Below are the best travel rewards credit cards for 2023. These cards feature generous rewards on travel purchases, travel credits, insurance coverage, and lucrative signup bonuses, among other perks. Whether you're a casual traveler or a seasoned globetrotter, one of these cards is sure to fit your needs.
Written by: Eric Bank
Eric Bank
Eric Bank has been covering business and financial topics since 1985, specializing in taking complex subject matters and explaining them in simple terms for consumer audiences. In addition to his work on CardRates.com, Eric has appeared regularly on Credible.com, eHow, WiseBread, The Nest, Get.com, Zacks, Chron and dozens of other outlets. A former software engineer, Eric holds an M.B.A. from New York University and an M.S. in finance from DePaul University.
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With more than a decade of experience as a content manager and marketer, Ashley has specialized in finance coverage since 2015. She has worked closely with the world’s largest banks and financial institutions, up-and-coming fintech companies, and press and news outlets to curate comprehensive content and media campaigns. Her credit card commentary is featured on national media outlets that include CNBC, MarketWatch, Investopedia, and Reader's Digest, among others.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Enjoy benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
UNLIMITED BONUS: Only Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase - with no annual fee.
Redeem Miles to pay any part of your monthly bill, including your minimum payment.
Turn Miles into cash in any amount, any time. Or redeem as a statement credit for travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more with no blackout dates. However you redeem, Miles keep the same value. And Miles never expire.
0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 16.49% to 27.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Receive up to $300 back annually as statement credits for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of options
Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases in your first 6 months of Card Membership
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points for flights booked directly through airlines or American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Also earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
$200 annual hotel credit, $200 annual airline fee credit, $25 monthly Equinox credit, $15 monthly Uber cash credit, $50 bi-annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit, and more.
Platinum Card Members have unlimited complimentary access to all locations of The Global Lounge Collection, including 1,400 airport lounges across 650 cities.
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status. Enrollment required.
INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.49% - 28.24%.
No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire.
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
0% Introductory APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 17.49% - 27.49% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee applies to all balance transfers.
If you're a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of card membership
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, 1.5X points on business categories and purchases of $5,000 or more on up to $2 million per calendar year, and 1X point for each dollar you spend on other purchases.
Get up to $400 back per year toward U.S. purchases with Dell Technologies, up to $360 back per year for purchases with Indeed, and $120 back per year for wireless telephone service purchases on the Business Platinum Card, plus additional credits. Enrollment is required for all.
Access to more than 1,400 lounges across 140 countries and counting with the American Express Global Lounge Collection®
Use Membership Rewards® Pay with Points for all or part of an eligible fare and get 35% of those points back, up to 1,000,000 points back per calendar year
Earn 50,000 Rewards Bonus Points worth $750 in airfare – when booked online through HSBC Travel – after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening
You’ll earn 3X Rewards Points on new travel purchases – including airline, hotels, and car rentals -- 2X Points on new dining purchases, and 1X Points on all other purchases
Receive up to $400 in travel credits per year for all airfare, hotels, and car rentals booked through HSBC Travel
You and one guest enjoy complimentary, unlimited access to 1,000+ airport lounges provided by LoungeKey™
Take 3 rides per month and receive a $5 Lyft App credit
An exclusive Luxury Thank You Gift when you reach $50,000, $75,000, and $100,000 in cumulative spend annually. Up to 3 Luxury gifts per year.
Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions, and miles won't expire for the life of the account
Unlimited 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Transfer your miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs
Redeem your miles instantly for any travel-related purchases, from flights and hotels to ride-sharing services
Fly through security with one statement credit for either the $85 TSA PreCheck® application fee or the $100 Global Entry application fee
Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy Bonus Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
Earn 6X Points on hotels for eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3X Points at U.S. restaurants and flights booked directly with airlines, and 2X Points for each dollar on everything else.
Enjoy up to $25 a month in Dining statement credits each calendar year for eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide.
Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®
Book direct using a special rate for a 2-night minimum stay at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® and get up to $100 in credit for qualifying charges.
With Card Membership, you can enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited access to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying.
Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on airline, hotel, taxi (including Uber and Lyft), limousine, rental car, train, bus, restaurant, fast food, and takeout food dining purchases, and 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Receive a statement credit of up to $350 per account, per calendar year for Qualifying Airline Purchases.
Receive up to $550 Airline Lounge Club Membership Fee statement credit per calendar year with $50,000 yearly spend.
Apply for Global Entry, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program, using your Crystal Visa Infinite Card to pay your application fee and receive a $100 statement credit.
