Points, Miles & Credit Cards

Best Travel Credit Cards of 2024

Q: How much are points and miles worth on a travel credit card?

The value of points and miles vary widely depending on the airline program. Some programs’ points (or miles) closely track the cash price of the ticket, where one mile equals one cent. If an airline partner uses a fixed award chart based on continent or distance traveled, you may be able to find sweet spots where you can get a lot of value from your points and miles. The

Kurt Adams

December 15, 2023

9 min read

Going has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Going and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses, and recommendations are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some of all of the card offers that appear on this page are from advertisers; compensation may affect how and where the cards appear on the site; and Going does not include all card companies are all available card offers.

Table of Contents

‍The best travel credit cards bring you closer to your next trip by making your everyday spending more rewarding.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best Overall

Annual fee: annual_fees

Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee

Earning rate:

Earn 5X points per dollar spent on travel purchased through Chase Travel(SM).
Earn 3X points per dollar spent on online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), dining at restaurants (including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out).
Earn 3X select streaming services.
Earn 2X points per dollar spent on all other eligible travel purchases (like airline tickets and hotel bills).
Earn 1X point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full

Pros and cons

Pros:

Low annual fee
Great transfer partners -- Virgin Atlantic, FlyBlue and Air Canada are some of my favorite Chase transfer partners‍
Offers several types of travel protections, including car rental insurance

Cons:

Doesn't come with airline perks like lounge access or free checked bag
Doesn't include credits for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry

Our take

Chase points can be very valuable when you transfer them to airline partners. Plus the card offers travel insurance protections, for a low annual fee.

Who it's best for

Beginners and seasoned points and miles veterans alike may want to have the card_name in their wallet. It has an excellent welcome offer that you can redeem towards your next trip, and its bonus categories on travel, transit, food, and dining make a long-term keeper.

Read our review.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best travel credit card for beginners

Annual fee: annual_fees

Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee

Earning rate:

2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day.
5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full

Pros and cons

Pros:

Statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
Low annual fee
Flat 2x earning structure

Cons:

Capital One transfer partners do not include a domestic airline
No bonus categories

Our take

The generous welcome offer on the card can help you get a head start on earning a free flight for your next trip.

Who it's best for

If you’re just starting out in learning how to use points and miles to travel for less, the card_name is a great place to start. Unlike other cards that have bonus categories to track, you’ll earn 2X miles per dollar on every eligible purchase, everyday. (Editor's note: Capital One calls its points currency "miles.")

Read our review.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Best for business travel

Annual fee: annual_fees

Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee

Earning rate:

Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year.
Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases

Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full

Pros and cons

Pros:

Points can be redeemed with transfer partners
Comparatively low annual fee
Bonus categories for common business expenses make earning points easy

Cons:

Chase offers several no-annual-fee business cards that may earn at a higher rate, depending on spending category
No travel credits, like Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
Subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule

Our take

For a low annual fee, you have the ability to earn bonus points on common business expenses and redeem those points for travel through Chase’s network of transfer partners.

Who it's best for

The card_name is a great option for business owners and entrepreneurs who want to earn travel rewards on everyday business expenses.

Read our review.

The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for lounge access

Annual fee: annual_fees(See Rates and Fees)

Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee

Earning rate:

Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
Earn 1 X Membership Rewards® Points on all other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.

Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full

Pros and cons

Pros:

Great welcome offer
Tons of travel perks included
Access to Centurion lounges

Cons:

Very high annual fee
Some statement credits can be difficult to use
Low points earning rate
To bring a guest to the Centurion Lounge, you need to spend $75,000 on the card the year before

Our take

If you can stomach the annual fee, the card offers a host of great travel benefits to enjoy.

Who it's best for

If you want to travel in luxury, card_name (See Rates and Fees) may be the card for you. Along with a stellar welcome offer, this card also grants you entry to the American Express Centurion Lounges and Priority Pass lounges. You’ll also get statement credits towards CLEAR Plus and Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, helping you to speed through security. The card also gives you mid-level elite status at Marriott and Hilton hotels.

Read our review.

The Bilt Mastercard: Best travel card with no annual fee

Annual fee: annual_fees

Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee

Earning rate:

If you make at least five transactions with your Bilt card each statement period, you will earn:

1X points per dollar on rent (up to 100,000 points each calendar year)
2X points per dollar on travel
3X points per dollar on dining
1X point per dollar on other purchases
Earn double points on the first of each month (excluding rent, up to 1,000 bonus points)

Pros and cons

Pros:

No annual fee card with travel partners
Earn rewards on rent payments
Extremely valuable travel rewards points currency

Cons:

No signup bonus
To earn points, you must use the card at least five times each statement period.
May not be as valuable if you are not a renter

Our take

The Bilt Mastercard is the rare travel credit card that charges no annual fee, yet offers a wide range of excellent transfer partners.

