Airline credit cards are one of the best types of credit cards out there. They can help you save money on your next flight, earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and other travel-related expenses, and make it easier to get approved for an airline credit card. In this guide, we review the aspects of Best Airline Credit Card For Domestic And International Travel, best airline credit card for fair credit, easiest airline credit card to get approved for, and how to choose an airline credit card.
In this guide, we review the aspects of Best Airline Credit Card For Domestic And International Travel, best airline credit card for fair credit, easiest airline credit card to get approved for, and how to choose an airline credit card.
As a frequent traveler, you know that there are a lot of good reasons to get an airline credit card. For one thing, they provide a ton of perks that can make your life easier and more comfortable when you’re on the road. And if you’re looking for an easy way to improve your credit score, getting approved for an airline credit card can be just what you need.
Best Airline Credit Card For Domestic And International Travel
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is not an airline-branded card, but it functions very similarly to one—and in some situations, better. In a number of common spending categories, including as dining and travel, you can earn higher points. Additionally, compared to many airlines’ frequent flyer miles, the points are more valuable and versatile.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is not an airline-branded card, but it functions very similarly to one—and in some situations, better. In a number of common spending categories, including as dining and travel, you can earn higher points. Additionally, compared to many airlines’ frequent flyer miles, the points are more valuable and versatile.
You receive 5 points for every $1 spent on all travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3 points for eligible dining purchases (including delivery and takeout), 2 points for select streaming services, and 1 point for other purchases. You do not receive points for travel booked through Target, Walmart, or wholesale clubs. When points are redeemed for travel booked through Chase, regardless of the airline or hotel, they are worth 1.25 cents each. Additionally, you may transfer them to the frequent-flier programs of a number of airlines, such as United, Southwest, JetBlue, British Airways, Air France/KLM, and Virgin Atlantic, at a 1:1 ratio. Additionally, the card offers a sizable sign-up bonus.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, a general-use travel credit card, does not provide free checked bags, priority boarding, or any other benefits typically associated with credit cards bearing an airline’s logo.
After making $4,000 in purchases during the first three months after account opening, earn 60,000 bonus points. When you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, that amounts to $700.
Take advantage of advantages like a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel-related purchases, among others.
When you use your Chase Ultimate Rewards® to book flights, lodging, rental cars, and cruises, you’ll receive 25% more value. For instance, 60,000 points are equivalent to $750 in travel.
When you use Pay Yourself BackSM, your points are worth 25% more when you use them to get statement credits for current purchases in specific, rotating categories.
You may rely on insurance for things like lost luggage, auto rental collision damage waiver, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
When you activate by December 31, 2024, you’ll receive free access to DashPass, which enables $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
on Citibank’s application
$0 intro for the first year, then $99
Between the sign-up bonus, extra miles on several kinds of purchases and cardholder perks, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® offers good value if you frequently fly American for domestic flights. It’s also not a bad choice for use abroad, because it doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.
Between the sign-up bonus, extra miles on several kinds of purchases and cardholder perks, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® offers good value if you frequently fly American for domestic flights. It’s also not a bad choice for use abroad, because it doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.
You get a free checked bag for you and up to four other people on your reservation, priority boarding on domestic flights and a discount on in-flight food and beverage purchases. When using the card, you earn 2 miles per $1 spent with American Airlines, at gas stations and at restaurants, and 1 mile per $1 spent elsewhere. There’s a sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after you spend $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. You can earn a $125 flight discount if you put $20,000 on the card in a year. And when you redeem miles, you’ll receive 10% of those miles back, up to 10,000 miles per calendar year.
When redeeming your miles for travel, you’re limited to American Airlines or other Oneworld partner airlines.
Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases
Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases
Earn a $125 American Airlines Flight Discount after you spend $20,000 or more in purchases during your card membership year and renew your card
best airline credit card for fair credit
The best travel cards for bad-to-fair credit
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for flat-rate rewards
The Capital One QuicksilverOne card gives people with fair credit the chance to earn 5 percent cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 1.5 percent cash back on general purchases. That’s an above-average flat rate that will ensure you’re getting a decent amount of cash back on every purchase. Cardholders also get to take advantage of Capital One’s travel portal, which is filled with travel features that can make booking travel easier and will be a helpful resource when trying to book travel at the best price possible.
