A few years back, I set my sights on experiencing business class for a long-haul flight, but paying for that ticket outright was ENTIRELY out of my budget. Since I run my own business, I didn’t have the option of a company covering the cost of a luxury seat either.
Instead of letting go of the dream, I dove into researching how I could use credit cards to earn points, miles and travel perks.
Fast forward to today, and with a bit of planning and everyday spending, I’ve flown long-haul business class between the US, UK and Paris multiple times, as well as scored free or nearly-free flights across Europe—all thanks to a few reliable travel credit cards (and yes, I pay them off in full every single month!).
If you’re a US traveler who enjoys exploring new places and loves the idea of low-cost or free travel, let me introduce you to some excellent credit cards you can use stateside to make it happen.
Already using your debit card for day-to-day purchases? It might be time to start making your spending work for you.
Important: Only use these travel cards if you can pay off your balance in full each month. If you’re carrying credit card debt, the interest fees will quickly cancel out any travel perks.
Alright, let’s get into it…
What makes a good credit card when it comes to earning travel perks?
Not all travel credit cards are created equal, and the best ones for earning free travel and perks come with some standout features. Here’s what to look for when choosing a card that works hard for your wallet:
Maximising rewards on your usual spending
The goal is to rack up points on things you’re already purchasing, NOT to increase your spending just to earn rewards. The best cards offer bonus points on specific types of spending, like groceries, dining or travel. For example, if you’re often dining out or buying groceries, find a card that offers 3x points on those purchases. Personally, I prefer cards that give more points on international spending since I travel abroad frequently.
Flexible redemption options for points
The more ways you can use your points, the better. Look for cards with multiple airline and hotel transfer partners or their own travel booking platform. For instance, can you transfer points to Air France or book directly within the card’s travel portal for flights and hotels in Paris and abroad? Flexible options mean you’ll have more ways to make the most of your points.
Travel insurance benefits
Some travel credit cards offer a solid insurance package, including rental car coverage and baggage insurance. This can save you from needing separate insurance for rentals or flights booked with your card. Be sure to review a card’s insurance offerings in detail to understand what’s covered, like whether you need to book the trip on the card for coverage to apply, so you’re prepared before traveling.
A realistic welcome bonus
Welcome bonuses are a fast way to earn substantial points, often by meeting a specific spending threshold within the first few months. Choose a card with a bonus that aligns with your typical spending level; if the required spend seems like a stretch, you may want to explore other options. Meeting a welcome bonus can make for a powerful boost to your points balance right from the start.
No foreign transaction fees
This is a biiiig one as your credit card should make it easy to pay in euros or other foreign currencies WITHOUT adding extra costs. So, make sure you look for a card that doesn’t tack on foreign transaction fees, so you can use it freely in Paris and abroad without worrying about hidden charges.
Complimentary lounge access
Many top travel cards offer access to airport lounges, often through a Priority Pass membership. While lounge quality can vary, this perk can be invaluable if you don’t already have airline status or regularly fly business class. Enjoying a quiet spot with complimentary food and drinks is a welcome benefit before or after your flight.
Weighing up the value of perks and fees
These cards come with annual fees, but if you travel frequently, the perks can easily outweigh the cost. For example, lounge access, travel insurance and credits for programs like Global Entry or TSA PreCheck can significantly offset the annual fee. For me, the added perks and savings more than justify the annual cost.
The best credit cards that earn free travel and perks
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
This is the card I have had for years and still keep despite living abroad and only using it when I do personal travel. Even though the annual fee is quite hefty at $550, it’s instantly less of a hit when I get the $300 a year travel credit. So anytime I charge an Uber, a hotel, or a flight on my Chase Sapphire Reserve, I get a statement credit up until I reach $300. I also keep it for the Priority Pass lounge pass and the fact that no card in Europe has the impressive earning rates that this one does.