Crystal Visa Infinite Cardholders Priority Pass Select program members and their accompanying guests can experience a more relaxing way to travel, with access to a global network of more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide
A 24/7 concierge at your fingertips. Receive customized assistance with airline, hotel and restaurant reservations, and virtually any personal or business requests.
Earn $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn unlimited 2.5% total cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more and unlimited 2% cash back on all other business purchases.
Travel Benefits: Unlimited 5% total cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, No Foreign Transaction Fees and Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance.
Rich Rewards. Limitless Opportunities. With no minimum redemption amount, redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
For businesses who prefer to pay their balance in full each month, Ink Business Premier gives access to increased spending power, rich rewards, and premium benefits.
Pay off eligible purchases over time with interest up to assigned Flex for Business limit. All other purchases must be paid in full each month.
Receive 50,000 online bonus points - a $500 value - after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means you could earn 2.5-3.5 points on travel and dining purchases and 1.87-2.62 points on all other purchases, for every $1 you spend.
No limit to the points you can earn and your points don't expire.
Redeem for cash back as a statement credit, deposit into eligible Bank of America® accounts, credit to eligible Merrill® accounts, or gift cards or purchases at the Bank of America Travel Center.
Get up to $100 in Airline Incidental Statement Credits annually and TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry Statement Credits of up to $100, every four years.
No foreign transaction fees.
Low $95 annual fee.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases on the card within your first 3 months of Card Membership
Earn 14X points on hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
Earn 7X points on select travel, including flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies, and at US restaurants, including takeout and delivery. Earn 3X points on other eligible purchases.
Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status with your Hilton Honors Aspire Card
Enjoy one weekend night reward with your new Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card and every year after renewal. Plus, earn an additional night after you spend $60,000 on purchases on your card in a calendar year.
Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months of ownership
Earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your card, up to 4 times/year
Earn 3X miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta -- all other purchases earn 1 mile per $1
Complimentary access to The Centurion Lounge and the Delta Sky Club® plus two Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes each year
Receive a domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express card
As a benefit of Card Membership, you can check your first bag free on Delta flights booked with your card. You can save up to $60 on a round-trip Delta flight per person.
Earn 10,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months of card membership
Earn 2X miles at restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and 2X miles for every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X miles on all other purchases.
Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit after you use your card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and audio headsets
Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com
Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire.
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
0% Introductory APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 17.49% - 27.49% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee applies to all balance transfers.
When handled responsibly, a credit card can help you build your credit history, which could be helpful when looking for an apartment, a car loan, and even a job. Access your FICO® Score for free within Online Banking or your Mobile Banking app.
Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Earn 10,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days
Earn 3X points on eligible JetBlue purchases, 2X points at restaurants and grocery stores, and 1X points on all other purchases
Enjoy 50% inflight savings on cocktails and food purchases
0% introductory APR for the first 12 billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening (transfer fee applies), then a variable APR applies
No foreign transaction fees, no blackout dates, and points never expire
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 bonus points when a purchase is made on an employee card.
Earn 6X points on eligible JetBlue purchases, plus 2X points at restaurants and office supply stores, 1X points on all other purchases
Earn 5,000 bonus points every year after your account anniversary
Receive a 50% savings on eligible inflight purchases of cocktails and food on JetBlue-operated flights
Enjoy an annual $100 statement credit after purchasing a JetBlue Vacations package with your card
Free first checked bag for you and up to 3 companions on the same reservation when you use your card to book JetBlue-operated flights.
Earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership
Earn 3 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta, all other purchases earn 1 Mile per dollar spent
After you spend $150,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, you can earn 1.5 miles per dollar on eligible purchases for the rest of the calendar year
Enjoy complimentary access to Delta Sky Clubs plus complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book your Delta flight with your Reserve Card
Enjoy a Domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+® or Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card
Enjoy early boarding on Delta flights as a benefit of Card Membership. You can board your flight when Main Cabin 1 priority boarding is called so you can find room for your carry-on bag and settle into your seat sooner.
Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months
Earn 3X miles on Delta purchases and hotels, 2X miles at restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and U.S. supermarkets, all other purchases earn 1 point per $1
Earn 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, up to two times.
Get your first bag free on Delta flights booked with your card
Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your card
Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit after you use your card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and audio headsets.
Patented black-PVD-coated metal card—weighing 22 grams.
2% value for airfare redemptions with no blackout dates or seat restrictions. 1.5% value for cash back redemptions. Earn one point for every one dollar spent.
