Travel credit cards for the trips you take.
Turn everyday spending into travel rewards. Make sure the points and perks are worth the cost.
How you use points matters as much as how many you earn.
Travel credit cards earn points or miles you can use for flights, hotels, and other travel. Choose based on the trips you take, the rewards you’ll earn, and the benefits you’ll use. Subtract the annual fee to see what value remains.
Match the rewards to the way you travel
| Card type | How rewards work | When it fits |
|---|---|---|
| General travel | Use rewards for travel through the card’s program. Some cards let you move points to airline or hotel programs. | You want choices across travel brands. |
| Airline | Earn rewards in an airline’s program. Some cards add perks such as free checked bags. | You often fly with that airline and can use its rewards and perks. |
| Hotel | Earn rewards in a hotel group’s program. Some cards add perks such as free nights. | You often stay with that hotel group and can use its rewards and perks. |
Prefer cash you can use beyond travel? Explore cash back cards.
More rewards may not mean more value
Say you spend $1,000 a month on eligible purchases. Here’s what two travel cards could give you over a year.
| No annual fee card | $95 annual fee card | |
|---|---|---|
| Points earned per dollar | 1.5 | 2.0 |
| Points earned in a year | 18,000 | 24,000 |
| Travel value of those points | $180 | $240 |
| Annual fee | $0 | −$95 |
| Value after the fee | $180 | $145 |
Illustrative example, not a current offer. Assumes points from both cards are worth 1 cent each when used for travel. Excludes welcome bonuses, other benefits, and interest.
The takeaway: The no-fee card gives you $35 more a year. The fee card earns more points, but the extra rewards don’t cover its fee. Choose the fee card only if perks you’ll use are worth more than that $35 gap.
Check the trip before you move points
Choose a card with travel partners you’ll use. Before moving points, confirm that your flight or hotel stay is available to book with rewards. Transfers often can’t be reversed.
A one-to-one transfer means one card point becomes one partner point. Its value depends on what you can book.
Check the rules before you apply
| Check | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Earning rates | Use your usual spending to estimate rewards. Check caps and whether higher rates require a specific booking site. |
| Annual fee and benefits | Count rewards and savings from perks you’ll use. Subtract the fee, then weigh the result against a no-fee card. |
| Booking rules | Check available trips, cash charges, and whether you must book through the card’s travel site. |
| Foreign transaction fees | If you travel abroad, check for a fee on purchases outside the U.S. |
| Welcome bonus | Check the spending target and deadline. Use purchases you already planned, and count the bonus in year one only. |
Count benefits you would use anyway.
A $100 travel credit is worth $100 to you only if you can use it in full on travel you already planned. Check booking rules, enrollment steps, and expiration dates. For lounge access or free bags, count what you’d otherwise pay.
Want to skip a yearly fee? Explore no annual fee cards.
Answer a few questions. Your plan narrows the options down to the one that fits your situation.