The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 15.99% – 24.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi’s discretion.
Citi is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
BEST PICK FOR
Delta Air Lines
Why We Picked ItRewards
Key FeaturesRunners Up6
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The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Review) is expensive, but it comes with quite a few valuable benefits. You get complimentary Delta Sky Club access and two free one-time Sky Club guest passes (guests are $39 after that), plus complimentary access to Centurion Lounges (where guests will cost $50).
Other perks include an annual Companion Certificate and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit.
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- Delta Sky Club and Centurion Lounge access: Get complimentary access to Delta Sky Clubs, with up to two guests at $39 each, plus complimentary access to Centurion Lounges, with up to two guests at $50 each. Includes two free Delta Sky Club one-time guest passes.
- Annual Companion Certificate: A certificate for a Domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+, or Main Cabin round-trip flight
- Status Boost: Earn 15,000 MQMs for spending $30,000, up to four times per calendar year.
- First checked bag free on Delta flights: For you and up to eight traveling companions
- Priority Boarding on Delta flights: Get on the plane more quickly with Zone 1 priority boarding
- Complimentary upgrades: If you don’t have Medallion status you can still get some upgrades for free.
- 20% in-flight discount on Delta flights: A 20% discount on eligible in-flight purchases, like food, beverages, movies, and audio headsets
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $550
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- 3X SkyMiles per dollar for:
- Purchases made directly with Delta
- Hotels
- 2X SkyMiles per dollar at:
- Restaurants
- U.S. Supermarkets
- 1X SkyMile per dollar for all other purchases
- 40,000 bonus miles and 5,000 MQMs for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months; $100 statement credit for making a Delta purchase in the first 3 months
- Lounge access: You and two guests can enter Delta Sky Club lounges for $39 per person.
- Perks: First checked bag free, Priority Boarding, Annual companion certificate, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit, 20% back on in-flight purchases
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $250
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
- 2X SkyMiles per eligible dollar for:
- Purchases made directly with Delta Air Lines
- Restaurants
- U.S. Supermarkets
- 1X SkyMile per dollar for all other purchases
- 35,000 bonus miles for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: First checked bag free, Priority Boarding, 20% back on in-flight purchases
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
- 2X SkyMiles per eligible dollar spent for:
- Purchases made directly with Delta Air Lines
- Restaurants
- 1X SkyMile per eligible dollar spent for every other purchase
- 10,000 bonus miles for spending $500 in the first 3 months after account opening
- Perks: 20% back on in-flight purchases, ShopRunner membership
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $0
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
- 2X SkyMiles per eligible dollar spent for:
- Purchases made directly with Delta Air Lines
- Restaurants
- 1X SkyMile per eligible dollar spent for every other purchase
- 45,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: First checked bag free, Priority Boarding, Annual companion certificate, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit, 20% back on in-flight purchases
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $550
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
- 3X SkyMiles per dollar for:
- Purchases made directly with Delta
- Hotels
- 1.5X SkyMiles per dollar for purchases of $5,000 or more, up to 50,000 miles per year
- 1X SkyMile per dollar for all other purchases
- 45,000 bonus miles and 5,000 MQMs for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months; $100 statement credit after your first Delta purchase in the first 3 months
- Perks: First checked bag free, Priority Boarding, Annual companion certificate, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit, 20% back on in-flight purchases
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $250
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
- 2X SkyMiles per eligible dollar spent for:
- Purchases made directly with Delta Air Lines
- U.S. Shipping
- U.S. Advertising in select media
- Restaurants
- 1X SkyMile per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 40,000 bonus miles for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: First checked bag free, Priority Boarding, 20% back on in-flight purchases
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99
- Earn 40,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
- With Status Boost™, earn 15,000 MQMs after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to four times per year, getting you closer to Medallion Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Complimentary access into the Delta SkyClubs® for you when travelling on a Delta flight.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book your Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $550 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
BEST PICK FOR
Frontier Airlines
Why We Picked ItRewards
Key Features
The Frontier Airlines World Mastercard (Review) is one of the less expensive cards on this list, but it offers miles at a relatively high rate and has a good signup bonus, too. Frontier miles usually aren’t valued very highly, however, typically coming in around 1 cent each.
