travel card barclays

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Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard®

*The information about the Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.

A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Intro offer

Enjoy 70,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 90 days

Offer valuation

Offer valuation is not available for this credit card.

Rewards rate

Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase

Regular APR

On This Page

• Current offer details
• Understanding the fees
• Key cardholder perks
• Is this card worth getting?

Editor’s note: The Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard is no longer available through our site.

Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard® Overview

The Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard is the rare travel rewards credit card that’s uncomplicated.

You’ll earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on all purchases, which means you don’t have to mess with tracking category spending or scratch your head to remember how much the card will pay back for a nice restaurant meal.

We love the reward redemption flexibility the card champions. You can use your rewards to book travel on any airline, hotel or cruise ship. You can even pay your cab fare.

What’s more, discount travel sites are covered here, as well, letting you book your trip your preferred way.

If you’re a globetrotter, road-tripper or wanderer of any type, the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard should be in your wallet. At just $89 annual fee, waived for the first year, this card offers generous and simple rewards, along with travel protections and no foreign transaction fees — just like the flashier, more expensive travel cards, but without the big price tag for ownership.

The current sign-up bonus is pretty generous. Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first 90 days. The mileage redemption is as easy as it gets. You can book through Barclaycard’s travel portal or just redeem your mileage as a statement credit and book your travel via any method you like.

Fees and APRs

• This card charges a variable APR of 18.24%, 22.24% or 25.24% depending on your creditworthiness.
• Enjoy an introductory 0% APR offer for 12 billing cycles for each balance transfer made within 45 days of opening the account.
• The annual fee is $89 (waived for the year).
• There’s a balance transfer fee of $5 or 3% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater.
• There are no foreign transaction fees on purchases made outside the United States.
• Late payments won’t affect your annual percentage rate.
• Rates and Fees

Extras, perks and using points

Miles can be redeemed for statement credits starting at 10,000 miles for $100 worth of credit. You can redeem for all or a portion of your travel charges as long as it’s within 120 days of the purchase. Here’s a nice perk: You’ll get 5% of your miles back every time you redeem. So, if you redeem 10,000 miles, you’ll automatically get 500 of those back in your account.

To redeem your miles, log into your card account online. There is no fee to redeem your miles and they never expire as long as your account is open and in good standing.

This card comes with Mastercard World Elite concierge and luxury travel benefits, which also includes some travel and auto protections.

You can receive a complimentary FICO score online and get an alert if your score has changed.

Bankrate’s Take: Is the Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard® worth it?

Anyone seeking a simple travel rewards plan with easy, breezy redemptions and without a fat annual fee can get behind the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard.

* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Review

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card Review

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An expert’s guide to the best Barclays credit cards

Update : Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

Over the past several years, Barclays has made big changes to its lineup of credit cards on offer. The biggest shift is how the United Kingdom-based company is now focusing on cobranded cards, with partners like American Airlines, JetBlue and Wyndham.

For consumers, that means the end of Barclays' own flexible card products like the now-departed Barclays Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard. The company is relying on the strength of travel and retail partners to get in front of cardholders.

If you're looking to get a credit card that earns rewards with some of your go-to brands, here are our top picks for the best Barclays credit cards.

The best Barclays credit cards of 2022

• AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard : Best for American Airlines flyers
• JetBlue Plus Card: Best for JetBlue flyers
• Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard: Best for Hawaiian Airlines flyers
• Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card: Best for no-annual-fee hotel card
• Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card : Best for mid-tier hotel card
• Miles & More World Elite Mastercard : Best for international and premium awards

The information for the AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard, JetBlue Plus Card, Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard, and Miles & More World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

This is a diverse list of cards, so let's take a closer look at some of the top Barclays' offerings to decide if any of these cards make sense for you.

New to The Points Guy? Sign up for our daily newsletter and check out our beginner's guide .

Comparing the best Barclays credit cards

Here's a quick snapshot of how these Barclays cards stack up against each other:

A closer look at these Barclays credit cards

Now let's take a deeper look into each of these cards to see if any of them deserve a spot in your wallet.

AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard

Sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after making your first purchase and paying the $99 annual fee in full within the first 90 days. This bonus is worth $1,062 based on TPG's latest valuations .

Rewards: You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on American Airlines purchases with this card (which is fairly standard across cobranded airline credit cards). Get 1 mile per dollar on everything else.

Annual fee: $99.

Benefits: One of the best perks of this AAdvantage card is that you don't need to hit a minimum spending requirement in order to earn the welcome bonus of 60,000 miles. Buying anything at all will trigger the sign-up bonus, as long as you also pay the $99 annual fee.

Other benefits include:

• Inflight food and beverage discount: Receive a 25% discount in the form of statement credit for inflight food and beverage purchases
• Inflight Wi-Fi credit: You'll get up to $25 in statement credits annually for inflight Wi-Fi purchases.
• Anniversary companion certificate: $99 companion fare (plus taxes and fees) after you spend at least $20,000 on your card in a year.
• First checked bag free: You and up to four traveling companions will get your first checked bags free when flying domestic itineraries.
• Preferred boarding: You'll be allowed to board after Priority and before the rest of economy (which means you won't have to worry about overhead bin space).
• Travel Protections: Receive travel accident insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance, 24/7 travel assistance services, trip cancellation and interruption coverage and more.

For more details, see our full review of the AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard

JetBlue Plus Card

Sign-up bonus: New cardholders receive 60,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days. That's worth $780 based on our valuations .

Rewards: You'll earn 6 points per dollar on JetBlue purchases, 2 points per dollar at restaurants and grocery stores, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. As a point of comparison, the no-annual-fee version of this card, simply called the JetBlue card, offers half as many points on JetBlue purchases.

Benefits: The JetBlue Plus card is one of the most rewarding cobranded airline cards with an annual fee less than $100. Why? Well, for starters, you receive a 5,000-point bonus on every account anniversary. These points are worth about $65, according to TPG valuations .

In addition, you'll automatically receive a 10% points rebate on all awards booked out of the primary cardholder's TrueBlue account. There's no limit to the number of points you get back, and this even holds true when the cardholder is the head of a family pool — which is a key way TPG's Nick Ewen makes the most of his JetBlue Plus card every year.

Then, you get a $100 statement credit every year with your purchase of a JetBlue Vacations package of $100 or more with your card. You also receive 50% off inflight purchases, including alcoholic drinks and snack boxes, and you'll pay no foreign transaction fees outside the U.S. Other notable perks include:

• Fast-track to Mosaic status: Get automatic Mosaic status after spending $50,000 on the card in a calendar year.
• Free checked bags: You and up to three travel companions on the same reservation will enjoy one free checked bag on JetBlue-operated itineraries.

For more details, see our full review of the JetBlue Plus card .

Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard

Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. That's worth $540 based on TPG's valuations . Additionally, you'll receive a one-time 50% companion travel discount.

Rewards: The card offers 3 miles per dollar on Hawaiian Airlines purchases. Although not industry-leading, the card has a decent return on select everyday spending categories : 2 miles per dollar on gas, dining and grocery spending and 1 mile per dollar on everything else

Benefits: One unique feature of this Hawaiian Airlines card is that it lets you transfer HawaiianMiles miles between accounts.

Other perks include:

• Annual $100 companion discount for round-trip travel between Hawaii and the mainland after each account anniversary
• Free checked bag for the primary cardmember when you use your card to purchase eligible tickets directly from Hawaiian Airlines
• Discounted award flights
• No foreign transaction fees
• World Elite Mastercard benefits

For more details, see our full review of the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard .

Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card

Sign-up bonus: Earn 30,000 bonus points, enough for up to four free nights at participating properties, after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. That's worth $330 based on TPG's valuations .

Rewards: Earn 5 points per dollar on eligible hotels by Wyndham and gas station purchases, 2 points per dollar on dining and grocery store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart), 2 points per dollar on eligible purchases made at Wyndham Timeshare properties (including maintenance fees and loan payments), and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

Annual fee: $0.

Benefits: This card offers automatic Wyndham Rewards Gold status, which includes free Wi-Fi, preferred room selection and late checkout. You'll also have the opportunity to earn 7,500 bonus points each anniversary year after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases. Cardholders also enjoy a 10% points discount on redemptions for free nights and pay no foreign transaction fees.

Wyndham has over 9,000 properties worldwide, and while its Rewards program might not be the most popular, there are many unique hotels to choose from.

For more details and to apply, see our link here for the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card.

Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card

Sign-up bonus: Earn 45,000 bonus points, enough for up to four free nights at participating properties, after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. That's worth $495 based on TPG's valuations .

Earning rate: Earn 6 points per dollar on eligible hotels by Wyndham purchases and gas station purchases, 4 points per dollar on dining and grocery store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart), 4 points per dollar on eligible purchases made at Wyndham Timeshare properties (including maintenance fees and loan payments), and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

Annual fee: $75.

Benefits: Wyndham Rewards Platinum status is an automatic perk on the card, which includes all the same perks of Gold status plus early check-in, car rental upgrades with Avis and Budget, and a Caesars Rewards status match . Cardholders receive 7,500 bonus points each anniversary year with no spending requirement.

If you routinely stay at Wyndham hotel brands such as Wyndham, Hawthorn Suites, Days Inn and La Quinta, the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card may be a valuable addition to your stays. The automatic Platinum status alone can be valuable, and the 7,500 points on your anniversary can more than offset the $75 annual fee.

For more details and to apply, see our link here for the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card.

Miles & More World Elite Mastercard

Sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 award miles after spending $3,000 in purchases within the first 90 days and payment of the annual fee. That's worth $700 based on TPG's valuations .

Rewards: You'll get 2 award miles per dollar on ticket purchases with Miles & More "integrated airline partners." This includes AirDolomiti, Austrian Airlines Group, Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Eurowings, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Luxair and SWISS. Unfortunately, there are no other bonus categories, so you'll earn 1 award miles per dollar on everything else.

Annual fee: $89.

Benefits: The Miles & More card is an intriguing option for those that are invested in any of the airlines that comprise the Lufthansa Group. You can redeem miles for Star Alliance flights at favorable rates . You'll also receive two complimentary Lufthansa Business Lounge Vouchers after each account anniversary, a companion ticket and the ability to convert award miles into status miles once each calendar year.

Bottom line

Barclays has several solid options when it comes to potential credit cards to add to your wallet. Since the issuer no longer offers its own cards to new applicants and instead works with brand partners, it's important to select a card that aligns with your lifestyle.

If you care about any of Barclays' cobranded partners, then go for one of these cards. But if you're looking for something a bit more versatile, look beyond Barclays to card options that allow you to transfer points or to receive straight cash back .

Featured photo by Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg/Getty Images.

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Blueprint is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service focused on helping readers make smarter decisions. We receive compensation from the companies that advertise on Blueprint which may impact how and where products appear on this site. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Blueprint. Blueprint does not include all companies, products or offers that may be available to you within the market. A list of selected affiliate partners is available here .

Credit cards > Reviews

AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard from Barclays review: A surprisingly robust no-annual-fee cash-back travel rewards card

Sarah Brady

Glen Luke Flanagan

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Updated 10:13 a.m. UTC May 16, 2024

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Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy .

The AARP® Travel Rewards Mastercard® * The information for the AARP® Travel Rewards Mastercard® has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. charges no annual fee and earns a cash-back rate on travel and dining that rivals some of the most premium cards on the market— and you don’t have to be an AARP member to apply. It also provides a solid introductory APR on balance transfers in case you’re looking to pay down high-interest debt from another credit card.

AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard basics

• Annual fee: $0.
• Welcome bonus: $100 cash back after spending $500 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
• Rewards: Earn 3% cash back on airfare, hotel stays and car rentals, 2% cash back on restaurant purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases.
• APR: 0% intro APR on balance transfers for the first 15 months on balance transfers completed within the first 45 days. After, a variable APR of 21.99%, 25.99% or 29.99% will apply on purchases and balance transfers. There’s a 5% or $5 balance transfer fee, whichever is greater.
• Other perks and benefits: Ability to redeem rewards for an AARP membership; Barclays will donate 1% of eligible purchases to the AARP Foundation, and will donate $10 for every new account; no foreign transaction fees.
• Does the issuer offer a preapproval tool? No.
• Recommended credit score: Good to excellent.

About the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard

The AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard from Barclays earns 3% cash back on airfare, hotel stays and car rentals, 2% cash back on restaurant purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases. The rate on eligible travel is as good as many pricier travel cards on the market and the earnings on restaurant dining are solid too, although the rewards on all other purchases leave something to be desired.

However, this $0-annual-fee card isn’t just a rewards card — it’s also designed for balance transfers .

New cardholders enjoy a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for the first 15 months on balance transfers completed within the first 45 days. After, a variable APR of 21.99%, 25.99% or 29.99% will apply on purchases and balance transfers. There’s a 5% or $5 balance transfer fee, whichever is greater. 

You don’t have to be an AARP member to apply, so if you want to earn cash back on your travel and dining without an annual fee or transfer a balance you’re carrying on a card from a different issuer, this card could be a fit for you. The difference between a card like this and one with an annual price tag is that, typically, you’ll get a more robust slate of perks in exchange for that annual fee, like travel insurances and protections, the ability to transfer your earnings to travel transfer partners or free checked baggage perks. This card offers none of that, but it also won’t cost you anything to carry.

• Great cash-back rate on eligible travel purchases.
• Intro APR on balance transfers for more than a year.
• No annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
• No ability to transfer rewards to travel partners.
• Competing cards may earn higher rewards.
• Most redemption options have a $25 minimum.
• Lacks meaningful perks or benefits.

With the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard, cardholders earn elevated rewards on travel and dining. Specifically, 3% cash back on airfare, hotel stays and car rentals, 2% cash back on restaurant purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases. There’s also a welcome bonus of $100 cash back after spending $500 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Using government data and other publicly available information, we estimate that a household in the U.S. that would be in the market for the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard from Barclays has an annual income of $84,352 and $25,087 in expenses they are likely to be able to charge to a credit card. Here’s a breakdown of how much you could earn in cash back from your annual credit card spending based on that estimate:

Rewards don’t expire while the account is open and in good standing and there’s no cap on what you can earn.

You can deposit your rewards into a checking or savings account, redeem it as a statement credit or use it to purchase gift cards, merchandise or AARP memberships.

It’s worth noting that if you put $25,087 in expenses on a credit card earning a flat 2% cash back on every purchase, you’d earn $501.74 back. That beats the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard when used for the same spend. If you do opt to use the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard, consider using it only for travel and dining purchases, and putting everything else on a card such as the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card that offers 2% cash rewards on purchases.

There is a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for the first 15 months on balance transfers completed within the first 45 days. After, a variable APR of 21.99%, 25.99% or 29.99% will apply on purchases and balance transfers. There’s a 5% or $5 balance transfer fee, whichever is greater.

This offer makes the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard from Barclays attractive for consumers seeking a balance transfer card to pay down existing debt, though the balance transfer fee is a bit on the high side.

Purchases don’t get a low intro period, and are subject to the regular 21.99%, 25.99% or 29.99% variable APR.

How the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard compares to other rewards cards

Aarp travel rewards mastercard vs. bank of america® travel rewards credit card.

The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card keeps things simple, earning 1.5 points per $1 on purchases. There’s also a welcome bonus of 25,000 points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. Points are worth 1 cent each if redeemed to cover past travel or dining purchases, less if redeemed for cash back.

And, if you’re a member of Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards® program, you could boost your rewards rate by 25% to 75%.

You’ll pay no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees with the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card. 

There’s a 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases and any balance transfers made in the first 60 days, followed by a 19.24% to 29.24% variable APR. A 3% intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days; then a 4% fee applies to future balance transfers.

AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard vs. Bilt World Elite Mastercard®

Anyone seeking a no-annual-fee travel rewards card will find a lot to love about the Bilt Card . It charges no annual fee, No Foreign Currency Conversion Fees ( rates & fees ) and points can transfer to more than a dozen travel partners.

Cardholders earn 1 point per $1 on rent payments without a transaction fee (on up to 100,000 points each year), 2 points per $1 on travel (when booked through the Bilt Travel Portal or directly with an airline, hotel, car rental or cruise company), 3 points per $1 on dining and 1 point per $1 on other purchases. At least five transactions must be made per statement period to earn these rewards.

When paying rent, Bilt lets you avoid the transaction fee often charged for paying rent by credit card. For example, Bilt can mail a check to your landlord, or set up a routing number for you to pay via your online portal.

In addition to being able to transfer points 1:1 to Bilt’s airline and hotel partners, you can redeem your rewards to book travel in the Bilt portal, in which case you get a value of 1.25 cents per point.  The card also comes with Trip Delay Reimbursement, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection and an Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver — all valuable perks you don’t normally find on a card with no annual fee.

AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited®

The no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on eligible dining and drugstore purchases and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

There’s a welcome bonus where new cardholders can earn 1.5% back on everything bought in the first year on up to $20,000 in spending, which is worth up to $300.

Cardholders also enjoy a 0% intro APR for the first 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% to 29.24%. An intro transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies in the first 60 days. After that, a fee of either $5 or 5% of each transfer applies.

Be aware the Freedom Unlimited charges a 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars foreign transaction fee, so it’s not ideal for travel abroad.

Should you get the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard?

Not all balance transfer credit cards offer rewards, so the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard stands out as a card with both a solid balance transfer intro offer and ongoing value in the form of a cash-back program.

However, the intro APR doesn’t apply to purchases, only to transferred balances. And at 21.99%, 25.99% or 29.99% variable, the regular APR is high, so this card isn’t the best choice for financing a big-ticket item. 

Lastly, while it’s got “travel rewards” in the name, there are better travel rewards credit cards on the market that allow you to transfer rewards to airline and hotel partners and come with trip and baggage protections.

The AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard isn’t a bad card, especially when you consider that it earns good rewards on travel for no annual fee. But if you’re seeking a true travel card, there are other options that will likely suit you better.

AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard summary

Frequently asked questions (faqs).

You’ll need good or better credit to qualify for the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard from Barclays, but the specific credit score requirement isn’t disclosed by Barclays or AARP. Typically, good credit is considered a FICO Score of 670 or higher.

The AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard is issued by Barclays Bank Delaware (Barclays).

The AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard from Barclays can be a good credit card for someone who spends a lot of money on travel and dining, since you’ll earn elevated cash-back rates on those purchases. But it doesn’t let you transfer rewards to travel partners, is thin on benefits, and there are cards with higher rewards rates .

It can also be a good option for someone shopping around for a balance transfer card , as the intro period on transferred debt is more than a year. However, there are cards on the market with lower balance transfer fees.

*The information for the AARP® Travel Rewards Mastercard® has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Sarah Brady is a personal finance writer and educator who's been helping individuals and entrepreneurs improve their financial wellness since 2013. Sarah's other publications include Investopedia, Experian, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), Credit Karma and LendingTree and her work has been syndicated by Yahoo! News and MSN. She is also a former HUD-Certified Housing Counselor and NFCC-Certified Credit Counselor.

Glen Luke Flanagan is a deputy editor on the USA TODAY Blueprint credit cards team. Prior to joining Blueprint, he served as a deputy editor on the credit cards team at Forbes Advisor, and covered credit cards, credit scoring and related topics as a senior writer at LendingTree. He’s passionate about helping people understand personal finance so they can make the best decisions possible for their wallet. Glen holds a master's degree in technical and professional communication from East Carolina University and a bachelor's degree in journalism from Radford University.

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Barclays Travel Wallet Review

Byron Mühlberg

Monito's Managing Editor, Byron has spent several years writing extensively about financial- and migration-related topics.

Links on this page, including products and brands featured on ‘Sponsored’ content, may earn us an affiliate commission. This does not affect the opinions and recommendations of our editors.

Barclays Travel Wallet is Barclays' very own in-app multi-currency spending tool, and although the concept behind the travel wallet is simple, it's quite unique in our opinion and comes with a few interesting perks that might interest you if you're a frequent traveller.

In this short review, we go through what Barclays Travel Wallet is, how it's different from other travel wallets and cards in the UK, and what its fees and exchange rates are like. Then, we give our verdict on whether we think it's worth it or not, before highlighting a few alternatives instead.

What Monito Likes About Barclays Travel Wallet

• Available to all Barclays current account customers,
• You can set it up in a few taps right from your mobile banking app,
• You simply use your existing Barclays debit card,
• No FX margins for converting leftover currency back to sterling.

What Monito Dislikes About Barclays Travel Wallet

• Exchange rate margins of around 4.6%,
• Balances only available in US dollars and euros,
• Easy to accidentally spend the wrong currency and incur fees.
• 01. What is Barclays Travel Wallet? What makes it different? scroll down
• 02. Is Barclays Travel Wallet really so cheap? scroll down
• 03. How does Barclays Travel Wallet compare to other travel cards? scroll down
• 04. Is Barclays Travel Wallet worth it? Our verdict scroll down

What is Barclays Travel Wallet

When it comes to travel spending, it's easy to think there are two opposed solutions: using your home bank's credit or debit card (the expensive way), or using a third-party travel card like Revolut or Currensea (the more cost-savvy way). However, that's where the Barclays Travel Wallet is different. It lets you use your ordinary debit card and current account to spend abroad and manually convert your pounds sterling into either US dollars or euros right from your Barclays Mobile Banking app.

Barclays Travel Wallet Features

In our opinion, this ease of use is by far the biggest selling point of the Barclays Travel Wallet. Here are the three main features in summary:

• Entirely App-Based: You can set up your Barclays Travel Wallet very quickly and convert sterling right from your bank balance into dollars or euros, even while you're already abroad! This means you don't need to wait to register for and verify a new account with another provider or wait several days for a new debit card to arrive at your door before you travel.
• Use Your Normal Debit Card: Because you don't need to wait for a new special-purpose travel debit card, you can essentially convert your usual debit card into a travel card with Barclays, avoiding the need to wait for a new card to arrive, pay a delivery fee, and have yet another piece of plastic sitting in your wallet!
• Overview and Control: You can use the Barclays Mobile Banking app to keep track of all your transactions (in pounds and in the foreign currency) as well as buy foreign currency at a fixed exchange rate and convert it back to pounds later.
• USD and EUR Only: You can only convert your pound sterling bank balance into US dollars or euros — no other currency is supported yet. This is okay if you're going across the Channel or across the Pond, but it can be a big limitation if you're planning to travel further afield.

How Barclays Travel Wallet Works

Here's a step-by-step overview of how the Barclays Travel Wallet works, assuming you're already a Barclays customer:

• Open your 'Barclays Mobile Banking' app,
• Tap 'Cards' on your home screen,
• Select 'Create a travel wallet',
• Convert pounds to dollars or euros,
• Use your debit card abroad like normal,
• Convert leftover currency back to pounds.

It's worth noting that the last step of converting unused foreign currency back to pounds is important, otherwise you'll be charged 2.99% to pay if you pay in euros or dollars while in the UK! More about that and other fees in the next section.

Barclays Travel Wallet Fees: Are They Any Good?

