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My thoughts on the HSBC TravelOne Card

The HSBC TravelOne Card is a great general spending card- and maybe that's the problem.

This week saw the launch of the TravelOne Card, HSBC’s first mass market miles card in Singapore. HSBC certainly took its time entering this segment — almost every other bank already has one — but hey, there’s no harm in being fashionably late.

I’ve spent the past couple of days poring over the details of this card and analysing its use cases. Like every new launch, the TravelOne has generated a ton of online discussion, which has been very helpful in spotting things I missed the first time round!

And as I was drafting this post, I suddenly had an epiphany.

The biggest strength of the HBSC TravelOne? It’s a great general spending card. The biggest weakness of the HSBC TravelOne? It’s a great general spending card.

If that sounds confusing, don’t worry- it’ll get clearer as we go along.

The earn rates are great (for a general spending card)

HSBC TravelOne Cardholders earn:

3X HSBC points per S$1 (1.2 mpd) on local spend
6X HSBC points per S$1 (2.4 mpd) on foreign currency spend

There is no minimum spend required, nor cap on the points that can be earned.

It speaks volumes about where the market is right now that more than a few comments have basically said “Not 4 mpd? Pfffft”. But that’s understandable in a way. Cards like the UOB Preferred Platinum Visa and UOB Visa Signature have made us so accustomed to earning 4 mpd almost everywhere that it’s become the de facto expectation for some.

And yet, it’s important to remember that the TravelOne is intended to be a general spending card , and we need to benchmark it to the appropriate segment.

In fact, given its earn rates and rounding policies, I’d say it more than holds its own against the competition; all the more so for HSBC Everyday Global Account customers who can earn a bonus 1% cashback on all transactions (capped at $300 per month).

Furthermore, I’m quite amazed that the HSBC TravelOne outearns the top-of-the-line HSBC Visa Infinite (1/2 mpd on local/overseas spend, upgraded to 1.25/2.25 mpd on local/overseas spend with a hefty minimum spend of S$50,000 in a membership year). That must have been a fascinating internal discussion, since product managers are loath to have their baby upstaged- especially by a card for the unwashed masses!

It’s not just raw earn rates, mind you. Quality of points matters as much as quantity .

If HSBC had launched a card with 1.6/2.4 mpd earn rates, yet kept Asia Miles and KrisFlyer as its only transfer partners, I’d be much more indifferent. Yes, those would be excellent earn rates for a general spending card, but at the end of the day what’s changed? It’s not breaking any new ground.

The TravelOne’s claim to fame is not its earn rates, solid though they may be. It’s the new transfer partners it’s added and will continue to add throughout 2023 (more on that later). That, to me, is more important than incrementally higher earn rates.

I’ve often believed that banks are getting the market for general spending cards wrong. It seems as if the thought process goes something like, “What’s better than 1.2 mpd? 1.3 mpd. What’s better than 1.3 mpd? 1.4 mpd…”

While this might be good for consumers in the short run, it’s ultimately not sustainable (just look at the BOC Elite Miles Card as an example). Margins get squeezed, banks have to come up with shenanigans to advertise higher rates while awarding less in practice (e.g. OCBC/UOB and their S$5 earning blocks), and it limits the scope to add other benefits that customers might value more, such as lounge visits or airport limo rides.

A much more sustainable approach would be to compete not on headline earn rates, but card features . In other words: “I can make my 1.2 mpd better than your 1.3 mpd if I offer more partners, if I offer free conversions, if I offer instant transfers.” That’s exactly what HSBC is attempting with the TravelOne.

Still, not everything is hunky dory.

HSBC TravelOne Card does not have a bonus earn category
HSBC excludes CardUp/ipaymy transactions from earning rewards
HSBC no longer offers a tax payment facility
HSBC points don’t pool (though it’s on the roadmap…more on that later)

This means there’s currently no way of turbocharging your accumulation, and at a pace of 1.2/2.4 mpd, it’d take a lot of spending to reach the critical mass needed for a redemption (especially if you’re redeeming for a family).

It’s what I call the “AMEX Platinum Problem”. While Membership Rewards points are extremely valuable, it’s hard to earn them at a decent rate (0.69 mpd for AMEX Platinum Credit Card , 0.78 mpd for AMEX Platinum Charge ). But even then, at least AMEX has 10Xcelerator partners (3.47 mpd for AMEX Platinum Credit Card , 7.8 mpd for AMEX Platinum Charge )- something HSBC lacks!

A solid sign-up bonus, with a quirk

From now till 31 August 2023 , customers who apply for a HSBC TravelOne Card will enjoy 20,000 bonus miles (in the form of 50,000 HSBC points) when they:

Pay the annual fee of S$194.40
Spend at least S$800 by the end of the month following approval
Opt-in for marketing communications during the sign-up process

Since the annual fee must be paid, you’re basically buying miles at a cost of 0.97 cents each (S$194.40/20,000 miles), or 1.09 cents if you want to adjust for the opportunity cost of spending on a 4 mpd card (S$194.40/(20,000-800*2.8) miles).

That’s a very good price indeed, and before someone says “but Citi PayAll”, remember the S$8,000 minimum spend for the current offer.

What’s noteworthy about this offer is that it’s available to both new and existing HSBC cardholders . Most of the time, the latter get left out in the cold.

But offering the same sign-up bonus to new and existing customers also creates a strange quirk. If you count as a new HSBC cardholder, you might want to apply for a HSBC Revolution Card first (seriously, why don’t you have one yet?).

New cardholders will receive:

S$30 cash from SingSaver, no min. spend (T&Cs)
S$150 cashback from HSBC with a min. spend of S$1,000 (T&Cs)

After the Revolution is approved, you can then apply for the TravelOne as an existing customer, since you enjoy the same 20,000 bonus miles as a new cardholder anyway.

Don’t sweat the annual fee

And since we’re talking annual fees: the HSBC TravelOne Card is not offering a first year fee waiver option at the moment. In other words, if you want the card, you have to pay the S$194.40 annual fee, though with 20,000 miles + eight lounge visits in the first membership year (not four- see below), I’d argue you’re still coming out on top.

What happens in the second year, though?

At this point, we don’t know. The official stance is that cardholders who spend at least S$25,000 in a membership year will receive a fee waiver for the second year. However, many other banks say similar things, yet offer waivers nonetheless to those who fall short of the minimum spend (either automatically or on request).

I’m not that concerned at the moment, quite frankly. The card is virtually brand new; we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. I certainly wouldn’t pay S$194.40 just for a few lounge visits, and I suspect that HSBC knows that unless there’s a very compelling reason to pay the second year’s annual fee, the lack of waiver could spark a significant exodus.

The market has already demonstrated it’s not willing to pay annual fees in the S$30,000 card segment. OCBC tried it for a while with their 90°N Card by adding a non-waivable S$53.50 annual fee (with a further S$139 top-up to buy 10,000 miles). That experiment didn’t last very long.

So the way I see it, why not just take it one year at a time? It’s hardly something to get worked up about at this point. If the value proposition doesn’t make sense in the second year, you still have the freedom to walk away.

Expiring points aren’t a deal-breaker

Points earned on the HSBC TravelOne Card expire after 37 months , the same as other HSBC cards.

Some don’t like expiring points, but it’s not that big a deal for me. As I’ve explained in this article, non-expiring points don’t really influence my decision whether or not to get a card. Granted, nothing beats evergreen, but 37 months is a long time, and you still have additional validity once points are transferred to the airline side.

However, an argument could be made that because of the 1.2/2.4 mpd earn rates, you’d need to keep the points on the bank side for a longer time before transferring. Fair enough, though at most it means paying an additional conversion fee at the end of 37 months; not really something to lose sleep over.

Moreover, with the pace of frequent flyer devaluations, holding on to your points too long is a bad idea. The golden rule is still to earn and burn!

First year sweet spot for lounge visits

HSBC TravelOne Cardholders enjoy four lounge visits per year, a relatively generous allowance for the segment in which the card competes.

What’s more, the allowances are granted on a calendar year basis instead of membership year. This means that a cardholder can enjoy eight visits in their first membership year, regardless of whether they choose to renew.

For example, when you’re approved in 2023 you get four visits to use till 31 December 2023, and on 1 January 2024 you get another four visits to use till 31 December 2024. Whether or not you renew the card in 2024 is irrelevant.

There’s also a qualitative aspect to this: TravelOne lounge visits are provided by DragonPass, which is the only major lounge network to retain access to Plaza Premium Lounges after the operator terminated its agreements with Priority Pass and Lounge Key. In some airports (e.g. Penang, Phnom Penh) Plaza Premium lounges are the only contract lounge option (or even the only lounge option).

If there’s one fly in the ointment, it’s that lounge visits cannot be shared with a guest. Whether that’s a HSBC or DragonPass restriction I do not know, but it feels odd: if I have four visits in total, who cares whether I use all four on myself or split them with my companion for two visits together?

Fast, free points conversions

There’s three things I look for in a card:

Conversion speed

Conversion fees, conversion blocks.

The HSBC TravelOne gets two out of three right, with the last one coming agonisingly close.

The HSBC TravelOne Card has a bit of a semantics issue when it comes to conversions.

In some places, it advertises “ instant” rewards redemptions. In others, it says “instantly or within 1 business day”. The two, obviously, are not the same, and in the miles game where award space can disappear as fast as it pops up, can make all the difference.

Having spoken to both the product team as well as Ascenda (the loyalty company that’s behind the new partners), the overall sense I got was that this is a CYA thing, just in case something goes wrong.

Given the API integration Ascenda has with its partners, there’s really no reason not to expect instant conversions for all programmes except Accor Live Limitless (where transfers take up to five business days).

In any case, I’ll be testing this soon and posting the results, and I’m sure the Telegram Group will be full of data points as well.

HSBC normally requires cardholders to join its Mileage Programme to convert points, which costs S$43.20 a year for unlimited conversions to Asia Miles or KrisFlyer. You only pay one fee, regardless of how many HSBC cards you have.

With the TravelOne Card, all conversion fees are waived till 31 December 2023 . That reduces the friction in making ad-hoc top-ups to your frequent flyer account.

It’s not been confirmed whether HSBC will switch to a “per conversion” model come 1 January 2024, but if you ask me, it looks more likely than not. I’d expect to pay the usual S$25 + GST.

Unfortunately, it’s the last leg of the triangle that’s missing. While the TravelOne offers fast, free top-ups, the minimum conversion block is 10,000 miles.

While that’s on par with the market, I feel they’ve missed a great opportunity here. 10,000 miles, after all, is a significant chunk of change to move at one go. If they broke it down into smaller blocks, the utility of the card would be even greater.

If it’s any consolation, after the first 10,000 miles the subsequent conversion block is just 2 miles. This is confirmed in the FAQs:

In other words, you could convert 25,005 points to 10,002 air miles. This is great news for anyone intending to spend S$800 for the sign-up bonus in local currency then cash out. You’d have:

50,000 bonus points (for meeting min. spend)
2,400 base points (S$800 @ 3 points per S$1)

52,400 points can be cashed out exactly for 20,960 miles, avoiding orphan points.

I just wish they’d gone one step further and made the minimum conversion block 2 miles, though that may be wishful thinking on my part.

By the way, this also means that if you want an insurance policy against orphan miles, one thing you can do is keep a minimum of 25,000 points in your account at all times.

Transfer partner bonanza

HSBC TravelOne Cardholders can transfer points to a total of 12 different partners : nine airlines and three hotels.

This takes the crown of “most transfer partners” from Citi (10 airlines, 1 hotel), and HSBC isn’t done. The plan is to have more than 20 airline and hotel partners by the end of 2023.

That’s the real game-changer here. For too long, we’ve seen new partners added at a glacial pace ( Standard Chartered and OCBC (eventually) being the notable exceptions; no surprise it was Ascenda behind those too). Now HSBC has kicked things into overdrive, and while not every new partner will be “useful” from a miles chaser perspective, more options can only be a good thing.

At the same time, there’s one thing I want to make abundantly clear: there’s little point in using the HSBC TravelOne Card if all you want is Asia Miles and KrisFlyer. If that’s your goal, you’d do much better by sticking with other cards on the market. Why earn KrisFlyer miles at 1.2/2.4 mpd when you can earn them at 4/6 mpd elsewhere?

Getting the most out of TravelOne means exploring other programmes, and I can’t help but wonder if there’s an inherent paradox. Are the people most likely to give a general spending card heavy usage also the same people who would default to familiar programmes like Asia Miles and KrisFlyer?

How you feel about the HSBC TravelOne Card really boils down to what standards you’re measuring it by.

Compared to general spending cards, it excels: 1.2/2.4 mpd earn rates, 1% extra cashback for EGA customers, a favourable rounding policy, four lounge visits per calendar year, fast and free conversions, and a 20,000 miles sign-up bonus even for existing customers. I’m not about to say it’s the absolute best — the Citi PremierMiles Card may have lower earn rates and fewer lounge visits, but Citi PayAll is a fearsome beast — though it certainly ticks all the right boxes.

Compared to specialised spending cards , it pales in comparison, obviously. No general spending card, no matter how good, is going to beat 4/6 mpd!

Here’s the thing though: even if the HSBC TravelOne isn’t directly competing with a specialised spending card, it’s indirectly competing for share of wallet, because in most cases, every S$1 I put on the TravelOne is S$1 I could have put on a 4/6 mpd card.

That’s a problem that all general spending cards face, not just the HSBC TravelOne. It begs a more existential question: do you even need a general spending card?

To be sure, there are situations where it can come in useful:

Maybe you’ve busted the 4/6 mpd caps on your specialised spending card
Maybe the bank affiliated with your general spending card has some sort of tie-up with the merchant that grants an additional discount that would more than offset the lost miles
Maybe this particular category of spend doesn’t qualify for any bonuses (though it’s hard to think of an example, given the wide coverage of specialised spending cards)
Maybe you don’t know the MCC of a given merchant, and just want to be safe (but you could always find out for free )

I don’t know how common those scenarios are for you, but keep in mind this won’t even be a dilemma for the vast majority of cardholders out there. If you read this blog, chances are you’re in the minority- not just in terms of looks, charisma and sheer muscle mass, but also in terms of card usage. For every one of us who obsessively optimises each and every transaction, there’s five, maybe ten people who just put everything on their DBS Altitude, Citi PremierMiles or UOB PRVI Miles Card and call it a day.

All the same, it’d be horribly premature to write it off. My understanding is that HSBC is working on adding points pooling , and if they pull that off, a lot of things would fall into place.

Imagine what you could do with Revolution earn rates, 20+ partners and instant transfers. Imagine being able to avoid fuel surcharges and tap new sweet spots by choosing the right frequent flyer programme. Imagine a spillover effect on the rest of the market, where other banks look at the HSBC, StanChart and OCBC case studies and decide there’s value in partnering with a platform like Ascenda and bringing dozens of partners onboard at once instead of negotiating individual contracts.

As John Lennon once said “That’s very nice Yoko but I’m trying to perform with Chuck Berry” “You can say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one”.

The HSBC TravelOne poses a crucial question: is there space for a general spending card in the wallet of a miles optimiser? Or perhaps more accurately: is there space for another general spending card in the wallet of a miles optimiser?

That’s something well worth thinking about this weekend, but I personally pulled the trigger yesterday and sent in my application. I’m not about to say no to that kind of sign-up bonus, and if things work out the way I hope they will, having an extra 50,000 HSBC points in the bag would be very welcome come end-2023. HSBC has ambitious plans that go beyond just the TravelOne, and if they can deliver on that, it’d be a huge shake-up to the miles game in Singapore.

Scoffers gonna scoff, but I like what I see so far.

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Is the HSBC TravelOne Card the One and Only Travel Card You Need?—MoneySmart Review 2023

Let’s talk about the HSBC TravelOne card’s name—“Travel One”. It aims to be the 1 travel card you need. HSBC says so as well: “Unlock instant travel rewards and elevated travel experiences everywhere you go with the one and only travel card you need.”

But does the HSBC TravelOne card (literally) live up to its name? If I only have 1 travel card, I want good miles earn rates, low (or no!) annual fees, and a slew of travel benefits and privileges.

Let’s take a look at how the HSBC TravelOne Card fares. We review the card’s earn rates, travel rewards, privileges, and more.

See our credit card ranking rubric to find out how we rank credit cards.

HSBC TravelOne Card: Summary
HSBC TravelOne Card: Eligibility
HSBC TravelOne Card: Annual fees
HSBC TravelOne Card: Earn rates
HSBC TravelOne Card: Bonus earn categories
HSBC TravelOne Card: Rewards points redemption
HSBC TravelOne Card: Benefits and privileges
HSBC TravelOne Card: Sign-up promotion
Should I get the HSBC TravelOne Card?
Alternatives to the HSBC TravelOne Card

1. HSBC TravelOne Card: Summary

HSBC TravelOne Card

[FLASH DEAL | STRYV GIVEAWAY] Earn 5,040 SmartPoints or S$200 Cash via PayNow when you apply and spend a min. of S$1,000 from Card Account Opening Date to end of the following calendar month. T&Cs apply . PLUS stand a chance to win exciting prizes: • A Stryv Bundle [Hairdryer & Prostyler (Flat Iron & Curler)] (worth S$288) from MoneySmart when you meet the giveaway criteria! • An all-electric Mercedes-Benz EQB and round-trip air tickets to Paris from HSBC when you apply, activate and spend with HSBC credit card! T&Cs apply . Use 5,040 SmartPoints to fully redeem a product from our Rewards Store . If the product costs more, redeem with your points and top up the rest by purchasing additional SmartPoints e.g. get an Apple 10.9-inch iPad Wi‑Fi 64GB (10th Generation) at only S$110 on top of your earned SmartPoints.

Key Features

Instant reward redemption with an extensive selection of airline and hotel partners via HSBC Singapore mobile app

Accelerated earn rate: up to 2.4 miles for your spending

Travel privileges: Complimentary travel insurance coverage (including COVID-19), 4 x complimentary airport lounge visits for primary cardholders and more

Split flexibly: Split your purchases across a range of flexible tenors that suits your needs with HSBC Instalment Plans

Receive complimentary access to ENTERTAINER with HSBC app, with over 1,000 worldwide 1-for-1 deals on dining, lifestyle and travel.

At MoneySmart, we strive to keep our information accurate and up to date. This information may be different from what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider, or specific product site. MoneySmart shall not be liable to compensate the Customer should the information is not as updated as our Partner.

The HSBS TravelOne card is an entry-level air miles card that’s good for general spending. It doesn’t come with any bonus earn categories, but does come with a good mix of travel benefits and privileges. These include travel perks (such as cashback and discounts when you shop overseas) and travel protection in the form of complimentary travel insurance.

2. HSBC TravelOne Card: Eligibility

Let’s first talk about who’s eligible for the HSBC TravelOne Card.

An entry-level miles card, the HSBC TravelOne Card has pretty typical age and minimum income requirements:

Age requirement: 21 years old
For Singaporean and PR salaried workers: $30,000
For Singaporeans and PRs who are self-employed or commission-based: $40,000
For foreigners: $40,000

3. HSBC TravelOne Card: Annual fees

The HSBC TravelOne Card comes with a pretty standard annual fee of S$194.40 . Generally, this is the standard annual fee for most entry-level credit cards, barring credit cards with $0 annual fee .

Of course, the annual fee doesn’t matter if a fee waiver is available. HSBC doesn’t say anything about the first year’s annual fee (you can always try your luck requesting a fee waiver !). However, they will waive the annual fee for the second year onwards if you spend over S$25,000 per year. That’s about $2083 per month.

4. HSBC TravelOne Card: Earn rates

Here’s a quick look at how the HSBC Travel One Card’s earn rates compare to other entry-level miles cards:

The HSBC TravelOne Card local spend earn rates are average at best —there are miles cards with lower local earn rates, such as the BOC Elite Miles World Mastercard , which clocks in at just 1 mile per dollar (mpd).

However, the HSBC TravelOne Card’s foreign spend earn rates are above average . The only other miles credit card out there with a comparable rate is the UOB PRVI MASTERCARD Miles Card, which comes with a $5 minimum spend caveat—you need to spend S$5 to earn UNI$6/2.4 miles.

5. HSBC TravelOne Card: Bonus earn categories

At its heart, the HSBC TravelOne Card is meant for everyday, general spending. That comes with 1 downside: it doesn’t have any bonus earn categories . These refer to specific spend categories with which you can earn a greater number of miles per dollar.