Credit One Bank Wander Card: Best for flights and road trips
The Credit One Wander Card is one of the few unsecured travel rewards cards accessible to people with fair credit. It comes with an annual fee of $95, but that may not be a problem for frequent travelers who can earn enough in rewards to offset that fee and still come out ahead.
Cardholders earn 10X points on hotel and car rental bookings made through the Credit One Bank Travel partner, plus 5X points on all other eligible travel (including airfare), dining and gas purchases (followed by 1X points on all other purchases).
Few cards give you the freedom to earn such a high bonus rewards rate on travel without limiting you to specific airlines or hotels. This can make it easier for you to find the best prices on many types of travel, including flights, resorts and travel booked through travel agencies. That flexibility, combined with a sign-up bonus and no cap on how much you can earn, makes the Wander card easily one of the best travel credit cards available at this credit level.
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for hotels and rental cars
The Capital One Quicksilver Secured card gives people with bad credit a lot more value than many secured cards. While many cards that require a security deposit simply give you access to credit, the Quicksilver Secured card gives you the same cash back rates and many of the same benefits found with Quicksilver cards for people with good or excellent credit.
You’ll not only get a high rewards rate on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital Travel and 1.5 percent cash back on all other purchases, but also access to the Capital One Travel portal and features like price drop protection and best price guarantee.
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card: Best for customized everyday rewards
The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card is another rare secured card that offers top-notch rewards typically reserved for people with good credit. On top of earning 1 percent cash back on general purchases, you can pick one category in which you’ll earn 3 percent cash back while also earning 2 percent back on grocery and wholesale club purchases (on up to $2,500 in combined purchases in these categories each quarter, then 1 percent).
The customizable categories include travel, which covers airfare, hotels, transit, campgrounds, resorts, tourist attractions, booking agencies and more. You can even get cash back on your day trips to places like amusement parks and aquariums. That level of flexibility is a rare feature that will appeal to daytrippers and other travelers who don’t spend as much on airfare and hotels.
The Customized Cash Rewards Secured card is also a great credit-builder card as long as you can pay your balance in full each month and avoid the card’s high variable APR of 26.24 percent. It offers a credit limit as high as $5,000, which is one of the highest limits around for a credit-builder card. If you are able to take advantage of the high credit limit, you will likely have an easier time maintaining a low credit utilization ratio.
The information about the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card was last updated on Sept. 21, 2022.
Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for students and entertainment
Even college students have a chance to earn rewards while building credit with responsible card use thanks to the Capital One SavorOne Student Rewards card.
Not only is this one of the few student credit cards to offer a sign-up bonus, but its bonus is also relatively easy to earn compared to other welcome offers: You only need to spend $100 in your first three months to earn a $100 cash bonus. This will easily help cut down on the cost of travel home over the holidays. The card also comes with no foreign transaction fees, making it a great option if you plan to travel or study abroad.
Music and sports fans looking for exclusive events will also appreciate this card’s impressive 8 percent cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and Vivid Seats ticket purchases. On top of this entertainment perk, this card also offers a great rate on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and in everyday, student-friendly categories like groceries, dining and popular streaming services. You can redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards or recent purchases, including travel.
Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa: Best for emergency travel
The Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa is a credit card and personal loan hybrid with an APR of 8.99 percent to 29.99 percent. If you qualify for an APR on the low end of that range, this card could come in handy if you need to go on a sudden trip that you can’t afford to pay off right away. You can use the card to help finance emergency travel and even move money directly to your bank account to use as you like. You then pay off your charges in monthly installments at a fixed interest rate, which can minimize the total amount of interest you pay over time. As a bonus, the card earns an unlimited 1.5 percent cash back on all purchases after you pay them off.
Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard: Best for online shopping
The Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard is accessible to people with fair credit and offers an incredible amount of value and convenience if you can take advantage of the card’s best features, including its top-of-the-line grocery rewards.
You’ll earn 5 percent back on all Walmart.com purchases, including grocery pickup and delivery. If you don’t mind ordering groceries online, that’s one of the best rewards rates you can get on groceries without paying an annual fee. And since Walmart sells so many other household products and services, this is a great opportunity to build up a considerable amount of cash back you can use toward your next vacation.