Annual Airline Credit—up to $100 in statement credits toward flight-related purchases including airline tickets, baggage fees, upgrades and more. Up to a $100 application fee credit for the cost of TSA Pre✓® or Global Entry.
Enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select with access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide with no guest limit. Includes credits at select airport restaurants for cardholder and one guest.
24/7 Luxury Card Concierge®—available by phone, email and live mobile chat. Around-the-clock service to help you save time and manage tasks big and small.
Exclusive Luxury Card Travel® benefits—average value of $500 per stay (e.g., resort credits, room upgrades, free wifi, breakfast for two and more) at over 3,000 properties.
Cell phone protection for eligible claims of up to $1,000 each year. Plus additional World Elite Mastercard® benefits.
Annual Fee: $495 ($195 for each Authorized User). Terms and conditions apply.
Patented 24K-gold-plated front and carbon back—weighing 22 grams.
2% value for airfare redemptions with no blackout dates or seat restrictions. 2% value for cash back redemptions. Earn one point for every one dollar spent.
Annual Airline Credit—up to $200 in statement credits toward flight-related purchases including airline tickets, baggage fees, upgrades and more. Up to a $100 application fee credit for the cost of TSA Pre✓® or Global Entry.
Enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select with access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide with no guest limit. Includes credits at select airport restaurants for cardholder and one guest.
24/7 Luxury Card Concierge®—available by phone, email and live mobile chat. Around-the-clock service to help you save time and manage tasks big and small.
Exclusive Luxury Card Travel® benefits—average value of $500 per stay (e.g., resort credits, room upgrades, free wifi, breakfast for two and more) at over 3,000 properties.
Cell phone protection for eligible claims of up to $1,000 each year. Plus additional World Elite Mastercard® benefits.
Annual Fee: $995 ($295 for each Authorized User). Terms and conditions apply.
Patented brushed stainless steel front and carbon back—weighing 22 grams.
2% value for airfare redemptions with no blackout dates or seat restrictions. 1% value for cash back redemptions. Earn one point for every one dollar spent.
24/7 Luxury Card Concierge®—available by phone, email and live mobile chat. Around-the-clock service to help you save time and manage tasks big and small.
Exclusive Luxury Card Travel® benefits—average value of $500 per stay (e.g., resort credits, room upgrades, free wifi, breakfast for two and more) at over 3,000 properties.
Members-only LUXURY MAGAZINE®.
Cell phone protection for eligible claims of up to $1,000 each year. Plus additional World Elite Mastercard® benefits.
Annual fee: $195 ($95 for each Authorized User). Terms and conditions apply.
Earn 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending 4,000 within 4 months of account opening
Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on American Airlines purchases and at cable and internet providers, gas stations, select telecommunications merchants, and car rental services — all other purchases earn 1X points
First checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 4 travel companions
25% savings on American Airlines inflight WiFi, food, and beverage purchases when you use your card
Earn an American Airlines Companion Certificate for domestic travel after $30,000 in purchases each card membership year and card membership is renewed. Fees apply.
Earn 10,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases in the first 90 days that can be redeemed for a $100 statement credit, gift cards, or travel.
Earn 10X points on eligible hotels and car rentals booked using the Credit One Bank travel partner, 5X points on eligible travel, including flights, dining, and gas purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases.
Get up to 10% More Cash Back Rewards from some of the nation’s top retailers! No offers to activate or points to redeem – you’ll automatically earn Cash Back Rewards on your eligible purchases.
Track your online Experian credit score and view a summary of your credit report each month.
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
Receive a 5,000-mile "better together" bonus each anniversary when you have both the UnitedSM Business Card and a personal Chase United® credit card.
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, dining including eligible delivery services, at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting.
Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, employee cards at no additional cost - miles earned from their purchases accrue in your account so you can earn rewards faster.
Enjoy a free first checked bag - a savings of up to $140 per roundtrip (terms apply), 2 United ClubSM one-time passes per year, and priority boarding privileges.
Earn unlimited cash back while building credit for the future. Start with a security deposit of $300 to $5,000.
Earn 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter in two categories you choose, 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel, and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center, 2% back on eligible purchases in your choice of one everyday category (like gas stations and EV charging stations, grocery stores and restaurants), and 1% back on all other eligible purchases.
Use your card everywhere Visa is accepted. Your secured card works and looks like any other credit card.
Choose your payment due date and enjoy zero fraud liability for unauthorized transactions.
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Review Breakdown: Review Breakdown: Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards
Are you on the fence about one or more travel rewards credit cards? Our review breakdown below summarizes the top credit cards for travel rewards. Click on a card name to visit the issuer's official site and online application.
