best travel rewards credit card australia

Personal Loans

Business Loans

Credit Cards

Best Frequent Flyer Credit Cards

• Compare the best frequent flyer credit cards for earning points.
• Up to 150,000 bonus frequent flyer points available.

Featured offer: American Express Qantas Ultimate Card

Earn up to 90,000 bonus Qantas Points. That's 70,000 points when you apply online by 3 Sept 2024, are approved, and spend $3k on eligible purchases in the first 3 months. Plus, an extra 20,000 points in your 2nd year upon annual fee renewal ($450). T&Cs apply, new members only.

Best frequent flyer credit cards for earning points

The table below shows credit cards that earn either qantas or velocity frequent flyer points. by ‘best’ cards we mean the cards with the highest earn rate on everyday spending. that’s how the table is ordered, but you should also consider other aspects of the cards (e.g. rates and fees) when deciding which frequent flyer is best for you..

Info correct as at 3 June 2024. Table is ordered by highest point per $ spent, then lowest annual fee, then lowest purchase rate. Check with the provider for full card details, including fees, limits, terms and conditions to make sure the card is right for you. While this is an extensive list of the top frequent flyer point-earning credit cards available, we can't guarantee that all cards available in the market are shown. *After a total of 100,000 Qantas Points is earned in a calendar year, the everyday earn rate will change from 1.25 to 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent. For Card Members who applied for the Card between 1 July 2023 – 9 January 2024, this change will come into effect from 10 July 2024.

Featured offer: American Express Velocity Platinum Card

Get 60,000 bonus Velocity points when you apply online through this page by 26 June 2024, are approved, and spend $3k on eligible purchases on your new card in the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. New Card Members only.

In our frequent flyer credit cards guide:

How do frequent flyer credit cards work?

Qantas vs Velocity: which is best?

10 ways to get the most from your frequent flyer credit card points

How to qualify and apply for a frequent flyer credit card

What can I redeem frequent flyer credit card points for?

How to choose a frequent flyer credit card

Frequent flyer credit card fees

Are frequent flyer credit cards worth it?

A frequent flyer credit card is a type of credit card that allows the cardholder to earn points on eligible purchases and redeem them with the airline frequent flyer program linked to the card.

They’re essentially a rewards credit card but with perks tailored to cardholders who travel frequently.

Cardholders need to be a member of an airline’s reward program, and points can be redeemed for a variety of rewards. Not just travel-related ones.

How to boost your frequent flyer points

Consider frequent flyer cards with bonus sign up points

Look for cards with high point earn rates

Match your card to your travel & spending habits

Avoid costly interest charges and fees

Most airline frequent flyer programs partner with other product and service providers, meaning you can redeem your frequent flyer points for more or less anything .

That said, it’s often the case that frequent flyer points go further when used on flights or upgrades.

Here are some of the more common perks you can use your frequent flyer points on:

• Flight bookings and upgrades
• Hotels and other accommodation
• Shopping and gift cards
• Restaurants, food and wine
• Insurance premiums
• Fuel and other car expenses

Other benefits of frequent flyer credit cards

As with many other credit cards, frequent flyer cards and other credit cards for travellers will often include a number of other perks which may directly benefit frequent travellers, including:

• Airport lounge access (e.g. two passes per year)
• Complimentary travel insurance
• Car rental insurance
• Flight inconvenience insurance
• Travel vouchers
• Discounts with partner travel providers (e.g. hotels and car hire companies) Discounted international transaction fees

The features and perks will vary between card issuers, so check to see which perks are included when comparing frequent flyer credit cards.

Frequent flyer programs in Australia: Qantas vs Velocity

Qantas frequent flyer, cost to join.

• The standard joining fee is $99.50 AUD , buy there are a number of ways you can become a member without paying a separate joining fee (e.g. though eligible frequent flyer credit cards)

Ways to earn points

• Eligible purchase on a Qantas frequent flyer credit card
• Booking flights with Qantas, Jetstar or another partner airline
• Booking accommodation or car rental with a partner providers
• Taking out insurance through Qantas or a banking product (e.g. Qantas home loan )
• Shopping with a partner retailer

Notable partner brands

• Adairs, Apple, BP Rewards, Country Road, David Jones, Microsoft, Myer, Optus, Red Energy, The Iconic, Woolworths (everyday rewards).

Ways to redeem points

• Flights, accommodation, gift cards, shopping (more or less anything that earns you points can also be a way to redeem them)

Partner airlines include

• Air France, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, Bangkok Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Emirates, Fiji Airways, Finnair, IndiGo, Japan Airlines, Jetstar , KLM, SriLankan Airlines, WestJet

Do points expire?

• Yes, 18-months after your last eligible activity.

Can I transfer points?

• Yes, a minimum of 5,000 and a max of 600,000 points in a 12-month period to an eligible family member who is also a Qantas Frequent Flyer member.

Velocity (Virgin)

• Eligible purchase on a Velocity frequent flyer credit card
• Booking flights with Virgin or another partner airline
• Taking out a banking or insurance product through a partner provider (e.g. Medibank)
• 7-Eleven, Apple, Chemist Warehouse, CommBank, Country Road, David Jones, Ebay, Flybuys, Myer, The Good Guys, The Iconic.
• Virgin Australia, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Singapore Airlines, Etihad Airways, Hong Kong Airlines, Air Canada, Qatar Airways, Hainan Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, FlyPelican, South African Airways, Tianjin Airlines, Capital Airlines, Link Airways
• Yes, after 24 months of account inactivity.
• Yes, you can transfer between 5,000 and 125,00 points to an eligible family member (who is also a Velocity frequent flyer member) up to four times each year.

Expert frequent flyer credit card tip

For a frequent flyer card to be worth your while, you really need to watch the fees. Westpac recently increased theirs and Commbank has changed to a monthly fee model. Commbank also reduced the number of cards it offers – now just six options – and the fees on these can be high unless you spend enough to qualify to have the fee waived. In better news for Commbank frequent flyers, the international FX fee on purchases is waived on some cards (usually 3%).

Brad Kelly , Money.com.au's credit card expert

How to choose the best frequent flyer credit card

There’s more to comparing frequent flyer credit cards than there is when shopping for low rate credit cards or among credit cards with no annual fee . Below are some of the other main factors you may want to take into account. Note the main factors vary slightly if you're shopping for a business credit card .

Interest rate and fees

This is a very good place to start. There’s not much point having a frequent flyer credit card packed with perks and features if they’re going to be cancelled out by high high interest rates (purchase rate and cash advance rate), and fees.

As a reference point, the latest credit card data shows the average interest rate is 17.92% p.a. and the average annual fee is $135.

If you manage to find an interest-free credit card offering rewards or you’re confident you have the discipline to pay off the entire balance within the card’s interest-free days , the fees will likely be your main cost.

I’ve explained these in more detail later on. Spoiler alert, fees on some frequent flyer card fees can be very high and are only really worth it if you're raking in points and using all of the other benefits (like lounge passes).

Your income and spending habits

Some frequent flyer credit cards have a minimum annual income built into the eligibility criteria. Others will only be worth the high annual card fee if you are spending a lot.

If that’s the case, it’s important to factor in whether your income and other financial commitments mean you can comfortably support that level of spending.

If you think you'll need to spend more than you usually would to get the most from the credit card, seriously consider whether it's right for you.

How often you travel

This will come as no surprise, but frequent flyer credit cards generally offer more benefits and overall value to people who travel a lot.

Think credit cards with travel insurance , lounge passes, travel vouchers, hotel discounts.

If you’re not going to make the most of these perks, a different type of card may be a better fit.

Points, points, points

It’s tempting to just look at the amount of bonus points you get when you sign up and how many points you earn per dollar spent using the card.

These are certainly well worth considering, but you should also consider the fine print on your frequent flyer points:

• Is there a cap on how many points you can earn per year?
• Which purchases are eligible to earn points?
• What kind of spending won't earn you any points? (e.g. paying certain bills, gambling)
• Do the points expire?
• Where and how can you use them? Or can they be converted to cashback ?
• Take advantage of frequent flyer credit cards with bonus sign up offers (assuming the credit card is good value and a suitable match for you overall).
• Look for cards with the highest point earn rates .
• Understand which purchases will earn you the most points and which ones aren’t eligible.
• Match the card to your spending habits . If you only travel occasionally, a general rewards card may be more suitable.
• Use your card for everyday purchases to earn more points, but only if you can afford to repay the card balance in full every month.
• Earn bonus points : Some frequent flyer programs allow you to earn points by hitting non-financial targets, like walking a certain number of steps per day.
• Pool points with family : Both Qantas and Velocity allow point transfers between eligible family members.
• Redeem your points wisely: Look for the rewards perks that will get you most bang for your points (but above all else, make sure you actually use them)
• Share the card with your partner . Most credit cards allow additional cardholders. If two people are using the card, you'll likely earn more frequent flyer points (again watch for overspending).
• Offer to pay for split expenses and have your friends, family or roommates etc. send you the money.

The fees on your frequent flyer credit card will play a major part in dictating whether the card will cost you or save you money overall. Here are the main fees to consider:

• Annual fee (can range from $0 to $700 depending on the card)
• Foreign currency conversion fee, usually up to 3% but there are credit cards with no international fees
• Over limit fee, charged if your balance exceeds its limit
• Late payment fee
• Cash advance fee, charged when making a cash withdrawal or buying foreign currency
• Replacement/additional card fee
• Balance transfer fee if you move the balance of an existing credit card to your frequent flyer card

Who can qualify for a frequent flyer credit card?

To qualify for a frequent flyer credit card you must meet the following qualifying criteria:

• Over 18 years of age
• Australian citizen or permanent resident
• Have a good credit score
• Minimum income (varies between lenders and cards)
• A member of a relevant frequent flyer program e.g Qantas Frequent Flyer or Virgin Velocity Flyer.

Qualifying criteria will vary between lenders and cards. Make sure you’re eligible for the frequent flyer credit card you have your eye on before applying. A declined application could damage your credit score .

How to apply for a frequent flyer credit card

You can apply for a frequent flyer credit card online, over the phone, or at your bank.

When applying for a credit card , you will need to provide the card issuer with supporting documentation so they can assess your application and ability to meet repayments. This will likely include:

• Valid ID, such as a driver licence or passport
• Employment details, including your employment status, salary information, and payslips to verify your income
• Details of your assets, such as your home and motor vehicle
• Details of your current expenses and other loans you may have

If you are self-employed, you will need to provide previous tax assessments instead of payslips. You may also for financial information provided by your accountant.

Is getting a frequent flyer credit card worth it?

Frequent flyer credit cards can be beneficial for the right person. But for you to get good value, you’ll need to make sure you find the best frequent flyer credit card for YOUR situation . You’ll also need to make the most of the perks being offered .

If you just need a credit card as a backup or for emergencies, a frequent flyer card will be an expensive way of going about it.

But if you are the type of person who travels a lot, likes to track points and work towards an indulgent treat every so often (while also having the discipline to pay off the balance of your credit card in full every month) a frequent flyer credit card could be worth considering.

One simple way to determine whether a frequent flyer credit card may be suitable for you is to:

• Calculate how much you spend each year
• Calculate how many points that will earn you
• Calculate the associated value of these points
• Compare the value of your points with the fees included with the card

Frequent flyer credit card FAQ

What is the maximum credit limit on a frequent flyer credit card.

Frequent flyer credit cards generally have a minimum credit limit of $500, and a maximum credit limit of $100,000. The amount of credit that you can access from a lender is determined by your:

• Credit score
• Overall financial health

The minimum and maximum limits for a frequent flyer card will vary between card issuers and cards. For example, a premium credit card may have a minimum limit of $15,000, while a basic frequent flyer credit card may have a limit of $3,000.

Which airlines can I use a frequent flyer credit card with?

There are two main frequent flyer programs you can join in Australia (Qantas and Velocity), plus a host of international ones. The most important factor when choosing an airline is to understand their partner airlines, and how you can use your points. For example, both Qantas and Virgin partner with a range of different airlines globally. Look at the airlines and consider which ones you're most likely to use.

If you would like flexibility, American Express credit card points can be transferred to multiple different airlines.

When do I receive frequent flyer points from purchases?

You’ll usually receive an updated points balance from your purchase once a month. Most credit card partners transfer points on a regular day, so you should receive you updated balance at the same time every month.

Will I earn points for every purchase?

Some purchases may be ineligible for earning points. The criteria for earning points on your frequent flyer card will be listed in the terms and conditions when applying. If you are unsure of whether your purchase will qualify, you can contact your card issuer.

How do I redeem frequent flyer points?

You can redeem any points you’ve earned through the airline you are registered with. You can book flights through an airline’s online booking system, or make purchases from the airline’s merchandise and gift shop online.

Sean Callery

Reviewed by.

Credit Cards Expert

Rewards credit cards that are the real deal

Be the vip you were born to be with premium perks, cashback and flights to antarctica (if you want)..

Rewards cards from

In this guide

Our round-up of rewards credit card offers

Rewards score tiers - what you need to know, the lowdown on how we score, how do rewards credit cards work, pros and cons of rewards credit cards, types of credit card rewards in australia, how to compare rewards credit cards, frequently asked questions, finder award winner and finalists for 2024.

Here are some of the top scoring rewards cards available through Finder this month:

• The ANZ Rewards Black Credit Card has a Finder Score of 9.7.
• The American Express Platinum Business Card has a Finder Score of 10.
• The Citi Prestige Card has a Finder Score of 10.
• The American Express Platinum Card has a Finder Score of 10.
• The St.George Amplify Signature has a Finder Score of 9.74.
• The Westpac Altitude Black has a Finder Score of 8.71.

Updated 6 June 2024 by money editor, Richard Whitten .

• 9+ Excellent - These cards offer the best ongoing earn rates and sign up offers, coupled with attractive annual fees and perks.
• 7+ Great - Reasonable rewards cards but may offer slightly lower ongoing or signup offers.
• 5+ Satisfactory - These cards may offer lower ongoing and sign up points, but could also offer fewer perks or higher annual fees.
• Less than 5 – Basic - Entry level rewards cards, that offer consumers basic sign up offers and ongoing earn rates.

We carefully analyse 300+ credit cards and assess 7 features, assigning them individual scores out of 10.

Points from rewards programs are converted to a dollar value, by determining the number of points required to purchase a departmental store card, or a direct dollar value conversion within the rewards program store.

A card will get different scores in each category, depending on which features are being assessed.

To qualify for the rewards score, credit cards must:

• Offer signup or ongoing rewards points affiliated to a rewards program.
• Be available to general consumers.

Our aim is to help your with financial decision-making, but please consider your own financial circumstances. While we may make money from commercial partnerships, they have no weight in our methodology. The database is scored objectively and reviewed by our editorial team.

Best rewards cards - ANZ Rewards Black

ANZ Rewards Black Credit Card

• 180,000 Bonus Points & $150 back
• $375 Annual fee
• 20.99% Purchase rate

Pros & cons

• 180,000 bonus ANZ Reward Points
• $150 back on your new card
• Up to 2 ANZ Reward Points per $1 spent
• Complimentary extras including travel insurance and a personal concierge
• Charges a relatively high annual fee of $375 p.a.
• 3% foreign transaction fee
• Additional cardholder fee of $65 per card

Why we like it

• Offers 180,000 bonus ANZ Reward Points when you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months. That's worth $800+ in eGift cards with partner retailers including Myer, JB Hi-Fi, Bunnings and more. Or, if you're a Velocity member, you can redeem this for 90,000 Velocity Points.
• You also get $150 back to your card when you meet the spend requirement.
• Complimentary insurance covers including international and domestic travel insurance, rental vehicle excess in Australia, extended warranty insurance and purchase protection cover.
• Relatively high earn rate of up to 2 ANZ Reward Points per $1 spent .

Best rewards cards - American Express Platinum Business

American Express Platinum Business Card

• 350,000 Bonus Points
• $1,750 Annual fee
• N/A Purchase rate
• 350,000 bonus Membership Rewards Points
• High 2.25 points per $1 on most eligible spending, with 1 point per $1 on government spend
• Complimentary domestic and international travel insurance
• Luxury perks including unlimited access to 1,400 airport lounges and hotel elite status partners
• $1,750 annual fee is one of the highest on the market
• 3% foreign currency conversion fee
• American Express is not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard
• Offers 350,000 bonus Membership Rewards Points.
• The card has a very high earn rate on eligible spending.
• Complimentary travel insurance and airport lounge access make up for the high annual fee.

Best rewards cards - Citi Prestige

Citi Prestige Card

• 275,000 Bonus Points
• $700 Annual fee
• 21.49% Purchase rate
• 275,000 bonus points
• Unlimited access to over 1,500 airport lounges through Priority Pass
• Airport transfer service and 4th night free hotel offers
• Complimentary international travel insurance
• The $700 annual fee is high
• 21.49% p.a. interest rate for purchases
• 3.4% foreign transaction fee
• Offers 44 days interest-free on purchases, compared to other cards that offer up to 55 days
• Offers 275,000 bonus points when you meet the spend criteria.
• The card has a high earn rate on eligible spending.
• You can enjoy a range of travel benefits including complimentary travel insurance and airport lounge access and airport transfers.

A rewards credit card usually earns points for every $1 you spend on purchases in Australia and overseas (including online). The points are credited to your account or a linked loyalty program, where you can redeem them for rewards that range from flights and hotel bookings to gift cards, cashback and retail items.

There are also a few credit cards that offer cashback instead of points.

• Points for spending. The most obvious perk of these cards is that you earn rewards of your choice, for money you were going to spend anyway. These could be credit card points, frequent flyer points, cashback and more.
• Introductory offers and deals. New cards usually offer a bunch of bonus points when you spend a certain amount in the first few months.
• Perks. Rewards credit cards often come with extra perks like travel insurance, purchase insurance, concierge services and lifestyle and entertainment offers.
• Higher rates and fees. To pay for the points and perks, these cards typically charge higher ongoing interest rates and annual fees than other cards.
• Temptation to overspend. The promise of rewards or frequent flyer points can lead you to spend more than you usually would. But the cost of overspending can cancel out the value you'd get from any points or perks you'd earn.
• Rewards limitations. While some rewards cards let you earn unlimited amounts of points, many set spending thresholds that cap your ability to earn rewards. If you often spend more than that cap, it will limit how much value you get from the card.

Reward credit cards are popular in Australia, with Finder research showing 29% of Australians got their last credit card for reward points.

Credit card rewards can be separated into 3 main categories: frequent flyer , points and cashback .

Frequent flyer rewards

If you're a member of a frequent flyer program, you can use a credit card to earn more points or miles in 2 ways:

1. Frequent flyer points per $1 spent

Credit cards that are directly partnered with a frequent flyer program let you earn frequent flyer points on your eligible spending. Points are automatically added to your frequent flyer account once a month (or at regular intervals).

In Australia, the main options are Qantas Frequent Flyer and Velocity Frequent Flyer credit cards.

2. Reward point transfers to frequent flyer programs

A lot of rewards credit card let you transfer points to different frequent flyer programs. This gives you more flexibility because you're not locked into earning points for one airline loyalty program.

It's also a way to earn points with programs that don't have co-branded cards in Australia, including Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles and Emirates Skywards.

💡 Tip: You can also get a rewards credit card that lets you redeem points for flights, accommodation and other travel experiences without needing to transfer them to a frequent flyer program.

Points for bank and other loyalty programs

Many rewards credit cards in Australia earn points that you can redeem for different types of rewards, including gift cards, retail items, credit on your account, travel or point transfers to other loyalty programs. These flexible rewards programs include:

• American Express Membership Rewards
• ANZ Rewards
• Bankwest More Rewards
• Bank of Melbourne Amplify Rewards
• Bank of Queensland Q Rewards
• BankSA Amplify Rewards
• Bendigo Bank Rewards
• Citi Rewards
• CommBank Awards
• Heritage Credits
• HSBC Rewards Plus
• Kogan credit card rewards
• Macquarie Bank Credit Cards Rewards Program
• NAB Rewards
• St.George Amplify Rewards
• Suncorp Rewards
• Westpac Altitude Rewards

Cashback credit cards

These credit cards give you a way to get cash rewards for your spending, either in the form of credit back on your account or vouchers you can spend.

Some cashback credit cards give you a set percentage of your regular spending as cashback on your account, while other cards have introductory offers that provide a one-time account credit or voucher when you meet the spend requirements.

From earning points to the rewards you want to redeem, here are some of the questions and factors to think about when you're comparing rewards credit cards:

1. How can I earn points?

• Bonus point offers. These can give you a huge amount of value when you get a new card. Usually, you need to meet a spend requirement in a set period of time to score bonus points.
• Points per dollar. Also known as the earn rate, this is how many points you earn for your spending. The higher the better, but a card that earns at least 1 point per $1 on eligible transactions would be considered good value.
• Point expiry and caps. Some credit card reward points expire after a certain amount of time and some have a limit on how many points you can earn in a month or year.

What are eligible purchases on a rewards card? Most everyday spending is eligible to earn points, including groceries, petrol, retail items and travel. Transactions that don't usually earn points include cash advances, BPAY payments and spending with government bodies. You should check your card's rewards program terms and conditions for full details.

2. What's the value of the rewards?

• Point values. To work out the value of your rewards, consider how many points you would need to redeem a chosen reward. For example, let's say you need 12,000 points to get a $50 gift card and your credit card has an earn rate of 1 point per $1 spent. You would need to spend $12,000 before you could redeem the $50 gift card. Calculating reward point values like this can help you decide if it's worth your time and money.
• Rewards partners. Rewards programs sometimes partner with retailers and businesses to give you more ways to redeem points. You may also have the opportunity to earn bonus points with partner stores. If there are partners you already shop with, this could help you earn and redeem points faster.
• Redemption limitations. Some rewards programs have blackout periods when you may not be able to make redemptions, or limits on items in the rewards store. Check the fine print for this information.

Points-to-dollars calculator 💵

Estimated value, how much do you need to spend to get rewards.

To give you an idea of the potential value of rewards, we've compared the amount of points you need to redeem a $100 gift card through major rewards programs that are linked to credit cards.

Fees, points and redemption values correct as of July 2023. Based on this table, the minimum spend required for a $100 gift card (or equivalent) is $10,000 with American Express Membership Rewards or Flybuys if your credit card offers 2 points per $1 spent.