Bonus earn rates are miles credit cards are usually between 3 mpd to 10 mpd. Here are some examples:

Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card : 3 mpd on online transactions in Transportation, Grocery and Food Delivery Merchants categories
UOB PRVI MASTERCARD Miles Card : 6 mpd (UNI$15 per S$5 spend) on major airlines and hotels booked through Expedia, UOB Travel, and Agoda
Citi PremierMiles Card : Up to 10 mpd on online travel bookings via Kaligo and Agoda
DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card : Up to 10 mpd on hotel transactions at Kaligo (capped at S$5,000/month); up to 6 miles per S$1 on flight, hotel and travel packages at Expedia (capped at S$5,000/month)

Is it a big disadvantage that the HSBC TravelOne card doesn’t have bonus earn categories? We would say not necessarily. It really depends on if you’d spend more on those bonus earn categories in the first place. For example, if you don’t want to book via Kaligo, Expedia or Agoda, the Citi PremierMiles Card and DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card bonus earn rates are basically made defunct.

6. HSBC TravelOne Card: Rewards points redemption

HSBC rewards you with Rewards points for each dollar of your spending—they don’t just give you miles directly. Here’s a breakdown of the points earn rates:

2.4 miles (6 Reward points) per S$1 foreign spending
1.2 miles (3 Reward points) per S$1 local spending

The good news is that from now till 31 Dec 2023, HSBC won’t charge you any conversion fee for redeeming your points for air miles or hotel points. Usually, you have to pay an annual HSBC Mileage Programme fee of S$40, subject to GST.

On top of that, HSBC rewards redemptions are fast . According to HSBC’s TraveIOne Card page, they’ll complete redemptions for air miles and hotel points instantly or in 1 business day.

Do note that HSBC Reward points expire after 37 months . 3+ years sounds like a lot of time, but you know how these expiry dates can creep up on us without us realising—fellow points hoarders, you know what I mean.

Prefer a rewards system with points/miles that never expire? Consider the Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card for 360 Rewards Points that never expire, or the Citi PremierMiles Card for Citi Miles that never expire.

7. HSBC TravelOne Card: Benefits and privileges

Although the HSBC TravelOne Card doesn’t have any bonus point categories, it does come with a generous slew of travel benefits and privileges. Broadly, these fall into 2 categories: travel perks, and travel protection.

HSBC TravelOne Card travel perks

Airport lounge access : As the primary cardholder, you get 4 complimentary lounge visits per year to over 1,300 airport lounges around the world.
Travel rewards : With the HSBC TravelOne Card, you get to enjoy cashback and discounts when you travel and do your shopping overseas under the Mastercard Travel Rewards catalogue . These apply to both in-store and online merchants across over 25 countries, including Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores in Japan and Bloomingdale’s in the United States.
Mastercard Priceless™ Specials : This is another MasterCard rewards programme that you get with the HSBC TravelOne card, but this one is a bit more upmarket. It offers privileged access to benefits across travel, culinary, shopping, sports, entertainment, and arts and culture.

HSBC TravelOne Card travel protection

Travel insurance : If you charge your air ticket (in full) to your HSBC TravelOne Card, you’ll get complimentary travel insurance coverage (including COVID-19) of up to USD100,000.
ID Theft Protection™ : The HSBC TravelOne Card doesn’t just want to give you peace of mind while on holiday—it also aims to do so while you’re browsing and making purchases online. You can register for Mastercard ID Theft Protection™ to ensure your personal data is safe and secure, protecting you from identity theft and fraud.
Checking travel and health restrictions : It is such a chore to check for travel and health restriction/documentation. The HSBC TravelOne gives you access to Sherpa, a travel advisory tool that tells you what Visa requirements, travel documents, and even if COVID-19 tests are needed prior to your trip.

Hungry for more benefits? Even if you aren’t travelling, the HSBC TravelOne Card comes with a dining perk you can use right here in Singapore. You’ll get complimentary access to ENTERTAINER with HSBC , which comes with tons of 1-1 deals on dining, lifestyle and travel. These deals are available worldwide, but there are plenty to choose from locally too.

ALSO READ : Best Food Discount and Rewards Apps in Singapore—Chope, Burpple, Entertainer & More

8. HSBC TravelOne Card: Sign-up promotion

From now till 31 Aug 2023, you can get up to 20,000 Miles (in the form of 50,000 Rewards Points) when you apply for the HSBC TravelOne Card.

The downside is that you need to pay the card’s annual fee of S$194.40 (GST already included), as well as spend at least S$800 in qualifying transactions within 1 month. Depending on your lifestyle, this minimum spend could be easily doable, or a tall order.

9. Should I get the HSBC TravelOne Card?

If you’re looking for a general spending travel card (that means no bonus earn categories!), the HSBC TravelOne Card is a decent choice. Its earn rates are average or slightly above average (especially when it comes to foreign spending), and we like that you earn Rewards points per dollar spent. For some other cards with similar earn rates, you need to spend say $5 before you chalk up any points. This means that the HSBC TravelOne Card can help you earn points on even the smallest purchases.

Don’t forget that the HSBC Reward points expire after a 37-month period. This could be a pro or a con, depending on how much of a points hoarder you are.

The HSBC TravelOne Card does live up to its name as the 1 and only travel card you’ll need…if you’re looking for a general spending miles card. We suggest you get the HSBC TravelOne Card if you want a general spend card, if you value travel benefits, and if you’re looking for a higher than average earn rate for foreign spending. This card isn’t for you if you want a high bonus earn rate on selected categories, or if you want miles that never expire.

10. Alternatives to the HSBC TravelOne Card

Here are some other entry-level miles cards for you to consider. These rewards points/miles never expire:

Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card : This card rewards you with a bonus earn rate of 3 miles for online transactions on transport, food delivery, and groceries. The best part is that the 360 Rewards Points you earn never expire.

Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card (No Annual Fee)

Up to 3 miles for every $1 spent

2 complimentary visits to Priority Pass lounges around the world each year

S$0 foreign transaction fee for overseas spend made and posted in June-July, November-December 2023

Complimentary travel insurance coverage of up to S$500,000.

360 Rewards Points do not expire

S$10 off Grab rides to or from Changi Airport

Citi PremierMiles Card : Citi Miles never expire! Plus, earn up to 10 miles per $1 spent on selected hotel bookings.

Citi PremierMiles Card

S$1 = 1.2 Citi Miles on Local spend (no min. spend)

S$1 = 2 Citi Miles on Foreign currency spend

Earn 10,000 Citi Miles upon renewal of annual membership and payment of annual fee

Citi Miles never expire

Principal Cardholder gets to enjoy 2 complimentary visits every year to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide.

OCBC 90 N Card : Travel$ never expire. You’ll also get up to 7 miles per $1 spent on Agoda accommodations worldwide.

OCBC 90°N Card

Earn 1,890 SmartPoints or S$200 Cash via PayNow when you apply and spend a min. of S$500 in qualifying spends within 30 days from card approval date. T&Cs apply . Use 1,890 SmartPoints to fully redeem a product from our Rewards Store. If the product costs more, redeem with your points and top up the rest by purchasing additional SmartPoints e.g. get an Apple 10.2 inch iPad Wi-Fi (9th Generation) 64GB at only S$315 on top of your earned SmartPoints.

Designed with an LED light feature, the 90°N MasterCard Card lights up whenever you make a contactless payment.

Travel$ that do not expire - Convert Travel$ to loyalty points at 9 airline and hotel partner programmes.

Get cash rebates at up to 2.1% from your earned Travel$. No minimum spend and no caps

All online purchases on your OCBC 90°N Card come with e-Commerce Protection, which safeguards you against non-delivery or defective goods or if the seller fails to reimburse you.

Check out and easily compare the other air miles credit cards in Singapore .

P.S. Here’s our MoneySmart credit card ranking rubric

In case you’re wondering, here’s how we decide on our credit card rankings.

Don’t miss our ultimate list of credit card reviews for the low-down on credit cards in Singapore.

Found this article useful? Share it with a fellow traveller considering a miles card!

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Credit Cards

First Impressions: HSBC TravelOne Credit Card

HSBC just announced their latest travel credit card offering, the HSBC TravelOne (T1) Credit Card.

This is probably one of the most exciting credit card launches in Singapore in recent years. There haven’t been many revolutions or improvements, even with the recent lacklustre launch of the DBS Vantage Card.

As such, when HSBC suddenly released their much-awaited travel card, many travellers (including us!) in Singapore were really excited about it.

This post is my first impression of the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card .

Sign up bonus

This bonus applies to new-to-bank customers only! To be eligible for the promotion, you’ll need to activate and spend S$500 and pay the annual fee of S$196.20.

Miles Earn Rates

The HSBC TravelOne Card has a fairly standard travel credit card earning rate. It is comparable to other general spend cards in the market such as the DBS Altitude Card and the Citi Premiermiles Card.

Singapore Airlines A350-900 Business Class Configuration

Free Lounge Access

As a travel credit card, the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card provides complimentary lounge access via the DragonPass lounge membership (also known as the Mastercard Travel Pass).

The 4 yearly complimentary limit is much better than many of its counterparts. However, this limit only applies to the primary cardholder. Supplementary cardholders and guests have to purchase their lounge access through the mobile app.

The membership provided is DragonPass instead of the typical Priority Pass provided by other cards. The downside of this is that there are fewer lounges in the network.

In Singapore’s Changi Airport, you can access almost every lounge that Priority Pass members have access to. In addition, you can also access the Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 1 which is one of our favourite lounges in the terminal.

Instant Points Transfers

Perhaps the biggest selling point of the HSBC TravelOne Card is its ability to instantly transfer points to its various transfer partners. HSBC promises that points transfers will go through instantly or latest within 1 business day.

This can come in very useful whenever people are booking high in demand seats. Although I don’t think by itself, this perk is applicable to people most of the time.

Huge Range of Transfer Partners

Another big selling point of the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card is its huge number of transfer partners.

There is a lot of value in having a lot of travel transfer partners to choose from. The value of each mile in different loyalty programs varies widely. Different loyalty programs have different award availabilities, and sometimes you can get only book certain redemptions on one program and not on another.

For travellers who prefer luxury hotels to business class flights, the HSBC TravelOne also provides 3 hotel partners which is unheard of in Singapore.

From the initial list of partners, there aren’t any that stand out in particular in terms of great value. Hotel redemptions are also usually of lower value than flight redemptions. However, we remain hopeful while the list of partners expands as promised by HSBC.

Requirements

The HSBC TravelOne credit card has a typical “entry-level” credit card requirement.

For Singaporeans , a minimum of S$30,000 annual income. For foreigners or permanent residents, a minimum of S$40,000 annual income.

Our Thoughts

The HSBC TravelOne Credit Card is certainly an interesting new addition to the travel hacking space in Singapore. Its headline features are very intriguing and the benefits can really only be verified after using the card for a while.

However, I wouldn’t be using the card, in general, to earn miles as it doesn’t have the highest earning rates. For that, I’ll be using my trusty HSBC Revolution Card or the Citi Rewards Card .

Overall, I think that this is a good sign for what’s to come from both HSBC and the other banks!

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There are 4 comments.

can the annual fee be waived on first year?

Yes, you can request to have the annual fee waived. However, in that case you won’t be able to get the welcome bonus of 20,000 miles.

You wrote 4 lounge visits are also applicable guest but it’s only for cardholders.

Also, how does this compare with DBS Altitude? If I value different airlines I should definitely take the HSBC card, correct? And assuming we don’t need to guest any visits to the lounge. (Also ignoring the points expiry because we always use it before 3 years is up since miles devaluation can happen anytime)

Thank you for catching it! Yes, the 4 lounge visits by HSBC TravelOne are only applicable to primary cardholders.

I would say it really depends when comparing the DBS Altitude Card. Since DBS points can be pooled, and if you have the DBS Woman’s World Card, you can actually rack up points pretty fast and redeem them in 1 go.

The HSBC Card only has free redemptions until the end of 2023. If you do not spend a lot of money, earning just 1.2/2.4 mpd might not be fast enough to redeem anything meaningful.

Personally, I would still go for the DBS Altitude Card given that I have the WWMC.

Synchrony CheapOair & OneTravel Credit Card Reviews

Synchrony and Fareportal (CheapOair & OneTravel) have just launched new credit cards, they are offering three different cards:

Visa signature

You apply using the same link and the card you receive is dependent on your credit worthiness.

1 Card Basics
2 How Much Are Points Worth?
3 Our Verdict

Card Basics

Purchases of $399 or more (after discounts) give access to special financing for six months
Sign up bonus of a $50 statement credit after $500 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening (excludes any purchases with special financing)
6x points on CheapOair.com and OneTravel.com purchases
4x points on dining purchases
2x points on all other purchases

Keep in mind that you’ll add the 6x points in addition to the points you normally earn. The rates for that is as follows:

Airline tickets: 1 point per $1 spent
Hotel rooms: 3 points per $1 spent
Rental cars: 3 points per $1 spent
Trip Extras: 1 point per $1 spent

Keep in mind that the store card will only earn 6x points on CheapOAir/OneTravel purchases as it can’t be used outside of this.

How Much Are Points Worth?

Points can be redeemed for hotel bookings or redeeming them for gift cards. Both programs give you 500 points for joining. Thanks to reader Dov we know that points are worth 0.5¢ each when redeemed for airfare or CheapOair/OneTravel gift cards. A $10 third party gift card will cost you 4,000 points (0.25¢ per point).

Our Verdict

As points are worth a maximum of 0.5¢, the card realistically looks like this (and this is a best case scenario):

3% on CheapOAir/Onetravel purchases
2% on dining purchases
1% on all other purchases

There are better cards for dining purchases and every day purchases and 3% back on travel isn’t exactly exciting either. We originally posted this on September 30th, 2016, we are reposting because the cards are now live.

[Targeted] Chase United Cards: Spending Bonus

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Chase spending offers: up to 5x points (7/1 – 9/30).

This company is nothing but a joke all around. They did not charge my card on the due date. I got several notifications my payment was late. I had to call them 5 times. Oh They do not have 24-hour customer service or chat. Then they asked me something about my card I could not find the card then they suggested me to cancel the card and request another one, Then the nightmare got even worse. They charged me a late fee and , they reduced my credit line without notifying me from 3k to 450 dollars. I owed them only 180 dollars. and for months I did not owe them anything. So they do not value their customers at all. I have 14 cards with a total credit limit close to 90k and my credit utilization is 8% and this stupid company claimed I owe too much debt I mean. I did not even use half of the credit they gave me 180 dollars??? are you serious??? Learn from Amex and Discover this company can not be taken seriously. Avoid as much as you can

I got $1100 SL with a FCO-8 of 640. Likely the private label store card though.

My FICO score 8 classic is 740 and Synchrony Bank said about my CheapOair card application: NO.

so you think with fico score of TU 609 EX 579 and other one 616 i have chance

This is the worst credit card ever. The terms and disclosures are not clear. When you call they tell you 6 month 0% interests and it is actually deferred and if you don’t pay in full within the six months they change you all the backdated interest at once. Customer service is the worst. Would not recommend it.

i wouldnt recommended paying interest… ever.

No prior experience with CHEAPO Air, apped, got 5K, no signature, TU score 730, interest rate 26%. Booked a couple of days at a hotel, advertised cancellation at no charge. Found the hotel cheaper without booking through CHEAPO….had to fight to avoid a cancellation fee with CHEAPO. The customer service rep was shady and going back and forth about charging a fee. Once I told her that the hotel indicated there was no cancellation fee up to 24 hours prior to arrival, after a long hold, indicated no charge. It took 2 weeks for the charge to be removed from my card. Definitely will be closing this card!

I have no interest in this card, but the one thing CheapOAir has going for them as opposed to any other online broker I have found is that you can split a ticket purchase across multiple cards. This would allow you, say, to put a small portion of a ticket on a Citi Prestige for the insurance benefits, while putting the remainder on the card you want to actually earn points on.

With that said, all the horror stories I’ve read about them with regard to ticket changes, upsell, and awful service makes me think I shouldn’t chance it.

40,000 points for a $10 third party gift card? Typo?

Yes, haha. Fixed.

Points are worth 0.5 for hotel and chepoair gift cards

Maximum that could be redeemed towards chepoair gift card is $100 20K points at a time

Merchant gift cards is $10 for 4K

This new card is a 3.5% back in travel card on chepoair or one travel

It’s a weak rewards travel card considering the fact that chepoair usually adds huge (hidden) fees to every ticket that is booked through them

Also there is no real 24 hour Cancellation period they give you 4 hours to cancel and after that it’s $25 up to 24 hours

Thanks, very useful information

Has anyone had good experiences with OneTravel/CheapoAir. Booked tickets twice with them, they were supposed to be cheaper than other websites, got a call the next day saying the tickets have not been issued; but I had an option of buying a higher priced ticket!

HSBC TravelOne Credit Card

Refined points metric (rpm): 11.8, recommendation: poor, annual fee , annual income, airport lounge access.

6X access per year

International Lounges

Supplementary Access

RM60,000 per annum

Airline Miles Earn Rate

Local: 1 Airline Mile = RM21.00

Overseas: 1 Airline Mile = RM2.62

Dining/Travel = 1 Airline Mile = RM4.20

Payment Network

Review | HSBC TravelOne Mastercard Credit Card

HSBC Malaysia recently unveiled its HSBC TravelOne Mastercard Credit Card, in line with a parallel launch in Singapore. For the purposes of this discussion, we'll focus solely on the Malaysian iteration.

The launch was accompanied by significant fanfare, underscored by HSBC Malaysia's extensive promotional efforts. This included roadshows in major Klang Valley malls like Mid Valley and collaborations with digital content creators and influencers. Commendably, their marketing approach was pervasive, leading many within my circle to seek my perspective on the card's value proposition.

However, it's imperative to delve deeper than the surface-level allure. A notable aspect that catches the eye is the promotion of "8x reward points" on HSBC's official site. Many, understandably, may misconstrue this to mean 8x air miles, which is a significant misunderstanding.

Airline Miles Conversion

The distinction between reward points and air miles is crucial. To provide a straightforward assessment: if one were to critically evaluate the conversion rate of these reward points to air miles, the HSBC TravelOne might not rank among the best credit card options in Malaysia for those prioritizing air miles accumulation.

The information above shows how many airline miles you get when you use HSBC's "Reward Points". To get one Enrich air mile, you need to spend RM2.62 overseas, but if you spend locally and specifically on dining or travel, it costs more, RM4.20, to get the same one mile.

Any other transactions with the HSBC TravelOne credit card only earns you 1X points.

Here's a simpler way to see it:

For regular spending in Malaysia, you need to spend RM21.00 to get 1 airline mile.

If you spend money on dining or travel in Malaysia, you need to spend RM4.20 to get 1 airline mile.

When you spend money in other countries, you need to spend RM2.62 to get 1 airline mile.

Compared to other banks that focus on travel, HSBC's rates don't look as good. For example, the CIMB Travel Platinum Credit Card gives you 1 airline mile for every RM2.50 you spend in other countries, and you only need to earn RM24,000 a year to get this card.

Likewise, the Alliance Bank Visa Infinite credit card grants you 1 Airline Mile for every RM1.875 spent when strategically topping up your E-Wallets and spending using your E-Wallets.

You can choose to convert HSBC points into miles with other programs, not just Enrich Miles, but these rates aren't great either. For those who fly a lot from Malaysia, finding the best way to turn spending into miles is very important.

For example, to turn your points into JAL Mileage Bank miles, it costs RM7.50 for one JAL mile. This rate is high, but not many people might use their HSBC Reward Points for JAL miles anyway.

Be sure to check out my Ultimate Guide, KrisFlyer Ultimate Guide and Asia Miles Ultimate Guide for comparisons on the airline miles earning rates for various credit cards.

I know how important it is to obtain information about lounge access at a glance, so if you're queuing up to enter a lounge in ASEAN, here's the important details about the HSBC TravelOne Mastercard credit card:

Number of Lounge Access Passes: 6X per year

Supplementary Access: Yes, quota is shared with principal cardholder

Spend Conditions: No spend conditions

Lounge Access List by HSBC TravelOne Mastercard credit card:

Plaza Premium Lounge KLIA Terminal 1 Main Terminal Building

Plaza Premium Lounge Singapore Changi Terminal 1

TGM & Root98 Singapore Changi Terminal 1

BLOSSOM - SATS & Plaza Premium Lounge Singapore Changi Terminal 4

Plaza Premium Lounge Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 1 (Gate 1)

Plaza Premium Lounge Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 1 (Gate 35)

Plaza Premium Lounge Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 1 (Gate 60)

HSBC may update it's list from time to time, so be sure to check out their list here if you don't see your lounge on the list above and in the table below.

Lounge access by the HSBC TravelOne Mastercard are the only nominal advantages to the credit card on the whole, as the airline miles accrual package is underwhelming. The accompanying table above underscores that the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card provides lounge access to merely three airports: Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Singapore Changi Airport, and Hong Kong International Airport.

Interestingly, the provisions at Singapore Changi Airport are confined to the Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 1 and the Blossom Lounge in Terminal 4. Given that Terminal 4 isn't seamlessly connected via the skytrain, cardholders departing from Terminals 2 and 3 are left with the sole option of the Terminal 1 lounge.

