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9 Best Travel Credit Card Options 2020

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9 Best Travel Credit Card Options

By Carla Stuart | Filed Under: Bank Info, Credit Cards

best travel credit cards

The best travel credit card options of 2018 are designed to help maximize your travel, and hopefully help you earn the most rewards, so you can keep traveling. Whether you travel for business or pleasure, most of these credit cards can help you earn miles toward your next flight or hotel stay.

Many credit card providers may also try to tempt you with large sign-on bonuses or waiving fees, but it’s important to know what to look for before you decide to apply for a new credit card in order to think about how much the card may cost you. If you pay your balance off each month when you receive the bill, you may have different concerns than if you let the balance roll over to the next month.

We have everything you need to determine which travel card is best for you. Explore our buyer’s guide to find out what features you should be on the lookout for, based on your needs and check out our list of the 9 best travel credit card options available today.

Travel Credit Card Buyer’s Guide

best travel credit card: man paying for his food using a credit card

Paying off your credit card balance should be at the forefront of your thoughts when you choose the right card for you, so consider the interest rates and annual fees you may need to pay.

You may also need to consider your credit score, as some cards are only available to those with excellent credit. The cards with the best reward deals are typically reserved for credit scores above 740.

Here are some of the most important factors you should consider before choosing your travel credit card, based on your needs:

​Rewards

​​Intro Bonus

​​Annual Fees

​​Regular APR

​​International use

​​Travel protection

​How to Make the Most of Your Card

To make the most of your travel credit card and maximize your rewards, use the following tips:

  • ​If your card has an online bonus mall, you can receive extra rewards by shopping for your essentials there

  • ​Plan to sign up for your credit card around the time you plan to make a big purchase in order to earn a sign-up bonus

  • ​If your card has a bonus reward on dining, pick up the check whenever you can to receive more bonus rewards. Your friends can return the favor another time

  • ​Redeem your rewards for more travel purposes rather than in perks like merchandise or gift cards, or the most common option, cash back rewards

  • ​Sign up for a loyalty program that’s associated with your cards, such as a frequent guest or frequent flyer reward

  • ​Look out for hidden caps on how much you can spend before you receive the same cash-back reward. You may only receive 3% cashback up to a certain dollar amount of gas purchases, for example.

​Top 9 Best Travel Credit Cards

Here are our picks for the best travel credit card options of 2018, based on the rewards and fees associated with frequent travelers.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

best travel credit card: chase sapphire credit card

Voted the best card for travel redemptions the best card for travel redemptions like airline miles, this travel card comes with a large bonus that people love. Receive a sign-up bonus of 50,000 reward points, which is worth around $625 in travel redemptions, when you spend your first $4,000 during the first three months after you open your account.

People who don’t commonly fly the same airline or stay at a specific hotel love the flexibility of their Chase card, and you can receive rewards on every purchase you make. The rewards never expire either.

With an annual fee is $95, waived for the first year. You can also earn two points per dollar on travel purchases, which transfer to 13 different partners like Southwest airlines and Marriot. Plus, there are no blackout dates or restrictions on where you can travel.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card

best travel credit card: Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card

With Bank of America’s Travel Rewards card, you can use your card to book anywhere you want, with no blackout dates or website restrictions. You earn 1.5 points for every $1 you spend, with no annual fees or foreign transaction fees. Your points will never expire, and they can even be used to pay for flights, hotels, cruises, rental cars, baggage fees, or vacation packages. However, you may need good to excellent credit to apply.

Receive 0% APR for the first year, then a regular APR of 16.74 – 24.74% after. For a limited time, you can also earn 25,000 online bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases during the first 90 days of opening your account, which could amount in $250 toward travel costs.

Even better, you can earn more benefits. If you have a Bank of America checking or savings account, you can earn an additional 10% bonus on every purchase. And if you’re also a preferred rewards holder, you can boost the bonus in between 25 and 75%.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

best travel credit card: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Named one of the all-time best travel credit cards this year by CNBC​, Capital One Venture allows you to fly any airline and stay at any hotel, anytime you want. The mile rewards you earn will never expire, and there are no foreign transaction fees if your travel abroad.

