Key Takeaways
- Choosing a travel rewards card starts with understanding how you travel and spend money.
- Premium cards may offer better perks—but only if you’ll use them.
- It’s important to compare both earnings and redemption options when considering cards.
- The best card for one traveler may not suit another, so compare multiple cards against your spending habits and travel plans.
Using the right travel rewards credit card can make your trips more affordable, but with so many options available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Whether you’re a frequent flyer, an occasional vacationer, or someone who’s just getting into maximizing travel perks, it’s important to understand how to properly use a travel credit card.
This guide will walk you through what factors to consider when choosing a travel rewards card, from the different types of rewards available to how to compare fees and benefits.
What To Consider Before You Apply
The most important travel reward card isn’t going to be the one with the best sign-up bonus; it’s going to be the one that best aligns with your lifestyle.
Consider how often you like to travel, and the style you prefer to travel in. Someone who flies internationally twice a year has different needs than someone taking frequent domestic weekend trips. Business travelers who can pay expenses with a rewards credit card may benefit from cards with higher spending requirements and premium perks.
- How often do you travel? Domestic or international?
- Are you traveling for leisure or business?
- Business travelers who get reimbursed may benefit from cards with higher spending requirements.
Important
Travel rewards credit cards work best for people who pay their balance in full each month. If you carry a balance, interest charges will likely outweigh any rewards earned. Rewards cards often have higher APRs than non-rewards cards, making them expensive if you’re paying interest.
Simplicity vs. Optimization
Consider whether you prefer simplicity or optimization. Some travelers want straightforward cards that earn consistent rewards without much thought. Others are willing to track bonus categories and strategically redeem rewards for their maximum value.
- Simple approach: Straightforward cards that earn consistent rewards without much thought
- Optimization approach: Track bonus categories, transfer points to partners, strategically redeem for maximum value
Neither approach is wrong—choose what fits your personality and availability.
Note
Don’t chase a sign-up bonus if you won’t meet the spending threshold through your normal expenses.
Types of Travel Rewards Cards
General Travel Cards
- Not tied to specific airlines or hotels
- Flexible redemption—book through travel portals, transfer to partners, or get statement credits
- Best for people who value flexibility and lack strong brand loyalty
Airline Cards
- Tied to specific airline loyalty programs
- Earn miles for free flights
- Perks: free checked bags, priority boarding, in-flight purchase discounts
- Trade-off: rewards locked into one airline, limiting flexibility
- Best for frequent flyers loyal to one airline
Hotel Cards
- Co-branded with specific hotel chains
- Earn points towards free hotel stays
- Benefits: room upgrades, late checkout, annual free night certificates
- Most valuable for travelers who consistently stay with one hotel brand
Rewards Structure
Understanding how you earn rewards is crucial when comparing credit cards. Not all points and miles are created equal, and the earning structure significantly impacts the value you get from your spending.
- Flat-rate rewards offer the same earning rate on all purchases, such as two points per dollar spent on everything.
- Category-based rewards provide higher earning rates for specific purchases.
Most commonly, one credit card point equals one cent when redeemed, though this varies by card and redemption method.
Sign-up bonuses can provide substantial value, often worth several hundred dollars or more in travel. These bonuses typically require spending a certain amount within the first few months—for example, earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in three months. Don’t make unnecessary purchases to meet thresholds.
Tip
If you wouldn’t naturally meet the spending requirement through normal expenses, the bonus isn’t worth pursuing.
Redemption Options and Point Value
How you redeem rewards matters as much as how you earn them. The same number of points can be worth dramatically different amounts depending on the redemption method.
- Travel portals offered by many general travel cards, such as Chase, American Express, Bank of America, and Capital One, let you book flights, hotels, and rental cars using points. The value per point is typically fixed, making it easy to calculate what your rewards are worth. However, you may have less flexibility than booking directly with airlines or hotels, and you might miss out on elite status benefits.
- Transfer partners allow you to move points to airline and hotel loyalty programs, often at a 1:1 ratio. This option can provide exceptional value if you know how to find award availability and book strategically. Transfer partners give access to premium cabin flights and luxury hotel stays that might cost significantly less in points than their cash price would suggest.
- Statement credits let you redeem points against travel purchases you’ve already made. This is the most straightforward method, but it usually offers the lowest value per point, often around one cent per point.
Not all points are equal in value. Co-branded airline and hotel points can fluctuate based on how the loyalty program prices award travel. Airlines and hotels can increase how many miles you need to book rewards travel without notice, devaluing your rewards.
Be aware of restrictions like blackout dates (periods when you cannot use rewards), minimum redemption thresholds, and limited award availability.
With co-branded cards, you’re subject to the airline or hotel’s loyalty program terms, over which the credit card issuer has no control.
Fees and Perks
Travel rewards cards range from no annual fee to $500 or more per year. Calculate the value you’ll realistically get from benefits and rewards. A $95 annual fee might be worthwhile if you earn enough rewards or use benefits like free checked bags multiple times a year.
Common travel benefits:
- Airport lounge access (Priority Pass membership)
- Travel insurance (trip cancellation, interruption, lost luggage, rental car coverage)
- TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee credits
- Free checked bags on flights
- Annual free night certificates at hotels
- Hotel elite status and room upgrades
Many travel cards waive foreign transaction fees, typically 1% to 3% of each purchase in foreign currency. If you travel internationally, even occasionally, this feature saves you money.
Note
Premium perks only add value if you use them. A $300 travel credit provides no benefit if you never use it.
How To Compare Cards Effectively
Dig into the fine print to understand earning rates, redemption restrictions, and actual benefit values. Be cautious about programs using vague language or burying items in the fine print.
Estimate spending in various categories and calculate potential rewards. Factor in the benefits you’ll use and subtract the annual fee for the card’s net value. Some issuers and third-party websites offer calculators to help.
Consider pairing cards—using a cash back card for everyday spending and a travel card for travel purchases can maximize rewards across categories. Be aware that credit card companies sometimes devalue rewards even after terms are met.
What’s the Most Important Factor When Choosing a Travel Rewards Card?
The most important factor is how well the card matches your spending habits and travel patterns. Focus on cards where the earning structure aligns with your regular spending and benefits match how you actually travel.
Are High-Annual-Fee Travel Cards Worth It?
High-annual-fee cards can be worth it if you’ll use enough benefits to offset the cost. Be honest about which perks you’ll actually use—if you’ll only use one or two benefits, a less expensive card might serve you better.
Can I Have More Than One Travel Rewards Card?
Yes, many travelers use multiple travel rewards cards to maximize benefits. A common strategy is pairing a general travel card for flexible redemptions with a co-branded airline or hotel card for specific perks like free checked bags or lounge access. Just make sure you can manage multiple cards responsibly, pay all balances in full, and that the combined annual fees are justified by all the rewards and benefits you actually use.
The Bottom Line
Choosing the right travel rewards credit card requires careful consideration of your spending habits, travel frequency, and willingness to engage with rewards programs. The best card depends on whether you prioritize flexibility or brand-specific benefits, prefer simple flat-rate rewards or optimized category bonuses, and will actually use the premium perks.
Take time to compare earning rates, redemption options, and fees. Remember that rewards are most valuable when you pay your balance in full each month—carrying a balance costs more in interest than you gain in rewards. By choosing a card that aligns with your lifestyle and using it responsibly, you can make travel more affordable while maximizing the value of your spending.