Another detail of note is the shared access between principal and supplementary cardholders, capped at six visits per annum. This isn't really a big issue, as generally you'll find it difficult to enter 6 lounges in an entire year, unless you travel frequently for work. Nevertheless, the shortcoming in this case is that you'll only be able to enter the lounges a limited number of times if you are travelling with your partner or spouse.

Be sure to check out my Airport Lounge Ultimate Guide to compare the best credit cards for airport lounge access in Malaysia.

Final Thoughts

In assessing the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card, it's challenging to pinpoint any commendable features. While their marketing strategy was indeed captivating, given the card's increased visibility in Klang Valley, this might be more indicative of consumers not diligently scrutinizing the details and not undertaking necessary conversion assessments prior to application.

It's crucial to note that other perks, such as the Mastercard Concierge, Priceless, and associated Mastercard benefits, are far from exclusive to the HSBC TravelOne offering.

To be eligible for the HSBC TravelOne credit card, a minimum annual income of RM60,000 is stipulated, averaging to approximately RM5,000 monthly. For individuals within this income bracket, it might be disconcerting to recognize that alternative credit cards in the market offer a far more comprehensive suite of benefits, particularly in the domain of air miles and travel.

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Travel & Food, Itineraries & Guides, Hotel Reviews

HSBC TravelOne Credit Card – Is It Worth Getting?

June 5, 2023 by Bino Leave a Comment

HSBC has recently launched a new general spending credit card called the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card which offers a range of benefits for frequent flyers. Although it is fundamentally a general spending card, it is designed to cater to the needs of travelers based on the benefits that come with it. These benefits include access to airport lounges, travel insurance and rewards points that can be redeemed for flights.

One of the key features of the HSBC TravelOne credit card is that it is linked to nine frequent flyer programs, including some less common carriers. This means that cardholders can earn rewards points on their HSBC TravelOne card, which can then be transferred to their preferred frequent flyer program. In this article, I aim to break down the features and the cost of getting the HSBC TravelOne Card and determine if it is worth getting.

P.S. Before you apply for this card, make sure to read this article until the end, especially if you don’t have any existing HSBC card. You’ll thank me later.

The HSBC TravelOne Credit Card comes with a range of benefits, including:

Rewards: 1.2 mile per S$1 on local spend / 2.4 mile per S$1 on foreign currency spend
Lounge access: Customers can enjoy complimentary 4x access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide.
Travel insurance: Customers are covered for up to $100,000 for travel insurance including Covid-19.
Reward points: Rewards points earned can be redeemed for miles or hotel points with no conversion fee until 31st December 2023.
Frequent flyer partners: Customers can earn miles on 9 different frequent flyer programs, including Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, British Airways and Vietnam Airlines.

Plus, until 31st August 2023, HSBC is giving cardholders 20,000 miles as a welcome gift for each successful application of the HSBC TravelOne Card . This is provided cardholders pay the annual fee of S$194.40 and spend at least S$800 by the end of the following month after card approval date. This promotion is applicable for both new and existing HSBC cardholders.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card , customers must meet certain criteria, including:

Age: Customers must be at least 21 years old.
Income: Customers must have a minimum annual income of $30,000 (Singaporeans/PR) and S$40,000 (Foreigners or Self-Employed).
Credit score: Customers must have a good credit score.

Frequent Flyer Partners

singapore airlines dreamliner business class

The HSBC TravelOne credit card offers its cardholders the ability to earn miles with 9 frequent flyer partners. These partners include:

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Eva Air Infinity Mileagelands
Etihad Guest
British Airways Executive Club
Qantas Frequent Flier
Air France/KLM Flying Blue
Vietnam Airlines Lotus Miles
airasia Rewards

Overall, this is quite a solid list as the presence of Star Alliance and OneWorld partners allow cardholders to redeem their miles with partner airlines with these respective alliances as well. Avios miles for British Airways Executive Club can also be used to transfer to Qatar Airways, for example.

This is in contrast to most other credit cards in Singapore that are limited to Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific. Only Citi has more transfer partners for air miles, with 10 partners. Citi has the addition of Qatar Airways, Thai Airways and Turkish Airlines but does not have Vietnam Airlines or airasia which are both part of HSBC TravelOne’s list.

No Miles Conversion Fee Until 31st December 2023

HSBC is launching the HSBC TravelOne Card with no fees for transferring miles from the credit card to one’s preferred frequent flyer program until 31st December 2023. This will make it easier to transfer as little (or as much) miles – considering that many frequent flyer programs also have an expiry of about 3 years from the time the miles are deposited. Cardholders can also choose to split the miles they earn from the card between multiple frequent flyer programs without having to worry about incurring the conversion fee multiple times.

Minimum quantity to transfer is 10,000 miles and in subsequent multiples of 2 miles thereafter. The subsequent multiple of 2 miles is a plus as it helps to avoid having “unredeemable miles.” Most other credit cards require a hard 10,000 miles multiple to redeem.

Miles Earning

Cardholders can earn 2.4 miles per dollar spent on foreign currency transactions and 1.2 mile per dollar spent on local transactions. The earn rate for local spend is in line with the earn rates for DBS Altitude and Citi PremierMiles. For foreign currency spend, the 2.4 miles per dollar is at the higher end of the range, and is matched only by the UOB Prvi Miles.

It is also worth noting that HSBC awards rewards points even for fractional spends, i.e. 50 cents. This is in contrast with OCBC or UOB where points are only awarded for spends in multiples of S$5. For cardholders that spend a lot on small paywave transactions, HSBC cards can help to capture more points.

Lounge Access

Cardholders can get 4x airport lounge access per year. The lounge access is through the Mastercard Travel Pass which by itself is under DragonPass.

To those familiar with Priority Pass, DragonPass contains roughly the same lounges as Priority Pass. There is a notable inclusion however – the Plaza Premium network of lounges is included as well under DragonPass which opens up a relatively wide number of additional lounges in airports across Asia-Pacific.

The 4x lounge access is also more generous than other general spend cards. Both DBS Altitude and Citi PremierMiles come with just 2x access for Priority Pass lounges.

Conclusion – Should You Get It?

The HSBC TravelOne credit card is a new offering in the credit card space, boasting partnerships with nine frequent flyer programs. While the miles earning rate is relatively standard, this can prove to be a nifty card to have when one properly takes advantage of the free miles conversion feature.

The introductory sign-up offer of 20,000 miles from paying the annual fee of S$194.40 is a good deal. The cost works out to be less than 1 cent per mile – and with no miles conversion fee to sweeten the deal.

By virtue of this alone, the card is worth getting if you are looking to redeem your miles for flights in the next couple of months or years. Their expanded number of travel partners means that you may also be able to choose another carrier which is not Singapore Airlines or Cathay Pacific. This gives you more options to redeem with other carriers that may have more award ticket availability, for instance.

As long as this sign-up offer is available, the HSBC TravelOne credit card seems to be a good choice for those looking to earn travel rewards while also enjoying additional perks such as lounge access and travel insurance. The partnerships with multiple frequent flyer programs provide added flexibility for travelers.

Do This Before Applying For the HSBC TravelOne Card!

Since the HSBC TravelOne Card provides the same welcome gift for both new and existing customers, it may be better to apply for another HSBC card first as your first HSBC card in order to get the sign-up reward for that and then apply for the HSBC TravelOne Card after.

If you are thinking which HSBC card to get as your first, the HSBC Revolution Card is one which provides for a great miles earning rate. I personally use it for my day-to-day spends. It gives 4 miles per S$1 for contactless payments made through paywave, Apple Pay, Google Pay or online shopping. Currently, HSBC is giving away a Samsonite Prestige 69cm Spinner luggage or S$150 if you apply as a new HSBC cardholder (those who have not had an HSBC card the last 12 months or more) and make the qualifying spend. You can apply here .

After applying for the HSBC Revolution Card, you can then apply for the HSBC TravelOne Card and enjoy the welcome gift for both. You’re welcome.

You can apply for the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card here rather than applying directly from HSBC website and get an additional cash payout of S$30 via PayNow from Singsaver.

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Our top picks for the best no-annual-fee travel credit cards

Comparing the best travel credit cards with no annual fee, more info on our top picks for no-annual-fee travel credit cards: editorial reviews, what is a travel credit card with no annual fee, who should get a no-annual-fee travel credit card, pros and cons of travel credit cards with no annual fee, how to choose the best travel credit card with no annual fee, how to apply for a travel credit card with no annual fee , are no-annual-fee travel credit cards worth it, faqs: best travel credit cards with no annual fee.

Best Travel Credit Cards With No Annual Fee for 2024

Travel credit cards make it easy to earn points, miles or cash back on your most common travel expenses.
Several travel credit cards have no annual fees, making them even more valuable.
Our top picks for the best no-annual-fee travel credit cards include the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card , Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card , Hilton Honors American Express Card , and Chase Freedom Unlimited® among others.
A travel credit card with no annual fee may not be a great fit for your needs if you only travel once or twice a year.
Cards with no annual fees may have foreign transaction fees, so check the terms of each card carefully if you plan to travel internationally.

Travel credit cards help you earn free hotel stays, airline discounts and other valuable benefits. Add in no annual fee on top of this and you can maximize the value of your travel credit card and enjoy even more benefits on your next vacation.

Before you apply for a travel card with no annual fee, it’s important to compare your options. To make the process easier, we reviewed seven no-annual-fee travel credit cards to determine which ones pack the biggest punch in terms of interest rates, fees and other considerations.

Join us as we look at the best travel credit card with no annual fee based on the following criteria:

Earning rates on popular travel categories
Status matching with hotel and airline loyalty programs
Reward redemption methods

Our top picks for the best travel credit cards with no annual fee

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: Best for simple rewards
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card: Best for Delta SkyMiles® loyalists
Hilton Honors American Express Card: Best for loyal Hilton customers
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card: Best for loyal IHG customers
Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Best for extra benefits
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Best for road trips in the U.S.
United Gateway℠ Card: Best for United Airlines loyalists

Best for simple rewards

Capital one ventureone rewards credit card.

Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on all purchases and 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

Card Details

More card info

0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR.
Balance transfer fee of 3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time
Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
No annual fee
Intro APR offer
Low spending requirement for welcome offer
Good or excellent credit recommended
Few travel perks

Best for Delta SkyMiles® loyalists

Delta skymiles® blue american express card.

Earn 2X miles on Delta purchases, 2X miles at restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.), and 1X miles on all other eligible purchases.

Pay with Miles: take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit after you use your Card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food and beverages.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Terms Apply.
20% in-flight savings
Easy-to-earn welcome bonus
Low earning rate
No free checked bags
No priority boarding

Best for loyal Hilton customers

Hilton honors american express card.

Earn 7X Hilton Honors Points on eligible Hilton purchases, 5X points on eligible U.S. restaurant, U.S. supermarket, and U.S. gas station purchases, and 3X on all other eligible purchases.

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.
Automatic Hilton Silver status
20% bonus points on eligible stays
Low point redemption value
Need good or excellent credit to qualify
Fewer perks than some travel cards

Best for loyal IHG customers

Ihg one rewards traveler credit card.

Earn up to 17x total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts, 3x points on purchases on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants, and 2x points on all other purchases.

Best for extra benefits

Chase freedom unlimited®.

Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 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 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Best for road trips in the U.S.

Blue cash everyday® card from american express.

Earn 3% cash back on up to $6,000/year spent at U.S. supermarkets (then 1%), 3% cash back on up to $6,000/year at U.S. gas stations (then 1%), 3% cash back on up to $6,000/year on online retail purchases (then 1%), and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.

0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months after account opening, then 19.24% to 29.99% variable APR.
Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Everyday® Card. Enrollment required.
Enjoy up to $15 back per month when you purchase a Home Chef meal kit subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday® Card.
0% APR on eligible purchases for 15 months
Generous rewards at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations & online shopping
Rewards cap on spending at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and online retail purchases
2.7% foreign transaction fee
Low rewards rate outside of bonus categories

Best for United Airlines loyalists

United gateway℠ card.

Earn 2X miles on United purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting. Earn 1X miles on all other purchases.

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card has everything you need to start any journey off on the right foot. New cardholders can get 20,000 bonus miles simply for spending $500 within three months of opening an account, a great deal for a no-annual-fee card. VentureOne Rewards also gives you 1.25x miles for every dollar spent and 5x miles on hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel.

Although VentureOne Rewards has a generous welcome offer, it has a low reward rate on non-travel purchases, so there’s no opportunity to earn extra based on your other spending habits. It’s also reserved for consumers with excellent credit, so it can be difficult to get approved.

▶︎ Read more: Capital One VentureOne review

The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is the best no-annual-fee travel credit card for loyal Delta Air Lines customers, as you get to rack up SkyMiles every time you make a purchase. You can use those miles to get free or discounted airfare, cover your checked bag fees, book with Delta Vacations or make in-flight purchases. We also love that the SkyMiles® Blue card has no foreign transaction fees, making it a great fit for international travelers.

If you don’t fly frequently, or you prefer to book the cheapest tickets instead of staying loyal to one airline, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card probably isn’t the best fit. Most of the redemption options are Delta-focused, so you won’t be able to use many of your perks if you don’t take at least a few Delta flights per year.

▶︎ Read more: Delta SkyMiles Blue review

The Hilton Honors American Express Card is one of the best no-annual-fee travel credit cards because it helps you earn free nights and other perks at participating Hilton properties. This makes it a great fit for anyone loyal to Hilton over other hotel chains. You earn 7 points per dollar spent on all purchases made with participating Hilton hotels and resorts, 5 miles per dollar spent on dining and 5 miles per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets.

One of the biggest drawbacks of the Hilton Honors American Express Card is that many of the benefits relate to Hilton stays. If you take a lot of day trips rather than overnight ones, you may not be able to use your Hilton Honors Points often enough to justify having the card.

▶︎ Read more: Hilton Honors Amex review

IHG owns more than a dozen hotel brands, so the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card from Chase may be a good fit if you love to stay at IHG properties when you travel. This card gives you 80,000 bonus points if you spend at least $2,000 on purchases within three months of opening an account. You also earn up to 17 points for every dollar spent at IHG hotels and resorts.

Although this card has plenty of perks, it may not be the best fit for your needs if you don’t travel often, or if you prefer to book with non-IHG hotel brands. You also have to spend at least $20,000 on the card each year to qualify for Gold Status with IHG’s loyalty program.

Chase Freedom Unlimited® is one of the best travel cards with no annual fee because it gives you 5% back on all travel booked through the Chase Travel portal and 3% on purchases made at restaurants and drugstores. We love that this card comes with tons of extra benefits, such as a three-month DashPass subscription, 5% cash back on Lyft rides and a three-month Instacart+ membership.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card may not be the best fit if you prefer to book directly with travel vendors rather than using a dedicated travel portal. You also need good or excellent credit to qualify to get approved for this card.

▶︎ Read more: Chase Freedom Unlimited review

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express comes with access to the Global Assist® Hotline and complimentary car rental loss and damage insurance. Global Assist® connects you with trained professionals who can help you make travel plans. You also earn 3% back on your first $6,000 in purchases at U.S. gas stations each year (then 1%), making this card ideal for users who prefer to drive to their destinations instead of flying or taking public transportation.

Blue Cash Everyday makes it easy to earn cash back, but it has a limited number of travel benefits, so it may not be the right fit if you want to maximize your earnings on flights, hotel stays and other travel expenses. It also has a foreign transaction fee, so it’s not ideal for overseas travel.

▶︎ Read more: Amex Blue Cash Everyday review

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 United Gateway℠ Card from Chase gives you 2 miles per dollar spent on all United Airlines purchases, making it ideal for users who always fly with United rather than using multiple airlines. Cardholders also get 2X miles on gas station purchases and local transit/commuting expenses.

Many card benefits, such as 25% cash back on in-flight food and drinks, only apply to United purchases. If you don’t book with United very often, you may benefit more from getting a different travel credit card with no annual fee.

No annual fee means you don’t pay a fee each year just to keep your account open. You may have to meet other account requirements, but there’s no cost to maintain your card.

Travel credit cards give you points, miles and other rewards on common travel expenses, including airfare, hotel stays and train tickets. A no-annual-fee travel credit card gives you the best of both worlds. You can earn rewards based on your travel habits without paying money to keep your account active.

How do travel credit cards with no annual fee work?

When you have a credit card with an annual fee, you have to pay the same amount of money every year no matter how much you use the card. If you have a no-annual-fee credit card , you don’t have to pay a fee to keep your account open.

This is a major benefit for budget-conscious travelers who want to earn rewards without forking over cold, hard cash. If there’s no annual fee, there’s also no need to worry about using the card often enough to break even.

The best travel credit cards with no annual fee are ideal for casual travelers, as there’s no charge to keep your account active. If you don’t travel for a year or two, you don’t have to worry about getting charged for a dormant account.

These cards may also be a good fit for students studying abroad or users who don’t have a ton of experience managing credit. If you plan to study abroad, look for a student credit card with no annual fee that also doesn’t charge any foreign transaction fees.

Opportunities to earn points, miles or cash back on your travel expenses
Access to partner benefits, such as status upgrades within hotel and rental car loyalty programs
Ability to transfer rewards to partner companies
May have limited benefits due to the lack of an annual fee
General-purpose credit cards usually offer more redemption options
Some companies require you to book through a branded portal to take advantage of your travel benefits

Keep these factors in mind as you search for the best credit card for travel with no annual fee.

Rewards credit cards for travel typically offer points, miles or cash back on each eligible purchase. You can use these rewards to pay for hotel stays, airfare, transit expenses and other travel costs.

Flexible travel options

Some cards have no blackout dates or other restrictions when using your rewards to make travel plans. Others require you to book through a third-party website or a dedicated portal, so you may not be able to cancel your plans without forfeiting your rewards.

The higher the APR on your credit card, the more interest you’ll pay if you don’t pay your balance by the end of your billing cycle. You can get cards with 0% APR , which allows you to make purchases and/or balance transfers at a rate that’s lower than the regular APR.

When comparing travel credit cards, watch out for steep fees such as balance transfer fees, cash advance fees or fees for late payments. Opt for cards with no foreign transaction fees when traveling abroad.

It’s common for travel credit cards to come with additional benefits, such as travel insurance, rental car coverage, shopping protections and extended warranty coverage. You may even qualify for complimentary memberships or statement credits.

Compare no-annual-fee cards with annual-fee cards

If you travel frequently, you may benefit more from having a credit card with an annual fee instead of a card with no annual fee. Annual fees typically offer higher earning rates and more benefits, like a fee credit for global entry or a card with airport lounge access .

Many travel credit cards require good or excellent credit scores . When you’re ready to apply, be prepared to provide your name, address, telephone number, annual income and monthly mortgage or rent payment. You’ll also need to enter your Social Security number on the application.

To apply for a card, visit the issuer’s website and follow the instructions on the form.

How to improve your chances of getting approved for a travel credit card with no annual fee

To improve your chances of approval, apply for a card that matches your credit profile. If your score is in the good range, you’re likely to be denied if you apply for a card that requires excellent scores.

You can also try prequalifying or applying with a cosigner. If you prequalify for a card, the issuer has already reviewed some of the information on your credit reports and determined that you may fit their approval criteria. Note that prequalification doesn’t guarantee approval; it just makes it more likely.

A cosigner promises to pay back what you borrow if you can’t afford to make your payments. If you decide to apply with a cosigner, make sure the person you choose has a strong credit profile and a steady source of income. Applying with a cosigner with poor credit won’t help you and may even hurt your credit.

No-annual-fee travel credit cards are worth it if you want to earn rewards without worrying about how much you’re earning compared to how much you’re spending to keep the card active.

You may benefit more from a travel credit card with an annual fee if you travel frequently and want access to even more benefits. If you only travel once or twice per year, consider getting a traditional credit card. You may benefit from earning cash back or points at restaurants, grocery stores and other everyday purchases.

▶︎ Read more: Best credit cards for grocery shopping & best credit cards for restaurants

Are there travel cards with no annual fee?

Yes. Our list of the best travel credit cards with no annual fee has seven entries, so you have plenty of options when it comes to earning travel rewards without having to pay a fee every year.

Which airline credit card does not have an annual fee?

The airline credit cards with no annual fee include the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, American Airlines Aadvantage® MileUp® and JetBlue Card.

Is a travel card with annual fee worth it?

A travel card with no annual fee may be worth it if you want to earn travel rewards but don’t want to worry about how much you are spending to match the rewards to the price of an annual fee.

What is the best credit card to use while traveling?

If you always stay at the same hotel chain, the best card for your needs may be a co-branded card such as a Delta credit card , that helps you earn free nights and other hotel-related perks.

If you’re loyal to one airline, look for a travel credit card that gives you miles or points to use on airfare and in-flight purchases.

What is the most accepted credit card for international travel?

Many overseas merchants accept Visa and Mastercard. It’s less common for merchants to accept Discover or American Express cards when you’re traveling in a foreign country. When choosing a credit card for international travel, remember to look for a card with no foreign transaction fees.

