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Everything You Need to Know About Earning and Redeeming Airline Miles

Want to fly for free? Here's everything you need to know about earning and using airline miles.

onurdongel/Getty Images

If you're thinking about dipping your toe in the airline miles game, don't delay. While points and miles can often feel overwhelming, it's easy to handle the basics — and that's enough to get you free flights and upgrades. Best of all, every frequent flier program is free to join, and you don't even have to be a frequent flier to sign up. We're here to help you understand airline miles so that you can start boosting your travel experience ASAP.

What to Know About Airline Miles

Airline miles — sometimes referred to as airline points, frequent flier miles, or award miles — are a form of currency used in frequent flier programs. Generally speaking, you earn miles for flying with an airline, and you redeem those miles for free flights, upgrades, or other purchases. Some credit cards also have similar points and miles rewards programs, but airline miles are specific to an airline (and sometimes its partners). Airline miles are often valued anywhere from just below one cent to two cents per mile.

How to Earn Airline Miles

There are numerous ways to earn airline miles, and they vary based on the specific frequent flier program. In order to earn airline miles, you must be signed up for an airline's frequent flier program — this is free to do, and you can sign up for multiple airlines' programs.

Flying with an airline (and sometimes its partners) is the primary way most travelers earn airline miles. For each flight you take, you'll receive a certain number of miles; the exact number of miles depends on your airline's policy. Most airlines base the number of miles awarded on either the distance flown or the amount paid for the ticket. Just remember that you must input your frequent flier number on your booking to earn airline miles. (Although you can request miles after your trip if you forget to add your number before). 

Using Airline Credit Cards

If you have a co-branded airline credit card , you will likely be able to earn one to three airline miles for every dollar you spend on that card. Pay attention to earning bonuses for certain categories, which vary per card. In many cases, you'll earn higher bonuses for paying for flights with your credit card directly through the airline — for example, five miles per dollar instead of one mile per dollar.

Transferring Points From Other Credit Cards

If you have a credit card that has its own points system — like Chase Ultimate Rewards, AmEx Membership Rewards , Citi ThankYou Points, and Bank of America Travel Rewards — you may be able to transfer those points into an airline frequent flier program. Airline partnerships vary by credit card issuer.

Shopping and Dining Partnerships

Some airlines have e-shopping portals through which any purchases will earn you miles. Similarly, some airlines also have dining partnerships that reward you for eating at eligible restaurants.

Related: How to Get More Miles With AAdvantage Dining — No Flights Required

Other Partnerships

Many airlines develop partnerships with rental car companies and hotel groups, so if you rent a car or book a room with one of these partners, you can actually earn airline miles. Typically you're not able to "double dip" and earn miles or points for both the airline and the travel partner, so advanced points players will want to be strategic about which account earns the points. Some airlines allow you to link your account to other businesses, too, like Lyft and Starbucks.

Me 3645 Studio/Getty Images

How to Redeem Airline Miles

Many travelers use airline miles to book free flights and pay for upgrades, but there are other ways to spend them.

Once you accumulate enough miles — at least a few thousand, but more realistically a few tens of thousands — you'll be able to spend those miles on flights. Since miles are free, you're essentially getting free flights, but there is a tiny catch. You'll still have to pay taxes and fees on the flight, which usually nets out to less than $100 per ticket. 

To use miles as payment for flights, you'll need to book your flights with the airline directly, not through a third-party booking site. When you search for the flights, simply click the box that says something to the effect of "pay with miles."

You can also use miles to upgrade to a higher class of service or preferred seats within your current cabin, such as an exit row seat. After you've made your booking, check your booking on the airline's website or app to see if upgrades are available. Keep in mind that some airlines price upgrades dynamically, meaning the price will change based on demand. So if you don't like the price you see for an upgrade, you can take your chances to see if it will drop. But beware — the cabin could fill up before you find the price you like, leaving you in economy.

Other Redemptions

Each airline offers miles redemptions outside of flights and upgrades. You can use miles to pay for other aspects of air travel, from lounge memberships to top-shelf drinks in the lounges to in-flight WiFi, depending on the airline. But you can also use miles to pay for other parts of your travel experience too, including hotels, car rentals, and even special events or experiences. 

Airline Miles and Elite Status

While airline miles and elite status are both part of a carrier's frequent flier program, they're two distinct branches with different purposes. Airline miles are simply an airline-specific currency, whereas elite status is a rewards program where you earn perks typically based on how much you spend and how much you fly with an airline. If you're not flying enough to achieve elite status, don't worry — you can still earn airline miles without it. But those with elite status do earn more miles per flight than non-elite members of a frequent flier program.

Kiwis/Getty Images

Tips for Making the Most of Your Airline Miles

Use award calendars to find the best deals..

The more flexible you are with timing, the more likely you are to score a great miles redemption deal. Most airlines allow you to view award flights on a calendar, showing you the best deals across an entire month. Sometimes bumping your flight earlier or later by a few days can net you huge savings.

Keep expiration dates in mind.

Each airline has a different policy when it comes to expiration dates. Some airlines have no expiration dates for miles, while others set expiration dates based on your most recent account activity. Read the fine print to ensure your hard-earned miles don't expire before you can use them.

Research change fees.

While you can typically change flights booked with miles, there's often a fee associated with any amendments, but this depends on the airline. If you want to cancel your booking made with miles, you can often redeposit those miles back into your account for a fee, with fees varying by airline.

Don't agonize over the redemption value of your miles.

It's natural to want the best bang for your buck — or in this case, redemption for your miles. But there's no reason to agonize over the value of your redemption. The threshold for a "good" redemption is unique to each individual and their circumstances at any given time. At the end of the day, anything you put your miles toward will be (mostly) free, and that's always a good price.

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An expert's easy guide to everything you need to know to get started with travel points and airline miles © Wera Rodsawang / Getty

This series of articles about credit cards, points and miles, and budgeting for travel is brought to you in partnership with The Points Guy.

Advertiser Disclosure:  This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. This relationship may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. All information about the Hilton Honors Business Card, the United Club℠ Business Card, and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card have been collected independently by Lonely Planet. These cards are not available through Lonely Planet. 

When I got into the points and miles world a decade ago, it was a niche “hobby,” and there were few resources to help newbies get started. I had to dig through countless blogs, forums and read loyalty program terms and conditions obsessively to learn all the tips and tricks. Nowadays, social media is swarming with travel optimizers leveraging points and miles for exotic vacations that would otherwise cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Miles and points can be an excellent way to save money on travel, regardless of your objectives. By signing up for airline loyalty programs and credit cards, you can save up for discounted flights, free hotel stays, car rentals and more. Not only does travel become more accessible with points and miles, but you can upgrade your travel experience significantly by flying in first class and staying in luxury hotels. 

If you’ve been curious about points and miles but unsure how to get started, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s everything you need to know to get started:

How to make a travel budget using points and miles

Start with a travel goal: dream big

Setting a travel goal before earning points and miles is an essential first step. By setting a goal, you can determine which loyalty program best suits your needs and maximize its earning potential. If you’re a budget traveler, you’ll need to earn different points than if your goal was a luxury vacation. Figuring out what you’ll use your points for can also help you determine whether credit card annual fees are worth paying to achieve that goal. 

You don’t want to earn points without purpose and realize (too late) that you can’t travel to your dream destination with those rewards. Or that the airline you’ve saved up miles for your family vacation only releases 1-2 seats in the cabin you hoped to fly. Planning ahead and setting goals is the crucial first step in mapping out your rewards strategy.

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Find the best loyalty program to fit your needs

When looking for the best loyalty program to fit your needs, consider what type of rewards you’re looking for. There are three primary types of loyalty points you should familiarize yourself with. Ideally, you should diversify by having at least two types of points readily available: Airline miles, hotel points and transferable rewards. 

You may decide that hotel points don’t fit your travel goals because you prefer boutique hotels or cheap bookings through travel agencies. You can certainly go without earning hotel points. You may even decide you don’t want to fly in the near future, and airline miles aren’t useful for your goals. However, transferable rewards are one type of currency you don’t want to skip out on. They’re a good fit for virtually any traveler and provide the ultimate redemption flexibility. 

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Airline miles can take you far

Most airline miles can be used for virtually any travel expense, but the best redemption is for flights. You’ll get the most value from airline miles by using them for international business and first-class travel, though there are always exceptions. Airlines like Delta , Air France and KLM often run award travel sales , discounting economy tickets by as much as 50%.

Which miles you should earn depends on your travel goals and which airline your local airport is serviced by. If you live in San Francisco, you have many options since all the major airlines serve that airport with both domestic and international flights. A great way to determine which airlines and routes are available is to visit your local airport's Wikipedia page. See the “airlines and destinations” section for a comprehensive list. 

If you want to travel internationally, your best bet is to earn miles from an airline that is part of an airline alliance: One World, Star Alliance or SkyTeam. Alliances can help you travel to more places since your miles can be redeemed on partner airlines. 

If you want to stick to domestic travel, look at airlines primarily serving those markets. Southwest Airlines is a popular option for West Coast travelers; while JetBlue has a vast network on the East Coast and is expanding to international markets. 

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Transferable rewards

Transferable rewards are the ideal points currency to start. They provide the most flexibility since you can redeem them at a flat rate towards travel purchases or transfer them to select airline and hotel loyalty points. Why is this so crucial? Because airline miles and hotel points are constantly getting devalued – sometimes with no notice. Transferable rewards protect you against these devaluations because you’re not tied to a single currency.

For example, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club recently increased redemption rates for All Nippon Airways (ANA) first-class tickets by 42%. Overnight, without notice, these awards now cost 145,000 points round trip from the West Coast and 170,000 from the East Coast. That left a lot of customers frustrated who had been saving up for that award and now it costs significantly more. 

If you have been earning transferable rewards – specifically American Express Membership Rewards – you’re in luck. Because Membership Rewards is also a 1:1 transfer partner of ANA Mileage Club, which charges 150,000 miles roundtrip for these trips. Instead of transferring your miles to a devalued Virgin Atlantic program, you can transfer them to ANA Mileage Club and 20,000 points on East Coast-departing flights.

Some good transferable rewards options include American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou points.

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Hotel points

Hotel points are great for covering hotels and even vacation homes during your travels. Seven major hotel chains are worth considering: Accor Live Limitless, Choice Privileges, Hilton Honors, IHG One, Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt and Wyndham Rewards. These programs partner with transferable rewards currencies, so you don’t need a designated hotel credit card to earn their points. 

Marriott is the largest hotel chain in the world, while Hyatt is popular for its exceptional elite benefits and being one of the few hotels that still publishes an award chart. IHG One has a vast network of budget and luxury hotels, while Hilton can be found virtually anywhere in the world. Wyndham is excellent for families since free nights start at just 1500 points per bedroom. Wyndham has a vast network of timeshares you can book in popular destinations like Hawaii and Las Vegas, making it a great choice to stretch your points further and provide more space for large groups.

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Start earning points and miles 

Earning points and miles used to require extensive travel, but that’s not the case anymore. Many airlines offer rewards programs that allow you to earn miles by shopping with their partners, using their credit cards, booking hotels and rental cars through them, dining out and shopping with their retail partners. Some methods require minimal effort, making it easy to accrue enough points for your dream vacation. Here’s how to earn points and miles without actually traveling:

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Credit cards with perks and benefits

Credit cards are the single best way to earn points and miles quickly. The best credit cards offer welcome bonuses ranging from 50,000 or more after you complete a spending requirement. When evaluating credit cards, consider the welcome bonus, your travel goals and spending habits. Be sure to get a credit card that rewards your most significant spending categories (i.e., groceries, dining, gas, travel) at a reasonable annual fee. 

You should also consider credit card perks that might improve your travel experience and lower out-of-pocket costs, like airline fee credits, free checked bags and elite status upgrades. These benefits can save you money on travel and offset the annual fees on these cards. 

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Shopping portals to save

Every major airline and hotel loyalty program has a shopping portal where members get rewarded for shopping with popular retailers. All you have to do is click through these portals to your favorite retailer and you’ll automatically earn extra rewards for every dollar spent. The exact amount varies by retailer, but you’ll typically earn at least 1 additional point per dollar spent. Here’s a list of shopping portals affiliated with popular loyalty programs:

• Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Shopping
• American Airlines AAdvantage eShopping
• Barclays RewardsBoost
• Chase Ultimate Rewards Shopping
• Delta SkyMiles Shopping
• JetBlue TrueBlue Shopping
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Shopping
• United Airlines MileagePlus Shopping

During the holidays and back-to-school season, many portals offer additional bonuses for meeting certain spending thresholds. To find the highest payouts, you can head to Cashback Monitor and enter the retailer name you want to shop with. You’ll get a list of the shopping portals offering the highest rewards with that retailer. 

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Dining rewards programs

Earning points with dining rewards programs is one of the easiest ways to earn miles on autopilot. It’s as simple as signing up for the program, registering your credit card and then using it at participating restaurants. You’ll earn up to 8 points for every dollar spent, plus additional bonuses for writing reviews and meeting specific spending requirements. Most of these dining rewards programs are run by the same rewards network, so you can’t register the same credit card with multiple programs at a time. 

You can even register a debit card if you don’t have credit, allowing you to earn points with every purchase automatically. 

• Alaska Mileage Plan Dining : Earn 1,500 Mileage Plan miles after spending $30 and writing a review within 30 days. Plus, earn up to 5 miles per $1 at participating restaurants.
• American AAdvantage Dining : Earn 500 AAdvantage miles after spending $25 within 30 days of registering and writing a review, plus up to 5 miles per $1 at participating restaurants.
• Delta SkyMiles Dining : Earn 500 SkyMiles after spending $30 within 30 days, plus up to 1 per $1 at participating restaurants.
• Free Spirit Dining : Earn 500 Free Spirit bonus points after spending $30 within 30 days of joining and writing a review, plus up to 5 miles per $1 at participating restaurants.
• Hilton Honors Dining : Earn 500 points after spending $25 within 30 days and writing a review. Plus, earn up to 8 points per $1 at participating restaurants.
• IHG Rewards Dining : Earn 1,000 IHG points after spending $30 within 30 days of joining and writing a review. Plus, earn up to 8 points per $1 at participating restaurants.
• JetBlue TrueBlue Dining : Earn 3 points per $1 at participating restaurants.
• Marriott Eat Around Town : Earn up to 6,000 Bonvoy points after spending $90 over three visits within 60 days. Plus, earn up to 6 points per $1 at participating restaurants.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining : Earn 500 points after spending $25 within 30 days and writing a review. Plus, earn up to 3 miles per $1 at participating restaurants.
• United MileagePlus Dining : Earn 500 MileagePlus miles after spending $25 within 30 days of joining and writing a review, plus up to 5 miles per $1 at participating restaurants.

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Sign up for bonus point promotions

To earn the most points possible, you need to sign up for bonus points promotions. Both hotels and airlines periodically offer these on stays and flights. Members have to register for most promotions to earn extra points and miles. Hilton routinely offers double points on stays, while Hyatt gravitates towards flat-rate bonuses (i.e., 1000 bonus points per stay). 

You can navigate to the “offers” page of most hotel and airline loyalty websites to find the latest one. You can also sign up for offers from each program, so you’ll never miss one. Most email notifications allow you to register for promotions with just one click.

If you don’t want an inbox full of promotional emails from loyalty programs, consider setting up a separate email just for that purpose. That way, you keep those emails separate from personal and business emails, assuring you don’t miss out on important messages while staying in the loop.

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Work on earning elite status

Once you’ve figured out which points and miles to earn, it’s time to consider elite status. Airlines and hotels bestow elite status on their most loyal customers. Earning elite status typically requires a lot of traveling, but the benefits pay off in spades. Top-tier elites qualify for upgrades, freebies (checked bags, breakfast, etc.), bonus points and other valuable perks. If you’re planning a trip, having elite status (or some way to leverage those trips for fast-tracking status) can be immensely beneficial. 

Perks like complimentary breakfast and executive lounge access can cut your food budget down significantly while providing convenience during your travels. Free checked bags can add up to hundreds of dollars in savings on a single trip. But you don’t have to fly or stay at hotels frequently to earn status. Most airlines and hotels allow you to earn elite status through credit cards alone. 

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American AAdvantage

American Airlines switched to a new elite status scheme where you earn 1 Loyalty Point for every dollar spent. That includes credit card spending, shopping portal purchases, dining rewards, and everything else. This can help you earn status faster, especially if you have a co-branded credit card. 

American Airlines has five credit cards you can earn Loyalty Points with: The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Mastercard®, Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®, Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive Mastercard®, CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® and AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®. The AAdvantage Executive Card even comes with 10,000 bonus Loyalty Points annually when you spend at least $40,000 on the card. 

You earn AAdvantage Gold status after earning 40,000 Loyalty Points and can earn top-tier Executive Platinum status after 200,000.

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Delta SkyMiles

Delta has introduced a  new way to earn Medallion Status. Learn more at  delta.com/skymilesprogramchanges .