3. What are the costs?

• Annual fees. Rewards credit card annual fees range from around $50 to $1,450 in Australia. Some rewards credit cards offer no annual fee for the first year or ongoing. Just keep in mind that the value of the rewards you redeem should be higher than the cost of the annual fee to make it worthwhile.
• Purchase interest rates. Rewards credit cards typically have high interest rates for purchases, which can be up to around 24%. If you pay the card off as you go, or in full by the statement due date, you'll usually get interest-free days for purchases. Otherwise, the cost of interest could outweigh the value you get from earning points.

The annual fee and interest rate for purchases are 2 key costs to factor in when you're comparing rewards credit cards. But there are other costs that could also affect the value you get from a card in more specific situations.

Other costs to compare

• Foreign transaction fees. Reward credit cards typically charge a fee of 2% to 3.4% for transactions made overseas or online with a business based overseas – including some cards that offer more points per $1 for foreign transactions. So if you want a rewards card for travel or online shopping, check this fee first. You can also compare no foreign transaction fee cards on Finder.
• Balance transfer interest rates. A 0% balance transfer offer could help you save if you move a balance from one card to a new rewards card. But you won't earn points for the balance transfer, and may be charged interest on new purchases while you're paying it off. So it's typically wise to focus on repaying it before using the card to earn points on new purchases.
• Cash advances. If you use a rewards credit card to get money from an ATM or for another cash advance transaction, you'll be charged a cash advance fee of around 3%. Most cards also have higher interest rates for cash advances (up to around 30%). And you don't earn reward points for cash advances.

4. Are there any complimentary extras?

Rewards credit cards often come with a variety of additional features that can add value if you use them. Popular perks include:

• Airport lounge access
• Complimentary flights and travel credits
• Extended warranty cover
• Price match guarantees
• Concierge services

I change my rewards credit card every year to get the best value from bonus points offers. I redeem my bonus points for gift cards or flight rewards and it usually brings in about $500 worth of value. You just have to be vigilant with paying off your card, closing the account before incurring the next year's annual fee, and not churning too frequently because it could affect your credit score.

What's the biggest credit card bonus point offer on the market?

Finder's database shows that the Citi Prestige Card has the biggest bonus points offer, with 275,000 Citi Rewards Points when you spend $10,000 in the first 3 months. That's enough for $1,300 of Woolworths WISH gift cards or 110,000 Velocity Points based on details listed on the Citi Rewards website.

The American Express Platinum Business offers 350,000 when you spend $12,000 in the first 3 months.

Can I earn reward points for BPAY payments?

It's unlikely but does depend on the rewards program and credit card provider. For example CommBank, Westpac, St.George and Virgin Money all list BPAY payments as ineligible to earn rewards.

While other credit card issuers (such as ANZ) doesn't specifically list BPAY transactions as ineligible for points, that doesn't mean you will earn points. Or that you'll be able to use a credit card for a BPAY payment. Check the terms and conditions or ask your provider for details specific to your card.

How do I redeem credit card reward points?

Every rewards program is different, but here's a general guide to the process of redeeming points:

• Log into your account
• Browse the rewards and choose one you want
• Check that you have enough points or can use points plus pay
• Confirm the details and follow the prompts to complete your redemption

Who can apply for a rewards credit card?

Anyone aged over 18 can apply for a credit card when they meet the bank or lender's eligibility criteria. This typically includes:

• Minimum income requirement. This can range from $35,000 per year for a basic rewards card to over $100,000 for a premium card. Even when there is no specific minimum income amount listed, your income will need to be enough to manage at least the minimum credit limit, account fees and interest charges.
• New cardholder status. Many introductory offers require you to be a new cardholder that hasn't held a similar card (or one from the same brand) in the past 12-18 months.
• Residency status. Some lenders require you to be a citizen or permanent resident, while others allow visa holders and temporary residents to apply as well.
• Credit history. All credit cards require you to have a good credit history and not be an undischarged bankrupt or have any judgements against you.

If you're eligible to apply, you'll also be required to provide documents including payslips and proof of identification. The provider will then assess the details you provide to determine whether you'll be approved based on their criteria and responsible lending requirements.

How can I meet the minimum spend requirements for bonus points?

With most credit card bonus points offers, you need to spend a certain amount in the first few months or over another period of time. It's important to only spend what you can afford to pay off so you don't end up with interest charges that take value away from the points.

Here are examples of different ways to meet the minimum spend requirements.

• Booking travel
• Buying major household items (e.g. a lounge or fridge)
• Buying a new laptop, tablet, phone or other tech
• Pre-paying your health insurance or other bills
• Paying for car services or repairs
• Seasonal shopping (e.g. school holidays, Christmas)
• Paying for everyday expenses (e.g. groceries, fuel, subscriptions)

Bonus points are typically added to your account within 1-12 weeks of when you meet the spend requirement. But it depends on the offer. You can check the fine print or call the credit card company to find out when points will be added to your account.

Are rewards credit card worth it?

It's worthwhile if you get more value from rewards than what you're paying for the account. This makes rewards cards more suited to people who already use a credit card regularly and/or can repay what they spend each month.

When comparing your options, ask the following questions:

• How much is the annual fee? Reward and frequent flyer credit card annual fees can quickly outweigh the value of rewards, even if you're getting thousands of bonus points.
• What are the potential interest costs? Estimate how much you could end up paying if you carry a balance on the card to decide if the risk is worth it for you. For example, if a credit card had a 19.99% p.a. purchase rate, a minimum spend requirement of $3,000 in 3 months to get bonus points and it took you 6 months to pay that amount off, you'd be charged around $177 in interest.
• How much are the points worth? Look at the value of the points based on what rewards you want to redeem. For example, if 100,000 bonus points was worth $500 in digital gift cards, that could help justify a card's annual fee. It's worth looking at a few reward options for any card offering bonus points. You can also calculate the dollar value of your points .
• When do you want to use your points? The time it takes for you to earn enough points for your ideal reward could be a few weeks. But it could be a lot longer if you're saving up points per $1 spent or waiting for a particular reward to become available (especially flight rewards). So it can be helpful to have a timeframe in mind, then work out how many points you'd realistically earn through the card.

What happens to reward points after a death?

Depending on the card and rewards program, the points could be transferred to another person, converted into a statement credit or cancelled.

You can find details for your rewards program by looking at the terms and conditions, or by asking the provider. They should also let you know what options are available when they're notified of someone's death.

Find out which brands ranked highly at the Finder Awards for rewards credit cards.

The ANZ Rewards Black Credit Card is our top rated rewards credit card for 2024. In the 12-month period we analysed for this year's Finder Credit Card Awards, it scored highly for its big bonus and high earn rate of 2 points per $1 on eligible spending. The card also offers complimentary travel insurance.

The Coles Rewards Mastercard scored highly for its bonus points offers and earn rate. The card earns 2 Flybuys points per $1 on eligible spending up to $3,000 in a statement period and 1 point per $1 after that. Its $99 annual fee also scored well for cards in this category.

The St.George Amplify Signature has a big bonus point offer and reduced first-year annual fee during the 12-month period we analysed. It scored well for its earn rate of 1.5 points per $1 on all eligible spending. This card was also a finalist in 2023.

Each year the Finder Credit Card Awards recognises the top credit cards in Australia. Using 12 months' worth of data, our experts have analysed the rates, fees and offer details from over 270 cards.

Richard Whitten

Richard Whitten is a money editor at Finder, and has been covering home loans, property and personal finance for 6+ years. He has written for Yahoo Finance, Money Magazine and Homely; and has appeared on various radio shows nationwide. He holds a Certificate IV in mortgage broking and finance (RG 206), a Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification and a Tier 2 General Advice Deposit Products (RG 146) certification. See full profile

Read more on this topic

Well-known among frequent flyers and point chasers, this controversial strategy involves taking advantage of bonus point offers on different credit cards.

Find out which credit cards offer points for payments to the ATO and how much the rewards are really worth.

Reward your spending and redeem gift cards, merchandise and experiences with the Latitude Infinity Visa credit card.

Learn how you can build points with St.George and Amplify Rewards to redeem them for gift cards, wine, travel and more.

Compare Coles Flybuys or Everyday Rewards to find out which one can offer you more rewards on your grocery shop.

The Myer Credit Card earns MYER one Credits on eligible spending and interest-free offers at Myer, but it's not currently available for new applications.

Gift cards can be thoughtful and practical presents for people. Read this guide on Woolworths and Coles gift cards to find out what you need to know when buying and using them.

Link your credit card to your PayPal account and you could earn points while shopping online with buyer protection.

Credit card rewards and other loyalty programs have the potential to offer you extra value for your spending – here’s how to work out if you are getting it.

Use your credit card to earn up to 3 Flybuys points per $1 spent on everyday expenses and redeem a variety of flight and shopping rewards.

Ask a Question

Click here to cancel reply.

You are about to post a question on finder.com.au:

• Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
• finder.com.au is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
• We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
• Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked

106 Responses

Can I use diners club rewards with Emirates?

Thanks for your inquiry.

Yes, the Diners Club Rewards program also allows you to transfer your reward points to 17 airline and travel loyalty programs, including Virgin Australia’s Velocity frequent flyer program, Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, and Hilton Honors.

You can learn more about Diners Club Rewards program .

Best regards, Rench

I spend and pay off in full about 25K per month of normal spending on my Citi Signature card which since the 1st July 2017 have at best halved their reward points which I use for Qantas flights. What is the best card now for me to get the most points for my spend per month, ie who is dollar for dollar and uncapped

Thank you for your inquiry.

While we cannot recommend what is best for you, we can offer you general information. You can check the list of frequent flyer credit cards featured on our website to learn more.

I hope this information has helped.

Cheers, Harold

Since the rules for the credit card reward points that you earn are changing as of the 1st July 2017, what would be the best rewards card that you can earn points for make payments to the ATO? Currently have a Westpac Altitude Rewards card and this is changing from 1st of July 2017 where you no longer receive points for ATO payments.

Thanks for your comment.

Please read more about the credit cards that let you earn points when making payments to the ATO . Compare the credit cards that earn points for tax payments and after you’re done comparing, select the “Go to Site” button to be redirected to the bank’s website to apply.

I hope this helps.

Regards, Jhezelyn

I was hoping you could crunch the numbers and let me know the best value reward credit card available.

I currently have a Jetstar Platinum MasterCard Spending approx $60k pa I receive 2 points per dollar (2%) return 1 point = $1 when redeemed so about $1200 only catch is have to use as Jetstar flights. Annual fee is $49 + additional card $39 so $88 annual fee

Can you suggest a card to offer me better value or the same that has more flexible rewards.

Many thanks Alan

It is good that you’re trying to do the math and see which one would be a better option. Regrettably, we can’t provide specific recommendations for you. Thankfully, you can always compare your options on this post. We have listed some of the best rewards credit cards available in the market today.

Alternatively, you can also check our list of frequent flyer credit cards if in case you want to explore other programs.

Need a replacement card as mine is almost beyond being usable

May I know what type of card you are currently holding so I can assist you?

Alternatively, you can also try logging into your account on your bank’s website and check if there is a feature for requesting replacement cards.

Cheers, Anndy

How likely would you be to recommend Finder to a friend or colleague?

Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.

Important information about this website

Advertiser disclosure.

finder.com.au is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We are committed to our readers and stands by our editorial principles

We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.

Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labeling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.

How we make money

We make money by featuring products on our site. Compensation received from the providers featured on our site can influence which products we write about as well as where and how products appear on our page, but the order or placement of these products does not influence our assessment or opinions of them, nor is it an endorsement or recommendation for them.

Products marked as 'Top Pick', 'Promoted' or 'Advertisement' are prominently displayed either as a result of a commercial advertising arrangement or to highlight a particular product, provider or feature. Finder may receive remuneration from the Provider if you click on the related link, purchase or enquire about the product. Finder's decision to show a 'promoted' product is neither a recommendation that the product is appropriate for you nor an indication that the product is the best in its category. We encourage you to use the tools and information we provide to compare your options.

Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product. You can learn more about how we make money .

Sorting and Ranking Products

When products are grouped in a table or list, the order in which they are initially sorted may be influenced by a range of factors including price, fees and discounts; commercial partnerships; product features; and brand popularity. We provide tools so you can sort and filter these lists to highlight features that matter to you.

Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Please read our website terms of use and privacy policy for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.

We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.

Learn how we maintain accuracy on our site.

Credit Cards for Travel

There are two good ways to use credit cards for travel: earn and redeem points, and 0% purchase offers that give you time to pay it off interest-free. No international transaction fees is a bonus! So, we've compiled the top credit cards for travel right here.

Filter rewards & points

My monthly card spend, features i like, reward programs, sort by - please select.

$1 earn rate  

Bonus points

Your points • 30 days is indicative of 1 month • Point caps are reset every statement period, which we have also assumed to be 1 month • There is a fixed monthly spend for 365 day. • Your monthly spend is multiplied by the earn rate for that 12 months. • You’ll be getting the highest earn rate for spending (if the card has tiered earn rates). • Points capping is factored in, if applicable, as is any sign-up bonus. Bear in mind though, terms and conditions always apply to points earning and sign-up bonus points.">

Qantas Premier Platinum Credit Card

Limited time super-sized Qantas Points

Earn 70k when you spend $3,000 within the first 3 months, plus 30k when you haven’t earned Qantas Points with a credit card in the last 12 months. 0% p.a. on balance transfers for 12 months with a 2% BT fee. Save 20% on flights for you and 8 friends. Complimentary travel insurance.

Up to 100,000 bonus Qantas Points

Earn 70,000 when you spend $3,000 within the first 3 months, plus 30,000 when you haven’t earned Qantas Points with a credit card in the last 12 months. 0% p.a. on balance transfers for 12 months with a 2% BT fee. Discounted annual fee for the first year.

Earn rate per $1

Go to offer

save card more info

Qantas American Express Ultimate Credit Card

Up to 90,000 bonus qantas points.

Spend $3,000 within the first 3 months (70,000 pts) + 20,000 pts in your second year upon fee renewal. $450 Qantas Travel Credit to use on eligible domestic or international Qantas flights each year. Two complimentary The Centurion® Lounge entries each year plus travel insurance covers. T&Cs apply.

Spend $3,000 within the first 3 months (70,000 pts) + 20,000 pts in your second year upon fee renewal. $450 Annual Qantas Travel Credit. Two complimentary The Centurion® Lounge entries each year plus travel insurance covers. Add 4 additional cardholders for free.

Apply by 25 Jun 24

American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card

170,000 bonus qantas points.

Spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of card approval. Get up to $100 credit (maximum of two credits at a total of $200 each year) when you spend with Dell Technologies. No fee for Employee Cards (up to 99).

Earn 170,000 bonus Qantas Points in the first 3 months, minimum spend applies. Get up to $100 credit (maximum of two credits at a total of $200 each year) when you spend with Dell Technologies. No fee for Employee Cards (up to 99).

ANZ Rewards Platinum – Velocity Offer Card

Up to 100k velocity points + travel perks.

Earn huge bonus Velocity Points and points per dollar, plus complimentary overseas and domestic travel insurance.

American Express Platinum Business Card

350,000 membership rewards bonus points.

Min. spend applies. Up to 55 cash flow days. Transfer points to 12 Airline programs including Qantas. Complimentary domestic and international Travel Insurance. Up to 99 Employee Card Members at no cost.

Minimum spend applies. Up to 55 cash flow days. Transfer points to 12 Airline programs including Qantas. Complimentary domestic and international Travel Insurance. Up to 99 Employee Card Members at no cost.

American Express Platinum Edge Credit Card

$0 annual card fee first year.

Pay $0 Annual Card Fee in the first year. $200 Travel Credit every year. Earn up to 3 Rewards points per $1 spent. Transfer points to a choice of 11 airline partner programs. Complimentary Travel Insurance and more.

Apply by 26 Jun 24

American Express Velocity Platinum Credit Card

Receive 60,000 bonus velocity points.

Spend $3,000 within the first 3 months. Earn 1.25 Velocity Points per $1 spent on everyday purchases. Complimentary annual domestic flight, lounge passes, 100 Velocity Frequent Flyer Status Credits.

when you apply online, are approved, and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months. Earn 1.25 Velocity Points per $1 spent on everyday purchases. Complimentary annual domestic flight, lounge passes, 100 Velocity Frequent Flyer Status Credits.

American Express Velocity Business Charge Card

100,000 bonus Velocity Points + Travel Insurance

Spend $3,000 within the first 2 months of your approval date. Receive complimentary international and domestic travel insurance. T&Cs apply. 2 single entry passes to the Virgin Australia lounges per year. No pre-set spending limit.

100,000 bonus Velocity Points + Complimentary 12-month Velocity Frequent Flyer Gold Membership

Anz rewards platinum credit card, 100,000 extra anz reward points and $50 back.

Low fees, big points and perks galore: Bonus points are worth a $400 Gift Card from Bunnings, Woolworths, Myer, and more (min spend and T&Cs apply). Earn up to 1.5 points per $1 on eligible purchases to redeem for merch, cash back, gift cards and travel. Get complimentary overseas and domestic travel insurance and rental vehicle excess cover in Australia.

100,000 extra ANZ Reward Points and $50 back when you spend $2,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months from approval. Complimentary International Travel Insurance and Interstate Flight Inconvenience Insurance.

Qantas Premier Everyday Credit Card

Up to 8,000 bonus qantas points.

Big rewards for a tiny annual fee: earn up to 8000 bonus points in the first 4 months plus up to 1 point per $1 on your regular spending (up to $3000 per statement period). Earn 1 bonus point for Qantas products and services. Complimentary overseas travel insurance with rental vehicle excess cover and 0% p.a. on balance transfers for 12 months with 2% BT fee.

Earn 2 bonus Qantas Points per $1 spent on eligible purchases within 4 months of card approval, up to 8,000 bonus Qantas Points. 0% p.a. on balance transfers for 12 months, 2% BT fee applies. Low $99 annual fee.

We found no credit cards using your selected criteria

Update your filters to get more cards to display. Reach out if you are having any problems.

Let Your Credit Card Take You On Holiday

Getting you there.

Flights and accommodation usually make up the biggest expense when travelling. So, how can we make those costs a bit more manageable?

Using rewards points or frequent flyer points can help cover the cost of flights, hotels, car hire, holiday packages and more. You’re really only limited by what your rewards program offers – and how many points you have available to spend. If you want to get away this winter, a bonus points offer could give you the boost you need to make that happen.

There are plenty of introductory offers providing bonus points to new cardholders – but to find the right offer, you will need to compare what’s out there. Bonus points offers are usually tiered, so that premium rewards cards offer more points than classic rewards cards. Here are some important points to remember when shopping around for bonus points offers.

• Consider the card’s annual fee. Higher earning rewards cards with larger bonus points offers tend to have higher annual fees. Just make sure the annual fee is worth it for what you are getting in return.
• Check the minimum spend requirement. Again, larger bonus points offers usually have a bigger minimum spend requirement. Make sure the minimum spend is manageable – and that you can repay it before interest starts accruing.
• Find out how long you need to wait for bonus points to be credited. Bonus points are usually credited to the cardholder 6-8 weeks after the minimum spend has been met. If you take three months to meet that spend, you could wait another two months to see your bonus points. If you can afford it, meet the minimum spend early if you need the bonus points promptly.
• Look out for accompanying offers. Some bonus points offers will have other introductory offers on the side. This may include cashback offers and reduced annual fee offers. These extras could help make your trip all the more affordable.

Obviously, a rewards card is much more than just its introductory offer. Choosing the right card means looking at how well it will suit you as an everyday earner. When you compare rewards cards , take into account the following points to make sure you choose the best option for you.

• Average Spend: Calculate how much you are likely to spend on the card.
• Earn Rate: Knowing the earn rate and how much you will spend on the card will help you work out how many points you will earn.
• Points Caps: With this in mind, you can check for any points caps to see if they will affect your spending.
• Points Shaping: Knowing your spend will also allow you to see if your earn will be affected by points shaping (when you earn a lower rate after spending a certain amount each month).
• Annual Fee: For a rewards card to be worthwhile, you will need to earn more in rewards than you pay out in annual fees.

Aside from bonus points offers, there are ways you can boost your points balance to make your rewards card more worthwhile – while also helping you earn more points for that holiday.

• Channel all spending to your card. From your morning coffee to your rent, using your card to pay for it will allow you to stack up points faster. Just keep in mind points caps and different earn rates that may apply, for example on utilities and government spending.
• Add a cardholder to your account. Additional cardholders can help you increase your monthly spend to earn more points. Just make sure that additional spending is affordable, and that the additional cardholder annual fee is worth paying for the extra points you earn.
• Take advantage of double dipping. You can double dip for points when your rewards program runs a promotion with its vendors, allowing you to earn more points per $1 spent, accelerating your earn rate. Just be sure you are not spending for the sake of earning points.

Rewards cards don’t just earn points, they can also allow you to earn Status Credits. If you are a member of the Qantas or Velocity frequent flyer programs, the Status Credits you earn can help you climb the Status ladder to earn more privileges when you travel. The more you fly, the more you earn – and if you choose the right card, you may even earn bonus Status Credits as you spend.

Looking at Virgin Australia’s Velocity program, there are four levels of membership, starting with entry-level Red. Earning more Status Credits will allow you to climb the membership tiers to offer lots of lovely privileges whenever you travel, as well as the opportunity to earn more points to redeem on your next trip.

Silver membership gives you:

• International Priority Check-in
• Two single entry passes to access Virgin Australia Domestic Lounge
• 50% Points bonus, on top of the base Points earned, when travelling with Virgin Australia

Gold membership gives you:

• The opportunity to Fly Ahead to your destination on an earlier flight
• Access to more than 150 international premium lounges
• Priority Check-in, Boarding, Screening and Baggage

Platinum membership gives you:

• Four complimentary upgrades to Business Class for eligible domestic flights
• Access to more than 150 lounges worldwide, including Virgin Australia Lounge

Time to redeem those points? For the most part, rewards programs offer the most value on points redeemed for travel. So your longed-for holiday is likely to make much better use of your points than if you were to redeem them for stuff you could buy elsewhere, like toasters and bath towels. Check out the following tips to help you maximise your points.