Which is the best no annual fee travel credit card?

The best travel credit card with no annual fee depends on your travel preferences and overall shopping habits. If you like to buy from the same brands, look for a card that maximizes your earnings on purchases from those brands. Otherwise, look for a card with low fees and plenty of perks.

About the Author

Leigh Morgan is a seasoned personal finance contributor with over 15 years of experience writing on a diverse range of professional legal and financial topics. She specializes in subjects like navigating the complexities of insurance, savings, zero-based budgeting and emergency fund development.

In the last five years, she’s authored over 300 articles for credit unions, digital banks, and financial professionals. Morgan is also the author of “77 Tips for Preventing Elder Financial Abuse,” a book focused on helping caregivers protect the elderly from financial scams.

In addition to her writing skills, she brings real-world financial acumen thanks to her previous experience managing rental properties as part of a $34 million real estate portfolio.

About the Reviewer

Blake Esken has over 15 years of experience in product management and has been a member of the Los Angeles Times staff for over five years.

As part of his role at the Los Angeles Times Commerce Team, Blake acts as the in-house reviewer and fact checker for LA Times Compare. He supervises all content for compliance and accuracy and puts to use skills he has honed through years of experience managing high-stakes projects for a range of industry-leading companies.

He has a strong background in data analysis, compliance, and communication, which allows him to support LA Times Compare through fact-checking in an effort to provide up-to-date and factual information across our content.

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Should I Get an Airline Credit Card?

Melissa Lambarena is a senior writer on the credit cards team at NerdWallet. She has enthusiastically covered credit card-related topics for over seven years. Her prior experience includes nine years as a content creator for several publications and websites. Through her work, she aims to help readers extract value from credit cards to meet financial goals like stretching their budget, building credit, traveling to dream destinations and paying off debt. She explores these topics in the Millennial Money column featured in The Associated Press. Her work has also appeared in The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, USA Today and Yahoo Finance, among others. Melissa has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles.

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.

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 .

If you spend even a little time in airports or on planes, you'll undoubtedly come across advertisements for airline credit cards . The idea of using a credit card to unlock free travel and enjoy VIP perks has tremendous allure, but should you jump at the offer?

The answer hangs on how frequently you fly the airline and, related, whether the value you'd derive from using the card would outweigh the annual fee you'll likely pay. In a nutshell:

If you just don't travel that much, you may be better off with a general-purpose travel credit card — one with flexible rewards that can be redeemed for travel with any airline or hotel brand. Or consider getting a cash back credit card and just using its rewards to pay for travel.

On the other hand, if you already travel multiple times a year with one airline — or you could do so — then carrying one of that airline's cards quickly makes a lot of sense.

And if you're somewhere in between, you might be surprised at how quickly an airline card can justify its annual fee.

Below, we'll walk you through how airline credit cards work and how to decide whether an airline credit card is right for you. (If you already know how airline credit cards work, you can also skip ahead to the making the decision .)

» MORE: NerdWallet's best airline credit cards

How an airline credit card works

For the most part, an airline credit card works just like any other credit card. You use the card to buy things. You get a bill every month showing your charges, and then you pay that bill. But an airline card is also a rewards card, meaning you get a little something for every dollar you spend — in this case, you earn points or miles in the airline's frequent flyer program.

In most cases, you earn 1 mile for every dollar you spend with the card, but you earn additional miles for spending done with the airline itself. Depending on the card, you may also earn extra miles for certain non-travel purchases.

For example, let's look at the United℠ Explorer Card . This card earns 1 United mile per dollar on most purchases, but you get 2 miles per dollar spent with United, a well as at restaurants and on hotel stays booked directly with the hotel. Another example: the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card . For most purchases, every dollar spent with this card earns 1 point in the Southwest Rapid Rewards program, but spending with the airline itself earns 3 points per dollar. Purchases with Southwest's hotel and rental car partners earn 2 points per dollar, as does spending on local transit and commuting: Internet, cable and phone service; and select streaming.

Miles earned by using your credit card come on top of the miles you earn by actually flying with the airline. For example, members of the United MileagePlus program earn 5 to 11 miles per dollar on the base fare when they buy a ticket. (The rate depends on your status level within the program.) So a ticket with a $500 base fare would earn 2,500 to 5,500 miles just for being in the frequent flyer program. Using the United℠ Explorer Card to pay for the ticket would add another 2 miles per dollar spent.

Just about every airline credit card comes with a "sign-up bonus" or "welcome offer." Spend a certain amount of money in the first few months you have the card, and you'll be rewarded with tens of thousands of miles. The bonus alone might be enough to finance a free roundtrip ticket.

Redemptions

The miles you earn with an airline credit card get deposited into your account with the airline's loyalty program — United MileagePlus, Delta SkyMiles, American AAdvantage, and so on. From there, you can use them to book travel, pay for upgrades and whatever else the program allows.

The value of an airline mile depends on how you redeem it. The industry standard is about 1 cent per mile, but you can get substantially more than that. See NerdWallet's calculation of airline mile values here.

Cardholder perks

Credit card rewards are what you earn by using the card to make purchases. Credit card perks are benefits you receive simply for being a cardholder. With airline credit cards, a significant portion of the value — if not most of it — is tied up in these perks. That's why an airline credit card can be well worth the annual fee even if you don't consider yourself a "frequent" flyer. Common perks of airline cards include free checked bags, early boarding, lounge access and more.

Annual fees

Here's the part where we tell you there's no free lunch. Several airlines have a credit card option with no annual fee, but those cards typically offer no perks, outside of maybe in-flight discounts. So you get no free bags, no priority boarding, certainly no lounge access. Fees for airline credit cards that do have perks start at around $95 and can top $500. In general, the more you pay, the more you get. Top-of-the-line "club" cards can offer generous checked-bag allowances and VIP treatment and get you into airport lounges.

» MORE: Travel credit cards with no annual fee

When an airline card is worth it

As mentioned, an airline credit card makes sense when the value you get from the card outweighs the fee you have to pay to get the card. And the more you fly, the more likely it is that you'll come out on the plus side of that equation.

Take a close look at an airline credit card if ...

You fly a single airline often

Bona fide frequent flyers have more opportunities to pull value from their cards. That starts with earning bonus rewards on more spending. Say you spend $3,500 a year on airfare. If your airline credit card earns 2 miles per dollar with the airline and those miles have an average value of 1.4 cents (a reasonable assumption on many airlines). Then the extra miles you get just by using the card are worth $98, which is enough to cover the fee on many cards.

This, of course, assumes that all your airfare spending is with only one airline. To get maximum value out of an airline credit card, it pays to do as much business as possible with the airline whose logo is on the card. Depending on where you live, this can be easy. If you're living in Dallas, you can get American flights to anywhere; the same is true in Atlanta with Delta or in Denver with United. But in markets served by multiple airlines, each of which has only a few flights a day to select hub cities, loyalty can be a little harder to maintain and you may have to spread your business around. Then again, if you fly often enough, you might easily be able to justify carrying cards from more than one airline.

The more you fly a particular airline, the more opportunities you have to cash in on card perks tied to that airline.

You always check bags

Nowadays, the standard fee to check your first bag is $35 to $40 each way, and it can cost more for additional bags. A $95 airline card that gives you your first checked bag free can essentially pay for itself with two roundtrips a year, or just one with a companion if you both check a bag.

Airline credit cards vary in how many people get a free checked bag. With the United℠ Explorer Card , for example, the benefit extends to the cardholder and one other person traveling on their reservation. With several of Delta's branded cards from American Express, the benefit applies to the cardholder and up to eight others. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® gives a free checked bag to the cardholder and up to four companions. The United Club℠ Infinite Card gives the cardholder and one other person their first and second checked bags free. Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines doesn't usually charge for checked bags, so its credit cards don't offer the perk at all.

The perks are worth it to you

Because airlines typically charge for checked bags, its easy to put a dollar value on that benefit and calculate how much it offsets the annual fee. Other benefits have a similarly evident cash value, but some don't. In the end, it comes down to how much you think a perk will enhance your travel experience, either by saving you money or reducing hassle. Other common perks to take into consideration:

Priority boarding. This allows you to get on the plane earlier, which gives you dibs on overhead bin space. You won't be the very first one on, mind you, but you will get a jump on the crowd.

In-flight discounts. You might get, say, 25% off on food and drink or entertainment purchases.

Airport lounge access. Higher-priced airline credit cards often give you access to the carrier's network of airport lounges , where you can escape the hubbub of the terminal.

Credits. A card might automatically reimburse you for, say, the first $100 spent with the airline each year. It's also become more common (although not universal) for cards to reimburse you for the application fee for TSA PreCheck .

Companion fares. A few cards give you (or allow you to earn) a pass that lets someone else fly with you for a reduced rate or just for the cost of taxes and fees.

When a general-purpose card is a better fit

General-purpose travel credit cards don't offer airline-specific perks like free checked bags or upgrades, but they give you a great deal of flexibility in redeeming rewards. You earn rewards points with every purchase. You can then use those rewards to book travel, or redeem them for credit on your statement against travel purchases. You also aren’t limited to one airline, hotel chain or rental car agency, so you can travel to more places in more way.

Consider a general travel card if:

You are a budget-conscious traveler

A general travel credit card is for you if you want the cheapest fare, regardless of airline. Book however you want, then redeem your points to pay for it. Or use your accumulated points to book through the issuer's travel portal. For example, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (annual fee: $95 ) earns a flat 2 miles per dollar on most purchases, and the miles are worth 1 cent apiece when redeemed. The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card works similarly, offering 1.5 points per dollar on purchases and a 1-cent-per-point redemption, but with an annual fee of $0 .

You prize flexibility and/or simplicity

Although they can provide outsize value, airline credit cards are hardly flexible. Their value lies almost entirely within the ecosystem of the airline brand. They aren't exactly simple, either. How much are the miles in your account worth? It all depends on what you plan to do with them, and it can take work and experience to find the redemption option that maximizes your value. There usually isn't a clear link between the number of miles you need to redeem for a given flight and how much you'd pay for that flight in cash.

For flexibility and transparency, consider an option like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . This card earns 5 points per dollar on travel booked through Chase; 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming and online grocery purchases (not including Walmart or Target); 2 points per dollar on other travel; and 1 point per dollar elsewhere. You can redeem those points for travel booked through Chase at a value of 1.25 cents apiece, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. A passel of other benefits (and a big sign-up bonus) can easily offset the annual fee of $95 .

» MORE: NerdWallet's best general-purpose travel cards

Know your options

You don’t have to settle on one card. Perhaps you favor one airline, but you want a variety of options for hotels or transportation. If you travel often, you can get an airline credit card and a no-fee general travel card for all other travel-related expenses.

As long as the rewards you get from a card outweigh the costs of carrying it, you'll come out ahead, no matter your destination.

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The 18 Best Travel Credit Cards in June 2024

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Let’s look at some of the best travel rewards credit cards available in 2024 , review their perks and benefits , and consider which card might be the best one for you to sign up for.

Best Travel Credit Cards

Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card – Best for First-Time Cardholders
The Platinum Card ® from American Express – Best for Luxury Perks and Airport Lounge Access
Chase Sapphire Reserve ® – Best for Domestic Travelers
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – Best for Priority Pass and Authorized Users
American Express ® Green Card* – Great Starter Card
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® Credit Card – Best Value Hotel-Branded Card
American Express ® Gold Card – Best for the Everyday Spender (Restaurants and U.S. Supermarkets)
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card – Best for the Everyday Spender (Broad Spend Categories)
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card – Best for Simple Earnings and Redemptions
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card – Best for Earning Points on Travel
Citi Double Cash ® Card – Best Fee-Free Card for Simple Earnings and Redemptions
Blue Cash Everyday ® Card from American Express – Best for the Low Spender
Blue Cash Preferred ® Card from American Express – Best for Family Roadtrippers
Chase Freedom Unlimited ® – Best for Budget Traveler
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card* – Best for the Hotel Loyalist
The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express – Best Business Card for Premium Perks and Lounge Access
American Express ® Business Gold Card – Best Business Card for Flexible Bonus Categories
Ink Business Preferred ® Credit Card – Best All-Around Business Card

*The information regarding the American Express ® Green Card and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance . With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
$95 annual fee
No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
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
APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Chase Ultimate Rewards

One of the most compelling reasons to sign up for a travel rewards credit card is to fund your travel goals, and one of the most valuable ways to accomplish this is to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points . That’s because Chase Ultimate Rewards points are easy to earn and offer flexible redemption options .

This is a great card for first-time cardholders since you’ll earn 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services, plus 2x points on all other travel purchases.

When it comes time to redeem your Ultimate Rewards points — whether you’re transferring your points to the Chase travel partners or using the Chase travel portal to book your travel — the experience will make you a fan forever.

You can’t go wrong beginning your travel-rewards journey with any Chase credit card that earns Ultimate Rewards points. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is an especially fine first choice because it allows you to redeem your points for 25% more in value. Plus, it comes with perks like a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards hotel credit , and bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.

It’s difficult to find a downside to the Chase Sapphire Preferred card as it’s one of the most well-rounded travel rewards cards out there. If we had to dig deep and find any travel benefits that would make the card better, however, it would be that the card does not reimburse for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fees or offer lounge access.

With that having been said, for a modest annual fee of $95 , the card provides exceptional value as a travel rewards card.

American Express ® Green Card

This card can provide a great way to accumulate Membership Rewards points on eligible travel, transit, and at restaurants.

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The American Express ® Green Card is an excellent all-around travel rewards card thanks to earning 3x Membership Rewards ® points on eligible travel and transit purchases and at restaurants, access to American Express transfer partners, and a reasonable annual fee.

3x points per $1 spent at restaurants worldwide, on all eligible travel purchases, and transit purchases
Up to $189 per calendar year in statement credits after you pay for a CLEAR ® Plus membership with the Card.
Up to $100 in statement credits annually when you purchase airport lounge access through LoungeBuddy with the Card.
$150 annual fee
No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards ® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express ® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® points on travel including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® Points on transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US.
$189 CLEAR Plus Credit: Receive up to $189 per calendar year in statement credits when you pay for your CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the American Express ® Green Card.
$100 LoungeBuddy: No airport lounge membership? No problem! Purchase lounge access through the LoungeBuddy app using the American Express ® Green Card and receive up to $100 in statement credits annually.
Payment Flexibility: When it comes to paying your bill, you have options. You can always pay in full. You also have the flexibility to carry a balance with interest or use Plan It ® to split up large purchases into monthly payments with a fixed fee, up to your Pay Over Time Limit. You may be able to keep spending beyond your limit – you’ll just need to pay for any new purchases in full when your bill is due.
Trip Delay Insurance: If a round-trip is paid for entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason delays your trip more than 12 hours, Trip Delay Insurance can help reimburse certain additional expenses purchased on the same Eligible Card, up to $300 per trip, maximum 2 claims per eligible account per 12 consecutive month period. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
No Foreign Transaction Fees: No matter where you’re traveling, when you use your American Express ® Green Card there are no foreign transaction fees.
$150 annual fee.
Terms Apply.
APR: See Pay Over Time APR

American Express Membership Rewards

American Express Membership Rewards points are some of our favorite points to earn thanks to their wide variety of redemption options, and their ability to be redeemed with high-value AmexTravel.com partners.

Fortunately, the Amex Green card is great at earning points since it earns 3x points at restaurants worldwide, on all eligible travel purchases (including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals), and transit purchases (including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways).

Other great perks of the card include receiving up to a $189 annual CLEAR Plus statement credit to get you through airport security much faster, and up to a $100 annual LoungeBuddy credit allowing you to purchase access to select airport lounges worldwide.

We also love that the card includes rental car insurance, trip delay insurance, baggage protection, access to Amex Offers , purchase protection, and much more.

All information about the American Express ® Green Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

A powerful point earning card with access to transfer partners.

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey SM Card is an excellent option for those looking for a great all-around travel rewards card that offers bonus categories on hotels, airfare, travel, and dining, giving you the opportunity to earn points on these purchases quickly.

Plus the card offers flexible redemption options including access to transfer partners, an annual credit towards airfare, and no foreign transaction fees ( rates & fees ).

5x points on hotels
4x points on airfare
3x points on other travel and restaurants
$95 annual fee
List of transfer partners is smaller than competing programs
Select “Learn More” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
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, 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.
APR: 21.24%, 26.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card is a great option for those who love to travel and want to rack up as many points as possible on their travel purchases.

With it, you’ll earn 5x points on hotels, 4x points on airfare, 3x points on travel and dining , and 1x points on all other purchases. Further, unlike with competing cards, you do not need to make your hotel or airfare purchases through a specific travel portal to be eligible for bonus points — so you can choose whatever platform works best for you.

Plus, the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card offers perks like a $50 annual statement credit with a $50 minimum airline purchase, up to $1,000 of cell phone protection , lost baggage insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, access to the Wells Fargo Rewards transfer partners , no foreign transaction fees, and more, all for a low annual fee ( $95 ).

The Platinum Card ® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card ® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access , hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
$695 annual fee ( rates and fees )
Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
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.

When you prefer the best travel experiences, you want only the best travel rewards card. If you’re an international traveler who won’t settle for anything less than a nice comfy seat, lounge access , and premium travel perks and benefits, you’re going to want the Amex Platinum card.

The benefits of the Amex Platinum card collectively create a stunning package of everything a luxury international traveler needs to elevate their travel experience.

Note that some benefits require enrollment through your American Express account.

The Best Travel Earnings: With the Amex Platinum card, earning valuable Membership Rewards points is simple. Make your flight and prepaid hotel purchases through AmexTravel.com, and you’ll earn 5x points.
The Best Lounge Access : Whether you want to visit a Delta Sky Club when flying Delta, a Priority Pass lounge upon enrollment, or treat yourself to a Centurion Lounge visit, your card will grant you access to over 1,400 lounges.
Savor Those Upgraded Hotel Rooms: Enjoy the benefits of complimentary hotel elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy upon enrollment.
The Best Seat on the Plane: Purchase an upgraded seat and get reimbursed up to $200 for incidental airline fees each year (you can even upgrade with points ).
Make Checked Luggage Fees Disappear: Use your airline fees credit for incidental airline fees reimbursed each year and forget about checked luggage fees or other incidental airline charges.
Get an Uber Credit: Each month you’ll receive $15 in Uber Cash . In December, you receive $35, for a total of $200 annually.
No Reservations? No Problem: Just call your private concierge .
Ease Through Security: Purchase CLEAR Plus , Global Entry , or TSA PreCheck and receive a statement credit.
Offset the Cost of Your Hotel Stay: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which require a minimum 2-night stay, through AmexTravel.com when you pay with your card.
Enjoy Hotel Perks: Book a stay at a Fine Hotels + Resorts property via AmexTravel.com and receive a room upgrade, a $100 property amenity, late checkout, and more. For 2-night stays or more at The Hotel Collection , you’ll receive room upgrades and a $100 hotel experience credit.

There’s no doubt the Amex Platinum card has a high annual fee, however, the card does offer premium travel benefits that, if used, can more than offset that fee. And while the card offers many valuable statement credits, the airline incidentals credit can be difficult to use as it does not cover airline tickets.

We like the worldwide lounge access, especially Centurion Lounges. However, the Priority Pass membership, unlike Priority Pass Select memberships offered by other card issuers, does not include any participating restaurants.

Finally, although the card comes with a long list of special offers that can save you plenty of money, most offers require you to register or add an Amex Offer to your card in order to activate the offer.

Bottom Line: The Amex Platinum card sets the standard for a premium travel rewards card . If its benefits are some you can use, the value will far exceed the annual fee. There’s even a possibility of getting a 100,000- to 150,000-point welcome bonus offer for the Amex Platinum card !

Chase Sapphire Reserve ®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve ® is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access , with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
$550 annual fee
Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
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 PassTM Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck ®
APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is not just another premium travel rewards credit card. Yes, it earns rewards on travel and dining, offers a fine collection of premium travel benefits (including lounge access ), and grants annual statement credits for travel purchases.

But it also does something that no other travel rewards credit card does: when you redeem your points for travel on the Chase Travel portal, 50% more value is added to your points .

For example, if you redeem 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points, you’ll receive $900 in value toward your travel purchase.

While expensive long-haul premium flights can be better secured utilizing Ultimate Rewards airline transfer partners, a sweet spot for redeeming your Ultimate Rewards points is for first class domestic flights.

If you’re a frequent domestic traveler, this means you can basically travel in first class for the price of economy .

We should also talk about earning Ultimate Rewards, too, as the card is clearly a winner with earnings of 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and dining purchases through Chase Travel, 5x points on airfare through Chase Travel, and 3x points spent on all other travel and dining purchases. All other purchases earn 1x, and purchases using the Chase shopping portal can earn as much as 20x points .

Benefits of this card include a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership that includes access to over 1,400 network airport lounges worldwide, with more than 110 locations domestically.