This card comes with awesome travel rewards and no annual fee, which makes it perfect for those with good to excellent credit score ratings. If your credit is between 670 and 850, you could sign up to receive a 50,000-mile intro bonus once you spend your first $3,000 within the first three months and a waived annual fee for the first year.

After your card’s newness wears off, you will pay a $95 annual fee with an APR around 14.74 – 24.74%. The rewards you earn will 10x your miles on thousands of different hotel options, which you can find at hotels.com/venture. You’ll also receive double your miles on every purchase you make, no matter what day or item you use your card on.

Uber Visa Card

best travel credit card: Uber Visa Card

With no annual fees, this newer card option offers great travel bonuses. Receive points per every dollar you spend on restaurants, bars, Uber Eats, hotels, vacation home rentals, airfare, online purchases, online shopping, music, and even Uber rides.

If you spend $500 within the first 90 days, they’ll even give you $100 bonus. You’ll also receive an added $50 subscription credit you can use for online subscription services after spending $5,000 on your card every year and up to a $600 bonus used toward mobile phone damage of theft if you pay your phone bill with your card.

The only catch is that the APR is a bit high, at 16.74 – 25.49%, depending on your credit.

The Platinum Card from American Express

best travel credit card: The Platinum Card from American Express

Travelers who love rewards pick this card for the airline fee credits and worldwide lounge access while they wait for flights. You could earn $200 for Uber rides each year, 5x the points on flights booked with airlines and on eligible hotels booked on amextravel.com​, complimentary benefits with hotels, and a $200 airline fee credit used for baggage fees at qualifying airlines.

The annual fee, however, is $550, so you’ll need to make sure to use the card enough. You’ll need good to excellent credit as well for this high-end card. Travel in style and receive perks at hotels like concierge service, but for this high fee, make sure you travel often.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

best travel credit card: Chase Sapphire Reserve

Like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve is still great for travel rewards. However, this card comes with an annual travel credit for those who enjoy traveling often. With an annual fee of $450, you can earn back nearly $300 in annual travel credits alone.

Earn 50,000 reward points when you spend $4,000 in the first three months after signing up, and earn 3x points on travel, 2x points on restaurants, and a point on everything else you spend money on. There are no foreign transaction fees, and you may even earn trip cancellation coverage or car rental insurance perks. The amount of bonus goes on, making up for the high annual fee.

Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

best travel credit card: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

The Ink Business card helps you earn the maximum value for every penny you spend traveling, and new cardholder receive huge perks. When you sign up, you could earn 80,000 bonus points on the first $5,000 you spend within three months, and other typical Chase Ultimate Reward perks like three points per dollar on travel, shipping and advertising fees on social media, or telecommunications fees.

Even better, points can be transferred to partners like United, Marriott, Southwest, or Hyatt. You’ll need good credit to apply, and APR rates land around 17.74 – 22.74%.

United Explorer Card

best travel credit card: United Explorer Card

If you fly with United often, a loyalty credit card with an airline like this comes with cardholder perks. You could earn 40,000 bonus miles if you spend $2,000 within the first three months and pay no annual fee for the first Year (only $95 afterward). Plus, you get two miles per dollar you spend on restaurants and hotels as well as United flights.

The APR is a bit higher, at 17.74 – 24.74%. Again, this depends on how good your credit score is. However, with free checked luggage and low fees, you could save money on flights, land a spot in the United Club airport lounge, and earn free rental car insurance.

Holton Honors American Express Ascend Card

best travel credit card: Holton Honors American Express Ascend Card

This card is perfect if you’re looking for rewards with a great hotel and a large sign-up bonus. Staying at Hilton hotels often could earn you 14 points per dollar, plus seven points on flights booked on amextravel.com​ and car rentals from select companies, rewards on restaurants, and at least three points per dollar on every other purchase you make.