Here are 2023's best credit cards for travel rewards:
The travel credit cards market is enormous, with dozens of high-quality candidates deserving of your consideration. To increase your IQ on the topic, we provide answers to frequently asked questions about travel cards.
With so many to choose from, it pays to research the travel cards that give you the benefits you want at a price you’re willing to pay.
1. What Is a Travel Credit Card?
A travel rewards card makes traveling more convenient and economical by offering money-saving benefits and valuable rewards. If we were to divide the reward card universe into cash back versus points and miles, travel cards would land in the latter group.
These cards usually offer tiered rewards on travel-related purchases, typically 2X to 5X points or miles per dollar spent. Card issuers are responsible for structuring rewards, including their denomination, value, and redemption options.
A travel card may also offer a flat rewards rate of 1.5X to 2X points or miles per dollar spent on all purchases. This rate usually exceeds those for nontravel purchases (typically 1X) from tiered travel cards.
For example, consider co-branded Travel Card A, which offers 4X miles on purchases from Airline A and 1X points on all others. In contrast, general-purpose Travel Card B pays 2X points on all eligible purchases. Which of the two will award you more points for the year depends on your shopping patterns and travel habits.
Complicating the picture, Card A may place an annual limit on the miles it will reward at the 4X rate, whereas Card B’s rewards are unlimited.
To further confuse the comparison, the value of Card A’s miles depends on the current reward structure of Airline A’s frequent flyer program, something the airline often modifies. Maybe each mile is worth $0.75 toward the purchase of some Airline A flight tickets versus $1.25 for other flights, depending on date, time, seating, and route.
Rather than diving into the weeds to figure out what your Card A miles are worth, you may prefer Card B’s miles, which you can redeem for tickets on any airline with no blackout dates or other restrictions.
Many travel cards offer signup bonuses to those who spend a set amount during an initial period (usually three months) after account opening. The cards may offer benefits that reduce the cost of travel, increase travel security, and complement nontravel perks.
In most cases, travel rewards do not expire while the credit card account remains open. But a few mileage cards may allow rewards to expire if you don’t use them within a set period.
Once you determine the likely value of the rewards and travel credits your card accumulates in a year, you need to subtract the card’s annual fee. The best travel cards have yearly charges between approximately $400 and $1,000.
A card with rewards, benefits, and credits that save you $500 per year may not be worth an annual fee of more than $600.
2. What Should I Look For in a Travel Credit Card?
The major rewards card issuers allocate significant resources to the smart people and powerful computers that design travel card characteristics. It’s then up to you to choose the card that best matches your needs.
Design Considerations
The credit card companies must, first and foremost, make a profit on their credit cards, or they may not survive very long. To earn that profit, card designers must factor in many variables, including:
How many people will obtain the card
How much revenue the cards will earn each year from interest and fees
The cost of the card’s rewards based on the value of points or miles the average cardholder will accumulate over a set period.
The cost of the card’s introductory promotions
The estimated cost of defaults among cardholders
The cost of each card benefit and the percentage of cardholders who take advantage of it. The cost of an expensive perk may be low if relatively few cardholders use it.
The characteristics of the card’s main competitors and the latest trends in consumer demand for various features
The capital the issuer needs to finance the card’s operations, marketing, and overhead
The issuer’s required gross and net margins
Regulatory requirements and constraints
What emerges is a shiny plastic (or metal) card with a unique set of characteristics that must compete with other cards that are just as carefully designed. You, dear reader, must decide which of these carefully prepared packages works best for you.
Points of Comparison
Here is what to look for when you shop for a travel credit card:
Annual fee: This is how much you’ll pay each year for the privilege of owning the card. Some travel cards charge no or low annual fees, but don’t expect them to offer the same perks you’d get from more expensive cards.
Interest rate: If you have good to excellent credit, you should qualify for an APR below 20%. Thankfully, the APR is irrelevant if you pay your entire monthly balance thanks to the interest-free grace period.
Foreign transaction fee: The better travel cards waive this fee. Other cards typically charge 3% to 5% of each transaction.
Signup bonus: The best travel cards offer a large sum of points or miles for new card membership if you spend a set amount on purchases during the introductory period. You may not qualify for the signup bonus if you recently owned the same card or another from the same issuer.
0% APR offer on purchases and balance transfer transactions: This perk is less prevalent among travel cards than it is among cash back credit cards. It may come in handy if you are planning an expensive vacation and want to finance the cost over several months. A 0% APR balance transfer promotion can help you consolidate your debt.
