Credit cards can be an excellent travel tool, particularly when the rewards cover the annual fee. Look for features that make sense for you such as large welcome offers or airport lounge access and automatic elite status status.
Travel rewards cards provide rewards in the form of miles or points that can be redeemed for airfare, hotel stays and car rentals – many also come equipped with other perks and protections to make them a worthwhile purchase.
Airline Rewards Cards
Airline credit cards allow you to earn travel rewards specific to a single airline and its alliance partners, redeemable against flights booked through them and often offering added perks like complimentary checked bags, seating upgrades or airport lounge access.
Airline cards typically offer lower earning rates than general-purpose travel cards; however, their welcome bonuses and perks can make up for this by offsetting annual fees – for instance the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card offers up to 85,000 miles as welcome bonus and benefits like priority boarding and free first checked bags.
General-purpose travel cards provide more flexible ways to earn and redeem rewards, with many offering higher earning rates on popular categories like restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and airfare booked through the issuer’s travel portal. Some even provide a flat rate of rewards points on all purchases – making this card suitable for travelers of various budgets.
General Travel Rewards Cards
Many travel credit cards offer rewards on general purchases as well. These types of cards usually offer higher rewards rates on most travel-related spending than cards which only offer rewards on airline or hotel purchases, so consider whether these additional features justify the costs involved with travel rewards cards before applying.
Airline and hotel loyalty credit cards often offer extra perks, such as priority boarding and free hotel nights. Also consider choosing one with an annual statement credit for airfare or rental car costs, or one that provides coverage against damage to belongings in hotel rooms.
The best travel credit cards offer great flexibility when it comes to redeeming rewards for travel via their issuer’s website or transferring them to partner loyalty programs at a higher per-point value. But it is essential to consider any costs that a card might charge, particularly those related to initial bonus offers or redemption – these fees could quickly add up, nullifying any value you might gain from using its other features.
Hotel Rewards Cards
As with airline credit cards, hotel credit card brands also provide co-branded options that tie directly into specific loyalty programs. These cards typically earn rewards points with the hotel brand while providing special perks such as complimentary anniversary nights, club or lounge access, meal credits and automatic elite status offers.
Some hotel credit card plans limit how you use rewards points and may require you to book at certain dates during the year (known as blackout dates). Others accelerate loyalty program rewards and provide services like late checkout, discounted booking or concierge services.
Hotel-branded credit cards differ from other travel credit cards in that they often provide high rewards rates and generous perks, with lower annual fees than other cards of their kind. But before choosing one of these hotel cards, be sure to carefully compare perks and rates between various offerings; it may be wise to evaluate whether extra benefits such as travel accident coverage or rental car coverage justify its additional annual fee.
Brand-Specific Hotel Cards
Many hotel credit cards are co-branded with their respective hotel brands and seamlessly link back to your loyalty account, making tracking rewards and status easy. Many also come equipped with additional perks, like automatic elite status upgrades or travel and room credits – providing a seamless experience that keeps track of them all for you.
No matter if it is brand-specific hotel cards or general travel rewards cards, it pays to understand how each program operates and how you can maximize points. Furthermore, it is crucial that any annual fees of the card be considered against its benefits; and vice versa.
Some travel cards provide additional perks, like airport lounge access and fee waivers for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry applications; as well as insurance policies covering travel accidents, rental car damage, purchase protection, etc. For less frequent flyers these extra features could make a card more worthwhile; some cards even provide sign-up bonuses or bonus points when booking through hotels or travel issuers’ shopping portals.