• Understand your rewards program. Rewards programs are complex, so the only way you will make the most of what they’ve got to offer is to find out more about them. This includes how to earn more points, and how to redeem points to find the best value.
• Redeem points with partners. You may find great deals when booking travel with your rewards program’s partners, so keep an eye out for special offers that stretch your points further.
• Avoid booking fees. You may be able to save on booking fees by using your rewards program’s own booking service. For example, if you book directly through American Express Travel with your eligible American Express card, you may avoid booking fees altogether. This service could also help you access special travel deals that can be paid for in full or in part with your points.
• Transfer your points. Depending on your card, you may be able to transfer points to partner programs. As long as the transfer rate is right, this could let you choose the program that gets you to your destination for the lowest number of points (note, some airlines specialise in travel to certain destinations, making those routes cheaper, allowing you to use fewer points). As an example, American Express Rewards partners with Air New Zealand, AsiaMiles, Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore KrisFlyer, Thai Royal Orchid Plus and Virgin Australia’ Velocity, as well as hotel partners Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy.
• Avoid interest. There is little that will chip away at the value of your points balance faster than interest. If you want to make the most of your rewards, don’t overspend, and always pay off your balance before interest starts accruing.

While rewards can certainly take you places, there are plenty of other ways your credit card can help you cover the cost of travelling. Some premium cards offer travel credit, for example. This travel credit can often balance out the cost of the card’s annual fee, providing credit that can be put towards paying off your next trip.

Other cards, meanwhile, may offer complimentary hotel stays, helping to cut the cost of accommodation. This may provide a certain number of complimentary nights per year in partner hotels, or a ‘pay for three and get one night free’ offer. In terms of travelling in comfort, you may also find premium cards that provide upgrades on flights and hotel stays.

0% purchase offer

While rewards cards can be awesome, they’re not for everyone. So, what’s the alternative if you want to take a trip but don’t have the cash to pay for it right now? Choosing a card with a 0% purchase offer could provide a solution, allowing you to pay for your holiday now, and then pay it off over time while paying no interest.

These offers can be huge money-savers – but you need to deal with them correctly if you want to avoid getting into trouble with debt. Here are some of our top tips for finding the right 0% purchase offer, and how to make the most of it once you’ve applied.

• Find an offer that’s long and low: Think about how much you plan on spending, and then how long it will take you to pay it off. Choose an offer that has the lowest rate – 0% p.a. is best – over a period that will allow you to pay off your spending.
• Take into account the card’s annual fee: When comparing offers, be sure to look at each card’s annual fee. Paying a lower annual fee will provide more savings, allowing you to pay off your spending quicker.
• Make a plan: Once you have applied for the card, make a plan for your spending – and try not to go over budget. Then pay off a certain amount each week or each month, being sure to pay off all your spending before the introductory period ends. Setting up automatic payments after payday could help with this.
• Use your card on your trip: If you have the cost of your trip all paid off, you may consider using a 0% purchase offer for your holiday spending. Just be aware of the card’s foreign conversion fee and avoid overspending ‘just because it’s there’.

While You’re There

So, now we’ve talked about how your credit card can help you get away, let’s have a look at what it can do for you once you’re there. Obviously, your credit card can provide a great way to pay for stuff as you travel, often offering an easier and safer alternative to other options such as cash and travellers cheques.

But that’s not all. The right credit card could also save you money on things you may otherwise have to pay for yourself, while also making life all the more comfortable as you travel the world. Here are some features to keep an eye out for as you compare card options for your next trip.

Travel Insurance

While travel insurance as a feature is unlikely to wow you, that’s doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a lot to offer. Travel insurance for most people is an essential, allowing them to cover the cost if the worst happens when travelling. However, searching for travel insurance is mind-numbingly tedious. And, if you travel frequently, it can also be expensive.

Choosing a credit card with the right level of travel cover could allow you to save time and money on standalone cover – as long as you understand how it works. Yes, that will mean poring over the small print, but if you do it right, you should only need to do it once – rather than multiple times each time you apply for standalone cover.

When comparing credit card travel insurance, look at what is needed to activate cover, what’s included in the cover and what limits may apply, and what exclusions the cover has. For example, you may need to use your card to pay for at least 50% of your travel costs to activate your cover. Also be sure to check the excess, and whether domestic travel is covered under the policy.

Some advantages of credit card travel insurance include the ability to travel anywhere, unlike standalone policies that charge more for visiting different locations, plus the ability to travel into older age, where standalone policies may exclude policyholders above a certain age. Credit card travel insurance can also offer great coverage that is actually better than standard policies.

Airport Lounge Access

Airports can be busy, noisy and crowded. Airport lounges can provide a way to get away from all that, making travel so much more enjoyable. But, access to those lounges doesn’t come for free. Unless you have the right credit card, that is. Many premium credit cards offer airport lounge access , providing a couple of invitations per year or unlimited access.

While American Express cards tend to focus on providing access to its own airport lounges, other cards may offer lounge pass programs that allow cardholders access to a huge range of lounges around the world. Priority Pass offers access to more than 1,200 airport lounges around the world, while LoungeKey has around 1,000 airport lounges on its books.

Depending on your card, you may have Priority Pass or LoungeKey – or access to any other lounge program – included. With this, you can not only access the lounges on offer – complete with complimentary food and drink, places to work and the comfort to relax – you may also be able to enjoy discounts at participating food and beverage outlets and retailers at the airport.

Airport Assistance

Airports mean queues. But, with the right credit card in your wallet, you could skip the queues to enjoy a much more pleasant experience at the airport. If you happen to have a Citi Prestige Card , you can enjoy assistance at the airport, with complimentary airport transfers and a Meet and Assist service. This provides you with an airport agent that will escort you through arrivals, departures or connections, making your trip as seamless as possible.

Airport Transfers

Getting to the airport can be a hassle – but it doesn’t have to be, with airport limo service included as a feature on your credit card. While these airport transfers are not typically unlimited, they can make those special trips a bit more special, taking the stress out of getting to the airport, while saving you on taxi fares.

No Currency Conversion Fees

When you use your credit card to purchase something in another currency – whether buying online or in person when overseas – you will be charged a currency conversion fee on that transaction. This is usually expressed as a percentage of the transaction, but may involve a standard fee as well.

Currency conversion fees usually range from 2-4%, which can really add up if you spend a lot while travelling. Say you spend $3,000 on a hotel, $1000 on car hire, $2,000 on dining out and entertainment, and $1,000 on everyday expenses, that’s a spend of $7,000 on your card. With a 4% currency conversion fee, that would be an extra $280 to pay off.

Instead, you may want to apply for a card with no currency conversion fees . With no currency conversion fee, the 28 Degrees Platinum Mastercard could be a great option for holiday spending, especially as it has no annual fee.

Concierge Service

You often see concierge services included on premium cards – but what do they actually offer? While the scope of each concierge service can vary – with higher end cards often offering more – a concierge could be thought of as your personal assistant, on hand to help with your travel arrangements and recommendations.

You can call your concierge service around the clock, no matter where you are in the world, to ask for anything from directions to the nearest embassy to the opening hours of a store you were thinking of visiting. A concierge could arrange travel, book a table at a restaurant, recommend where to take the kids for a treat, or reserve tickets at the theatre.

Emergency Card Replacement

Imagine being on the other side of the world when your wallet is stolen. You have no money and no access to funds. What do you do? Well, if you have the right credit card, a call to your card provider could offer emergency card replacement and even emergency cash while you wait. Just be aware that some cards charge a fee for this, so read up on the small print before you travel.

When You Get Home

All good things must come to an end, even holidays. But, while it may be a shock to the system getting back to real life and all its drudgeries after being away, looking at your credit card bill could provide even more of a shock. According to that Kayak survey, 15% of participants admitted to not thinking about money while on holiday (4).

So, what can you do to deal with debt when you get back home? Whether you had to cover some emergency while overseas, or you just overspent because you weren’t paying attention to your finances, a balance transfer deal could help you deal with your debts more efficiently. Let’s take a look at how balance transfer offers work, and how to make the most of them.

Comparing Offers

• Try to choose a balance transfer offer that provides the lowest balance transfer rate, with an introductory period that allows you to clear your debt.
• Be aware of how much the card charges in annual fees. A low or no annual fee card may be best until your debt has been cleared.
• Check whether there is a balance transfer fee to pay.
• Find out how much you can transfer (this is often expressed as a percentage of your approved credit limit).
• Check what rate your balance will attract if you don’t pay it all off before the introductory period ends.

Paying it Off

• Create a repayment plan, arranging automatic payments that allow you to clear your balance within the introductory period.
• Understand that for the most part, cards do not offer any interest free periods (such as 55 days interest free on purchases) while there is a balance transfer on the card. That means any new spending will attract interest from the day of the purchase. On a high interest card, that could get expensive.

Making Your Credit Card Work For You

Now we’ve seen how your credit card could help you cover the cost of that overseas adventure you’ve been dreaming of, looking at the various features and offers that could help you save on things you would otherwise have to pay for, as well as those features that simply work to make travel more comfortable and enjoyable.

However, you need to make your credit card work for you if you want to make the most of that escape. Before we go (and let you book that trip), let’s take one last look at the most important ways you can make the most of your credit card, to let it take you on holiday.

• Weigh up the cost of annual fees: Rewards cards and premium cards packed with features generally have higher annual fees. Weigh up how much value each card offers you in rewards you will earn, and features you will use to find the right card for you.
• Avoid interest: Interest kills value on any card, but especially on high interest rewards cards and premium cards. Avoid interest accruing by shunning cash advances and always paying off your card balance before it attracts interest.
• Stick to one rewards program: While it can be tempting to earn all sorts of different rewards, you will usually get more value if you concentrate on one. That means only one annual fee to cover, and one balance to pay off. Look at programs that offer points transfer options if you need more variety.
• Choose different cards for different tasks: Rewards cards work best as rewards earners, and may not be the best choice for paying off a balance transfer. Similarly, they may have high currency conversion fees for overseas spending. You may consider getting one card for overseas spending and one to earn rewards – as long as their annual fees make that worth your while. Choosing a balance transfer card specifically to pay off a balance transfer could also be a good idea.
• Don’t overspend: This is especially true if you have a number of cards on the go. Don’t be tempted to spend simply because you have available credit. Keep track of spending using your card’s app, and set a budget that is manageable.

Time to compare the options? That’s exactly what CreditCard.com.au was made for. Check out the range of credit cards to find everything from rewards cards with bonus points offers and premium cards packed with travel perks, to fantastic deals on cards with purchase offers and balance transfer offers. Get clicking to find the card that will take you away.

Pauline Hatch is a personal finance expert at Creditcard.com.au with 8 years of finance writing under her belt. She loves turning complex money concepts into simple, practical actions so you can win financially. You can ask Pauline any questions by submitting a comment below and get a personal reply.

Recently Asked Questions

Something you need to know? Ask our credit card expert a question.

Ask a Question

You will be emailed a response in typically 1 business day. By submitting this question you agreee to our privacy policy .

Please remember to check junk and spam folders for your emailed reply.

Have you joined our free CC Inner Circle?

Delivered once a month to your inbox, you’ll get expert money tricks, rewards point hacks, perks and more!

Click to join the Inner Circle

Regards Pauline + the Creditcard crew

Hi, I’m a personal finance expert who loves to help you out! I’ll answer your question within a business day. Pinky swear.

We ask for your email so we can respond to you directly. We won’t share your personal data. For more information, see our privacy policy.

Love perks and rewards? Join our free CC Inner Circle for exclusive offers, points boosters & more. Unsubscribe anytime..

Showing one question (showing the latest 10 Q&As)

• The annual fee is charged in the first month. • You only pay the minimum monthly payment of your overall balance each month. • You do not spend or withdraw cash on the card until the balance transfer period ends or is paid in full. • All other fees and charges that may apply are excluded. When there is no interest savings or a negative interest saving after the introductory period, the calculator will display $0.'> Filter your savings

Adjust the filters to see how much you could save with a balance transfer to a new credit card

My transfer amount $5000

My interest rate 19.49%, my annual fee $50.

• Recalculate

Make sure you can get approved for the Loading...

• Have your personal details ready to complete the online application
• Proceed to application Proceed to application
• I’m not eligible

Make sure you can get approved for the Westpac Low Rate Credit Card

• If you are not redirected click here to continue
• Copyright 2005-2021 CreditCard.com.au Pty Ltd
• ABN: 76 646 638 146
• ACR: 528318
• AFCA: 80717

Select the reward programs you like

Select the features you like

Adjust the filters to see how much points you could earn over 12 months

My monthly card spend $5000

Rewards program

Benefits i like

• All reward programs
• ANZ Rewards
• Amex Membership Rewards
• Qantas Frequent Flyer
• Velocity Frequent Flyer
• Airport lounge access
• Balance transfers
• Bonus points offer
• No annual fee
• No foreign transaction fee
• Overseas travel insuarance
• Uncapped points earn

Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback.

Our credit card experts will review your feedback and take action within 1 business day to address or respond to the issue.

Regards Pauline Hatch Personal Finance Expert

By submitting this feedback you agree to our privacy policy.

Thank you for taking the time to let us know that your credit card is not listed on our site.

Our credit card experts will review your listing and ensure that the card is present on the site over the coming weeks.

By submitting this form you agree to our privacy policy.

Compare Rewards Credit Cards in Australia

With a rewards credit card you earn points as you spend which can be cashed in for products or perks such as free flights. Start comparing rewards credit cards today!

Rewards credit card comparisons on Mozo - last updated 6 June 2024

American express qantas ultimate card.

Earn up to 90,000 bonus Qantas Points* That’s 70,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply online by 3rd September 2024, are approved, and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months. Plus, an additional 20,000 bonus Qantas Points in your second year upon fee renewal. Annual Card fee is $450. T&Cs apply. New Amex Card Members only.

Rewards program

• Bonus points

Earn rate per $1

Estimated points earned, qantas ultimate card.

Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Qantas Ultimate Card

G&C Mutual Bank Platinum Visa Credit Card

Receive 50,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply, are approved, and spend $5,000 on eligible purchases on your new G&C Mutual Bank Platinum Visa Credit Card within 90 days. T&Cs apply. Available to new G&C Mutual Bank Card Members only. Earn 10,000 bonus Qantas Points annually. T&Cs apply. Access Platinum Visa Concierge. Add an additional cardholder at no extra cost.

Platinum Visa Credit Card

Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Platinum Visa Credit Card

NAB Qantas Rewards Premium Card

70,000 Bonus Qantas Points. Offer applies to a new NAB Qantas Rewards Premium Card when you spend $2,000 on everyday purchases within 60 days.

Qantas Rewards Premium Card

Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Qantas Rewards Premium Card

American Express Qantas Premium Card

Receive 20,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply, are approved, and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases on your new Qantas American Express Premium Card within 3 months of Card Membership. T&C’s apply. Available to new American Express Card Members only.

Qantas Premium Card

Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Qantas Premium Card

NAB Rewards Signature Card

Earn 100,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 on everyday purchases within the first 60 days of account opening and 40,000 bonus points when you keep your card for over 12 months (T&Cs apply). Enjoy a reduced annual card fee (from $295 to $195) for the first year. Up to 44 Interest free days on purchases (T&Cs apply). $15,000 minimum credit limit. 0% p.a. on standard balance transfer (BT) rate for 12 months (3% BT fee applies).

Rewards Signature Card

Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Rewards Signature Card

American Express Qantas Discovery Card

Earn 1.75 Qantas Points on eligible Qantas products and services per $1 spent (T&Cs apply). Enjoy $0 Annual Card Fee. Get the security of Card Refund and Purchase Cover. Up to four additional Cards at no extra fee. Redeem your points for Classic Flight Rewards (T&Cs apply).

Qantas Discovery Card

Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Qantas Discovery Card

American Express Velocity Escape Card

Earn 1.75 Velocity Points on eligible purchases within Virgin Australia per $1 spent (T&Cs apply). Enjoy $0 Annual Card fee. Get the security of Card Refund and Purchase Cover. Up to 55 days interest free on purchases. Up to four additional Cards at no extra fee.

Velocity Escape Card

Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Velocity Escape Card

NAB Qantas Rewards Signature Card

Earn up to 120,000 Bonus Qantas Points on a new NAB Qantas Signature Card. Min $3,000 spend on everyday purchases in first 60 days and keep your card open for 12 months.

Qantas Rewards Signature Card

Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Qantas Rewards Signature Card

Westpac Altitude Black

Earn up to 140,000 bonus Altitude Points with $6k+ spend on eligible purchases within 120 days of card approval. Discounted Annual Fee of $150 for the first year. New cards only. (T&C's apply).

Altitude Black

Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Altitude Black

American Express Velocity Platinum Card

Receive 60,000 bonus Velocity Points when you apply online by 26 June 2024, are approved, and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. Available to new American Express Card Members only.

Velocity Platinum Card

Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Velocity Platinum Card

American Express Explorer® Credit Card

Receive 50,000 bonus membership rewards points when you apply online, are approved, and spend $4,000 on eligible purchases on your new card within the first 3 months (T&Cs apply). New Card Members only. Complimentary domestic & international Travel Insurance (T&Cs apply). Up to 55 days interest free on purchases. $395 annual fee.

Explorer® Credit Card

Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Explorer® Credit Card

More rewards credit card options

Compare by rewards credit card type.

• Black cards
• Frequent flyer
• All credit cards

Browse all 91 rewards credit cards in Mozo's comparison database

^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Rewards credit cards Awards

Mozo provides general product information. We don't consider your personal objectives, financial situation or needs and we aren't recommending any specific product to you. You should make your own decision after reading the PDS or offer documentation, or seeking independent advice.

While we pride ourselves on covering a wide range of products, we don't cover every product in the market. If you decide to apply for a product through our website, you will be dealing directly with the provider of that product and not with Mozo.

Rewards Credit Card Resources

Views, news, tips and guides to help find the best rewards card for you.

Rewards Credit Card Monthly Snapshot: June 2024

Updated by: Jasmine Gearie, Senior Money Writer, 3 June 2024

If you’re thinking about a winter holiday or perhaps even escaping to somewhere warmer overseas, now might be a good time to consider a rewards credit card. There are plenty of options out there which can earn you frequent flyer points, and we’ve also listed which cards come with high introductory bonus point offers below.

As always, you should keep in mind that rewards credit cards typically come with higher interest rates, so make sure to pay off your balance regularly (and on time) so that the interest payments don’t outweigh the rewards benefits.

In news this month, there’s been a significant expansion of the Qantas Frequent Flyers, as Qantas has added a new category to its program called Classic Plus. It has added 20 million reward seats which are able to be booked now, with flights officially taking off from 1 July this year.

Unlike the existing Classic Rewards seats, the number of points you’ll need to redeem for the new Classic Plus seats isn’t fixed and will fluctuate throughout the year. For example, Qantas says the number of points needed to book Classic Plus seats will reduce when airfares go on sale, and may increase during busy travel periods.

Qantas says you’ll be able to book Classic Plus seats for international destinations including London, Tokyo, New York and Singapore, and the seats will also be eligible for upgrades.

Rewards credit card rates vs standard credit card rates

Here’s a look at the current average rates on rewards credit cards compared to standard credit cards, according to the Mozo database.

*Source: mozo.com.au as at 3 June 2024, leading purchase rates available on credit cards with or without rewards programs, excluding 0% interest cards, introductory offers and charge cards.

Best rewards card bonus points offers in June 2024 

This month, there have been a small handful of changes to credit card reward offers in the Mozo database.

We found that American Express made some changes to one of its cards – the bonus points on its Velocity Platinum Card dropped significantly from 100,000 to 60,000.

Meanwhile, Qantas Money is continuing with its 150,000 bonus Qantas Points offer on its Premier Titanium, but adds a $400 Qantas Luxury Holidays voucher.

Best intro bonus point offers:

The intro bonus point offers available in June are similar to last month’s deals – here are some worth knowing about.

Citi Prestige Credit Card – 275,000 Citi Rewards points

Citi Premier Credit Card – 200,000 Citi Rewards points

ANZ Rewards Black Credit Card – 180,000 ANZ Rewards points

NAB Rewards Signature Credit Card – 160,000 NAB Rewards points

American Express Platinum Charge Card – 150,000 Membership Rewards

Westpac Altitude Black – 150,000 Altitude Rewards points

St.George Amplify Rewards Signature Credit Card – 150,000 Amplify Rewards points

Bank of Melbourne Amplify Rewards Signature Credit Card – 150,000 Amplify Rewards points

BankSA Amplify Rewards Signature Credit Card – 150,000 Amplify Rewards points

Qantas Money Premier Titanium Credit Card – 150,000 Qantas Points

Best offers with airline rewards programs:

Here are the top bonus point offers currently available for airline rewards programs in the Mozo database.

Qantas Money Premier Titanium Credit Card – up to 150,000 Qantas Points

ANZ Frequent Flyer Black – up to 130,000 Qantas Points

Westpac Altitude Velocity Black – up to 120,000 Velocity points

What is a credit card reward?

As you spend on a rewards credit card, you’ll earn points, which can be redeemed for rewards like flights, travel packages, cashback, gift cards, retail products and more.

Different rewards cards offer different types of rewards - some are focussed on travel and offer complimentary flights, airport lounge access or even travel credits to be spent on your next getaway. Others offer perks like cashback on your grocery shop, or points that you can cash in for a gift card, or that new toaster you’ve been eyeing off.

No matter what kind of credit card reward you’re after, there are a few important steps to getting there, including choosing the right rewards card, understanding how to earn points, knowing what value rewards point redemption options are out there and being aware of the pitfalls of a rewards card. That’s where we come in.

Getting the best deal on your rewards credit card

The theory behind rewards credit cards is simple enough: spend money on your card to earn points that you can redeem for things you want, like retail therapy, the big one, travel and of course plenty of other premium perks. But how do you decide which rewards card is right for you?

We’re here to help. A great way to start off with a good stash of points, is to take advantage of a bonus points offer. Just be sure to check if there’s a minimum spend and that you’re comfortable managing it if so. You should know how many points you get for every dollar you spend on your card. This is called the points earn rate.

It’s also important to go for a rewards program that suits you. There’s no point in accumulating frequent flyer points if you suffer aviophobia (fear of flying).

The Mozo Rewards Credit Card Comparison Table is a great tool that you can use to sift through the sometimes complicated info around rewards cards and get a real apples for apples comparison.

Whatever your motivation, whether it’s seeing the world or bagging a bargain on the world’s greatest toaster, a rewards card can help you get there.

