If you frequently travel then you should make sure to learn about the best travel / airfare credit cards!
There are a bunch of great travel cards on the market for you to consider. Different cards will bring you different benefits and rewards, so you’ll need to do some research to find which one best suits you. Keep reading below to learn about all of our favorite travel credit cards.
Types of Travel Credit Cards
Some cards earn transferable points that can be redeemed by moving them to a transfer partner, like an airline or hotel loyalty program. This type of card is most valuable for rewards because they’re more flexible.
Airline co-branded cards usually earn miles and come with airline-specific benefits, like free checked bags, elite-qualifying miles, priority boarding, inflight discounts and more.
Hotel cards are similar to airline cards because you can earn points and they usually come with hotel-specific benefits, like free award nights, complimentary elite status and more.
Click here for our list of the best hotel credit cards.
Fixed-rate cards offer rewards that deemed for the same value. Take the Bank of America Premium Rewards card for example, points are always worth $0.01 each. These type of travel cards are ideal for those who want to maximize transferable points.
What to Consider
We’ve taken into account the following factors when deciding on the best travel credit cards to review:
- Welcome bonus
- Earning potential
- Annual fee
- Point value
- Travel credits
- Travel benefits
- Travel protections
- Rewards simplicity
- Additional benefits
Best Credit Cards For Travel Purchases
There are plenty of travel cards out there, but which one truly rewards for your travel spending? Below is our list of the best credit cards for travel purchases, so you can easily find a card that bests suits you.
The American Express® Green Card offers a great earning rate for points on travel spending. Travel purchases includes transit, taxis, tours, ridesharing and short-term vacation rentals, airfare and hotel purchases.
 The American Express® Green Card offers 60,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases made during your first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $200 back in the form of a statement credit. You'll earn: • 3X Membership Rewards points on travel including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals. • 3X Membership Rewards Points on transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways. • 3X Membership Rewards points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US. This card does carry a $150 annual fee & no foreign transaction fees. Terms Apply. See Rates & Fees |
If you’re a member of the BofA Preferred Rewards program, then the Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card is best suited towards you because it can boost your earning rate.
If you’re a beginner then the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is the ideal travel credit card for you. This card comes with the best welcome bonus and offers some of the easiest travel rewards to use. Redeem them for travel directly through Chase and get $0.0125 per point. If you want to maximize your rewards, transfer your points to a partner program.
 The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards. You'll earn: • 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards • 3X points on dining • 3X points on select streaming services and online grocery purchases • 2X points on all other travel purchases • 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases Enjoy new benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit and when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, you'll get 25% more value! This card carries a $95 annual fee. |
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns more points on travel than the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. The category covers a wide range of merchants worldwide however, it comes with a hefty annual fee. For those who can take advantage of Sapphire Reserve’s benefits fully, then $550 a year is worth it.
 The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards. You'll earn • 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. • 5X total points on flights • 3X points on other travel and dining • 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases When redeeming your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, you'll get 50% more value. This card does carry a $550 annual fee and there are no foreign transaction fees. However, you're able to earn a $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year & up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre?®. Member FDIC |
The Citi Premier® Card offers generous points on travel spending, which includes gas stations, commuting, boat rentals and more. The generous earning rate on an expanded travel category is rare for a card that only charges a fair annual fee.
The Platinum Card from American Express is the best option is you’re looking for a card that gives luxury perks.
 The Platinum Card® from American Express offers 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. You'll earn: • 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. • 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. This card comes with an annual fee of $695 (See Rates & Fees), but you cardholders can enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member and Additional Centurion Cards only. Terms Apply. Terms Apply. |
This card is the ideal card for commuters. The Wells Fargo Propel American Express card offers three points for every dollar spent on flights, hotels, taxis, ridesharing, car rentals, passenger railways and trains, ferries, tolls, limos and gas stations, without an annual fee.
Best Credit Cards for Airfare Purchases
Paying for your vacation with points and miles is always nice, but sometimes you have to pay in cash. If you can’t use your credit card rewards on a trip, then you should at least earn some points and miles for your travel spending.
See our list of the best credit card offers here
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is the best overall travel credit card. Even though it comes with a large annual fee, this card offers a variety of credits and valuable perks that outweigh the fee.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards. You'll earn • 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. • 5X total points on flights • 3X points on other travel and dining • 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases When redeeming your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, you'll get 50% more value. This card does carry a $550 annual fee and there are no foreign transaction fees. However, you're able to earn a $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year & up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre?®. Member FDIC |
If you’re a beginner then the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is the ideal travel credit card for you. This card comes with the best welcome bonus and offers some of the easiest travel rewards to use. Redeem them for travel directly through Chase and get $0.0125 per point. If you want to maximize your rewards, transfer your points to a partner program.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards. You'll earn: • 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards • 3X points on dining • 3X points on select streaming services and online grocery purchases • 2X points on all other travel purchases • 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases Enjoy new benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit and when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, you'll get 25% more value! This card carries a $95 annual fee. |
The Capital One Venture Rewards card is the best card with simple redemptions. This card allows users to “erase” travel purchases at a fixed rate of $0.01 per mile, with out black out dates.
 The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a one-time bonus of 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. You're able to earn: • 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. • 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel This card does come with a $95 annual fee. Enjoy no foreign transaction fees and receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre?®. |
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards card is the best no-annual-fee travel card available. Similar to the Capital One Venture Card, you can use your miles to “erase” travel purchases at a fixed rate of $0.01 per mile, with out black out dates.
 The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card offers 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel. Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months. You'll earn: • 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. • 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. This card comes with no annual fees and no foreign transaction fees which is a great choice as your go-to travel card! |
The Platinum Amex card is the best option is you’re looking for a card that gives luxury perks.
The Platinum Card® from American Express offers 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. You'll earn: • 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. • 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. This card comes with an annual fee of $695 (See Rates & Fees), but you cardholders can enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member and Additional Centurion Cards only. Terms Apply. Terms Apply. |
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card is the best option for international travel. Marriott is the second largest hotel chain in the world with over 7,000 properties across 131 countries and territories. This means that the Boundless card can help fund your trip no matter where you travel.
 The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card offers 3 Free Night Awards up to a 150,000 Total Point Value (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You'll earn: • Up to 17X total points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy • 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining. • 2X points for every $1 spent on all other purchase • 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend. You gain an automatic Silver Elite Status each account anniversary year. Path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each account year. You'll receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year & an additional Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary. This card does carry a $95 fee; there are no foreign transaction fees. |
The Capital One Spark Mile for Business card is the best option for business travel. This card comes with a huge welcome offer and gives bonuses on hotel and rental car spending.
 The Capital One Spark Miles for Business offers a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles - equal to $500 in travel - once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. Your miles won't expire for the life of the account, and there are no categories to limit where or what you buy and you can earn 2 miles per $1 on every purchase. And 5X miles on hotel and rental car bookings through Capital One TravelSM using a Spark Miles card Skip the lines with up to a $100 statement credit on TSA PreCheck or Global Entry There is an annual fee of $95, however, there is a $0 intro annual fee for the first year. Enjoy no foreign transaction fees and fly on any airline, anytime, with no blackout dates or seat restrictions. |
This card is the ideal card for commuters. The Wells Fargo Propel American Express card offers three points for every dollar spent on flights, hotels, taxis, ridesharing, car rentals, passenger railways and trains, ferries, tolls, limos and gas stations, without an annual fee.
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Bottom Line
Be sure to learn all about the perks and fees when choosing which travel card to open. Making an educated decision could help you maximize your spendings and get great rewards. For more credit cards, see our latest list of the best credit card bonuses!