A $300 travel credit each card anniversary year is easy to utilize and automatically reduces travel expenses. Plus, you’ll receive a statement credit of up to $100 for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck , adding even more value.

Road warriors will find value in the additional travel coverage that comes with the card, including primary auto rental collision damage coverage and 24/7 travel and emergency assistance.

While the Chase Sapphire Reserve card also comes with a high annual fee, you’ll find plenty of premium travel benefits that provide value. We like that the card includes Minute Suites with its Priority Pass Select membership, but the card falls short of the Amex Platinum card when it comes to overall worldwide lounge access .

Additionally, the card does not offer hotel or airline elite status.

Bottom Line: The world traveler can certainly find value in having the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, but the frequent domestic traveler who likes to fly first class, enjoys Priority Pass lounge access, and spends a lot on travel and dining will fare very well by having the card.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
$395 annual fee ( rates & fees )
Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Receive 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
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ®
APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Capital One Miles

Packed with premium benefits a traveler can appreciate, such as elevated rewards for travel purchases and a generous welcome bonus offer to jumpstart your earnings, you’ll find value early on as a cardholder.

Your earning and redemption experiences are also enhanced significantly when you utilize the Capital One Travel portal . With an extraordinary 10x miles on hotels and rental cars, 5x miles on flights, and an annual travel credit of $300 , it will pay to utilize the portal frequently.

The elevated earning on the card goes beyond Capital One Travel purchases with 2x miles per dollar spent on every other purchase . Plus, at your card anniversary, you’ll earn another 10,000 miles .

Additional redemption options allow you to transfer miles earned on your card to travel partners , most of which transfer at a ratio of 1:1.

As a Visa Infinite card , you’ll enjoy related benefits such as cell phone insurance , primary auto rental insurance , and travel insurance protections such as trip cancellation and interruption, trip delay reimbursement, and baggage delay reimbursement.

We also like that the card comes with special Gravity Haus benefits , complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, giving you access to over 1,400 lounges worldwide, and unique access to Capital One Lounges and Plaza Premium Lounges .

If you’ll utilize Capital One Travel, this premium card offers a lot of value for just a $395 annual fee ( rates & fees ).

The Capital One Venture X card does have a higher annual fee than most travel rewards cards, but the card is a nice value alternative to premium travel rewards cards that come with even higher fees.

Additionally, in order to receive the best earning and redemption values, you must utilize Capital One Travel. Booking via Capital One Travel can negate any hotel elite benefits or elevated earnings you would normally receive when booking directly.

Bottom Line: With a lower annual fee for a premium travel rewards card, the Capital One Venture X card could deliver plenty of value for the cardholder who will utilize the Capital One Travel portal for travel purchases and redemptions.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® Credit Card

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual Free Night Award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.

If you’re a frequent traveler and a Marriott loyalist, there’s a lot to love about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® Credit Card . The card comes packed with several great benefits like a free hotel night once a year, automatic Silver Elite status (with a fast-track to Gold Elite status), and multiple options for redeeming points.

Earn big when you use your card at thousands of participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
Earn big at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
Automatic Silver Elite Status
Marriott Silver Elite Status is the lowest status tier
Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases.
Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy ® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® Card.
Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
No Foreign Transaction Fees. Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
APR: 21.49%–28.49% Variable

Marriott Bonvoy

For the traveler who values choice when it comes to hotels, you won’t find a hotel chain with more properties around the world than Marriott . Plus, each year after your card anniversary, you’ll receive a complimentary hotel night certificate (good for up to 35,000 points in value).

We like that the card delivers plenty of earning potential, good-value redemption options, and lots of additional benefits without a high annual fee.

Additional benefits of having the Marriott Boundless card include:

Complimentary Elite Status: 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher elite status, good for Silver Elite status
Accelerated Earnings: Earn up to 17x points at participating Marriott hotels and 2x points on all other purchases

You’ll also receive a variety of Visa Signature travel perks with the card, including:

Roadside dispatch
Auto rental collision damage waiver
Travel and emergency assistance
Baggage delay insurance and lost luggage reimbursement
Travel accident coverage
No foreign transaction fees

The Marriott Boundless card does come with a $95 annual fee, so utilizing the annual free night certificate would be critical to receiving full value from the card. Additionally, the Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status that comes with the card is the lowest level of status in the loyalty program.

Bottom Line: If you’re loyal to a particular hotel brand, it makes sense to earn additional rewards on those hotel expenditures with a hotel-branded travel rewards credit card… especially when those rewards can be turned into more free nights.

American Express ® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

The American Express ® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

4x points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com
$250 annual fee (see rates and fees )
No lounge access
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.

Want a card that doubles as an everyday spending card and a travel rewards card? Get richly rewarded with the Amex Gold card that offers a stellar 4 Membership Rewards points for every $1 spent at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year (1x thereafter), and at restaurants!

As a traveler, there’s no need to be loyal to a single airline — with the Amex Gold card, you’re going to earn 3 valuable Membership Rewards points for every $1 spent for flights purchased directly from the airline and via AmexTravel.com.

You can also redeem those Membership Rewards points for travel with any airline or hotel and for other travel purchases at AmexTravel.com.

With a $250 annual fee ( rates & fees ), you can offset that fee thanks to the card’s up to $120 annual Uber Cash credit and up to $120 annual dining credit , along with your 4x rewards on dining and supermarket purchases.

If there’s another downside to the card, it might be that the card does not offer any type of lounge access — but we might be getting a tad critical.

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 90,000 points with the Amex Gold card. The current public offer is 60,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a great all-around travel rewards card that allows you to earn big rewards on a variety of purchases like air travel, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and more, along with flexible redemption options, all for a modest annual fee.

10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
3x points on air travel, other hotel purchases, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations
$100 annual hotel benefit
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
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
APR: 21.24%- 29.24% Variable APR

The Citi Strata Premier card earns 3x ThankYou Points on everyday purchases such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations. Plus, you’ll be earning 3x ThankYou Points on air travel and hotels, or e ven 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com . If you spend a lot in these bonus categories, the card will offer strong earnings for your spending mix.

The card offers a generous welcome bonus and no foreign transaction fees. It also offers as a $100 hotel credit each calendar year for a single hotel stay of $500 or more.

Points can be redeemed for travel via the ThankYou portal or transferred to airline and hotel partners for greater potential value .

Hot Tip: With so many different issuers in the travel credit card space, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with each bank’s specific rules before applying.

Keeping track of bonus spending categories, quarterly registrations, and complicated redemption processes may have deterred you from securing a travel rewards-earning credit card.

If that’s the case, you’ll find these 2 travel rewards cards refreshingly simple:

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
$95 annual fee ( rates & fees )
Limited elite benefits
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
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
Earn 2x miles on every purchase
Redeem miles for travel or transfer to airline partners
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee reimbursement
No foreign transaction fees ( rates & fees )

The only downside to the Capital One Venture Rewards card is that it has an annual fee of $95 ( rates & fees ). If you spend enough on the card, however, the ongoing fee should not be an issue.

Citi Double Cash ® Card

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

The Citi Double Cash ® Card has long been one of the top cash-back credit cards on the market, and the card now has the ability to earn Citi ThankYou Points!

This means that cardholders of the Double Cash card will now earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou Points . This means each billing cycle, you will earn 1 ThankYou point per $1 spent on purchases and an additional ThankYou point for every $1 paid on your purchase balance as long as there is a corresponding balance in your Purchase Tracker.

Citi has turned the Double Cash card into a top choice for those who are looking for an everyday, no-fuss credit card.

Uncapped 2% for every $1 spent (1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay)
Flexible redemption options
No annual fee
No bonus categories
3% foreign transaction fees
Bonus Offer: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou ® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Citi Double Cash ® Card Travel Portal Limited Time Offer: Earn a total of 5 ThankYou Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rental, and attractions, excluding air travel, when booked through the Citi Travel SM portal on ThankYou.com or by calling 1-800-Thankyou and saying “Travel.” Offer is valid through 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) 12/31/2024.
APR: 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers, then 19.24% - 29.24% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Earn a total of 2% cash-back on every purchase : 1% when you make a purchase and 1% when paying your card (earned as ThankYou Points)
Unlimited earnings
Redeem for cash-back, travel, a statement credit, or gift cards

We like that the card earns cash-back on every purchase you make on a daily basis. There are, however, no additional bonus categories to reward your highest purchases.

Cardholders can transfer ThankYou Points to Choice Privileges at a 1:1.5 ratio and Wyndham Rewards and JetBlue TrueBlue at a 1:0.8 ratio, but will need a premium Citi ThankYou Point-earning cards to receive potentially higher value when transferring points to the full suite of travel partners.

The card also charges a 3% foreign transaction fee and does not come with any travel benefits or protections.

Bottom Line: To learn more about additional card options for Capital One travel rewards credit cards and Citi ThankYou Rewards cards , these articles expand on some of the most popular choices.

Blue Cash Everyday ® Card from American Express

This cash-back card offers a capped 3% at U.S. supermarkets, 3% at U.S. gas stations, and 3% on U.S. online retail purchases!

When it comes to cash-back credit cards, there are dozens of options to choose from. So what sets the Blue Cash Everyday ® Card from American Express apart from the rest?

This card is excellent at earning cash-back on your everyday purchases at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and on U.S. online retail purchases. So if you regularly spend money on everyday purchases, this could be the perfect card to add to your wallet.

3% back on purchases at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1% back after.
3% back on purchases at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1% back after.
3% back on purchases on online retail purchases on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1% back after.
Rewards are not flexible and can only be redeemed for cash-back. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
No Annual Fee.
Balance Transfer is back! Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 19.24% to 29.99% variable APR.
3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Everyday ® Card. Enrollment required.
Enjoy up to $15 back per month when you purchase a Home Chef meal kit subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday ® Card.
APR: 19.24%-29.99% Variable,0% on purchases for 15 months
Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.

You don’t have to be a big spender to earn travel rewards. With a relatively low minimum spend requirement , once you’re approved for the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card, you can earn a welcome bonus and jumpstart the rewards-earning process.

Perhaps you haven’t pursued a rewards-earning credit card because you don’t spend a lot and might be wondering whether it’s worth the effort at all. You may be surprised to learn that the purchases you’re already making can earn rewards to help you fund a trip, or just add some cash to your bottom line.

Because you’ll be earning rewards on your everyday purchases with the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card, you don’t have to spend big for the cash-back to start adding up. On groceries alone, you’ll earn $180 after getting 3% back from $6,000 in annual purchases at U.S. supermarkets .

Cash-back is the most liquid form of rewards you can earn. Whether your travel goal is a weekend trip away with the family or a flight to visit an old friend, you can utilize the cash-back you earn on the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card to help offset the cost of your adventure.

Unfortunately, redeeming cash-back is limited compared to flexible rewards points that could be transferred to travel partners for the potential to earn greater value. You won’t have this option with cash-back.

Hot Tip: If you’re working toward a travel goal and using a cash-back credit card , you may want to purchase gas, hotel, or other travel-related gift cards with your rewards to help save for your trip.

Blue Cash Preferred ® Card from American Express

This card is great for those who want to earn cash-back with U.S. supermarkets, U.S. streaming subscriptions, transit, and U.S. gas stations.

The Blue Cash Preferred ® Card from American Express is a stellar cash-back credit card for those looking to maximize every purchase they make.

With bonus categories like U.S. supermarkets, select U.S. streaming services, U.S. gas stations, and transit purchases , this card rewards you for the items you spend the most on in a big way! For those looking to earn up to 6% cash-back on their purchases , this could be the card for you!

6% cash-back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year)
6% cash-back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
3% cash-back on U.S. gas stations and transit (including rideshares, parking, etc.)
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 annual fee ( rates and fees )
Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It ® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.24% - 29.99%.
6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations.
3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
1% Cash Back on other purchases.
Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit on Amazon.com at checkout.
$84 Disney Bundle Credit: With your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred Card, spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription, to receive a monthly statement credit of $7. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.
APR: 19.24%-29.99% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months

Redeem cash-back through your American Express account

It’s Friday afternoon and the workweek is done. You’re ready to high-five the family when you arrive home because you’re hitting the road for a weekend adventure . It doesn’t happen often … but this weekend it’s on!

We’re certain the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card was created with family roadtrippers in mind. After all, you’ll earn cash-back on all the purchases you’ll be making during your trip, and you can use the cash-back you earned previously on everyday expenses to actually help fund your trip.

It’s a win-win cash-back solution for the family that hits the road together or those who just want a little extra cash flow.

Earning 6% cash-back on U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%) delivers up to $360 each year in cash-back. Add all the cash you’ll earn with 3% cash-back on your U.S. gas stations, and you’ll have plenty of travel funds for that weekend road trip.

Not only do you earn cash-back at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations, but the card also offers 6% cash-back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions and 3% cash-back on transit , including taxis and rideshares, parking, tolls, trains, buses, and more.

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred card just might make you a family road trip hero!

The card does have an annual fee, so you’ll need to be spending enough on the card to offset that fee. We also prefer flexible rewards for the purpose of receiving potentially higher value at redemption time, but if you’re just trying to earn cash-back to help fund a family vacation, this card could work just fine for that purpose. Families can also take a look at our in-depth guide on the best credit cards for families for additional card choices.

Chase Freedom Unlimited ®

This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!

The Chase Freedom Unlimited ® is easily one of the best cash-back credit cards on the market. There aren’t many no-annual-fee credit cards that offer multiple great bonus categories like 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.

When paired with other Chase cards in the Ultimate Rewards family, you can transfer that cash back into points if you wish – making it one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet.

0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
3% back on dining and drugstore purchases
3% foreign transaction fee
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.
APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Do you like to travel but have a tight budget? The Freedom Unlimited card has a little secret that might help you out.

The Freedom Unlimited card earns 5% back on travel purchased through the Chase Travel portal, 3% on dining and drugstore purchases , plus 1.5% back on all other purchases that fall outside of these bonus categories.

The trick is, the cash-back you earn on all of your purchases with the Freedom Unlimited card is not just cash-back; it can be redeemed for travel or transferred to Chase premium credit cards for even greater value.

If you like to travel on a budget, Ultimate Rewards points are perfect for securing economy flights on the Chase Travel portal. Booking travel is easy, and you can redeem your points for airline tickets, hotels, car rentals, and travel experiences.

To step up the value of your Ultimate Rewards points, you can transfer them to a Chase premium card such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve card or the Chase Sapphire Preferred card where the value of your Ultimate Rewards Points is increased by up to 50% more (see our example below). You’ll also have the option to then transfer your points to airline and hotel partners for even greater potential value.

With no annual fee, a simple earning structure, and the value you can receive when redeeming Ultimate Rewards Points (or transferring points to premium Chase cards), the Freedom Unlimited card is a fine choice for the budget traveler.

Normally, we wouldn’t recommend a card that charges a 3% fee on foreign transactions as a good choice for a travel rewards card. However, the card earns well on everyday purchases (and more), making it easy to accumulate a lot of rewards. Then, when paired with a premium Chase card, as mentioned above, your rewards will go much further.

Bottom Line: When redeeming Ultimate Rewards points for travel, you can pick any airline, hotel, or travel experience without worrying about award availability or blackout dates — redeeming your points is just like paying with cash. You’ll also be earning frequent flyer miles!

If Hilton is your hotel brand of choice, you’ll be happy to learn that the perks and benefits you receive in its Hilton Honors loyalty program will be elevated to a new level when you carry and use one of its hotel-branded credit cards .

Let’s take a look at how your experience can be enhanced by signing up for a hotel-branded credit card.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.

The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Paying hundreds of dollars for an annual fee on a co-branded hotel card might seem ridiculous, but you should know that the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is much more than your run-of-the-mill hotel credit card.

The Hilton Aspire card is not only a phenomenal card for Hilton Honors loyalists , but even those who visit Hilton hotels just a few times a year can still get excellent value out of all the benefits that are packed into this card.

So let’s have a look at what makes the card so valuable to travelers.

14x points per $1 on Hilton purchases
7x points per $1 on select travel and at U.S. restaurants
3x points per $1 on all other purchases
High annual fee of $550
Earn 175,000 Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 7/31/2024.
Earn 14x Hilton Honors Bonus Points when you make eligible purchases on your card at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton portfolio .
Earn 7x Hilton Honors Bonus Points for eligible purchases: on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants.
Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for other purchases on your card.
Enjoy up to $400 in Hilton Resort Credits (up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually) on your card each anniversary year when you stay at participating resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
Enjoy complimentary Diamond status.
$550 annual fee.
APR: 20.99% - 29.99% Variable

It’s unusual that a credit card alone would grant top elite status to the cardholder, especially without a required level of spending each year — but that’s exactly what you’ll receive by having the Hilton Aspire card. And it’s not the only premium benefit that comes with this card!

Top Diamond Elite Hilton Honors status: Valid for as long as you have the card, you’ll receive room upgrades (including suites), breakfast, hotel amenities, bonus points, internet, and more. Diamond elite members receive 20x Hilton Honors points at Hilton properties, and the Hilton Aspire card elevates that to a total of 34x points.
Free Hotel Room Nights: Receive 1 free hotel room night each card anniversary year, plus another when you spend $60,000 on the card each year. You’ll also receive your fifth night free when booking award nights with your points.
Airline and Hotel Statement Credits: Get up to $200 in airline credit, up to $400 Hilton resort credit , up to $189 Clear PLUS credit, and a $100 property credit at Conrad or Waldorf Astoria properties. .

The Hilton Aspire card comes with a high annual fee, so you would only want to have the card and pay that annual fee if you’re a Hilton loyalist who can realize most of the Hilton-centric benefits that come with the card.

That said, earning Hilton Honors points is easy: you’ll receive 14x points at Hilton properties ; 7x points on airlines, AmexTravel.com purchases, U.S. restaurants, and U.S. rental cars; and 3x points on all other purchases.

Redeem your Hilton Honors points for the best value by booking free hotel nights with points or with cash and points. Our expert guide on the best ways to redeem your Hilton Honors points will help make sure you receive maximum value at redemption time.

All information about the Hilton Honors American Express card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points .

Amex Business Platinum Card

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.

When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges , along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels at Amex Travel
Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (cap applies)
High annual fee of $695 ( rates & fees )
Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags
Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards ® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
5X Membership Rewards ® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card ® . Enrollment required. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card ® , here.
$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 the Card.
$189 CLEAR ® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR ® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card ® .
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.
$695 Annual Fee.
APR: 19.49% - 28.49% Variable

The Amex Business Platinum card is an excellent option for business owners who travel often enough to take advantage of the luxury travel perks offered by the card. This includes perks like airport lounge access, hotel elite status, rental car elite status, up to $200 airline incidental credit, a 35% rebate with Amex Pay With Points, and 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com.

While the card does charge a rather large annual fee, most business owners find they are able to get far more value out of it thanks to its range of annual credits with merchants like Dell , Indeed , Adobe , CLEAR Plus, and for wireless phone services.

When you look at everything the Amex Business Platinum card has to offer, it’s easy to see why it’s our pick for one of the best business credit cards .

Amex Business Gold Card

Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).

The American Express ® Business Gold Card is excellent at racking up rewards for your business spend.

The card earns a whopping 4x points per $1 in the 2 categories (from a list of 6) that your business spends the most money on each month. With no need to opt-in or preselect your categories, so you can focus on what matters most — running your business.

NEW! Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
NEW! U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
NEW! Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
U.S. purchases at gas stations
U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, plus TV and radio)
3x points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card
Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
$375 annual fee ( rates and fees )
No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access or elite status
Welcome Offer: Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards ® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
Earn 4X Membership Rewards ® points on the 2 categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.
Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required.
Get up to a $12.95** statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. **Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.
Your Card – Your Choice. Choose from Gold or Rose Gold.
*Terms Apply

When it comes to earning rewards, the Amex Business Gold card is easily one of the best options on the market.

This card earns 4x Membership Rewards points on the top 2 categories in which your business spends the most every month (up to $150,000 in combined purchases every calendar year):

Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)

Even if your spending habits change month to month, you’ll always earn 4x points on your top 2 spend categories , with no need to preselect them. Plus, you’ll earn 3x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked via AmexTravel.com.

Cardholders also receive up to $20 in monthly credits for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores , and up to $155 Walmart+ credit .

Ink Business Preferred Card

The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.

The Ink Business Preferred ® Credit Card is a powerhouse for earning lots of points from your business purchases , especially for business owners that spend regularly on ads.

Plus the card offers flexible redemption options, including access to Chase airline and hotel transfer partners where you can achieve outsized value.

Business owners will also love the protections the card provides like excellent cell phone insurance , rental car insurance, purchase protection, and more.

3x Ultimate Rewards points per $1 on up to $150,000 in combined purchases on internet, cable and phone services, shipping expenses, travel, and ads purchased with search engines or social media sites
Cell phone protection
Purchase protection
No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access
Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
APR: 21.24%-26.24% Variable

If you’re looking for a one-size-fits-all business card, the Ink Business Preferred card might be the perfect option for you.