Head to Mozo.com.au to find out how you can get the best deal on your rewards credit card.

How do rewards credit cards work?

Rewards credit cards work just like any other credit card - you spend using the card, either in-store on online, then pay off your purchases later on when the bill comes - except the bonus is that you’ll earn points on your shopping.

What happens to those points and what you can redeem them on depends on which card you choose and which rewards program its attached to. So it’s also important to understand the different types of rewards credit cards and what they offer.

What types of credit card rewards are there?

There are heaps of different types of rewards credit cards, and picking the right one can be tricky. The main categories rewards fall into are:

• Airline frequent flyer rewards. Many banks and rewards card providers have credit cards that are directly linked to airline frequent flyer programs . This means that when you make purchases on your credit card, all points you accrue for those purchases will be turned into airline frequent flyer miles. Some airlines offering direct earn programs include Qantas, Virgin, Singapore Airlines and Emirates.
• General rewards. With a general rewards program, you’ll accrue rewards points which you can use to buy a range of products and services ranging from cashback, shopping and travel rewards including flights or accommodation. Popular rewards programs that fall under this category include Westpac Altitude Rewards Program, American Express Membership Rewards, NAB Flybuys, CommBank Awards, Citi Rewards and ANZ Rewards.
• Supermarket rewards. Woolworths and Coles have rewards credit cards that give you cashback in the form of shopping cards which you can use at the till to reduce the cost of your groceries.

If you’re still not sure how to pick the right rewards card for you, why not start with our Mozo Experts Choice Awards page. Each year, the Mozo money experts review all rewards credit cards in our database and award those cards that offer good value to customers based on their spending habits.

How do I choose a rewards program?

It is a common assumption with rewards credit cards that the more money you spend, the better the rewards. This is only partly true. To get the most value from a rewards program you will need to choose a card that delivers you value for your spending habits AND offers you the greatest benefit for the rewards you are interested in. What's the point in having a card with the highest-earning rate for Qantas Frequent Flyer miles when you don't travel often?

Each rewards program is a little bit different, because credit card providers have different partners and agreements, and they focus on different things - for example, some are all about travel perks, while others have a tonne of retail options to choose from.

Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the big rewards programs you’ll come across:

ANZ Rewards Program. Big bank ANZ offers rewards spanning travel, entertainment, retail products and gift vouchers. Points can be redeemed by logging into your ANZ Rewards account for retail shopping, or by being transferred to the Velocity, Air New Zealand or KrisFlyer programs.

NAB Rewards Program. With NAB, you can get your hands on all the classic rewards like flights, retail buys, cash back and gift cards, along with event tickets and experiences like shark swimming! You can redeem points through your NAB Rewards account, or directly through Webjet if you’re after travel rewards.

Westpac Altitude Rewards Program. Along with options like cashback, travel perks and Pay with points, Westpac gives you the opportunity to use your points for a discount or rebate on your credit card or home loan annual fee. You can redeem via your Westpac Altitude account, which includes the Altitude Travel online booking platform.

CommBank Awards Program. From booking your next holiday through Flight Centre, to shopping with points at Myer, there’s plenty of options with the CommBank Awards program. You can redeem points via NetBank or the Mozo Experts Choice Award winning CommBank app .

American Express Membership Rewards Program. Amex is well-known for all the rewards and perks on offer with its Membership Rewards Program. From shopping, entertainment and tonnes of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, there’s plenty of opportunities to use your Amex points, either through the Amex website, or in-store.

Citi Rewards Program. There are a tonne of ways to use your rewards points with Citi, from merchandise, to eVouchers, charitable donations to cashing them in for airline miles. This program also gives you access to CitiBank Dining Program and Citi World Privileges which will snag you perks like exclusive event access and hotel discounts around the world.

HSBC Rewards Plus Program. Whether you’re after some retail therapy or flights and accommodation for your next big trip, there are plenty of ways the HSBC Rewards Plus Programme can help. You can redeem your points through your HSBC online banking, or over the phone.

Bankwest More Rewards Program. Whale watching, movie tickets, three course dinners - there are plenty of awesome experiences to use your Bankwest More Rewards points on, plus all the usual options of retail products, gift cards or travel perks. You can redeem points through the Bankwest More Rewards website, or directly through Webjet for travel options.

St.George Amplify Rewards Program. You can choose a St.George credit card that will earn points you can redeem through the Amplify Rewards program or a card that funnels your points directly in your Qantas Frequent Flyer account. If you’re picking the Amplify Rewards Program, you’ll have gift cards, retail buys and entertainment options galore!

Bank of Melbourne Amplify Rewards Program. Manage your points through your Amplify Rewards account via the Bank of Melbourne website to cash in on rewards including cashback, travel perks like flights and accessories, electronics or gift cards.

Too much information to wade through? No worries - we can take a lot of the work out of it for you. Mozo's Rewards Revealer tool is the only calculator in the market that will give you a ranking of rewards cards based on your spending level and rewards you're interested in. A quick search with the tool will reveal just how different the rankings are for someone who spends $18,000 a year on their card and someone who spends over $60,000 annually.

But before you start reviewing cards for flight or shopping offers, first ask yourself: will I pay my credit card balance off in full each month? If you answered no, a rewards card may not be for you. Rewards credit cards have higher interest rates and annual fees than standard credit cards so if you have an ongoing balance, the amount of money you will pay in interest and fees will almost certainly outweigh the value you will get from any rewards. Instead,  compare low-interest cards and choose a piece of plastic that fits your style.

What type of credit card features should I look for? 

It’s not all about choosing the right rewards program! Rewards cards also offer other features, perks and bonuses, like:

• Interest-free days. If you pay your balance off in full each month you will get a set number of interest-free days. On rewards cards, this will range from 44 to 62 days.
• Worldwide access. Your card will come connected to either the MasterCard, Visa or American Express scheme and you’ll be able to use your card in Australia and overseas wherever these cards are accepted.
• PayPass /PayWave or digital payment options.  All credit cards these days come chip-enabled which means that you can use contactless payments in Australia for purchases under $100. Plus, most providers offer digital wallet options such as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay or Google Pay, meaning you can easily make a purchase from your smartphone. 
• Fraud protection. Rewards cards will have fraud protection where you won't be held responsible for any unauthorised charges online as long as you notify the card providers immediately upon discovery of any fraudulent transactions.

Other features you may get with your card:

• Complimentary travel insurance. Many rewards cards come with inbuilt overseas travel insurance when you pay for some of your pre-travel expenses on the card. Every card has different eligibility criteria so you will need to review this carefully. Some will require you to book your flight with your card others will only require you to have spent up to a set amount.
• Extended warranty and purchase protection. If you lose or damage goods bought with the card in a set period you may be able to claim them on your card’s insurance.
• Price protection. With this insurance, you will never miss out on a sale. If you purchase an item with your card and you see it cheaper within a set period you can claim back the difference. For this insurance, generally, the difference in price needs to be $50 or more.
• Concierge. Many rewards cards come with a concierge service that you’ll be able to tap into for restaurant and entertainment booking or recommendations for when you’re out shopping or visiting new cities.

What fees do rewards credit cards have?

On the flip side of all those perks and freebies, rewards cards can also come with some killer fees. It’s important to be aware of them, so you can make sure they don’t eat into your budget. Common fees include:

• Annual fee. Rewards credit cards usually have higher annual fees than credit cards without rewards programs. If you will only be using your card occasionally look for a low annual fee rewards card, otherwise you could find that you will pay more in the annual fee than you receive in rewards value.
• Cash advance fee. Using your card for cash advances is one of the biggest credit card no-no's as you'll pay interest immediately. But you will also have to pay a fee which will be a percentage of the withdrawal amount or a flat fee depending on which is higher.
• Foreign transaction fee. When you use your credit card overseas or when you shop at international online stores your credit card company will charge you a fee. This fee will be a percentage of the foreign transaction amount converted into Australian dollars. It is usually around 3%.
• Late payment fee. If you fail to pay your credit card on the due date you could be charged a late payment fee. These can be as high as $30 so it is best to automate your payments through online banking or direct debit.
• Frequent Flyer Program Fee. If you opt for a credit card that is directly linked to an airline's frequent flyer program you may have to pay an annual program fee on top of the card's annual fee.
• Frequent Flyer Membership Fee . If you are not already a member of a frequent flyer program like the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program you may have to pay a fee to join. Look to see if the credit card comes with a complimentary membership.

How to earn points on a rewards credit card

There are two main ways to earn rewards points with your plastic:

• Spend on your card. Most rewards cards come with a regular earn rate on eligible purchases - for example, 1 point for every $1 you spend - and some also have different earning tiers, where you can nab more points when you spend with particular businesses (usually major supermarkets or petrol stations) or when you spend internationally.
• Meet bonus point conditions. The best way to plump up your points balance fast is to qualify for a bonus point offer when you first sign up. To do this, you’ll usually have to spend a certain amount within a few months of being approved. As long as you’re not overspending just to get the points this is a great strategy. TOP TIP: plan to get your card just before you make a big spend, like a new phone or laptop, so you can score bonus points. Just make sure you can pay off that big purchase in full before the due date!

In general, credit card rewards are offered as an extra incentive for you to spend using your credit card - it’s important to avoid overspending, but as long as you were already going to spend the money anyway, scoring some rewards while you’re at it is not a bad deal.

How can I use credit card rewards?

There are heaps of different redemption options for when it comes time to use your rewards points, from travel to gift cards, cashback to retail buys. Exactly what redemption options you have will depend on which rewards program you pick, but most programs have options including:

• Retail products - whether you shop through the rewards program online store or use points + pay at the counter, most programs give you the chance to use your points on retail products like technology, clothes, beauty buys, or home and garden purchases.
• Travel - some programs allow you to book flights, holiday accommodation, rental cars or tour packages directly through the online store or with the airline. Others allow you to purchase travel vouchers, or book holidays with your points through agents like Webjet.
• Gift cards - one of the most versatile redemption options, you can’t go wrong with a gift card! Many programs have extensive lists of gift cards you can redeem points for, letting you cash those points in at your favourite retailers.
• Cashback - another flexible option is to cash in your rewards points for a credit on your account. This can either mean you’re in credit for extra spending, or in some cases, you can have rewards points go directly to paying your cards annual fee.
• Charity donations - if you’d like to give something back, some programs also allow you to use your points to donate to a list of charities

How to compare rewards credit cards

So how exactly do you find the best credit card to suit you, when there are so many options out there? When comparing rewards cards, it’s vital to make sure you’re comparing them on an even footing, which can be tricky when each one has different perks and bonuses available.

Some of the things you need to consider include:

• The usefulness of the rewards - is a free flight each year useful to you? What about the option to use points on your weekly grocery bill? Working out how you’ll really use your points it key to finding the right card.
• The cost of the card - all those rewards aren’t much good if you can’t really afford the annual fee, and keep getting stung by sky-high interest. It’s best to find a card that fits in your budget then consider the rewards a bonus on top.
• The criteria for having the card - some premium rewards options come with minimum income requirements to be eligible. If you don’t fall into the right income bracket, not only will your application be rejected, but you probably don’t want that card anyway, because it wouldn’t suit your lifestyle and budget.

But all that is easier said than compared. That’s where Mozo comes in. The table at the top of this page gives you a quick snapshot comparison of some rewards credit cards , including some of the key features. Then, if you want to compare even more options, you can compare our whole database of rewards credit cards and narrow your search by the type of rewards you’re after and how much you usually spend. Piece of cake!

Are credit card rewards worth it?

That depends on how you use your plastic. A rewards card generally has a higher annual fee and interest rate than other credit cards, so you have to make sure that you will get enough value out of the rewards and perks on offer to justify those extra costs.

If you’re a big spender who loves to cash in on freebies and will use all the extras offered by a rewards card, then yes, the annual fee and higher interest rate could be worth it. On the other hand, if you only occasionally use your plastic and wouldn’t get much value out of freebies and points, then a rewards credit card might be a drain on your budget. You might be better off with a low rate credit card instead.

What is an eligible transaction on a rewards credit card?

If you check the fine print, you’ll often find that you only earn rewards points on “eligible transactions” or “eligible spends”. But what does that mean? And the eligible transaction is usually any regular purchase, which excludes things like:

• Cash advances - in fact, not only will you not earn points, but you’ll pay interest immediately on a cash advance with your credit card, so steer clear of the ATM!
• Government charges - aside from GST on your purchases, most government charges don’t earn rewards points, although some cards do offer a very minimal point earn these days.
• Interest, bank fees and charges - think the silver lining of your credit card annual fee or those late fees is that you’re earning rewards points? Think again.
• BPAY payments - if you’re paying bills via BPAY, you usually won’t score any rewards points.

Jean-Paul (JP) Pelosi is an experienced journalist and editor who has contributed to many of Australia's leading media outlets including The Guardian, News.com.au, Domain.com.au, Investment Magazine and ANZ's Bluenotes. He has also edited news and communications for large financial services companies such as CommBank, Suncorp, Allianz and Amex. He loves a well told story and applying his editorial experience to content that readers both care about and enjoy. JP heads up our writing team.

Rewards Credit Cards FAQs

What is a rewards credit card.

Rewards credit cards work just like any other credit card: you spend using the card, then pay off your purchases later on when the bill comes. The key difference is that you’ll earn points on your shopping with a rewards card. These points can be converted into ‘rewards’ or other items. Learn more about the types of rewards you can earn on Credit cards hub.

How does a rewards card work?

As you spend on a rewards credit card, you’ll earn points, which can be redeemed for rewards like flights, travel packages, cashback, gift cards, retail products and more. What happens to those points and what you can redeem them on depends on which card you choose and which rewards program it's attached to. Use our comparison page to start your research on these types of cards. 

Is a rewards card a credit card?

Yes, it works in a similar way. However, with a rewards credit card you earn points as you spend. The points can then be cashed in for products or perks. Discover the benefits of rewards credit cards.

Are rewards cards worth it?

That depends on how you use them. A rewards card generally has a higher annual fee and interest rate than other credit cards , so you have to make sure that you will get enough value out of the rewards and perks on offer to justify those extra costs.

Can I earn rewards on a balance transfer?

No, you will not earn any rewards points on a balance transfer. That means that if you’re applying for a balance transfer card, you won’t earn points on the balance you’re moving over, as if it were a spend on the new card.

Ideally, you shouldn’t really be doing any new spending on a balance transfer card either, but you will save on interest if the card has a low balance transfer rate .

What factors do I need to consider with rewards programs?

Here are some quick tips to put you on the right path when it comes to choosing, earning, redeeming and using a rewards card and rewards points.

• points per dollar spent : each credit card's rewards program will have a different points earn rate. For instance you might earn three points on an Amex card and only 1 point on a Visa card.
• points redemption rates : Check the redemption rates as there can be a difference between what your points can buy you between programs.
• points cap : some program will have a cap on the number of points you can earn in a month or year.
• points expiry : check to see if there is an expiry date for using your points.

What does points per dollar spent mean?

This refers to the earn rate of rewards points for every dollar your spend. Not all points are created equal. The standard points per dollar spent equation is 1 point per $1 spent but some cards will have higher or lower points earnings per dollar amounts.

What does a points redemption rate mean?

The redemption rate refers to the value of the rewards point when you come to use the points to pay for goods or flights. One  Amex point might be more valuable than 3 points earnt on Visa. You could find that there is a big difference between what 50,000 points will get you on Card A and what you can get with 50,000 points on Card B. To help cut out some of the confusion Mozo has a “spend required” column in the table above which helps you to compare the difference between points values. American Express cards have on average higher points earning rates than Visa or MasterCard rewards cards.

What is a rewards points cap?

Some rewards cards will have a cap on the amount of points you can earn in a month or over a year period. If you’re a big spender look for a program that does not have any points caps. Click on the ‘more info’ link in our tables to see if a cap applies.

Do rewards points expire? 

Yes, some rewards programs do have expiry dates that you need to use your points by. It is more common with airline programs than credit cards programs so be sure you check if this will apply to you.  You will need to be able to accrue enough points before the expiry and if you don't you might want to donate your points to charity or another family member. This is sometimes called points pooling.

How do Bonus points work?

With some rewards cards, you will get the opportunity to earn bonus points . You might get them as a lump sum when you sign up for the card, or when you spend a set amount on the card in a specific timeframe. Other rewards cards will give you bonus points when you spend money with specific retailers or stores. When weighing up bonus points offers, it is important to ensure you review the ongoing interest rate and any fees attached to the card, especially if there are spending limits to earn the bonus points. You don’t want to overspend and get into debt just to earn $50 cashback, for instance.

How fast can I redeem rewards?

For every dollar you spend on your card you will earn rewards or frequent flyer points. Many rewards programs these days have flexible points redemption schemes where you can pay with points or pay with some points plus cash. Others will only allow you to redeem goods or services when you've reached a set number of points. So when comparing rewards programs it is important to consider whether you want the flexibility of a points plus cash rewards program or not.

How do I connect my rewards card with my frequent flyer account?

Some rewards credit cards will automatically transfer points earned each month to your frequent flyer account. When you sign up, it will usually ask for your frequent flyer account number.

Rewards Credit Card Reviews

More rewards credit card reviews

Who we are and how we get paid

Our goal at Mozo is to help you make smart financial decisions and our award-winning comparison tools and services are provided free of charge. As a marketplace business, we do earn money from advertising and this page features products with Go To Site links and/or other paid links where the provider pays us a fee if you go to their site from ours, or you take out a product with them. You do not pay any extra for using our service.

We are proud of the tools and information we provide and unlike some other comparison sites, we also include the option to search all the products in our database, regardless of whether we have a commercial relationship with the providers of those products or not.

'Sponsored', 'Hot deal' and 'Featured Product' labels denote products where the provider has paid to advertise more prominently.

'Mozo sort order' refers to the initial sort order and is not intended in any way to imply that particular products are better than others. You can easily change the sort order of the products displayed on the page.

Important information on terms, conditions and sub-limits

Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.

Search The Latch

I’ve scored free flights and travel insurance—and now i’m sharing my secrets.

This Gorgeous Farmhouse 2 Hours From Sydney Sleeps Up to 16

Riding Sydney’s Wave of New Mexican Restaurants

A Foodie’s Verdict: Is Olive Oil in a Squeezy Bottle a Good Idea?

In an era where travel has become an integral part of our lives, credit cards with travel perks have emerged as powerful tools for globetrotters.

Yes, I am one of them.

These credit cards not only offer convenience and security but also provide a wide range of travel-related benefits and rewards — many of which most people aren’t aware of.

The very best of The Latch delivered straight to your inbox.

After years of trial and error, I’ve picked up a sixth sense for sniffing out a good credit card for my travel agenda. Instead of keeping it to myself, I’m here to share my knowledge with you because, let’s face it, life isn’t getting any cheaper, especially when it comes to travel, and nabbing a perk could mean the difference between an incredible holiday or a lousy one.

Ready to find out how you can get a free international flight or ravage the buffet in the Airport lounge before your flight? Here are the credit cards to get you there.

ANZ Frequent Flyer Black Card

Best for: Airline rewards Annual fee: $425

I currently have this card and it’s the best, most reliable piece of plastic I’ve ever had in my wallet.

Apart from the alluring cityscape of Paris, New York, and Sydney etched into the card, the ANZ Frequent Flyer Black Card is great for travellers who prioritise airline rewards.

This credit card is affiliated with the Qantas Frequent Flyer programme, so you can earn Qantas Points on everyday purchases. Just through grocery shopping and a few other purchases, I have acquired enough points to fly to London from Sydney for free.

Additionally, cardholders can benefit from features like extended warranty and purchase protection, which is vital for any traveller buying goods overseas.

If you’re looking at the annual fee price and shaking your head, here’s a tip. This credit card gives you $255 back, so you’re really only paying $170.

American Express Platinum Card

Best for:  Luxury travel perks Annual fee: $1,450

Do you like to travel in style? I do too. The American Express Platinum Card is known for its luxurious travel benefits and exceptional service.

With this card, you can access a vast network of airport lounges worldwide, including Priority Pass lounges. Cardholders also enjoy a complimentary elite status in various hotel loyalty programs, such as Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy, allowing for room upgrades and exclusive perks.

The Platinum Card also offers comprehensive travel insurance coverage, concierge services, and generous reward programs for earning points that can be redeemed for flights and hotel stays.

At the end of the day, the perks outweigh the annual fee, but it is a steep cost, so consider carefully. I used this as my business card, but when the pandemic shuttered travel, I had to give up my beloved card.

American Express Explorer Card

Best for: Travel credit Annual fee: $395

If the Platinum is out of reach, the next best card I can recommend is the American Express Explorer.

This is currently my business card because every purchase I make goes toward flights, hotel stays and more.

The best part, there are no foreign transaction fees, which, if you don’t already know, is like finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I bring it with me on every international trip.

Expect a $400 annual travel credit, complimentary domestic and international travel insurance, and extensive American Express Global Lounge Collection access.

Virgin Australia Velocity High Flyer Card

Best for: Virgin Frequent Flyers Annual fee: $129

If you frequently fly with Virgin Australia, the Virgin Money Velocity High Flyer Card could perfectly fit you.

This card gives users an accelerated earning rate for Velocity Frequent Flyer points, allowing for quicker redemption of flights, upgrades, and other travel-related benefits.

Cardholders also enjoy complimentary travel insurance, airport lounge access, and a range of exclusive offers and discounts. Additionally, the card offers bonus perks, like a complimentary domestic return flight each year and no foreign transaction fees.

Qantas Premier Platinum Credit Card

Best for: Qantas Frequent Flyers Annual fee:  $299

I haven’t personally tried it, but I have friends and family who use this card and have nothing but good things to say.

Firstly, you get 90,000 Qantas points just for signing up and, for the first year, the annual fee is only $199. Every year after, it’s $299.

Cardholders also get complimentary travel insurance, airport lounge access, and exclusive discounts on flights and hotel bookings. With additional features like no foreign transaction fees, it’s an excellent choice for Qantas enthusiasts.

Related: Didi’s New Travel Feature Is Designed to Save You Money on Long Distance Fares

Related: These Tips Will Ensure You Squeeze Every Last Perk Out of Your Credit Card

Read more stories from  The Latch  and subscribe to our  email newsletter .