Take note that your Frontier miles will expire unless there is some activity in your Frontier Miles account at least once every six months. Any purchase will qualify as account activity, so you can just buy a pack of gum to keep your miles active.
This is quite a bit more strict than other airline programs, which either give you a longer period or have miles that don’t expire. We recommend setting alerts or notifications of some kind so you don’t forget.
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- Award redemption fee waiver: A fee waiver when you pay for flights using Frontier miles, starting at $5.60 for one-way tickets
- $100 Frontier Flight Voucher: Get a $100 Flight Voucher after your account anniversary for every year that you spend at least $2,500.
- Fast track to Elite Status: Earn 1 Qualifying Mile for every $1 spent on purchases.
- Priority Boarding on Frontier flights: Zone 2 priority boarding privileges
- Purchase APR: 18.24%, 22.24% or 27.24% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 billing cycles (for transfers completed within 45 days of account opening), then 18.24%, 22.24% or 27.24% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $79
- 5X miles per dollar spent on purchases from Frontier Airlines
- 3X miles per dollar spent at restaurants
- Earn 40,000 Bonus Miles after spending $500 in purchases in the first 90 days after account opening and payment of the annual fee
- No award redemption fee when you book an award ticket using your Frontier Airlines World Mastercard to pay the related taxes and fees, starting from $5.60 for a one-way ticket
- $100 Frontier Airlines flight discount voucher after your account anniversary, after spending $2,500 on purchases in a given year
- Use your Frontier Airlines Mastercard for at least one purchase every six months to keep your miles from expiring
- 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles (for transfers completed within 45 days of account opening) on balance transfers, and then your rate will be 18.24%, 22.24% or 27.24% Variable
- View your FICO® Score online – with no charge and no hidden fees
- No foreign transaction fees
- $79 Annual Fee
BEST PICK FOR
Hawaiian Airlines
- Min. credit levelGood
- Annual Fee$0 intro annual fee first year, then $99
- Regular APR18.24%, 22.24% or 27.24% variable Variable
Why We Picked ItRewards
Key FeaturesRunner Up1
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The Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® (Review) is your only consumer card option for flying Hawaiian Airlines.
The spending rewards are about average for an airline card, but it has a valuable annual companion discount that can completely offset the $99 annual fee.
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- $100 annual companion ticket discount: Each year you’ll get a $100 discount on a companion ticket for roundtrip travel between Hawaii and North America.
- One-time 50% companion ticket discount: Eligible for roundtrip travel between Hawaii and North America
- Free first checked bag on Hawaiian Airlines flights: For the primary cardholder only
- Discounted award prices for Hawaiian Airlines flights
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee first year, then $99
Hawaiian Airlines® Business Mastercard®
- 3X HawaiianMiles per dollar spent on purchases from Hawaiian Airlines
- 2X HawaiianMiles per dollar spent on:
- Gas
- Dining
- Office supplies
- 1X HawaiianMile per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 60,000 bonus miles for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days; 10,000 bonus miles if a purchase is made on an employee card in the first 90 days
- Perks: One time 50% off companion discount, up to 40,000 annual bonus miles, discounted award flights
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $99
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days
- First checked bag free on eligible bags for the primary cardmember when you use your card to purchase eligible tickets directly from Hawaiian Airlines
- One-time 50% off companion discount for roundtrip coach travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines
- Earn 3X miles on eligible Hawaiian Airlines purchases
- Earn 2x miles on gas, dining and grocery store purchases
- Earn 1X miles on all other purchases
- No foreign transaction fees means you don’t pay additional transaction fees on international purchases
- Receive an annual $100 companion discount for roundtrip travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines after each account anniversary
- Share Miles allows you to send and receive miles from family and friends through HawaiianAirlines.com, without a fee
- No blackout dates
BEST PICK FOR
JetBlue
Why We Picked ItRewards
Key FeaturesRunners Up2
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The JetBlue Plus Card is one of three rewards cards available through JetBlue. It offers more points than your average airline card, along with an excellent discount rate on in-flight purchases.
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- 10% point redemption bonus
- 5,000 annual bonus points: Get 5,000 bonus points every year on your account anniversary.
- First checked bag is free on JetBlue flights: For you and up to three traveling companions
- 50% discount on in-flight purchases on JetBlue flights: 50% off eligible in-flight purchases, like food and cocktails
- Fast track to TrueBlue Mosaic status: Spend $50,000 on purchases in a given year to get TrueBlue Mosaic status for a year.