The card also earns 2 percent back on in-store purchases, at restaurants, on travel and at Walmart or Murphy USA gas stations. Capital One is also one of the rare issuers that offers credit-builders access to a top-of-the-line travel portal. So when you’re done raking in your cash back rewards, you can use cost-saving features found in the Capital One Travel portal to help you make your next trip even more affordable.
Discover it Secured Credit Card: Best for gas and sign-up bonus
The Discover it Secured Credit Card gives people with bad credit a chance to earn 2 percent cash back on gas and restaurant purchases up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter (then 1 percent) and an unlimited 1 percent cash back on all other purchases. These are decent rates for a secured credit card that can provide some value for roadtrippers. But the standout feature is the card’s sign-up bonus, which matches all the rewards you earn in your first year. You’ll have to wait until the end of year one to see this bonus, but the chance to double all your first-year rewards should make the wait worth it.
Discover also has some nice credit-building features, like the ability to graduate to an unsecured card in as little as seven months based on your creditworthiness. And if you forget to make a payment and don’t have credit card autopay set up, Discover is one of the few issuers that charges no late fee the first time you are late ($41 after).
How to choose the best travel card for fair or bad credit
The best travel cards for people with fair-to-bad credit have features that can make your travel or everyday purchases more rewarding, which can help bring down the cost of your next trip. But finding the right one for you will depend on a few factors beyond how you like to travel. Follow these tips to help you compare travel cards for fair or bad credit.
How to make the most of a travel card for bad-to-fair credit
Once you have the right card for you, it pays to have a strategy in place to help you build credit and maximize the rewards you earn. Here are some steps you should take to get the best value out of your travel card.
easiest airline credit card to get approved for
What to look for in your first travel credit card
At a basic level, all travel rewards credit cards work the same way. Every time you use the credit card, you earn points or miles that you can redeem for travel, merchandise, or cash. Some cards reward points or miles based on spending in certain categories, such as booking flights or eating out. Others offer the same reward structure no matter what you spend your money on.
The first thing you should know is that travel credit cards aren’t always easy to qualify for. If your credit history is thin or you occasionally pay your statement balance late, getting approved could prove difficult. But more on that later.
Second, take the time to review each credit card’s rewards and travel partners because they don’t all offer the same perks. In other words, if you’re a loyal Marriott Bonvoy member but the card you’re eyeing partners with Hilton or Hyatt, you might want to reconsider.
Next up is your payment history. If you typically pay your statement balance in full, that’s helpful because interest charges won’t offset the value of your rewards. If you occasionally carry a balance and have good credit, you’ll want a lower APR (annual percentage rate) — just in case.
In short, you’ll need good credit, a card with the right perks, and the lowest possible interest rate in case you have to roll your balance from month to month.
Everything still sound good? Excellent! Let’s move on to the good stuff.
The 5 best starter travel credit cards
As promised, here are our top picks for the best travel credit cards for beginners:
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase built the Sapphire Preferred travel credit card for a beginner audience, and it’s easy to see why consumers like it. Cardmembers earn 5X points on Lyft rides and travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 3X points on eligible dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases; 2X points on travel; and 1X points per $1 on all other eligible purchases. “Travel” can include things like Uber and tolls.
The Sapphire Preferred also offers robust travel-specific benefits: Think a $50 annual hotel credit for stays booked through the Chase portal, purchase and extended warranty protection, and travel-related insurances not offered by other issuers at this level.
Best of all, Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders also get access to Chase’s popular Ultimate Rewards program. Chase Ultimate Rewards is your gateway to trading your points for loyalty program rewards. You can also find deals on retailer gift cards or redeem your points for cash.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One’s customers are in it for more than this card issuer’s fun ad campaigns (hello, Vikings!). The Capital One Venture Rewards takes a lot of the hassle out of rewards cards with one simple feature: redeeming rewards for statement credits.
The concept is pretty simple. Book travel with the card and, at your request, Capital One will redeem your miles and apply a statement credit. Easy! Plus, unlike other credit card rewards programs, there’s no redemption minimum. That means if you really want to trade miles to pay for your $5 airline headphone purchase, you can do it.