Make the Most of Mudgee at These 8 Luxury Lodgings

These Pet-Friendly Glamping Tents Will Change the Mudgee Accommodation Game

The Traditional Part of Samoan Culture I Wish I’d Tried When I Visited the Nation

Airport Restaurants No Longer Suck

Privacy notice.

Frequent Flyer Credit Cards Deals & Reviews

At Flight Hacks, we aim to find the best frequent flyer credit card deals in Australia and the best credit cards for Qantas Points. All cards listed here are worth considering if you’re looking for a great way to earn frequent flyer points in your favourite reward program fast. We will only list the best offers for American Express, Visa & MasterCard as well as the best Qantas credit cards. You won’t find any low cost, low-interest credit cards here; simply because they are not worth your time! It’s our goal to give a comprehensive review of each card to get you flying business or first class in no time! When you click on our links, apply and get approved for one of the cards listed on this page, we may receive a small referral bonus (advertising fee) from our partners. This is at no extra cost to you. We appreciate your support, thank you!

American Express Platinum Card

+ $450 Travel Credit

Receive 150,000 Bonus Membership Rewards Points when you apply online by 25 June 2024, are approved and spend $5,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months of your approval date. T&Cs apply. Available for new American Express Card Members only.

American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card

Earn 170,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply by 25 June 2024, are approved and spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card within 3 months of your approval date. T&C’s apply. Available for new American Express Card Members only.

American Express Velocity Platinum

Earn Rate: Up to 2.25 Velocity Points per dollar.

Receive 60,000 bonus Velocity Points1 when you apply online by 26 June 2024, are approved, and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. Available to new American Express Card Members only.

American Express Qantas Ultimate

Receive 60,000 Bonus Qantas Rewards Points when you apply online by 28 May 2024, are approved, and spend $3,000 on your new Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. Available for New American Express Card Members only.

Qantas American Express Premium Card

+ 2 Lounge Invitations

Qantas Premium Receive 20,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply, are approved, and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases on your new Qantas American Express Premium Card within 3 months of Card Membership. T&C’s apply. Available to new American Express Card Members only.

American Express Platinum Edge Credit Card

Enjoy $0 Annual Card Fee (usually $195) in the first year when you apply online and are approved. T&Cs apply. New Card Members only.

Best Qantas Points Credit Card?

14 Best Travel Credit Cards of June 2024

Best travel cards main takeaways.

• Money has evaluated hundreds of credit cards, comparing their fees, benefits, welcome offers, travel insurance policies and more.
• The top credit cards for travel offer high rewards on travel purchases, which can be redeemed for airfare, hotel nights, cash back, statement credits or more.
• Our picks feature the best travel cards for every budget and include no-annual-fee, low-annual-fee, premium and business cards.

Why Trust Us?

Our editorial team has spent well over a thousand hours analyzing, evaluating and comparing the top credit card offers in the market. We carefully vet each card’s fine print in order to understand their features, limitations and potential benefits for consumers. We review cards independently, ensuring our content is accurate and guided by editorial integrity. Read our full methodology to learn more.

• 46 travel credit cards evaluated
• 10+ data points used, including ongoing fees, reward programs and welcome offers
• 100+ sources reviewed

Money.com has partnered with CardRatings.com for our coverage of credit card products. Money and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. This site does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Our top picks are listed strictly in alphabetical order.

Our Top Picks for Best Travel Credit Cards

Best no-annual-fee travel credit cards.

• Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card – Best no-annual-fee travel card for flat rate rewards
• Bilt Mastercard® – Best no-annual-fee travel card for paying rent
• Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card – Best no-annual-fee card for travel partners
• Chase Freedom Unlimited® – Best no-annual-fee travel card for domestic travel
• Discover it® Miles Credit Card – Best no-annual-fee travel card for simple rewards
• Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card – Best no-annual-fee travel card for everyday spending

Best low-fee-annual-fee travel credit cards

• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card – Best travel card for flat-rate rewards
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card – Best travel card for flexible rewards

Best premium travel credit cards

• American Express® Gold Card – Best travel card for dining
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – Best low-cost premium travel card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve® – Best premium travel credit card
• The Platinum Card® from American Express – Best travel card for lounge access

Best business travel credit cards

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express – Best business travel card

Best airline travel credit cards

• United℠ Explorer Card: Best airline credit card

Best Travel Credit Cards Reviews

Best no-annual-fee travel credit cards.

• No annual fee
• No foreign transaction fees
• Earns 1.5x points on all purchases
• No bonus category for travel
• Few benefits compared to other cards
• Limited redemption options

Why we chose it: The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card is an easy-to-use card best suited for travel reward beginners or those who are already Bank of America customers.

Some cardholders can earn up to 75% more points if they are Bank of America Preferred Rewards members — that’s up to 2.62 points for every dollar spent.

However, the card doesn’t offer hotel and airline point transfer partners, travel insurance or extended warranty and purchase protection. Additionally, you can only redeem your points as statement credit to cover travel and dining purchases.

All information about Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Money.com

• No annual or foreign currency conversion fee (Click herehttps://www.wellsfargo.com/credit-cards/bilt/terms/">here; for rates and fees)
• Use it to pay your rent and earn rewards without incurring any processing fees
• You can earn double points on all purchase categories (except rent payments) on the first of every month (up to 10,000 points)
• Earn 2x points on travel (when booked directly through an airline, hotels, car rental agencies and cruise lines)
• No welcome bonus or introductory APR period
• Points redeemed for statement credits are worth 0.55 cents each
• You must make at least five transactions in a statement period to earn points
• Rent payments can only be made to one rental property per month

Why we chose it: The Bilt Mastercard® lets you earn travel rewards on rent payments without incurring any processing fees — unlike most credit cards that typically charge around 2.5% to 2.9% per rent payment.

You can use the card to pay rent without worrying about surcharges. Once you get approved for the card, all you have to do is set up an account through the Bilt app or website and use your assigned routing and account number to pay rent through your usual payment portal. You can also use your card even if your landlord only accepts checks, and Bilt will send a check on your behalf.

Additionally, Bilt doubles the card’s rewards rates on the first of every month, which means you can earn 6x points on dining, 4x points on travel and 2x points on other purchases (up to 10,000 points per month). However, this bonus doesn’t apply to rent rewards.

On the downside, the Bilt Mastercard® doesn’t offer a welcome bonus, and points redeemed for statement credits are only worth 0.55 cents each.

• Can transfer your miles to 16 travel partners
• Earns 5x miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Doesn't earn bonus points on airfare
• No domestic travel partners

Why we chose it: The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a great option if you’re looking for a no-annual fee travel credit card with a simple rewards structure.

You can use your miles to book travel through the Capital One Travel portal or as a statement credit to cover travel purchases made from airlines, hotels, rail lines, car rental agencies and more.

You can also transfer your points to one of Capital One’s 16 travel partners, which include international airlines such as Avianca and British Airways. This option is notable since travel credit cards with no annual fee don’t typically offer the option to transfer your reward to airline and hotel partners.

However, the card’s list of bonus categories is limited compared to some other no-annual-fee credit cards, and Capital One doesn’t offer bonus points on airfare booked through Capital One Travel.

• Includes trip cancellation/interruption and car rental insurance
• Features a high flat cash back rate combined and popular bonus categories
• 3% foreign transaction fee

Why we chose it: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is the best credit card for traveling domestically. It offers a 1.5% flat cash back rate on most purchases plus it has several appealing bonus categories, including travel and dining.

This card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, that is, on any transactions made in currency other than US dollars. However, if you mostly travel within the U.S., this card is an excellent option.

For one, you’ll earn an additional 1.5% on each of the card’s bonus categories during the first year of card membership (or up to the first $20,000 spent).

Also, although using this card abroad is not recommended, you can still use it to book international trips while you’re home, and you’ll earn 5% cash back if you book it through Chase Travel℠.

You can redeem your rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and even transfer them to other cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points. It’s also worth noting that this card is one of the few no-annual-fee credit cards with rental car coverage and trip cancellation and interruption insurance.

• No annual or foreign transaction fees
• Discover matches the total miles you earned at the end of the first year
• Earns 1.5x miles on all purchases
• See your FICO score on the Discover mobile app, online and on statements
• Few benefits compared to other travel cards
• Doesn't include extended warranty or purchase protection

Why we chose it: The Discover it® Miles Credit Card is a no-frills card ideal for travelers who don’t want to keep track of bonus categories, earning caps or redemption values.

The card earns a flat 1.5x miles on all eligible purchases without any annual caps. You can redeem your miles for statement credits and account deposits at a rate of 1 cent per mile. You can also use your rewards through Amazon and PayPal checkout with the same value.

Also, the card’s welcome bonus is easily one of the best in the market: Discover matches every mile you’ve earned at the end of your first membership year — without any spending requirements.

However, while the Discover it® Miles Credit Card is a great starter travel card, its lack of bonus categories could hinder your reward-earning potential in the long run. Additionally, Discover cards aren’t as widely accepted internationally as Visa Signature and World Mastercard, for example.

All information about the Discover it® Miles Credit Card has been collected independently by Money.com.

• Earn 3x points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, select streaming services and cell phone plans
• Includes cell phone protection plan
• No airline or hotel transfer partners
• Doesn't include travel insurance
• Netflix and HBO are not eligible for streaming bonus

Why we chose it: The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is the best travel reward card for everyday spending, offering high rewards on several popular spending categories, including travel, dining, gas, streaming services and cell phone plans.

Its travel bonus category is particularly noteworthy because you can earn points regardless of where you make your reservations, whether it’s directly with an airline or through a third-party travel site like Booking.com. (Most travel credit cards limit travel rewards to bookings made exclusively through the card issuer’s travel portal.)

The card also includes rental car insurance and a cell phone protection plan when you use it to pay your monthly bill.

All information about the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card has been collected independently by Money.com.

Best Low-Annual-Fee Travel Credit Cards

• Earn 2x miles per dollar on most purchases
• Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck(R)
• Includes travel accident and car rental insurance
• Fewer bonus categories than other cards with a similar annual fee ($95)
• Doesn't offer travel rewards for flights
• Car rental insurance is secondary

Why we chose it: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is the best credit card for travel miles if you want to earn a high reward rate and not worry about bonus categories.

The Capital One Venture Rewards is ideal for those who want to get the most out of their spending without worrying about tracking bonus categories and spending caps.

You can redeem your miles on the Capital One travel portal and as statement credits to cover travel purchases at a value of one cent per mile. Additionally, you may transfer your miles to more than 15 airline and hotel partners.

However, keep in mind that Capital One doesn’t have domestic travel partners, which can be a drawback if you mainly travel within the U.S.

• Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel purchases through Chase TravelSM
• Receive a point bonus each account anniversary
• Includes primary rental car insurance
• Earn 3x per $1 on dining, including eligible delivery and takeout meals, select streaming services and grocery purchases
• $95 annual fee
• Doesn't offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck(R) application fee credit

Why we chose this card: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best travel credit card for frequent travelers who want to earn valuable rewards while paying a low annual fee.

The card features six reward categories that offer outstanding rewards on flights, hotels, restaurants and more. You can redeem your points for statement credits, account deposits, gift cards and more. But you can get the most bang for your buck by redeeming them for travel purchases through the Chase Travel℠ portal, which increases your point’s usual one-cent value by 25%.

You can redeem your points for statement credits, account deposits, gift cards and more. But you can get the most bang for your buck by redeeming them for travel purchases through Chase Travel℠, which increases your point’s usual one-cent value by 25%.

You can also transfer your points to one of Chase’s 14 travel partners at a 1:1 ratio (one Chase point equals one hotel point or airline mile). These include popular airlines and hotels like JetBlue, Southwest, United, Marriott and Hyatt.

Best Premium Travel Credit Cards

• Earns 4x points on restaurants worldwide, takeout and food delivery within the U.S.
• Up to $120 in annual dining credits, issued as a $10 statement credit per month for select restaurants (enrollment required)
• Up to $120 as Uber Cash annually ($10 per month) for food delivery orders and rides in the U.S. after you add the American Express(R) Gold Card to your Uber account
• Earn 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x)
• High annual fee ($250)
• Includes few travel perks and insurance policies compared to similarly priced cards

Terms apply. Please click here for applicable rates and fees.

Why we chose it: The American Express® Gold Card is ideal for foodies, offering a high reward rate at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets, takeout and food delivery. (Terms apply.)

The American Express® Gold Card also offers statement credits worth up to $240 combined — almost enough to offset the card’s $250 annual fee. These include:

• Up to $120 every year in dining credits ($10 per month) for select restaurants and food delivery services. The list includes Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and Shake Shack (Enrollment required)
• Automatically get $10 monthly in Uber Cash to use on Uber Eats or Uber rides in the U.S. (after you add the American Express® Gold Card to your account)
• $100 credit for dining, spa services and other activities when you book a two-night minimum stay at a hotel from The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel
• Terms apply

However, note that the American Express® Gold Card offers fewer travel perks than some other premium cards — for instance, it doesn’t offer trip cancellation and interruption insurance or TSA PreCheck® or CLEAR® Plus fee credits.

• 10,000 bonus miles every year
• Statement credit of up to $300 for bookings made through Capital One Travel
• Up to a $100 credit on Global Entry or TSA PreCheck(R)
• Skip the line and get car upgrades when renting a car with Hertz
• High annual fee ($395)
• Fewer bonus categories than other premium cards
• No domestic airline transfer partners

Why we chose it: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the best credit card for travel miles if you want to earn a high reward rate and not worry about bonus categories.

The Capital One Venture X also includes noteworthy perks such as:

• 10,000 bonus miles every year (starting on your first anniversary)
• $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
• Up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
• Access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges worldwide with Priority Pass™ Select and Plaza Premium Group
• Authorized users at no extra cost (many cards have an annual fee of $75 or more for each additional user)

All in all, the Venture X is a solid option that can easily compete with other premium travel cards, especially considering its more affordable annual fee.

• Up to $300 in statement credits each anniversary year to cover travel purchases
• Transfer your points to 14 travel partners (including United, Southwest, JetBlue and Marriott)
• Points worth 50% more when redeemed for travel expenses through Chase TravelSM
• Comprehensive travel insurance coverage, including emergency dental insurance
• High annual fee ($550)
• Doesn't include a cell phone protection plan

Why we chose it: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the best credit card for travelers looking for a high reward rate on travel and additional benefits like comprehensive travel insurance and airport lounge access worldwide.

Your points are worth 50% more when you redeem them for travel through the Chase Travel℠ portal. This means each point is worth 1.5 cents per point instead of one cent, like most travel cards. Also, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® provides several high-end benefits such as:

• $300 annual travel credit to cover travel-related purchases like airfare, hotels, car rentals, rideshares, buses, trains, tolls and/or parking
• Access for you and two guests to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide (after a one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select)
• Statement credit of up to $100 every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or Nexus

The Sapphire Reserve does have a $550 annual fee. But if you take advantage of the $300 annual credit and other perks, the benefits can definitely outweigh its cost.

• Access to the widest network of airport lounges of any card
• Complimentary elite status in the Marriott and Hilton hotel loyalty programs
• Hundreds of dollars in annual statement credits for travel, dining and more
• High annual fee ($695)
• Doesn't include baggage delay, travel accident and primary rental car insurance
• Limited bonus categories

Terms apply. Click here for rates and fees.

Why we chose this card: The Platinum Card® from American Express offers a list of premium benefits that no other travel card offers, including the widest network of airport lounges and room upgrades at Hilton and Marriott hotels. (Terms apply.)

The Platinum Card® from American Express features an impressive list of high-end travel benefits, including:

• Complimentary access to over 1,400 airport lounges, including Priority Pass, Delta SkyClub and Amex’s own Centurion lounges (enrollment required)
• Gold status in the Marriott and Hilton loyalty programs, which makes you eligible for room upgrades, free breakfast and late checkouts (enrollment required)
• $200 back each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings made through American Express Travel and paid with your Platinum Card® (Hotel Collection bookings require a minimum two-night stay)
• Up to $200 per year when incidental fees, such as checked bags, are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card® (with one selected qualifying airline)
• Complimentary premium status in Avis Preferred®, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards®, and/or National Car Rental® Emerald Club (must enroll through your Amex online account using your card)

The Platinum Card® from American Express does have a hefty $695 annual fee. However, for people who travel often and will take advantage of its annual credits and travel perks, it might almost pay for itself.

Best Business Travel Credit Cards

• 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com
• Around $1,000 in yearly statement credits for select business purchases
• Access to a wide network of airport lounges (terms apply)
• Around $600 in perks in Fine Hotels + Resorts(R) locations booked through American Express Travel (for stays of two nights)
• Secondary rental car coverage**

Why we chose it: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express features an extensive list of benefits that make it an ideal travel and business credit card.

With this card, you can access over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, comprehensive travel insurance and extra amenities at hundreds of hotels, like daily breakfast and free internet access. Additionally, you get a $200 credit to cover baggage fees, in-flight refreshments and more and up to $100 for Global Entry or $85 for TSA PreCheck® every four or 4.5 years respectively. (Terms apply.) (Enrollment required.)

The card also offers several yearly statement credits for business-related purchases that include up to $400 per year ($200 between January and June and $200 between July and December) for U.S. purchases with Dell.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express does have one of the steepest annual fees ($695) among travel credit cards, but its extensive list of benefits makes it a no-brainer for business owners who travel frequently.

Best Airline Travel Credit Cards

• Free first checked bag for you and a companion
• Up to $100 as a statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck(R) or NEXUS every 4 year
• 25% back as a statement credit on food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights
• Complimentary priority boarding for you and companions traveling on the same reservation
• $95 annual fee (after the first year)
• No intro APR period
• Rewards are only valuable when used with United

Why we chose it: The card_name has a low annual fee and gives you valuable benefits that make up for it, such as priority boarding for everyone on the reservation and a free checked bag for you and one companion.

Other perks the card includes are:

• Two one-time passes for United Club℠ airport lounges each account anniversary year
• 25% back as a statement credit on in-flight purchases like food, beverages and Wi-Fi
• Up to $100 every four years to cover the cost of TSA PreCheck®, Global Entry or NEXUS
• Comprehensive travel insurance (auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation/interruption insurance and trip delay reimbursement)

The United℠ Explorer Card earns miles on United purchases, including tickets, inflight food, beverages, Wi-Fi and more. You also earn rewards at restaurants and select hotel stays.

You can use your miles to book flights on United Airlines or its partners, including Avianca, Lufthansa and Air Canada. You can also redeem them for seat upgrades, inflight Wi-Fi passes and more — although United miles are usually more valuable when used for airfare.

Travel Credit Cards Guide

The best credit cards for travel do more than offer high reward rates on flights and hotel stays. They also provide rewards for everyday spending and perks such as travel insurance , airport lounge access and annual statement credits.

Here’s a rundown of how these cards work:

What is a travel credit card?

Travel credit cards offer benefits and rewards geared towards individuals who travel frequently or want to earn travel benefits.

They provide high rewards for travel-related expenses such as flights, hotels, rental cars and dining. You can then use these rewards (in the form of points or miles) to book travel reservations. Some cards also let you transfer your rewards to hotel and airline partners or redeem them for statement credits, cash back, gift cards and more.

On top of the rewards, these cards often feature several travel-related perks, such as no foreign transaction fees, hotel discounts, travel insurance, free checked bags and airport lounge access.

How do travel credit cards work?

Travel credit cards give you a certain number of points or miles per dollar on eligible purchases. They often offer around 5x points or more for airfare, hotel rooms, rental cars and more. Some cards may also count parking, bus fares, taxis, tolls and ferries as travel purchases.

Besides travel, you’ll typically get bonus points in additional spending categories. For example, some cards may offer 3x points per dollar on dining, groceries, drugstores or streaming services. All other eligible purchases usually get at least one point (1x) per dollar.

You can then redeem your points for flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises and more. Card issuers also usually let you redeem your points for non-travel options like statement credits, cash back or gift cards.

How to use credit card points for travel

Travel credit cards have rewards programs through which you can earn points (or miles). Well-known point programs include Chase Travel℠, American Express Membership Rewards® and Citi ThankYou® Rewards.

To redeem your points, go to your card’s rewards program portal. You’ll usually be able to access it through your online account on the issuer’s website or app.

Once you log in, you’ll get several redemption options, including travel. To make a reservation, select whether you want to book a flight, hotel, car rental or other available options and enter your trip details, including travel dates and number of travelers.

How much are points and miles worth

Points are usually worth one cent each. However, some issuers increase their value if you redeem them for travel. For example, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card points are worth 1.25 cents when used to book flights through the Chase Travel℠ portal.

Points may also be worth less than a cent, depending on how you redeem them. For example, some cards allow you to use your points at Amazon checkout. While this might sound convenient, this option may bring down the value of points to around 0.8 cents.

Some cards also allow you to transfer your rewards to select airline and hotel partners. Typically, you can transfer rewards to these loyalty programs on a 1:1 ratio, meaning that 1,000 credit card points are worth 1,000 loyalty program points.

Difference between points and miles

You’ll earn points or miles depending on which travel credit card you have. For example, Chase travel credit cards earn points, while Capital One travel cards earn miles. Miles and points typically have similar value (around one cent each) and redemption options.

However, keep in mind that several cards that earn miles are tied to a specific airline — like the United℠ Explorer Card. In this case, you can only use your rewards for purchases with the issuing airline such as flights, seat upgrades, inflight dining and more.

Pros and cons of travel credit cards

• Some cards offer up to 10x points per dollar on travel purchases.
• Many have additional bonus categories for dining, grocery shopping and more.
• They may include travel benefits like priority boarding, airport lounge access and late hotel checkouts.
• Points or miles can also be redeemed for cash back, statement credits, gift cards and more.
• Highest reward rates are usually limited to purchases made through the card issuer's travel portal.
• They might not offer high rewards on spending outside of the travel category.
• Some of the best ones can have steep annual fees and require good to excellent credit
• Redeeming points or miles for anything other than travel can reduce their value to less than one cent per dollar.

Types of travel credit cards

Here’s a rundown of the differences between the three main types of travel credit cards:

Airline credit cards

Airline credit cards are ideal for people who regularly fly with the same airline. These cards earn miles you can redeem for flights, seat upgrades, inflight dining, airport lounge access and other travel-related purchases but typically only with the issuing airline.

Some of the best airline travel credit cards include benefits like free checked bags, priority boarding and discounts on in-flight purchases.