- $100 vacation package credit: Get a $100 statement credit every year that you buy a vacation package of $100 or more.
- Purchase APR: 18.24%, 22.24%, or 27.24% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 12 months (for balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening), then 18.24%, 22.24%, or 27.24% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $99
JetBlue Card
- 3X points per dollar at JetBlue
- 2X points per dollar at:
- Restaurants
- Grocery stores
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 10,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days
- Perk: 50% discount on in-flight purchases
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
JetBlue Business Mastercard®
- 6X points per dollar for JetBlue purchases
- 2X points per dollar at:
- Restaurants
- Grocery stores
- 1X point per dollar spent everywhere else
- 50,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days; 10,000 bonus points for adding an employee card within 30 days and making a purchase with that card within 90 days
- Perks: 50% discount on in-flight purchases, free first checked bags, TrueBlue Mosaic boost, vacation package benefits
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $99
- Earn 40,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 90 days.
- Earn 6X points per $1 on JetBlue purchases, 2X points per $1 at restaurants and grocery stores, and 1X point per $1 on all other purchases.
- Earn 5,000 bonus points every year automatically after your account anniversary.
- Get 10% of your points back every time you redeem.
- No blackout dates on JetBlue-operated flights & redeem for any seat, any time on JetBlue-operated flights.
- Free first checked bag for you and up to three traveling companions.
- 50% savings on eligible inflight purchases like cocktails and food.
- Enjoy TrueBlue Mosaic benefits after you spend $50,000 or more on purchases each calendar year with your card.
- Enjoy a $100 statement credit after purchasing a JetBlue Vacations package of $100 or more with your JetBlue Plus Card.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- $99 annual fee.
BEST PICK FOR
Southwest Airlines
Why We Picked ItRewards
Key FeaturesRunners Up4
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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (Review) is the newest entry in Southwest’s line of credit cards, offering an annual flight credit to help offset the annual fee.
Read more about how you can fly for free with Southwest Airlines credit cards.
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- 7,500 annual bonus points: You’ll receive 7,500 bonus points every year on your account anniversary.
- $75 annual Southwest travel credit: An automatic statement credit every year for Southwest purchases, excluding upgraded boardings and in-flight purchases
- Upgraded Boardings: Get four upgraded boardings per year (reimbursed as a statement credit at the end of the year).
- Tier Qualifying Points: Every $10,000 spent earns 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List status, up to $100,000 spent.
- 20% discount on in-flight purchases on Southwest flights: 20% off eligible in-flight purchases, like food, drinks, and WiFi
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $149
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
- 2X points per dollar at:
- Southwest Airlines
- Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 50,000 bonus points for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months; 30,000 bonus points for spending $10,000 in the first 9 months
- No foreign transaction fee
- Perks: Anniversary bonus points, earn tier qualifying points
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $99
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
- 2X points per dollar at:
- Southwest Airlines
- Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 50,000 bonus points for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months; 30,000 bonus points for spending $10,000 in the first 9 months
- Foreign transaction fee: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
- Annual fee: $69
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
- 3X points per dollar spent on Southwest Airlines purchases
- 2X points per dollar spent on:
- Social Media and Search Engine Advertising
- Internet
- Cable
- Phone Services
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 70,000 bonus points for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months; 30,000 points for spending $25,000 in the first 6 months
- Perks: Four upgraded boardings per year, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, in-flight WiFi credits, anniversary bonus points
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $199
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
- 2X points per dollar at:
- Southwest Airlines
- Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 60,000 points if you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: Earn tier qualifying points, anniversary bonus points
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $99
BEST PICK FOR
United Airlines
- Min. credit levelExcellent
- Annual Fee$0 intro annual fee, then $525
- Regular APR16.49% - 23.49% Variable
Why We Picked ItRewards
Key FeaturesRunners Up4View card details
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Compared to the other United co-branded credit cards available, the United Club℠ Infinite Card (Review) is expensive ($0 intro annual fee, then $525), but it comes with several perks to help make your time spent at airports and hotels more enjoyable.
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- United Club membership: Complimentary membership to the United Club airport lounge, with free access for you and two guests
- Premier Access airport travel services: Includes priority check-in and security screening, and boarding/baggage handling privileges
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit: Get a $100 credit for the application fee of Global Entry, or $85 for TSA PreCheck, once every four years.
- Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection: Hotel perks like daily breakfast for two, complimentary WiFi, and room upgrades when available
- World of Hyatt Discoverist status: A 10% point bonus, room upgrades, and other benefits at Hyatt properties
- Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle Elite Status: Get a 25% point bonus, upgrades, and exclusive offers at Hertz.
- Complimentary Premier Upgrades on United award flights: MileagePlus Premier members can get award ticket upgrades when available.
- Free first and second checked bags: For you and one traveling companion
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee, then $525
United℠ Explorer Card
- 2X MileagePlus miles per dollar spent:
- United Airlines
- Hotel accommodations made directly with the hotel
- Restaurants
- 1X MileagePlus mile per dollar spent on other purchases
- 40,000 bonus miles for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: Two United Club passes, priority boarding, first checked bag free, 25% in-flight discount, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95
United Gateway℠ Card
- 3X United miles per dollar for Grocery store purchases (up to $1,500 spent per quarter, through 9/30/21)
- 2X United miles per dollar for:
- United purchases
- Local transit and commuting
- Gas
- 1X United mile per dollar on all other purchases
- 10,000 bonus miles for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Perk: 25% in-flight discount
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
United Club℠ Business Card
- 2X MileagePlus miles per dollar spent on United Airlines
- 1.5X MileagePlus miles per dollar spent on other purchases
- 100,000 bonus miles for spending $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
- Perks: United Club membership, Premier Access travel services, first and second checked bags free, 25% in-flight discount
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $450
United℠ Business Card
- 2X miles per dollar for:
- United Airlines
- Local transit, commuting, and rideshare services
- Gas stations
- Office supply stores
- Restaurants
- 1X mile per dollar on every other purchase
- 60,000 bonus miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- Perk: Two United Club passes, priority boarding, first checked bag free, 25% in-flight discount, $100 credit after seven United flights over $100
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99
BEST PICK FOR
Various Airlines
Why We Picked ItRewards
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Maybe you don’t have a favorite airline, or you tend to take whatever flight will work best for you. If that’s the case, a general travel rewards card will probably be more useful than a co-branded airline card.
General travel cards can be used to earn points anywhere, no matter which airline you’re taking. And they provide points for other travel purchases as well, like hotels, car rentals, and taxis.
The Platinum Card® from American Express (Review) is a great example, with a 5X point category for airlines and some great transfer partners.
Airline and hotel transfer partners give you a way to move your points to your favorite loyalty programs, where they’ll often be worth more. So, if you’re planning a trip and you’ve got a bunch of points ready and waiting, you can transfer them to the airline you’re booking and look for a great redemption value.
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- Global Lounge Collection: Complimentary access to Priority Pass, Centurion, American Express International, Delta Sky Club, Escape, Airspace, Lufthansa, and Plaza Premium Lounges.
- $200 annual airline fee credit: Good for incidental costs like baggage fees and in-flight food (not flight tickets) at your selected airline (through 2021).
- One-year Eats Pass: Enroll to get a complimentary Uber Eats membership for one year, which provides free delivery and 5% off restaurant orders over $15, and free delivery on grocery orders over $30 (through 2021).
- Uber VIP status and $200 annual Uber credit: $15 in statement credits for Uber rides each month, except for December which gets $35.
- $100 annual Saks credit: Up to $100 in statement credits each year for Saks Fifth Avenue: $50 from January through June, and $50 from July through December.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit: A statement credit for the application fee of either Global Entry ($100 every four years) or TSA PreCheck ($85 once every four and a half years).
- The Hotel Collection: A $100 hotel credit and room upgrades when available for every eligible two-night stay.
- Fine Hotels & Resorts Program: Daily breakfast for two, room upgrades when available, amenities valued at $100, and more at eligible properties.
- Complimentary elite hotel statuses: Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status.
- Point transfer: To a selection of airline and hotel loyalty programs.
