The best credit cards for travel rewards (free flights and more)

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Ready for a vacation? A travel credit card can help you save money by offering you discounts or covering the cost of your trip.

The top travel credit cards also offer benefits that make traveling more convenient and worthwhile. This includes annual travel credits, expedited airport security, airport lounge access, and more.

No matter what you want out of your travel card, there’s an option for you. Here are four of the best travel rewards credit cards.

Best travel credit cards 

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for flexible rewards
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for flat-rate travel rewards
• Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card: Best for no annual fee
• Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for luxury travelers
• Citi Premier® Card: Best for gas stations and supermarkets
• Discover it® Miles: Best for first-year bonus miles

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for flexible rewards

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is often touted as one of the best travel credit cards for beginners due to its reasonable $95 annual fee and generous rewards rates.

Rewards:

• Earn 5X points on travel booked Chase Ultimate Rewards and on Lyft rides (through March 2025)
• 3X points on dining, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
• 2X points on all other travel purchases
• 1X points on all other regular purchases

This card is also flexible with redemptions. Cardholders can use points for cash back, statement credits, gift cards, and merchandise. You can also redeem points for travel via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal for 25% more. Or you can transfer points to airline and hotel partners.

Another standout feature of the Preferred card is its generous sign-up bonus. New cardholders can earn bonus points after meeting a minimum spending limit within a specified period of time. You can use these bonus points for travel-related expenses, such as flights, hotels, or car rentals.

Additionally, this card provides exclusive travel benefits and protections. This includes rental car insurance, trip interruption insurance, and baggage delay insurance.

How to maximize this card: Transfer points to airline or hotel partners to boost redemption value. Book high-end travel through Chase’s travel portal to get 25% more value from points  

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for flat-rate travel rewards

Looking for a straightforward way to earn travel rewards? The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a good bet.

Cardholders earn a flat rate of rewards on every purchase, making it easy to accumulate points.

Rewards:

• Earn 2X miles for all regular purchases 
• 5X miles on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel

You can redeem these miles for travel expenses via Capital One’s travel portal or by transferring miles to partner loyalty programs.

This card comes with a $95 annual fee. New cardholders can earn bonus points after meeting the minimum spending limits within a specified period.

The Venture Rewards also provides added travel benefits and protections. Cardholders can get lost luggage reimbursement, auto rental insurance, and 24/7 travel assistance services. These features provide peace of mind and support while on the go.

How to maximize this card: Transfer miles to airline partners to maximize value instead of redeeming for statement credits. Use annual $100 credit towards Global Entry/TSA PreCheck. 

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card: Best for no annual fee

If you're looking for a rewards credit card but don't want to pay an annual fee, the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card could be a good fit.

Rewards

•  Earn unlimited 1.5X points on all purchases

You can redeem these points for various travel expenses, including flights, hotels, and rental cars. You can also redeem rewards for statement credits to cover travel expenses, giving you the freedom to choose how to use your rewards.

Unlike other top travel cards, the Bank of America Travel Rewards has an intro APR offer. Cardholders can qualify for 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for an initial period, followed by a variable APR. This allows cardholders to consolidate or pay off debt while still earning travel rewards on new purchases.

Bank of America customers can utilize additional rewards via the Preferred Rewards program. Depending on the tier of the Preferred Rewards program, cardholders can earn bonus points on their everyday purchases, further boosting their rewards potential.

How to maximize this card: Take advantage of 3.5X earning potential if you have a Bank of America checking account. Use the introductory 0% APR offer to finance large travel purchases.

Platinum Card from American Express: Best for luxury travelers

The Platinum Card comes with a hefty $695 annual fee, but its range of luxurious travel perks can make up for it. See rates and fees.

Rewards

• Earn 5X points on travel booked through American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1X)
• 2X points on prepaid car rentals booked through American Express Travel
• 1X on all other purchases

Cardholders also have the flexibility to transfer their points to a multitude of airline and hotel loyalty programs, unlocking even more possibilities for maximizing their rewards.

One of the most notable features is its comprehensive travel benefits package. Cardholders can access a wide range of airport lounges worldwide, including the renowned Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, and Priority Pass lounges.

The Platinum card offers annual travel credits for flight bookings, hotel stays, entertainment, and more. These credits can add up to more than the annual cost of the card if you use them.

You also get access to a dedicated concierge service that can assist with travel arrangements and reservations. Plus, you’ll receive added travel benefits such as complimentary elite status with select hotel brands, travel insurance coverage, purchase protection, and access to exclusive events and experiences*. These perks further enhance the overall value of the card.

How to maximize this card: Make use of this card’s extensive travel credits — worth over $1,000. Transfer points to airline partners for premium cabin upgrades and other high-value rewards.

Citi Premier® Card: Best for gas stations and supermarkets 

The Citi Premier® Card is an excellent choice for those who spend a significant amount on gas stations and supermarkets, as it offers higher rewards rates in these categories compared to many other travel rewards cards. 

Rewards: 

• Earn 3X points on air travel, gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets, and hotels 
• 1X points on all other purchases 

Cardholders can redeem points for travel through the Citi ThankYou® Travel Center or transfer points to airline partners for potentially greater value. The card also comes with a substantial sign-up bonus, which can be earned after meeting the minimum spending requirement within the first few months of account opening. 