Hotel credit cards

With hotel credit cards, you can only redeem your points for stays, discounts and other benefits with one particular hotel chain.

For example, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card earns points for Hilton’s loyalty program, which you can redeem for free nights in the company’s properties, including Hilton Garden Inn and Waldorf Astoria hotels.

Hotel credit cards may also offer complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, late checkouts and bonus points for purchases made during your stay.

General travel credit card

General travel credit cards are more flexible than airline or hotel cards. They aren’t affiliated with a single airline or hotel chain, so their points can be used to book flights, hotel stays, rental cars and more from different companies.

These cards may also offer useful perks for frequent travelers, like airport lounge access. They can also cover the cost of a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership, which allows you to skip the long lines at airport security or customs.

How to choose a travel credit card

Picking the best travel rewards credit card boils down to how often you travel, which cardmember perks you’d benefit the most from and the categories you spend the most on.

Here are some factors to keep in mind when choosing the best card for you:

• Do you travel often? A travel rewards credit card offers high reward rates on travel spending, and you’ll get the most bang for your buck when you use their points on flights, hotels and car rentals. If you don’t take trips often but want to pile up rewards, a cash-back credit card might be a better fit.
• Assess your everyday spending. Many travel cards have additional bonus categories other than travel, like dining, supermarkets, streaming services and drugstores. Consider your day-to-day spending habits and pick a card with bonus categories that fit your lifestyle.
• Consider the card’s annual fees. No-annual-fee travel cards usually have few travel benefits. The best travel credit cards charge annual fees of at least $90 and can go as high as $700. However, these are often best for those that travel enough to take advantage of their benefits.
• General travel card vs co-branded cards. General travel cards have more flexible redemption options. On the other hand, co-branded cards are often tied to a specific airline or hotel, which can limit your options. Still, they do provide valuable perks like free checked bags, in-flight discounts and hotel upgrades.
• Compare extra travel perks. Some cards offer extras like annual statement credits for flights and hotels or upgrades when renting cars. Take the time to compare each card’s roster of add-ons and pick one that will best suit your travel plans.
• Compare insurance policies. The best credit card travel benefits include insurance policies that cover travel accidents, rental cars, trip cancellations and more. These policies can vary widely based on the issuer and the card’s annual-fee tier.
• Beware foreign transaction fees. Most travel credit cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees. Some cash-back cards may offer outstanding rewards for travel purchases but charge around 3% fees on purchases outside the U.S.
• Look beyond welcome offers. A 60,000-point welcome bonus can be enticing. However, it shouldn’t be your deciding factor, especially if you’ll end up paying a high annual fee without getting your money’s worth.

How to get the most out of your travel credit card

Here are some other tips to maximize your card’s rewards and benefits:

• Use your card as often and strategically as possible. This way, you can earn points or miles with each purchase and redeem them for free or discounted flights, hotels and more. (Remember to pay your card off in full each month to avoid interest charges and credit card debt .)
• Consider adding an authorized user to your account. They’ll earn points with every purchase they make, and those will get added to your overall total. However, make sure to pick someone who will use the card responsibly since you’ll be legally liable if they ever fail to pay their monthly bills.
• Redeem your rewards for travel through the card issuer’s website. This redemption option usually offers the highest value compared to gift cards or merchandise, for example.
• If your card offers travel protections (like travel accident or luggage insurance), use it to pay for your passenger fares. This way, you could be reimbursed in the event of an accident or lost luggage, for example.
• Use your airline or hotel card to sign up for the company’s frequent flyer or frequent guest loyalty program. You’ll often earn extra points or miles when you’re a member and use your co-branded card to pay for flights, hotel stays and more.
• If you can transfer points from other credit cards to your travel card, take advantage of this feature. This way, you can accumulate extra points for travel booking and sometimes even increase their value.

Best Travel Credit Cards FAQs

What is the best travel credit card, what is the best credit card for international travel, how to travel for free with credit cards, what is the best credit card for travel miles, what is a welcome bonus on a credit card, how we chose the best travel credit cards.

We ranked the best credit cards for travel based on their annual fees, benefits, reward rates and redemption flexibility.

Fees: We compared interest rates and foreign, cash advance and balance transfer fees for more than 50 credit cards. We also considered their annual fee, looking for those that offered the most for the money.

Ongoing benefits: Intro APR and bonus offers are attractive, but they can only get you so far. We focused on cards with year-round benefits such as travel insurance or cell phone protection plans.

Reward rates: We preferred cards that allow you to earn extra points from travel expenses, as well as those that provide significant bonus rewards in popular spending categories, like dining, supermarkets or streaming services.

Redemption flexibility: Our picks don’t limit your redemption options to just travel. Some let you use your points for Amazon purchases, for example. We also preferred issuers that allowed cardholders to transfer their points to airline and hotel partners.

Summary of Money’s Best Travel Credit Cards of June 2024

Money.com has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Money.com and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

To see rates and fees for the American Express® Gold Card, visit this link . Terms apply.

To see rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express, visit this link . Terms apply.

To see rates and fees for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, visit this link . Terms apply.

* Insurance disclosures for American Express Cards on this page:

Trip Delay Insurance: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Baggage Insurance Plan: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Global Assist Hotline: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

** Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

*** Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

© Copyright 2024 Money Group, LLC . All Rights Reserved.

This article originally appeared on Money.com and may contain affiliate links for which Money receives compensation. Opinions expressed in this article are the author's alone, not those of a third-party entity, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed. Offers may be subject to change without notice. For more information, read Money’s full disclaimer .

The top 11 credit cards with annual travel statement credits

Editor's Note

Travel rewards credit cards entice new cardholders with flashy welcome offers and waived annual fees during the first year. They can also help you beat rising travel costs due to inflation.

However, many premium rewards cards on the market also offer ongoing travel benefits. These perks include not only things such as airport lounge access and Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee reimbursements but also annual statement credits toward travel purchases. These can be especially useful for things like stays at boutique hotels that aren't part of a major loyalty program or even when using ride-hailing apps to get from your hotel back to the airport.

Credit card travel credits can vary from a flat $300 per year for a wide variety of travel purchases — as you get with the Chase Sapphire Reserve — to up to $200 specifically for non-ticket airline incidentals on your selected carrier with T he Platinum Card® from American Express per calendar year (enrollment is required).

In this guide, we'll walk through which credit cards have annual travel credits and how flexible they are for hotels, flights and everything in between.

Overview of credit cards with annual travel credits

There are multiple credit cards with annual travel credits. These credits can help to offset portions of a trip where you must pay cash.

However, the rules for using these credits can vary by card. Let's take a look at the amount of credit you can receive on each card and its welcome bonus before digging into the details of what you can and can't use these credits for each year.

The information for the Premium Rewards Elite, Citi Prestige, Hilton Aspire, Ritz-Carlton and U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

American Express® Gold Card

Annual travel credit: Up to $120 in Uber Cash each calendar year — up to $10 monthly delivered in the form of Uber Cash that can be used on U.S. Uber rides and Uber Eats purchases, making the credits exceptionally versatile. Enrollment is required.

Current welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first six months of card membership (though some folks might be eligible for a higher targeted offer via the CardMatch tool ; offers are subject to change at any time).

Annual fee: $250 (see rates and fees ).

Other benefits: Amex Gold cardholders earn 4 points per dollar at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar), 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amex Travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases. This card earns Membership Rewards points, which you can transfer to a total of 21 airline and hotel partners . Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly (up to $120 annual dining credit) when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment is required.

Review: American Express Gold review

Official application link: American Express Gold Card with a 60,000-point welcome bonus after spending $6,000 in purchases within six months of card membership.

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card

Annual travel credit: Up to $100 in statement credits for airline incidentals like checked bags, seat selection or upgrades each year.

Current sign-up bonus: Receive 60,000 bonus points after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Annual fee: $95.

Other benefits: The Bank of America Premium Rewards card has a solid rate of return. Cardholders earn 2 points per dollar on travel and dining and 1.5 points per dollar on everything else.

You can boost your earnings from 25% to 75%, depending on how much you have in deposits with Bank of America and Merrill through the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program . Points can be redeemed for statement credits, gift cards and purchases through the Bank of America Travel Center or as a deposit to a Bank of America account at a rate of 1 cent apiece. The card waives foreign exchange fees and will reimburse cardholders for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee once every four years (up to $100).

Review: Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card review

Official application link: Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card with a 60,000-point welcome bonus after spending $4,000 in purchases within 90 days from account opening.

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card

Annual travel credit: Up to $300 in statement credits for airline incidentals like checked bags, seat selection or upgrades each year.

Current sign-up bonus: Receive 75,000 bonus points after you make at least $5,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Annual fee: $550.

Other benefits: The Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite card mirrors the earning rates on the Premium Rewards card: 2 points per dollar on travel and dining and 1.5 points per dollar on everything else.

If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn an additional 25% to 75% bonus points on purchases, depending on how much you have in deposits with Bank of America and Merrill. Points can be redeemed for statement credits, gift cards and purchases through the Bank of America Travel Center or as a deposit to a Bank of America account at a rate of 1 cent apiece. Cardholders also receive a 20% discount when paying for airfare with points through the Travel Center. Up to $100 in reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees is available once every four years.

Review: Another new premium travel card just hit the market — but is it any good?

Public application link: Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card with a 75,000-point welcome bonus after spending $5,000 in purchases within 90 days of account opening.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Annual travel credit: Up to $200 in statement credits on airline incidental fees charged by the carrier on one select airline each calendar year.

Current welcome offer: Earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership.

Annual fee: $695 (see rates and fees ).

Other benefits: The Amex Business Platinum offers similar benefits as the personal version and some great additional ones .

The card offers more than $1,200 in annual credits to cardholders for business and travel expenses with companies like Dell, Adobe and Clear. Cardholders can earn 1.5 points per dollar on eligible purchases in select business categories and eligible purchases of $5,000 or more on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Cardholders also receive a 35% rebate when redeeming points for airfare booked through Amex Travel (up to 1 million points per calendar year) on their selected qualifying airline or for business— or first class tickets on any airline. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Review: Amex Business Platinum review

Official application link: The Business Platinum Card from American Express with a 150,000-point welcome bonus after spending $20,000 in purchases within three months from account opening.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Annual travel credit: $300 in annual credits for flights, hotels, or rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel portal .

Current sign-up bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee: $395 (see rates and fees ).

Other benefits: The Capital One Venture X is a premium credit card that has garnered attention in the points and miles world. Cardholders earn 10 miles per dollar on hotel and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other eligible purchases. Capital One miles transfer to 18 airline and hotel loyalty programs, such as Air Canada Aeroplan , British Airways Executive Club and Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles .

Other benefits of the Venture X include unlimited access to Capital One and Priority Pass lounges , a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit, the ability to add four authorized users for free (and share those lounge benefits), 10,000 bonus miles as an anniversary bonus every year and more.

Review: Capital One Venture X review

Official application link: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card with a 75,000-mile welcome bonus after spending $4,000 in purchases within three months from account opening.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Annual travel credit: $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for a broad range of travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year. This credit will apply automatically to the first $300 spent on travel, and purchases covered by this credit don't qualify for bonus points-earning rates. After exhausting the $300 travel credit, you can earn 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked with the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal, 5 points per dollar on flights booked using the portal and 3 points per dollar on all non-portal travel purchases.

Current sign-up bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months from account opening.

Other benefits: The Chase Sapphire Reserve is widely considered to be one of the best all-around travel rewards credit cards , thanks to its slate of chart-topping benefits. In addition to that annual travel statement credit, cardholders earn unlimited 3 points per dollar on travel and dining worldwide. Ultimate Rewards points transfer to 11 airline partners, including Southwest and Air Canada , and three hotel partners , including Hyatt , IHG , and Marriott . Points may also be redeemed directly through the Chase travel portal for 1.5 cents apiece . Cardholders can access Priority Pass lounges and be reimbursed up to $100 once every four years for a Nexus , Global Entry, or TSA PreCheck application fee.

Review: Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card review

Official application link: Chase Sapphire Reserve with a 75,000-point welcome bonus after spending $4,000 in purchases within three months from account opening.

Citi Prestige® Card

Annual travel credit: Up to $250 worth of annual travel statement credits each calendar year toward travel purchases , including airline tickets, hotel stays, car rentals, commuter transportation, subways, taxis, train tickets, etc. This credit applies automatically.

Current sign-up bonus: The card is no longer available to new applicants.

Annual fee: $495.

Other benefits: If you're a Citi Prestige cardholder, you earn an incredible 5 points per dollar at restaurants, on air travel and with travel agencies. Cardholders earn 3 points per dollar at hotels and on cruise lines and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Citi ThankYou points transfer to 17 airline and hotel partner programs , including Air France-KLM Flying Blue , Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Wyndham Rewards .

Cardholders can enter Priority Pass lounges and receive the fourth night free on up to two hotel stays per year when booking through the Citi concierge or online at ThankYou.com. You won't pay foreign transaction fees with this card. You can receive Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee reimbursement once every five years. Unfortunately, this card is no longer available to new applicants.

Review: Citi Prestige Card review

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Annual travel credit: Up to $250 in statement credits each year of card membership for eligible purchases at participating Hilton Resorts , plus up to $250 back each year for airline incidentals , such as checked bags and seat selection.

Current welcome offer: Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $4,000 in purchases on the card within the first three months of card membership.

Annual fee: $450 (see rates and fees ).

Other benefits: The Hilton Honors Aspire earns a whopping 14 points per dollar on Hilton purchases ; 7 points per dollar on flights booked through Amex Travel or directly with airlines, on car rentals and at U.S. restaurants; and 3 points per dollar on everything else. It comes with automatic top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status , an annual free weekend night award and Priority Pass Select lounge access. Cardholders also get up to $100 in credits for qualifying charges at participating Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts when booking two-night-minimum stays via hiltonhonorsaspirecard.com. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Review: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card review

Public application link: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card with a 150,000-point welcome bonus after spending $4,000 in purchases within three months of account opening.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Annual travel credit: Up to $200 back on airline incidental fees with your preferred airline each year. Unfortunately, airfare itself does not count per the terms. Cardholders can also score up to $200 in annual Uber Cash (for U.S. services).

Current welcome offer: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 in the first six months (though some folks might be eligible for a higher targeted offer via the CardMatch tool ; offers are subject to change at any time).

Other benefits: The Amex Platinum Card has plenty of perks to justify its high annual fee. Earn 5 points per dollar on airfare booked directly with an airline or through American Express Travel and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year). This card earns Membership Rewards points , which you can transfer to a total of 21 airline and hotel partners . There's also up to $200 in annual credits for certain hotel bookings , up to $200 in annual Uber credits, reimbursement for your annual Clear membership fee, plus a statement credit for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee once every 4.5 years. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

The card gets you into Centurion Lounges and offers Priority Pass lounge access , plus Delta Sky Club access when you're on a same-day Delta flight (limited to 10 annual visits from Feb. 1, 2025). At hotels, enjoy value-added benefits when booking stays through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts plus Gold status with Hilton Honors and Gold Elite status with Marriott . Through Amex's International Airline Program , cardholders can get discounts on premium economy, business- and first-class tickets on 25 airlines. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Review: The Platinum Card from American Express review

Official application link: The Platinum Card from American Express with an 80,000-point welcome bonus after spending $8,000 in purchases within six months from account opening.

Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card

Annual travel credit: Up to $300 in credits for airline lounge day passes or membership, airline seat upgrades, airline baggage fees, inflight Wi-Fi/entertainment or inflight meals. You will need to secure message Chase to manually request these credits.

Current welcome offer: Not available to new applicants, though you can change to this card from another of Chase's Marriott credit cards.

Annual fee: $450.

Other benefits: The Ritz-Carlton Card offers more to travelers than just the $300 in annual travel credits. This includes an annual free night award worth up to 50,000 points, a Priority Pass Select membership and Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy . Cardholders also can be reimbursed for their application fees for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and a $100 hotel credit toward dining, spa treatments or other hotel recreational activities on paid stays of two nights or longer at Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis properties.

Related: The secret to getting the discontinued Ritz-Carlton credit card — and 4 reasons you need it

U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite® Card

Annual travel credit: Up to $325 in statement credits per cardmember year for purchases made directly with airlines, hotels, car rental companies, taxis, limousines, passenger trains and cruise lines. It can also be applied to restaurant (both take-out and delivery), fast-food and bar purchases.

Current sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,500 within 90 days of account opening.

Annual fee: $400.

Other benefits: U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa cardholders earn 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotel bookings made through the Altitude Rewards Center, 3 points per dollar on travel and mobile wallet purchases and 1 point per dollar on everything else. Cardholders can redeem points for 1.5 cents apiece on airfare, hotels and car rentals booked through the Altitude Rewards Center, as well as lower values for other purchases. If used mostly for travel, your rate of return is a considerable 4.5%. Cardholders enjoy a 12-month Priority Pass Select membership for airport lounge access, reimbursement for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every four years and waived foreign transaction fees.

Review: U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card review

Public application link: U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card with a 50,000-point welcome bonus after spending $4,500 in purchases within 90 days of account opening.

Bottom line

Whether you prefer a travel rewards card that earns transferable points , a cobranded hotel card, or a card that earns fixed-value points , some phenomenal options offer annual travel statement credits. Picking one of them will ensure you continue to get value from your credit card long after you've earned its welcome bonus and paid its annual fee.

Travel credits are one of the most compelling reasons to continue carrying a specific credit card. You can use these credits for free flights, hotel nights and other travel purchases year after year, which can help you beat inflation and high travel costs.

Additional reporting by Danyal Ahmed, Ryan Smith, Stella Shon, Chris Dong, and Madison Blancaflor.

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here . For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, click here . For rates and fees of the Amex Gold, click here . For rates and fees of the Hilton Aspire card, click here .

Featured photo of Glacier National Park by Clint Henderson/The Points Guy.

Updated 12/06/23

• Credit Cards
• All Credit Cards
• Find the Credit Card for You
• Best Credit Cards
• Best Rewards Credit Cards
• Best Travel Credit Cards
• Best 0% APR Credit Cards
• Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards
• Best Cash Back Credit Cards
• Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
• Best Credit Cards to Build Credit
• Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping
• Find the Best Personal Loan for You
• Best Personal Loans
• Best Debt Consolidation Loans
• Best Loans to Refinance Credit Card Debt
• Best Loans with Fast Funding
• Best Small Personal Loans
• Best Large Personal Loans
• Best Personal Loans to Apply Online
• Best Student Loan Refinance
• Best Car Loans
• All Banking
• Find the Savings Account for You
• Best High Yield Savings Accounts
• Best Big Bank Savings Accounts
• Best Big Bank Checking Accounts
• Best No Fee Checking Accounts
• No Overdraft Fee Checking Accounts
• Best Checking Account Bonuses
• Best Money Market Accounts
• Best Credit Unions
• All Mortgages
• Best Mortgages
• Best Mortgages for Small Down Payment
• Best Mortgages for No Down Payment
• Best Mortgages for Average Credit Score
• Best Mortgages No Origination Fee
• Adjustable Rate Mortgages
• Affording a Mortgage
• All Insurance
• Best Life Insurance
• Best Life Insurance for Seniors
• Best Homeowners Insurance
• Best Renters Insurance
• Best Car Insurance
• Best Pet Insurance
• Best Boat Insurance
• Best Motorcycle Insurance
• Best Travel Insurance
• Event Ticket Insurance
• Small Business
• All Small Business
• Best Small Business Savings Accounts
• Best Small Business Checking Accounts
• Best Credit Cards for Small Business
• Best Small Business Loans
• Best Tax Software for Small Business
• Personal Finance
• All Personal Finance
• Best Budgeting Apps
• Best Expense Tracker Apps
• Best Money Transfer Apps
• Best Resale Apps and Sites
• Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) Apps
• Best Debt Relief
• Credit Monitoring
• All Credit Monitoring
• Best Credit Monitoring Services
• Best Identity Theft Protection
• How to Boost Your Credit Score
• Best Credit Repair Companies
• Filing For Free
• Best Tax Software
• Best Tax Software for Small Businesses
• Tax Refunds
• Tax Brackets
• Taxes By State
• Tax Payment Plans
• Help for Low Credit Scores
• All Help for Low Credit Scores
• Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit
• Best Personal Loans for Bad Credit
• Best Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit
• Personal Loans if You Don't Have Credit
• Best Credit Cards for Building Credit
• Personal Loans for 580 Credit Score Lower
• Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lower
• Best Mortgages for Bad Credit
• Best Hardship Loans
• All Investing
• Best IRA Accounts
• Best Roth IRA Accounts
• Best Investing Apps
• Best Free Stock Trading Platforms
• Best Robo-Advisors
• Index Funds
• Mutual Funds
• Home & Kitchen
• Gift Guides
• Deals & Sales
• Acne Week 2024
• Sign up for the CNBC Select Newsletter
• Subscribe to CNBC PRO
• Privacy Policy
• Your Privacy Choices
• Terms Of Service
• CNBC Sitemap

Follow Select

Our top picks of timely offers from our partners

Find the best credit card for you

Best family travel credit cards of 2024, unlock award flights, hotel stays and airport lounge access with the top family travel credit cards..

Family travel is a rewarding but complicated endeavor, and every family member you add to the trip increases the cost. However, planning ahead and using the right travel credit card can save you money and make your trips more comfortable.

The best family travel credit cards earn valuable points, miles or cash-back and offer benefits like airport lounge access that the whole family can enjoy. Here are CNBC Select's top picks for families looking to upgrade their next vacation. (See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best travel credit cards for families.)

Best family travel credit cards

• Best for no annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
• Best for domestic flights: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
• Best for lodging:   Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Best for airport lounge access: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Best for fair credit: Citi Double Cash® Card

Best for no annual fee

Wells fargo autograph℠ card.

Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.

$0 annual fee

0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases

Regular APR

20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR

Balance transfer fee

Up to 5%, min: $5 

Foreign transaction fee

Credit needed.

Excellent/Good

See rates and fees , terms apply.

• No annual fee
• Solid rewards on broad spending categories
• 0% intro APR offer
• Get up to $600 cell phone protection (subject to a $25 deductible)
• Valuable welcome offer
• Access to My Wells Fargo Deals to earn cash back in the form of an account credit when shopping, dining
• No balance transfer offer

Who's this for?  The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card stands out for those seeking a no-annual-fee travel credit card as it has a long list of 3X bonus categories and earns transferrable points.