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Hilton Honors

Hilton is the only hotel loyalty program that offers top-tier status just for having a credit card. The Hilton Honors Aspire Card* has a $450 annual fee but gets you instant Hilton Diamond status. Diamond members enjoy complimentary breakfast or food and beverage credits at most hotels, executive lounge access (think: complimentary afternoon tea, evening appetizers, etc.), 100% bonus points, space-available room upgrades and more. Cardholders also get an annual free night, a $250 resort credit at participating hotels, a $250 airline fee credit and lots of other valuable perks. If you want to bypass Hilton’s 60-night or 30-stay requirement for Diamond status, the Aspire Card is the way to do it. 

For a cheaper alternative (and lower status), you can opt for the following Hilton cards:

• Hilton Honors American Express Card   (no annual fee, see rates and fees ): Hilton Honors Silver status. Upgrade to Gold after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year.
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card  ($150 annual fee, see rates and fees ): Hilton Honors Gold status. Upgrade to Diamond after spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year.
• Hilton Honors American Express Business Credit Card  ($95 annual fee, see rates and fees ): Hilton Honors Gold status.

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JetBlue TrueBlue

JetBlue recently switched to a “tile” system for determining Mosaic elite status. Members earn 1 tile for every $100 spent, and it takes 50 tiles to reach the first elite status tier. Alternatively, members can earn 1 tile for every $1000 in credit card spending. Mosaic 1 status unlocks valuable benefits like two free checked bags, priority boarding and security, extra-legroom seat upgrades and more. JetBlue currently has two credit cards you can earn tiles with: The no-annual-fee JetBlue Card and The JetBlue Plus Card, which has a $99 annual fee.

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Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott has four credit cards that provide automatic elite status or credit towards it. The highest status tier is offered by the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card , which offers Bonvoy Platinum status. Platinum is the second highest tier in the Bonvoy program and usually requires 50 nights per year. Platinum members earn 50% more bonus points on stays and receive complimentary room upgrades, a welcome gift choice at check-in, late checkout and other valuable perks. If the card’s $650 annual fee  (see rates and fees)  is outside of your budget, you can opt for one of these other Marriott cards to earn status faster:

• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card ($95 annual fee): Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card  (no annual fee): Earn 30,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months from account opening. Plus, Earn up to 14X total points for every $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card *  ($250 annual fee, see rates and fees ): Automatic Bonvoy Gold elite status, plus 15 elite night credits annually towards the next tier. 

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United MileagePlus

To earn elite status with United Airlines, you have to hit one of two metrics: Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF) or Premier Qualifying Points (PQP). You can even opt out of the PQF requirement by earning a higher PQP. United Premier status starts at Silver, which requires 12 PQF and 4,000 PQP or just 5,000 PQP. PQFs are earned from segments flown, while PQPs are earned at 1 per $1 spent on qualifying United purchases. 

United Premier elites receive complimentary seat upgrades (to Economy Plus and above), free checked bags, bonus miles on flights and more. Rather than flying, you can earn United PQP through the following co-branded credit cards:

• United Quest℠ Card : Limited-time offer: Earn 70,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
• United Club℠ Infinite Card : Limited-time offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Earn up to 10,000 Premier qualifying points (25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases).
• United Club℠ Business Card : Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 1,000 Premier qualifying points after you spend $5,000 in the first three months of account opening.

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Southwest Rapid Rewards

Southwest Airlines has three status tiers, and while you won’t receive flashy upgrades, the perks can be worthwhile. For example, you can earn a Companion Pass after 100 flights or 135,000 qualifying points for the remainder of the calendar year when the Companion Pass was earned and the following year. The companion you designate will then be able to fly with you free of charge, making it an excellent tool for families to save on travel. You can meet the 135,000-point requirement with the Southwest credit cards. 

The welcome bonus and every dollar spent count towards this requirement, and you can even combine multiple credit card bonuses. Every Southwest card earns 50,000 points after you spend $1000 in the first three months of account opening. The exception is the Premier Business card, which earns up to 60,000 points:

• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card :  Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card : Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card :   Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card : Earn 60,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first three months. 

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How to use points for travel

When you’re ready to redeem your miles, follow a few precautions to get the most value out of them. First, familiarize yourself with your program’s “sweet spot” awards. These are awards you can book for significantly less compared to other programs. Here’s a quick list of some of the best airline sweet spots you should consider when redeeming points:

• United flights within the U.S. or to Hawaii for 15,000 Turkish Airlines miles roundtrip: United often charges that (or more) for the same award. You can get Turkish miles by transferring Capital One miles to the program at a 1:1 ratio.
• Virgin Atlantic flight from the East Coast to London for 10,000 miles each way: You can transfer points to Virgin Atlantic from American Express, Bilt Rewards, Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou points.
• Star Alliance business class to Europe for 88,000 miles round-trip: ANA MileagePlan has one of the cheapest fares to Europe, almost half of what other Star Alliance carriers charge. You can get ANA miles by transferring American Express Membership Rewards to the program.

Some airlines also offer off-peak pricing, allowing you to save miles if you’re flexible with your travel dates. For example, Flying Blue discounts Air France and KLM flights worldwide by up to 50% when you book their Promo Rewards . American Airlines offers off-peak pricing to destinations worldwide if you’re willing to travel during the off-peak season. Familiarizing yourself with these programs can help you save on travel and stretch your miles further. 

The same goes for hotel loyalty programs: Hyatt discounts off-peak awards by up to 46%, while Marriott discounts hotels through its PointSavers program. You can save further on hotel redemptions by taking advantage of consecutive-night booking discounts offered by different programs:

• IHG: Fourth night free on award bookings for select IHG credit card holders.
• Hilton: Fifth night free on award bookings for Silver members and above.
• Marriott: Fifth night free on award bookings for all members.

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Frequently asked questions

How can i use my points for free flights.

Depending on the program, you can redeem points for flights directly through their website or by calling a customer service representative. 

How to use points and miles to save money on travel

How many frequent flyer miles does it take to get a free flight?

The number of frequent flyer miles needed for a free flight depends on the airline, destination, cabin and time of year. Some programs allow you to book flights for as little as 1800 miles, while long-haul first-class tickets can cost well over 150,000 miles round-trip.

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Are travel points worth it?

Travel points are worth it if you redeem them for upscale travel. You can save on flights and hotels by leveraging travel points even if you're a budget traveler. However, it may not be worth it if you don't like traveling or dealing with restrictions around redemptions.

How to get started with travel points and airline miles

How can I get airline miles quickly?

You can get airline miles quickly by signing up for co-branded credit cards and meeting their spending requirements. You can also earn additional miles through online shopping portals, dining rewards programs and more. Travel isn’t required to earn points and miles.

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*Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit  americanexpress.com  to learn more.

The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by Lonely Planet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.  

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

This article was first published Aug 11, 2023 and updated Jan 26, 2024.

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Simple Flying

How many aadvantage miles do you need for a free flight on american airlines.

The cheapest flights with American Airlines start at 7,500 miles and with partners at 5,000 miles.

• Dynamic pricing for American Airlines flights ranges above published starting rates.
• The lowest prices are found on short-haul domestic flights starting at 7,500 miles.
• AAdvantage offers fixed price awards for partner flights, starting at 5,000 miles.

AAdvantage is the loyalty program of American Airlines. Frequent flyers are awarded with perks and benefits when traveling, and also earn AAdvantage miles to use for free flight awards.

Many airlines have shifted to revenue-based earnings from flights and dynamic pricing of free award tickets. American Airlines was the last of the US legacy carriers to move to entirely dynamic pricing for awards on its flights. Partner awards are still priced at published fixed rates.

The lowest-priced American Airlines flights start at 7,500 miles

Starting prices are published for all routes (based on origin and destination zone). The shortest domestic flights within the US (between the contiguous 48 states and Canada) will start from 7,500 miles in the main cabin and 15,000 miles in business or first class. Standard taxes and fees (but no surcharges) are also payable. These are currently $5.60 for domestic flights.

Remember, though, that with dynamic pricing, flights may be available as you want but at a higher price than this. The only way to check is by using the AAdvantage search tool.

How To Spend American Airlines AAdvantage Miles

Mileage rates can vary significantly on all routes.

All flights now have published starting rates but can increase above this (with no published bands or maximums) with the dynamic pricing system. In reality, you should expect these dynamic prices to be based on the underlying cash ticket prices – but there is no defined value or rate.

AAdvantage publishes a table of the minimum starting prices for all awards by flight region. The lowest rates to Mexico and the Caribbean start at just 10,000 miles in the main cabin and to South America at just 15,000 miles. Further afield, long-haul flights to Europe start at 25,000 miles, and the longest routes to Asia and the Middle East start at 35,000 miles.

The full table of starting prices for all cabins is shown below.

In reality, it can be difficult to find flights at the lowest starting rates. All rates may appear higher on popular routes, especially when close to departure. The searches shown below highlight the variations for a few example routes.

• For example, on the New York to Chicago route, rates shown here vary between 9,000 and 16,500 miles despite the starting minimum rate of 7,500 miles.
• Adding a connection can lower the price. In the example between New York and Miami, adding a stop offers rates of 9,500 miles. For direct flights, rates are up to 14,500 miles.
• For international flights, premium cabin rates can go much higher. For example, between New York and London, business class flights below are priced between 287,000 and 400,000 - despite a starting minimum of 75,000 miles.

Finding the lowest award prices

Some general tips for finding the lowest rates include:

• Book as far in advance as possible. As with cash fares, rates are usually lower when booking in advance. Remember that the AAdvantage program has no fees for changes or cancelations of award tickets (as long as this is done before departure).
• Search flexibly for times and dates. With pricing potentially varying for every flight, looking at different options can pay off. A small change in time can make a big difference in price. The standard AAdvantage search engine will help with this, showing a range of times and offering connections.
• Search different routes. This is a bit more creative than just searching for different times. Flying to a different airport and taking a ground connection can also save significantly. Don’t just look at co-terminals in the same city - consider nearby alternative destinations.

For more tips on how to find the best award flight rates – in general – see our guide

Partner flights are fixed price – starting at 5,000 miles

As American Airlines is a member of the one world alliance, AAdvantage miles can be used for free flight awards on all one world member airlines. These are:

• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Finnair, Iberia
• Japan Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Air Maroc
• Royal Jordanian
• SriLankan Airlines

Read more about the one world alliance and its member airlines

AAdvantage prices partner flights differently from American Airlines flights. Award rates are based on zones and travel class. These fixed price awards allow multiple airlines and connections – but no stopovers (over 24 hours between flights).

This is a very flexible and potentially excellent value award pricing system. Many other loyalty programs have shifted away from this – using dynamic pricing and/or pricing each flight sector separately. While it lasts, AAdvantage still offers great flexibility and value here.

The lowest rates you will find are for short regional and domestic flights. Some of the lowest rates (in main cabin/economy class) include:

• Regional flights within Europe: 12,500 miles
• Regional flights within Asia (all except to/from Japan and Korea): 17,500 miles. In business class these are are just 22,500 miles – some of the best value awards available.
• Domestic flights in Japan: 7,500 miles.
• Domestic flights in Peru/Colombia/Ecuador/Argentina/Chile: 5,000 to 6,000 miles.

Above this, the fixed rates are as published in comprehensive tables on the AAdvantage website. The table below shows the rates for all partners from the US (contiguous 48 states and Canada). Separate tables are published for all other regions.

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Are you a member of the AAdvantage program, and do you collect and use miles for free flights? What rates do you normally find, and how do you feel about dynamic award pricing? Feel free to discuss in the comments section below.

Fifth-freedom routes: Flying top international airlines without setting foot in their home countries

Fifth-freedom routes are a unique quirk of aviation that gives North American travelers a chance to experience superior planes and service, often at a fraction of the cost. Have you ever booked a trip from the U.S. to Europe only to realize that your flight was operated by an Asian or Middle Eastern airline? If so, there's a good chance that you've stumbled across a fifth-freedom flight.

Technically speaking, a fifth-freedom flight is operated by a carrier between two countries, neither of which is the airline's home base. These routes are typically part of the service connecting those markets to the carrier's home country. For example, Emirates flies an Airbus A380 between Christchurch International Airport (CHC) in New Zealand and Sydney Airport (SYD) in Australia, with the same flight continuing from SYD to Dubai International Airport (DXB).

There are several reasons an airline can choose to do this. Range (Dubai to Sydney is already a 14-hour flight), gaining traffic in a new market and improving aircraft utilization are a few possible reasons.

Many fifth-freedom routes are operating worldwide, but here are some of the best for North American travelers to consider, plus how to book them using points and miles .

Fly from New York to Milan and Athens, Greece, with Emirates

Emirates' first class is one of the most aspirational bucket-list experiences you can imagine. Luckily, you don't have to go to Dubai to experience it.

Emirates operates two fifth-freedom routes from the New York area to Europe, including from New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Athens International Airport (ATH) in Greece. The Milan flight is operated by the Airbus A380, which has an onboard bar and showers, while the Athens flight is operated by the Boeing 777. Both flights continue to Dubai after making the stop in Europe.

Related: A review of Emirates business class on the Airbus A380 from New York to Milan

Additionally, Emirates offers service from DXB to Mexico City International Airport (MEX). Given the length of this flight and the elevation of MEX, the flight stops at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) in both directions, meaning another fifth-freedom route. This is the only North American fifth-freedom route that Emirates flies without a first-class cabin — the Boeing 777-200LR that's used to operate this route stops at business class.

Another exciting addition to the Emirates route network is the new fifth-freedom hop from Miami International Airport (MIA) to El Dorado International Airport (BOG) in Bogota, Colombia, operated by a Boeing 777. The plane offers a first-class cabin, making this route a great way to try out the legendary Emirates experience on a short flight.

You can check out our guide for a full walk-through of the best ways to book awards on Emirates , but generally speaking, you'll want to concentrate your efforts around two currencies: Emirates' own Skywards program and Air Canada Aeroplan . Both are transfer partners of American Express Membership Rewards , Capital One miles and Marriott Bonvoy .

For an example of what to expect for pricing, here are the redemption rates for Emirates flights from JFK to MXP:

Fly from the US to Europe or Asia with Singapore Airlines

Until Singapore relaunched the world's longest flight from Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) to EWR, the airline had a good excuse for its large number of North American fifth-freedom routes. Except for the Airbus A350-900ULR, most aircraft can't reach the majority of U.S. cities from Singapore without a fuel stop along the way. While the carrier has made a few changes to its transpacific routes over the years, Singapore operates the following fifth-freedom routes from the U.S.:

• JFK to Frankfurt Airport (FRA) on the Boeing 777-300ER
• Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to Manchester Airport (MAN) in the United Kingdom on the Airbus A350
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Tokyo's Narita International Airport (NRT) on the Boeing 777-300ER

If you're looking to fly in economy, you can choose Star Alliance partners with which to book, including United MileagePlus and Aeroplan. If you're looking to fly up front, Singapore doesn't release premium cabin award space to its partners, so you'll have to book through the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program.

Related: The best websites to search for Star Alliance award availability

Fortunately, these miles are easy to earn since KrisFlyer is a partner of all five major transferable points currencies: Chase Ultimate Rewards , Amex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards , Capital One and Marriott Bonvoy.

One-way saver awards cost the following amounts:

Remember that booking through Krisflyer allows you to waitlist for awards if your desired flight and/or class of service isn't available at the time of booking.

Fly from Los Angeles or Seattle to Paris with Air Tahiti Nui

Connecting French Polynesia to actual France, this fifth-freedom option involves flying from LAX or Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) on Air Tahiti Nui's Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

According to American Airlines' partner award chart , if you want to fly Air Tahiti Nui to Paris, mileage rates start from 30,000 miles in economy, 40,000 miles in premium economy and 57,500 miles in business class.

Fly from Newark or Washington, DC, to Togo with Ethiopian Airlines

Unfortunately, Ethiopian Airlines no longer flies between LAX and Dublin Airport (DUB), but it still offers a fifth-freedom flight out of EWR and Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C., to Lome—Tokoin International Airport (LFW) in Togo.

As a Star Alliance carrier, you can book this flight to West Africa with points and miles. If you go through Aeroplan, you'll need just 40,000 points for economy or 70,000 points for business class, a solid deal for an almost 10-hour flight.

How to earn points and miles to book fifth-freedom flights

It's easy to earn points and miles to transfer to the above programs to book fifth-freedom flights. Amex, Capital One and Chase points all transfer to Air Canada Aeroplan and Singapore KrisFlyer at a 1:1 rate.

Here are some of the best cards available right now that offer generous welcome bonuses:

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• American Express® Gold Card
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Related: Credit card transfer partners: Guide to transferring points and miles to airlines and hotels

Bottom line

Fifth-freedom routes aren't just appealing to the AvGeeks out there. Under the right circumstances, they can represent a unique value for North American travelers. The foreign carriers operating them can provide a much better inflight experience than their American counterparts, even in economy.

If traveling from New York to Frankfurt, why would you ever cram into an older Boeing 767 from United Airlines or Delta Air Lines when Singapore Airlines flies a shiny and spacious Airbus A380 on the same route?

Don't limit yourself when planning your next trip. Instead, consider redeeming your hard-earned points and miles on one of these unusual routes.

Collecting Avios and Tier Points on flights

Whenever and wherever you fly, you can collect Avios with British Airways, our one world ® alliance partners and our other airline partners. You can earn Tier Points too, on British Airways and one world flights.

How it works

You’ll collect Avios and earn Tier Points on almost all our flights except Reward Flights , agency discounted fares and industry discounted fares.