Who it's best for

If you rent, card_name enables you to earn points on what's probably your biggest monthly bill. Just be aware that in order to earn any points at all, you must use the card at least five times in a statement period.

Read our review.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Best premium travel rewards credit card

Annual fee: annual_fees

Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee

Earning rate:

2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day.
10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
5 Miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel.

Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full

Pros and cons

Pros:

Lower annual fee than most luxury travel credit cards
Includes Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
Includes access to Priority Pass lounges

Cons:

Earns the same 2x miles per dollar on everyday spending as does its sibling card, the Capital One Venture
Capital One Lounges are limited to only three airports currently
Travel credit can only be used in the Capital One Travel portal

Our take

For a premium travel credit card, its annual fee is a bargain—comparatively speaking. Plus, the $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel portal, makes it even more palatable.

Who it's best for

If you’re looking for a premium travel rewards card the card_name is an excellent option. The card gives you access to the network of Priority Pass airport lounges and Capital One Lounges, plus a statement credit for the application fee to Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

Read our review.

American Express® Gold Card: Best for food lovers

Annual fee: annual_fees(See Rates and Fees)

Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee

Earning rate:

Earn 4X Membership Rewards(R) points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards(R) points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards(R) points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards(R) points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards(R) point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full

Pros and cons

Pros:

Great welcome offer for American Express Membership Rewards points
Excellent bonus earning rates

Cons:

No travel credits like CLEAR Plus or TSA PreCheck
No lounge access
High annual fee

Our take

This card is points-earning workhorse, especially if you love to eat.

Who it's best for

If you love to eat out, cook at home, or some combination of both, the card_name (See Rates and Fees) is a powerful addition to your wallet.

Read our review.

Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card: Best for international travel

Annual fee: annual_fees

Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee

Earning rate:

Earn 5x total points on flights when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
Earn 10x total points on hotels (excluding The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection) and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.
Earn 3x points on dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out.
Earn 3x points on other travel worldwide after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.
Earn 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full

Pros and cons

Pros:

Generous, very flexible annual $300 travel credit
Highly valuable points currency with great suite of airline and hotel transfer partners
Bonus categories in travel and dining

Cons:

High annual fee
Earns similar bonus rates to its younger sibling, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Our take

The benefits that this card offers easily can make up for the high annual fee.

Who it's best for

Although any of the cards on this list could be great options for international travel, the combination of the $300 annual travel credit, lounge access benefits, and statement credit for an application to Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS, makes the card_name Card the best card for international travel.

Read our review.

How do travel credit cards work?

Travel credit cards reward you for the purchases you make on everyday expenses. You’ll earn points each time you use the card to make eligible purchases, but you’ll earn more points if you spend on the card’s bonus categories. For example, the American Express Gold Card (see rates and fees) allows you to earn 4X points on restaurants worldwide. That means if you spent $100 on a meal out, you’d earn 400 points to redeem for travel.

Travel credit cards enable you to earn points or miles on purchases that you can redeem for travel, but specific cards reward you in different ways. You can either earn transferable credit card points from a general-purpose travel credit card or miles or hotel points from an airline or hotel credit card.

General travel credit cards

General travel credit cards allow you to earn points that you can transfer to a wide range of airlines and hotels. You could transfer some of your points to one airline partner, then a few months later transfer more points to a different airline partner, and then transfer points to a hotel partner.

Currency: Transferable credit card points

Example: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Who it’s best for: Travelers who fly or stay with multiple airlines and hotels

Co-branded airline or hotel cards

These cards earn airline miles or hotel points that can only be used with the specific airline or hotel. Depending on how premium the card may be, the card may also give you additional perks like a free checked bag, priority boarding, airport lounge access, a leg up on elite status, or a free night’s stay at a hotel’s property. The benefits and points earned are often limited to using with that airline or hotel chain.

Currency: Airline miles or hotel points

Example: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

Who it’s best for: Travelers who are loyal to a specific airline or a hotel.

Business travel credit cards

Business travel credit cards can be either general-purpose travel credit cards, earning flexible travel points, or co-branded with an airline or a hotel. Perks and earning rates tend to vary depending on the annual fee the business card charges. Of course, to be eligible for business travel credit card, you’d need to be a small business owner, freelancer, or entrepreneur.

Currency: Either transferrable credit card points, airline miles, or hotel points

Example: The Business Platinum Card from American Express

Who it’s best for: Business owners or entrepreneurs who want to earn travel rewards on their business spending.