You could earn fee weekend night stays if you spend $60,000 in a year as well as a slew of Hilton resort bonuses. The annual fee is $450, but with all the perks when you stay at Hilton, you won’t have to spend as much on fees and airport luggage. Plus, it even comes with a priority pass for airport lounge membership and no foreign transaction fees.

How We Choose Our Ratings

Honestly and integrity are important to us, so we take the time to create accurate buyer’s guides and best-of lists. To find all the facts, we scour the internet to find the best travel credit card options available on the market today. We research the rewards and fees, read real user reviews, and see what the masses have to say before making a valid suggestion.

Our goal is to help you find the best travel credit card options available for you, so we indicate which card is best for which type of traveler. The information we provide is all available online, and we create our list based on the information provided. 

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11 Best Airline Credit Card Brands of the Year

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11 Best Airline Credit Card Brands of the Year

By Carla Stuart | Filed Under: Credit Cards, Reviews

Quick Navigation

Product FAQ
How We Reviewed
Overall Price Range of Airline Credit Cards
What We Reviewed
Citi/AAdvantage Platinum World Elite Mastercard
Delta SkyMiles Credit Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
United Explorer Card
Business Platinum Card from American Express
Hilton Honors Aspire Card
American Express Gold Card
JetBlue Plus Card
The Verdict

As you search for the best airline credit card for you, it is essential to consider your priorities and how they fit in with the most common rewards programs offered by credit card companies.

Individuals can find cards that reward them for using their particular card at gas stations, restaurants and grocery stores, while providing access to perks with airlines like free bags or preferred boarding.

Businesses can secure sufficient flexibility to meet their employees’ travel needs by choosing one of the business cards we reviewed that provides customers with access to a network of airlines as opposed to just one.

Product FAQ

​1. What Type of Rewards Can I Expect from the Best Airline Credit Card?

​2. What Does the Best Airline Credit Card Cost?

​3. How Do Business Cards Differ from Personal Cards?

​4. What Restrictions Come with the Best Airline Credit Card?

How We Reviewed

people in a meeting

We reviewed several authoritative sources with extensive information on credit card rewards, terms and fees. We reviewed cards for businesses and individuals with an appreciation for the differing needs of individual customers and businesses that rely on travel to generate income.

To determine the best airline credit card, we assessed each product on our list in regard to its features, benefits, drawbacks, the annual fee and more in order to provide you with a summary of the top 10 best airline credit cards out there.

Overall Price Range of Airline Credit Cards

Costs in annual fees can be as low as $75 annually and fees are frequently waived in your first year as a cardholder.

The more expensive fees are generally associated with business cards. In this category, annual fees are typically around $300 with a maximum of $450.

Interest rates on all the cards we reviewed fell between 17% and 28%.

What We Reviewed

  • ​Citi/AAdvantage Platinum World Elite Mastercard

  • ​Delta SkyMiles Credit Card

  • ​Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

  • ​United Explorer Card

  • ​Business Platinum Card from American Express

  • ​Hilton Honors Aspire Card

  • ​American Express Gold Card

  • ​JetBlue Plus Card

  • ​Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Card

  • ​Capital One Spark Miles for Business

  • ​Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card

Card

Interest Rate

​Where to Signup

best airline credit card

Citi/AAdvantage Platinum World Elite Mastercard

The interest rate for this card can be anywhere between 18% and 26%, depending on your credit rating. The annual fee is waived for the first year and then is $100 every year thereafter.
​Click to Sign Up

best airline credit card

Delta SkyMiles Credit Card

Interest rates on SkyMiles cards range from 18% to 27%. Blue cardholders pay no annual fee, gold cardholders pay $95 annually after the first year and platinum cardholders pay $195 every year.
​Click to Sign Up