Using Barclays Travel Wallet to spend your pounds in the Eurozone or the USA is certainly cheaper than using your Barclays debit card directly without the wallet. That's because it allows you to dodge the 2.99% currency conversion fee that's incurred by most Barclays debit card purchases abroad. However, in our opinion, the good deal ends there, because you'll still need to pay the standard Barclays exchange rate to either the US dollar or the euro.

Here's a breakdown of what you are (and are not) charged by Barclays:

Currency Conversion Fees

Barclays Travel Wallet charges no currency conversion fee (allowing you to dodge the standard 2.99% on most Barclays debit cards).

Exchange Rates

The moment you convert your British pounds to dollars or euros, Barclays charges you an exchange rate margin — a type of hidden fee that emerges when you pay the bank's exchange rate while the bank itself uses the mid-market exchange rate (i.e. the 'real' exchange rate you find on Google). To illustrate, here was the mid-market exchange rate for both currencies at the time of writing (7 August 2023 at 11:00 GMT +2):

• GBPEUR: 1.159722
• GBPUSD: 1.2721946

but here were Barclays' exchange rates at the same moment:

• GBPEUR: 1.1061
• GBPUSD: 1.2139

Looking at the difference between these rates, we can see that Barclays charges margins of 4.62% for euros and 4.58% for dollars . While this margin might fluctuate slightly, it's reasonable to assume you'll get a rate between 4% and 5% of the total value of your transaction when converting currencies, which, in our opinion, is very pricey for a travel card.

Fortunately, however, this exchange rate margin does not apply when you're converting unused foreign currency back into sterling; only when you're converting sterling into foreign currency in the first place.

ATM Withdrawal Fees

Just like standard currency conversion fees, Barclays Travel Wallet charges no ATM withdrawal fees (which also allows you to dodge the same 2.99% fee that impacts cashpoint withdrawals with most standard Barclays debit cards).

How Does Barclays Travel Wallet Compare?

Barclays Travel Wallet is a rather unique in-app travel solution whose exchange rates are quite high. But how does it compare to other travel card options in the UK? Let's go through a few below:

Starling Bank

If you're open to registering for a new bank account altogether, then Starling Bank should be top of mind. It's a fully-authorised bank in the UK that's well known for its fee-free current account and its complete range of financial services (including overdrafts, loans, joint accounts, spending insights, payment splitting, virtual cards, euro accounts, interest, etc.). We think Starling offers the best online bank in the UK — one we recommend as a complete replacement for an account at a high-street bank like Barclays.

• Trust & Credibility 9.3
• Service & Quality 8.5
• Fees & Exchange Rates 10
• Customer Satisfaction 9.3
• In-Balance Currencies: GBP only
• Foreign Currency Conversion Fee: £0
• Exchange Rate Margin: 0%
• Foreign ATM Fee: 0%

Probably the UK's most famous fintech, there's a good chance you've heard of  Revolut . Using its innovative online platform, you'll not only have access to a broad range of financial services, but you'll also be able to take advantage of these services at a comparatively low price (though fair use limits and weekend FX surcharges may apply). However, Revolut is a travel card and not a bank  in the UK, meaning we think it's best used as a powerful spending tool next to a main bank account instead of in place of it.

• Trust & Credibility 8.9
• Service & Quality 7.9
• Fees & Exchange Rates 8.3
• Customer Satisfaction 9.4
• In-Balance Currencies: USD, EUR, CAD, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, and 25+ others
• Exchange Rate Margin: 0%-2%

Wise isn't a bank in the UK but a money transfer operator that's well-known for offering some of the  cheapest international transfers  globally. However, money transfers aren't Wise's only speciality — they also offer the  Wise Account , a low-cost foreign currency spending account and card product that's best in class for foreign currency spending of all kinds, whether it's holidays overseas, online shopping, or international money transfers.

• Service & Quality 8.9
• Fees & Exchange Rates 7.6
• Customer Satisfaction 9.6
• In-Balance Currencies: USD, EUR, CAD, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, and 45+ others
• Foreign Currency Conversion Fee: 0.35% - 2.85%

Is Barclays Travel Wallet Worth It?

All in all, we think the Barclays Travel Wallet is a viable option for Barclays customers travelling abroad. It's comparatively very easy to set up and start using, which is a big plus in our books, plus it lets you use your ordinary debit card instead of ordering a prepaid one and waiting for it to be delivered.

For this reason, we think the Barclays Travel Wallet is best for its convenience , and can help you access foreign currency quickly if you're a Barclays customer travelling to the US or the Eurozone who doesn't have the time to organize another option ahead of your trip.

On the other hand, the high exchange rates of around 4.6% make Barclays a rather expensive travel card compared to leading prepaid debit cards and other travel card options on the UK market, so if saving money is important to you, you can find much better deals elsewhere. We particularly recommend Revolut , whose debit card comes with no monthly fee, very low fees all round for foreign currency spending, and the capability to hold over 30 foreign currency balances in your app-based account.

As we've seen, Barclays Travel Wallet isn't the only kid on the block when it comes to low-cost overseas spending. See how it stacks up against a few of the best travel cards in the UK below:

Check Out These UK Travel Money Guides

Why Trust Monito?

You’re probably all too familiar with the often outrageous cost of sending money abroad. After facing this frustration themselves back in 2013, co-founders François, Laurent, and Pascal launched a real-time comparison engine to compare the best money transfer services across the globe. Today, Monito’s award-winning comparisons, reviews, and guides are trusted by around 8 million people each year and our recommendations are backed by millions of pricing data points and dozens of expert tests — all allowing you to make the savviest decisions with confidence.

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Our recommendations are always unbiased and independent.

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Tips for travel

How to plan your holiday

If you’re planning a holiday or trip away, try our tips for travel to help you make it truly memorable.

From setting up a holiday savings goal to sorting your insurance and working out the best way to budget and take your money abroad, we’re here to help you get your finances travel-ready – wherever you’re headed. 

Make your travel plans and work out how to pay for them.

Plan for a holiday >

Start saving for your trip >

Barclays Avios Rewards > 1

Could a holiday loan be right for you? >

Be sure to cover for setbacks and decide on ways to spend.

Take out travel cover >

Use our in-app travel wallet >

Order foreign currency >

Be prepared for any disruption >

Look after your everyday spending overseas.

Using a debit card abroad >

Using a credit card abroad >

Control your card on the go >

Coming back from holiday >

Get travel cover that suits you

Don’t let unexpected events spoil your trip. Make sure you have the right cover with our Travel and Breakdown Packs. Terms and conditions apply.

Travel insurance >

Go cashless with our travel wallet

You can buy euros and US dollars in the Barclays app 2  and spend them on your regular debit card. Enjoy fee-free transactions and cash withdrawals, and if there’s money left at the end of your trip it’s easy to change it back 3

Travel wallet >

Using your cards abroad

Find out the best ways to pay for things and withdraw cash outside the UK, so you get the most value and avoid extra fees.

Buy foreign currency >

Enjoy flights, hotels and more with Avios 

That next holiday could be closer than you think.

Avios is the reward currency of the British Airways Executive Club 4 . You can spend your Avios on a range of benefits such as reward flights, cabin upgrades, hotel stays, car hire and more.

Discover how you can earn Avios rewards with Barclays and Barclaycard to help you get closer to the travel you want. 

• Important information

You can opt in to Barclays Avios Rewards if you’re a Premier Banking customer or have a personal Wealth current account with us – you’ll need to register for the Barclays app and have a British Airways Executive Club account too. There’s a £12 monthly fee and you have to opt out of Barclays Blue Rewards and go paperless for all your accounts and services with us. To access Barclays Avios Rewards in the Barclays app, you need to be over 18. You can join Premier Banking if you have an income of £75,000 or £100,000 held with us. T&Cs apply. Return to reference

You need to be 16 or over to access this product or service using the app. T&Cs apply. Return to reference

16+, T&Cs and eligibility criteria apply, exchange rates may vary. Return to reference

When you apply for a Barclaycard Avios card, you can either link it to an existing British Airways Executive Club membership or we’ll set one up for you. Then we’ll transfer the Avios you collect with us to your British Airways Executive Club account each month. You can check your latest Avios balance in your Barclaycard or Barclays app. Take a look at the  terms and conditions of the British Airways Executive Club  and check the  British Airways privacy policy  before you apply. Return to reference

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Barclays Bank UK PLC and Barclays Bank PLC are each authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Barclays Insurance Services Company Limited and Barclays Investment Solutions Limited are each authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Registered office for all: 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP

Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard® review

Written by: Holly Johnson

• Balance Transfer

In a Nutshell:

One of the most generous travel cards around, the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard is a great choice for earning free travel; but it’s too expensive to carry a balance on.  This card offer is no longer available.

Other Notable Features: EMV chip, no foreign transaction fees, free upgrades and discounts on business class tickets with partner airlines, discounts on luxury travel

With the highest general rewards rate on the market, the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard offers a winning combination of value, flexibility and valuable travel perks. This card offer is no longer available.

Note: This card offer is no longer available.

The Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard® is easily one of the most flexible travel credit cards on the market today. It’s so flexible, in fact, that you can use your rewards for pretty much any travel expense you can imagine. And once you start earning miles with this card, you can cash them in for travel expenses at a rate of one cent per point.

Keep reading to learn about its rewards program, its cardholder benefits and why you should sign up.

Sign-up bonus

The Arrival Plus card comes out of the gate with an especially lucrative offer for new customers. Once you sign up, you’ll earn 70,000 miles after you spend $5,000 on your card within 90 days of account opening. This is much better than the 60,000 miles we’ve seen this card offer new customers in the past.

The bonus alone is worth $735 in travel after you factor in the 5 percent travel redemption bonus you receive. You’ll need to spend at least $1,667 every 30 days for the first 90 days you have the card, however, so make sure you can reach this threshold with regular spending and bills before you sign up.

Earning points

As we mentioned already, this card gives you a flat rate of rewards – specifically 2 miles for every dollar you spend. This earning rate is easy to keep track of since there are no rotating bonus categories, and your rewards rate will never change.

What are points worth?

Generally speaking, miles earned with this card can be redeemed for 1 cent each. However, they are actually worth more than that if you redeem your miles for travel. This is due to the 5 percent redemption bonus you get when you redeem miles for travel expenses. With that bonus factored in, you wind up earning 2.10 miles for each dollar you spend.

Check out the table below to see how some other travel credit cards perform. You may notice that some cards offer a higher rate of return overall, and this is usually because cards offer a better rewards “bonus” when you redeem points for travel. Higher rewards rates are also based on the fact some cards let you transfer points to airline and hotel partners that can give more bang for your buck.

Redeeming points

Redeeming miles earned with the Barclaycard Arrival Plus card for travel is a piece of cake. All you have to do is use your credit card for a qualified travel purchase then redeem your rewards to erase that purchase from your bill. Keep in mind, however, that the Barclaycard Arrival Plus card only allows travel redemptions in increments of $100 or more. As a result, you’ll need to have at least 10,000 miles in your account to redeem for travel.

Also keep in mind that you have other options when it comes to cashing in your points, including gift cards, cash back  and merchandise. These options are a lot less lucrative than redeeming for travel, as you’ll see in the chart below.