The amount you collect depends on which airline you fly with, the cabin you fly in, the type of ticket you hold and your Executive Club Tier. Each airline's policies are set out below.

You'll collect Avios for any flights you fly yourself, regardless of who bought the ticket. Avios are credited to your account up to three days after a British Airways flight or up to seven days for partners.

You can see how many you'll collect for an upcoming flight in Manage My Booking  or you can check past flights on your Avios statement .

British Airways flights

You now collect Avios on British Airways-marketed flights based on the price of your ticket and any eligible add-ons, such as extra baggage, that you buy as part of your trip.

These changes, which took effect on 18 October 2023, make it easier for you to work out how many Avios you’ll collect when you fly.

You’ll collect Avios on:

• Carrier charges the airline may add
• Cabin upgrades
• Seats that you pre-book and pay for
• Additional baggage

You’ll see this amount referred to on your Avios statement as “total eligible spend”.

The total you spend is multiplied according to your tier

X 6 avios per £.

Blue Members collect 6 Avios per pound (GBP)

x 7 Avios per £

Bronze Members collect 7 Avios per pound (GBP)

x 8 Avios per £

Silver Members collect 8 Avios per pound (GBP)

x 9 Avios per £

Gold Members collect 9 Avios per pound (GBP)

Non-airline taxes and fees, such as airport charges and government taxes, don’t collect Avios.

If you pay in another currency, the amount you’ve spent is converted to GBP using the IATA 5-day exchange rate that applied on the day of your purchase. We’ll use this converted amount to calculate your Avios.

Tier Points on British Airways flights

The way you collect Tier Points and the number of Tier Points needed to reach the next tier haven’t changed.

1 Collects no Avios or Tier Points when used to unlock additional reward availability for Gold Members.

Tickets bought after 18 October 2023 where the fare paid isn’t available, including flights booked as part of a British Airways Holidays package, will continue collecting Avios based on a percentage of how many miles you fly and the cabin you fly in.

On British Airways Holidays , you’ll also collect 1 bonus Avios for every £1 you spend on flight + hotel and flight + car packages, and on hotels, cars and sightseeing when booked separately or added to a flight booking.

Executive Club Bronze, Silver and Gold Members will collect Tier bonuses of 15%, 30% or 50% extra Avios on top of the base flight award.

For these bookings, use our flight calculator to work out how many Avios you’ll collect before booking.

Some of our one world and partner airlines will still award Avios based on the distance flown. See the list below to find out how you’ll collect Avios.

More information about British Airways flights

Any flight tickets issued before 18 October 2023 collect Avios based on the distance flown.

You can see how many you'll collect for an upcoming flight in Manage My Booking or you can check past flights on your Avios statement .

If you booked a flight before 18 October 2023 but your booking is on hold and your tickets are issued after that date, you’ll collect Avios based on the amount you spend.

If you use Avios to part pay the price of a cash ticket, you’ll collect Avios based on the full ticket price before the discount was applied.

If you use a discount or voucher code on your booking, the Avios you collect is based on the price after the discount is applied.

A codeshare flight is where two or more airlines share the same flight. It's operated by one airline under their own code and has additional flight numbers under the codes of other airlines. For example, the British Airways flight BA219 also operates under the American Airlines code AA6170.

Whether you collect Avios and Tier Points depends on the airline flight number on your ticket:

• If your flight code is British Airways, you’ll collect Avios and Tier Points no matter who operates the flight.
• If your flight code is for a one world airline, you’ll collect Avios only if your flight is also operated by a one world airline.
• For other flight codes, you won’t collect Avios.

The amount you earn is determined by the airline code you booked under.

Other airlines

With some of our partner airlines your Avios will be calculated in the same way as British Airways, based on the price of your ticket.

For others, it will be based on a percentage of the miles you fly. For example, if the Avios award is 25%, your Avios will be 25% of the miles flown.

At a glance

• Included: Aer Lingus and Emerald Airlines (EA).
• Minimum Avios: 300 (may vary in discount economy (World Traveller)).
• Avios Tier bonus? No.
• Collect Tier Points? Yes - effective from 1 April 2024 (discount economy (World Traveller) flights may earn fewer Tier Points depending on the fare purchased).

Avios awarded (percentage of miles flown)

Up to and including 30 September 2023:

• Economy lowest (L, S, R, W): 25%
• Economy low (Y, M, N): 100%
• Business lowest (D): 150%
• Business flexible (C, J): 250%

From 1 October 2023:

• Economy lowest (F, Q, Z, G): 25%
• Economy low (Y, L, N): 100%
• Business lowest (D, R): 150%

From 1 February 2024:

• Economy lowest (A, G, O, Z): 25%
• Economy low (Q, N, F, S, V, L, M, K): 50%
• Economy flexible (Y, B, H): 100%
• Business lowest (D, R, I): 150%
• Included: Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air and SkyWest Airlines Inc (AS).
• Minimum Avios: 500 (may vary in discount economy (World Traveller)).
• Avios tier bonus? No.
• Collect Tier Points? Yes (discount economy (World Traveller) flights may earn fewer Tier Points depending on the fare purchased).
• Business (Club World): Alaska business (Club World) is called 'First' but is awarded and operated as a business (Club World) cabin.

From 31 March 2021:

• Economy lowest (Q, O, G, X): 25%
• Economy low (K, M, L, V, S, N): 50%
• Business (J, C, D, I): 125%
• Included: American Airlines, American Eagle and American Connection (AA).
• Collect Tier Points? Yes.

Avios awarded

American Airlines award Avios based on the price of your ticket rather than the distance you fly.

• Blue Members will collect 6 Avios per qualifying pound (GBP) spent
• Bronze Members will collect 7 Avios per qualifying pound (GBP) spent
• Silver Members will collect 8 Avios per qualifying pound (GBP) spent
• Gold Members will collect 9 Avios per qualifying pound (GBP) spent

Tickets where the fare paid isn’t available will continue collecting Avios based on a percentage of how many miles you fly and the cabin you fly in. For these bookings, use our flight calculator to work out how many Avios you’ll collect.

You can also use the calculator to work out how many Tier Points you'll earn on any flight.

• Included: Cathay Pacific (CX).
• Minimum Avios: 500 (may vary in discount economy).
• Collect Tier Points? Yes (discounted economy flights may earn fewer Tier Points depending on the fare purchased).

Up to and including 31 October 2023:

• Economy lowest (K, L, M, N, Q, S, V): 25%
• Economy low (Y, B, H): 100%
• Premium economy lowest (R, E): 100%
• Premium economy flexible (W): 110%
• First (F, A): 150%

From 1 November 2023:

• Business (J, C, D, I, P): 125%
• Included: China Southern (CZ).
• Minimum Avios: No.
• Collect Tier Points? No.

From 1 April 2023:

• Economy lowest (E, V, Z): 25%
• Economy low (K, U, A, L, Q): 40%
• Economy flexible (Y, B, H, P, M): 100%
• Premium economy low (S): 75%
• Premium economy flexible (W): 100%
• Business low (I): 100%
• Business flexible (J, C, D): 125%
• First (F): 150%
• Included: Fiji Airways and Fiji Link (FJ).

From 1 November 2022 - International Flights:

• Economy lowest (G, N, T, V): 25%
• Economy low (K, L, M, S, O, Q, W): 50%
• Business (J, C, D, I, Z): 125%

From 1 November 2022 (Domestic Flights):

• Economy lowest (H, L, Q, Y): 25%
• Included: Finnair (AY). Excludes Finnair codeshare flights operated by Nordic Regional Airlines (AY8100-AY8700).
• Avios tier bonus? Yes (10% extra for Bronze, 15% extra for Silver and 25% extra for Gold Members).
• For transatlantic flights marketed by AY but operated by British Airways, awards will be as per the British Airways awards.

Up to and including 31 May 2022:

• Economy lowest (A, G, N, O, Q, S, W, Z): 25%
• Economy low (K, M, P, T, L, V): 50%
• Economy flexible (H): 70%
• Economy flexible (Y, B): 100%
• Business (J, C, D, I, R): 125%

From 1 June 2022:

• Economy lowest (Q, O, A, G, Z): 25%
• Economy low (K, L, M, V, S, N): 50%
• Premium economy lowest (E, T, P): 100%
• Premium economy flexible (W): 150%
• Business lowest (R, I): 150%
• Business flexible (J, C, D): 250%
• Included: Iberia (IB), Iberia Express (I2) and Iberia Regional Air Nostrum.
• Excluded:  Flights operated by Level on behalf of Iberia.
• Add-ons:  You can collect Avios for eligible add-ons you buy as part of your trip.

Iberia awards Avios based on the price of your ticket rather than the distance you fly. They award:

• Blue members will collect 5 Avios per qualifying Euro (€) spent
• Bronze members will collect 6 Avios per qualifying Euro (€) spent
• Silver members will collect 7 Avios per qualifying Euro (€) spent
• Gold members will collect 8 Avios per qualifying Euro (€) spent

Flights marketed and operated by Iberia between Madrid and Barcelona where the Air Shuttle product is purchased will award 1 additional Avios per euro (EUR) spent.

Flights marketed and operated by Iberia between Spain and Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean (excluding Puerto Rico) and South America will award 2 additional Avios per euro (EUR) spent.

Tickets where the fare paid isn’t available will collect a fixed amount of Avios based on the origin and destination of each flight. For these bookings, use our flight calculator to work out how many Avios you’ll collect.

• Included: Japan Airlines (JL), JAL Express (JL), J Air (JL), and Japan Transocean (NU), Japan Air Commuter (JAC) and Hokkaido Air System (HAC). (Flights operated by JAC and HAC will have JL flight numbers.)
• Minimum Avios:  No minimum.
• Avios tier bonus? Yes, 25% extra for Bronze, 50% extra for Silver and 100% extra for Gold Members. (Avios Tier Bonus isn't applicable on JL Domestic flights, only on JL International flights.)
• Collect Tier Points? Yes (discount economy (World Traveller) flights will earn fewer Tier Points depending on the fare purchased).
• Reward flights:  May only be booked on Japanese domestic flights two months from the date of return flight and only in the economy (World Traveller) cabin. This restriction does not apply to domestic flights booked in conjunction with international flights.
• Japan Airlines domestic flights: The flight calculator does not currently display the correct information for domestic flights, please refer to the table below.

From 5 November 2021 (International Flights):

• Economy lowest (N, Q, O, G, Z): 25%
• Economy low (K, M, L, V, S): 50%
• Economy low (H): 70%
• Premium economy lowest (P): 50%
• Premium economy low (E): 70%
• Premium economy flexible (W, R): 100%
• Business low (X): 70%

From 1 April 2021 (Domestic Flights):

• Economy low (A): 75%
• Economy flexible (Y): 100%
• Business low (I): 85%
• Business (J): 110%
• First low (E): 125%
• Included: LATAM Chile (LA), LATAM Colombia (4C), LATAM Ecuador (XL), LATAM Peru (LP) and LATAM Brasil Airlines (JJ).
• Collect Tier Points? No (applicable from 1 May 2020).
• Reward flights: Infant must be booked as a child on LAN operated flights.

From 11 May 2018:

• Economy lowest (A, Q, O, G): 25%
•  Economy low (K, L, M, N, S, V, X): 50%
•  Economy flexible (Y, B, H): 100%
•  Premium economy (P): 100%
•  Premium economy flexible (W): 110%
•  Business (J, C, D, I, Z): 125%
• Included: Malaysia Airlines (MH). Excludes MASWings carrier code MH3000 series, MH4000 series,MH5000 series, freighter (MH6000 series), Charter flights (MH8000 series), flights operated by Firefly (coded MH/FY), industry/agency discount tickets.
• Minimum Avios:  No minimum (effective as of 1 October 2021).

From 1 October 2021:

• Economy lowest (L, V, S, N): 25%
• Economy low (K, M): 50%
• Business low (Z): 100%
• Business (J, C, D): 125%
• Business Suite (F, A): 150%
• Included: Qantas, QantasLink and Jetconnect (QF).
• Minimum Avios: No minimum.
• Collect Tier Points? Yes (discount economy (World Traveller) flights may earn fewer Tier Points depending on the fare purchased).

Executive Club Members can collect Avios on:

• Flights marketed and operated by Qantas or Qantas Airlines affiliates under the QF designated code.
• Flights marketed by Qantas but operated by Jetstar booked as oneworld fare in L class only.
• Flights marketed by Qantas or Qantas Airlines affiliates and operated by Qantas, a Qantas affiliate, British Airways, or another one world carrier.
• Economy lowest (M, K, L, N, G, Q, S, V, O): 25%
• Premium economy (W, T, R): 100%
• Included: Qatar Airways (QR).

From 1 October 2021:

• Economy lowest (T, O, W, G): 25%
• Economy low (K, M, L, V, S, N, Q): 50%
• Business low (P): 75%
• Included: Royal Air Maroc (AT).
• Economy lowest (W, P, G): 25%
• Economy low (K, M, L, V, S, N, Q, O, T, R): 50%
• Business flexible (J, C, D, I): 125%
• Included: Royal Jordanian (RJ).
• Minimum Avios: 300 (may vary in discount economy).
• Collect Tier Points? Yes (discount economy flights may earn fewer Tier Points depending on the fare purchased).
• Economy lowest (H, K, L, M, N, O, Q, V, W, S): 25%
• Included: SriLankan Airlines (UL).
• Economy (R, S, N, Q, O): 25%
• Economy (W, M, E, L, V): 50%
• Economy (Y, B, P, H, K): 100%
• Business (I): 100%

10 ways you could be earning airline miles other than credit cards

C redit card sign-up bonuses are one of the quickest ways to earn free flights. But in recent years, banks have taken steps to reduce credit card churning — the American Express once-in-a-lifetime bonus policy and Chase's 5/24 rule are prime examples. Too many credit cards can be a red flag for lenders, and some also tend to shy away from applicants with credit limits larger than their incomes.

Fortunately, credit cards are not the only method of accumulating points and miles. Aside from building up your balance by flying, here are 10 easy ways to grow your airline mileage stash without credit card applications.

Use online shopping portals

Many airlines, along with banks and hotel programs , offer online shopping portals with anywhere from dozens to hundreds of participating merchants. Some popular options include Shop Through Chase , Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping and American AAdvantage eShopping .

When you click through a shopping portal before making a purchase, you're typically rewarded with extra points or miles per dollar on top of your regular credit card rewards. Certain items, such as a satellite dish or mobile phone service, may earn a fixed reward.

Here are some tips:

• Always check an online portal first.
• Shop around. The bonus points you can receive per dollar spent may vary by portal.
• To save time, use a shopping portal aggregator , such as Evreward or Cashback Monitor . These sites show you bonus points by retailer, allowing you to easily compare which airline, hotel or cash-back portal has the highest bonus at the time.
• During the period leading up to major gifting holidays like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, many portals run lucrative bonus deals .

If you're physically at a store, you can utilize United Airlines' MileagePlus X app, which lets you collect additional miles on in-person purchases at several merchants. The app can be used when shopping online as well.

Partake in dining programs

Many airlines offer extra points or miles through dining rewards programs , and they're a great way to double dip. All you need to do is sign up for a program, register your credit card(s) and dine in or order takeout from a participating restaurant. I like to "set it and forget it." I don't actively seek out participating restaurants, so it's always a nice surprise if I happen to eat at one and get bonus points for it.

Airline dining programs include:

• American Airlines AAdvantage Dining
• Delta SkyMiles Dining
• United MileagePlus Dining
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining
• Alaska Mileage Plan Dining
• Free Spirit Dining

Hotel chains such as Hilton , IHG and Marriott also offer dining rewards.

Related: AAdvantage Dining program: Earn American miles and Loyalty Points at local restaurants

Open checking and savings accounts

If you collect American AAdvantage miles or Citi ThankYou Rewards points, you can open checking and savings accounts to increase your stash.

With a savings account at Bask Bank, you can earn 2.5 AAdvantage miles , in lieu of interest, for every dollar you save annually. Miles accrue daily and are awarded monthly based on your average monthly balance. For example, if you maintain an average balance of $10,000 over the course of a year, you will earn 25,000 miles.

Citibank has been known to run targeted or public offers to earn AAdvantage miles or ThankYou points when you open a checking or savings account. Offers and requirements may vary by person and/or location. You'll typically need to deposit the required sum and keep it in the account for a set time period (usually in the 60-to-90-day range), after which you'll receive a chunk of miles or points posted to your AAdvantage or ThankYou account.

As always with financial products, check the interest rates and fees against competitors to be sure you're not paying for the extra miles with significantly higher costs. Miles earned through bank accounts are viewed as interest income, which means you will receive a 1099 form and will need to report your miles earned to the IRS.

Reserve rental cars

Many of the major car rental companies partner with airlines, allowing you to earn airline miles for your rental when you book using a special promotion code. Avis , Alamo , Budget , Hertz and National are some common ones that partner with a host of airlines.

One thing to keep in mind is that a few car rental companies tack on surcharges for earning airline miles , so you may pay more to earn those miles than if you booked a car without the airline promotion code. It's important to do your homework before you leave home, rather than at the counter.