best airline credit card

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

The annual fee of $95 for this card is waived for first-year cardholders. The Sapphire card has a variable interest rate between 18% and 25%.
​Click to Sign Up

best airline credit card

United Explorer Card

Like other the preceding cards, United waives the $95 fee for the first year and levies a 18%-25% interest rate.
​Click to Sign Up

best airline credit card

Business Platinum Card from American Express

American Express charges $450 annually and comes with a 20.24% interest rate.
​Click to Sign Up

best airline credit card

Hilton Honors Aspire Card

Hilton charges a $450 annual fee and interest rates range from 18% to 27%.
​Click to Sign Up

best airline credit card

American Express Gold Card

American Express charges an annual fee of $250 for its Gold Card and charges 20.24% interest.
​Click to Sign Up

best airline credit card

JetBlue Plus Card

JetBlue Plus cardholders pay $99 every year and may qualify for a 18%, 22% or 27% interest rate depending on their credit worthiness.
​Click to Sign Up

best airline credit card

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Card

Southwest charges an annual fee of $99 and a variable interest rate between 18% and 25%.
​Click to Sign Up

best airline credit card

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Capital One waives the $95 annual fee for the first year and charges a variable interest rate around 19%.
​Click to Sign Up

best airline credit card

Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card

​Alaska Airlines charges an annual fee of $75 and a variable interest rate between 17% and 25%.
​Click to Sign Up

Citi/AAdvantage Platinum World Elite Mastercard

Citi/AAdvantage Platinum World Elite Mastercard

Features

If you have the credit worthiness to qualify for a Citi/AAdvantage Platinum World Elite Mastercard, you can earn miles on American Airlines flights and certain approved purchases at restaurants and gas stations. After an initial sign-up bonus of up to 50,000 bonus miles, you can earn another 40,000 bonus miles if you spend $2,000 within the first three months and an additional 10,000 bonus miles if you spend $6,000 within the first year.

After the first year, the miles incentives phase out, but you are still eligible for a $100 discount on American Airlines flights, along with free checked bags, priority boarding and discounted in-flight purchases after you spend a total of $20,000.

Interest Rate/Annual Fee

The interest rate for this card can be anywhere between 18% and 26%, depending on your credit rating. The annual fee is waived for the first year and then is $100 every year thereafter.

PROS 

  • No foreign transaction fees

  • Awards miles for fuel purchases

  • Relatively low annual fee

 ​CONS

  • Not an option for customers with sub-par credit

  • Relatively high APR

Where to Sign Up

Delta SkyMiles Credit Card

Delta SkyMiles Credit Card

Features

Delta offers three different iterations of its SkyMiles credit card for consumers with different levels of credit worthiness. If you qualify for the blue card, you can earn points whenever you purchase Delta flights, dine at a restaurant in the U.S. or make everyday purchases.

Besides these benefits, gold and platinum cardholders also are eligible for priority boarding, free checked bags and bonus miles incentives at certain spending milestones.

Interest Rate/Annual Fee

Interest rates on SkyMiles cards range from 18% to 27%. Blue cardholders pay no annual fee, gold cardholders pay $95 annually after the first year and platinum cardholders pay $195 every year.

PROS 

  • ​Incentives for everyday purchases

  • ​No cap on the miles you can earn

  • ​No foreign transaction fees

 ​CONS

  • ​Not an option for customers with sub-par credit

Where to Sign Up

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Features

The Chase Preferred Card sets itself apart from similar products because it is the best airline credit card for use with multiple airlines. Chase’s network of travel partners includes Air France, British Airways, JetBlue, Southwest and other airlines with flights to and from every major airport in the world.

If you have a solid enough credit score to qualify for the Sapphire card, you can earn points and transfer their value to flights with any of Chase’s partners at a 1:1 rate.

Chase Sapphire cardholders earn points on travel and dining at a generous rate and on other purchases at a less attractive rate. You can earn 50,000 points — worth about $600 — if you spend $4,000 on the card in your first three months.