 Other benefits

The Barclaycard Arrival Plus card offers a slew of important benefits that can help you save money or get more value out of this card’s annual fee. Perks to be aware of include:

• No foreign transaction fees  –   You won’t have to pay a fee to use your credit card for purchases outside the United States.
• Introductory 0 percent APR  –  Receive a 0 percent APR for 12 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening, followed by a variable APR of 18.24 percent, 22.24 percent or 25.24 percent.
• Mastercard World Elite Concierge  – Get 24/7 help with travel planning, dinner reservations and more.
• Cellphone insurance  – Receive cellphone insurance when your phone is lost or damaged. This coverage is good for up to $800 per claim minus a $50 deductible. The annual cap is $1,000.
• Lyft credits  –   Get a $10 credit when you take five rides in a calendar month. The credit is applied to your next ride and you can only use one credit per month.
• Postmates discount  – Get $5 off every Postmates order of $25 or more when you pay with your credit card.
• Boxed discount  – Get 5 percent cash rewards on Boxed purchases, which you can use for future Boxed orders.
• Fandango rewards  – Receive double Fandango VIP+ points for movie tickets when you use your credit card to pay.
• Identity theft protection  –   Enjoy special protection against fraud, including social security number tracking, personal information monitoring, dark web tracking and identity theft resolution services.

Approval odds

If you’re a consumer with “good credit,” or a FICO score between 670 to 739 , you are more likely to qualify for this credit card than those who have lower scores. You may be in the best position to qualify if you have a score over 740, however, since scores in that range are deemed very good or excellent.

If your credit score isn’t quite that high, you may want to wait a while before you apply. Spend a few months improving your credit score, and you may be in a better position to get approved for this card.

If you’re looking for easy ways to boost your FICO score , start by making sure all your bills are paid early or on time, paying down your debts to lower your credit utilization and refraining from opening or closing too many accounts.

Customer experience

Barclays rates fairly low in customer service with its customers, coming in ninth place in the recent J.D. Power Credit Card Customer Satisfaction survey . Barclays features 24/7 customer service and a popular mobile app. The mobile app makes it easy to monitor your bills and spending, check your account balance and notice fraudulent purchases right away.

How does the Barclaycard Arrival Plus card compare to other travel credit cards?

With the same 2x points on every purchase, the Barclaycard Arrival Plus card is a great card for earning simple, straightforward rewards, but there are more rewarding options if you’re willing to do a little extra work monitoring bonus categories:

Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is another flexible travel credit card that lets you redeem points in more than one way. Not only can you cash in your points for gift cards, statement credits and merchandise, but you get 50 percent more travel when you redeem points through the Chase Travel℠ portal. Also, you have the option to transfer your points 1:1 to popular airline and hotel partners like United MileagePlus, Southwest, Hyatt and Marriott Bonvoy.

Once you sign up, you’ll earn 75,000 points after you spend $4,000 within three months of account opening. You also get 10 points per $1 spent on hotels and car rentals when you purchase through Chase Travel℠, 5 points per $1 spent on air travel through Chase Travel℠ and 3 points per $1 spent on other travel purchases (earn elevated rewards on travel purchases after earning the $300 annual travel credit). Plus, earn 3 points per $1 spent on dining and 1 point per $1 spent on other purchases. There’s a $550 annual fee, but you get Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership, a Global Entry/TSA Precheck credit, a $300 annual travel credit and other perks.

Wells Fargo Propel American Express card

This card comes with no annual fee, yet it gives you 3 points per dollar on dining, travel and transit, gas station purchases and select streaming services and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. You also earn 20,000 points worth $200 after you spend $1,000 on your card within three months of account opening.

You can cash in your points for travel, cash back, merchandise, gift cards and more.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture card is another card that gives a flat 2 miles for each dollar you spend, except you also get the added benefit of up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. You also earn 75,000 miles if you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months.

When it comes time to redeem your miles, you can opt for travel statement credits, cash back, gift cards and more. This card also gives you the option of transferring your miles to a handful of popular airline partners.

Who should apply for the Barclaycard Arrival Plus card?

• Anyone who wants to earn a flat rate of rewards on all their spending.
• Consumers who want to earn a big sign-up bonus when they sign up for a travel credit card.
• People who prefer to redeem points for travel over other options.
• Anyone who doesn’t want to deal with complicated hotel or airline loyalty program rules.

How to use the Barclaycard Arrival Plus card

• Sign up and spend $5,000 on your card within 90 days to earn 70,000 bonus points.
• Use your card for all your regular purchases to earn 2x miles for each dollar you spend.
• Make sure to rack up at least 10,000 miles before you attempt to redeem points for travel .
• Use your card for at least five Lyft rides each month to qualify for statement credits.
• Pay your cellphone bill with this card in order to qualify for the free cellphone coverage benefit.

Is the Barclaycard Arrival Plus card worth it?

The Barclaycard Arrival Plus card is absolutely worth it if you spend money on travel each year. Not only does this card give you a big sign-up bonus, but you can redeem your miles for any purchase that codes as travel. You also earn 2 miles for each dollar you spend, which is more than you’ll get with a standard cash back credit card.

Before you sign up, however, it’s always worth checking out other travel credit cards to see how they stack up. You may find a different rewards card will leave you better off, or you may decide to pair the Barclaycard Arrival Plus card with a second card that offers different benefits.

*All information about Wells Fargo Propel American Express card has been collected independently by  CreditCards.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer. The Wells Fargo Propel American Express card is no longer available.

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Your mobile banking app

Travel wallet

A multi-currency solution at your fingertips, whenever you need it

You can use your debit card to make payments in euros or US dollars and even withdraw currency from your travel wallet, all without incurring any fees. To help you stay on top of your finances you can also get notifications on your wallet balance.

Why should I use it?

Fix your exchange rate before travelling.

Take the worry out of fluctuating exchange rates. Buy your currency at a fixed rate for your travel wallet. If you’re running low, you can top up any time and use your debit card as normal.

Use your debit card abroad

Our travel wallet allows you to use your existing pound sterling debit card like a multi-currency card abroad. It allows you to use the one debit card in both euros and US dollars, you can create a travel wallet for each currency and use the same card to spend from both.

No transaction fees

You can make purchases and withdraw money abroad for free 1  in the local currency once you have added money to your travel wallet.

Keep the change or change it back

You have the choice of swapping any currency remaining in your travel wallet back to British pounds, and move it back into your account. Or, you can keep it for your next trip – your choice.

Stay on top of your money

You can keep on track of your spending by setting up notifications to manage your wallet balance. Or see how much is left and where you have spent it so far by viewing the balance within the app.

Spending abroad is simple with a travel wallet

How to create your travel wallet in the barclays app.

If you haven’t already, you will need to download the Barclays app 2  to create a travel wallet. Once you’ve registered, follow these steps:

1. Log in to the app 2. Tap on ‘Cards’ on the home screen 3. Tap ‘Create a travel wallet’

Terms and conditions apply . You must have a Barclays current account, be at least 18 years old and have a mobile number.

Please note that travel wallet is currently only available to sole account holders. Debit cards linked to a joint account will not see the option to open a travel wallet.

Check your balance, make payments and keep on top of your finances with our app.

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• Credit Cards

The Best Barclays Credit Cards – Comparing Benefits & Perks [2024]

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Table of Contents

The best barclays credit card for general travel, best barclays credit cards for international travel, best barclays credit cards for domestic travel, best barclays hotel credit cards, best barclays credit card for cash-back, best barclays credit cards for business, final thoughts.

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Barclays is a publicly-traded banking and financial services company headquartered in London.

Its history traces back to the late 17th century as a goldsmith banking business, but it has grown to include segments such as retail banking, investment banking, wealth management, and so much more.

One of Barclays’ more well-known consumer segments in the U.S. is its credit card business.

Barclays is the issuer of lots of different credit cards — primarily airline, hotel, and cruise line products — and in this guide, we’ll walk you through the A to Z of Barclays’ best credit cards.

The Best Barclays Credit Cards — Overview

• AARP ® Essential Rewards Mastercard ® from Barclays — Best for Cash-back
• AARP ® Travel Rewards Mastercard ® from Barclays — Best for General Travel
• AAdvantage ® Aviator ® Red World Elite Mastercard ® — Best for American Airlines Flyers
• AAdvantage ® Aviator ® World Elite Business Mastercard ® — Best Business Card for American Airlines Flyers
• Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard ® — Best for Emirates Flyers & Lounge Access
• Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard ® — Best for Emirates Flyers
• Hawaiian Airlines ® World Elite Mastercard ® — Best for Hawaiian Airlines Flyers
• Miles & More ® World Elite Mastercard ® — Best for Lufthansa Group Flyers
• The JetBlue Plus Card — Best for JetBlue Flyers
• Wyndham Rewards ® Earner℠ Business Card  — Best Business Card for Wyndham Loyalists
• Wyndham Rewards ® Earner℠ Plus Card  — Best for Wyndham Loyalists

Even though Barclays is responsible for issuing tons of co-branded credit cards for airlines, hotels, and even cruise lines that often excel for travel with specified brands, these cards fall short on general travel. However, Barclays does have a general travel card.

Let’s take a look at the best credit card we recommend for Barclays clients looking to get rewarded on general travel.

AARP Travel Rewards Card (Best for General Travel)

Offered in partnership with AARP, the AARP Travel Rewards card is a terrific travel-oriented credit card for Barclays clients.

Although AARP is marketed towards people who are over the age of 50, you don’t need to meet any specific requirements to qualify for an AARP membership.

Currently, the AARP Travel Rewards card offers a welcome bonus to new cardholders, plus unlimited cash-back rewards as follows:

• 3% cash-back on airfare, hotel stays, and car rentals
• 2% cash-back at restaurants
• 1% cash-back on other purchases

Right now, the welcome bonus includes a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers. Barclays will also donate $10 to the AARP Foundation for every new account opened, as well as 1% of eligible purchases to the AARP Foundation on an ongoing basis.

This credit card earns cash-back rewards that can be redeemed for cash-back, AARP membership, and much more.

The AARP Travel Rewards card also includes zero fraud liability protection, no foreign transaction fees, and no additional annual fees for authorized users.

If you’re a frequent traveler flying to far-away places, Barclays excels in offering a respectable list of credit cards suited for international travel.

Let’s take a look at our options.

Lufthansa Miles & More Card (Best for Lufthansa Group Flyers)

The Lufthansa Miles & More card is the best bet if you’re frequently traveling to Europe and often book flights on Lufthansa Group airlines, including Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, and Swiss Air.

At the moment, there’s a welcome bonus you can qualify for, plus a 0% introductory APR for 15 months on balance transfers made within the first 45 days of account opening.

Using this card earns you up to 2 miles per dollar spent:

• 2x miles on ticket purchases directly from Miles & More integrated airline partners
• 1x miles on other purchases

There are 3 major airline-specific perks you’ll get from this card:

• 2 complimentary Lufthansa Business Lounge vouchers after each account anniversary year
• A companion ticket after each account anniversary year (valid only for 1 economy class ticket, taxes and fees apply)
• The ability to convert up to 25,000 award miles to status miles at 5:1 ratio once per calendar year (earn up to 5,000 status miles per calendar year)

Uniquely, this credit card earns Miles & More miles , allowing you to book award flights and upgrades on Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines, Austrian Airlines, and Swiss Air. Miles & More does not have any mainstream transfer partners.

You can also get a 15% discount on eligible hotel stays or car rentals when booking through Miles & More.

No foreign transaction fees apply with this card, and you’ll get World Elite Mastercard benefits such as cell phone protection, purchase protection, and extended warranty. Also, authorized user cards come with no additional annual fees.

Emirates Premium World Elite Card (Best for Emirates Flyers & Lounge Access)

The Emirates Premium World Elite card is a premium card with premium perks and a premium price tag.

The information regarding the Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard ® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Emirates is widely considered to be one of the most luxurious airlines in the world, so it is no wonder why the airline offers its own luxury credit card with an annual fee of $499, as well.

You might be wondering how an airline credit card alone could be worth such a high annual fee, especially one that is not a major U.S. airline. But for those who actually do fly with Emirates often, the Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard ® can be the perfect option thanks to all of the benefits that the card provides.