How to compare travel credit cards

Welcome offer

The welcome offer is the most fun part of opening a new credit card. After spending a certain amount on your new card within a predetermined amount of time, you’ll receive a treasure trove of tens of thousands of bonus points or miles. Earning a card’s welcome offer can help you get a free flight—or pretty close to one!

Earnings rate

After you’ve earned the welcome offer on your card, the card’s earning rate will help you continue to earn points or miles in the long term. Your spending habits should help guide your choice of cards.

Do you spend a lot on groceries? Consider the American Express Gold Card.

Are you a renter? With the Bilt Mastercard, you could earn points on your rent.

Points, miles, or cash back

Even before you look at a card’s welcome offer, you should decide what type of travel points you want to earn. If you are looking to book a bucket trip to Tokyo or Rome, you might be better off getting a general-purpose travel credit card because it will give you a wider range of airline partners to transfer your points.

On the other hand, if you are a Delta diehard or Marriott manic, a credit card with that brand could help get you a shortcut to elite status and a bunch of other benefits to use when you frequent that hotel or airline.

Annual fee

In addition to the credit card’s welcome offer and earning rates, the credit card’s annual fee is one of the most important deciding factors. While there are some travel credit cards with no annual fee, those that offer higher earning rates and more travel protections tend to have annual fees in the ballpark of $95. Cards offering premium benefits, like airport lounge access and travel statement credits, often carry annual fees of $395 or higher.

Foreign transaction fee

You’ll want to confirm that the card you’re considering does not charge a foreign transaction fee—it is a travel credit card, after all. Foreign transaction fees tend to be around 3% of each transaction, so if you’re traveling internationally for a week, that can add up fast. When you use a card that offers no foreign transaction fee, you’ll simply be charged that day’s exchange rate for your purchases—no extra fees.

Lounge access

If you’re a frequent flyer, you may want to look for a credit card that includes access to airport lounges. This, too, is another area where general-purpose and co-branded credit cards differ somewhat. Higher-end airline cards offer you complimentary access to the airline’s network of airport lounges: For example, the card_name allows you complimentary access to Delta Sky Club®, plus four One-Time Guest Passes annually.*

Higher-end general-purpose travel credit cards also commonly offer lounge access to their respective network of airport lounges: For example, the Platinum Card® from American Express gets you access to the American Express Centurion Lounges; the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Card each offer access to their issuers’ lounges, respectively.

You’ll also want to check if the card you’re eyeing allows you to enroll in Priority Pass Select™, a membership program that grants you access to a wider network of airport lounges worldwide.

^{*Note: Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members 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. Once all 15 Visits have been used, Eligible Card Members may purchase additional Delta Sky Club Visits (including Grab and Go) at a per-Visit rate of $50 per person using the Card.}

Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck

TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are two different Trusted Traveler Programs that provide travelers with expedited security screening or customs processing. To be eligible, you’ll need to apply online through the US Customs and Border Patrol and pay the application fee. Over two dozen travel credit cards offer statement credit that would reimburse for this fee. Check out our picks for the best cards that offer TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.

Elite status

Airline elite status used to be earned by the number of miles you flew, but now, it is largely determined by the amount of dollars you spend with an airline. The transition is a bummer for those who love to do mileage runs, but the good news is that airline credit cards offer a shortcut toward earning elite status.

For example, The United ClubSM Infinite Card allows you to earn 25 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP, United’s metric for earning status) for every $500 spent on the card, up to 10,000 PQP.

Likewise, card_name and card_name each award cardholders $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs, Delta’s elite status currency) each Medallion Qualification Year. This alone gets you halfway to Delta’s Silver Medallion Status. Plus the cards allow you to earn MQDs based on your card spending: the card_name earns $1 MQD for each $10 spent on the card, while the card_name earns $1 MQD for each $20 spent on the card.

Travel insurance

Sometimes, shift happens in the overhead bins. Things happen in life, too, where you may need to cancel a trip due to illness, natural disaster, or personal emergency, or a trip may be delayed because of circumstances out of your control.

When these things happen, a credit card with travel cancellation insurance may allow you to recoup your costs, while trip delay insurance may reimburse you for essential expenses like food or lodging. And, some cards offer baggage delay or lost baggage insurance. Just make sure to read your card’s terms and conditions carefully before filing a claim: Many require you to have made the original purchase on your card to qualify.

How to choose a travel credit card

Now that you know what features to look for in a travel card, here are some questions and tips to keep in mind when you are picking one.