Not only is it great at earning points thanks to its 3x points on up to $150,000 in combined purchases on internet, cable and phone services, shipping expenses, travel, and ads purchased with search engines or social media sites, but it also offers great redemption options . Cardholders can choose to redeem their points for cash-back, through the Chase travel portal with a 25% bonus, or via one of the Chase transfer partners.

Plus the card offers benefits like primary rental car insurance, cell phone protection , trip delay insurance, free employee cards, purchase protection, and more.

There are several factors we use to determine our choices for the best travel rewards cards. Some of the most important factors include the level of associated travel benefits, earnings structure, best credit card bonus offers , fees, and travel redemption value.

Here is some insight into our thought process when selecting the best travel rewards cards:

Associated Travel Benefits

The top travel rewards cards will offer benefits that can make your travel more comfortable, save a traveler money, or provide protection should something go wrong during the journey. Benefits such as worldwide lounge access , travel statement credits , elite-style hotel and airline benefits or status , and travel insurance are just some examples of travel perks we look for.

Earnings Structure

We look for cards that earn well and either offer bonus earnings on travel purchases or have other bonus categories that provide for accelerated earnings. A good travel rewards card could also have flat-rate earnings on all purchases, making it easy to accumulate travel rewards on everyday purchases.

Welcome Bonus Offers

A card’s welcome bonus offer is a unique opportunity to earn a large number of rewards in a short period of time. Welcome offers do play a role when we select a travel rewards card to recommend. We’ll provide you with the current welcome offer information available to us for each card, but we also encourage you to confirm the offer and review any earnings offers before applying for any card.

The best travel rewards cards come with premium travel benefits, but you’ll also be paying a higher annual fee for those benefits. It’s important that the benefits offered by a travel rewards card could potentially offset any annual fee you’ll be paying. The best travel rewards cards also do not charge foreign transaction fees , although a card that does could still provide good value for domestic travel and offer good redemption for international travel.

Travel Redemption Value

A card will score high if it earns flexible rewards that allow for several options at redemption time. The best travel rewards cards provide the option to redeem points directly for travel, provide a bonus for rewards redeemed via a travel portal, allow rewards to be redeemed for statement credits for travel purchases, or allow the transfer of rewards to airline and hotel partners for the opportunity to receive the greatest potential value.

Hot Tip: You can read more about Upgraded Points’ credit card rating approach in our detailed guide.

Travel rewards credit cards earn points or cash-back on every dollar charged to the credit card. They’re called travel rewards credit cards because you either earn points or cash on travel-related purchases, redeem points or cash for travel, or both.

Travel rewards credit cards can earn points or cash-back for travel purchases, dining, gas, groceries, or other categories. The rewards can be used for free travel or to offset the cost of travel.

This should feel relatively straightforward, and it is! Cash-back credit cards are designed for those looking to earn cash-back on all of their daily purchases, and travel rewards cards are for those looking to earn rewards redeemable towards travel purchases.

While there are many travel rewards cards that offer the ability to redeem your points towards cash-back, you’ll often get significantly better value when redeeming them towards travel.

Further, it’s common for cash-back credit cards to not charge an annual fee , while most travel credit cards do charge an annual fee. Given that, travel rewards cards make the most sense for people who travel often enough that the rewards and card benefits will easily outweigh the annual fee.

When it comes to travel rewards credit cards, there are 4 main categories that nearly every card will fall into: transferable rewards cards, fixed-value rewards cards, airline cards, and hotel cards.

Transferable Rewards Cards

Transferable rewards cards are offered by programs that include a wide array of airline and hotel transfer partners to which you can move your points. These include cards from programs like American Express Membership Rewards , Bilt Rewards , Capital One Miles , Chase Ultimate Rewards , and Citi ThankYou Rewards .

These cards are often rated as the very best travel credit cards in our view, due in large part to their flexibility. One of the best ways to consistently get great value out of travel rewards is by having multiple redemption options, and transferable travel rewards cards offer you that.

Fixed-Value Rewards Cards

A fixed-value rewards card is any that earns points in a program that offers you a predetermined value towards travel purchases when you redeem your rewards. One such program is Bank of America Preferred Rewards , which offers you a fixed 1 cent per point in value towards any travel redemptions you make through its travel portal.

Programs with fixed-value rewards take much of the complexity of the equation when it comes to redemptions, but what you make up for in ease-of-use, you lose the upside by not having access to higher-value redemptions that transferable programs offer.

Airline Cards

An airline credit card is one tied to a specific airline, which only earns points or miles for that airline alone. Further, all perks of the card will be tied to its airline, and popular features are free checked bags, early boarding, discounts on inflight purchases, and more.

Airline cards are a great option for those who are loyal to one airline and are working towards reaching high levels of elite status with that airline.

Hotel Cards

Similar to airline cards, hotel cards are tied to a specific hotel chain, and all of the rewards you earn are redeemable at hotels within that hotel chain.

Hotel cards can be a great way of enhancing your hotel stays, even on paid stays, as they often offer some level of complimentary elite status, which might offer benefits like late checkout, room upgrades, free breakfast, and more, depending on the hotel program.

Pros of Getting a Travel Rewards Card

Rewards cards allow you to travel farther, and better, for less. Using points and miles can make any travel destination attainable, and you can even fly there in style in first or business class for a fraction of what a cash ticket would usually cost.
Welcome bonuses kickstart your travel savings. Most travel rewards credit cards come with very lucrative welcome bonuses that you receive after meeting a minimum spend requirement. These bonuses alone can be enough points for a free business class flight or multiple free nights in a luxury hotel.
Enhance your travel experiences. Having a travel rewards card can help make the whole experience of travel much nicer for you by giving you airport lounge access, an expedited airport security experience, and hotel elite status.
Save money each time you fly. Travel rewards cards, specifically airline cards, can help you save money each time you fly by offering you perks like free checked bags, free seat selection, discounts on inflight purchases, and priority boarding.
No foreign transaction fees. If you’re going to be traveling overseas, the last thing you want to do is use a card that charges foreign transaction fees, as it can add an extra 3% to all of your purchases. This is where travel rewards cards come in handy, as any card worth its salt won’t charge foreign transaction fees.

Cons of Getting a Travel Rewards Card

Rewards cards charge annual fees. Most travel rewards credit cards charge an annual fee, and the very best cards can charge annual fees of $550 to $695. Put simply, if you don’t travel often enough such that the benefits you receive from the card easily outweigh the annual fee you pay, then a travel rewards card probably wouldn’t be worth it for you.
Rewards redemptions can be complicated. Making strategic use of your points through transfer partners, tracking down award space, navigating airline alliances, and more can all be quite complicated at times. There is definitely a degree of difficulty added in for those looking to make the most out of their travel rewards points. That said, the juice is definitely worth the squeeze.
Not ideal for those who don’t pay their balance off in full. Travel rewards cards usually carry much higher interest rates than other types of credit cards. That said, if you pay your balance off in full each and every month, this should make little difference to you. On the other hand, if you’re not sure that you can pay your balance off in full every month, then travel rewards credit cards are not for you.

You should use a travel rewards credit card if you fall into the following 3 criteria:

You love to travel and want to earn travel rewards for every purchase you make that you can later redeem for free flights and hotel stays.
You travel often enough that, even though most travel rewards cards charge an annual, you know you’ll easily get more value out of the card thanks to benefits like airport lounge access, travel credits, hotel elite status, expedited airport security, and more.
When you receive your credit card statement, you pay it off in full each and every month so that you never pay interest on your purchases.

If you meet all of those 3 criteria, then you likely should be using a travel rewards credit card.

If you’re still struggling to decide which travel rewards credit card is best for you, here are some tips to help you decide.

Consider What Rewards You Want To Earn — Transferable or Co-Branded

One of the biggest items to consider is the type of rewards you want to earn. Do you regularly fly with a certain airline or stay at a specific hotel chain and want a card that earns rewards and provides benefits that are specific to that airline or hotel? If so then you should opt for a co-branded travel rewards card.

If your travel patterns have more variation, or you simply prefer to earn flexible points that can be redeemed with a wide variety of airlines and hotels to give more options, then you’d be better off with a transferable travel rewards credit card.

What Travel Perks and Protections Are You Looking For?

The type of perks a travel rewards credit card will offer can vary greatly from items like airport lounge access, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credits, free checked bags, elite status, statement credits, and much more.

Consider which of the benefits are more important to you when selecting your new travel rewards credit card. If you want your new card to include airport lounge access, that will limit you to a certain set of card options, whereas if you want a card that offers automatic elite status with a specific hotel chain then your card options might be completely different. It’s all about determining what you value most.

Similarly, you’ll want to consider what protections you want your card to offer to help you narrow your options further. Do you want your card to have trip delay insurance, rental car insurance, purchase protection, etc.? These are all items that will help you decide the best travel rewards card for you.

Does the Card Have Great Bonus Categories To Help You Earn More Points?

Earning points, and then spending them on travel, is the name of the game. Given that, you want to make sure your new card helps you earn as many points as possible.

Some cards help you optimize for specific bonus categories, like the Amex Gold card that offers 4x points on restaurants and U.S. supermarket purchases, while others like the Capital One Venture card offer a flat 2x points spent on any purchase.

Keep in mind that there’s no right or wrong answer here. Deciding which card will help you earn the most points will come down to your unique spending habits.

Once you’ve added the best travel rewards credit card for you to your wallet, here are the steps to take to get the most out of it.

Use Your Card for as Many Purchases as Possible — And Pay It Off

Once you have your new card, you should begin using it for every purchase that you need to make so that you can start earning rewards . This is especially true for large recurring bills as those often help you earn the most points per transaction.

Further, most cards come with a welcome offer that can be worth anywhere from $500 to $2,000 after you meet the minimum spend requirement , so you’ll want to make sure you do so to prevent you from missing out on this big windfall of points.

If you have multiple travel rewards credit cards, make sure you are optimizing each purchase based on the bonus categories that each card offers. For instance, one card might offer 3x points on gas while the other offers 3x points on dining, so you’ll want to use them accordingly.

Lastly, and most importantly, you want to pay your statement balance on time and in full each and every month. This will keep you from having to pay any interest on your purchases and help increase your credit score by showing a record of great payment history.

Activate Perks That Your Card Offers

Many of the best travel rewards credit cards come with tons of great perks to give you added value, but you have to make sure they are activated in order to start using them .

For instance, the Amex Platinum card offers perks like Priority Pass lounge access, along with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy elite status, but you have to activate each of these perks from the benefits section of your account in order to start using them.

Similarly, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers 5x points on Lyft rides and benefits with DoorDash , and Instacart . To use these benefits, you’ll want to link your Chase Sapphire Preferred card as your payment method on these platforms and activate your benefits on their respective pages.

Make Sure To Use Your Statement Credits

If you have a card that offers any sort of statement credit , make sure you use that credit before it expires . Some cards offer an annual credit, while others dole out the credits monthly. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card has a $300 annual travel credit that can be used all in one purchase if you so choose, while the Amex Gold card has up to $120 annual dining credit and up to $120 annual Uber Cash credit, but both are given out in $10 monthly increments.

Use Shopping Portals and Dining Programs

Linking your card to a shopping portal and/or dining program is a great way to earn even more points for purchases you were planning to make anyway.

This way, when you make a certain purchase through a shopping portal or dine at an eligible restaurant, you’ll earn points on top of the points you’d have already earned depending on your card’s bonus category.

Hot Tip: When it comes to online shopping, you can use a tool like Cashback Monitor to help you determine how many points you’ll earn for your purchase across a wide variety of shopping portals.

Have a Strong Credit Score — This Is Why Building Credit Is Important

When submitting an application for a travel rewards credit card, arguably the most important factor is your credit score, as the higher it is the more likely you are to be approved for the card.

This is why building your credit is so important as having a strong score will allow you to be approved for cards that offer the best perks and rewards.

For the most part, if you have a credit score of 700 or better, you’ll have reasonably good odds of being approved for most travel rewards credit cards . If you don’t you’ll want to focus on improving your credit score by making sure you are paying your bills on time each month, keeping your credit utilization low, limiting the number of new accounts you open, and more.

Hot Tip: If your credit score isn’t as high as you’d like it to be, read through our guide on the top strategies to improve your credit score .

Understanding the Difference Between APR and Interest

When adding a travel rewards card to your wallet, another important factor for you to be aware of is the card’s interest rate .

You may have heard both interest rate and annual percentage rate (APR) used, and while these 2 figures can be different for certain financial products, they are the exact same when it comes to credit cards.

The APR can vary from card to card and is the amount you will pay on any purchases that you do not pay in full on your credit card statement balance. This is why you want to make sure that you are always paying off your full statement balance when it posts to your account, as paying interest on your charges will negate the value of any rewards you accrued on the purchases you made .

How Old Do You Have To Be To Get a Starter Travel Rewards Credit Card?

Technically speaking, you’re eligible to get your first travel rewards credit card as soon as you turn 18 years old . That said, it will likely be difficult for you to get approved without previous credit history and a regular source of income.

Due to this, we recommend that you have at least 2 years of solid credit history before applying for your first starter travel rewards credit card.

Alternative Option: Become an Authorized User

If you’re not able to get your very own starter travel rewards card just yet, an excellent option is to become an authorized user on a trusted friend or family member’s account.

This allows you to use a caliber of card that you’d be unlikely to be approved for on your own and allows you to build your credit score faster by piggybacking off the main account holder’s more established credit history.

Again, you want to make sure the main account holder is someone that you trust because if they mismanage their credit, it will adversely impact you as well as the authorized user.

There’s a lot to think about when it comes to selecting a travel rewards-earning credit card. Fortunately, each card has its own distinct characteristics that match up with certain travel and spending profiles. This makes it possible to zero in quickly on which travel rewards credit card might be a good fit for you.

Remember, because Chase plays a prominent role in the travel rewards credit card arena, you’ll want to consider the Chase 5/24 rule in your selection process.

Regardless of which card you choose, we know for sure that travel rewards credit cards can change the way we travel and the way we live. The cards allow us to earn points, cash, or miles on purchases we would be making anyway and give us the ability to offset the cost of travel we may have never considered otherwise.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa ® or Mastercard ® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of the American Express ® Green Card, 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. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

The information regarding the American Express ® Green Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Citi Double Cash ® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of the American Express ® Gold Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred ® Card from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of the American Express ® Business Gold Card, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the best travel rewards credit card.

The best travel rewards credit card for you is the one that earns rewards you can use and fits your spending habits. For example, if your everyday spending is on groceries, gas, and at department stores, but you rarely travel, you won’t find value in a premium travel rewards credit card that offers global lounge access and luxury hotel perks. You probably won’t want to pay the high annual fee either. You may fare much better with a cash-back or flexible rewards-earning credit card that doesn’t charge an annual fee but allows you to earn rewards to offset the cost of an annual vacation.

What credit score do I need to get a travel rewards credit card?

You will generally need to have excellent credit to secure the best travel rewards credit cards. There are many sources of credit scores as each of the 3 major credit bureaus ( Experian , Equifax , and TransUnion ) have their own, and then there are combination scores such as FICO and VantageScore. According to Experian, an excellent VantageScore (which is widely used by creditors) is considered to be 750 or higher.

Which credit card is the best for international travel?

If you frequently travel internationally, you’ll want a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. Most of the travel rewards credit cards we covered in this article do not charge these fees. If you value premium travel perks and don’t mind paying an annual fee, you can’t go wrong with the Amex Platinum card or Chase Sapphire Reserve card . Both offer global lounge access, flight credits, and great redemption value for your points when redeemed for flights. If you can use the benefits these cards offer, you’ll receive value that more than offsets the annual fee.

How do you compare travel credit cards?

When comparing travel credit cards, you should first consider what type of card is best for your travel goals. Do you want a card that earns transferable rewards, or one for a specific airline? Then, you should consider factors like the card’s benefits, rewards rates, and annual fee, to help you determine which card would be the best fit for you.

What is the difference between points and miles?

Both terms of used interchangeably and it really just comes down to what the rewards program decided to name its rewards currency. For instance, when it comes to transferable rewards, you have Chase Ultimate Rewards “points” and Capital One “miles,” but both programs function in similar ways. Similarly, when it comes to airlines, you have American AAdvantage “miles” and JetBlue TrueBlue “points.”

How many miles do you need for a free flight?

How many miles you need to book a free flight can depend on a variety of factors like what program you are booking through, what cabin class you’d like to fly, how far you are flying, and the time of year you are planning to fly if the airline uses dynamic pricing.

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About Jarrod West

Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.

Discover the exact steps we use to get into 1,400+ airport lounges worldwide, for free (even if you’re flying economy!) .

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Travel Credit Cards - Reviews

We’ve reviewed a variety of hotel, airline and general rewards cards to determine which cards offer the most worth. Our ratings consider not only the monetary value rewards and sign-up bonuses, but also the ease of the redemption and the total value of each card’s features. Our goal is to help you find a well-rounded card that offers large earnings and lets you redeem those earnings for travel rewards and perks that are truly valuable. Check out the offers below from our partners.

Learn more about our ratings process

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Last reviewed: June 13, 2024

Boasting a roster of valuable perks and annual credits and one of the best rewards rates available on a luxury travel card, the Venture X card should offer terrific value for frequent travelers.

See Rates and Fees

Read full review

American Express® Gold Card

Last reviewed: June 25, 2024

The annual fee is pricey, but if you’re searching for the most rewarding card for food purchases, the American Express Gold Card may be your best option.

See if you’re prequalified for the American Express® Gold Card with CardMatch™ `

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

The price of admission for this luxury card is steep, but its large sign-up bonus and generous travel allowance more than make up for the card’s $550 annual fee.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Last reviewed: June 20, 2024

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers valuable rewards for frequent travelers, as well as the potential for savvy rewards card users to glean some extra value out of their rewards.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

This is a flexible rewards card with a high rewards rate and valuable perks for frequent travelers.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

The $695 annual fee might set your head spinning, but the massive list of perks and benefits that come with American Express’s top-of-the-line card offers plenty of value for the luxury traveler.

See if you’re prequalified for The Platinum Card® from American Express with CardMatch™

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Last reviewed: June 27, 2024

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card is a great card for both Southwest Airlines fanatics and the more casual rewards card user, due to its generous annual bonus and many options for domestic travel.

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

With a large sign-up bonus and other valuable rewards — including a rewards night each year — the IHG One Rewards Premier card is packed with value.

The World of Hyatt Credit Card

Last reviewed: June 14, 2024

The World of Hyatt Credit Card from Chase offers an outstanding amount of value for frequent travelers: New cardholders are awarded ample points on a variety of travel purchases, including airfare and restaurant purchases.

All information about the World of Hyatt Credit Card has been collected independently by CreditCards.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Last reviewed: June 6, 2024

A good value for Hilton hotel fans, the Honors Surpass card makes it easy to quickly earn free nights with an ample point bonus on U.S. gas station, U.S restaurant, U.S. supermarket and Hilton hotel purchases and it also comes with a substantial welcome bonus.

CreditCards.com is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. The offers that appear on this site are from companies from which CreditCards.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. CreditCards.com does not include the entire universe of available financial or credit offers. CCDC has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover.

OneTravel Visa® from Synchrony Bank Review

OneTravel Visa® from Synchrony Bank — all information about the credit card.

6x Points for every dollar spent on OneTravel.com.
4x Points for every dollar spent on dining when you use the OneTravel Visa Credit Card.
2x Points for every dollar spent on purchases, everywhere Visa Credit Cards are accepted.
$50 Earn a $50 statement credit when you make purchases of $500 or more during the first 90 days of opening your OneTravel Credit Card account.
Annual Fee: $0
Purchase Intro APR: None
Regular APR: 24.24% - 31.24% Variable
Balance Transfer APR: None

We recommend more cards

All benefits, rate and fee information, pros & cons, about the issuer, synchrony bank onetravel visa® rewards calculator.

6x For every dollar spent on OneTravel.com.
4x For every dollar spent on dining when you use the OneTravel Visa Credit Card.
2x For every dollar spent on purchases, everywhere Visa Credit Cards are accepted.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement:
You have the legal right to claim compensation from the airline if your checked-in luggage is delayed, lost or damaged.
Roadside Dispatch:
Roadside Dispatch is a pay-per-use roadside assistance program. The program provides you with security and convenience wherever your travels take you.
Trip Cancellation / Interruption:
Trip Cancellation Insurance will reimburse you for the amount of pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses (e.g. airline, cruise, train, hotel, etc.).
Travel Accident Insurance:
Travel accident insurance provides accident coverage for accidental death and dismemberment and other travel injuries.
24.24% - 31.24% Variable
Your due date is at least 23 days after the close of each billing cycle. You will not be charged any interest on purchases if you pay your entire balance by the due date each month.
Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
No Annual Fee
Foreign Transaction Fee
No Intro APR period
Balance transfers are not available
Bonus points
Lost Luggage Reimbursement
Trip Cancellation
Excellent Credit

Compare with other cards

$0 Annual Fee
26.24% Regular APR
5x Miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
None Purchase Intro APR
None Annual Fee
18.49% - 24.49% Regular APR
5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
14.99% - 29.99% Regular APR
3% Cash Back on Home, Auto and Health categories.