The fun doesn’t end there. You’ll also get 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles per dollar when you book on Turo through May 16, 2023.
If you’re thinking that Capital One must charge a hefty annual fee to give away such rich rewards, think again. You’ll pay an annual fee of just $95. You’ll also get a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry registration reimbursement — valued at $85 or $100, respectively. Already have it? Apply it toward a family member or friend’s fee instead.
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Wait a minute, you may be thinking. Didn’t I just read about the Venture card? Yes — and no. Capital One has two entries for the best beginner travel rewards cards. The VentureOne Rewards shares many of the same features with its Venture Rewards cousin, such as redeeming rewards for statement credits as well as travel and auto insurance protection. But there are two important differences that make this credit card a better choice for some applicants.
Here’s the first: The VentureOne Rewards Credit Card doesn’t have an annual fee, which is a nice perk in the rewards card space.
Another key difference is that new VentureOne Rewards cardholders get 0% intro APR on purchases during the first 15 months (then 17.99% – 27.99% (Variable) APR).
With such amazing perks, why would anyone choose the Venture Rewards? The answer is simple: the Venture Rewards gives you 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles per dollar when you book on Turo through May 16, 2023. With VentureOne Rewards, you’ll earn 1.25X miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
So, for everyday purchases, the Venture Rewards comes out on top. But if you want a $0-annual-fee and have a big upcoming purchase that you want to pay off interest-free over time, the VentureOne Rewards Card might be right for you.
American Express® Gold Card
Ok, it’s true: the American Express Gold Card does have a $250 annual fee — but keep reading. Like with Capital One, Amex cardholders get flexibility, as cardholders can also apply points to past purchases, redeem points for merchandise or gift cards, or exchange for cash. But if food is important to you — and we’re going to assume it is — the benefits are pretty amazing.
First, the basics. The American Express Gold Card is a rewards card, and cardholders can redeem points in the well-known Membership Rewards program. Not familiar with Membership Rewards? Well, for Amex cardholders, it’s the bible of points redemption catalogs. Among other benefits, Amex lets you transfer points to 21 travel partners, which include some of the world’s most prestigious airlines and hotels.
But here’s the kicker: The American Express Gold Card now offers 4X Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, after that 1X) and at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., 3X on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amextravel.com, and 1X on all other eligible purchases — so whether you dine out or get takeout, you’ll earn a nice return. You can also get up to $120 in statement credits when you dine at Amex partner restaurants that include Shake Shack and The Cheesecake Factory. This covers nearly half of the $250 annual fee. Is anyone hungry? Select benefits require enrollment.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
If you like no annual fee and still want to earn a decent return on your spending, check out the Chase Freedom Unlimited.
While the Freedom Unlimited is technically a cashback rewards card, you do earn points that can be redeemed for travel. Cardholders get a redemption value of one penny per point when they redeem through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards portal — not too great when you compare it against the Sapphire Preferred, which pays 1.25 cents per point when you redeem for travel through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal. The good news is that you can combine the points from multiple Chase cards into one Ultimate Rewards points balance, which can pay off huge.
Confused? Don’t be. Here’s how it works: Let’s say you have the Chase Freedom Unlimited and the Chase Sapphire Preferred in your wallet, and you’ve accumulated points on both. The Sapphire Preferred’s points are worth more than the Freedom Unlimited’s. But with the Ultimate Rewards portal, you can redeem the Freedom Unlimited’s points at the higher Sapphire Preferred rate.