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $550
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- 10X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on Lyft rides (through 3/31/22)
- 3X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on:
- Travel (after using the full travel credit)
- Dining
- 1X Ultimate Reward point per dollar on all other purchases
- 50,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months after account opening
- Perks: $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass Select membership, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, Lyft Pink membership, DoorDash membership and credits, point transfer partners
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $550
Citi Prestige® Card
- 5X ThankYou points per dollar spent on:
- Air travel
- Restaurants
- 3X ThankYou points per dollar spent on:
- Hotels
- Cruise lines
- 1X ThankYou point per dollar spent on everything else
- 50,000 ThankYou points for spending $4,000 within 3 months of account opening
- Perks: 4th night free on hotel stays, Priority Pass Select membership, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, point transfer partners, $250 travel credit
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $495
American Express® Gold Card
- 4X Membership Rewards points per dollar at:
- Restaurants worldwide
- U.S. Supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X)
- 3X Membership Rewards points per dollar on:
- Flights booked directly with airlines
- Flights booked through Amex Travel
- 1X Membership Rewards point per dollar for every other purchase
- 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 6 months
- Perks: $100 airline credit through 2021, $120 dining credit, The Hotel Collection, point transfer partners
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $250
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- 5X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on:
- Lyft rides (through 3/31/22)
- 2X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on:
- Travel
- Dining
- 1X Ultimate Reward point per dollar on all other purchases
- 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: 25% redemption bonus, DoorDash membership, Shop through Chase/Chase Offers, primary auto rental collision damage waiver, point transfer partners
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- 5X miles per dollar with Uber Eats (through 1/31/21)
- 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases
- 60,000 bonus miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, Luxury Hotel Collection, point transfer partners
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- 5X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on:
- Flights on Amex Travel
- Prepaid hotels on Amex Travel
- 1.5X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (up to 1 million extra points per year)
- 1X Membership Rewards point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 85,000 bonus points for spending $15,000, plus 5X points in select categories up to 80,000 points per category, all in the first 3 months
- Perks: Up to $200 in airline fee statement credits annually; Global Lounge Collection airport lounge access; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit; Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $595
- Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 10x points on eligible purchases on your new Card at U.S. Gas Stations and U.S. Supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, during your first 6 months of Card Membership. That’s an additional 9 points on top of the 1 point you earn for these purchases.
- Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member and Additional Centurion Cards only.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. Starting January 1, 2021, earn 5X points on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com.
- Enjoy complimentary access to the Global Lounge Collection, the only credit card airport lounge access program that includes proprietary lounge locations around the world.
- Receive complimentary benefits through American Express Travel with an average total value of $550 with Fine Hotels & Resorts® program at over 1,100 properties . Learn More.
- Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $550 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
What’s the Best Travel Credit Card?
There’s a diverse selection of travel rewards cards, designed for different lifestyles and purposes. Some of our favorites are:
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card (Review): For a no annual fee card with flat-rate rewards on every purchase
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Review): For premium travel rewards and excellent point transfer opportunities
- The Platinum Card® from American Express (Review): If you want luxury perks and wide-ranging airport lounge access
- Citi Prestige® Card (Review): For anyone who likes long hotel stays
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Review): For small business owners who want travel rewards and great benefits
What Travel Card Gives the Best Airport Lounge Access?
You’ll get the most diverse airport lounge access with this pair of American Express cards:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express (Review)
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Review)
Most cards that offer airport lounge access only come with a Priority Pass Select membership; but the cards above provide access to the following lounge brands:
- Priority Pass
- American Express Centurion
- International American Express Lounges
- Delta Sky Club
- Escape
- Lufthansa Business
- Plaza Premium
How Much Is a Point or Mile Worth With Travel Cards?
The value of your points or miles depends on the particular card you have. In some cases your points will be worth 1 cent each, but many cards come with redemption options that can provide more (or less) value.
American Express Membership Rewards points, for example, typically give 0.6 to 1 cent per point for statement credits and certain travel expenses. But you can also transfer your points to loyalty programs from a wide variety of airline and hotel partners, where you could book travel that provides a higher value per point.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are similar when it comes to point transfers (in this case, all transfers are at a 1:1 ratio). And certain Chase cards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Review) and Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Review), provide bonuses for travel redemptions through Chase’s own travel portal (which come to 1.25 and 1.5 cents per point, respectively).
And then there are travel cards from Citi and Capital One. Depending on the card, you may see a value of 1 cent per point for normal redemptions. But you’ll also have some point transfer opportunities, although the options here may not be as robust as those from Amex and Chase.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card, please click here.
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