Earning rate: 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠, 5x total points on flights through Chase Travel℠ (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually), 3x points on other travel and dining, 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Annual fee: $550
Current welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Pros:
- Accepted virtually everywhere
- $300 annual travel credit
- Application fee credit towards Global Entry or TSA Pre-Check application
- Points are worth 1.5 cents each when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
- Great earning rates and bonus categories compared to other cards
- Comes with a Priority Pass Select that gives you unlimited lounge entry at over 1400 lounges around the world
Cons:
- One of the highest annual fees out there
- No Centurion Lounge access
- Some perks might not be relevant to you, like Lyft membership or DoorDash credit
- 3x points on travel and dining doesn’t start until you’ve used your $300 travel credit
- If you don’t travel much it might not make sense for you
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
If the annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Reserve is feeling too steep for you, have a look at its little sister, the Chase Sapphire Preferred. A great match for beginner travelers or first-time point collectors, it combines a relatively low annual fee with some pretty attractive earning opportunities and perks. You’ll be able to earn generous points on travel, food and dining purchases which you can then apply to future travel. They have big-name partners like Hyatt, United and more, so you don’t have to worry about a lack of quality or options for the flights and hotels you can redeem your points on. While traveling, there are no foreign transaction fees and some travel protection is also included.
Earning rate: 5 points per dollar on travel bookings through Chase Travel℠ and Lyft (through March 2025), 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery purchases, 2 points per dollar on all other travel spending and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
Annual fee: $95
Current welcome bonus: 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel.
Pros:
- No foreign transaction fees
- Annual $50 Chase Travel Hotel Credit Premium
- Cardholders can redeem points at 1.25 cents each for travel booked through Chase Travel℠ or transfer points to Chase’s 14 airline and hotel partners
- Credit of up to $50 on hotel stays through Chase Travel℠ upon opening the card and yearly on account anniversary
- 10% anniversary points bonus each year (based on total annual spending, 1 point per $10 spent)
- Travel protection perks including trip cancellation insurance, car rental insurance and lost luggage insurance
Cons:
- No airport lounge access or pass included
- To maximise your point advantages you have to book through the Chase Travel℠ platform
- Some point opportunities and perks might not be relevant to all cardholders, like Lyft, online grocery purchases and DoorDash membership
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great credit card for Americans to use and earn free travel and perks. This card was my go-to while studying abroad and backpacking in Europe in my early 20s, so it’s been around a long time and is highly rated when it comes to these types of credit cards. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has travel perks like a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees (up to $120). You’ll earn miles on your spending, which can be redeemed for flights, hotels, or gift cards. Plus, it has a low annual fee of $95 and no foreign transaction fees.
Earning rate: 2 miles per $1 spend, 5 miles per $1 spent on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Annual fee: $95
Current welcome bonus: 75,000 miles if you spend $4,000 on the card within the first three months of account opening, which is equal to $750 in travel.
Pros:
- Relatively low annual fee, so it’s great for beginners
- Perks like application credits and travel insurance
- Simple spending and redemption scheme
- Use miles for travel purchase statement credits or transfer to partners
Cons:
- Two complimentary lounge access visits are currently included but this benefit will be removed 1st Jan 2025
- The earning rate is lower than other cards
- Not the best welcome bonus but good if it’s your first card
- Airline transfer partners don’t include the big US airlines like American or Delta (but British Airways is a good workaround for American since they codeshare)
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Considered one of the “luxury” cards on the market, Venture X has a good ratio between its perks and its annual fee, which is lower than other premium cards and which almost pays for itself with the sign-up bonus and yearly anniversary bonus miles. It also has an uncomplicated miles system that earns you miles on all everyday purchases along with additional miles if you book hotels, flights and rental cars through its own travel portal, Capital One Travel.
In terms of airport lounge access, Capital One has been creating its own lounges and has a network of partner lounges you and two guests can use. So you’ll need to check that this covers your home airport otherwise this isn’t a relevant perk.
Earning rate: 10 miles per $1 spent on hotels and car rentals booked via Capital One Travel, 5 miles per $1 spent on flights booked via Capital One Travel, 2 miles per $1 spent on everything else
Annual fee: $395
Current welcome bonus: 75,000 miles if you spend $4,000 on the card within the first three months of account opening
Pros:
- Lower annual fee than many other premium cards
- 10,000 bonus miles annually on your account anniversary
- Comprehensive lounge access at their own and partner lounges
- $300 annual credit toward travel bookings made with the card and booked through Capital One Travel
- Access to the luxury hotels within the Capital One Premier Collection (experience credit and room upgrades)
- Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
- Add additional cardholders for free
- Trip delay coverage and rental car insurance
Cons:
- $300 credit annually is only applicable for bookings made through the Capital One Travel portal
- Some other cards offer better bonuses for travel purchases and restaurants
Learn more about Capital One Venture X Rewards
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