Aside from points-based incentives, cardholders have access to no-fee cancellation, interruption insurance and incentives on rental cars.

Interest Rate/Annual Fee

The annual fee of $95 for this card is waived for first-year cardholders. The Sapphire card has a variable interest rate between 18% and 25%.

PROS 

  • ​Works with multiple airlines

  • ​Awards points on travel and dining

 ​CONS

  • ​Relatively high APR

  • ​Not available for consumers with sub-par credit

Where to Sign Up

United Explorer Card

United Explorer Card

Features

If you are seeking rewards for loyalty spending with a specific airline, the United Explorer card is the best airline credit card option for you. Incentives on spending for United flights, dining and other purchases are in-line with what similar products offer cardholders. Like other airline cards, you will only qualify if you have excellent credit.

The 40,000-mile sign-up bonus kicks in when you spend $2,000 in the first three months. Other benefits include spending rewards at hotels and restaurants, boarding privileges and TSA Pre-check credits.

Interest Rate/Annual Fee

Like other the preceding cards, United waives the $95 fee for the first year and levies a 18%-25% interest rate.

PROS 

  • ​Rewards customer loyalty

  • ​Offers points on hotel purchases

 ​CONS

  • ​High APR

  • ​Requires excellent credit

Where to Sign Up

Business Platinum Card from American Express

Business Platinum Card From American Express

Features

For business cards with an airline fee, the Business Platinum card from American Express is one of the best airline credit cards. Business owners with myriad expenses who need to reduce their flight costs would be wise to use the Business Platinum card because American Express rewards all sorts of spending with points towards flights. The card comes with perks that expedite airport logistics and facilitate mobile productivity for busy people.

Interest Rate/Annual Fee

American Express charges $450 annually and comes with a 20.24% interest rate.

PROS 

  • ​Fixed interest rate

  • ​No foreign transaction fees

  • ​Large welcome offer

 ​CONS

  • ​High annual fee

  • ​Membership rewards points have an annual cap

Where to Sign Up

Hilton Honors Aspire Card

Hilton Honors Aspire Card

Features

In addition to benefits common among similar products on spending, Honors Aspire cardholders receive rewards when they stay at any hotel owned and operated by Hilton. Concurrent rewards for travel and hotel purchases makes this a best airline credit card for frequent business travelers. The annual fee is fairly high but cardholders earn a free weekend night at a Hilton hotel and airline credit on any two-night stay thereafter.

Interest Rate/Annual Fee

Hilton charges a $450 annual fee and interest rates range from 18% to 27%.

PROS 

  • ​Integrated flight and hotel benefits

  • ​Access to many airlines

 ​CONS

  • ​Variable interest rate

  • ​High annual fee

Where to Sign Up

American Express Gold Card

American Express Gold Card

Features

Cardholders with an American Express Gold Card can earn points on purchases at restaurants, supermarkets and airlines on up to $25,000 in annual spending. The 25,000-point introductory bonus kicks in after cardholders have spent $2,000 in the first three months. This is the best airline credit card for consumers who prioritize flexible benefits, especially for rental cars and travel insurance.

Interest Rate/Annual Fee

American Express charges an annual fee of $250 for its Gold Card and charges 20.24% interest.

PROS 

  • ​Awards points for buying groceries

  • ​Works with all airlines in American Express’ network

  • ​Fixed interest rate

 ​CONS

  • ​High annual fee

Where to Sign Up

JetBlue Plus Card

JetBlue Plus Card

Features

Cardholders receive various levels of points for purchases of JetBlue flights, spending at restaurants and grocery stores, and smaller earnings on other purchases. When new cardholders spend $1,000 in their first three months, they receive a bonus of 40,000 points. Ancillary benefits include in-flight discounts, free checked bags and an annual 5,000-point renewal bonus.

Interest Rate/Annual Fee

JetBlue Plus cardholders pay $99 every year and may qualify for a 18%, 22% or 27% interest rate depending on their credit worthiness.