• Earn 3x miles per $1 spent on Emirates purchases
• Earn 2x miles per $1 spent on travel purchases, including airfare, hotel stays, and car rentals
• Earn 1x mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
• $499 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable points
• Earn 40,000 bonus Skywards Miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 90 days.
• Enjoy Emirates Gold tier membership during your first year, and retain your tier status by spending $40,000 each cardmembership year.
• Earn 3 Skywards Miles on eligible Emirates purchases. Earn 2 Skywards Miles on eligible travel purchases and earn 1 Skywards Mile on all other purchases.
• Earn 10,000 anniversary bonus Skywards Miles after spending $30,000 on purchases each cardmembership year.
• The Skywards Miles you earn will not expire as long as your cardmembership account remains open.
• There is no limit to the number of Skywards Miles you can earn as long as your account remains open, active, and in good standing.
• Receive 25% savings when you Buy or Gift Miles. Receive a 25% savings when you Buy Skywards Miles for yourself or Gift Miles.
• Priority Pass Select lounge access provides unlimited access to over 1,300 lounges worldwide for the primary cardmember and their guest(s).
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit. Receive an automatic statement credit for the cost of one Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every 5 years – up to $100.
• No foreign transaction fees on international purchases.
• Complimentary online access to your FICO Credit Score lets you keep an eye on your credit score and get alerts when we learn that your score has changed.
• $0 Fraud Liability protection means you’re not responsible for charges you did not authorize.
• APR: 21.24%, 25.24% or 29.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  $0

Our runner-up international travel credit card is one of Barclays’s only ultra-premium cards: the Emirates Premium World Elite card .

This card currently earns a welcome bonus and up to 3x Skywards Miles:

• 3x miles on eligible Emirates purchases
• 2x miles on eligible travel purchases

Most importantly, this credit card offers you the ability to earn Emirates Skywards elite status with credit cards — you’ll enjoy Emirates Gold status during your first year and the ability to retain your tier status by spending $40,000 each cardmember year.

Every cardmember year, you’ll also get 10,000 Skywards Miles as a cardmember anniversary bonus. And as long as you hold this card, your Skywards Miles will not expire, and whenever you buy or gift Emirates Skywards Miles, you’ll get a 25% discount.

To make the value proposition even stronger, this card comes with a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership and a $100 Global Entry / TSA PreCheck application fee credit every 5 years .

Other purchase-related credit card benefits are included, such as no foreign transaction fees, free FICO score access, zero fraud liability protection, and authorized users for no additional annual fees.

Emirates World Elite Card (Best for Emirates Flyers)

A great option for occasional Emirates flyers!

The Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard ®   might seem a bit unconventional, especially to U.S.-based flyers. But for those who fly often with the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates, or who are trying to earn as many points as possible towards an Emirates first class redemption , the Emirates World Elite card might make sense for you.

• Earn 2x miles per $1 spent on travel purchases , including airfare , hotel stays , and car rentals
• $99 annual fee
• Enjoy Emirates Silver tier membership during your first year, and retain your tier status by spending $20,000 each card membership year.
• Earn 30,000 bonus Skywards Miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 90 days.
• Earn 3 Skywards Miles for every $1 spent on emirates.com or at the Emirates Sales office.
• Earn 2 Skywards Miles on eligible travel purchases and earn 1 Skywards Mile on all other purchases.

The last Barclays credit card we recommend for international travelers is the Emirates World Elite card , which is the lower-annual-fee version of the Emirates Premium World Elite card.

It offers a sizable welcome bonus and the same earning structure as the Emirates Premium World Elite card:

Instead of getting Emirates Gold membership, though, you’ll get Emirates Silver membership during your first year (with the ability to retain status by spending $20,000 each cardmember year).

Your miles will still be expiration-free as long as your card account remains open, and you’ll also get 25% savings when buying or gifting miles if you have the Emirates World Elite card.

This card also offers complimentary online access to your FICO credit score , plus zero liability fraud protection.

There are no foreign transaction fees or additional annual fees for authorized users.

If you primarily travel domestically, Barclays has a series of awesome credit card partners that’ll help you achieve these goals.

AAdvantage Aviator Red Card (Best for American Airlines Flyers)

If you’ve ever flown on an American Airlines flight, you’ve probably seen advertisements, either inflight or around the airport, for the AAdvantage Aviator Red card, which is issued by Barclays.

The AAdvantage Aviator Red card is Barclays’ flagship American Airlines-branded credit card, and it offers tremendous value to the frequent American Airlines flyer.

There’s a welcome bonus that you can achieve as a new cardmember incentive, and you’ll earn up to 2x AAdvantage miles on your purchases:

• 2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases

The welcome bonus includes a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers to sweeten the deal even further.

But there are a ton of American Airlines-specific perks that’ll make it a no-brainer if you fly the airline often:

• First checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for the primary cardholder and up to 4 companions traveling on the same reservation
• Preferred boarding for the primary cardholder and up to 4 companions on all American Airlines-operated flights
• Anniversary companion certificate good for 1 guest at $99 plus taxes and fees when you spend $20,000 on purchases and your account remains open for 45 days after your anniversary date
• 25% statement credit on inflight food and beverages aboard American Airlines-operated flights
• $25 in statement credits on inflight Wi-Fi purchases every anniversary year on American Airlines-operated flights

Wrapping up, you’ll also enjoy trip cancellation and interruption coverage, baggage delay insurance, rental car insurance, travel accident insurance, zero liability fraud protection, no foreign transaction fees, and no additional fee for authorized user cards.

Hot Tip: Compare the benefits and perks of the best American Airlines AAdvantage credit cards in our detailed guide.

Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Card (Best for Hawaiian Airlines Flyers)

Another great credit card you should consider adding to your wallet if you’re a Barclays loyalist and frequently travel to Hawaii is the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite card.

This credit card earns a HawaiianMiles welcome bonus, and you can qualify for up to 3x HawaiianMiles on purchases:

• 3x miles on eligible Hawaiian Airlines purchases
• 2x miles on gas, dining, and eligible grocery store purchases

Check 2 eligible bags for free as the primary cardholder when using the card to purchase eligible tickets directly from Hawaiian Airlines. You’ll also get a one-time 50% off companion discount for round-trip travel between North America and Hawaii on Hawaiian Airlines flights , as well as an annual $100 anniversary companion discount for round-trip travel between Hawaii and North America after each account anniversary.

Notably, you can also enjoy no expiration dates for HawaiianMiles with this card, discounted award flights , and the ability to share miles with family and friends without a fee.

Beyond that, the card offers contactless payments and no foreign transaction fees. As usual, you can add authorized users for no additional annual fee.

The JetBlue Plus Card (Best for JetBlue Flyers)

Earn major points to redeem for JetBlue flights and more! Earn up to 6x points in various categories and a yearly point bonus.

The information regarding the JetBlue Plus Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. 

You can’t complain about spending so much time with your head in the clouds when JetBlue makes it so easy ! Whether booking flights for business or pleasure, they are your go-to airline every time.

Between free entertainment (DirectTV, SiriusXM), Wi-Fi, and unlimited snacks and (non-alcoholic) beverages, what’s not to love?

Now, you can earn and redeem points for those flights when you sign up for The JetBlue Plus Card. It allows you to earn free flights even faster than The JetBlue Card and comes with some pretty nice features too!

• Limited-Time Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days.
• Earn 6X points on eligible JetBlue purchases 2X points at restaurants and eligible grocery stores and 1X points on all other purchases.
• Earn 5,000 bonus points every year after your account anniversary
• Enjoy Mosaic benefits if you spend $50,000 or more on purchases each calendar year with your card.
• Enjoy an annual $100 statement credit after purchasing a JetBlue Vacations package of $100 or more with your JetBlue Plus Card.
• 50% inflight savings on cocktails and food purchases.
• APR: 21.24 to 29.99% variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  None

JetBlue TrueBlue Frequent Flyer Program

The JetBlue Plus card is a great choice if you find yourself frequently booking flights on JetBlue .

There’s a limited-time welcome bonus available, which also includes a 12-month 0% introductory APR promotion on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening.

When you use this card, you can earn up to 6x TrueBlue points:

• 6x points on eligible JetBlue purchases
• 2x points at restaurants and eligible grocery stores
• 1x points on other purchases

Every year, you will also earn 5,000 points as an account anniversary bonus, as well as a 10% redemption rebate when you use points for a JetBlue-operated award flight . Additionally, cardholders will be able to spend towards Mosaic elite status — earn 1 tile for every $1,000 spent.

Also, when you use The JetBlue Plus card to book JetBlue flights, you’ll get your first checked bag free for yourself and up to 3 companions on the same reservation. Inflight food and drink purchases receive a 50% savings when you use your card to pay.

And when you purchase a JetBlue Vacations package of $100 or more with your card, you’ll enjoy an annual $100 statement credit.

Expiration dates are halted, and you can even pool your points easily. There aren’t any foreign transaction fees, and authorized users are free, too.

If you like the idea of being able to earn and redeem points for free hotel stays using your Barclays credit card, this section is for you!

Wyndham Rewards Earner+ Card (Best for Wyndham Loyalists)

The Wyndham Rewards Earner+ card is a great option for travelers looking to earn more Wyndham points and get automatic Platinum elite status.

The information regarding the Wyndham Rewards ® Earner℠ Plus Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. 

Adding co-branded hotel credit cards to your wallet can be a great idea for casual and frequent travelers alike. These cards can help you earn more points on each stay, give you elite status with the hotel chain, and give you a free night just for holding on to the card each year.

If you’re someone that likes to visit Wyndham hotels, then the Wyndham Rewards Earner+ card is one that you should consider adding to your wallet. Let’s take a look at all of the ways that this card can upgrade your Wyndham stays.

• 6x points per $1 spent at Wyndham hotels and gas stations
• 4x points per $1 on dining and grocery store purchases
• Automatic Wyndham Rewards Platinum elite status
• $75 annual fee
• Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months. Free nights can require up to 30,000 points per bedroom at participating properties and are subject to availability. Resort fees may apply and cannot be paid with points.
• Earn 6 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases made at Hotels By Wyndham as well as on qualifying gas purchases.
• Earn 4 points per $1 spent on eligible dining and grocery purchases (excluding Target ®  and Walmart ® ).
• Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases (excluding Wyndham Timeshare resorts down payments). That means paying bills, buying home office supplies, car repairs, and more are earning you your next great vacation!
• Annual Bonus. Receive 7,500 bonus points each anniversary year—that’s enough for up to one free night at participating properties.
• Automatic PLATINUM Level Benefits! Automatically receive a Wyndham Rewards PLATINUM member level and enjoy perks like early check-in, car rental upgrades, and more.
• Enjoy a Cardmember Booking Discount. Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Cardmembers can save even more on our Best Available Rate at participating Hotels By Wyndham.
• Unlimited Earning. There is no limit to the number of points you can earn.
• go free ®   Faster. Redeem 10% fewer Wyndham Rewards points for  go free ®  awards.
• Redeem your points for free nights at participating Wyndham Rewards properties, online shopping, gift cards and so much more.
• APR: 20.99% to 29.99% variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  0% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

The Wyndham Rewards Earner+ card is one of the best hotel credit cards you can hold if you’re a Wyndham loyalist . Right now, there’s a welcome bonus, plus a 0% introductory APR on purchases.

You can enjoy the ability to earn up to 6x Wyndham Rewards points:

• 6x points on eligible purchases made at hotels by Wyndham
• 6x points on qualifying gas purchases
• 4x points on eligible dining and grocery store purchases, excluding Target and Walmart
• 1x points per dollar spent on other purchases (excluding Wyndham Timeshare resort down payments)

With this card, you can automatically get Wyndham Rewards Platinum status , in addition to these further Wyndham perks:

• Annual account anniversary year bonus of 7,500 points
• The ability to redeem 10% fewer Wyndham Rewards points for  go free awards
• Cardmember booking discount

Also, you can maximize the other auxiliary benefits, like no foreign transaction fees, zero liability fraud protection, chip technology, and contactless payments.

