Finding the ideal travel rewards credit card begins by understanding both its earning structures and travel habits. Cards offering bonus points on dining and gas purchases can maximize reward potential.
Airline credit cards provide many enticing benefits, such as complimentary checked bags and priority boarding. Plus, many come with significant sign-up bonuses that could more than cover the annual fee!
Airline cards
Airline credit cards are tailored for frequent flyers, offering rewards like free checked bags and priority boarding. While these cards usually carry an annual fee, their savings on airfare and related fees during travel often more than offset this expense. Furthermore, airline loyalty programs often reward frequent fliers with elite status more quickly.
American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card provides 2x miles on airline purchases and 1x miles for everything else; plus it includes free checked bags for you and up to four traveling companions sharing one reservation, priority boarding, and annual fee waived in its first year of usage.
Airline cards typically align themselves with specific airlines; however, recently there has been an increasing focus on general travel rewards cards like Discover it Miles as well. If you frequently fly with various airlines but prefer an apples-to-apples comparison approach then a general travel rewards card such as this could be ideal.
Hotel cards
The top hotel credit cards offer luxury hotel benefits with a strong earning rate, generous welcome bonuses and an annual free night certificate.
Hilton cards offer free nights every year on the anniversary of your account opening and automatic Hilton Gold elite status, which provides access to room upgrades, meals and drinks credits for two guests as well as other benefits.
The World of Hyatt credit card provides automatic Platinum Elite status (the program’s second-highest elite tier) and one complimentary award night each year, plus its welcome offer of 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 within three months; you also earn two bonus points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels which can be redeemed for rooms globally. Plus, it provides various travel protections and consumer safeguards, with no foreign transaction fees!
General travel credit cards
Many travel credit cards provide bonus point rates for airfare, hotels and rental car purchases – these points could be redeemed for upgrades on flights, free checked bags or other benefits. Some cards even have flat rate rewards rates for non-travel purchases like dining out, grocery shopping and drugstore purchases; Discover it Miles card provides such rewards rates while providing travel and consumer protections.
General travel cards tend to offer greater redemption flexibility than co-branded travel cards, with access to an issuer’s online travel portal often offering flights, hotel stays, rental cars and more from multiple partners. You may even use your card’s points towards statement credits, cash back or gift cards. However if you prefer one airline or hotel brand over another then co-branded cards might be better options.
The best travel credit cards
Before choosing either an airline card or general travel credit card, it’s essential that you know what your priorities are when selecting one. Be sure that its rewards suit your spending habits and travel style while giving you maximum points or miles value redemption potential.
Look for cards that offer rewards in areas most relevant to your travel, such as airfare and hotel stays, or have an attractive base rate for general purchases of travel-related goods and services. Also ensure the benefits offered fit with your needs; look for insurance policies and elite status to see if these meet them; consider any annual or other fees before selecting your card.