Related: Best car rental sites to book your next road trip

Take surveys

If you have a flexible schedule and/or an abundance of leisure time, you can earn miles by completing surveys on various topics. Some participating airlines include:

• American Airlines (Miles for Opinions)
• United Airlines (Opinion Miles Club)
• JetBlue (Points for Surveys)
• Southwest Airlines ( e-Rewards and Rewards for Opinions )
• Spirit Airlines (Points for Thoughts)
• Alaska Airlines (The Opinion Terminal)

Just be aware that you'll need to answer a lot of questions to earn a small number of miles this way, so consider the value of your time. This may not be the best method for racking up miles, but it's a quick way to top off your account if you're short a few miles for a redemption.

Facing a hefty tax bill? You can earn points or miles for it by using your credit card to pay the IRS via one of its three authorized payment processors . This option only makes sense if you pay your statement in full every month, but there are hidden advantages: Charging your tax bill may enable you to meet the minimum spending requirement for a sign-up bonus, or it can facilitate meeting a spending threshold that gives you extra perks .

All three processors charge fees, so do the math and make sure it makes sense in your situation:

• Pay1040 (1.87% fee; $2.50 minimum)
• payUSAtax (1.82% fee; $2.69 minimum)
• ACI Payments, Inc. (1.98% fee; $2.50 minimum)

Send flowers

Whether you're a true romantic or just a thoughtful person, sending flowers to someone can be an excellent way to rack up points and miles. Many airlines partner with FTD, Teleflora and/or 1-800-Flowers, but once again, double-check to make sure you're not paying more for the privilege of earning points and miles.

Shop around and be alert for deals around holiday periods such as Christmas, Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. It's not unusual to earn 30 miles per dollar for brightening someone's life.

Purchase real estate

Buying a home can be intimidating, but United offers a way to ease the pain by earning miles on this huge purchase. The airline partners with Rocket Mortgage to give you 25,000 miles when you close or refinance a home loan.

However, when making such a significant financial decision, the interest rate, points and fees are much more important than earning miles. So, be sure to shop around for the best terms before going this route.

Take advantage of targeted offers

Be on the lookout for targeted bonus point offers via email or snail mail for credit cards you already hold. These are often easy to complete with just a small amount of effort. In the past, I've received offers for bonus points from Chase for adding a card to a mobile wallet , opting for paperless statements and making a small number of contactless charges.

American Express has been known to send cardmembers targeted offers, such as 10,000 Membership Rewards points just for enrolling in the Pay Over Time extended financing feature.

Enroll in business frequent flyer programs

Many miles collectors are unaware that some airlines have separate business loyalty programs. Best of all, the points or miles you accumulate as a business are in addition to the benefits you earn as an individual. This ability to double dip makes these programs particularly attractive for sole proprietors and owners of small and medium-size businesses.

• AAdvantage Business awards 1 AAdvantage mile per dollar spent on flights booked for business purposes through an American-owned channel.
• SkyMiles for Business awards 1 to 10 SkyMiles per dollar spent on flights with Delta and some of its SkyTeam partner airlines. The exact amount will depend on the fare class booked.
• United PerksPlus uses a complicated formula for earning points that can then be converted to MileagePlus miles. The amount you earn is based on both the fare class and whether you fly out of a hub or non-hub city.

Keep in mind that many of these programs have requirements for earning miles, such as a minimum yearly spend or number of enrolled travelers.

Related: Complete guide to the AAdvantage Business program

Bottom line

Even if you've already maxed out all your potential airline credit card sign-up bonuses, there are still many ways to accumulate airline points and miles, even beyond the options listed here. Just make sure the offers you consider are worth your time and money so that you're not spending resources chasing extra rewards for more than they're worth.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

• American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Mastercard®
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
• Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®

NEW CARDMEMBER OFFER

Earn 50,000 american airlines aadvantage® bonus miles plus travel benefits.

Bonus miles earned after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening † $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99 * Pricing details

† Offer available if you apply here today. Offers may vary and this offer may not be available in other places where the card is offered.

Citi ® / AAdvantage ® Platinum Select ® World Elite Mastercard ®

Hear what real cardmembers have to say

EARN WITH CITI ® / AADVANTAGE ®

Turn everyday purchases into aadvantage ® miles.

Two ways to earn when you use your card

Aadvantage ® miles.

Earn AAdvantage ® miles on eligible purchases

Loyalty Points

Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage ® mile earned from purchases to reach AAdvantage ® status faster

BENEFITS INCLUDED WITH THE CITI ® / AADVANTAGE ® PLATINUM SELECT ® CARD

Benefits built for the modern explorer  , compare citi ® / aadvantage ® cards, which card is right for you.

Hear what real cardmembers have to say:

Disclaimers.

The variable APR for purchases and balance transfers is 21.24% – 29.99%, based on your creditworthiness. For Citi Flex Plans subject to an APR, the variable APR is 21.24% – 29.99%, based on creditworthiness. For Citi Flex Pay Plans subject to a Plan Fee, a monthly fee of up to 1.72% will apply, based on the Citi Flex Plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the Transaction, and other factors. The variable APR for cash advances is 29.99%. The variable Penalty APR is up to 29.99% and may be applied if you make a late payment or make a payment that is returned. The annual fee for this credit card is $99. However, this fee is waived for the first 12 months of account opening. Minimum interest charge is $0.50. Fee for foreign transactions – None. Cash advance fee – either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater. Balance transfer fee – either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. ↩

Offer availability

American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles are not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® account in the past 48 months. The card offer referenced in this communication is only available to individuals who reside in the United States and its territories, excluding Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.

Offer available if you apply here today. Offers may vary and this offer may not be available in other places where the card is offered.

Advertiser Disclosure

Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. The offers that appear on this site are from companies from which Bankrate.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they may appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and the likelihood of applicants' credit approval, also impact how and where products appear on this site. Bankrate.com does not include the entire universe of available financial or credit offers.

Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover.

Best travel credit cards of June 2024

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Travel credit cards help you earn valuable points and miles on your purchases. For maximum value, some cards earn rewards not only on travel, but also everyday purchases like dining, groceries and gas. You can redeem these rewards for free or discounted flights, hotel stays or to cover other travel-related expenses.

The best travel cards also come with additional features. Even no-annual-fee travel cards are likely to offer perks like sign-up bonuses, intro APR offers and travel insurance. But for top-of-the-line benefits like airport lounge access, elite status and travel credits, expect to pay an annual fee.

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Bankrate's Best Travel Credit Cards of June 2024

• Best starter travel card:  Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Best for flat-rate rewards:  Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Best for luxury travel:  The Platinum Card® from American Express
• Best for no annual fee:  Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card  ( See Rates & Fees )
• Best for foodies:  American Express® Gold Card
• Best for everyday spending: Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
• Best for intro APR:  Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
• Best for point values:  Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Best for practical perks:  Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Best for pairing:  Chase Freedom Unlimited®
• Best for hotel bookings: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card
• Best no-annual-fee hotel card:  Hilton Honors American Express Card
• Best for luxury hotel perks: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
• Best for transfer partners:  Bilt Mastercard®
• Best for gas:  Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
• Best for companion tickets:  Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Best starter airline card:  Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
• Best for savers: Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
• Best for first-year value:  Discover it® Miles
• Best for fair credit:  Credit One Bank Wander® Card
• What to know about travel credit cards
• Tips for choosing the best travel card

Travel credit card perks

How do credit card points and miles work.

• Expert advice on travel cards

How we assess the best travel credit cards

• Frequently asked questions
• Ask the experts

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Best starter travel card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Bankrate score

Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.

Intro offer

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 Travel℠.

60,000 bonus points

We calculate this number by multiplying the card's intro offer by Bankrate's valuation of this issuer's rewards program , showing you how much your points or miles are worth in dollars.

Rewards rate

5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries. 2x on all other travel purchases. 1x on all other purchases.

Regular APR

21.49% - 28.49% Variable

• 5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
• 3x 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries.
• 2x 2x on all other travel purchases.
• 1x 1x on all other purchases.

What we love: This popular card comes loaded with features that can make it easy even for occasional travelers to offset the modest $95 annual fee without eating into hard-earned rewards. Plus, its rewards program is one of the best, giving you some of the most valuable travel redemptions — through both Chase and transfer partners — and Chase card pairing opportunities if you want to build your card portfolio eventually. Learn more: Why expert Margaret Weck loves using the Chase Sapphire Preferred Alternatives:   If you’re looking for an even simpler travel card, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a terrific option. Its flat rewards rate makes it easy to know exactly how much you’ll earn with every purchase and though it can’t match the Sapphire Preferred’s redemption flexibility, it offers more redemption options than the typical travel rewards card. 

• You earn Ultimate Rewards points with this card — some of the most valuable and flexible rewards around, especially if you pair it with Chase’s cash back cards in the future.
• The card touts significant long-term benefits like anniversary bonus points and travel credits, as well as travel protections like trip cancellation insurance and a car rental collision damage waiver.
• Doesn’t offer airline- or hotel-specific perks like free checked bags, elite status or free night stays.
• The sign-up bonus is decent, but the card has previously offered higher, chart-topping bonus points.
• 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 Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. 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.
• Member FDIC

Best for flat-rate rewards

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

New Venture cardholders can earn 75,000 miles once they spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

Earn 75,000 miles

5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day.

2 Miles - 5 Miles

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

• 5 Miles 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2 Miles 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

What we love: It’s a great option for travelers looking for a straightforward rewards program and flexible redemption options. You'll earn unlimited miles on all eligible spending and can redeem not only for travel bookings, but also as a statement credit to cover travel purchases made in the past 90 days. Learn more: Why expert Jacqueline DeMarco loves the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Alternatives: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers a higher rewards rate in some everyday spending categories and potentially more valuable points. Chase points are worth 1.25 cents each if you redeem for travel through Chase, while Capital One miles are only worth 1 cent each when you redeem for travel. Plus, Chase rewards are more helpful for occasional travelers since you can redeem as cash back at 1-cent-per-point value.

• Carries solid perks given its low annual fee, including expedited airport purchase security and hotel experience credits, lost luggage reimbursement and more.
• Zero foreign transaction fees make this an excellent choice for international travelers.
• You can’t offset the annual fee with annual travel credits or bonuses alone as you can with some rival cards.
• The card’s sign-up bonus carries a high spending requirement, so it may be tough to earn if you don’t have large purchases on the horizon.
• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Best for luxury travel

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Earn 80,000 points

Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.

See Pay Over Time APR

• 5X Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
• 5X Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.

What we love: Luxury travelers and big spenders will appreciate the bevy of travel benefits, including annual statement credits worth around $1,700, elite hotel loyalty status and access to perhaps the most comprehensive airport lounge access available with a credit card. Learn more: Why expert Holly Johnson loves the Platinum Card® from American Express Alternatives: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers a taste of luxury at a lower cost than many premium travel cards. You can unlock a generous rewards rate on both travel and general purchases, complimentary access to popular airport lounge memberships and valuable annual travel credits and anniversary miles.

• Comes with a generous welcome offer and a longer time period to earn it compared to most rewards cards.
• A robust line-up of airline and hotel partners and related perks make this card truly valuable for travelers.
• The $695 annual fee may not be worth it if you don’t spend much on travel frequently or can’t take full advantage of the card’s luxury — and often niche — perks.
• Redeeming and maximizing the card’s credit and benefits requires some legwork and can be a bit confusing.
• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
• $200 Uber Cash: 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 only. Terms Apply.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Best for no annual fee

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

• Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel

20,000 miles

5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day.

1.25 Miles - 5 Miles

• 1.25 Miles 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

What we love: This card offers some of the same advantages as the Capital One Venture, without the burden of an annual fee. It gives you the chance to earn flat-rate miles on your everyday spending and the option to transfer miles to over 15 loyalty program partners to even cover travel purchases outside Capital One — a unique level of redemption flexibility for a starter travel card. Learn more: Reasons to get the VentureOne Rewards Card Alternatives: A general-purpose flat-rate credit card that offers 2X points or 2 percent cash back on all purchases may bring more value if you don’t travel often and aren’t ready to upgrade to a travel rewards credit card with an annual fee. However, the Discover it® Miles earns a flat-rate 1.5X miles that can also be redeemed for cash back at 1-cent per mile, which is unusual for travel rewards.

• The welcome offer is generous for a no-annual-fee travel credit card.
• Booking hotel stays and rental cars through Capital One Travel nets you an impressive 5X miles.
• Unlike several no-annual-fee travel cards, redeeming for non-travel purchases waters down your rewards’ value.
• Capital One has no major U.S. carrier in its line-up of travel partners.
• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies

Best for foodies

American Express® Gold Card

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points

Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.

• 4X Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 4X Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• 3X Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.

What we love: Few credit cards are more rewarding for traveling foodies than the American Express Gold Card. Both the food-related annual credits and the rewards rates at restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and on flights booked directly with airlines or via the Amex travel portal are some of the best on the market. In fact, the up to $240 in credits each year alone nearly make up for the annual fee. Learn more: Why the Amex Gold is worth the annual fee Alternatives: If the Amex Gold Card’s annual fee sounds high, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . It carries key travel perks, high travel and dining rewards rates, and a much lower annual fee.

• This card features one of the best rewards return rates available on dining, groceries and food deliveries.
• There is no preset spending limit, so you can enjoy extended purchasing power, and you also have the option to pay off purchases with Pay Over Time if necessary.
• Although the card touts a solid collection of travel perks, it doesn’t include popular premium card perks like airport lounge access or trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
• Only eligible airfare earns more than 1X points, while rival cards often earn similar (or higher) reward rates on hotel stays and other travel purchases as well.
• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
• Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
• Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $250.

Best for everyday spending

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

• Earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $700 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com

70,000 bonus points

Earn 10 points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com. Earn 3 points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations. Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

21.24% - 29.24% (Variable)

• 10X Earn 10 points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
• 3X Earn 3 points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
• 1X Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases

What we love: This card’s high rewards rate in everyday bonus categories makes it an especially good choice for occasional travelers and people looking for a standalone rewards card. Its practical bonus categories mean you can earn rewards quickly, even if you don’t actually spend a ton on travel. Alternatives:   As long as you don’t mind buying groceries online, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card could be an even more lucrative everyday rewards card. That’s thanks mostly to its high point redemption value (1.25 cents per point when you use points to book travel with Chase, versus just 1 cent per point when you book with Citi using the Strata Premier).

• It’s one of the only travel cards that offers a high rewards rate on groceries, dining and gas, so it should work well whether it’s your standalone card or just one part of your card stack.
• Its annual hotel benefit carries enough value to potentially offset the annual fee on its own.
• The annual hotel benefit, though generous, isn’t very flexible: You’ll only get the $100 discount if you book a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) through CitiTravel.com.
• Based on Bankrate’s latest point and mile valuations, Citi ThankYou rewards carry a lower average redemption value than Chase, Amex and Capital One rewards.
• Earn 10 points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
• Earn 3 points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
• Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

Best for intro APR

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

• 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.

25,000 points

• 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 as long as your account remains open.

19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

• 1.5X 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 as long as your account remains open.

What we love: This entry-level travel card keeps things simple for occasional travelers. It offers simple flat-rate rewards and lets you redeem for a broad mix of travel options not typically available on many travel cards, such as cash back toward purchases with travel agencies,  zoos, art galleries and more. It’s even more valuable if you’re a Bank of America customer and can qualify for a rewards boost through the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program. Learn more: Is the Bank of America Travel Rewards card worth it? Alternatives: The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is another great starter travel card, but, unlike many cards in this category, it lets you transfer your miles to airline and hotel partners, potentially for a higher redemption value.

• Its easy-to-earn sign-up bonus and intro APR offers give this card good short-term value.
• No annual fees or foreign transaction fees sweeten this offer.
• It only offers 1.5X points on purchases, and you can’t transfer points can’t to airline partners for more rewards value, so it may not be as lucrative as competing cards.
• The top tiers of the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program may be out of reach for many cardholders.
• 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% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 19.24% - 29.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
• If you're a Bank of America 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.

Best for point values

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

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 Travel℠.

Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠. Earn 5x total points on flights through Chase Travel℠. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining. Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

22.49% - 29.49% Variable

• 10x Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠.
• 5x Earn 5x total points on flights through Chase Travel℠.
• 3x Earn 3x points on other travel and dining.
• 1x Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

What we love: Rewards-savvy travelers will be hard-pressed to find a card with better rewards potential than the Sapphire Reserve. Points are worth 50 percent more through Chase Travel, and potentially more with the right transfer partner. It’s a stellar partner for Chase’s cash back cards and stacks on even more value with enough perks to recoup the annual fee without relying on hard-earned rewards. Learn more: Why expert Holly Johnson loves the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Alternatives: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers some of the same key perks as the Sapphire Reserve at a much lower cost. Along with a generous rewards rate on both Capital One Travel and general purchases, the card boasts valuable, practical benefits like competitive airport lounge access , up to $300 in annual Capital One Travel credits and 10,000 bonus miles every year on your account anniversary.

• You can kickstart your rewards bank with one of the most valuable sign-up bonuses on the market.
• Its top-tier benefits include up to $300 in annual travel statement credits, Priority Pass airport lounge access, exhaustive travel protections and stand-out partner perks.
• The card’s cost could be a deterrent for some new cardholders, especially if they plan on encountering adding multiple authorized users.
• You won’t get as many luxury hotel and airport lounge perks with this card as you would with some of its rivals.
• 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 Travel℠.
• $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 Travel℠ 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 Travel℠. 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®

Best for practical perks

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

• 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

75,000 miles

10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. 5 Miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel. 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day.