Evaluating general-purpose travel credit card

When picking a general-purpose travel credit card, make sure to consider the following:

Transfer partners: Who are the airline partners, and can you redeem your points for good value?
Travel portal statement credit: Does the card issuer give you statement credit or perks toward booking through your card’s travel portal?
Travel perks: Does the card make travel more relaxing by giving you statement credit for Trusted Traveler programs or airport lounge access?
Travel insurance protections: Does the card offer trip delay insurance? What about primary insurance on rental cars?

Evaluating airline credit cards

When picking an airline credit card look for the following:

Companion fares: Does the card offer a perk that lets you earn a companion pass and travel with a partner at a reduced rate?
Earning rates: Airline cards usually offer the highest bonus rates on spending with their airline, but what, if any, other bonus spending categories does it offer?
Elite status bonuses: Does the card help you earn elite status with the airline quicker?
Priority boarding: If the card gives you this perk, you might be able to grab that overhead space first. Could that be you?
Free checked baggage: How many other persons on your reservation can also get a free checked bag?
Award ticket discounts or extra access to award seats: Delta offers eligible cardholders a 15% discount when booking with SkyMiles, while United offers select cardholders expanded access to saver award seats.
Airport lounge access: Does the card offer you access to one airline’s lounge network?
Complimentary in-flight Wi-Fi

Evaluating hotel credit cards

When looking for a hotel credit card, pay attention to these things:

Elite status: Does the card offer you elite status with the hotel chain? You can generally expect cards with higher annual fees to give you higher tiers of status.
Earning rates: Hotel cards tend to earn bonus rates on hotel purchases, but what other bonus spending categories does it offer?
Free night certificate: Does the card offer you a certificate for a free night’s stay each card anniversary? Some cards allow you to earn additional free night certificates based on spending or nights stayed at properties.
Early check-in and late check-out: Many hotel credit cards offer this benefit.
Room upgrades or extra perks: More elite cards offer complimentary room upgrades or complimentary services like a free breakfast or spa credit.

Pros and cons of travel credit cards

Pros

Big welcome offers can you get close to a free flight
Travel perks like lounge access can make flying more comfortable
Extra benefits like travel insurance or trusted traveler programs
Can earn points for travel on everyday spending
No foreign transaction fees
Can offer free checked bag or elite status

Cons

High annual fees
High ongoing APRs
Limited value for points outside of transferring to airline or hotel partners
Cash-back rewards are simpler to redeem and understand
Points and miles could expire or lose value over time
Transferring to partners can be confusing or complicated

Remember: Your credit card should suit your lifestyle

It’s easy to get caught up in the glitz and glamor of a fancy credit card, but you shouldn’t have to drastically alter your own spending habits and lifestyle to take advantage of everything your card offers. If you find yourself working too hard to utilize a benefit or to redeem a credit that a card offers, it may not be a fit for you.

You can usually “product change” the card, i.e. convert it into another credit card within that same “card family” that better suits your needs.

Frequently asked questions

Are travel credit cards worth it?

Yes. If you plan to or already travel regularly, travel credit cards can help you earn a free flight through your everyday spending. Many travel credit cards come with extra perks like lounge access or a free checked bag to make your travel more comfortable. Just make sure you pick a card that matches your spending.

What is the difference between points and miles on a credit card?

Points and miles are two ways to say the same thing: they are the rewards currency that the card earns. Some cards call them points, others call them miles. Generally speaking, airline cards earn miles, while general-purpose credit cards usually earn points. The main difference is that airline miles can usually only be redeemed with that specific airline, while points earned from general purpose travel credit cards can be transferred to a wider range of airline and hotel partners.

What credit score do I need to get a travel credit card?

In general, travel credit cards require you to have a good to excellent credit score. You’ll want to aim to have a score of 700 or higher to get approved for the top credit cards.

How much are points and miles worth on a travel credit card?

The [value of points and miles](https://www.going.com/guides/how-to-calculate-value-credit-card-points-airline-miles-maximize-redemption) vary widely depending on the airline program. Some programs’ points (or miles) closely track the cash price of the ticket, where one mile equals one cent. If an airline partner uses a fixed award chart based on continent or distance traveled, you may be able to find sweet spots where you can get a lot of value from your points and miles. The

How we chose our picks

When making our picks, we gave a lot of weight to cards with standout welcome offers—the treasure trove of points a card issuer rewards you with for signing up for a new card and meeting the minimum spending requirements in time. The card’s bonus rewards categories also mattered a lot to us, since this is a card you’ll have long after the earning the welcome offer. We also factored in the card’s annual fee, its transfer partners, and additional benefits like free checked baggage, Global Entry credits, or lounge access.