Standout benefits: The points earned with this card can be transferred to a growing list of airline and hotel partner programs, including British Airways Executive Club, Avianca LifeMiles and Air France/KLM Flying Blue. Having these various redemption options increases the value of your points as it allows you to take advantage of sweet spots with different programs.

[ Jump to more details ]

Best for domestic flights

Southwest rapid rewards® priority credit card.

Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases, 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming. 1X points on all other purchases

Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

21.49% - 28.49% variable

5%, minimum $5

Foreign transaction fees

Terms apply.

• Southwest upgraded boarding on up to 4 tickets per year
• 7,500 bonus points on each account anniversary
• $75 Southwest annual travel credit
• 4 upgraded boardings per year when available
• $149 annual fee
• No special financing offers

Who's this for?  With free checked bags for all passengers and a family-friendly seating policy, Southwest is great for families, and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card can help you save on your trips.

Standout benefits: This card can help families earn the Southwest Companion Pass more easily as the points from its welcome bonus count toward the 135,000-point threshold. Cardholders also receive a 10,000-qualifying-point boost every calendar year. The Southwest Companion Pass is valuable for families as it allows you to bring along a guest on any Southwest flight for the cost of taxes and fees.

Best for lodging

Chase sapphire preferred® card.

Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

21.49% - 28.49% variable on purchases and balance transfers

Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater

Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review .

• Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel via Chase Travel℠
• Transfer points to leading frequent travel programs at a 1:1 rate, including: IHG® Rewards Club, Marriott Bonvoy™ and World of Hyatt®
• Travel protections include: auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance and trip delay reimbursement
• No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
• $95 annual fee
• No introductory 0% APR

Who's this for?  The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an amazing all-around travel card, but can be especially valuable for booking your hotel stays and other lodgings.

Standout benefits: The points earned with this card can help you book everything from an Airbnb to a suite in a luxury hotel. At a minimum, Chase Ultimate® Rewards points are worth one cent for statement credits and gift cards. However, your points are automatically worth 25% more when redeemed through the Chase Travel SM portal and potentially more when transferred to one of Chase's airline or hotel partners.

Best for airport lounge access

Capital one venture x rewards credit card.

Unlimited 2X miles on all eligible purchases, and 5 Miles per dollar on flights and 10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booked via Capital One Travel portal

Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening

19.99% - 29.99% variable APR

$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you

Read our Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review.

• Large welcome bonus
• No foreign transaction fees
• Up to $100 statement credits for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• High annual fee
• No introductory 0% APR period

Who's this for? The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is great if you're looking for a premium credit card with easy-to-use benefits.

Standout benefits:  This card offers generous airport lounge access, including unlimited access to Capital One Lounges , Priority Pass Lounges and Plaza Premium lounges. You can bring up to two guests to Capital One and Plaza Premium lounges and unlimited guests to Priority Pass Lounges. Better yet, airport lounge access benefits extend to authorized u sers on your card, and you can add up to four for no additional fee.

Best for fair credit

Citi double cash® card.

Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24

Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

0% for the first 18 months on balance transfers; N/A for purchases

19.24% - 29.24% variable

For balance transfers completed within 4 months of account opening, an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies; after that, a balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies

Fair/Good/Excellent

Read our Citi Double Cash® Card review.

• 2% cash back on all eligible purchases
• Simple cash-back program that doesn't require activation or spending caps
• One of the longest intro periods for balance transfers at 18 months
• 3% fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
• Estimated rewards earned after 1 year:  $443
• Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $2,213

Who's this for? The Citi Double Cash® Card is perfect for families with less-than-perfect credit who don't want to bother with a complicated rewards program.

Standout benefits: Most cash-back credit cards and rewards credit cards earn 1% back or 1X points on purchases that fall outside of special bonus categories. With the Citi Double Cash , you get double the return: 1% cash back when you buy and 1% cash back when you pay. Over time this adds up and there is no limit to how much cash back you can earn.

More on our top credit cards for family travel

The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is a rare no-annual-fee card that earns transferrable travel rewards.

• 3X points at restaurants
• 3X points on travel
• 3X points on gas
• 3X points on transit
• 3X points on popular streaming services
• 3X points on phone plans
• 1X points on all other purchases

Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases with the card in the first three months of account opening.

Notable perks

One of the best features of this card is its ability to transfer points to travel partners. You can transfer Wells Fargo rewards to these airline and hotel programs:

• Aer Lingus AerClub
• Air France/KLM Flying Blue
• Avianca LifeMiles
• British Airways Executive Club
• Iberia Plus
• Choice Hotels

If you prefer simplicity, you can still redeem your points for one cent each for statement credits, gift cards and travel booked through the Wells Fargo rewards site.

When you pay your monthly phone bill with the card, you'll not only earn 3X points but also qualify for cell phone protection . This coverage will reimburse you for up to $600 per claim with a $25 deductible (up to two claims per 12 months). It also has no foreign transaction fee, roadside dispatch, travel and emergency assistance and rental car collision coverage (secondary in the U.S.).

New cardholders also receive an intro 0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months, then a variable 20.24%, 25.24% or 29.99% applies.

[ Return to card summary ]

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is a family-friendly airline card with more than enough benefits to justify its annual fee.

• 3X points on Southwest purchases
• 2X points on hotel and rental cars booked through Southwest
• 2X points on local transit
• 2X points on internet, cable and phone services

The points you earn from this card's welcome offer and spending on the card can help you earn a Southwest Companion Pass. On top of that, you also receive a 10,000-qualifying-point boost every calendar year. Anyone pursuing Southwest elite status will appreciate the opportunity to earn 1,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) for every $5,000 you spend annually with no cap on the number of TQPs you can earn.

Every year, you'll receive two benefits that can offset the annual fee alone: A $75 Southwest travel credit and 7,500 bonus points. Experts value Southwest points at around 1.3 cents per point , which makes the annual bonus points worth roughly $97.50 in Southwest flights.

Every Southwest ticket comes with two free checked bags , no cancellation fees and no change fees, and with this card, you'll get reimbursed for up to four upgraded boardings per year. Southwest doesn't have assigned seats, so upgraded boarding becomes more valuable, especially for families that need to sit together. If you don't want to pack snacks for the trip, you'll receive 25% back on inflight purchases when you use this card.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a popular travel rewards card with useful benefits and a lucrative welcome bonus, all for an annual fee under $100 .

• 5X points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 5X points per dollar on Lyft rides through Mar. 31, 2025
• 5X points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025; max of 25,000 total points)
• 3X points per dollar on dining
• 3X points per dollar on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).
• 3X points per dollar on select streaming services
• 2X points per dollar on all other travel purchases
• 1X points per dollar on all other purchases

Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred comes with many valuable protections, including  primary rental car insurance , trip cancellation and interruption insurance, purchase protection , extended warranty protection and baggage and trip delay insurance. On top of that, you pay no foreign transaction fee and for every card anniversary you'll receive a 10% points bonus based on how many points you earned the previous year.

You'll also have access to several statement credits, including up to $50 hotel credit for bookings you make through Chase's travel site. Cardholders can also register to receive six months of free Instacart+ membership (activate by July 31, 2024) and up to $15 back each quarter for Instacart purchases (through July 2024). You can also enroll to receive a complimentary DashPass membership for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.

Perhaps the best feature of this card is that it unlocks the ability to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to 14 airline and hotel partners. Chase has a long list of valuable partners including United MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards, Air Canada Aeroplan, World of Hyatt Hyatt and more. You'll also receive a 25% bonus when you pay for travel you book through the Ultimate Rewards site, which means you'll get a value of 1.25 cents per point. Occasionally, Chase offers discounts on gift card redemptions and you may be able to pick up Airbnb gift cards for 1.1 cents per point.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a top-rated travel credit card offering premium perks for a significantly lower annual fee than luxury cards with similar benefits. 

• 10X miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel portal
• 5X miles per dollar on flights booked via the Capital One Travel portal
• 2X miles on all other eligible purchases

Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

The Venture X's annual fee is one of the easiest premium credit card fees to justify thanks to its straightforward benefits. Every year cardholders receive up to $300 in Capital One Travel credit and 10,000 anniversary bonus miles, which are worth at least $100 in travel.

On top of that, when you apply for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® you'll receive an application fee credit of up to $100. Once through security, enjoy unlimited access to Priority Pass airport lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges and Capital One Lounges. You can add up to four authorized users for no additional fee and each authorized user receives the same airport lounge access for themselves and guests.

Eligible purchases are covered by the following travel and purchase protections:

• Rental car damage and theft insurance (primary)
• Cell phone protection
• Purchase security
• Return protection
• Extended warranty protection
• Trip delay reimbursement
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Travel accident insurance
• Travel and emergency assistance services

You can transfer the Capital One miles you earn with this card to partners like Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles, Wyndham Rewards, Emirates Skywards and many more.

Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.

The Citi Double Cash® Card is a no annual fee cash-back credit card with a straightforward rewards structure and useful intro APR offer for balance transfers.

• 5% total cash back on hotels, rental cars and attractions you book through Citi Travel (through Dec. 31, 2024)
• 2% cash back on all other purchases (1% cash back when you buy and 1% cash back when you pay)

Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. 

The Citi Double Cash is an excellent option for balance transfers because new card members receive an intro 0% APR on eligible balance transfers for the first 18 months, then a variable 19.24% - 29.24% APR applies. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount of each transfer ($5 minimum) for the first four months, after that the balance transfer fee is 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum).

While this is technically a cash-back card, it earns cash back in the form of Citi ThankYou® points . You can redeem these points at a value of one cent each for statement credits, gift cards, travel and more. You also have access to a limited number of Citi's travel partners and can transfer the points you earn with this card to Wyndham Rewards, Choice Hotels or JetBlue TrueBlue.

How do I choose the best travel credit card for my family?

The best travel credit card for your family depends heavily on where you want to go and what you want to use credit card rewards and benefits for. Some cards are great for airline redemptions, while others are better for hotel stays or cash-back rewards. Knowing your travel goals can help you hone in on the right choice for your situation.

Can you add family members to a credit card?

You can add family members to your credit cards as authorized users. However, it's important to understand the fine print because there can be an additional fee for adding authorized users and authorized user card benefits may be limited.

Is it better to use Visa or Mastercard in Europe?

Visa and Mastercard are both widely accepted in Europe and beyond. Both of these payment networks tend to be more universally accepted in Europe than Discover or American Express.

Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best travel credit cards for families.

Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox.  Sign up here .

Our methodology

To determine which cards offer the best value for family travel, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 major credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S.  

We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cash back).    We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.  

For the cards that offered a rewards program, we considered consumer spending data f orecasts from location intelligence firm Esri to determine where U.S. consumers are spending the most money, like on dining and travel. We used this to help determine what bonus categories are most useful for consumers. Since the value of a point or mile varies based on what they can be redeemed for, we also considered things like transferability and the ability to redeem for cash-back. 

When choosing the best family travel credit cards, we focused on cards that offer perks or rewards that make sense for families. 

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of  credit cards ,  banking  and  money , and follow us on  TikTok ,  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

• State Farm life insurance review: Tops for customer service Liz Knueven
• Accredited Debt Relief review: Lower payments by up to 45% Liz Knueven
• USAA auto insurance review: A top pick for military families Liz Knueven

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

16 Best Travel Credit Cards of June 2024

ALSO CONSIDER: Best credit cards of 2024 || Best rewards credit cards || Best airline credit cards || Best hotel credit cards

The best travel credit card is one that brings your next trip a little closer every time you use it. Purchases earn points or miles you can use to pay for travel. If you're loyal to a specific airline or hotel chain, consider one of that company's branded travel credit cards. Otherwise, check out our picks for general-purpose travel cards that give you flexible travel rewards without the restrictions and blackout dates of branded cards.

250+ credit cards reviewed and rated by our team of experts

80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance

100+ categories of best credit card selections ( See our top picks )

Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics ( Methodology )

NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity .

Show summary

NerdWallet's Best Travel Credit Cards of June 2024

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card : Best for Max flexibility + big bonus

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card : Best for Flat-rate rewards

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card : Best for Travel portal benefits

Chase Freedom Unlimited® : Best for Cash back for travel bookings

American Express® Gold Card : Best for Big rewards on everyday spending

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card : Best for Bonus rewards + no annual fee

The Platinum Card® from American Express : Best for Luxury travel perks

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card : Best for Business travelers

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card : Best for Triple points on multiple categories

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card : Best for Flat-rate rewards + no annual fee

Chase Sapphire Reserve® : Best for Bonus rewards + high-end perks

World of Hyatt Credit Card : Best for Best hotel card

Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card : Best for Travel rewards for rent payments

United℠ Explorer Card : Best for Best airline card

PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card : Best for Credit union benefits

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card : Best for Booking directly with airlines/hotels

Best Travel Credit Cards

Find the right credit card for you..

Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.

Max flexibility + big bonus

Flat-rate rewards, travel portal benefits, cash back for travel bookings, big rewards on everyday spending, bonus rewards + no annual fee, luxury travel perks, business travelers, triple points on multiple categories, flat-rate rewards + no annual fee, bonus rewards + high-end perks, best hotel card, travel rewards for rent payments, best airline card, credit union benefits, booking directly with airlines/hotels, full list of editorial picks: best travel credit cards.

Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Our pick for: Flat-rate rewards

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is probably the best-known general-purpose travel credit card, thanks to its ubiquitous advertising. You earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. Miles can be redeemed at a value of 1 cent apiece for any travel purchase, without the blackout dates and other restrictions of branded hotel and airline cards. The card offers a great sign-up bonus and other worthwhile perks ( see rates and fees ). Read our review.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Our pick for: Flat-rate rewards + no annual fee

One of the best no-annual-fee travel cards available, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card gives you a solid rewards rate on every purchase, with points that can be redeemed for any travel purchase, without the restrictions of branded airline and hotel cards. Bank of America® has an expansive definition of "travel," too, giving you additional flexibility in how you use your rewards. Read our review.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Our pick for: Bonus rewards + high-end perks

The high annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® gives many potential applicants pause, but frequent travelers should be able to wring enough value out of this card to more than make up for the cost. Cardholders get bonus rewards (up to 10X) on dining and travel, a fat bonus offer, annual travel credits, airport lounge access, and a 50% boost in point value when redeeming points for travel booked through Chase. Points can also be transferred to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Read our review. 

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Our pick for: Max flexibility + big bonus

For a reasonable annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns bonus rewards (up to 5X) on travel, dining, select streaming services, and select online grocery purchases. Points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. The sign-up bonus is stellar, too. Read our review. 

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

Our pick for: Booking directly with airlines/hotels

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card stands out among general-purpose travel cards because it pays its highest rewards rates on travel bookings made directly with airlines and hotels, rather than requiring you to go through the issuer's travel agency, where prices might not be competitive. The points are flexible, you get a good bonus offer, and the card comes with a few other nice perks. Read our review.

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Our pick for: Bonus rewards + no annual fee

The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card offers so much value, it's hard to believe there's no annual fee. Start with a great bonus offer, then earn extra rewards in a host of common spending categories — restaurants, gas stations, transit, travel, streaming and more. Read our review.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Our pick for: Triple points on everyday categories

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card earns bonus points on select travel, supermarkets, dining, gas stations and EV stations. There's a solid sign-up bonus as well. Read our review.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card

Our pick for: Road trips

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is one of the most generous cards on the market if you're taking to the skies or the road, thanks to the quadruple points it earns on travel and purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations. It's also a solid card for everyday expenses like groceries, dining and streaming, and it comes with ongoing credits that can offset its annual fee:  $0 intro for the first year, then $95 .  Read our review .

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Our pick for: Travel portal benefits

Capital One's premium travel credit card can deliver terrific benefits — provided you're willing to do your travel spending through the issuer's online booking portal. That's where you'll earn the highest rewards rates plus credits that can make back the bulk of your annual fee ( see rates and fees ). Read our review.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Our pick for: Cash back for travel bookings

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® was already a fine card when it offered 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Now it's even better, with bonus rewards on travel booked through Chase, as well as at restaurants and drugstores. On top of all that, new cardholders get a 0% introductory APR period and the opportunity to earn a sweet bonus. Read our review.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Our pick for: Luxury travel perks

The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with a hefty annual fee, but travelers who like to go in style (and aren't afraid to pay for comfort) can more than get their money's worth. Enjoy extensive airport lounge access, hundreds of dollars a year in travel and shopping credits, hotel benefits and more. That's not even getting into the high rewards rate on eligible travel purchases and the rich welcome offer for new cardholders. Read our review.

American Express® Gold Card

Our pick for: Big rewards on everyday spending

The American Express® Gold Card can earn you a pile of points from everyday spending, with generous rewards at U.S. supermarkets, at restaurants and on certain flights booked through amextravel.com. Other benefits include hundreds of dollars a year in available dining and travel credits and a solid welcome offer for new cardholders. There's an annual fee, though, and a pretty substantial one, so it's not for smaller spenders. Read our review.

Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card

Our pick for: Travel rewards on rent payments

The Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card stands out by offering credit card rewards on rent payments without incurring an additional transaction fee. The ability to earn rewards on what for many people is their single biggest monthly expense makes this card worth a look for any renter. You also get bonus points on dining and travel when you make at least five transactions on the card each statement period, and redemption options include point transfers to partner hotel and loyalty programs. Read our review.

PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card

Our pick for: Credit union rewards

With premium perks for a $95 annual fee (which can be waived in some cases), jet-setters will get a lot of value from the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card . It also offers a generous rewards rate on travel purchases and a decent flat rate on everything else. Plus, you’ll get travel credits and a Priority Pass membership that offers airport lounge access for $32 per visit. Read our review.

United℠ Explorer Card

Our pick for: B est airline card

The United℠ Explorer Card earns bonus rewards not only on spending with United Airlines but also at restaurants and on eligible hotel stays. And the perks are outstanding for a basic airline card — a free checked bag, priority boarding, lounge passes and more. Read our review.

» Not a United frequent flyer? See our best airline cards for other options

World of Hyatt Credit Card

Our pick for: Best hotel card

Hyatt isn't as big as its competitors, but World of Hyatt Credit Card is worth a look for anyone who spends a lot of time on the road. You can earn a lot of points even on non-Hyatt spending, and those points have a high value compared with rival programs. There's a great sign-up bonus, free nights, automatic elite status and more. Read our review.

» Not a Hyatt customer? See our best hotel cards for other options.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Our pick for: Business travelers

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card starts you off with one of the biggest sign-up bonuses of any credit card anywhere: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠. You also get bonus rewards on travel expenses and common business spending categories, like advertising, shipping and internet, cable and phone service. Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Learn more and apply .

Are you in Canada?

See NerdWallet's best travel cards for Canada.

OTHER RESOURCES

How travel rewards work.

Modern-day adventurers and once-a-year vacationers alike love the idea of earning rewards toward their next big trip. According to a NerdWallet study , 68% of American adults say they have a credit card that earns travel rewards.

With a travel rewards credit card, you earn points or miles every time you use the card, but you can often earn more points per dollar in select categories. Some top travel credit cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , offer bonus points on any travel spending, while the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card grants bonus points when you use the card at Marriott hotels, grocery stores, restaurants or gas stations.

Not all points and miles earned on travel rewards credit cards are the same:

General-purpose travel credit cards — including the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , the American Express® Gold Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card — give you rewards that can be used like cash to pay for travel or that can be exchanged for points in airline or hotel loyalty programs. With their flexible rewards, general-purpose options are usually the best travel credit cards for those who don't stick to a single airline or hotel chain.

Airline- and hotel-specific cards — such as the United℠ Explorer Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Card — give points and miles that can be used only with the brand on the card. (Although it's possible in some cases to transfer hotel points to airlines, we recommend against it because you get a poor value.) These so-called co-branded cards are usually the best travel credit cards for those who always fly one particular airline or stay with one hotel group.

How do we value points and miles? With the rewards earned on general travel cards, it's simple: They have a fixed value, usually between 1 and 1.5 cents per point, and you can spend them like cash. With airline miles and hotel points, finding the true value is more difficult. How much value you get depends on how you redeem them.

To better understand what miles are worth, NerdWallet researched the cash prices and reward-redemption values for hundreds of flights. Our results:

Keep in mind that the airline values are based on main cabin economy tickets and exclude premium cabin redemptions. See our valuations page for business class valuations and details about our methodology.

Our valuations are different from many others you may find. That’s because we looked at the average value of a point based on reasonable price searches that anyone can perform, not a maximized value that only travel rewards experts can expect to reach.

You should therefore use these values as a baseline for your own redemptions. If you can redeem your points for the values listed on our valuations page, you are doing well. Of course, if you are able to get higher value out of your miles, that’s even better.

HOW TO CHOOSE A TRAVEL CREDIT CARD

There are scores of travel rewards cards to choose from. The best travel credit card for you has as much to do with you as with the card. How often you travel, how much flexibility you want, how much you value airline or hotel perks — these are all things to take into account when deciding on a travel card. Our article on how to choose a travel credit card recommends that you prioritize:

Rewards you will actually use (points and miles are only as good as your ability to redeem them for travel).

A high earning rate (how much value you get in rewards for every dollar spent on the card).

A sign-up bonus (a windfall of points for meeting a spending requirement in your first few months).

Even with these goals in mind, there are all kinds of considerations that will influence your decision on a travel rewards credit card.

Travel cards are for travelers

Travel cards vs. cash-back cards.

The very first question to ask yourself when choosing a travel credit card is: Should I get a travel card at all? Travel credit cards are best for frequent travelers, who are more likely to get enough value from rewards and perks to make up for the annual fees that the best travel credit cards charge. (Some travel cards charge no annual fee, but they tend to offer lesser rewards than full-fee cards.) A NerdWallet study found that those who travel only occasionally — say, once a year — will probably get greater overall rewards from cash-back credit cards , most of which charge no annual fee, than from a travel card.

Flexibility and perks: A trade-off

Co-branded cards vs. general travel cards.

Travel credit cards fall into two basic categories: co-branded cards and general travel cards.

Co-branded cards carry the name of an airline or hotel group, such as the United℠ Explorer Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card . The rewards you earn are redeemable only with that particular brand, which can limit your flexibility, sometimes sharply. For example, if your credit card's co-branded airline partner doesn't have any award seats available on the flight you want on the day you want, you're out of luck. On the other hand, co-branded cards commonly offer airline- or hotel-specific perks that general travel cards can't match.