Travel benefits: Each travel card creates a unique array of benefits that make traveling more secure and less costly. As detailed below, the range of benefits is broad and includes goodies such as trip insurance, free baggage check, and rental car collision damage waiver, among others.
Other benefits: Travel cards usually offer nontravel benefits since most of us can’t be on vacation all the time. Look for perks such as purchase protection, extended warranties, and $0 fraud liability.
Our CardRates.com rating system consolidates all these considerations into an easy-to-compare score between zero and 5. One valuable benefit of this system is that you’re likely to find highly ranked cards that charge low or no annual fees.
Focus on Travel Benefits
Many consumers look beyond a travel card’s reward structure to its package of benefits that add value, convenience, and security to one’s travel plans. A card’s travel benefits may include:
Access to select dining and entertainment experiences
Very few credit cards provide all these benefits, but the best credit card options, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Capital One VentureX Rewards Credit Card, come close.
Thankfully, you can find travel cards that offer many benefits at a considerably lower cost.
3. Can I Use a Travel Credit Card For Anything?
While card issuers may optimize travel credit cards for travelers, you can use them as you would any other credit card. The difference is that their top-tier rewards and benefits predominantly favor travelers, whether they’re flying on airlines, cruising the oceans, staying in hotels, or renting cars.
All the reviewed cards offer at least 1X points or miles on all eligible purchases, including groceries, clothing, electronics, dining, and fuel. Most of these cards reserve their higher reward levels, generally 2X to 5X, for travel purchase items.
Some travel cards provide a flat reward rate (i.e., 1.5X to 2X) on all eligible purchases. No matter how you accumulate your rewards, you can redeem them to pay for airline tickets and other travel expenses.
Travel cards highlight the benefits travelers want most, from airport lounge access to travel insurance. But many also provide generic benefits, including extended warranties and fraud protection.
If you travel often, you may want to consider supplementing your travel credit card with a cash back card that offers generous rewards on non-travel purchases. You can then use your cash rewards to pay travel expenses, knowing that all your purchases earn top reward rates.
4. What Credit Score Do I Need to Get a Travel Credit Card?
You need good to excellent credit to qualify for most travel credit cards. That translates to a minimum FICO Score of about 670, more or less.
You generally need at least good credit to qualify for a travel rewards card unless you’re a student.
Of course, this score doesn’t guarantee approval; conversely, some folks with lower scores may qualify for a travel card.
Borderline scores can prompt a card issuer to rely on other information to determine approval, such as recent credit history, income, and debt. In most cases, issuers provide instant decisions when you apply for a card.
5. Which Travel Credit Card Is the Easiest to Get?
Identifying which travel credit cards are easier to get than others is challenging. Looking at travel cards with a low annual fee is a good starting place. They offer modest perks and may be more willing to approve applicants that other cards wouldn’t.
Naturally, a high annual fee makes a travel card harder to afford.
Co-branded airline and hotel cards may also provide easier approval. These cards limit rewards to a particular airline or hotel (and affiliates) and therefore serve as marketing tools. The issuers may be willing to approve somewhat riskier applicants as the price for brand loyalty.
Without a doubt, students get the best credit card deals. If you are enrolled at least half-time at a college or trade school, you can get a student credit card that requires no credit history. Some of these are travel cards, including the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students, that provide point or mile rewards and other high-quality perks.
Look for student travel cards that don’t charge an annual or foreign transaction fee and offer signup bonuses and 0% APR promotions to new cardmembers.
6. How Can a Travel Credit Card Improve My Vacation?
Chase, American Express, Capital One, and other issuers operate travel departments that can help you plan and book your vacation. The catch is that you must use the issuer’s card to pay for the trip. The credit card travel departments give you personalized service for free, whereas traditional travel agencies usually charge significant fees.
Nothing improves a vacation more than free airline tickets, seat upgrades, and free nights at a hotel. Travel credit cards deliver these rewards when you accumulate the necessary points or miles. But it doesn’t stop there.
Vacationers love perks, and the better travel cards provide them in spades. Free access to airport lounges sets the right mood even before you board your flight. Around-the-clock concierge service simplifies many tasks, from booking dinner reservations to obtaining tickets for exclusive events. And while no one likes travel delays, trip insurance can help ease that pain.
With travel cards and most things in life, you get what you pay for. If you want major pampering during your vacation, be ready to shell out several hundred dollars a year in credit card annual fees. The best travel cards partially offset these fees by providing travel credits and reimbursements.
For example, Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a handsome annual travel credit and reimburses your TSA PreCheck expenses. The result is a much lower cost of ownership, making it one of the best travel credit card values.
