As a traveler, it’s always helpful to consider whether a new credit card is right for your wallet. However, you should be strategic and consider travel cards that achieve your goals. With so many options, it’s hard to determine where to start. Within most point and mile currencies, both mid-level and premium credit card offerings are available.
Find the Best Travel Credit Cards for 2024
Find the best travel credit card for your travel needs.
What Is a Premium Travel Card and Who Should Get One?
Premium travel cards offer the best benefits for most frequent and discerning travelers. If you travel regularly, enjoy airport lounge access or need efficient opportunities to meet elite frequent flyer requirements, premium travel cards are probably best for you. But premium benefits come with premium annual fees, so it’s important to ensure your benefits are worthwhile.
Premium Flexible Cards
For example, The Platinum Card® from American Express (terms apply, see rates & fees) earns Membership Rewards® that can be redeemed for luxury flights and hotels and offers useful travel statement credits: Up to $200 annually for airline incidentals on an eligible airline you select each year, up to $200 annually in Uber Cash good for U.S. rides and Eats when you link your eligible card to your Uber account and select as payment method (issued each month as $15 credits with a bonus $20 in December), a $199 annual CLEAR® Plus membership, and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee statement credit. (Enrollment required.) But there’s a hefty price tag: an annual fee of $695.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is another popular premium travel card designed for frequent travelers. Cardholders earn 5 points per dollar on flights and 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals when purchasing travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points per dollar on other travel and dining and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Chase Ultimate Rewards® can be redeemed for flights worldwide and amazing hotel experiences, but the annual credit Chase offers Sapphire Reserve cardholders is straightforward: A flexible $300 travel statement credit is put toward any travel expenses charged to the card automatically. The annual fee of $550 is easier to take than that of the Amex Platinum, but is enough for all but frequent travelers to pause.
Premium Airlines Cards
Among airlines, the three major U.S. carriers offer premium credit cards with lounge access and the ability to more quickly meet elite qualifying requirements to earn frequent traveler status through credit card spending:
- The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) offers Sky Club access when flying Delta (effective 2/1/25, cardholders will receive 15 Delta Sky Club visits per year; unlimited visits can be earned when total purchases exceed $75,000 in 2024 and each calendar year thereafter), access to the American Express Centurion Lounge network when flying same day with Delta and an annual companion certificate for eligible seats when you pay taxes and fees.
- The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®* is the best credit card for frequent American Airlines flyers because it includes an Admirals Club membership for the cardholder and two guests. If you’re working toward elite status like AA Executive Platinum, cardholders earn 10,000 Loyalty Points after reaching 50,000 Loyalty Points in a status qualification year and another 10,000 upon reaching 90,000 in the same status qualification year.
- United Airlines’ most loyal customers may want to consider the United Club℠ Infinite Card for its included United Club membership and global Star Alliance Lounge access. To help achieve MileagePlus elite status, cardholders can earn 25 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) for every $500 spent (up to 10,000 PQP per calendar year).
Premium Hotel Cards
If you find hotel stays most important to your travel, two of the world’s leading hotel brands offer premium travel cards through American Express: Hilton and Marriott.
- The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) comes with up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, 25 annual elite qualifying nights and Bonvoy Platinum Elite status.
- Amex also offers the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express* with an annual free reward night, up to $200 in credit for flight purchases each year, up to $400 annually in statement credits for eligible purchases at participating Hilton Resorts and complimentary top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond elite status. The benefits included with the Hilton Aspire are more compelling compared to those with the Marriott card, but the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program offers unique opportunities, including point transfers.
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What Is a Mid-Tier Travel Card and Who Should Get One?
Mid-tier travel cards offer useful benefits for individuals who want to enjoy travel, but may not fly or stay at hotels as frequently as a typical road warrior. If you travel every few months, have no interest in airport lounges or don’t chase elite frequent flyer status, mid-tier travel cards might be worthwhile. The best part? Annual fees are usually under $100.
The American Express® Green Card* grants card members annual statement credits of up to $199 on CLEAR® Plus membership and up to $100 on LoungeBuddy airport lounge access. The Amex Green Card offers the following rewards: Earn 3 points per dollar on travel and transit including flights, hotels, taxis, rideshare services, trains, parking and more, 3 points per dollar on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and 1 point per dollar on other purchases and has a $150 annual fee.
The mid-tier Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card reignited travel rewards cards when it was introduced in 2009 and remains a solid credit card for vacationers. It earns 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
These points can be redeemed for flights and hotel experiences. Chase Ultimate Rewards® are one of the most valuable and useful transferable points currencies for its versatility and strong travel partners.
While many airlines and hotels offer mid-tier travel rewards credit cards, some of the top options include the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card for its annual companion fare starting at $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after you spend $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year and the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (terms apply) for its valuable Hilton Honors™ Gold elite status that offers complimentary breakfast at international destinations and a free night award after spending $15,000 in a calendar year.
We also encourage hotel-goers to consider The World of Hyatt Credit Card, IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card or Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card* for the annual free night award each card offers to its cardmembers.
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Bottom Line
Choosing a new credit card can be a tough consideration. As with any credit application, one should be strategic and apply for credit card products to achieve their goals.
An ultra-premium card like The Platinum Card® from American Express might be appealing with numerous features, a mid-tier credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has worked for many people for a long time.
However, the American Express® Gold Card might meet the needs of most people who aren’t always traveling, spend most of their income at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants, and are willing to pay an annual fee that’s neither too high nor too low. Be confident knowing the differences between premium credit cards, and apply for the one that’s just right for you.
Find The Best Credit Cards For 2024
No single credit card is the best option for every family, every purchase or every budget. We've picked the best credit cards in a way designed to be the most helpful to the widest variety of readers.
To view rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for American Express® Gold Card please visit this page.