FAQs about the best travel credit card for beginners
What’s the easiest travel card to get? To get approved for a travel rewards credit card, you’ll likely need good to excellent credit. If you’re in the market for a new card, check out our picks for the best credit cards for fair credit. Consider those options to build your credit history and credit score, and then apply for a travel rewards card down the line once your credit score falls within the good to excellent range. Which card offers the best travel rewards? Several travel rewards cards offer attractive benefits and perks for cardholders, but the best one for you depends on how often you travel, your travel preferences, and the types of benefits and perks you’re looking for. Those who are new to travel rewards may appreciate the perks and features of the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Capital One Venture. Seasoned award travelers may appreciate high-end perks that come with a higher-annual-fee card, like Priority Pass access, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credits, airline fee credits, or free checked bags. If you prefer luxury perks, The Platinum Card from American Express or the Chase Sapphire Reserve card might be worth considering. Is a travel credit card worth it? Whether a travel card is worth it for you or not depends on a few different factors, including how often you travel, your typical spending habits, and the card’s annual fee. If you’re a frequent traveler that can take advantage of all the benefits that a travel rewards card has to offer, chances are it will help offset the cost of your travel expenses and help you keep some cash in your pocket. Just make sure you do your research to find the best travel card for your wallet.
What’s the easiest travel card to get?
To get approved for a travel rewards credit card, you’ll likely need good to excellent credit. If you’re in the market for a new card, check out our picks for the best credit cards for fair credit. Consider those options to build your credit history and credit score, and then apply for a travel rewards card down the line once your credit score falls within the good to excellent range.
Which card offers the best travel rewards?
Several travel rewards cards offer attractive benefits and perks for cardholders, but the best one for you depends on how often you travel, your travel preferences, and the types of benefits and perks you’re looking for. Those who are new to travel rewards may appreciate the perks and features of the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Capital One Venture.
how to choose an airline credit card
We love credit cards in the US. You see ads for them plastered all over cities, TV, and online. Your bank likely calls and emails you with credit card offers all the time too. I can’t count how many unsolicited card offers I get in the mail — and no matter how often I say stop sending them to me, they continue like a deluge!
These days, there are HUNDREDS of travel rewards credit cards to choose from. With so many cards to choose from, it’s hard to know which ones are actually good for travel and which are not worth your time.
It can be especially confusing trying to navigate all the welcome offers, loyalty programs, perks, offers, arcane rules, and hidden fees of credit cards.
It’s so complex most people just pick the first one they see and call it a day. Or, even worse, they just give up and use a debit card instead!
Be a better and smarter traveler.
Travel credit cards are an incredible tool you can use to earn free flights, travel perks, and hotel stays — and all without spending extra money.
Sound too good to be true? Don’t worry, it’s not.
In this article, I am going to tell you how to easily pick the best credit card for travel so you can maximize your points and earn free travel — because it’s a lot easier than you think!
Quick Overview: The Best Travel Rewards Cards
Don’t want to read this entire post? Fine. I get it. Time is important! So here’s my quick list of favorites by category!
Travel credit cards offer a great opportunity to earn free points that can be redeemed for airfares, hotels, or cold hard cash. In the race to get customers, credit card issuing companies partner with various travel brands (or just simply offer their own card) that entice consumers with a welcome offer, loyalty points, special discounts, and more.
Their desire to get you, the consumer, is really your gain. By milking the system, you can get tons of free air tickets, hotel rooms, vacations, and even cash back.
I’ve accumulated close to one million points through welcome offers alone. I get so many points each year; it would take an entire book to just list them off to you.
And, as long as you can pay your credit card off each month, you’ll be able to accrue points and miles that you can redeem for free travel.
The tricky part is finding the card that works for you, your travel goals, and your budget.
So how do you pick the best travel-related credit card? Here’s how:
Step 1: Know There is No Perfect Card
The first thing you need to know is that there is no perfect travel card. Every card offers different benefits that will fit different lifestyles, budgets, and travel goals.
I use an AMEX card for booking flights (3x points per dollar spent), Chase Sapphire Reserve for my everyday spending, a different Chase card for my phone bills (5x points), and a Chase Ink for my business expenses! I have friends who only want cash back and others who only want United miles.
There is no perfect card. There is only the perfect card for YOU!
Start off by asking yourself “what is your goal?”
Are you interested in loyalty to a brand, free rewards, or avoiding fees? Do you want to milk the rewards and welcome offers to get free flights or do you just want a card that won’t charge you a fee for using it at that restaurant in Brazil?
Is elite status the most important perk for you? Do you want points you can use for anything, like cash?
If you just want points to spend wherever you choose, get the Chase or American Express cards because you can use their points with a variety of travel companies. They each have their own rewards programs (Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards), and points can be transferred to multiple airlines or hotel partners and used to book travel directly through their sites.