A 0% introductory APR is another excellent vacation benefit for new cardmembers. You can use this feature to spread out your vacation payments interest-free for at least six months.
If you are considering a new travel card, pay attention to the signup bonus. Getting the card and then using it to book your vacation may satisfy the bonus spending requirement and shower you with points or miles.
Are you planning to rent a car during your vacation? Many travel cards provide free collision damage waiver (CDW) coverage, but only a few offer primary CDW. A primary policy means you may not need to file a claim with your insurance company should a collision occur.
Don’t discount the surprising little things that add spark to your vacation. Some travel cards give you a discount on in-flight purchases, including those lovely little screw cap bottles with the fancy labels.
And, really, can’t you find a better use for your money than to pay for baggage check? Several credit cards pick up the tab for one or two bags per traveler.
7. Do Travel Credit Cards Offer Non-Travel Benefits?
Yes, most credit cards have a core set of benefits offered to cardholders, such as zero fraud liability. Benefits vary by issuer and card, but other examples of non-travel benefits include purchase protection and free credit score tracking.
We mentioned earlier a few non-travel benefits these cards offer, but let’s take a closer look:
Purchase Protection: The card covers you against the loss or theft of purchased items for a set period, often six months to a year.
Price Protection: Your card will give you a refund for the difference in price if an item you bought with the card within a set period is available for a lower cost than what you paid for it.
Extended Warranties: The card adds a year to the basic warranty on eligible items. Several constraints usually apply, so read the fine print carefully.
No Foreign Transaction Fee: You’ll save 2% or more on every purchase you make when traveling abroad by not paying a foreign transaction fee.
Roadside Assistance: This is a handy benefit when your car breaks down, has a flat tire, or runs out of fuel.
Subscriptions: Your card may offer free or reduced-cost subscriptions to streaming services, food delivery companies, and downloadable periodicals.
$0 Fraud Liability: This standard benefit covers you when your card is lost or stolen.
The non-travel benefits available from your travel card make owning other credit cards less important.
8. What Are Co-Branded Travel Cards?
A co-branded travel credit card is a joint venture between a travel-related company and a credit card issuer. Airlines such as United, American, Delta, and Southwest work with Chase, Amex, and other banks to offer travel credit cards with narrowly focused rewards. Hotel chains, such as Hilton and Marriott, also issue co-branded travel cards.
The miles you earn from a co-branded airline credit card are the same frequent flyer miles you collect to travel on the airline. Contrast this with general-purpose travel cards that issue points or miles that pay any eligible travel expense at a fixed rate (e.g., $1 per 100 points or miles).
Some implications of using co-branded travel cards include:
Redemption: You can redeem these cards only with the co-branded issuer. That’s fine if you always fly the same airline or stay at the same hotel chain but less valuable if you don’t have brand loyalty. You would need several co-branded travel cards to give you the same reward coverage as a conventional travel card.
Value: The value of each airline mile is unclear, and the number of miles you need for a free flight depends on several factors. These include the airline’s frequent flyer program rules, the flight date, time, departure/arrival locations, and the seating class. ValuePenguin conducted a survey revealing the airline miles required for one free flight ranges from 5,000 to 147,000.
Expiration: Some co-branded cards allow miles to expire if you don’t redeem them within a set period. That’s seldom true for conventional points or miles.
Transfers: You can’t transfer co-branded miles to an unaffiliated airline or hotel, and the issuer usually doesn’t allow you to cash out your miles. Most general-purpose travel cards let you transfer your points or miles to a partnering loyalty program or redeem them for cash.
Clearly, understanding how to value your co-branded air miles requires extensive research.
9. What Is the Difference Between Points and Miles?
Credit card rewards can take the form of cash back, points, or miles. Cash back is the easiest to value, as a dollar is worth, well, a dollar. Points and miles are not as transparent.
Points are versatile. You can use them to pay for purchases, convert them to cash, or transfer them to partnering loyalty programs. In most cases, points are worth one cent each.
But a few credit cards enhance point values when you redeem them with the issuer’s travel agency. For example, when you use your Chase Sapphire Reserve® points to purchase airline tickets via the Chase Ultimate Rewards website, the points increase in value by 50%.
On the other hand, American Express Membership Rewards points are worth less than one cent each when you cash them in. The only way to know the exact value of reward points is to read the card’s disclosure documents.
Miles differ from points in several ways. Their primary purpose is to pay for travel, although some credit cards let you use them for other travel-related expenses.
Many mileage cards do not let you convert your miles to cash. If you want to do so, you must sell your miles on a third-party website.
