Travel credit cards provide rewards in the form of points or miles that can be redeemed for statement credits, cash back and gift cards. Point values may differ significantly between cards; additionally, card fees could reduce their value.
Some general travel cards offer flexibility by enabling you to transfer points between airline and hotel loyalty programs; others have specific earn rates for different forms of spending.
General travel cards
Travel credit cards can be an effective way to build credit card offers travel points and access travel perks that will enhance your journeys. How many cards you should hold will depend on your spending habits and which benefits are most valued; selecting an ideal card could save money on airline and hotel fees.
Airline credit cards typically offer more rewards per everyday spending category than general travel cards, and typically pay out in miles linked to specific frequent flyer programs. They’re ideal for anyone wanting to gain airline loyalty perks like free checked bags, priority boarding or companion passes.
General travel cards allow you to earn reward points across several spending categories and many offer flexible redemption options such as cash back, gift cards and merchandise. Some cards even provide benefits that help save time at airports such as statement credits towards TSA PreCheck and Global Entry membership.
Airline or hotel cards
Airlines or hotel cards reward loyalty to specific brands by providing rewards at a faster pace, plus other perks such as priority boarding or access to airport lounges; making these cards ideal choices for frequent travelers.
Many travel cards provide a fixed value per point when redeemed for items like cash back or gift cards, while others allow users to redeem points towards flights, hotels or car rentals. Some general travel cards also permit points transfers between loyalty programs like airlines or hotels which could provide greater value than cash back redemption options alone.
Some hotel cards automatically qualify you as an Elite Status membership upon purchasing, providing additional perks like complimentary breakfast and room upgrades. Others will even credit back incidental charges during your stay! Many cards also feature welcome offers with large bonus point rewards for new cardmembers who meet spending requirements.
Co-branded cards
Co-branded credit cards often provide superior rewards and perks over traditional cards. Although membership in their partner organization or higher APR may be necessary for applying, co-branded cards often feature better rewards and redemption options, including gift cards or cash back. They’re commonly found with airlines, hotels and stores. It is wise to compare fees before applying.
These cards are issued by retailers in partnership with credit card networks like Visa and MasterCard. You can use them anywhere that accepts their card network, usually featuring both the retailer’s logo as well as that of the card network logo. They’re an ideal way to strengthen loyalty to certain stores, airlines or hotel chains while earning elite status more easily; however they may not be suitable for people looking for flexible redemption options and may be harder for people building credit than general cards.
Rewards programs
Many travel credit cards offer rewards programs with multiple redemption options for points and miles earned with them, including booking through their travel portal, transferring them to airline loyalty programs, purchasing gift cards with these rewards, and receiving statement credits to cover them all.
Your use of your card could net you enough points or miles for free flights, hotels stays, car rentals and more – particularly with airline-affiliated cards that offer more generous rewards than general travel rewards cards.
Not only are cards offering travel rewards, but many also come equipped with additional perks and benefits that make the experience of travel simpler. This might include statement credits for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry that enable travelers to skip lines at airports; others have no foreign transaction fees that help save you money when making purchases abroad.