2 Miles - 10 Miles

• 10 Miles 10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 5 Miles 5 Miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel

What we love: This is the perfect middleground for travelers who want the practical benefits from luxury travel cards without dealing with bloated features and an annual fee upwards of $500. It offers complimentary lounge access, high-earning bonus rewards categories, anniversary credits and bonus miles, which can easily make the card worth it for frequent travelers. Learn more: Capital One Venture X Benefits Guide Alternatives: If a higher annual fee is no issue, consider The Platinum Card® from American Express. It’s a top choice for frequent travelers thanks to its impressive welcome offer and luxury perks like annual travel credits, lounge access and hotel elite status. However, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® may be better if your luxury travel experience calls for racking up more rewards.

• Offers anniversary bonus miles and a chance to earn credits worth hundreds of dollars starting at your first account anniversary.
• Comes with complimentary lounge access at over 1,300 lounges for you and two guests per visit.
• To earn the anniversary credit, travel must be booked through the Capital One Travel portal. That’s not as flexible as some other cards, which offer credits that cover any travel purchases, regardless of how you book.
• Lacks some perks found on other premium travel cards like airline or hotel elite status, which can get you benefits like free checked bags or room upgrades.
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip 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
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more

Best for pairing

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That’s 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.

Up to $300 cash back

Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more. 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service. 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

20.49% - 29.24% Variable

• 5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more.
• 3% 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service.
• 1.5% 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

What we love: Not only does it earn 1.5 percent cash back on general spending, but it also has a bonus cash back rate for drugstores and dining at restaurants. And if you pair it with one or two premium Chase travel cards, you could pool your rewards for better travel redemption value.  Learn more: Why I love the Chase Freedom Unlimited Alternatives: If you want to take advantage of even more rewarding cash back categories and remain in the Chase family, consider the Chase Freedom Flex® .

• You can pool rewards with other Chase cards to maximize your earnings.
• The additional rewards rate offer can add even more cash back to your pocket for the first year.
• The welcome offer isn’t as competitive as other cards’ offers.
• Maximizing rewards with this and other Chase cards can get complicated for people who like simple rewards programs.
• 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 Travel℠, 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 travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 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 20.49% - 29.24%.
• No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.

Best for hotel bookings

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

• Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip.

Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels. Earn unlimited 4X points on airlines. Earn unlimited 3X points on other travel and restaurants. Earn 1X points on other purchases.

21.24%, 26.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR

• 5X Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels
• 4X Earn unlimited 4X points on airlines
• 3X Earn unlimited 3X points on other travel and restaurants
• 1X Earn 1X points on other purchases

What we love: It offers a great rewards rate on hotel bookings and gives you a chance to earn a $50 annual statement credit with a $50 minimum airline purchase. Add in a solid rate on airline purchases, other travel and restaurants and this card carries great value as a standalone mid-tier card for occasional travelers. Alternatives: If you want to earn travel rewards but don’t actually spend much on hotels and airfare, the lower-tier Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is also worth a look. Though it earns also rewards on travel, it boasts a great mix of other practical everyday categories (including gas stations).

• You can transfer points to Wells Fargo’s new list of airline and hotel partners, including popular programs like British Airways Executive Club, Choice Privileges and more, which could boost the redemption value of your rewards.
• The $50 annual statement credit offsets more than half the card’s $95 annual fee and should be a cinch to earn if you fly at least once per year.
• Wells Fargo only offers one other card that earns travel rewards (the Autograph), and there is some category overlap between the two, so they may not be as lucrative as some competing card stacks.
• The card doesn’t carry some popular travel perks available on other mid-tier travel cards, such as credits for expedited airport security screening or rideshares.
• Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
• Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels, 4X points on airlines, 3X points on other travel and restaurants, and 1X points on other purchases.
• $95 annual fee.
• Book your travel with the Autograph Journey Card and enjoy Travel Accident Insurance, Lost Baggage Reimbursement, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection and Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver.
• Earn a $50 annual statement credit with $50 minimum airline purchase.
• Up to $1,000 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
• Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.

Best no-annual-fee hotel card

Hilton Honors American Express Card

• Earn 70,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 7/31/2024.

Earn 70,000 points

Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio. Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations. Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.

20.99%-29.99% Variable

• 7X Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
• 5X Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
• 3X Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.

What we love: This card earns rewards in a terrific mix of everyday bonus categories, so it should be easy to rack up Hilton points even if you don’t spend a ton on hotel bookings. Since it charges no annual fee and provides a few Hilton Honors benefits like Silver status, it’s also a great fit if you’re new to hotel cards and want a single no-annual-fee option instead of juggling multiple rewards cards. Learn more: Why expert Holly Johnson loves the Hilton Honors American Express Card Alternatives: The American Express® Green Card could be more flexible since it lets you earn and redeem rewards on a much wider variety of travel purchases, including airfare and bookings with several hotel brands, not just Hilton. You can transfer points to the Hilton Honors program as well, but the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card may be better if you prefer upgraded Hilton-specific rewards, loyalty status and other perks.

• Comes with automatic Silver Elite status, which includes a free fifth award night when you book at least four consecutive nights with points.
• Earns rewards in three of the average person’s biggest spending categories, making it a terrific standalone option for earning Hilton points.
• A higher-tier Hilton card would earn more on Hilton bookings and could be more lucrative for frequent guests, even with an annual fee.
• You can only redeem points with Hilton and its partners, which limits the rewards value you earn on the everyday categories compared to a general-purpose cards’ rewards.
• Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
• Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
• Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
• Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver status with your Card. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors™ Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
• No Annual Fee.

Best for luxury hotel perks

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

• Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points

• Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
• 6X Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®
• 3X 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines
• 2X 2X points on all other eligible purchases

What we love: Frequent Marriott guests looking for luxury card-level perks and elite status should be able to justify this premium card. Along with a terrific rewards rate on Marriott bookings and an annual free night award, you could enjoy generous annual credits for restaurant purchases and Marriott property stays, airport lounge access, elite night credits and more. Learn more: Best Marriott credit cards Alternatives: If you’re looking for top-tier travel perks but want the flexibility to earn and redeem rewards for stays at any hotel chain, consider an elite travel card from Chase or Amex, which can come with generous travel benefits, airport lounge access and the ability to transfer points to Marriott. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is another lucrative alternative.

• Outperforms other Marriott cards with its boosted rewards on travel-related categories and 21X points at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, thanks to the automatic Platinum Elite status.
• It’s one of the only hotel cards that includes complimentary Priority Pass lounge access, top travel protections and credits for expedited airport security screening.
• Unlocking some of the card’s best perks — like Five Suite Night Awards — requires a $60,000 annual spend, which may be tough to reach even for frequent Marriott guests.
• Unless luxury perks are at the top of your wishlist, the annual fee may not be worth it and a lower-tier hotel card may offer more value overall.
• $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide.
• With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
• Free Night Award: 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®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
• $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
• Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
• Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited airport lounge visits to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
• With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• $650 Annual Fee.

Best for transfer partners

Bilt Mastercard®

Intro offer is not available for this Wells Fargo credit card.

3x points on dining. 2x points on travel. 1x points on other purchases. Earn up to 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year. When you make at least 5 posted transactions in a statement period using your Bilt Mastercard, you'll earn points on rent and qualifying net purchases.

1X Points - 3X Points

• 3X Points 3x points on dining
• 2X Points 2x points on travel
• 1X Points 1x points on other purchases
• 1X Points Earn up to 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year. When you make at least 5 posted transactions in a statement period using your Bilt Mastercard, you'll earn points on rent and qualifying net purchases.

What we love: Not only is this card is a terrific choice for renters since it earns rewards and waives transaction fees when using it to pay rent, it’s also great for rewards strategists considering the extremely robust travel rewards program. You can earn rewards on travel and dining and your points carry a high value whether you redeem through the Bilt travel portal or one of the many airline and hotel transfer partners. Alternatives: If you like the Bilt card’s travel rewards program but don’t see yourself renting long term, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It earns generously on both travel and dining and also boasts high-value points and transfer partners. If the way you pay rent doesn’t incur credit card payment fees, a flat-rate card may also be worth weighing. 

• It’s the only card that helps you avoid the fees typically associated with paying rent with a credit card.
• Offers a solid collection of travel perks for a no-annual-fee card, including trip cancellation and interruption protection, trip delay reimbursement and other high-level travel protections.
• You can only use rewards to cover rent, toward a future home down payment or for travel and shopping. Cash back isn’t an option.
• There is no sign-up bonus. Most competing travel cards — even those with no annual fee — offer at least a $200 bonus.
• $0 Annual Fee.
• Earn up to 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year.
• 2x points on travel.
• 3x points on dining.
• 1x points on other purchases.
• Earn points when you make 5 transactions that post each statement period.
• When renting at a Bilt Alliance property, you can choose to have your rent payments automatically reported by Bilt to the three major credit bureaus each month; Experian™, TransUnion™, and Equifax™.

Best for gas

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

• Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.

20,000 bonus points

Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Earn 1X points on other purchases.

20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR

• 3X Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans.

What we love: The Wells Fargo Autograph card is a great option for occasional travelers and households on the go looking to earn rewards while avoiding an annual fee and reduced redemption value for cash rewards. It’s one of a few entry-level travel cards to offer high, year-round bonus rewards for gas, dining, transit and other key travel needs. Learn more: Is the Wells Fargo Autograph worth it? Alternatives: If you’re looking for ways to maximize the value of your rewards, you should consider a travel card that lets you transfer your points to airlines or hotels, like the Bilt Mastercard® or Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

• While some issuers only reward travel purchases made directly with airlines or through issuer portals, this card lets you shop around for the best deal on third-party travel sites and still earn extra rewards.
• Carries decent perks such as rental car collision damage waiver coverage, roadside assistance and Visa Signature® Concierge benefits, like access to Visa’s Luxury Hotel Collection (terms apply).
• Unlike with traditional travel cards, you cannot transfer your points to airlines or hotels
• The travel perks and intro APR are weak compared to competing travel-oriented cards’ offers.
• Select "Apply Now" to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
• Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up - like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
• $0 annual fee.
• 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR thereafter.
• Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
• Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.

Best for companion tickets

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

• Earn 85,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Earn 85,000 miles

Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.

• 3X Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
• 2X Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
• 1X Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.

What we love: The annual companion certificate on Main Cabin domestic flights (taxes and fees apply) comes with this card after the first year is valuable enough to justify the annual fee even if you’re just looking for great Delta perks to make travel smoother with a partner. Plus, the companion certificate is easier to obtain than other airline cards’ since it carries no spending requirement that must be met beyond the card’s annual fee. Alternatives: The American Express® Green Card could be a great alternative since it charges a lower $150 annual fee, lets you earn and redeem rewards on travel with any eligible airline (not just Delta) and offers credits for Loungebuddy lounge access and Clear Plus. You can even transfer points to Delta at a 1:1 ratio.

• Boasts several valuable travel perks, including priority boarding, a free first checked bag and specialized annual credits for select rideshare services and reservations with Delta Stays and Resy.
• Gets you closer to Medallion Status and discounts on in-flight purchases, complimentary upgrades, and more.
• Its rewards rate on non-travel purchases is lacking — a general-purpose travel card could potentially offer better rewards value and flexibility for rewards travel outside Delta.
• No longer offers complimentary Delta Sky Club lounge access as of this year, although airport lounge access is a staple perk for premium travel cards.
• Receive a Companion Certificate on Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $20 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
• Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
• Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
• Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
• Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
• Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
• $350 Annual Fee.

Best starter airline card

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

• Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Earn 85,000 points

Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming. Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

• 2X Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
• 2X Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
• 2X Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
• 2X Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
• 1X Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

What we love: This card’s anniversary bonus offers enough value to nearly offset the annual fee on its own, so it should be a terrific low-stakes option whether you’re new to airline cards or a regular Southwest flyer looking for a low-maintenance card. Plus, its sign-up bonus value is on par with the value you’ll get with much pricier airline and travel cards. Learn more: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus benefits guide Alternatives: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card could offer better value overall, despite its $149 annual fee. It carries an annual $75 Southwest travel credit and 7,500 bonus points each year on your account anniversary — more than enough value to justify the higher fee.

• You’ll automatically earn 3,000 Rapid Rewards points each year after your account anniversary, which could offset much of the card’s already-low annual fee.
• Delivers the same hefty sign-up bonus as higher-tier Southwest cards.
• Unlike several travel cards, it doesn’t carry rewards categories for popular everyday purchases like gas or dining.
• It may not be the best Southwest value for frequent flyers since it poses a 3 percent foreign transaction fee and doesn’t offer perks like upgraded boardings or elite status benefits.
• 3,000 anniversary points each year.
• Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
• Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
• Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
• 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
• Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

Best for savers

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

• Receive 60,000 online bonus points - a $600 value - after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

60,000 points

Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases. Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

21.24% - 29.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

• 2X Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases.
• 1.5X Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

What we love: If you do your banking with Bank of America and qualify for Preferred Rewards status, this card could provide an exclusive 25 percent to 75 percent rewards rate boost. The  rewards rates — 2X points on dining and travel, with 1.5X points on all other purchases — could increase to an incredible 3.5X on travel and dining with an unrivaled flat 2.62X points rate. Learn more: Why expert Sara Coleman loves the Bank of America Premium Rewards Card Alternatives: The similarly-priced Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the best alternatives thanks to its stellar travel protections, yearly bonus rewards and stronger rewards program. However, flat-rate cards like the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card or the Discover it® Miles card could be lucrative if you don’t think the $95 annual fee is worth it.

• The $95 annual fee is relatively affordable for this card category thanks to the up to $100 in yearly airline incidental statement credits.
• You can smooth out your travel experience with great benefits like credits toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry and comprehensive travel insurance.
• Attaining the highest rewards rate is not an easy feat, since you’ll need to hold significant funds in Bank of America accounts.
• This card does not offer a few popular premium travel perks like lounge access.
• Low $95 annual fee.
• 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. No limit to the points you can earn and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
• 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.
• 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.
• Travel Insurance protections to assist with trip delays, cancellations and interruptions, baggage delays and lost luggage.
• No foreign transaction fees.

Best for first-year value

Discover it® Miles

• Unlimited Bonus: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers—only from Discover. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. You could turn 35,000 Miles to 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.

Discover Match®

Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase.

18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR

• 1.5X Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase.

What we love: In addition to the exceptionally valuable Discover Match® , this card combines solid flat-rate rewards with consumer-friendly terms, like minimal fees and an equal value for both travel and cash back redemptions. Travelers who value simplicity will appreciate this card’s straightforward rewards and adaptability — even when you aren’t traveling. Learn more: Why expert Holly Johnson loves the Discover it® Miles Alternatives: The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card carries a more straightforward and still easy-to-reach welcome bonus. The VentureOne card also gives you the option of transferring miles to more than a dozen airline and hotel partners, which could increase the redemption value of your rewards.

• All miles earned in your first year will be matched at the end of the year, which could make it one of the most valuable first-year offers for no annual fee.
• Miles don’t lose value when they’re redeemed for cash back, which gives it a leg up over many travel rewards programs for occasional travelers.
• You’ll miss out on pretty standard travel perks like travel insurance, and car rental damage protection.
• The rewards structure lacks flexibility; you won’t be able to transfer your miles or use them to book travel.
• Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase
• No annual fee
• Turn Miles into cash. Or redeem as a statement credit for your travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more.
• 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.24% - 28.24% 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.
• Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.
• Terms and conditions apply.

Best for fair credit

Credit One Bank Wander® Card

Intro offer is not available for this Credit One Bank credit card.

Earn 10x points on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner site. Earn 5x points on eligible travel, dining, and gas. Earn 1x points on all other purchases.

29.74% Variable

• 10X Earn 10x points on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner site
• 5X Earn 5x points on eligible travel, dining, and gas
• 1X Earn 1x points on all other purchases

What we love: The Credit One Bank Wander® Card is a solid option if you want to earn points on travel but have trouble qualifying for mainstream travel cards. Not only is this card accessible with only fair credit, but its rewards program boasts generously high rewards rates in key travel categories. Learn more: Best travel cards for people with bad or fair credit Alternatives: If you don’t mind putting down a refundable security deposit, consider a no-annual-fee secured card like the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card *. It’s a unique secured card that lets you build credit while earning rewards in a category of your choice (with travel just one of many popular options) as well as grocery stores and wholesale clubs.

• It’s one of the only travel rewards cards available with a fair credit score, making it a decent option if you want to earn travel rewards as you work on your score.
• Provides 5X points in travel, dining and gas, plus 10X points on eligible hotel and rental car bookings through Credit One Bank — rare and impressive rates with only fair credit.
• Its annual fee is high compared to other cards you can get with a fair credit score , so it may not be the best fit if you prioritize building credit over earning rewards.
• Other travel cards may offer better perks, fewer redemption restrictions and more value, so it may be worth working on your score with a lower-cost card before committing to the costly annual fee.
• Earn 10x points on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner site
• Earn 5x points on eligible travel, dining, and gas
• Earn 1x points on all other purchases
• Redeem your reward points for statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, flights, hotels, and more
• With $0 Fraud Liability, you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
• Free Online Credit Score and Credit Report summary, terms apply
• If you are a Covered Borrower under the Military Lending Act, you may get a different offer
• See Rates & Fees

Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit  AmericanExpress.com/benefitsguide  for more details. Underwritten by Amex assurance company.