See Another Credit Cards in the Bank

Synchrony Bank OneTravel Visa® is an option for those, who need Classic features. With an APR of 24.24% - 31.24% and $0 annual fee this credit card can easily cover your simple everyday demands. For high approval odds you need to have Excellent (740-799) credit score. With Synchrony Bank OneTravel Visa® you will get such features as No Annual Fee, Rewards, Bonus points, etc. To make sure about either this credit card is good for you or not compare it with other cards with similar features.

$150 Annual Fee
None * Regular APR
None * Purchase Intro APR

How to pick the right travel credit card for you

Editor's Note

So you've decided to get a travel credit card — congratulations. Now comes the hard part: finding the card that makes the most sense for your wallet.

With so many options on the market, it can be difficult to pick out what kind of credit card will offer you the most value based on your lifestyle and spending habits. To help you make the decision that's best for you, follow these four simple steps.

Decide between a cobranded or general travel rewards card

First and foremost, you'll want to consider the type of travel card you want and the type of rewards you wish to earn. There are two main categories to consider here: cobranded travel credit cards and general travel rewards credit cards.

Cobranded travel credit cards are affiliated with a particular airline or hotel and often come with brand-specific travel benefits. For airline cards , that means perks like free checked bags, priority boarding and inflight discounts. Hotel cards may include annual hotel credits or automatic hotel elite status.

Since cobranded cards help you earn rewards within a specific travel program, they're best suited for frequent travelers loyal to a particular brand, like United Airlines or Marriott.

General travel rewards credit cards allow you to earn rewards within a credit card rewards program with various redemption options. With a general travel card, you might be able to transfer your rewards to multiple airline and hotel loyalty programs or use them to book travel through your card issuer's travel portal. You may also be able to redeem your rewards for statement credits, gift cards and select merchandise.

General travel credit cards are typically better for those who want flexibility in their rewards without being tied to a specific airline or hotel brand.

Related: Why all travelers should earn transferable rewards

Find a valuable welcome offer

Next, you'll want to identify a card with a hefty — yet achievable — welcome offer, which can sometimes single-handedly justify your ownership of the card for years on end.

Take stock of your ability to meet the minimum spending requirements on a given offer. For example, the popular Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card 's typical welcome offer is 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Spending $4,000 in three months isn't a terribly high bar to clear, but make sure you can meet that spending level if you're considering getting the card.

Rewards cards with higher welcome offers typically come with higher minimum spending requirements. You'll also want to keep an eye on card offer histories and potentially take advantage of any elevated welcome offers on cards you're interested in.

Related: The best welcome offers this month

Maximize bonus categories

If you've found a card with a nice sign-up bonus, be sure that it has bonus categories conducive to your spending habits so that you can take advantage of them as much as possible.

If you spend a lot in a given category, like restaurants, groceries or travel , find a card that earns multiple points or miles per dollar when you spend at those places. Predictably, most travel cards also offer bonus rewards when you spend on travel, with Marriott Bonvoy cards offering bonus rewards at Marriott properties, for example, or more general Chase cards offering bonuses when you book travel through Chase Travel℠ .

Welcome offers and bonus categories will make up a major chunk of how you earn rewards, so choose wisely.

Justify the annual fee

Lastly, we recommend only considering the cards with perks that will make a difference to you, with benefits that will help you justify an annual fee (if the card has one) and that you can derive value from the next time you book a trip.

For example, premium offerings like The Platinum Card® from American Express offer lavish perks that are seemingly never-ending. The Amex Platinum has well over $1,400 worth of benefits and statement credits, mostly to offset its $695 annual fee (see rates and fees ), but if you can't take advantage of those perks and find yourself paying almost $700 for benefits you aren't taking advantage of, the card won't be worth it.

There are plenty of cards with no annual fee , which is a good place to start. That said, most annual fees on cards are justifiable and can be more than offset if you use the card and its perks wisely.

Related: The complete guide to credit card annual fees

Bottom line

With so many cards on the market, we know it can be difficult to find the one that's right for you, especially if you're new to the world of points and miles . Our advice is to go for a general travel rewards card if you are a free agent or a specific airline or hotel card if you are loyal to a particular brand. Follow the simple steps in this guide to help narrow your options, and keep it locked on TPG for more advice on finding the right card to help fund your next big trip.

Related: Best travel cards of 2024

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here .

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Advertiser Disclosure

Blueprint is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service focused on helping readers make smarter decisions. We receive compensation from the companies that advertise on Blueprint which may impact how and where products appear on this site. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Blueprint. Blueprint does not include all companies, products or offers that may be available to you within the market. A list of selected affiliate partners is available here .

Credit cards > Reviews

Credit One Bank Wander Card review 2024: Good for travelers with average credit

Jacqueline DeMarco

Robin Saks Frankel

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Updated 4:02 p.m. UTC March 29, 2024

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Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy .

Those who have wanderlust — but not the credit score to get a premium travel rewards card — may find a fit in the Credit One Bank Wander® Card * The information for the Credit One Bank Wander® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. . This card is available to those with average credit and earns high rewards on travel booked through the issuer.

Why trust our credit card experts

Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.

50+ cards analyzed.
8 data points considered.
5-step fact-checking process.

About the Credit One Bank Wander Card

If you have an average credit score, you may find you don’t qualify for your top choices when it comes to travel credit cards , which is why the Credit One Bank Wander® Card * The information for the Credit One Bank Wander® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. may be appealing to you. While this card doesn’t have the flashiest travel rewards, it does offer 10 points per $1 on hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner, 5 points per $1 on travel, dining and gas and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.

Although the card carries a $95 annual fee, you may find you can earn enough rewards to cover its cost.

When it comes to perks, they are minimal, but you’ll likely find value in them, especially if you’re working on improving your credit score. The benefits include free credit score monitoring and on-the-go account access, which can make it easy to keep track of your financial life and to make progress toward earning a higher credit score.

Credit One Bank Wander Card basics

Annual fee: $95.
Welcome bonus: None.
Rewards: 10 points per $1 on hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner, 5 points per $1 on travel, dining and gas and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
APR: 29.74% variable APR on purchases.
Perks/benefits: Free credit score monitoring, on-the-go account access and zero fraud liability protection.
Preapproval: No, but you can check to see if you pre-qualify.
Recommended credit score : Average to excellent credit.

Credit One Bank Wander Card other details

Credit one bank wander card rewards.

The Credit One Bank Wander Card offers a variety of ways to earn rewards and to redeem those rewards:

10 points per $1 on hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner.
5 points per $1 on travel, dining and gas.
1 point per $1 on all other purchases.

On an ongoing basis, when it’s time to turn your points into rewards, you can also redeem them for travel, gift cards, statement credits and merchandise.

Credit One Bank Wander Card rewards potential

Using government data and other publicly available information, we estimate that a household in the U.S. in the market for the Credit One Bank Wander Card has an annual income of $84,352 and can put an average of $25,087 in spending on a credit card.

If our sample cardholder were to spend $1,753 on hotel and car rental purchases booked through Credit One travel, they would earn 17,530 rewards points in rewards. Spending $1,188 on flights would earn another 5,940 points. If they spent $3,009 on gas, they would earn another 15,045 points. in rewards. Spending $3,526 a year on dining out would result in another 17,630 points. The remaining spending of $15,611 would earn 15,611 points for total annual earnings of 71,756 rewards points. These points would be eligible for a total of $717 in statement credits.

Credit One Bank Wander Card APR

The Credit One Bank Wander Card has a 29.74% variable APR on purchases. It’s worth noting that a variable rate APR can change over time as it is tied to a benchmark index rate.

Free credit score reporting: Keep an eye on your credit score with a free monthly credit report summary. You can also track how your credit score changes over time.
Zero fraud liability: You have protection against unauthorized charges in the event your credit card is stolen or lost.
Credit line increase opportunities: Receive automatic account reviews to see if you qualify for a higher credit line.
Annual fee: Each year you have to pay $95, so it’s important you do the math to figure out if you’ll earn enough rewards to balance that fee out.
No 0% APR period: If you’re hoping to do a balance transfer or to take advantage of an introductory 0% APR while you pay off a big purchase, then this isn’t the card for you.
Limitations to earning travel rewards : The best rewards are reserved for booking travel using the Credit One Bank travel partner.

How the Credit One Bank Wander card compares to other travel cards

Credit one bank wander card vs. chase sapphire preferred® card.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card also charges a $95 annual fee, but it comes with far more benefits than the Credit One Bank Card. For example, cardholders can enjoy primary auto rental coverage, baggage delay insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty protection. This card also offers points on travel booked through the Chase Travel℠ portal, similar to how Credit One Bank Wander Card offers elevated rewards on eligible travel booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner. And, if you use your rewards to book travel through the Chase site, your points will be worth 25% more.

Credit One Bank Wander Card vs. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card comes with a hefty annual fee of $395 (which is $300 more than the Credit One Bank Wander Card). You can justify this fee, however, if you maximize the card’s benefits. For example, the Capital One Venture X card offers up to a $100 credit on a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee and you can receive an annual $300 travel credit for eligible bookings through Capital One Travel.

Credit One Bank Wander Card vs. Credit One Bank® Platinum Rewards Visa® with No Annual Fee * The information for the Credit One Bank® Platinum Rewards Visa® with No Annual Fee has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

If you aren’t a big traveler and want to earn cash back, then you may find that the Credit One Platinum Rewards Visa is a better fit for your needs. This card is also aimed at those with average to excellent credit and earns 2% cash back on eligible gas and grocery purchases as well as mobile phone, internet, cable and satellite TV services. You also don’t have to worry about paying an annual fee to use this card, which might make it a more palatable option.

Should you get the Credit One Bank Wander Card?

Whether or not the Credit One Bank Wander Card is the right fit for your needs depends on how you use your credit card. You’ll need to be able to earn enough rewards for the $95 annual fee to make sense. That being said, because this card is available to those with an average credit score, this card could be a strong travel credit card option for those who are working on improving their credit score.

Credit One Bank Wander Card summary

Methodology

Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of travel credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings. We factored the following into our analysis:

Annual fees.
Travel reward rates.
Value of rewards.
Redemption options.
Additional benefits that a card may offer for travelers, such as travel insurance.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Credit One Bank doesn’t list a specific credit score you have to have in order to qualify for the Credit One Bank Wander Card but they do advise that this card is designed for consumers with an average to excellent credit score.

It’s possible to redeem Credit One Bank Wander Card points for gift cards, merchandise, statement credits, travel, and more.

To decide whether or not the Credit One Bank Wander Card is worth the $95 annual fee, compare your typical spending habits to their rewards structure to see if you stand to earn enough rewards to balance out that fee. For example, if you spend $3,526 on dining each year, you’ll earn 17,630 bonus points, worth $176 in statement credit—more than the annual fee.

*The information for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, Credit One Bank Wander® Card and Credit One Bank® Platinum Rewards Visa® with No Annual Fee has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

During college, Jacqueline DeMarco interned at a retirement plan advisory firm and was tasked with creating a presentation on the importance of financial wellness. During her research into how money can affect our health, relationships and career, Jacqueline realized just how important financial education is. Today, Jacqueline has worked with more than two dozen financial brands, including LendingTree, Capital One, Credit Karma, Fundera, Chime, Bankrate, Student Loan Hero, SoFi, and Northwestern Mutual, providing thoughtful content to give readers insight into complex topics that they likely didn’t learn in school.

Robin Saks Frankel is a credit cards lead editor at USA TODAY Blueprint. Previously, she was a credit cards and personal finance deputy editor for Forbes Advisor. She has also covered credit cards and related content for other national web publications including NerdWallet, Bankrate and HerMoney. She's been featured as a personal finance expert in outlets including CNBC, Business Insider, CBS Marketplace, NASDAQ's Trade Talks and has appeared on or contributed to The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio, ABC Radio, NPR, International Business Times and NBC, ABC and CBS TV affiliates nationwide. She holds an M.S. in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University. Follow her on Twitter at @robinsaks.

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Find the best credit card for you

The 6 best chase travel credit cards of 2024, chase issues some of the top travel credit cards that earn airline miles, hotel points and flexible travel rewards..

If you're looking for a travel credit card , one of the top card issuers to consider is Chase. The best Chase credit cards offer valuable travel perks and earn flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards® points. For brand loyalists, Chase also issues co-branded credit cards for airlines and hotels such as Marriott and United.

To help you choose the best Chase travel credit card for your situation, CNBC Select analyzed travel cards issued by Chase, weighing each card's perks and costs (see our methodology for more information on how we choose the best Chase travel credit cards).

Best Chase travel credit cards

Best for beginners: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Best for no annual fee: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Best for business owners: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Best for premium benefits: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Best for IHG stays: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Best for Southwest flyers: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Best for beginners

Chase sapphire preferred® card.

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, and $50 annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.

Welcome bonus

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℠.

Regular APR

21.49% - 28.49% variable on purchases and balance transfers

Balance transfer fee

Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater

Foreign transaction fee

Credit needed.

Excellent/Good

Terms apply.

Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review .

Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel via Chase Travel℠
Transfer points to leading frequent travel programs at a 1:1 rate, including: IHG® Rewards Club, Marriott Bonvoy™ and World of Hyatt®
Travel protections include: auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance and trip delay reimbursement
No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
$95 annual fee
No introductory 0% APR

Who's this for? The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a reasonable annual fee, a versatile rewards program and a generous welcome bonus . This makes it a beginner-friendly option if you're looking for your first travel card.

Standout benefits: The Chase Sapphire Preferred card earns Ultimate Rewards points. You can redeem them for one cent each for things like cash back or gift cards. If you use Ultimate Rewards points to pay for travel you book through Chase Travel℠ , the value bumps up to 1.25 cents per point. You can also transfer Chase points at a 1:1 ratio to over a dozen partner travel programs, including United MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards and World of Hyatt.

[ Jump to more details ]

Best for no annual fee

Chase freedom unlimited®.

Enjoy 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 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; and 3% cash back 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.

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!

0% for the first 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers

20.49% - 29.24% variable

Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Member FDIC. Terms apply.

Read our Chase Freedom Unlimited® review.

No annual fee
Rewards can be transferred to a Chase Ultimate Rewards card
Generous welcome bonus
3% fee charged on foreign transactions

Who's this for? The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is ideal if you want a card with no annual fee and a high rewards rate for everyday purchases. It's also excellent to pair with another Ultimate Rewards® card, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred , as you can convert your cashback into fully transferrable Ultimate Rewards® points.

Standout benefits : The Freedom Unlimited is technically a cash-back credit card , but it can be much more if you pair it with a Chase card that enables transfers, such as the Sapphire Preferred . This allows you to transfer the rewards you earn with your Freedom Unlimited to all of Chase's transfer partners, which can greatly boost the value you receive with this no-annual-fee card .

Best for business owners

Ink business preferred® credit card.

Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in select categories each account anniversary year (travel; shipping purchases; internet, cable and phone services; and advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines), 1X point per $1 on all other purchases

Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

21.24% - 26.24% variable

Good/Excellent

Read our Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card review.

Free employee cards
Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase TravelSM
1:1 point transfer to leading frequent travel programs
Generous welcome bonus worth up to $1,000
No introductory 0% financing offers for purchases or balance transfers

Who's this for? The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is great if you're a business owner who wants to earn flexible travel rewards thanks to its generous bonus spending categories.

Standout benefits: The Ink Business Preferred earns 3X points per $1 on the first $150,000 in combined purchases you spend each account anniversary year on shipping, advertising (social media and search engines), travel and internet, cable and phone services. That's a large number of useful bonus categories for businesses that can help you amass a hoard of Chase Ultimate Rewards points quickly.

Best for premium benefits

Chase sapphire reserve®.

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 plus, 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025

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℠.

22.49% - 29.49% variable

5%, minimum $5

Read our Chase Sapphire Reserve® review.

$300 annual travel credit for travel purchases
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit up to $100 every four years
Priority Pass™ Select lounge access at 1,000+ VIP lounges in over 500 cities worldwide
Points are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel via Chase Travel℠
Special benefits at The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection
Complimentary year of Lyft Pink membership
High annual fee, but it can be offset by taking advantage of all the card’s perks
No introductory APR
Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $1,469
Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $3,346

Rewards totals incorporate the points earned from the welcome bonus

Who's this for? The Chase Sapphire Reserve is ideal if you have a strong credit score and want premium perks like airport lounge access and built-in travel protections.

Standout benefits: With the Chase Sapphire Reserve , you'll get an up to $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card. This credit automatically applies to eligible travel purchases, from airfare and lodging to public transit and parking fees, so it's incredibly easy to use. You can also enroll for unlimited access to 1,300+ Priority Pass™ airport lounges .

Best for IHG stays

Ihg one rewards premier credit card.

Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts, 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants, 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases

Earn 140,000 Bonus Points

21.49% - 28.49% variable

Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier card member
One reward night after each account anniversary year at eligible IHG hotels worldwide
Fourth reward night when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG® hotel stay.
Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $100 every 4 years
No annual travel credits
Estimated points earned after 1 year: 173,089
Estimated points earned after 5 years: 365,446

Who's this for? The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is a perfect fit if you frequent IHG hotels because of its brand-specific perks. However, it also provides enough value that even the occasional guest can benefit from having this hotel credit card .

Standout hotel benefits: For every account anniversary, you'll receive a free night award valid at IHG hotels that cost up to 40,000 points. You can also top off this award if the night costs more than 40,000 points. If you want to book a room that costs 55,000 points, you could still use your award and pay the 15,000-point difference. This benefit alone can be valuable enough to justify paying the card's annual fee.

Best for Southwest flyers

Southwest rapid rewards® priority credit card.

Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases, 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming. 1X points on all other purchases

Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Foreign transaction fees

Southwest upgraded boarding on up to 4 tickets per year
7,500 bonus points on each account anniversary
$75 Southwest annual travel credit
4 upgraded boardings per year when available
$149 annual fee
No special financing offers

Who's this for? If you love Southwest's consumer-friendly policies such as free checked bags and no change or cancellation fees, you'll appreciate the additional perks that come with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card .

Standout benefits: Having the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card makes earning the Southwest Companion Pass easier because the points you earn (including the welcome bonus) count toward qualifying and you get a 10,000 qualifying-point boost every year. The Companion Pass is incredibly valuable because it allows you to bring a guest on any Southwest flight for the cost of taxes and fees.

More on our top travel credit cards

It can be easy to justify paying the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card's annual fee if you consider the value of the points you'll earn and its ongoing benefits.

5X points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
5X points per dollar on Lyft rides through Mar. 31, 2025
3X points per dollar on dining
3X points per dollar on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
3X points per dollar on select streaming services
2X points per dollar on all other travel purchases
1X points per dollar on all other purchases

Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Notable perks

Many of the Sapphire Preferred's benefits offer a fixed value that in total, more than offsets its annual fee. These perks include:

Up to $50 in annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel℠
10% points boost every card anniversary
Complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership for at least one year when you activate by Dec. 31, 2024 (normally costs $9.99 a month or $96 for an annual plan)

This card also has an extensive list of insurance benefits. Eligible purchases qualify for:

Trip delay reimbursement
Primary rental car collision coverage
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Baggage delay insurance
Lost luggage reimbursement
Roadside dispatch
Travel accident insurance
Travel and emergency assistance services
Purchase protection
Extended warranty protection

You'll also have a range of redemption options for the rewards you earn. You can use Chase points to receive cash back at a rate of one cent per point and to pay for travel you book through Chase Travel℠ at a rate of 1.25 cents per point. If you want to unlock further value, the Sapphire Preferred also allows you to transfer Chase points to airline and hotel loyalty programs such as Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards , Air Canada Aeroplan, IHG One Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy and more.

[ Return to card summary ]

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a great card to pair with other Chase cards because it earns a minimum of 1.5% cash back on all purchases and has no annual fee.

5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel
5% back on Lyft rides (through March 2025)
3% back at drugstores
3% back on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
1.5% back on all other purchases

Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on all purchases up to $20,000 spent in the first year.

When you open a new Freedom Unlimited account, you'll receive a 0% intro APR for the first 15 months from account opening on new purchases and balance transfers. After that, a variable 20.49% to 29.24% APR applies. The intro balance transfer fee is 3% of the amount of each transfer with a $5 minimum (applies to transfers you make in the first 60 days of opening the account). Once the intro balance transfer fee expires, the fee increases to 5% of the amount you transfer or $5, whichever is greater.

You can also take advantage of the following built-in coverages:

Rental car collision insurance (secondary in the U.S.)