Miles come in two varieties:
General-purpose miles: Non-co-branded miles are similar to points. You can use them to pay for travel regardless of brand, a handy feature if you fly on multiple airlines or stay at different hotels. As with points, general-purpose miles are usually worth one cent each. Discover it® Miles exemplifies the type of credit card that offers general-purpose reward miles. You can use the card’s miles to pay for travel and other expenses. The card even allows you to convert your miles to cash.
Loyalty miles: These are the miles you earn with a co-branded travel card, such as the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®. They are the same frequent flyer miles you collect for your spending at a co-branding airline or hotel chain. You can use loyalty miles to pay for issuer-related purchases and perhaps for other travel expenses. You can’t use the miles to pay for a competitor’s offerings — your AAdvantage miles won’t get you a flight on Delta. You may be able to use miles on a partner airline as well. Miles can pay for your flight but won’t cover international taxes or fuel surcharges.
You must review an airline’s award chart to know how many frequent flyer miles you’ll need for a free ticket. For example, a survey found the following frequent flyer mile requirements to buy a one-way economy ticket one month in advance from New York City to Los Angeles:
Air Canada: 7,500 – 12,500 Alaska Airlines: 5,000 – 23,000 American Airlines: 12,500 – 30,000 Delta Air Lines: 15,000 JetBlue: 10,000 – 20,000 Southwest Airlines: 15,000 United Airlines: 12,500 Virgin America: 8,000 – 13,000
The wide variation in mileage requirements shows how the value of miles can vary significantly. The mileage range for each airline indicates the difference in price based on various departure dates and times.
More expensive cabin classes require additional miles. For example, JetBlue requires up to 150,000 miles for a first-class seat.
Here are some tips for using co-branded air miles:
The cheapest seat may require more miles than a more expensive seat.
International flights require more miles than do domestic flights.
Award charts and online travel search engines may not reflect an airline’s dynamic pricing policy, in which real-time supply and demand determine seat cost. You may have to use online tools such as Escape to find up-to-the-second ticket prices, although these tools accept only cash purchases, not frequent flyer redemptions.
Upper-class seats cost more, but they also offer a better dollar-to-mile ratio. You get more value by redeeming your miles for business or first-class seats.
You may be able to use your miles retroactively to pay for tickets you’ve already purchased. Pay for your tickets (including all taxes and fees) using the co-branded card, and then apply your accumulated miles as a statement credit to pay the credit card bill.
Planning is the key to getting the most value from your credit card miles and gives you time to find the best available deals.
10. How Do I Get the Most Value From a Travel Card?
Travel cards can elevate your lifestyle when you use them intelligently. Avoiding paying interest and fees on these cards is a good starting point, but pay attention to your reward options to maximize the card’s value.
If you’re going to plunk down some significant coinage to obtain a travel card, you’d like to extract maximum value from it. Here are a few tips:
Choose the right type of travel card: General-purpose travel cards are more versatile than their co-branded cousins, which means you can use their rewards at any airline or hotel. Co-branded cards make sense if you are a fan of a specific brand. Alternatively, you may want to own several co-branded cards if you travel often but have eclectic tastes. Many co-branded cards have annual fees that limit their appeal unless you use them frequently.
Compare signup bonuses: Issuers attract new cardmembers by offering generous signup bonuses. It’s a good idea to compare a card’s bonus rewards against those of its competitors. You also want to evaluate the size of the bonus against the card’s annual fee — a big signup bonus is worth less if you must pay a $500 annual fee.
Compare rewards: All things being equal, you’d prefer to earn 4X rewards on travel purchases instead of 3X or less. Compare competing cards to see which one offers rewards that match your lifestyle best.
Pay attention to special purchase rates: Some travel cards offer higher reward rates when you book your travel through their internal travel agencies. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card card provides its highest reward rate for purchases made on the Chase Ultimate Rewards website.
Maximize redemption value: As mentioned earlier, several credit cards boost the value of their rewards when you redeem them through a card’s travel agency (such as Capital One Travel). It’s wise to get the most value from your points or miles. It may be a mistake to convert points (or, if permitted, miles) to cash if they are worth more when they’re applied directly to travel expenses.
Consider reward transfers: Sometimes, your points may be worth more if you transfer them to a partnering loyalty program. The best deals provide a transfer ratio of 1:1 or better.
Take advantage of credits: Several travel cards offer one or more credits that reimburse travel-related expenses. These may include general yearly travel credits, reimbursements for TSA PreCheck fees, and anniversary bonus point awards.