The information about the American Express® Green Card and Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuers.

Compare Bankrate's best travel credit cards of 2024

What are travel credit cards.

Travel credit cards allow cardholders to earn points or miles on a variety of purchases (typically travel-related), which are redeemable for travel bookings, statement credits, gift cards and more.

The best travel credit cards do more than help you foot the bill for your next flight — travel cards also offer perks to upgrade your entire travel experience. Trip insurance , annual travel credits, concierge services and lounge access are all common benefits. Airline and hotel co-branded credit cards sometimes offer specific discounts and perks for loyalty program members.

Pros and cons of travel credit cards

Although a well-chosen travel card can pay huge dividends, it might not be the right move for every traveler. Before you apply, take time to weigh the benefits versus the drawbacks of travel credit cards .

Tips on choosing the best travel credit card for you

The right travel credit card for you will carry features and benefits that give you the best value. To help you narrow down your choices, here are the steps to choosing the best travel card.

How to choose a travel credit card

1. know how you prefer to travel.

Knowing whether your travel expenses lean toward airfare, hotel stays or a mix of other travel will help you decide whether you should get an airline card, hotel card or general-purpose travel card. A co-branded airline or hotel credit card may be a good fit if you mostly travel with a certain brand and want exclusive privileges to enhance your experience. A general-purpose travel card is better if you prefer to keep your travel options open.

2. Prioritize redemption value

You may have to pick between simplicity and maximum value when comparing cards and rewards programs. Many travel cards offer a standard point or mile redemption value of 1 cent when you redeem toward travel through the issuer portal, but some cards can get you a higher redemption value when you transfer rewards to airline or hotel partners. However, it's common for many travel reward programs to reduce the redemption value toward non-travel options or limit these redemption options altogether. If you prefer simplicity over maximizing rewards, you may want to consider cards that allow you to redeem points or miles at an equal 1-cent value toward general travel purchase credits, cash back or other non-travel options.

3. Match your card to your spending habits

Take a look at your typical spending and find which travel categories and non-travel categories you spend the most in to help you choose a card that offers a high rewards rate for your regular spending. Just make sure you factor in rewards spending caps.

4. Note what's worth the extra money

High rewards rates and valuable travel perks are the biggest reasons to get a travel card, but many of the best cards carry a high annual fee. You could stick with a no-annual-fee travel card (or at least one with around a $99 fee) if you're mainly focused on earning rewards, but you may have to pay up to $500 or more for luxurious perks like airport lounge access, comprehensive travel insurance and hundreds of dollars in annual travel credits .

5. Look toward your next trip abroad

If you travel overseas, check to see if the card you're considering charges a foreign transaction fee. And since some credit cards aren't as widely accepted as others, you'll also want to make sure your credit card will work when traveling overseas . For example, merchants may not accept Discover and American Express cards as widely as Visa and Mastercard. If a trip is coming up in the next three to six months, keep an eye out for the big sign-up bonuses travel cards are known for. As a rule of thumb, the higher the annual fee, the higher the sign-up bonus should be.

Co-branded travel cards vs. general travel cards

Experts typically divide travel credit cards into two categories: co-branded travel cards and general travel cards. Co-branded cards are linked to a particular airline or hotel, while general travel cards offer more flexible reward opportunities. Here’s why and when you might want one or the other.

• Co-branded cards
• General travel cards

Co-branded travel cards tend to offer higher rewards rates on eligible travel purchases in exchange for limiting your reward redemption options to just one airline or hotel program . These cards may also feature more specific perks associated with the respective hotel or airline, such as free award nights, complimentary airline elite status or priority boarding — which general-purpose travel cards don’t often carry).

However, you won’t be able to use your rewards with a wide variety of different hotels and airlines like general-purpose cards allow. Plus, despite co-branded travel cards’ typically higher rewards rates, many brand-specific rewards tend to be worth less than the potential value of general-purpose cards’ points and miles.

When to get a co-branded travel card : When you often fly or stay with a specific airline or hotel and want to maximize your benefits with that brand.

General travel cards earn rewards on various travel categories and aren’t limited to a particular airline or hotel. Such cards may lack some of the dedicated perks you’ll find on a co-branded travel card, such as in-flight discounts, but make up for it with rewards flexibility and broader perks like general travel credits, expedited security screening and wider airport lounge access. 

The top travel cards even let you transfer your points or miles to airline and hotel loyalty programs, often at a 1:1 rate. Redeeming with some airlines and hotels can even make your rewards more valuable than they would be if you redeemed with the card issuer.

When to get a general travel card : When you have no preferred airline or hotel and want the additional flexibility a general travel card offers. 

Who should get a travel credit card?

A travel credit card is almost always worth it for frequent travelers or anyone who wants to earn rewards toward their next vacation.

If you can save up airline miles, rack up points for free nights at hotels or get discounted travel through your credit card issuer, you’re on your way to significant travel savings. However, the right travel card for you will depend on your travel habits.

Frequent travelers

Naturally, the ideal candidate for a travel card is someone who travels a lot or plans to book several flights and hotel stays per year. However, in some cases, you don’t have to be a frequent traveler to reap the benefits of a travel rewards card. A number of cards offer good rewards rates on general purchases.

Travel beginners

If you’re new to travel rewards, a good place to start is with a travel card that makes it easy to earn and redeem points, without requiring you to navigate a complex rewards program or worry about tiered rewards rates or varying point redemption values. 

Brand loyalists

If you tend to book travel with the same brands frequently or already belong to an airline or hotel loyalty program, a co-branded travel card can offer terrific value.  Airline- and hotel-specific rewards cards often earn a top rate on bookings with the brand as well as exclusive perks like lounge access and automatic elite status. 

Business travelers

Some of the most valuable travel credit cards are business cards . Whether you're a freelancer on the go or the CEO of a Fortune 500, the right travel credit card can help you earn high rewards rates on everyday business purchases. 

International travelers

If you frequently travel abroad, a card with no foreign transaction fees is a great way to help you avoid extra costs on overseas purchases. Plus, if you hate waiting in line at airport security or customs, a lot of travel cards offer statement credits to reimburse you for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees.

Luxury travelers

Luxury travel cards often charge a pretty penny but also offer a ton of value via perks like lounge access and annual travel credits. These perks not only make travel more comfortable, but also often carry enough value to offset the card’s cost on their own.

Still unsure if a travel credit card is right for you? Check out our Credit Card Spender Type Tool where you can get personalized credit card recommendations based on your credit score, spending habits and daily needs.

Here’s how a Bankrate editor chose his travel card

Here’s how a bankrate editor chose his travel card.

With all of this advice in mind, let’s see how a credit card expert made their pick. Here’s Bankrate editor Nouri Zarrugh on how he chose his travel card:

When it comes to earning rewards, I’ve always stuck with cash back cards, preferring the simplicity of knowing exactly how much my rewards are worth and the ease of redeeming for statement credits. Recently, though, I decided I wanted to travel a bit more frequently, and I figured a new travel rewards card could be a great tool to help me earn free trips. When choosing the right card for me, a few major points of consideration stood out: Cost: I didn’t feel like I traveled enough to justify a huge annual fee. Simplicity : I wanted to stick with a single, streamlined travel card and not worry about juggling multiple rewards programs or rewards rates. Perks : While I didn’t need anything too fancy, I thought it might be nice to have a perk like TSA Precheck included, since I hate waiting in long airport security lines. To my surprise, the card that stood out most was the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. Though it carried an intimidating annual fee of $395 ( See Rates & Fees ), I found this cost was more than worth it once I dug into the details. In fact, its benefits were so valuable, I barely needed to worry about offsetting the cost.  Two of its annual perks — a $300 Capital One travel credit and 10,000 bonus miles every year on my account anniversary — are valuable enough to offset the fee on their own. This means as long as I take one flight a year, I can basically break even on the card. Any rewards or perks I get beyond that feel like pure upside. It’s a huge bonus, then, that the card also includes practical benefits like Priority Pass lounge access and a credit of up to $100 toward the cost of Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. While I’ve never frequented airport lounges, I see these privileges as essentially free considering the value of the annual travel credit and bonus miles. So, I figure, why not take advantage?  For me, the Venture X strikes the perfect balance: A flat rewards rate that makes it easy to earn miles on everything I buy; flexible redemption through Capital One or via transfer to airlines and hotels, and practical perks I know I’ll use when I travel. I never imagined I’d have a $395 travel card in my wallet, but for me, it’s at worst a coupon for a flight every year, which can nudge me to take that next trip. — Nouri Zarrugh, Editor, Bankrate

Travel benefits may differ from card to card, but some of the most popular travel cards available often feature a few key perks. 

Travel insurance

Travel cards may offer various travel insurances , such as trip delay protection, trip cancellation insurance, lost baggage insurance or car rental insurance. These benefits aren’t worth anything until you need them, but you’ll be glad you have them when your flight is canceled or your luggage gets lost.

Travel credits

Credits toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry are a popular and common benefit on many travel cards. You can typically use this credit once every four years, which roughly corresponds to how long a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry membership lasts. Some cards may also provide an annual credit toward Clear Plus — another expedited security membership. Higher-end travel cards often offer annual statement credits toward travel purchases, and many of these credits nearly offset these cards’ annual fees. 

In-flight perks

Co-branded airline cards typically offer some airport and in-flight benefits on top of their reward-earning capabilities. These can include discounts on in-flight purchases (usually 25 percent back on refreshments and WiFi), free checked bags, flight seating upgrades or priority boarding. 

Free hotel award nights

Co-branded hotel cards may include free hotel award nights annually as part of their benefits. Some cards also add an extra complimentary awards night to your stay if you’ve booked a certain number of consecutive nights. These nights are typically capped at a certain value (sometimes based on the card or your elite status), and may be valuable enough to make up for some cards’ annual fees.

Airport lounge access

One of the most popular (and valuable) travel benefits featured on high-end and luxury travel cards is complimentary access to airport lounges. The lounges you gain access to depend on the card, though co-branded cards will often grant access to the lounge corresponding to the card’s airline. The Amex Platinum card currently offers the best airport lounge access .

If you want to add a credit card to your portfolio for your travel needs, knowing what cards are popular and why people like them can help steer your decision. We regularly stay abreast of these conversations online and noticed two travel cards come up regularly: the Chase Sapphire Reserve and The Platinum Card from American Express .

These cards shine because they offer some of the best rates on travel purchases and the most comprehensive set of benefits and perks . Despite their annual fees, what you get in return can far outweigh your costs. And the conversation around these two cards isn’t new: Is the effort of maximizing their perks worth it?

What people say about travel credit cards perks

The Sapphire Reserve is often referred to as the gold standard in travel benefits and protections, and the value of its trip insurance is a big part of that. A member of the Rick Steves Forum remarks on the value of the insurance: “It has pretty extensive coverage wherever I travel … my entire trip is covered as long as I charged any portion of the trip to my card.” This feature is unique to the Sapphire Reserve and sets it apart from other premium cards, which require you to charge your entire trip purchase to the card to have active coverage.

But using trip insurance isn’t always a simple process. As a user in the r/CreditCards forum on Reddit cautions: “Credit card travel insurance in general is very specific on what it covers, and people tend to overestimate just how useful the coverage actually is,” they write. “These are named peril policies, so unless you see your exact situation as a covered hazard the policies won't pay out.”

The Platinum Card from American Express gets a lot of buzz for reasons similar to the Sapphire Reserve. The card gives so many benefits, credits and additional perks that it’s often called a coupon book for luxury travel. But for many people, the value comes down to whether they’re willing to do the work to maximize its features. Another r/CreditCards member says they use the card’s Hilton and Marriott status boosters, rental car company loyalty program automatic status features, Centurion lounge access, hotel and airline incidental credits, membership credits and more. Using all these features helps them offset the annual fee.

While some people love maximizing the card’s features to extract  as much value as possible, others, like this Redditor, think it’s too much work:

“The only benefit the Platinum card really adds is Centurion but only to the [cardholder] … I believe the Platinum is worth [it] at least the first year for the [sign-up] bonus but then it doesn't get much use after that. Trust me the credits are really annoying to use.” — r/CreditCards user

These two premium cards stand out from the rest because they offer the most comprehensive features available to suit your travel needs and protect you from any issues that arise. The Chase Sapphire Reserve is an exceptional option to protect you from travel issues, but make sure you know the fine print. While the Amex Platinum may not be as ideal for travel protections, the credits offered more than offset its annual fee if you can put in the effort to fully maximize them.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned cardholder, your travel card should always work in your favor by offering the features and benefits you’ll actually use and that make your travels more enjoyable. But whether you’re willing to put in the effort to maximize a card’s value is something you’ll need to decide for yourself.

*The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Be sure to check the issuer's website/terms and conditions for all up to date content. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate.

Credit card points and miles are two of the key types of credit card rewards , along with cash back. You’ll earn points and miles by making purchases with your credit card, but you can typically redeem these rewards for travel, gift cards and more — not just statement credits.

Points and miles tend to be more flexible than cash back, but since their value depends on how you redeem them — and, in the case of travel redemptions, where you’re going, when you book, your fare class and more — it may take a bit more effort to make the most of them.

What are your points and miles worth?

Since many airlines and hotels use dynamic pricing models that continually optimize airfare and room prices, it can be hard to know exactly how much your rewards are worth without doing a little math.

Luckily, you don’t need to be a travel hacker to get a sense of this idea. Before you redeem, you can check your reward redemption value by dividing the cost of a plane or hotel booking in cash by its cost in points or miles. This calculation will result in the cash value of your points or miles.

You can also compare this value to Bankrate’s latest points and miles valuations to determine if you’re getting a good deal on your redemptions. Bankrate collected data on hundreds of bookings across dozens of airline, hotel and credit card rewards programs and estimated how much each program’s rewards are worth on average .

• Airline rewards values
• Hotel rewards values
• Credit card program rewards values

The table below shows Bankrate’s estimated reward redemption value for a variety of popular airline loyalty programs. You’ll notice how widely the value varies between airlines, with some offering close to 3 cents per point in average redemption value and others struggling to meet a 1-cent-per-point value.

Keep in mind, however, that these values are averages based on a variety of fare classes, destinations, booking periods and more. For example, while Bankrate estimates Delta SkyMiles carry an average redemption value of around 1.2 cents per mile, they could be worth more or less depending on the details of your booking. 

*Based on weighted average of median point/mile values across economy and first/business class fares.

Like airline miles, hotel points fluctuate in value. The table below shows Bankrate’s estimated point values for some of the most popular hotel brands. 

As you can see, hotel points tend to be worth less than airline and credit card rewards on average, often carrying less than 1 cent per point in redemption value. That said, hotel loyalty programs sometimes offer more favorable exchange rates when you transfer rewards from a credit card rewards program. For example, you may be able to turn 1,000 credit card points into 2,000 hotel points (a 2:1 transfer ratio). 

*Based on median point values across budget, mid-tier and luxury hotel bookings.

Unlike hotel and airline rewards programs, credit card reward programs typically earn points or miles that offer a consistent redemption value when you use them with the issuer. Though the redemption value of your rewards may vary based on how you redeem, each redemption method should offer a consistent baseline value. 

Some credit card rewards programs may also allow you to transfer your points or miles to airline and hotel loyalty programs, which could boost their value considerably. For each major credit card rewards program, we estimate a baseline redemption value (assuming you book for travel with the issuer) and a Bankrate’s Value, which averages the program’s best-value transfer partners.

*Based on an average of the issuer’s five highest-value transfer partners (if available).

When to use rewards vs. cash

To demonstrate when it’s best to use your reward miles versus paying in cash, we set up this example:

We estimate American Airlines AAdvantage miles are worth 1.0 cents. If you book a seat in the main cabin on a one-way flight from Boston to Miami, and it costs either $139 or 21,500 miles, your miles are only worth $0.006 ($139 / 21,500 miles = $0.006). Since your miles for this flight are worth less than 1.0 cents, you may want to save your miles and pay cash for this flight.

But if you book a first-class seat on the same flight for $433 or 31,500 miles, your miles are now worth $0.013 ($433 / 31,500 = $0.013). Since 1.3 cents is higher than our latest valuation, you’re coming out ahead if you use your miles to pay for this flight.

Bankrate experts share their advice on using travel credit cards

It’s important to know how to maximize your rewards and perks. Otherwise, a travel card could end up being a money pit. Here are a few pointers from our experts for making the most of your travel card: 

Combine cards to maximize rewards

Knowing how much you spend in different categories and which merchants are eligible for rewards will help you earn more and build an optimized stack of rewards cards. A flat-rate card is often a great starting point to earn the same rate on every purchase you make. As you build out a rewards strategy, you can incorporate a card with bonus categories to earn even more in your highest spending areas.

