Kira Brecht is a credit card expert whose financial advice has been featured on Forbes, US News & World Report, Investor’s Business Daily and Yahoo! Finance. Her favorite travel card program is Chase Ultimate Rewards.
*Editorial Note: This content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuer. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and may not have been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through a credit card issuer partnership.
Did you know you can travel the world practically free? Using the right airline credit cards can open up a world of travel that would be otherwise unattainable for the majority of people.
With so many credit card offers out there, how do you decide which one is best for you? Consider annual fees, sign-up bonuses, blackout dates and 0% intro APR. Comparing travel credit cards can be tricky. Lucky for you, we’ve done the research and identified the best credit cards to get you flying in no time!
This card offers an industry-leading rewards rate of 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 miles on hotels and rental cars booked through capital one travel; 5 miles per dollar when you book on turo, the world’s largest car sharing marketplace, through may 16, 2023. Get a enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel. You could earn a free trip just for signing up and using this card for your everyday purchases for 3 months. There’s no limit to how many miles you can earn and miles won't expire for the life of the account. These miles are easy to redeem, can be used to fly on any airline or stay at any hotel with no blackout dates. There are no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad. This card has a $95. Earn a best-in-class miles rewards rate on every purchase, every day with this straightforward, yet powerful card.
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Rewards Rate
2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 5 Miles per dollar when you book on Turo, the world’s largest car sharing marketplace, through May 16, 2023
Extra Perks
Receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
The high-paying Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is one of the best flexible travel rewards cards available if you don’t want to pay an annual fee. The long 0% intro APR just sweetens the deal. This credit card offers 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. Use that as a statement credit to wipe away $250 in travel purchases. On top of the generous sign-up bonus, you will unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire. This hassle-free card makes redeeming your travel rewards easy. Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for flights on any airline, any hotel, vacation package, rental car, baggage fees and more. No blackout dates. There is $0 annual fee.
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
Flexible Redemption
Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
Rewards Rate
Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire
Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire.
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
0% Introductory APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. After the intro APR offer ends, 16.24% - 26.24% Variable APR will apply.
If you're a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Discover it® Miles soars above other offers with one of the most lucrative travel sign-up bonuses available. Only Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match. Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase - with no annual fee. With the sign-up bonus, that means you will earn 3 Miles for every $1 you spend during your first year as a cardholder, which is an incredible rate. Redeem your Miles as a statement credit towards travel purchases. If you have a big purchase coming up, rely on long intro APR 0% intro apr for 15 months on purchases, with 13.49% - 24.49% variable apr after that. If you want a big travel sign-up bonus at the end of the year, this card delivers the best return on your first-year spending. There are no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad and $0 annual fee.
Only Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
Rewards Rate
Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase - with no annual fee.
0% Intro APR
0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases, then 13.49% - 24.49% Variable APR
Highlights
UNLIMITED BONUS: Only Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase - with no annual fee.
Redeem Miles to pay any part of your monthly bill, including your minimum payment.
Turn Miles into cash in any amount, any time. Or redeem as a statement credit for travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more with no blackout dates. However you redeem, Miles keep the same value. And Miles never expire.
New Intro APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 13.49% - 24.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
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Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.
Freeze your account in seconds with an on/off switch either on the mobile app or website to prevent new purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers.
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This five-star travel rewards card comes with one of the best sign up bonuses available. Earn 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®. Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases. Cash in points on hotels, airfare, and even car rentals or cruises with this flexible travel card. No blackout dates. Your points are worth 25% more when you book airfare, hotels or car rentals through the easy to use Chase Ultimate Rewards® travel portal. There are no foreign transaction fees. The annual fee is $95. You could easily earn more than that with the high rewards rate on this card.
Earn 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®.
Rewards Rate
5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases
Bonus Perks
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Earn 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®.
Enjoy benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
With Pay Yourself BackSM, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
If you’re not already earning points and miles on an airline credit card then you’re missing out on the opportunity fly virtually for free. Each one of the credit card offers mentioned above are a great place to start you on your way to award flights and worldwide travel. Sign up today and be on your way to flying in no time!
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About Our Ratings
Our editors rate credit cards objectively based on the features the credit card offers consumers, the fees and interest rates, and how a credit card compares with other cards in its category. The ratings are the expert opinion of our editors, and not influenced by any remuneration this site receives from card issuers.
Excellent Credit
Between 720 - 850
Credit cards for excellent credit are intended for those with a credit score between 720 - 850.
Good Credit
Between 660 - 719
Credit cards for good credit are intended for those with a credit score between 660 - 719.
Fair Credit
Between 600 - 659
Credit cards for fair credit are intended for those with a credit score between 600 - 659.
Poor Credit
Between 300 - 599
Credit cards for poor credit are intended for those with a credit score between 300 - 599.
No/Limited Credit
- - -
Credit cards for no credit are intended for those without an established credit score.
Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion.
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