Just want free hotel rooms? Sign up for hotel cards.
Want points that can be used like cash? Get a Capital One Venture Card.
By first focusing on what you want, you can maximize your short-term goals and get the hang of travel hacking. For example, I tend to avoid hotel cards since I rarely stay in hotels.
I dislike Hilton and never fly United so I don’t waste time getting their points.
I don’t like cashback cards because I travel so often that points — not cashback — are more useful for me.
Using credit cards that get me airline miles or that have good transfer bonuses to airline programs is what I go for.
Find your goal and then find the cards that match your goal as well as your spending habits.
Step 2: 5 Really Important Things to Look for in a Travel Rewards Credit Card
To get the ball rolling, here’s a quick video on how to pick a credit card:
Comparing credit cards can be a little overwhelming. To help you stay focused and ensure you get the best card for you and your goals, here are the six things I look for in a new card:
1. A huge welcome offer — The best travel cards will all offer you a sizable introductory offer. You’ll need to meet a minimum spending requirement (usually within the first few months) but it will be these welcome points that jump-start your mileage account and get you closer to a free flight or hotel stay.
Sometimes these offers are even big enough to get you a few free flights right off the bat! Don’t sign up for a card unless it offers a high welcome offer.
As a general guide, welcome offers work like this: in order to receive the large introductory offer, you must make either a single purchase or meet a minimum spending threshold in a certain time frame. After that, depending on the card, you can earn 1-5x points per dollar spent.
Typical travel credit card welcome offers range between 40,000 to 60,000 points, though sometimes they can be as high as 100,000. That’s why cards are so great—you get an instant balance of thousands of points for very little work.
If you’re not sure you’ll be able to make the minimum threshold for the welcome offer, ask around to see if any friends or family are planning a large purchase. If they’ll let you put it on your card (and then pay you with cash) you can easily meet the minimum spend threshold to earn your welcome points.
2. Added category spending bonus — Most credit cards offer one point for every dollar spent. However, good credit cards will give you extra points when you shop at specific retailers, or, if it is a branded credit card, with a particular brand. This will help you earn points much more quickly.
I don’t want one dollar to equal just one point. I want the ability to get two or three points every time I spend a dollar.
For example, with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card you get 3x points for and dining at restaurants, the Chase Ink gives you 5x points for office spending, and the American Express Premier Rewards Gold card 3x points on airfare. I can get added points when I use a company card to book with the company (i.e. Delta flights with a Delta card).
That’s what you want. Never accept one point per dollar spent. Look for at least two. (Some cards even off up to 6 points per dollar spent.)
Otherwise, it will take way too long to accumulate enough points for free travel.
3. Low spending minimum — Unfortunately, in order to get the great bonuses these cards offer, there is usually a required spending minimum. While there are ways to temporarily boost your spending, it’s best to be able to get the bonus using normal day-to-day spending. I typically sign up for cards with a minimum spending requirement of $1,000–3,000 USD in a three- to six-month period.
Some cards only require you to make a single purchase to activate the welcome offer (these are my favorite type of welcome offers).
While you shouldn’t necessarily avoid high-minimum spending cards as they have substantial rewards, it’s a good idea to start small because you don’t want to get stuck with so many cards that you can’t meet the minimum spends. Once you get the card, you can’t reapply for the card. Only apply for cards that you can meet the minimum spend on to qualify for the welcome bonus.
Managing your ability to meet the minimum spending requirements is key because if you are spending more money than you usually do just to get these points, the points are no longer free. Only spend what you normally would and not a penny more.
If you’re looking for ways to meet your minimum spending requirements, there are plenty of creative ways to become a master travel hacker. Check out my guide for clever ways.
4. Have special travel perks – All of these travel credit cards offer great perks. Many will give you a special elite loyalty status or other extra perks. Here are the perks I prioritize:
Travel hacking is not just about just getting points and miles, it’s about what else comes with the card that makes my life easier!
5. Low annual fees – No one likes paying annual fees for credit cards. Many of the fees for company branded credit cards range from $50-$95 per year. For those who travel a lot and fly a lot, I think it is worth it to get a card with a fee.