Expert Insight:

“For a long time, I’ve used a combination of Chase credit cards known as the Chase trifecta for all my family’s spending…. [I] don’t typically use my Sapphire Reserve for everyday spending and bills. Since it only offers 1X points on non-bonus category spending, I use my Freedom Unlimited to make sure I earn a minimum of 1.5 percent cash back on everything I buy.” “I use each card strategically to earn as much in rewards as possible, then I pool them in my Sapphire Reserve account to redeem them for airfare, excursions, hotels and more.” — Holly D. Johnson — Award-winning personal finance writer and Bankrate contributor: Why I love the Chase Sapphire Reserve

Maximize your rewards value with transfer partners and issuer travel

Save your rewards for the most valuable redemption options. Travel points and miles often lose value toward non-travel options like cash back, so you’ll want to redeem your rewards for travel through the issuer portal for at least 1 cent per point or mile. However, transferring your rewards to the right airline or hotel partner program is usually worth the extra effort since it could net you even more value.

Expert Insight

“When I redeem my points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, the most I can get is 1.25 cents apiece, which is pretty good. However, if I transfer them to a partner airline’s loyalty program, I will often get much more. For example, I can transfer my points to United Airlines MileagePlus and use them to pay for flights. When I do, I generally get a value of 2 or more cents per point — in line with Bankrate estimates that Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth around 2 cents apiece on average when used with the right transfer partner.” — Margaret Wack — Personal finance expert and Bankrate contributor: Why I love the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Make the most of your travel perks

Travel benefits are one of the main reasons to get a travel card, and are often key to making up a card’s annual fee. Be sure to read the fine print to make sure you can take full advantage of these offers . For example, one card’s travel credit may apply to any travel purchase, including airfare, while another card’s may only cover costs like baggage fees or in-flight purchases. 

“This is the year to take inventory of your credit cards and make sure they’re serving you well. If you’re paying an annual fee, look for a card with recurring benefits. Whether it’s annual award nights, waived luggage fees or elite status benefits, these perks can offset your annual fee and make your travels more pleasant … Despite putting minimal spending on my Hilton Honors Amex Aspire card, I keep renewing it every year. That’s because the card provides automatic Hilton Diamond elite status, which can easily offset the $550 annual fee. Recurring card benefits like [these] can save you a lot on travel and are worth considering when shopping for a new credit card.” — Ariana Arghandewal — Travel rewards expert and Bankrate contributor: Five benefits you need from a travel credit card

Plan for the sign-up bonus

The best travel cards come with generous welcome offers, but these bonuses may require a high spend in a short timeframe. That’s why it’s important to consider whether the spending requirement fits with your typical spending habits or whether you need to plan purchases to meet the requirement. Just be sure not to overextend yourself or take on debt you can’t pay back just to earn a bonus — interest and fees can easily eat through any value you’d get.

“Keep in mind that credit card sign-up offers change often. So if you’re interested in a particular card but not blown away by its current offer (there are some for 100,000 points or more that aren’t always worth the trouble), it could be worth your while to wait for a better one.” — Ariana Arghandewal — Travel rewards expert and Bankrate contributor: 6 ways to get bigger credit card bonuses

Look out for limited-time offers, partner perks and other benefits

Keeping an eye out for limited-time offers like extraordinarily high sign-up bonuses, perks with partner services (like rideshares or delivery services) and other reward-earning opportunities is a great way to squeeze the most value from your travel card. Issuers sometimes provide shopping and travel portals and card-linked reward programs for select purchases (like for pre-paid dining or participating merchant spending), which can help you bank extra rewards.

“Keep an eye on your email inbox and rewards portal for any limited-time promotions your issuer may be offering. Many American Express cards feature Amex Offers, which lets you access perks like statement credits for spending a certain amount on specific hotels and other retailers.  Other cards, like the Capital One Venture X, also have occasional promotional offers, such as a credit for 5 percent back on VRBO rentals.” — Lori Zaino — Travel expert and Bankrate contributor: How to maximize credit cards for cheaper accommodations this holiday season

Track your spending and rewards each account statement

Track your favorite stores’ and services’ merchant category codes (MCCs) to fine-tune your spending habits for maximum rewards. If you notice your expenses changing, this practice may also help you notice whether you need to change which rewards cards you carry.

“The first step to optimizing your spending is to take the time to collect the MCCs of stores you frequently shop at. During the process, you might find that some stores in the same chain may have different MCCs, depending on their primary inventory. Even different counters or sections in the same department store may carry different MCCs. You can use this to your advantage if you know one location near you will provide a better cash back rate than the other. These “loopholes” can provide great opportunities to reap cash back on purchases that typically wouldn’t earn rewards.” — Garrett Yarbrough — Writer and credit cards expert at Bankrate: Merchant category codes: How to earn more cash back

Our data: What credit score do you need for the best travel cards?

It’s no secret that your credit score heavily influences which cards you’re likely to get approval for. But how good does your credit need to be to get the best credit cards for travel? We analyzed our data of Bankrate readers who applied for credit cards on our pages in 2023 and compared the approval rates of readers’ different credit tiers.

We found that, on average, 61.9 percent of users with excellent credit were approved for travel cards on our site. Then, an average of 39.5 percent and 19.5 percent of users with good and fair credit, respectively, got approval for travel credit cards they applied to.

If you have fair or bad credit, you still have options for travel credit cards. For example, the Credit One Bank Wander Card caters to people with fair credit — 57 percent of people with fair credit who applied on our site in 2023 were approved for this card , according to our data.

Obviously, the better your credit, the more likely you are to get the card you apply for , but other factors can affect your application. Issuers may also consider your income, recent credit applications, homeownership status and monthly rental or mortgage payment. Keep these other factors in mind with your credit score when you apply for credit cards.

Have more questions for our credit cards editors? Feel free to send us an email , find us on Facebook , or Tweet us @Bankrate .

When evaluating the best travel cards, we consider a mix of factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether cards offer features that fit the priorities of a diverse group of cardholders, from earning rewards in popular categories to scoring a large sign-up bonus or high-value perks. Whenever possible, we also feature cards that are available at various credit levels and price points. 

We analyzed over 150 of the most popular cards and scored each based on its rewards rate, estimated annual earnings, welcome bonus value, APR, fees, perks and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup of the best travel cards.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the key factors in our rewards card scoring methodology — our primary scoring category for travel cards — and details we considered when putting together our list of the best travel cards.  

• Flexibility 15%
• Customer experience 5%

Great rewards value

The primary criteria for a rewards-earning card’s rating is its rewards value. This includes the card’s average rewards rate, estimated annual rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value and reward redemption value.

To estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings, we first calculate its average rewards rate based on how much it earns in different bonus categories and how closely its categories align with the average person’s spending habits. In other words, we assess whether the card earns rewards at a high rate in the most popular spending categories. 

We use consumer spending data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to get a reliable third-party measure of people’s spending habits. The most recent BLS data estimates average total spending in 2022 was $72,967 per consumer. We then narrow our focus to which purchases are likely to be put on a credit card and earn rewards, subtracting expenditures like housing, vehicle purchases and education. This gives us a total “chargeable” annual spend of around $25,500.  

This includes the following spending by category:

• Groceries: $5,700
• Dining out: $3,600
• Entertainment: $2,400
• Gas: $3,100
• Apparel and services: $1,900

Using this data, we assign a weighting to each of a card’s bonus categories. For example, a card’s grocery rewards rate receives a 22 percent weighting based on how much of the average person’s budget is spent on groceries.

We also estimate the redemption value of points or miles from various issuer, airline and hotel rewards programs.

This weighting and rewards valuation allows us to estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings — how many points or miles you’d earn with a given card if your spending was about average and you used the card for all of your purchases — as well as what those points are worth. We also use point valuations to determine a card’s sign-up bonus value

With these calculations complete, we assign each card a score based on how its average rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value, rewards rate and redemption value stack up against other rewards cards.

The better these values, the higher its score will be, making it more worthy of inclusion in our list and increasing its potential ranking.

Reasonable rates and fees

We also score cards based on how much it costs to keep them in your wallet or carry a balance. 

To start, each card is scored based on whether it offers an intro APR and how its ongoing APR compares to the rates available on other rewards cards. However, the latter rating only has a slight influence on the card’s score and whether the card is included in our list, since rewards card users generally try to avoid carrying a balance.

More important to both a card’s score and its inclusion in our list is how its annual fee influences its overall value. We consider a card’s annual fee in two ways — how it ranks relative to the fees you’ll find on other cards in the category and how it impacts a card’s overall rewards value. 

Cards with an annual fee will always be at a slight disadvantage in our scoring system since annual fees inherently cut into your rewards value. However, if a card offers terrific value via its ongoing rewards and perks, it can earn a high score and a spot in our list even if it carries a high annual fee. After all, the highest rewards rates and most valuable perks are often found on cards with annual fees. 

With this in mind, we rate a card based primarily on how its ongoing rewards value and ongoing perk value (such as annual credits or bonuses) stack up against those of other cards in the category when you subtract annual fees.

That said, we strive to include as many no-annual-fee options in our list as possible since many people would rather not worry about offsetting fees, even if a card carries impressive rewards and perks.

Redemption flexibility

Rewards cards may make it easy to earn a lot of points, miles or cash back, but how easy is it to use those rewards? After all, if it takes a ton of effort to redeem rewards or you can only redeem rewards in a couple of ways, a card may be more trouble than it’s worth. 

As such, we rate each card’s flexibility based on the restrictions it imposes on earning and redeeming rewards. We factor this rating into a card’s overall score and consider it when deciding on a card’s inclusion in our list. 

Flexibility factors include whether a card only allows you to earn a high rewards rate on only a small amount of spending or requires you to meet a certain earning threshold before you can redeem rewards. We also examine whether your points are worth less when you opt for some redemption options over others and whether a card gives you the flexibility to transfer rewards to travel partners.

Valuable perks

We also score each card’s set of features – its perks and benefits — against five tiers of features to provide a rating. 

We break down these tiers as follows:

• Tier 1 includes fewer features than even standard credit cards (for example, an ultra-streamlined card that offers basic utility and next to nothing in the way of ancillary benefits). 
• Tier 2 includes the benefits you’d expect on standard Visa or Mastercard credit cards, such as free access to your credit score, car rental insurance and $0 liability for fraudulent charges. 
• Tier 3 includes “prime card” or better-than-average card features like cellphone insurance, lost luggage insurance, concierge services and purchase protection. 
• Tier 4 includes luxury features such as airport lounge access, elite status with an airline or hotel and credits for expedited security screening membership programs. 
• Tier 5 includes the sort of exemplary benefits you’ll find on top-tier luxury cards, such as high-value travel credits, cardholder memberships and other unique and valuable perks.

In evaluating the best cards, we tend to favor cards that offer at least Tier 3 benefits, unless they include other unique features that could make up for less-impressive perks.

And since this list focuses on travel cards, we tend to favor cards that carry travel-centric features like travel insurance, airport lounge access and credits for expedited security screening, instead of more general perks like food delivery credits or shopping discounts.

More information on travel credit cards

Frequently asked questions about travel credit cards, are travel credit cards worth it.

Travel cards can be well worth it since they often have exclusive travel perks like credits for airfare, hotel stays, expedited airport security services and more, as well as complimentary airport lounge access and airline or hotel privileges. However, many of the best travel credit cards come with annual fees. It’s important to at least offset the cost of these cards by taking advantage of the various travel perks and features included on the card. 

What credit score do you need for a travel credit card?

It’s possible to get a travel credit card with bad or fair credit, but most travel rewards cards are geared toward people with good or excellent credit (a FICO score of at least 670, or a VantageScore of at least 661).

Do travel miles or points expire?

Even though many major credit cards earn rewards that don’t expire, you may lose your points and miles if your account closes or isn’t in good standing. However, some co-branded cards’ rewards may expire if you don’t earn or redeem rewards within a certain timeframe (typically 12 to 36 months after the rewards are earned).

Check out our guide to credit card rewards expiration for a thorough breakdown of several popular issuers’ policies.

Are points or miles better on a credit card?

Whether points or miles offer better value will depend on the specific rewards program and how you redeem rewards. One airline loyalty program may earn miles that offer less than 1 cent each in average redemption value while another program’s points may offer close to 3 cents each on average. Similarly, a hotel card’s points may be worth less than half of a credit card issuer’s rewards points. Some programs offer points with only average baseline redemption value but high value when transferred to a partner airline or hotel. 

Ask the experts: Is it a good idea to have multiple travel credit cards?

Thomas Nitzsche

Stephanie Zito

Erica Sandberg

Financial Educator, Debt and Credit

Whether you should have multiple travel credit cards depends on several factors, including your brand affinity, frequency of travel and ability to pay off your cards in full each month. As a credit counselor, I see many people carrying credit card debt at high interest rates while continuing to make charges to the account for the sake of earning rewards. They lose far more than they earn each month. Having more than one travel credit card could make sense for you if you’re able to maximize your earnings by strategizing spending across each card. Just take into account annual fees and actual interest paid.

Contributor, Personal Finance

If you’re up for managing multiple cards and their benefits, then there are definitely big reward payouts to be had. But if the thought of multiple cards is overwhelming, it’s also a good strategy to have one or two more flexible cards and focus on maximizing your earnings and redemptions until it becomes second nature.

Contributor, Credit Cards

Definitely! I currently have two travel credit cards. In addition to the Chase card that I use for my United Airlines purchases, I have the Capital One Venture card for all other airlines. I earn a solid amount of miles on everything I buy with it, so it's an easy go-to for non-travel related expenses.

Article sources

We use primary sources to support our work. Bankrate’s authors, reporters and editors are subject-matter experts who thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate, timely and relevant.

Global entry: Trusted traveler enrollment program . U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Accessed on June 12, 2024.

Discover International acceptance . Discover. Accessed on June 5, 2024.

“ Consumer Expenditures 2022 ,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed on June 12, 2024.

* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.

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Top Credit Cards With Priority Pass Lounge Access

Enhance your next trip by spending time in a lounge before your flight.

Credit Cards With Priority Pass

Getty Images

There is a Priority Pass credit card for each type of traveler.

Some of the links on this site contain offers from our partners .

Key Takeaways

• Priority Pass has over 1,500 airport lounges around the world.
• Select travel credit cards offer a complimentary membership with free entrance for the cardholder and up to two travel companions.
• Travelers receive complimentary drinks, food, Wi-Fi and more inside the lounge.

Waiting at the airport for your flight can be an uninviting experience. Seats at the gate are often uncomfortable and crowded, while food options are typically overpriced. However, if you have access to an airport lounge, you'll enjoy comfortable seating, complimentary food and drinks, and free Wi-Fi.

Priority Pass credit cards allow travelers to enjoy the amenities inside more than 1,500 lounges around the world. Learn more about Priority Pass lounges, which credit cards offer Priority Pass membership and which factors you should consider before applying.

Priority Pass Lounge Benefits

Benefits can vary, depending on the location. You may find multiple Priority Pass lounges at the same airport that offer different amenities. However, most Priority Pass lounges offer the following complimentary benefits:

• Meals or snacks
• Beverages, including alcohol
• Comfortable seating

According to Zac Hood, founder of Travel Freely, a points and miles app for beginners, "International lounges typically stand out as more upscale with better food," than U.S. lounges.

The Priority Pass website or mobile app provides an overview of the benefits available inside each lounge. A third-party service called LoungeBuddy also shares highlights and user reviews.

How Many Times Can You Use Your Card's Priority Pass Benefits?

Complimentary access to participating airport lounges is often unlimited for people with a Priority Pass credit card. However, not all credit cards that offer this benefit include unlimited access for free. Some cards include just a handful of complimentary visits per year and charge for each additional visit. Other credit cards do not include any free visits and charge every time you want to enter the lounge.

Ben Komenkul, a travel points and miles educator at Ben's Big Deal, says, "Priority Pass cardmembers get full access to Priority Pass airport lounge for up to two guests when flying any airline the same day." However, there can be some exceptions to the rule.

5 Best Credit Cards for Priority Pass Lounge Access

There are numerous Priority Pass credit cards to choose from, so we narrowed down the list to our favorites for each type of traveler.

For Luxury Travelers: The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card from American Express is well-known for its premium travel benefits and top-notch customer service. In addition to Priority Pass lounges, cardholders also receive complimentary access to Centurion Lounges, Escape Lounges and Plaza Premium Lounges. It features numerous benefits, including more than $1,500 in value with its cardholder credits. Cardholders receive Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status for no charge, and they'll earn five points per dollar when booking flights through American Express Travel or directly with the airline. Membership Rewards points can be used to book travel, get statement credits and more, including transferring to 21 airline and hotel partners. You'll pay a $695 annual fee for this card. ( See Rates & Fees )

For Best Rewards: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Savvy travelers love the Chase Sapphire Reserve for its benefits and flexible rewards. The card earns three points per dollar on dining and travel worldwide and up to 10 points per dollar on purchases through Chase Travel. Points are worth 50% more when booking travel through Chase, or you can transfer to 14 airline and hotel loyalty programs. The card also features an annual $300 travel credit that automatically applies to eligible purchases. You'll pay a $550 annual fee for this card.

For Hotel Elite Status: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Hotel elite status provides numerous complimentary benefits, including upgrades at check-in, late checkout and higher earning power on hotel spending. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card includes automatic Hilton Honors Diamond elite status, which is the loyalty program's highest tier. Cardholders also receive a $400 Hilton resort credit and a $200 flight credit every year. Plus, the card includes an annual free night that can be used at almost any Hilton property worldwide. For big spenders, you can earn an additional free night by spending $30,000 and a second free night by spending $60,000. You'll pay a $550 annual fee for this card.

