The Top 6 Travel Rewards Credit Cards

One of the biggest perks of paying with plastic is being able to collect all those points. And if you’re a globetrotter, you can get even more bang for your buck by signing up for a travel rewards credit card.

These cards are often a good alternative to traditional frequent flyer programs, which tie you to a single airline. Plus, credit card-based rewards are often transferable to a third party, so you can help your family members get a deal on flights.

But deciding which travel rewards program to use isn’t always easy – there’s a ton to choose from. So we’re going to give you the rundown on 6 of the best travel credit cards around. Our evaluation will be based on three criteria:

• Spend: This refers to the minimum amount you must spend on the card within the specified time limit to earn the bonus points.
• Bonus: The number of extra points you earn after meeting your minimum spend. These points are typically equivalent to one roundtrip domestic flight or a one-way flight to Europe.
• Fee: The first year is free of charge for most cards. After the first year, an annual fee applies.

OK, here are our top picks for the best travel rewards credit cards.

Multi-Airline Cards

American Express Starwood Preferred Guest

Spend: $5,000 in 6 months
Bonus: 25,000 points
Fee after first year: $65
This card is extremely valuable for hotel stays. Starwoods hotels are some of the nicest hotels in the world, including St. Regis, Westin and Le Meridien. You can also book flights with your SPG points, which transfer easily to more than 30 frequent flyer programs. The best perk of this card is that when you transfer 20,000 points to a frequent flyer program, Starwood adds an additional 5,000 points as an extra bonus. All of this comes with the lowest annual fee in the list.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Spend: $3,000 in 3 months
Bonus: 40,000 points
Fee after first year: $95
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is an excellent option for everyday spending. You earn double points on all dollars spent on travel and an extra point if travel is booked through the Ultimate Rewards portal. Chase Sapphire Preferred transfers 1:1 to over a dozen partner airline miles programs. You also get a 7% bonus in airline miles based on the points you earned throughout the year. Best of all, if you travel internationally, use this card. There are no foreign transaction fees. Ultimate Rewards can be redeemed for hotels, flights, car rentals, gift cards and even cash.

Airline-Specific Cards

Citi Platinum AAdvantage

Spend: $3,000 in 3 months
Bonus: 40,000 points
Fee after first year: $95
With Citi Platinum, you’re first checked bag is free. You also get priority boarding and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in 3 months. You’ll earn double points for all dollars spent with American Airlines, and if you renew your card after one year, you’ll get a 5% points bonus.

United Mileage Plus Explorer

Spend: $1,000 in 3 months
Bonus: 30,000 points
Fee after first year: $95
You get a great 30,000 points after spending just $1000 in 3 months. If you don’t spend much on monthly necessities, this spend will be easier to reach, while getting you great rewards. With no blackout dates or restrictions, this program is very flexible. You’ll earn double points on all travel booked at United and your miles will never expire. United Mileage Plus Explorer also offers a free checked bag, priority check-in and boarding and you can even enjoy a visit to the United Club airport lounges (2 passes per year), which are swanky and lovely. Also backed by Chase, this card has no foreign transaction fees and is a great option if you fly United often.

British Airways Signature

Spend: $2,000 in 3 months
Bonus: 50,000 Avios
Fee after first year: $95
With the biggest bonus in the business, the British Airways Signature credit card gives you 50,000 Avios points with a low spend of just $2,000 in 3 months. British Airways Avios points are often maligned for their confusing rules, but Avios are great for short-haul flights. If you fly within the US often, or within short distances in Europe, 50,000 Avios will get you far. Every year, you’ll get a companion travel pass called Travel Together. You can redeem your Avios for your own flight and your friend, spouse or coworker can travel for free. With no foreign transaction fees and partner American Airlines, you can head go around the world on this card.

Gold Delta Skymiles

Spend: $500 in 3 months
Bonus: 30,000 points
Fee after first year: $95
You’ll get your first checked bag for free and priority boarding, along with a huge 30,000 point bonus for the lowest spend on our list - just $500 in 3 months. You can also access the lovely airport lounges in the Delta family with your fellow travelers for just $25 per person, a bargain for such luxury. You’ll gain double miles for dollars spent with Delta and if you book a Delta purchase in the first 3 months, you’ll get an added $50 statement credit. If you fly with Delta, this is a fantastic card for you to choose.

Experiment to find the best travel credit card for you

All of the airline-specific cards are very similar to one another. The best card for you will depend on which airline you frequently use. If you want to shop around, consider going with a travel rewards card that plays ball with multiple airlines. A smart traveler will give it some thought, sign up for a card or two, and then start aggressively accumulating points – not by overspending their budget, but by automating regular monthly purchases on a card that works for them.

This is part three in a three-part series about selecting the best travel rewards program. The two previous articles are:

• 5 Things To Consider Before Joining A Frequent Flyer Program
• The Top 6 Frequent Flyer Programs for Savvy Travelers

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