So what if you’re looking to optimize your credit card portfolio for cash-back? Well, Barclays has something for you, too!

AARP Essential Rewards Card (Best for Cash-back)

The AARP Essential Rewards card is a fantastic tool for cash-back, not only because of its welcome bonus, but also because of its ability to earn up to 3% cash-back:

• 3% cash-back on gas and drugstore purchases (excluding Target and Walmart)
• 2% cash-back on eligible medical expenses

You’ll get an introductory 0% APR promotion on balance transfers, as well as a free FICO credit score and zero liability fraud protection.

Barclays will donate $10 to the AARP Foundation for every new account. Barclays will also donate 1% of eligible purchases to the AARP Foundation.

Let’s take a look at the best Barclays credit cards for businesses and business owners.

AAdvantage Aviator Business Card (Best Business Card for American Airlines Flyers)

The AAdvantage Aviator Business card is one of the best business credit cards to have if you’re an American Airlines loyalist.

This card has an attractive welcome bonus and a handful of American Airlines perks that can’t be ignored:

• First checked bag free for yourself and up to 4 companions when traveling on domestic itineraries operated by American Airlines
• Preferred boarding for yourself and up to 4 companions when traveling on itineraries operated by American Airlines
• 25% inflight savings on food and beverage when you use your card on American Airlines-operated flights
• Companion certificate good for 1 guest at $99 (taxes and fees apply) after each account anniversary if you spend $30,000 or more on eligible purchases
• 5% AAdvantage miles bonus every year based on the total of miles earned after each account anniversary

In terms of earning points, you can earn up to 2x AAdvantage miles:

• 2x miles at eligible office supply, telecom, and car rental merchants

You can also add complimentary employee cards, and there are no foreign transaction fees. Zero fraud liability protection is included with this card.

Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card (Best Business Card for Wyndham Loyalists)

The Wyndham Rewards Earner Business card is the best card on the market for Wyndham stays thanks to its 8x earnings and automatic Diamond status.

For frequent traveling business owners who regularly stay at Wyndham hotels, the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business card is quite the compelling card option that will allow you to get the most out of each Wyndham stay.

Not only will the card help supercharge the number of Wyndham points you’ll earn, but the automatic elite status, annual bonus points, and business protections really make the card a must-have for any Wyndham business traveler.

• 8x points per $1 spent at Wyndham hotels and gas stations
• 5x points per $1 spent on eligible marketing, advertising services , and utilities
• Automatic Wyndham Rewards Diamond elite status
• $95 annual fee
• Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days and earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases within the first 12 months. Free nights can require up to 30,000 points per bedroom at participating properties and are subject to availability. Resort fees may apply and cannot be paid with points.
• Earn 8 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases made at Hotels By Wyndham as well as on qualifying gas purchases.
• Earn 5 points per $1 spent on eligible marketing, advertising services, and utilities.
• Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases (excluding Wyndham Timeshare resorts down payments). That means paying bills, buying office supplies, purchasing inventory, and other business expenses can help you earn your next great vacation!
• Annual Bonus. Receive 15,000 bonus points each anniversary year–that’s enough for up to two free nights at participating properties.
• Automatic DIAMOND Level Benefits! Automatically receive a Wyndham Rewards DIAMOND member level and enjoy perks like suite upgrades, welcome amenity at check-in, and more.
• Enjoy a Cardmember Booking Discount. Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Cardmembers can save even more on our Best Available Rate at participating Hotels By Wyndham.
• APR: 21.24% to 29.99% variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  0% of the U.S. Dollar amount

The last credit card in our guide is an absolute sleeper because of its elite status benefits.

Before we get into that, though, the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business card currently offers a welcome bonus for new cardholders, as well as up to 8x points on purchases:

• 8x points on eligible purchases made at hotels by Wyndham and gas stations
• 5x points on eligible marketing, advertising, and utility purchases
• 1x points on other purchases (excluding Wyndham Timeshare resort down payments)

With the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business card, you will receive automatic  top-tier Wyndham Rewards Diamond status , which includes benefits such as suite upgrades, welcome amenities, and much more!

This particular credit card also enjoys a 15,000-point annual account anniversary bonus , as well as the ability to get cardmember booking discounts and 10% fewer points redeemed for  go free awards.

Lastly, the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business card has cell phone insurance, no foreign transaction fees, zero liability fraud protection, extended warranty, no additional fee for employee cards, and contactless payments.

Barclays is a U.K.-based financial services and banking company with substantial operations in the U.S.

This well-established bank offers primarily co-branded credit cards across airlines, hotels, cruise lines, and even associations like AARP.

And even though we generally wouldn’t recommend using Barclays as your first financial partner for your credit card needs, there are still a number of useful cards that could be useful to have.

We hope that you’ve found this comprehensive guide to the best Barclays credit cards helpful!

The information regarding the AARP ® Travel Rewards Mastercard ® from Barclays and AARP ® Essential Rewards Mastercard ® from Barclays was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

The information regarding the Miles & More ® World Elite Mastercard ® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard ® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard ® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the AAdvantage ® Aviator ® Red World Elite Mastercard ® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.  The information regarding the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding The JetBlue Plus Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Wyndham Rewards ® Earner℠ Plus Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding AAdvantage ® Aviator ® World Elite Business Mastercard ® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Wyndham Rewards ® Earner℠ Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a barclays credit card.

Barclays credit cards are issued by the British bank Barclays, which is responsible for issuing co-branded cards from partners including JetBlue, Hawaiian Airlines, and Frontier Airlines.

Is Barclaycard owned by Chase?

Barclaycard is  not owned by Chase. Instead, Barclaycard is owned by Barclays, a direct competitor to Chase.

What bank is Barclaycard?

Barclaycard belongs to Barclays, a U.K.-based bank and financial services company.

Are Barclays cards hard to get?

Barclays credit cards are significantly harder to get than other cards from banks like Amex, Chase, or Capital One. The approval criteria for Barclays cards are much stricter. You probably need to have 6 or fewer recently opened accounts in the last 2 years, in addition to other factors.

What credit score is needed for a Barclaycard?

In general, you need excellent credit to be approved for a Barclays credit card. That usually translates to a FICO score of 760 or above. We’ve seen applicants with worse credit scores get approved and applicants with better credit scores get declined, so this threshold is more of a guideline than a hard rule.

How do you get approved for Barclaycard?

You can get approved for Barclays credit cards by submitting an application. However, each credit card has different criteria for approvals, so you’ll need to keep that in mind.

Is Barclaycard a debit or credit card?

Barclaycard is the U.K. card division of Barclays, a bank located in the U.K. Barclays cards can be either debit or credit cards.

Does Barclays have pre-approval?

Barclays doesn’t offer a pre-approval landing page or website. However, it does offer pre-approved credit card offers that’ll be sent to you via mail.

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About Stephen Au

Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.

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Using your Barclaycard when travelling abroad

Your Barclaycard - the perfect travelling companion

For a simple and secure way to pay overseas, just take your Barclaycard along with you. Packed with features like fraud protection and emergency cash, it’s got you covered – wherever you wander.

Take the trouble out of travel

And just so you know – you don’t have to tell us you’re taking your card on holiday.

Fees for using your card abroad

• If you buy something with your card while your abroad, you’ll pay one single, non-sterling purchase fee of 2.99% every time you use it
• If you withdraw foreign currency using your card, you will just be charged a cash transaction fee of 2.99% (minimum fee of £2.99)
• These fees apply to most of our cards, but there are some exceptions, so check your terms and conditions [1]

Compare the cost of spending abroad

View a comparison of our current exchange rate for certain currencies as a mark-up against the rate published by the European Central Bank

Protection – home and away

• 24/7 fraud monitoring as standard
• Early warning service – we’ll tell you if we ever spot anything suspicious
• Calls to our helpline from abroad are charged as local calls – or you can reverse the charges

Emergency card and cash (Visa cards only)

If you lose your Barclaycard abroad, or it’s stolen, call us on  +44 (0)1604 230 230 . We’re here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We can:

• organise a temporary card, and
• arrange a cash advance of up to £1,000 – depending on your available cash limit (available Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm).

And a little breather when you get home

The good stuff continues when you’re back – you could have up to 56 days interest-free on the things you bought and any cash withdrawals you made in the local currency while you were away. [2]

• The number of interest-free days you get depends on when your Barclaycard statements run from and the date of your transaction –  here are a couple of examples
• Make sure you pay each monthly statement in full

1 The 2.99% purchase fee might not apply if you have a Barclays Infinite, Barclaycard Platinum Travel, Barclaycard Platinum Cashback Plus or Barclaycard Rewards card, or if we've recently offered you a lower promotional fee by letter or email. This will also tell you the end date for the promotion. [Return to reference]

2 Premier Charge Card and Woolwich Openplan cards don’t have 56 days’ interest-free purchases. If you have one of these, check your statement. [Return to reference]

What happens when you use your Barclaycard abroad?

If you buy something abroad using the local currency, the transaction and the non-sterling transaction fee are converted into sterling using the payment scheme’s exchange rate on that day.

The two sterling amounts are then added together and divided by the original currency payment amount to work out the new exchange rate. You’ll see this rate – which includes the fee – on your statement.

View an example

Here’s a made-up example with a customer who makes a purchase of €85.25 using his Barclaycard Visa while on holiday in Dublin.

• On the day his transaction is processed, the daily payment scheme exchange rate is €1 = £0.870056
• So his purchase is converted from €85.25 to £74.17
• He has to pay the 2.99% [ 3 ] transaction fee on the £74.17, which costs him £2.22
• We add together the purchase and the fee, which is £76.39. And then divide that £76.36 by the original €85.25 purchase
• This gives him the new exchange rate of €1 = £0.90. He’ll see the original charge and this new exchange rate on his statement

3 If he had a lower promotional fee, then the 2.99% non-sterling transaction fee might not apply. [ Return to reference ]

Summary of the cost of using your card abroad

Use the table below to compare the cost of using your Barclaycard Platinum card abroad. All of the exchange rates are-up-to date as of 5 June 2023 – this is a standard banking data comparison which is updated annually.

The 2.99% transaction fee might not apply if we’ve recently got in touch to offer you a lower rate or if you have a card offering no fees on non-sterling transactions. If that’s the case, we’ll confirm the offer and when it ends on your monthly statement.

4 Local ATM provider fees may apply. Minimum fee applies to withdrawals less than £100. [Return to reference]

The credit card used in this example is Barclaycard Platinum. Other cards may have different fees, which you’ll find in the summary box on your statement. These fees apply to most of our cards, but there are some exceptions, so check your terms and conditions.

Comparing the cost of spending abroad

View a comparison of our current exchange rate for certain currencies as a mark-up against the rate published by the European Central Bank.

Sterling or non-sterling?

Some overseas retailers might let you pay in sterling – this is called Dynamic Currency Conversion. And although you’ll avoid the transaction fee this way, it could cost you more than expected. That’s because the exchange rate set by the retailers may not be as competitive as the ones set by Visa or Mastercard. Alternatively, you can pay in the foreign currency and pay the fee.

To make sure your exchange rate is as competitive as possible, you’ll pay the daily exchange rate set by Visa or Mastercard dependent on your product.

Things to bear in mind before you head off

• Before you decide how to pay, remember that other card providers and retailers might charge you for using your credit card abroad
• Barclays Infinite, Barclaycard Platinum Travel, Barclaycard Platinum Cashback Plus, Barclaycard Rewards and Woolwich OpenPlan have different fees and charges – you’ll see these on your statement
• Different fees and charges apply to mobile contactless payments

Answers to questions you may have

Do i need to let you know before i go abroad .