Avoid interest: Even the best credit cards charge double-digit interest rates on balances you carry across billing cycles. If possible, pay your monthly balance and avoid interest charges. If you are planning an expensive vacation, consider getting a credit card with a 0% intro APR.
Never miss a due date: Late fees, which are typically around $40/incident, reduce the overall value of your card. You can set up autopayments to ensure you never miss a deadline. Also, some cards charge for overdrafts, so avoid these as well.
Increase your credit line: If your card has granted you a modest credit limit, ask for more. A higher limit means you can charge bigger vacations on a single card. You should typically wait six to 12 months before requesting a credit increase.
Add authorized users: You’ll collect rewards faster if you add authorized users to your card. It’s nice to receive the points or miles for user purchases, but know that authorized users are not legally liable for the charges.
Consider charging your rent: Some landlords accept credit card payments, but you may have to pay an interchange fee. The strategy makes sense when your credit card’s rewards exceed the extra charge.
Collect referral fees: Some cards may pay you bonus rewards or a fixed cash amount for referring new cardmembers.
11. Which Card Is Best For Airport Lounges?
Airport lounges are hot nowadays. Credit card issuers know this and compete for customers by offering free or discounted lounge access. Our top three selections for airport lounge access are:
You may need to read reviews about the different lounge networks, as some are more opulent than others. Do you need a place to take a quick shower, grab a nap, or enjoy a delightful complimentary cocktail? Some lounges deliver all three; others don’t.
You’ll also want to verify which lounges reside at your local airport and your usual destinations. Some credit card issuers, such as Chase and Capital One, are rolling out their lounges slowly and only at a few airports so far.
For the frequent business traveler, airport lounge access can be a valuable perk that lets you recharge your batteries, literally and figuratively, before your next conquest.
12. Can I Cash Out My Travel Rewards?
Travel cards with point rewards usually allow you to cash out. But many co-branded points or miles cards do not give you this option.
For example, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card will let you use your points to buy gift cards, but you can’t convert them directly to cash. The points reportedly have a low redemption rate when you use them for gift cards.
If your travel card doesn’t allow cash redemptions, you may want to try an online mile-selling portal. The procedure is simple:
Get a quote for your miles by specifying their type and number
Allow the portal to verify your account details and authorize payment
Receive payment, typically via PayPal or a check
The amount you’ll receive depends on the supply and demand for your points.
Now for the big caveat: Airline frequent flyer programs don’t allow you to sell your miles. They have the technology to detect unusual account activity. If they catch you, they will likely cancel your miles.
If you don’t want to risk selling your miles to a broker, consider gifting them to family or friends. The transaction is supposed to be profit-free, but I’m betting you can work out a private arrangement with the recipient. Gifting is an excellent way to avoid losing miles that are about to expire.
Another alternative is to purchase goods and services with your co-branded points or miles. Check your card for details.
13. Is It Worth Getting a Travel Card?
You don’t need a travel card, but if you regularly spend money on flights, hotels, and rental cars, owning one can make great sense. As always, the devil is in the details, meaning you must evaluate a travel card’s unique mix of costs and benefits to judge whether it’s right for you.
On the plus side, you will likely earn a nice signup bonus, generous rewards, and valuable benefits. Cards that include travel insurance can come in very handy when things go sideways, and perks such as collision damage waiver and free baggage check can save you big bucks.
The only downside is the cost. Yes, the top travel cards have annual fees starting at around $400. But there are two mitigating facts:
Expensive travel cards can pay for themselves through discounts, rewards, and credits.
Several very good travel cards exist with annual fees below $100. They don’t offer the same perks as the more expensive cards, but they still represent a good value.
It’s easy to make a case for general-purpose travel cards. Co-branded cards can be problematic due to their various restrictions. But if you like to use a particular airline or hotel chain, they are worth considering.
Editorial Note: Our site content is not provided or commissioned by any credit card issuer(s). Opinions expressed on CardRates.com are the author's alone, not those of any credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by credit card issuers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information; however, all credit card offer details, including information about rewards, signup bonuses, introductory offers, and other terms and conditions, is presented without warranty. Clicking on any offer on CardRates.com will direct you to the issuer's website, where you can review the current terms and conditions of the offer.
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About the Author
Eric Bank
Finance Expert
Eric Bank has been covering business and financial topics since 1985, specializing in taking complex subject matters and explaining them in simple terms for consumer audiences. In addition to his work on CardRates.com, Eric has appeared regularly on Credible.com, eHow, WiseBread, The Nest, Get.com, Zacks, Chron and dozens of other outlets. A former software engineer, Eric holds an M.B.A. from New York University and an M.S. in finance from DePaul University.
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