The Freedom Unlimited is a cash-back card, but if you have another Chase card that allows points transfers, you can move your rewards to that card and transfer them. That makes this card a great partner with cards like:

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Having the option to convert your rewards into airline miles or hotel points, gives you a wider range of options to maximize the value you receive.

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a versatile business card with an unusually generous intro bonus offer.

5X points on Lyft rides (through March 31, 2025)
3X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases in these categories each account anniversary year: shipping, advertising (with select social media sites and search engines), travel, internet, cable and phone services
1X points on all other purchases

Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening.

There is no additional fee for adding employee cards and there are no foreign transaction fees . You and the employees you add to your account can take advantage of a range of insurance benefits, including:

Rental car insurance (primary when renting for business purposes)
Cell phone protection

The Ink Business Preferred earns Ultimate Rewards points, which you can redeem for cash back, travel gift cards and more. These points are worth one cent each for redemptions like cash back or gift cards . The value increases by 25% (1.25 cents per point) if you use your points to book and pay for travel through Chase Travel℠. With this card, you also have the option to transfer points to any Chase travel partner at a 1:1 ratio. These partners include Marriott Bonvoy, Emirates Skywards , Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) and more.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve has everything you should look for in a luxury travel card including generous statement credit benefits, airport lounge access and a robust list of shopping and travel protections.

10X total points per dollar on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠*
10X points per dollar on Lyft purchases through March 2025
10X total points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 (earn a maximum of 50,000 total points through March 2025)
5X total points per dollar on flights purchased through Chase Travel℠*
3X points per dollar on other travel*

*After the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually

The Sapphire Reserve has a significant $550 annual fee, but it also has lots of benefits that provide more than enough value to make the annual fee worth it. You can take advantage of:

Up to $300 in annual travel credits
Unlimited Priority Pass lounge access for you and up to two guests (normally costs $469 for free visits with a $35 guest fee)
Up to $100 in Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus fee credit once every four years
Two years of complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership (worth $199 a year) when activated by Dec. 31, 2024
At least one year of complimentary DashPass membership when activated by Dec. 31, 2024
$5 in DoorDash credit each month through Dec. 31, 2024

If you're fed up with paying extra to insure a trip or receive additional warranty coverage for big purchases, the Sapphire Reserve provides many of these benefits automatically. Eligible purchases are covered by:

Return protection
Trip interruption/cancellation insurance
Baggage delay protection
Emergency medical and dental insurance

The Sapphire Reserve gives you access to the same travel partners as other Chase cards, but it comes with an increased redemption value when you use points to pay for travel booked through Chase Travel℠. With these redemptions, your points are worth 50% more or 1.5 cents per point. Of course, it's always possible you can receive a higher value per point by transferring your rewards to programs such as Air Canada Aeroplan or Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) and booking costly flights.

This card has no foreign transaction fees.

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card will make your next IHG stay more rewarding and comfortable because of its bonus points on IHG purchases and IHG Platinum elite status perk.

10X points at IHG hotels and resorts
5X points on travel
5X points at gas stations
5X points at restaurants
3X points on all other purchases

Earn 140,000 points after spending $3,000 on the card in the first three months from account opening.

If you value IHG One status, you'll appreciate the automatic Platinum status you'll receive just for having the card. You also have a path to earning IHG Diamond status after spending $40,000 on the card in a calendar year. On top of that, every year you keep the card you'll receive a free night award valid for rooms that cost up to 40,000 points, and you can top off the award with extra points to book a more expensive room.

By having this card, you can indirectly boost the value of your IHG points because of its fourth-night free benefit. When you use points to book an IHG stay of at least four consecutive nights, the fourth night is free. There is no limit to how often you can use this benefit, so the savings can be massive.

The card also comes with statement credit offers and other perks, including:

A 20% discount on IHG points purchases
Up to $50 in United TravelBank Cash each year ($25 deposit twice per year)
Up to $100 every four years in application fee credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS
Earn a $100 statement credit and 10,000 IHG points after spending $20,000 on your card in a calendar year

It also has no foreign transaction fees and insurance benefits such as purchase protection and trip cancellation/interruption coverage.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card can help you fast-track your journey to earning Southwest A-List elite status.

3X points on Southwest purchases
2X points on hotel and rental cars booked through Southwest
2X points on local transit
2X points on internet, cable and phone services

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

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card has the highest annual fee of any Southwest consumer credit card but has the most valuable benefits. Every year, you'll receive a $75 Southwest travel credit and 7,500 bonus points (worth roughly $97). If you can fully utilize both offers, you'll more than offset this card's annual fee.

Having a Southwest card is one of the best ways to fast-track your way to earning a Southwest Companion Pass. The points you earn from spending with this card and from its welcome offer both qualify toward earning a Companion Pass. You also receive a 10,000 qualifying-point boost every calendar year.

Earning Southwest status is also easier with this card. You will earn 1,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) for every $5,000 you spend annually, and there is no limit on the number of TQPs you can earn. You can also take advantage of 25% back on inflight purchases and four upgraded boardings every year (when available).

This card comes with travel and purchase protections such as roadside dispatch, rental car damage waiver, purchase protection, extended warranty protection, lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance and travel accident insurance.

Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox. Sign up here .

Chase travel credit card application rules

Chase has several additional application restrictions, some of which are card-specific. The first rule typically applies to any Chase credit card you apply for and is known as the Chase 5/24 rule . The way it works is that you're unlikely to be approved for a Chase card if you've opened five or more cards from any bank in the past 24 months.

There are also specific restrictions for these cards:

IHG One Rewards credit cards

You aren't eligible for a personal IHG One Rewards card if you currently have any personal IHG One Rewards card. You also aren't eligible for a personal IHG One Rewards card if you've earned an intro bonus offer from any personal IHG One Rewards card in the previous 24 months.

The same limitation applies to the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card . You aren't eligible for an IHG One Rewards business card if you currently have and IHG One Rewards business card or if you've earned an intro bonus from and IHG One Rewards business card in the previous 24 months.

That said, if you open an IHG business card, you can still qualify for a personal IHG card and vice versa.

Southwest credit card application rules

Chase currently issues three personal Southwest credit cards and two Southwest business credit cards. You can have one personal Southwest card and one business Southwest card at a time. However, you aren't eligible for a new personal Southwest card if you currently have a personal Southwest card or have earned a new card member intro bonus from a Southwest personal card in the previous 24 months. The same rule applies to Southwest business cards, you aren't eligible for a Southwest business card if you currently have one or have earned a Southwest business card intro bonus in the previous 24 months.

Marriott Bonvoy credit card application rules

Both Chase and American Express issue Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit cards . These hotel credit cards have complicated restrictions and waiting periods based on what cards you have, have had and when you earned previous Marriott Bonvoy card welcome bonuses. This makes it important to carefully review each card's specific terms before applying because even having an Amex Marriott card could impact whether you're eligible for a new cardmember bonus

Chase Sapphire credit card application rules

If you want to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® , the rules are more restrictive compared to other Chase cards. If you currently have or have had any Sapphire card in the last 48 months, you aren't eligible for any version of the Sapphire card.

It is possible to call and product change between the cards if you already have an account. So you could upgrade to the Sapphire Reserve to take advantage of its increased perks or downgrade to the Sapphire Preferred if you want to pay a smaller annual fee.

World of Hyatt credit card application rules

You won't qualify for the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card or World of Hyatt Credit Card if you currently have that card or have earned a welcome bonus from that card in the past 24 months. However, having a personal Hyatt card won't restrict you from opening a Hyatt Business card and vice versa.

United credit card application rules

Chase and United Airlines have partnered to issue several personal and business credit cards. The additional application guidelines are the same for all Chase United credit cards. For most United cards (personal or business), you aren't eligible for a specific card product if you currently have that exact card or have earned an intro bonus from that card in the past 24 months.

One exception is the United Club℠ Infinite Card , which you won't qualify for if you currently have any United Club card or if you have earned an intro bonus from any United Club card in the previous 24 months.

Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our credit card marketplace or get personalized offers via CardMatch™ .

Pros and cons of Chase travel credit cards

Chase travel credit cards rank among the top credit cards for all sorts of travel. It issues several co-branded airline and hotel credit cards. Chase Ultimate Rewards points are also some of the most valuable and useful travel points you can earn.

However, you typically need a higher credit score to qualify for the best Chase travel cards. As valuable as the rewards may be, the miles and points you earn can be complicated to redeem to maximum value.

Pros of Chase travel credit cards

The miles and points you earn can be used to book high-value travel like business-class tickets or luxury hotels
Some premium Chase cards offer luxury perks like airport lounge access or automatic elite status
Many of these cards have exceptionally valuable welcome bonuses, with the best offers worth more than $1,000

Cons of Chase travel credit cards$

Redeeming travel rewards for the highest value can sometimes be a complicated endeavor
Most of these travel cards have annual fees and the cards with the best perks have the highest annual fees
To qualify for the best Chase travel card, you'll typically need a higher good to excellent credit score

What does Chase count as a travel purchase?

Whether a transaction falls under the travel category depends on how Visa and Mastercard classify that merchant. However, Chase lists a large range of category classifications as travel, including airlines, hotels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, campgrounds, trains, buses, taxis, ferries, tolls, parking and discount travel sites.

Do Chase credit cards have travel protections?

Many Chase credit cards have travel insurance benefits including trip delay reimbursement, rental car coverage, trip cancellation/interruption insurance and more. However, the specific protections vary by card. Check your card's benefits guide to confirm what specific coverages you have and the fine print.

What hotels are partners with Chase?

You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to the following hotel loyalty programs: Marriott Bonvoy, IHG One Rewards and World of Hyatt. Chase also issues co-branded hotel credit cards for all three brands.

Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best Chase travel credit cards.

Our methodology

To determine which Chase travel credit cards offer the best value, CNBC Select analyzed Chase's travel card offerings based on a range of features. We considered rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cash back). We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.

When choosing the best Chase travel cards, we focused on relevant features, such as cards that are widely accepted internationally and provide consumers with bonus rewards on travel spending. We prioritized additional perks that may be useful when traveling, such as travel protections and elite status benefits.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards , banking and money , and follow us on TikTok , Facebook , Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.

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I Teach People How to Plan Their Credit Card Strategies. This is What I Tell Them

I know how to help you get the most value from your travel credit card.

Jason Steele

Credit card expert and founder of CardCon

As a freelance personal finance writer since 2008, Jason has contributed to over 100 outlets including Forbes, USA Today, Newsweek, Time, U.S. News, Money.com and NerdWallet. As an industry leader, Jason has spoken at dozens of conferences and is the founder and producer of CardCon, an annual conference for credit card media. Jason also consults with individuals and small business owners to create customized plans to help them earn and spend travel rewards. He can be reached via his website, JasonSteele.com and on LinkedIn.

Evan Zimmer

Staff Writer

Evan Zimmer has been writing about finance for years. After graduating with a journalism degree from SUNY Oswego, he wrote credit card content for Credit Card Insider (now Money Tips) before moving to ZDNET Finance to cover credit card, banking and blockchain news. He currently works with CNET Money to bring readers the most accurate and up-to-date financial information. Otherwise, you can find him reading, rock climbing, snowboarding and enjoying the outdoors.

The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.

I’ve been obsessed with credit cards and award flights for nearly 20 years, and I’ve made a career writing about it.

Not surprisingly, people began reaching out to me to ask how they too can travel for free, and I started offering individual award travel consultations . After spending time talking to dozens of people from all walks of life about their credit cards and travel rewards , here’s the advice that I find myself giving out the most.

1. Be careful how you spend your reward points and miles

My consultations always start with a list of the credit cards my clients have, and a list of their points and miles.

My clients frequently tell me that they’ve been using one card for their purchases for many years, but don’t currently have many points.

When I ask how they used them, the response I often hear is that they redeemed them all for an airline ticket by calling up the card issuer and redeeming their points directly through their travel agency.

It pains me to break it to my clients, but this is a big mistake.

This will usually provide just 1 cent in value per point redeemed. For example, American Express Travel offers 1 cent in value per Membership Rewards point redeemed, so a $2,000 ticket will cost 200,000 points.

But you can receive far greater value by transferring your points to a travel partner.

For example, 200,000 Membership Rewards points could have been redeemed for two round-trip business class tickets to Europe on any Star Alliance partner such as United, Air Canada, LOT Polish and Turkish, among others. Certainly, two round-trip business class tickets to Europe are worth far more than $2,000.

2. Earn flexible rewards points

Flexible reward points can be extremely valuable when transferred to travel partners. Transfer programs include:

American Express Membership Rewards
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Citi ThankYou points
Capital One Miles
Bilt Rewards
Wells Fargo Rewards

But if you earn travel rewards points with Bank of America, U.S. Bank or Discover, you won’t have these options.

You also miss out on these valuable options when you earn cash back . Only flexible travel points allow you to receive several cents in value per point redeemed when you transfer your points to travel partners.

3. Don’t stand still

Are you still using the same smartphone that you got 10 years ago? Probably not, because you know that there are much better phones available now.

The same is true of credit cards. When your travel and spending needs change, it may also be time to change the cards you use.

The credit card industry is so dynamic. New cards are coming out all of the time, and card issuers frequently offer valuable welcome bonuses to encourage people to try them.

If you haven’t reevaluated the credit cards in your wallet, you should do so regularly. Look for new offers with generous welcome bonuses, but also ones that can provide continued value.

4. Use the right card for the job

You don’t use a sports car to help your friends move or take your minivan to the racetrack. But that’s what you’re doing when you use your travel rewards credit card to buy groceries, where it only earns 1 point per dollar (with some exceptions -- like the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card or American Express® Gold Card ).

And when you do find a card that gives you a large bonus for groceries, don’t check into a hotel with it, where you’ll get the minimum number of rewards points or miles. Instead, switch to a card that offers higher rewards for hotel stays like the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card.

You should always use the card that gives you the most points for each purchase. Sure, there are apps that will tell you how to do that, but you can also just put a piece of masking tape on your cards with labels like “gas,” “groceries,” “travel” and “everyday expenses.”

5. Don’t be afraid of annual fees

One of my clients recently asked me if it was worth it to pay a $375 annual fee ( see rates and fees ) to get an American Express®️ Business Gold Card, which, at the time, had a 150,000-point bonus for spending $10,000 in the first three months of card membership.

I showed him how he could redeem those points for thousands of dollars of travel, making the annual fee worth pennies on the dollar compared to this card’s value. And if he later decides the card doesn’t offer lasting value, he can always cancel it before the annual fee is billed next year.

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.

6. Never cancel your card right away

When I recommend my clients apply for a new card to earn a large bonus, many ask if they should immediately cancel the card afterward.

I always answer with an emphatic “No.”

First, there’s no point in canceling the card until the next annual fee is billed. But also, many card issuers frown on those who immediately cancel their cards after receiving a bonus.

In fact, American Express specifically says that it may take back your bonus if you do. And finally, it’s worth giving the card a good-faith try. You may eventually discover that it’s worth keeping for at least another year or two. You could always use it for small purchases or a subscription to avoid closing out the card.

For rates and fees of American Express Business Gold Card, click here .

CNET editors independently choose every product and service we cover. Though we can’t review every available financial company or offer, we strive to make comprehensive, rigorous comparisons in order to highlight the best of them. For many of these products and services, we earn a commission. The compensation we receive may impact how products and links appear on our site.

IMAGES

Apply online for HSBC Credit Cards
Travel Credit Card Review
9 Best Travel Credit Cards Of 2024
Best Travel Credit Cards 2020: Amex Gold, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and More
Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card Review
Travel Rewards Credit Cards

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COMMENTS

Review: HSBC TravelOne Card
Here's The MileLion's review of the HSBC TravelOne Card, which shook up the miles game when it launched back in May 2023 with 12 transfer partners, instant free conversions, and a generous lounge benefit. It was probably the most competitive general spending card we'd seen in a long while, but it lacked one key feature: points pooling.. HSBC has finally addressed that issue, and that's ...
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HSBC normally requires cardholders to join its Mileage Programme to convert points, which costs S$43.20 a year for unlimited conversions to Asia Miles or KrisFlyer. You only pay one fee, regardless of how many HSBC cards you have. With the TravelOne Card, all conversion fees are waived till 31 December 2023.
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The HSBC TravelOne Card local spend earn rates are average at best —there are miles cards with lower local earn rates, such as the BOC Elite Miles World Mastercard, which clocks in at just 1 mile per dollar (mpd).. However, the HSBC TravelOne Card's foreign spend earn rates are above average.The only other miles credit card out there with a comparable rate is the UOB PRVI MASTERCARD Miles ...
First Impressions: HSBC TravelOne Credit Card
The HSBC TravelOne credit card has a typical "entry-level" credit card requirement. For Singaporeans, a minimum of S$30,000 annual income. For foreigners or permanent residents, a minimum of S$40,000 annual income. Our Thoughts. The HSBC TravelOne Credit Card is certainly an interesting new addition to the travel hacking space in Singapore.
HSBC TravelOne Review: Miles Redemption, Conversion & More
HSBC miles redemption is a straightforward and efficient process designed for HSBC TravelOne Cardholders to convert their accumulated reward points into airline miles. It has a decent earn conversion rate of 1.2 mpd (3X Reward points) for local spending and 2.4 mpd (6X Reward points) for foreign currency spending.
Synchrony CheapOair & OneTravel Credit Card Reviews
As points are worth a maximum of 0.5¢, the card realistically looks like this (and this is a best case scenario): 3% on CheapOAir/Onetravel purchases. 2% on dining purchases. 1% on all other purchases. There are better cards for dining purchases and every day purchases and 3% back on travel isn't exactly exciting either.
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HSBC TravelOne Credit Card
The HSBC TravelOne Credit Card comes with a range of benefits, including: Rewards: 1.2 mile per S$1 on local spend / 2.4 mile per S$1 on foreign currency spend. Lounge access: Customers can enjoy complimentary 4x access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. Travel insurance: Customers are covered for up to $100,000 for travel insurance ...
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Everything you need to know about the Capital One travel portal
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Best Travel Credit Cards of June 2024
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of our top premium travel cards. With a $300 travel credit, bonus points on dining and travel purchases and other benefits, you can get excellent value that far exceeds the annual fee on the card. Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. VIEW MORE.
14 Best Travel Credit Cards of June 2024
Best premium travel credit cards. American Express® Gold Card - Best travel card for dining. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card - Best low-cost premium travel card. Chase Sapphire Reserve® - Best premium travel credit card. The Platinum Card® from American Express - Best travel card for lounge access.
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The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is currently featuring a welcome offer of: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening ...
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The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card has a simple reward structure— 1.25x miles on all purchases and 5x miles on hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel— so there are no ...
Best Capital One credit cards of July 2024
The Capital One Venture X business card offers the potential to earn a welcome offer of 150,000 bonus miles. In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 travel credit and airport lounge access, at a reasonable annual fee of $395. Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Should I Get an Airline Credit Card?
An airline credit card takes you far when you travel frequently with one airline. It can save you money on checked bags, airport lounges, flights and more. Credit cards
The 18 Best Travel Credit Cards in June 2024
Up to $120 Uber Cash. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. Earn 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $395 ( rates & fees) 10x miles on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel. 5x miles on flights purchased through Capital One Travel.
Credit One Bank Wander Card Review 2024
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Travel Credit Card Reviews
4.7 rating. Last reviewed: June 14, 2024. The World of Hyatt Credit Card from Chase offers an outstanding amount of value for frequent travelers: New cardholders are awarded ample points on a variety of travel purchases, including airfare and restaurant purchases. All information about the World of Hyatt Credit Card has been collected ...
Synchrony Bank OneTravel Visa® Review
Apply now. Our Rating: 3.11 out of 5. Recommended credit score. Excellent (740-799) Rewards Rate: 6x Points for every dollar spent on OneTravel.com. 4x Points for every dollar spent on dining when you use the OneTravel Visa Credit Card. 2x Points for every dollar spent on purchases, everywhere Visa Credit Cards are accepted.
How to pick the right travel credit card for you
So you've decided to get a travel credit card — congratulations. Now comes the hard part: finding the card that makes the most sense for your wallet. With so many options on the market, it can be difficult to pick out what kind of credit card will offer you the most value based on your lifestyle and spending habits. To help you make the decision that's best for you, follow these four simple ...
Credit One Bank Wander Card review
Credit One Bank Wander Card basics. Annual fee: $95. Welcome bonus: None. Rewards: 10 points per $1 on hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner, 5 points per $1 on ...
Transferring Credit Card Rewards to a Travel Partner? Do This First
KEY POINTS. Some credit cards allow cardholders to transfer their rewards to eligible travel partners. Before transferring your rewards, research availability for hotels or flights and review all ...
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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Review
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers you two miles for every dollar spent with no limit, plus a decent sign-up bonus. The card's simple-yet-generous reward scheme, along with a modest ...