No, there is no need to contact us if you are going to be using your credit card abroad.

Is there a limit on how much I can withdraw from a cash machine abroad?

Yes, it’s the same as your UK daily limit – it’s just in the local currency. You’ll see it on your latest statement on  Barclaycard online servicing .

Can I make contactless payments abroad?

Of course. You can make contactless payments wherever you see the contactless symbol  , home and abroad.

If a retailer doesn’t have contactless technology, you can still pay using Chip and PIN. Find out more about Contactless payments .

What’s the exchange rate when I use my credit card abroad?

To make sure your exchange rate is as competitive as possible, you’ll pay the daily exchange rate set by Visa or Mastercard dependent on your product.  Check Mastercard and Visa's daily exchange rate . 

What is Dynamic Currency Conversion and should I use it?

This is when a retailer gives you the choice of paying in the local currency or in sterling. Paying in sterling makes the price you’re paying clearer, and means you don’t have to pay the non-sterling purchase fee. But the exchange rate is set by the retailer and might not be as competitive as the ones set by Visa  or Mastercard  – so paying in sterling could end up costing you more.

What cover do I get on my purchases made abroad?

You get exactly the same cover on your purchases abroad as you do at home, so you can rest easy – wherever you are in the world.

What is the 2.99% charge you apply when I use my credit card abroad?

That’s the Non Sterling purchase fee we charge you for using your card abroad. If you withdraw foreign currency using your card, you will just be charged a cash transaction fee of 2.99% (minimum fee of £2.99).

The 2.99% transaction fee might not apply if you have a Barclays Infinite, Barclaycard Platinum Travel, Barclaycard Platinum Cashback Plus or Barclaycard Rewards credit card, or if we've recently offered you a lower promotional fee by letter or email. This will also tell you the end date for the promotion.

When the 56 day interest-free period applies

The 56-day interest-free period applies from the date of any new transaction, but only if you pay your main statement balance in full, plus any Purchase Plan instalments. The following cards don’t have 56 days interest-free purchases: Premier Charge Card and Woolwich Openplan. If you have one of these cards, check the back of your statement.

Not a customer?

If you don’t already have a Barclaycard,  browse our credit cards  to find the right one for you.

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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 (see rates and fees )
• 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 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 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

Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

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 60,000 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.

$395 (see rates and fees )

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.

• USAA auto insurance review: A top pick for military families Liz Knueven
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs. Citi Strata Premier: Which is better for you? Jason Stauffer
• Best business credit card sign-up bonuses — get over $1,000 in value Jason Stauffer

2 for 1: How airline companion tickets can save you serious money on your next trip

I f you've been searching for a way to get the most bang for your buck on your next big trip, one of the best ways to do so is with airline credit card companion tickets.

In addition to helping travelers earn free flights by racking up frequent flyer miles, some airline credit cards offer companion certificates or discounts so cardholders can bring a companion along for free.

These aren't your average BOGO deals, though. Some companion tickets are restricted to certain regions or cabin classes, while others are based on credit card spending or are only good for award tickets.

Here's a look at the airline credit cards that offer companion tickets as a benefit and what you'll need to do to earn and maximize them for your travels.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines offers a companion ticket through its cobranded credit cards. The personal and business versions come with a Companion Fare , which starts from $122 ($99 fare, plus taxes and fees from $23) and is reissued annually after spending at least $6,000 within the prior anniversary year.

Sometimes Alaska will offer an additional Companion Fare as part of a sign-up bonus.

Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card

Companion ticket benefit: The Alaska Airlines Visa credit card comes with a companion ticket benefit that's one of the easiest to understand and use. Every year you carry this card and spend $6,000 within the prior anniversary year, you are entitled to an annual companion fare from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees, usually about $23).

The rules stipulate that the primary traveler and their companion must be booked on the same itinerary. While the cardholder does not need to be one of the travelers, you must pay for the tickets using the corresponding Alaska Visa card.

The companion fare is valid for travel in economy only, and it must be redeemed within 12 months of the issue date, but travel can take place afterward.

What's great about this benefit is that both the primary traveler and the companion will earn full mileage credit for their flights. In addition, both tickets are eligible for upgrades if you have Alaska elite status or want to use a pair of the carrier's Gold Guest Upgrades .

Welcome bonus: Earn 70,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer. To qualify, make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.

Annual fee: $95

Other benefits: This card earns a considerable 3 miles per dollar spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases, 2 miles per dollar on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services, and local transit (including ride-hailing purchase) and 1 mile per dollar spent on everything else.

It has no foreign transaction fees and provides a free checked bag on Alaska flights for the cardholder and up to six other guests on the same reservation. Here's our full card review .

Apply here: Alaska Airlines Visa

Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card

Companion ticket benefit: The Alaska Airlines Visa Business credit card offers an identical companion ticket benefit: Spend $6,000 within the prior anniversary year and you'll receive an annual companion fare from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees, usually about $23).

Welcome bonus : Earn 50,000 bonus miles and Alaska's Famous Companion Fare; ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after you make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.

Annual fee: $70 for the company and $25 per additional card

Other benefits: Earn 3 miles per dollar spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases, 2 miles per dollar on eligible gas, EV charging stations, shipping and local transit, (including ride-hailing purchases) and 1 mile per dollar on everything else. Receive a free checked bag for you and up to six companions. Here's our full card review .

Apply here: Alaska Airlines Visa Business

American Airlines

Barclays offers two different American Airlines companion tickets through its cobranded cards.

Barclaycard AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard and AAdvantage Aviator Silver World Elite Mastercard

Companion ticket benefit: Every account anniversary, Aviator Red cardholders who spend $20,000 in a year will receive a $99 (plus taxes and fees) Companion Certificate for a round-trip domestic economy fare within the 48 contiguous United States. (Alaska and Hawaii residents can travel from their home state to the 48 contiguous states.)

Meanwhile, Silver cardholders can earn two of these certificates with $20,000 annual spending.

In either case, your account must remain open for 45 days after your anniversary date to qualify for the Companion Certificate.

Welcome bonus: The Silver is not available to new applicants. The Aviator Red is offering 60,000 bonus miles after you make your first purchase and pay the $99 annual fee in full within 90 days.

Annual fee: $99 for the Aviator Red card; $199 for the Aviator Silver

Other benefits: The Aviator Red card earns 2 miles per dollar spent on American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar spent on everything else. The Aviator Silver card earns 3 miles per dollar on American Airlines purchases, 2 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals and 1 mile per dollar on everything else.

Both cards offer a first free checked bag on domestic flights, priority boarding, inflight Wi-Fi credits and discounts on other inflight purchases.

The information for the Barclaycard AAdvantage Aviator Silver and the Barclaycard AAdvantage Aviator Red has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Companion ticket benefit: The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card has offered one of the longest-standing companion ticket benefits , and it's still one of the best options out there. It can be used for travel to all 50 U.S. states (including Hawaii and Alaska), Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

You must pay taxes and fees, though they're capped at $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and $250 for roundtrip international flights.

Welcome bonus: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.

Annual fee: $350 (see rates and fees )

Other benefits: This card earns 3 miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Cardholders also earn 2 miles per dollar spent at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets and 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Cardholders get a free checked bag for themselves and up to eight companions on the same Delta flight reservation, plus 20% savings on inflight purchases and Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights.

You can find more details on the card in our full review .

Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Companion ticket benefit: With its much higher annual fee, cardholders can expect a better companion ticket benefit with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card . Each year they renew, cardholders will receive a companion certificate good for one round-trip itinerary in first class, Delta Comfort+ or Main Cabin and, now, Premium Select on select eligible routes.

They'll only be responsible for taxes and fees on the second ticket, up to $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and $250 for roundtrip international flights.

Welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.

Annual fee: $650 (see rates and fees )

Other benefits: This card's main benefit is that it offers Delta Sky Club access when traveling on flights marketed or operated by Delta. You also receive four one-time guest passes each year and can bring two guests for $50 each.

The card's other benefits are mostly in line with those of the Platinum version. However, it also provides complimentary access to American Express Centurion Lounges when flying Delta with a ticket purchased on the card. For more details, read our full review .

Effective 2/1/25, Reserve cardmembers will receive 15 visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.

Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex

Delta business credit cards

Note that Delta offers business versions of the two personal cards listed above: the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card . The companion ticket benefits on these cards are identical to their respective personal counterparts above, so if you have a small business, either could be a good option for traveling with a companion.

Related: Best Delta credit cards

Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian airlines® world elite mastercard®.

Companion ticket benefit: The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard offers a one-time 50% companion discount to new cardholders. The companion discount is good for a full coach round-trip fare for a companion traveling on the same itinerary between Hawaii and North America.

Although this 50% off companion discount isn't as great as some of the companion fares listed here, it still represents substantial savings for two people traveling together. In addition to this one-time 50% companion discount, cardholders are eligible for an annual $100 companion discount for round-trip travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines.

Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days.

Annual fee: $99

Other benefits: This card earns 3 miles per dollar spent on eligible Hawaiian Airlines purchases, 2 miles per dollar spent on gas, dining and grocery store spending and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.

Cardholders get a free checked bag on flights operated by Hawaiian Airlines and discounted award flights.

Additionally, cardholders pay no foreign transaction fees abroad and can share miles with friends and family without a fee.

For more information, check out our full review .

The information for the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Companion ticket benefit: Southwest's famed Companion Pass is essentially an unlimited two-for-one pass on both paid and award tickets. It's valid for the calendar year you earn it, plus the following one. You can achieve it by racking up 135,000 qualifying points or taking 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year.

The good news is that sign-up bonuses and points earned by spending on Southwest's cobranded credit cards count toward this qualification threshold. Some savvy spending can get you the Southwest Companion Pass faster than you think.

Welcome bonus: All three Southwest credit cards offer an identical sign-up bonus: For a limited time, earn a Companion Pass® (good through 2/28/2025), plus 30,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

• Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

Annual fee: $69 (Plus), $99 (Premier) and $149 (Priority)

Other benefits: Despite their different annual fees, these three cards offer a similar suite of benefits.

The Priority comes with a $75 annual Southwest travel credit. The Premier and Priority cards offer the opportunity to earn Tier Qualification Points based on spending (1,500 for each $5,000 spent annually) and waive foreign transaction fees.

All three offer anniversary bonuses ranging from 3,000 points with the Plus to 7,500 with the Priority. Here's a handy comparison of all three.

Small businesses can also earn points toward this perk. Points earned on the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card also count toward the carrier's Companion Pass.

International airlines

Of course, companion tickets aren't just awarded to those with credit cards from U.S.-based airlines. Some international carriers offer cards with similar perks available to U.S. applicants. These could go a long way toward offsetting the costs of your next trip overseas.

British Airways

Companion ticket benefit: Travelers who hold the British Airways Visa Signature® Credit Card can earn the carrier's "Travel Together" companion ticket every calendar year in which they spend $30,000 or more on purchases. This ticket is basically a two-for-one award ticket for round-trip travel on British Airways, Iberia or Aer Lingus flights originating and ending anywhere these airlines fly. It can be redeemed for any class of service, though there are some restrictions.

Only one voucher can be earned per 12-month period. The cardholder and their companion must be on the same flight in the same class of service. You will be responsible for taxes and fees on both tickets, but only mileage for one will be deducted. The credit card account must also be open and in good standing when you redeem it.

Though this can be a great deal for saving on premium awards, remember that taxes and fees on British Airways tickets can add up. Luckily, cardholders are eligible for statement credits to offset these fees: $100 for economy and premium economy, $200 for business- and first-class seats. These credits can be claimed up to three times per year.

Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Other benefits: Besides the usual benefits like having no foreign transaction fees , the card offers contactless pay and the typical Visa Signature travel protections .

Apply here: British Airways Visa

Companion ticket benefit: The Barclaycard Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite Mastercard also offers a companion benefit — and the great thing is that you are eligible for it after your first purchase and automatically every year after your account anniversary.

That said, it's only eligible for economy travel from the U.S. to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Far East. It applies only to H, M, Y or B fare codes. These are non-discount economy fares, which can be more expensive than the lowest-priced option. Cardholders must also pay all taxes and fees on both tickets, which can be hundreds of dollars.

Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 award miles if you spend $3,000 in purchases and pay the annual fee, both within the first 90 days.

Annual fee: $89

Other benefits: This card earns 2 miles per dollar spent on tickets purchased from airlines that participate in the Miles & More program, like Lufthansa, Swiss and Austrian Airlines. It earns 1 mile per dollar spent on everything else and carries no foreign transaction fees.

Cardholders receive two, one-time Lufthansa Business Lounge vouchers upon first purchase, plus every account anniversary after the annual fee payment. If you're going for Miles & More elite status, primary cardholders are eligible to convert award miles into status miles at a ratio of 5:1 for a maximum of 25,000 award miles.

The information for Barclaycard Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Bottom line

In addition to welcome bonuses and travel perks, companion certificates can be a compelling reason to apply for an airline credit card. Before you do, though, review the terms and conditions carefully to make sure that you will be able to maximize this benefit's value.

Many companion certificates are restricted to specific classes of service, geographical regions and time constraints, which can all limit their usefulness.

However, if you find one that matches your needs, a credit card companion certificate can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars on airline travel each year and might be well worth it.

Read more: How to save hundreds on flights with the Alaska Airlines Companion Fare

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex, click here .

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex, click here .

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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JetBlue Plus Card

Earn 50,000 bonus points

after qualifying account activity 2

on eligible JetBlue purchases 2

at restaurants and eligible grocery stores 2

annual fee 1

after spending $1,000 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days 2

2X points at restaurants and eligible grocery stores

and 1X points on all other purchases 2

Free first checked bag

for you and up to 3 eligible travel companions on JetBlue-operated flights 2,4

Mosaic status faster

Earn toward Mosaic with every purchase 2,3

No blackout dates

That’s any seat, any time, on JetBlue-operated flights 3

Redeem for any seat, any time on JetBlue-operated flights

Points required for an Award flight will vary based on the published base fare at the time of booking 3

Points never expire

Your points will be ready whenever you are 3

Points pooling

Earn & share points with family and friends 3

Cash + Points

Short on points (or cash) for that trip? Pay for your flight with almost any combination of dollars and TrueBlue points – starting with as few as 500 points 3

50% savings

on eligible inflight purchases on JetBlue-operated flights 2,4

Get 10% of your points back

after you redeem for and travel on a JetBlue-operated Award Flight 2

Receive a $100 statement credit

after you purchase a JetBlue Vacations package of $100 or more with your JetBlue Plus Card. Limit one statement credit per year 2

$0 Fraud Liability protection

Means you’re not responsible for unauthorized charges

Points Payback

Points Payback allows you to redeem points for a statement credit, up to $1,000 annually 2

No foreign transaction fees

on international purchases 1

Earn 5,000 points bonus

each year after your JetBlue Plus Card account anniversary 2

Interest Rates and Charges Summary

Fee summary.

See Terms and Conditions for a complete listing of rates and fees

Important Information

Offer subject to credit approval. This offer is available through this advertisement and may not be accessible elsewhere. Other offers may be available. For complete pricing and other details, please see the  Terms and Conditions .

This offer is valid for approved applicants. Any bonus associated with this offer may only be earned once. You may not be eligible for this offer if you currently have or previously had an account with us in this program. In addition, you may not be eligible for this offer if, at any time during our relationship with you, we have cause, as determined by us in our sole discretion, to suspect that the account is being obtained or will be used for abusive or gaming activity (such as, but not limited to, obtaining or using the account to maximize rewards earned in a manner that is not consistent with typical consumer activity and/or multiple credit card account applications/openings). Please see the About This Offer section of the Terms and Conditions for important information.

Annual Fee is $99. 0% introductory APR on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening is applicable for the first 12 billing cycles that immediately follow each balance transfer. This introductory APR offer does not apply to purchases and cash advances. For new and outstanding balance transfers after the introductory period and all purchases, the variable APR is 21.24% to 29.99%, depending upon our review of your application, your credit history at account opening, and other factors. The variable APR for cash advances is 29.99%. The APRs on your account will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate and are subject to change. The minimum monthly interest charge will be $0.50. Balance transfer fee: 5% (min. $5). Cash advance and fee: 5% (min. $10). Foreign transaction fee: $0. See Terms and Conditions for updated and more information about the terms of this offer, including the "About the Variable APRs on Your Account" section for the current Prime Rate information.

Conditions and limitations apply. Please refer to the Introductory Bonus Offer section of the Terms and Conditions for more information about the introductory offer. Please refer to the Reward Rules within the Terms and Conditions for additional information about the rewards program. Mosaic status may not be achievable based on the assigned credit line and ability to maintain that credit line.

Refer to TrueBlue Terms and Conditions for details, including information on fares eligible for award flights.

JetBlue-operated flights only. Codeshare flights and flights operated by a partner airline are not eligible for free checked bag or inflight purchase savings.

JetBlue and TrueBlue are registered trademarks of JetBlue Airways Corporation.

The JetBlue Plus World Elite Mastercard (JetBlue Plus Card) is issued by Barclays Bank Delaware pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard, World Mastercard, World Elite Mastercard, and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated.

© 2024 Barclays Bank Delaware, PO Box 8801, Wilmington, DE 19801, Member FDIC.

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The Guide to American Airlines Credit Card Benefits

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If you travel on American Airlines regularly, getting one of the airline's credit cards can make sense. Not only will you earn additional miles when paying for flights, but the cards also come with valuable perks to improve your flight and save money.

The American Airlines credit cards include:

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® .

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® .

American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® .

AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® .

CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® .

Let’s learn more about American Airlines credit card benefits, including the differences among cards, exclusions that may apply and how to earn elite status and other perks based on your spending.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

Top American Airlines credit card benefits

The American Airlines credit card benefits vary based on which card you choose, and there are multiple cards available, including options for both consumers and small business owners.

Earn AAdvantage miles

One of the basic benefits of an American Airlines credit card is the ability to earn AAdvantage miles on your spending. With each card, not only will you earn rewards on American Airlines purchases, but you'll also earn miles on bonus categories and everyday purchases.

This chart highlights how much you'll earn based on different types of spending.

New cardholder bonuses

When you apply for a new American Airlines credit card, you may be able to earn a welcome bonus by meeting the card's spending requirement within a few months. In general, the higher a card's annual fee and spending requirement, the more miles you can earn.

$0 intro for the first year, then $99 .

Earn 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.

Earn 50,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles after making your first purchase and paying the $99 annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days.

The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® , meanwhile, offers the following welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.

» Learn more: AmEx Membership Rewards: How to earn and use them

Earn miles on authorized user purchases

American Airlines credit cards allow cardholders to add authorized users and earn miles on their purchases. Except for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® , each card offers free authorized user or employee cards. With the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® , you can add up to three authorized users for $175 per year, then $175 annually for each additional user.

Benefits when booking flights

Based on your annual spending totals on eligible American Airlines cards, you may earn special benefits when booking flights.

Discount on flights

When you spend $20,000 in a calendar year on the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® , you'll receive a $125 American Airlines flight discount after renewing your card.

Annual companion certificate

Bring someone with you on your next paid flight with an annual companion certificate . Two American Airlines credit cards earn a companion certificate based on your annual spending. When redeeming these certificates, there is a $99 fee, plus the taxes and fees associated with your flight.

To earn the certificate, you'll need to spend $20,000 on the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® or $30,000 on the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® .

Airport perks

Barclays and Citi American Airlines credit card benefits at the airport can also improve your travel experience and save you money during your trip.

Free checked bags

If you wait to add on checked bags until you're at the airport rather than booking in advance, American Airlines charges $40 for the first checked bag when traveling domestically or to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Getting free checked bags can save $320 on a round-trip flight for a family of four.

You'll get the first checked bag free for yourself and up to four companions on the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® , AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® and CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® . With the premium Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® , this benefit extends to eight travel companions. The $0 -annual-fee American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® doesn't offer this perk.

Early boarding

Getting on the plane early allows you priority access to the overhead bins and more time to get comfortable ahead of your flight. Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® cardholders get to board in Group 4, while all other AAdvantage cardholders (except the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® ) board in Group 5. American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® does not offer early boarding benefits.

» Learn more: American Airlines' boarding process explained

Lounge access

Only one of the American Airlines credit cards includes complimentary Admirals Club lounge access . The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® includes a complimentary Admirals Club membership where cardholders can enter the lounge for free whenever they're flying on American Airlines or an eligible partner airline.

Cardholders can also bring immediate family members (spouse, domestic partner and children up to age 18) or up to two guests in for free.

TSA PreCheck or Global Entry

TSA PreCheck and Global Entry expedite your wait at the airport when going through airport security and U.S. customs, respectively. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is the only card that includes reimbursement for these application fees up to $100 every four years.

In-flight savings

Save money on your in-flight purchases of food and beverages when using your American Airlines credit card. American Airlines AAdvantage credit cards provide a 25% statement credit for all inflight purchases.

If you purchase inflight Wi-Fi, you'll also save 25% when using the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® . The AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® provides up to $25 in statement credits each anniversary year when purchasing Wi-Fi on American Airlines flights.

Progress toward elite status

American Airlines elite status offers numerous perks for travelers, including complimentary upgrades, waived fees, priority standby and more. You can accelerate your path to elite status using one of American Airlines' credit card benefits.

Earn Loyalty Points on purchases

Not only will you earn AAdvantage airline miles on every dollar you spend on your AA credit cards, but you'll also earn one Loyalty Point on each dollar spent. This allows cardholders to earn points toward elite status based solely on their spending — or in conjunction with flying and other qualifying activities.

Bonus Loyalty Points

With the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® , you'll receive up to 20,000 bonus Loyalty Points per year to boost your elite status. The first 10,000 points are earned by reaching 50,000 Loyalty Points in a status qualification year. A second 10,000 points (for a total of 20,000) are earned when you reach 90,000 Loyalty Points.

Travel perks and protections

Often overlooked benefits of Barclays and Citi American Airlines credit cards don't earn airline miles or Loyalty Points. However, these benefits can be just as valuable.

No foreign transaction fees

All of the American Airlines credit cards, except the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® , waive foreign transaction fees. The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® charges a 3% fee on international purchases.

Travel insurance and assistance

Unfortunately, not all American Airlines credit cards include travel insurance or assistance benefits. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® recently introduced travel insurance benefits , including trip cancellation/interruption protection, trip delay protection, lost baggage protection and worldwide rental car insurance.

The AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® also includes complimentary travel insurance and assistance benefits. These benefits include travel accident insurance, trip cancellation and interruption benefits, baggage delay insurance and rental car protection.

Travel and dining credits

American Airlines credit card benefits for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® also expanded to include travel and dining credits. Cardholders will receive up to $120:

In Lyft credits: When you take three eligible Lyft rides per month, you'll receive a $10 Lyft credit.

Back on Grubhub purchases: Earn one $10 statement credit per month when you make an eligible Grubhub order.

Back on eligible Avis and Budget car rentals: For every dollar you spend on eligible Avis and Budget car rentals, you'll receive a $1 statement credit up to the annual maximum of $120.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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