The Citi Premier® Card offers various travel benefits, such as no foreign transaction fees, $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) once per calendar year when booked through ThankYou.com, and travel protections like trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay protection, and more. 

How to maximize this card: Use the Citi Premier® Card for all gas station and supermarket purchases to earn 3X points. Consider transferring points to airline partners for high-value redemptions.

Discover it® Miles: Best for first-year bonus miles 

The Discover it® Miles card is an excellent option for those looking to maximize their rewards in the first year, thanks to its unique bonus miles offer. 

Rewards: 

• Earn 1.5X miles on all purchases 

While the base rewards rate may seem lower compared to other travel cards, Discover will automatically match all the miles you've earned at the end of your first year. This effectively doubles your rewards, making it a lucrative option for the first year. 

Redeeming miles is simple with the Discover it® Miles card. You can redeem miles for travel statement credits or convert them to cash at the same value. There are no blackout dates or restrictions when redeeming miles. 

The card also offers valuable benefits like no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 15 months (then a variable APR applies). 

How to maximize this card: Use the Discover it® Miles card for all purchases in the first year to maximize the miles match bonus. Redeem miles for travel statement credits or cash back.

How do travel credit cards work?

Travel credit cards allow you to earn rewards on your everyday spending that can be redeemed for travel expenses like flights, hotels, rental cars, and more. There are three main types of travel credit cards. 

General travel cards

These cards offer flexible rewards that can be earned on a wide range of purchases and redeemed for various travel expenses. They often have generous sign-up bonuses and allow you to transfer points to airline or hotel partners for maximum value. Examples include the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture cards.

Airline credit cards

These cards are co-branded with a specific airline and offer rewards and perks tailored to that airline's loyalty program. You'll earn miles for everyday spending that can be redeemed for free flights, seat upgrades, priority boarding, and more. Examples include the Delta SkyMiles cards from American Express and the United℠ Explorer Card from Chase.

Hotel credit cards

Similar to airline cards, hotel credit cards are co-branded with a specific hotel chain and offer points and perks within that chain's loyalty program. You can earn free nights, room upgrades, elite status benefits, and more. Examples include the Hilton Honors cards from American Express and the Marriott Bonvoy cards from Chase.

What to consider when looking for a rewards card

With hundreds of travel cards on the market, it can get overwhelming fast when trying to pick the best one. Here are the key factors to consider:

Types of rewards 

There are four main types of travel rewards:

• Points: Redeemed for cash, gift cards, travel, or transferred to airline/hotel partners. Most flexible but sometimes more complex. Example: Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
• Miles: Best for basic travel redemptions rather than transfers or cash back. Miles tend to accumulate faster through bonuses and spending. Example: Capital One Venture miles.
• Hotel points: Redeemed for free hotel nights, elite status perks, room upgrades, and other amenities within a specific hotel chain. Great for hotel loyalists. Example: Hilton Honors points.
• Cash back: A fixed monetary amount per dollar spent. Simplest option that gives you cash to spend on anything. Example: Wells Fargo Active Cash card.

Redemption values

Pay attention to each program's redemption rates and options. For example, the Capital One Venture card offers a consistent 100 miles = $1 value towards travel purchases. However, Chase Ultimate Rewards can stretch even further in value when points are transferred to airline or hotel partners or redeemed for certain high-end travel via their portal. 

Ideal spending categories

Analyze your monthly and annual credit card purchases. Choose a card that specifically rewards your biggest spending categories with bonus points or extra miles. For instance, the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers 3X on dining and select streaming services. If those are major expenses for you, it makes a perfect fit to maximize rewards.

Annual fees

Annual fees range widely from $0-$695 for the most premium travel cards. The perks and bonuses may outweigh the fees if you utilize them, but be cautious of high fees if your spending doesn't justify them.

Welcome bonuses   
The large, one-time signup bonus attached to most travel cards offers tremendous value. Make sure to calculate how much those bonus points or miles are worth (around 1-2 cents each or more) and what other bonuses you may qualify for through ongoing spending and referrals.

It’s important to strip away the Instagram-worthy allure of travel credit cards, and to note that they often come “packaged with exorbitant interest rates and sneaky fees that can turn those dream rewards into a financial sinkhole,” says Jeff Rose, certified financial planner and founder of Good Financial Cents.

"Yes, there's the tantalizing promise of free trips, cash back, and exclusive perks," he says. “But there's also the trap of overspending to chase those bonus thresholds or earn extra points. This can lead to mounting balances that aren't cleared monthly.”

Do you feel financially prepared to handle a credit card? Rose says this means having a track record of paying off credit card balances in full, every single month. It also means having a robust emergency fund, a stable income, and a clear understanding of one's monthly expenses.

"If someone can't confidently tick all these boxes, then they're not just unprepared," he says. They could easily be "setting themselves up for potential financial ruin."

The bottom line

The best travel credit card comes with rewards, bonuses, and perks that can offset or completely cover your travel expenses. By strategically maximizing your card's rewards program and taking advantage of travel benefits, you can reduce or eliminate the price of travel, allowing you to explore the world at a fraction of the cost.

When selecting the best travel card for you, ensure the card’s benefits align with your spending habits and how you plan to use the card. That way, you’ll find the card that will work best for you.

[Disclaimer]: *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  

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.