PROS 

  • ​Annual renewal incentives

  • ​High-earning rewards

  • ​No foreign transaction fees

 ​CONS

  • ​Potentially high APR

  • ​No annual fee waivers

Where to Sign Up

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Card

Features

Rewards earned from the Rapid Rewards Premier Business card are only available on purchases of flights with Southwest and spending at qualified hotels and car rental agencies. This model works best for businesses whose employees are traveling and staying in cities around the country regularly. If these are your most onerous business expenses, this is the best airline credit card to get. It has a healthy sign-up bonus and annual renewal incentives.

Interest Rate/Annual Fee

Southwest charges an annual fee of $99 and a variable interest rate between 18% and 25%.

PROS 

  • ​Low annual fee for a business card

  • ​Large sign-up bonus

  • ​Offers annual bonus miles

 ​CONS

  • ​Variable interest rate

  • ​Limited rewards spending

Where to Sign Up

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Features

Capital One’s Spark Miles for Business card is the best airline credit card for businesses in the market for a flat-rate business card. The card works with any flight on any airline with basically no restrictions so flexibility is at a maximum.

Cardholders earn an introductory bonus of 50,000 miles after spending $4,500 within the first three months. Additional benefits are limited. Cardholders earn points on flight purchases, but not on other spending.

Interest Rate/Annual Fee

Capital One waives the $95 annual fee for the first year and charges a variable interest rate around 19%.

PROS 

  • ​No restrictions on flight dates

  • ​Works with any airline

  • ​Relatively low APR

 ​CONS

  • ​Variable interest rate

  • ​Benefits are limited

Where to Sign Up

Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card

Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card

Features

The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card offers limited rewards for spending and in-flight perks consistent with similar products. What sets this card apart from its competitors is the companion fare incentive. As an introductory bonus, cardholders can purchase one Alaska Airlines ticket and receive a second for just the cost of the taxes and fees. Cardholders receive this same companion offer every year they renew.

Interest Rate/Annual Fee

Alaska Airlines charges an annual fee of $75 and a variable interest rate between 17% and 25%.

PROS 

  • ​Companion fare incentives

  • ​Low annual fee

 ​CONS

  • ​Limited rewards on spending

  • ​Variable APR

Where to Sign Up

The Verdict

First and foremost, if you travel with one particular airline frequently, your best option is to get a card affiliated with that airline to secure cumulative rewards. The best options our review found for a situation like this were the United, Delta SkyMiles and JetBlue cards.

For individuals without a preferred airline, the American Express Gold Card provides unrivaled access to rewards on flights with almost any airline.

And, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers a similar benefit to businesses, making it the best airline credit card for private entities.

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About Us

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About Us

Thank you for visiting our website. If you are interested to know more about online banking, but don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place. We hope you’ll find the information we provide on the website useful. This page will give you more information about who we are and what we have to offer.

What Is Online Banking 101 and Who Is It for?

Online Banking 101 was designed for anyone who’s interested in what online banking service providers have to offer. This site aims to reach all kinds of users, especially those who may not be familiar with the specialized terms used in the field. We know there are hundreds of options to choose from. Online banking providers tend to use a professional jargon on their websites that might not always be clear for non-expert users. Our website takes this information and delivers it back to you in a more user-friendly format.

Our Mission

Our main focus is to provide you with informative and relevant content regarding online banking. No matter how unfamiliar you may be with the field, you can make an informed decision when choosing a bank. We attempt to maintain a high level of objectivity when writing our reviews, so you can be sure you are reading an honest opinion. To complement the online banking login section, we’ve also created numerous guides to make it easier for you to access the services provided by these banks, ranging from money transfer guides and useful bank info to credit card option reviews.

About the Team Behind Online Banking 101

Our team might not be very large, but what we lack in numbers we make up for with our collective experience and passion for all things related to finances. All our team members are currently working in the field and know all too well how difficult it can be for someone to navigate it.

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