The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by U.S. News and the card is not currently available on the site. The information has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer and it is accurate as of the date posted.

For Sharing Benefits: Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card

The Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card includes Priority Pass memberships that can be shared by up to four people. While other Priority Pass credit cards allow cardholders to bring up to two guests with them, this card allows cardholders to give Priority Pass benefits to other people. The card also earns two points per dollar on travel and dining plus 1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases. Customers who qualify for Preferred Rewards can earn up to 75% bonus points. The card also includes $550 in fee credits to offset its annual fee of $550.

The information for the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card has been collected independently by U.S. News and the card is not currently available on the site. The information has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer and it is accurate as of the date posted.

For No Annual Fee: Signify Business Cash℠ Card by Wells Fargo

Travel credit cards have significant annual fees that are hard to justify for some travelers. The Signify Business Cash Card by Wells Fargo is a business credit card that includes Priority Pass access without charging an annual fee. The card earns an unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase and includes a 0% introductory annual percentage rate offer on purchases for 12 months. Whenever you want to visit a Priority Pass lounge, simply pay an entrance fee to use all of its benefits.

The information for the Signify Business Cash℠ Card by Wells Fargo has been collected independently by U.S. News and the card is not currently available on the site. The information has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer and it is accurate as of the date posted.

Tags: credit cards

Comparative assessments and other editorial opinions are those of U.S. News and have not been previously reviewed, approved or endorsed by any other entities, such as banks, credit card issuers or travel companies. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired.

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The Complete Guide to the American Airlines AAdvantage Program

Paul Soucy has led the Credit Cards content team at NerdWallet since 2015 and the Travel Rewards team since 2023. He was an editor with USA Today, The Des Moines Register and the Meredith/Better Homes and Gardens family of magazines for more than 20 years. He also built a successful freelance writing and editing practice with a focus on business and personal finance. He was editor of the USA Today Weekly International Edition for six years and received the highest award from ACES: The Society for Editing. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism and a Master of Business Administration. He lives in Des Moines, Iowa, with his wife, Sarah; his two sons; and a dog named Sam.

Joe is a former travel rewards writer for NerdWallet. He has followed aviation, travel insurance and travel rewards for several websites.

Elina Geller is a former NerdWallet travel writer specializing in airline and hotel loyalty programs and travel insurance. In 2019, Elina founded TheMissMiles, a travel rewards coaching business. Her work has been featured by AwardWallet. She is a certified public accountant with degrees from the London School of Economics and Fordham University.

Sally French is a travel rewards expert who joined NerdWallet in 2020. She previously wrote about travel and credit cards for The New York Times and its sibling site, Wirecutter.

Outside of work, she loves fitness, and she competes in both powerlifting and weightlifting (she can deadlift more than triple bodyweight). Naturally, her travels always involve a fitness component, including a week of cycling up the coastline of Vietnam and a camping trip to the Arctic Circle, where she biked over the sea ice. Other adventures have included hiking 25 miles in one day through Italy's Cinque Terre and climbing the 1,260 steps to Tiger Cave Temple in Krabi, Thailand.

She lives in San Francisco.

Meghan Coyle started as a web producer and writer at NerdWallet in 2018. She covers travel rewards, including industry news, airline and hotel loyalty programs, and how to travel on points. She is based in Los Angeles.

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Table of Contents

American Airlines frequent flyer sign-up

How much are american airlines miles worth, american airlines vs. competitors, how to earn aadvantage miles, how to redeem aadvantage miles, american airlines change, delay and cancellation policies, american airlines partners, aadvantage program elite status, which american airlines fare class should i choose, credit cards that earn aadvantage miles, aadvantage, recapped.

Founded in 1930, American Airlines is one of America’s three “legacy” carriers and one of the most visible brands in aviation. The airline’s loyalty program is called AAdvantage.

American is the dominant carrier at its home airport, Dallas-Fort Worth, and also operates hubs in Charlotte, Chicago-O’Hare, Los Angeles, Miami, New York (LaGuardia and JFK), Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington-National. Today, the airline operates an average of 6,800 flights every day, serving more than 350 destinations across 50 countries.

In this handy guide, we'll introduce all the different ways you could earn and redeem AAdvantage miles. We will also discuss elite status and AA’s Oneworld and independent airline partners.

Is AAdvantage free? Yes. But before you can start earning miles with American Airlines, you’ll need to sign up for an AAdvantage frequent flyer account. You can register here .

Based on our most recent analysis, NerdWallet values American Airlines miles at 1.7 cents apiece, which is the highest value among its competitors . (Yes, it surprised us , too.)

To determine the value of reward miles, we compared cash prices and reward redemptions for economy round-trip routes across several destinations and dates.

We divided the cost of the cash ticket by the cost of the reward ticket to determine a “cent per mile” value for each flight, then averaged this value across several flights and dates.

» Learn more: Credit cards that earn AAdvantage miles

Value of American Airlines miles over time

The value of American Airlines miles has increased steadily over the last few years.

This is due in part to rising airfare costs, which drive the relative value of miles up, but also due to improvements in the overall value of the miles themselves.

» Learn more: Convert your American miles to dollars

American Airlines came in third place among overall airlines in NerdWallet’s most recent analysis of the best airlines .

Its rewards program, AAdvantage, also came in third place in a second analysis of the best airline loyalty programs .

Here's a closer look at how American competed across subcategories:

Fourth in rewards rate .

American offers the second-best basic economy ticket .

Fourth in operations .

Tied for third with United in elite status benefits .

Fourth in terms of lowest fees .

Fifth in in-flight experience .

Sixth in most pet-friendly airlines .

The most obvious way to earn AAdvantage miles is by flying on American or with one of its partner airlines. But there are actually dozens of ways to earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles , which include hotel stays, car rentals, vacations, cruises, dining, shopping portals , various promotions or simply by buying miles (though that last one is usually a bad idea).

Although they’re called “miles,” you earn them based on how much money you spend on tickets, not how far you fly.

» Learn more: Find the best airline credit card for you

In general, AAdvantage miles will expire if you go 18 months without earning or redeeming miles on American or one of its partner airlines. Members under age 21 are exempt from mileage expiration. Also, if you have an American Airlines-branded credit card, your miles will remain valid as long as you continue to use the card.

» Learn more: Do AA miles expire?

Earning AAdvantage miles when you fly

Earning on American: The number of miles you earn for a flight depends on how much you spend on the ticket (in base fare and carrier-imposed fees).

If you have AAdvantage elite status , you will earn additional bonus miles for your trip.

Note: You earn miles only on airfare and airline fees. Government-imposed taxes and fees do not earn miles.

Earning on other airlines: American’s partner airlines in the Oneworld alliance distribute frequent flyer miles based on which class your tickets are booked in.

The cheapest economy tickets may earn only 25% to 50% of flown miles, while premium economy, business class and first class tickets can earn 100% base miles and a cabin bonus between 10% and 50%.

However, not all routes or flights may qualify. If you buy a flight on a booking code not listed as eligible for awards, you will not earn any award miles for your flight. Also, some routes or affiliate airlines may not earn miles.

To better understand how many miles you could earn with American’s Oneworld partners, visit the American website .

Earning AAdvantage miles with a credit card

American Airlines offers co-branded credit cards through both Citi and Barclays.

NerdWallet's favorite credit card for the AAdvantage program is the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® . It gives you 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases.

You also get a great sign-up bonus to start: Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

The annual fee is $99 — but the checked bag benefit on this card can make up for it rather quickly. The first checked bag is free for you and up to four others traveling on your reservation. You also get preferred boarding, so you can get on the plane relatively early and find space for your carry-on.

» JUMP AHEAD to other credit cards that earn AAdvantage miles .

Earning AAdvantage miles through partners

Hotels: You can earn AAdvantage miles at most major hotel chains. In some cases, you earn 1 or 2 miles per dollar spent; in others, you earn a flat number of miles per stay. See partner hotels and earning rules.

Dining: Register a credit card with AAdvantage Dining , and every time you use that card at a participating restaurant, club or bar, you'll earn 1 to 5 miles per dollar spent. There are more than 11,000 participating locations.

Auto rentals: Several major car rental agencies, including Avis and Budget , offer an option to earn AAdvantage miles. See the rules here.

Fuel: Via a partnership with Shell's Fuel Rewards program , AAdvantage members earn 2 miles for every gallon of gas bought at Shell stations. Members also get 100 miles on their first fill-up after linking their AAdvantage account to Fuel Rewards.

Shopping: When you shop online through the AAdvantage eShopping mall, you earn miles for every dollar you spend at more than 950 retailers.

Vacations: When booking a flight and hotel through AA Vacations , you could earn extra miles.

Cruises: You could earn 3 miles per $1 (up to 30,000 AAdvantage miles) for booking a cruise through AA Cruises .

Buying AAdvantage miles

In most cases, we recommend you stay away from buying miles, as it's an expensive way to accrue them.

How much do AA miles cost? It depends on how many you buy. You have to buy at least 2,000 miles, and at that volume, the price is 3.76 cents per mile. If you buy at least 5,000 miles, you'll get a discount.

Even with any discounts, purchasing miles should be a last resort (e.g., only do this to top up your account for an award redemption or to keep miles from expiring).

» Learn more: The rare times it might make sense to buy AAdvantage miles

Once you’ve got all those miles, you’ll want to redeem American Airlines miles for maximum value. AAdvantage mile redemption options include award flights, upgrades, car rentals, hotel stays, vacations, Admirals Club airport lounge access and much more.

AAdvantage miles are redeemable for flights through American Airlines and its partners in the Oneworld alliance . In most cases, you can redeem by booking through American’s website. Some airlines do not show up on AA.com, and in those cases you need to call American Airlines and ask to waive the phone booking fee.

Award flight redemptions

American Airlines now has a fully dynamic award chart , with pricing varied based on demand. Even so, American has published an "award chart" showing what you can expect to pay by region and fare class, but there are no guarantees:

Bad redemption options

Using your AAdvantage miles to book a hotel with points yields a low value.

In one search for a hotel in Miami, the value of using the miles for a hotel room was around 0.8 cent per mile, which is below our 1.7 cents valuation, only a little more than half the value of using the miles for domestic travel. A better bet would be to use hotel points or rewards earned from a cash-back credit card for hotel bookings.

» Learn more: Plan your next AAdvantage miles redemption with our tool

American has loosened its change and cancellation policies , making it easier for flyers to revise their flights.

Change fees

The airline no longer charges change fees for most fares (except basic economy) on domestic flights, short-haul international flights and many long-haul international flights. However, you may still be on the hook for any fare differences if your new flight is more expensive.

For nonrefundable airfares, you get an American Airlines flight credit for unused or canceled tickets.

If you bought a basic economy fare, you will not be able to make changes to your itinerary.

For flights booked with miles, you’ll also be able to change or cancel your reservation without any fees.

AA flight delays

American offers actual refunds — no matter what type of fare you bought — on many flights delayed by more than four hours.

If your American Airlines flight is delayed , you can get your money back if you choose not to go through with the flight. If you wait it out, you might be able to get compensation for a hotel room if the new flight is the following day.

» Learn more: How American's flight delay compensation works

AA flight cancellations

If your American Airlines flight is canceled outright, American typically automatically books you on what it assumes is the next best available flight (though that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best for you).

Check the American Airlines app or call American Airlines reservations to make adjustments to the flight you actually want. And as is the case for delayed flights, you are entitled to a full refund for flights that are canceled if you opt not to take another on American Airlines.

» Learn more: How to get an American Airlines refund

American Airlines has dozens of partnerships with other airlines all around the world, opening opportunities to earn and redeem AAdvantage miles on non-American Airlines flights. Plus, if you hold American Airlines elite status, you can sometimes get similar elite status benefits on those partner airlines, too. 

Oneworld alliance members

American Airlines is a founding member of the Oneworld Alliance .

Alaska Airlines.

American Airlines.

British Airways.

Cathay Pacific.

Japan Airlines.

Malaysia Airlines.

Qatar Airways.

Royal Air Maroc.

Royal Jordanian.

Sri Lankan Airlines.

Other partner airlines

On airline partners outside the Oneworld alliance, your ability to earn or redeem miles is more limited. You may be able to earn miles but not redeem them, for example, or you may be able to redeem only for certain flights.

Other partner airlines include:

Air Tahiti Nui.

China Southern Airlines.

Etihad Airways.

Fiji Airways.

GOL Airlines.

Hawaiian Airlines.

JetBlue Airways.

Silver Airways.

Although you can redeem miles for most of these partners on AA.com, you will have to call the airline to book some awards. Awards not bookable online include:

The flight award chart for partner airlines tells you how you can earn flights on carriers other than American for no cost.

» Learn more: Getting American award flights for less miles

Anyone can sign up for the AAdvantage program, but basic membership only comes with a frequent flyer number and an account where your points accumulate.

The real goodies come when you earn AAdvantage elite status, of which there are four levels.

AAdvantage Gold .

AAdvantage Platinum .

AAdvantage Platinum Pro .

AAdvantage Executive Platinum .

AAdvantage elite levels and benefits

For many, the best perk of AAdvantage elite status is the opportunity to get an American Airlines upgrade . Sure, you can pay in cash or miles to upgrade your flight to business or first class.

But, once you earn elite status with American, you’re eligible to receive unlimited upgrades for domestic, Caribbean and Central American flights. With Executive Platinum status, you can even get upgraded on award tickets.

Oneworld partners may also offer some benefits to American elite status members.

How to earn elite status in AAdvantage

Say goodbye to elite qualifying dollars, elite qualifying miles and elite qualifying segments. American AAdvantage members now earn status by flying, using an AAdvantage credit card or spending with an American Airlines partner. There is now only one status metric — Loyalty Points — and the earning system is really simple.

Each eligible mile earned equals 1 Loyalty Point. There are three ways to earn Loyalty Points:

Traveling on American Airlines, Oneworld or any other partner airline.

Making purchases on American Airlines AAdvantage credit cards.

Shopping, dining and spending money with American’s partners, including AAdvantage eShopping, AAdvantage Dining, SimplyMiles and more.

How many Loyalty Points do you need to earn status with American Airlines?

Since there are so many more ways to earn status (without even stepping foot on a plane), the number of points needed to reach the top status levels are high.

» Learn more: Guide to American Airlines elite status

You may also be able to earn AAdvantage elite status through a status match , which is where American will grant you elite status if you show proof of your elite status with a different airline or hotel.

For example, Hyatt and American offer reciprocal status to their elite members.

There are more than a half-dozen fare types you can pick from when booking on American Airlines, each with their own benefits. The more expensive the fare class, the earlier you'll get to board . Depending on the seat you pick, you may also be able to avoid American Airlines baggage fees .

The American Airlines fare classes are (in order from swankiest to stingiest) are:

Flagship First.

Flagship Business.

First class.

Business class.

Premium economy.

Main Cabin Extra.

Main cabin.

Basic economy.

American Airlines is unusual among U.S. airlines in that it has credit card agreements with two different issuers — a legacy of its merger with U.S. Airways. Cards that earn AAdvantage miles include:

on Citibank's application

$0 intro for the first year, then $99 .

Earn 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

For a limited time, earn 100,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $10,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.

Earn 50,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles after making your first purchase and paying the $99 annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days.

» Learn more: Is an American Airlines credit card worth it?

If you seek more flexibility in redeeming miles for award flights, consider applying for a more general travel credit card instead. A more general travel credit card differs from an airline card in that you can book flights with multiple carriers, rather than reaping the benefits of staying loyal to a single brand.

Only one American Airlines credit card, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® , will get you Admirals Club access .

The more high-end (or 'premium' ) the travel credit card, the more benefits you can enjoy, including airport lounge access or automatic elite status in certain programs. That said, a brand-specific airline card can net you benefits like waived baggage fees, which can have meaningful dollar value.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards

Deciding if a program is worth it depends on your home airport and where you’re looking to fly. American Airlines flies to 50 countries (150 through its Oneworld partners), providing ample opportunity for passengers to use its service. AAdvantage, which is the airline’s loyalty program, offers many opportunities for redeeming its miles for award flights. If American flies to your home airport and reaches the destinations you’d like to visit, it's a great airline to earn miles with.

To contact American Airlines by phone in the U.S., call 800-433-7300 or visit the website at aa.com . You can also reach American Airlines on Twitter at @americanair .

Award flights with American Airlines start at 7,500 AAdvantage miles for a one-way economy flight under 500 miles in the contiguous U.S. and Canada. Longer distance flights in the contiguous U.S. and Canada start at 12,500 miles.

Yes, it is free to join the American Airlines AAdvantage program. Head over to aa.com to register for an account. Doing so will allow you to earn AAdvantage miles when you fly on American Airlines and its Oneworld partners.

To contact American Airlines by phone in the U.S., call 800-433-7300 or visit the website at

. You can also reach American Airlines on Twitter at

@americanair

Yes, it is free to join the American Airlines AAdvantage program. Head over to aa.com to register for an account. Doing so will allow you to

earn AAdvantage miles

when you fly on American Airlines and its Oneworld partners.

We've covered all the basic details of the American Airlines AAdvantage program.

But if you still aren't sure whether a frequent flyer program is worth the effort, see our absolute beginner's guide to frequent flyer programs .

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

1x Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.

100,000 For a limited time, earn 100,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $10,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 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 Travel℠.