General travel cards aren't tied to a specific airline or hotel, so they offer much greater flexibility. Well-known general travel cards include the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . Rewards on general travel cards come as points (sometimes called "miles" but they're really points) that you can redeem for any travel expense. You're not locked into using a single airline or hotel, but you also won't enjoy the perks of a co-branded card.

Evaluating general travel credit cards

What you get with a general travel card.

The credit cards featured at the top of this page are general travel cards. They're issued by a bank (such as Chase or Capital One), carry only that bank's name, and aren't tied to any single airline or hotel group. With these cards, you earn points on every purchase — usually 1 to 2 points per dollar spent, sometimes with additional points in certain categories.

Issuers of general travel cards typically entice new applicants with big sign-up bonuses (also known as "welcome offers") — tens of thousands of miles that you can earn by spending a certain amount of money on the card in your first few months.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best credit card sign-up offers

What do you do with those points? Depending on the card, you may have several ways to redeem them:

Booking travel. With this option, your points pay for travel booked through the issuer's website, using a utility similar to Orbitz or Expedia. For example, if points were worth 1 cent apiece when redeemed this way, you could book a $400 flight on the issuer's portal and pay for it with 40,000 points

Statement credit. This lets you essentially erase travel purchases by using your points for credit on your statement. You make travel arrangements however you want (directly with an airline or hotel, through a travel agency, etc.) and charge it to your card. Once the charge shows up on your account, you apply the necessary points and eliminate the cost.

Transferring to partners. The card issuer may allow you to transfer your points to loyalty programs for airlines or hotel chains, turning your general card into something like a co-branded card (although you don't get the perks of a co-brand).

Cash back, gift cards or merchandise. If you don't plan to travel, you can burn off your rewards with these options, although you'll often get a lower value per point.

Airline and hotel cards sharply limit your choice, but they make up for it with perks that only they can offer, like free checked bags or room upgrades. General travel cards, on the other hand, offer maximum flexibility but can't provide the same kinds of perks, because the banks that issue them don't operate the airlines or hotels. Still, there are some noteworthy perks on general travel cards, including:

Travel credit. This is automatic reimbursement for travel-related spending. Some top travel credit cards offer hundreds of dollars a year in travel credit.

Trusted traveler reimbursement. More and more travel credit cards are covering the application fee for TSA Precheck and Global Entry, programs that allow you to move through airport security and customs more quickly.

Airport lounge access. Hundreds of lounges worldwide operate separately from airlines under such networks as Priority Pass and Airspace, and several general travel cards offer access to these lounges.

Points programs

Every major card issuer has at least one travel card with a points program. American Express calls its program Membership Rewards, while Chase has Ultimate Rewards® and Citi pays in ThankYou points. Wells Fargo has Wells Fargo Rewards, and U.S. Bank has FlexPerks. Bank of America® travel cards offer points without a fancy name. Travel cards from Capital One, Barclays and Discover all call their points "miles."

These programs differ in how much their points are worth and how you can use them. Some offer the full range of redemption options, including transfers to loyalty programs. Others let you use them only to book travel or get statement credit.

» MORE: Travel loyalty program reviews

Evaluating airline credit cards

What you get with an airline credit card.

Airline credit cards earn "miles" with each purchase. You typically get 1 mile per dollar spent, with a higher rate (2 or more miles per dollar) on purchases with the airline itself. (Some airline cards have also begun offering extra miles for purchases in additional categories, such as restaurants or car rental agencies.) These miles go into the same frequent-flyer account as the ones you earn by flying the airline, and you can redeem them for free flights with the airline or its alliance partners.

Co-branded airline cards typically offer sign-up bonuses (or welcome offers). But what really sets them apart are the perks they give you. With some cards, for example, the checked-bag benefit alone can make up for the annual fee after a single roundtrip by a couple. Common perks of airline cards include:

Free checked bags. This commonly applies to the first checked bag for you and at least one companion on your reservation. Some cards extend this perk to more people, and higher-end cards (with higher annual fees) may even let you check two bags apiece for free.

Priority boarding. Holders of co-branded airline credit cards often get to board the plane early — after the airline's elite-status frequent flyers but before the general population. This gives you time to settle in and gives you a leg up on claiming that coveted overhead bin space.

In-flight discounts or freebies. You might get, say, 25% off the cost of food and beverages during the flight, or free Wi-Fi.

Airport lounge access. High-end cards often include a membership to the airline's airport lounges, where you can get away from the frenzy in the terminal and enjoy a complimentary snack. Some less-expensive airline cards give you only limited or discounted lounge access; others give you none at all.

Companion fares. This perk lets you bring someone with you for a lower cost when you buy a ticket at full price.

A boost toward elite status. Miles earned with a credit card, as opposed to those earned from actually flying on the airline, usually do not count toward earning elite status in an airline's frequent-flyer program. However, carrying an airline's high-end card might automatically qualify you for a higher tier within the program.

The biggest U.S. airlines — American, United and Delta — offer an array of credit cards. Each airline has a no-annual-fee card that earns miles on purchases but provides little in the way of perks (no free bags or priority boarding). Each has a high-end card with an annual fee in the neighborhood of $450 that offers lounge access and sumptuous perks. And each has a "middle-class" card with a fee of around $100 and solid ongoing perks. Southwest offers three credit cards with varying fees; smaller carriers may just have a single card.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best airline credit cards

Choosing an airline

Which airline card you get depends in large part on what airline you fly, and that's heavily influenced by where you live. Alaska Airlines, for example, has an outstanding credit card, but the airline's routes are concentrated primarily on the West Coast. So it's not a great option for those who live in, say, Buffalo, New York, or Montgomery, Alabama.

If your local airport is dominated by a single airline, then you're probably flying that carrier most (or all) of the time by default. Delta, for example, is the 800-pound gorilla at Minneapolis-St. Paul and Salt Lake City. United has the bulk of the traffic at Newark and Washington Dulles. American calls the shots at Charlotte and Dallas-Fort Worth. That airline's credit card may be your only realistic option. If you're in a large or midsize market with frequent service from multiple airlines, you have more choice.

» MORE: How to choose an airline credit card

Evaluating hotel credit cards

What you get with a hotel card.

Hotel credit cards earn points with each purchase. As with airline cards, you typically get more points per dollar for purchases from the co-brand partner, and some cards also give bonus points in additional categories. (Hotel cards tend to give you a greater number of points overall than airline cards, but each individual point is generally worth less than a typical airline mile.) Similar to the airline model, the points you earn with the card go into the same loyalty account as the points you earn from actually staying at a hotel. You redeem your points for free stays.

Hotel cards usually offer a sign-up bonus, but like airline cards, they really make their bones with the ongoing perks. Common perks on hotel cards include:

Free nights. Several cards offer this perk, which can make up for the card's annual fee. You may get a free night automatically every year, or you may unlock it by spending a certain amount within a year. In the latter case, it comes on top of the points you earn for your spending.

Upgrades and freebies. Cardholders may qualify for automatic room upgrades when available, or free or discounted amenities such as meals or spa packages.

Early check-in/late check-out. No one likes having to cool their heels in the hotel lobby waiting for 3 o'clock to check in. And no one likes have to vacate their room by 11 a.m. when their flight doesn't leave till evening.

Accelerated elite status. Some hotel cards automatically bump you up a level in their loyalty program just for being a cardholder.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best hotel credit cards

Choosing a hotel group

If you decide to go the hotel-card route, you'll need to decide which hotel group gets your business. Hotels aren't as market-concentrated as airlines, so if your travels take you mostly to metropolitan areas, you'll have a decent amount of choice. Keep in mind that even though there are dozens of nationally recognizable hotel brands, ranging from budget inns to luxury resorts, many of them are just units in a larger hotel company, and that company's card can unlock benefits across the group.

Marriott, for example, includes not only its namesake properties but nearly 30 other brands, including Courtyard, Fairfield, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Ritz-Carlton, Sheraton and Westin. The Hilton family includes DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn and Waldorf-Astoria. InterContinental includes Holiday Inn, Candlewood, Staybridge and Crowne Plaza. Wyndham and Choice have more than 15 mid-tier and budget-oriented brands between them.

HOW TO COMPARE TRAVEL CREDIT CARDS

No travel rewards credit card is going to have everything you want. You're going to be disappointed if you expect to find a high rewards rate, a generous sign-up bonus, top-notch perks and no annual fee. Each card delivers value through a different combination of features; it's up to you to compare cards based on the following features and choose the best travel credit card for your needs and preferences.

Most of the best travel cards charge an annual fee. Fees in the range of $90 to $100 are standard for travel cards. Premium cards with extensive perks will have fees of $450 or more. Weigh the value of the rewards and perks you'll get to make sure they'll make up for the fee.

Can you find good cards without an annual fee? Absolutely! There are no-fee options on our list of the best travel credit cards, and we've rounded up more here . Just be aware that if you go with a no-fee travel card, you'll earn rewards at a lower rate, your sign-up bonus will be smaller, and you won't get as many (if any) perks.

Rewards rate

Rewards can be thought of in terms of "earn rate" and "burn rate".

The earn rate is how many points or miles you receive per dollar spent. Some general travel cards offer flat-rate rewards, meaning you get the same rate on all purchases, all the time — 2 miles per dollar, for example, or 1.5 points per dollar. Others, including most co-branded cards, offer a base rate of maybe 1 point per dollar and then pay a higher rate in certain categories, such as airline tickets, hotel stays, general travel expenses or restaurant meals.

The burn rate is the value you get for those points or miles when you redeem them. The industry average is about 1 cent per point or mile. Some cards, particularly hotel cards, have lower value per point on the "burn" side but give you more points per dollar on the earning side.

When comparing rewards rates, don't just look at the numbers. Look at the categories to which those numbers apply, and find a card that matches your spending patterns. Getting 5 points per dollar seems great — but if those 5X points come only on purchases at, say, office supply stores, and you don't spend money on office supplies, then you're getting lousy value.

Sign-up bonus

Travel cards tend to have the biggest sign-up bonuses — tens of thousands of points that you earn by hitting a certain amount of spending. But there's more to consider when comparing sign-up bonuses than just how many points or miles you earn. You must also take into account how much you have to spend to earn the bonus. While cash-back credit cards often require just $500 to $1,000 in spending over three months to unlock a bonus, travel cards commonly have thresholds of $3,000 to $5,000.

Never spend money you don't have just to earn a sign-up bonus. Carrying $3,000 in debt for a year in order to earn a $500 bonus doesn't make economic sense — the interest you'll pay could easily wipe out the value of the bonus.

Finally, keep in mind that the biggest bonuses will come on cards with annual fees.

Foreign transaction fees

A good travel card will not charge a foreign transaction fee. These fees are surcharges on purchases made outside the U.S. The industry standard is about 3%, which is enough to wipe out most if not all of the rewards you earn on a purchase. If you never leave the U.S., then this isn't much of a concern, but anyone who travels abroad should bring a no-foreign-transaction-fee card with them.

Some issuers don't charge foreign transaction fees on any of their cards. Others charge them on some cards but not all.

International acceptance

Not all travel credit cards are great companions for international travel. While Visa and Mastercard are good pretty much worldwide, you may encounter limited acceptance for American Express and, especially, Discover, depending on the destination. This doesn't mean world travelers should dismiss AmEx and Discover. Just know that if you take one of these cards with you overseas, you'd be smart to bring along a backup in case you run into acceptance problems. (Having a backup card is good advice within the U.S., too, really.)

Travel protections

Consider which travel protections — car rental insurance , trip cancellation coverage , lost baggage protection — are important to you.

"Rewards" are what you get for using a credit card — the points earned with each transaction and the bonuses you unlock with your spending. "Perks" are goodies that you get just for carrying the card. There's a very close correlation between the annual fee on a card and the perks you get for carrying it. Cards with no annual fee are all about rewards and go very light on perks. Premium cards with annual fees of $450 or more are laden with perks (although sometimes their rewards aren't too special). Midtier cards (in the $100 range) tend to have solid rewards and a handful of high-value perks.

Assuming you take advantage of them, the perks often make up for the annual fee on a card quite easily. This is especially true with co-branded cards. Free checked bags can pay for an airline card several times over, and a free night is usually worth more than the fee on a hotel card. When comparing the perks of various cards, be realistic about which ones you will and won't use. Sure, that card may entitle you to a free spa package the next time you're at a five-star hotel, but how often do you stay at five-star hotels?

SHOULD YOU GET A TRAVEL CARD? PROS AND CONS

Pros: why it's worth getting a travel card.

The sign-up bonus gives you a big head-start on travel. Bonuses on the best travel credit cards typically run $500 or more — enough for a roundtrip ticket in many instances.

Perks make travel less expensive and more relaxing. You won't have to worry about cramming a week's worth of clothes into a carry-on if your travel credit card gives you a free checked bag (or automatically reimburses you for the bag fee). Hate the crush of travelers in the terminal? Escape to the airport lounge. Renting a car? Use a travel card that provides primary rental car insurance.

Rewards get you closer to your next trip with every purchase. Spending money on the mundane activities of daily life has a silver lining when you know that every $1,000 you spend will knock $10 or $20 off the cost of that future beach vacation or trip home to see Mom and Dad.

No foreign transaction fee can mean big savings. Take just any old credit card with you on vacation outside the U.S., and $1,000 worth of purchases can cost you $30 off the top due to the foreign transaction surcharge. Good travel cards don't charge this fee.

"Double dipping" gives you more points on travel purchases. Buy a plane ticket or book a hotel room, and you'll earn loyalty points or miles regardless of how you pay. Use the right credit card, though, and you'll earn even more points and miles on top of those.

Strategic redemption can multiply your value. With cash-back credit cards, 1 cent is worth 1 cent, and that's just how it goes. The points and miles on many travel credit cards have variable value based on how you redeem them — booking travel with them vs. transferring them to a partner, booking domestic vs. international flights and economy vs. business class, staying at budget hotels vs. high-end resorts, and so on.

Cons: Why a travel card might not be for you

The best cards charge annual fees. In many cases, the value you get from a credit card more than makes up for the annual fee. But some people are dead set against paying a fee under any circumstances. If that's you, your options in travel cards will be sharply limited, and you won't get the perks that provide a big portion of the value on many cards.

Sign-up bonus spending requirements can be steep. A bonus worth $500, $600 or $700 is attractive, but only if you can afford to earn it with spending you were going to do anyway. If you have to amass thousands of dollars in debt and then pay interest on it, it's not worth it.

Travel cards aren't ideal for infrequent travelers. In the first year with a travel card, you're probably going to come out ahead: You can earn a big sign-up bonus, and several popular cards waive the first year's annual fee, too. In subsequent years, though, you'll break even on that fee only if you use the card enough to make up for it (with the rewards you earn and redeem and the perks you use). Infrequent travelers are more likely to get more total rewards from a cash-back card with no annual fee.

Cash back is simpler and more flexible. Some travel cards allow you to redeem your rewards only for travel. Others give you poor value unless you redeem for travel. Still others have complicated redemption options, making it hard to get the most out of your rewards. With cash-back credit cards, you can use your rewards on anything, you know exactly how much your rewards are worth, and redemption is usually simple.

Rewards cards tend to charge higher interest rates. If you regularly carry a balance from month to month, a travel credit card — or any rewards credit card — probably isn't your best choice. The interest you pay is eating up the value of your rewards. You're better off with a low-interest card that reduces the cost of carrying debt.

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR TRAVEL CARD

Maximize your rewards with the following tips:

Plan your credit card application around a big purchase to earn the sign-up bonus.

Seize every opportunity to pick up the tab, especially if your travel credit card pays bonus rewards on dining; your friends can pay you back while you collect rewards.

Redeem rewards for travel instead of gift cards, merchandise or (in most cases) cash back to get the best value.

Join the loyalty program associated with a co-branded card — a frequent-flyer or frequent-guest program.

Shop for essentials in your card’s online bonus mall or through its exclusive offers, if available, to get extra rewards.

OTHER CARDS TO CONSIDER

It’s worth considering whether a travel credit card is even right for you in the first place. A NerdWallet study found that cash-back credit cards often earn more money — even for many travelers.

If you carry a balance from month to month, the higher interest rates typically charged by rewards cards can cancel out any rewards earned. If you have a good credit score, you're better off with a low-interest credit card that can save you money on interest.

A good travel credit card shouldn't charge foreign transaction fees, but there are good non-travel cards that also don't charge them. See our best cards with no foreign transaction fee .

If you value transparency and flexibility in your rewards, you can't go wrong with a cash-back card — and you can still use the rewards for travel, if you want.

Finally, if you're still not sure what's right for you, take a look at our best rewards credit cards for options beyond travel and cash back.

NerdWallet's Sam Kemmis contributed to this article.

To view rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card , see this page . To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express , see this page .

Last updated on June 5 , 2024

Methodology

NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best travel rewards credit cards based on overall consumer value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of travelers. Factors in our evaluation include each card's annual fee, foreign transaction fees, rewards earnings rates, ease of use, redemption options, domestic and international acceptance, promotional APR period, bonus offers, and cardholder perks such as automatic statement credits and airport lounge access. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.

Frequently asked questions

Travel credit cards earn points (sometimes called miles) each time you buy something. The standard earning rate is 1 to 2 points per dollar spent, and many cards give you extra points for certain purchases, particularly travel expenses. The value of a point depends on the card that earned it and how you redeem it, but a good rule of thumb is to assume each point is worth an average of about 1 cent.

Your points accumulate in a rewards account, where you can use them to pay for travel. Most cards let you book travel directly using a portal similar to those at online travel agencies or on airline and hotel websites, but instead of paying cash, you pay with your points. Depending on the card, you may also have the option of booking travel any way you want, paying for it with the card and then cashing in your points for a credit against those expenses.

Points and miles are just different names for the same thing: the currency used in a travel rewards program. Some travel credit cards call them points, some call them miles.

Airline frequent flyer programs have long used the term “miles” to refer to the rewards you earn for flying. That’s because at one time, you really did earn rewards according to how many miles you flew — the longer the flight, the more miles you earned. Nowadays, most domestic airlines give out “miles” based on how much you spend, not how far you fly, so they’re really just points. (There are a few exceptions, though, notably Alaska Airlines.)

Especially when it comes to redeeming your rewards, there’s no difference between points and miles. The number of points or miles you need is based mostly on the cost of what you’re redeeming them for. It takes more than 500 miles (value about: $5) to get a free 500-mile flight!

The value of a point or mile depends on the card you earned it with and how you redeem it. A common rule of thumb is to assume that each point or mile is worth an average of 1 cent, although you can certainly get a much higher (or lower) redemption value. See our travel loyalty roundup page for NerdWallet’s current valuations for airline miles and hotel points.

Travel credit cards fall into two main categories: co-branded and general-purpose.

• Co-branded travel cards carry the name of an airline or hotel chain. The rewards you earn on the card can typically be redeemed only with that brand (or maybe its partners). Co-branded cards limit your flexibility, but because they are issued in partnership with an airline or hotel, they can give you special perks, like free checked bags or room upgrades.

• General-purpose travel cards are issued by a credit card company and are not directly tied to any particular airline or hotel. They earn points in the issuer's own program, such as American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards® or Citi ThankYou. These points are a lot more flexible, as you can use them to pay for a range of travel expenses, including flights on any airline or stays at any hotel. However, they don’t offer the airline- or hotel-specific perks of co-branded cards.

Travel cards — like rewards cards in general — typically require good to excellent credit for approval. Good credit is generally defined as a credit score of 690 or better. However, credit scores alone do not guarantee approval. Every issuer has its own criteria for evaluating applications.

Business travel can earn credit card rewards just like leisure travel. Credit cards that earn rewards for travel purchases don't distinguish between one or the other — meaning, if a card pays 3X points on airfare, for example, it's going to pay it no matter why you're buying the ticket. There are also travel credit cards specifically designed for business operators, with benefits and perks better aligned with their needs.

Where things get complicated is when you're not arranging the travel yourself. With credit card points, the rewards go to the cardholder. So if you arrange travel through your employer and the cost goes on the "company card," then the company card gets the points. Put it on your own card and get reimbursed later, and you get the points. (And if you have a company card with your name on it? That may come down to company policy.)

When redeeming travel rewards, you want to get as much value as possible. If you can get more value by using your rewards than by using cash, then it's smart to do so. (And of course, the reverse also applies.) NerdWallet has calculated the baseline values of most major credit card points, airline miles and hotel points. When you get a value that exceeds these baselines, go ahead and use your rewards. If not, consider using cash.

For example, say you could book a trip by paying $400 cash for a ticket or by redeeming 50,000 points or miles. In that case, your points would be getting you a value of 0.8 cents apiece (50,000 x 0.8 cents = $400). If the baseline value of each point is 1 cent, then you're better off paying cash and saving the points for when you can redeem them for 1 cent or better.

That said, you don't want to be overthinking it and hoarding points indefinitely in search of the deal to end all deals. Like any other currency, travel rewards lose value over time. That flight that costs 50,000 points today might cost 55,000 next year. Do you have enough points to get you where you want to go, when you want to go, in the way you want to get there? If so, don't let fractions of a penny stop you from booking your trip. It's your money, and you get to decide how to spend it.

A number of travel credit cards come with "travel credits," which reimburse you for specific expenses. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® , for example, has a $300 annual travel credit; several cards offer credits toward things like airline fees or hotel bookings; and a bunch of cards have a credit for the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry .

The less restrictive a credit is, the easier it is to redeem. The easiest travel credit to redeem is one that:

Applies to a broad range of expenses. Some credits are very fickle. You may get $200 a year in "airline credit," but it applies only to incidental fees (not airfare) on a single airline that you have to choose ahead of time. A card may offer hundreds of dollars in credit toward travel, but you have to go through the issuer's booking portal, where rates may be more expensive and options more limited. Other credits, however, are broad and open-ended: $300 on any travel expense, $100 toward any airline booking, and so on.

Shows up automatically on your statement. Your issuer's system should be able to recognize qualifying expenses and then apply the credit to them without you having to do anything. If the only way to receive the credit is by calling a phone number or submitting receipts or other documentation, that makes it harder to redeem, which in turn makes it less likely that you'll redeem (and that may be the point).

About the author

Sara Rathner