This collection of articles about credit cards, factors and miles, and budgeting for journey is dropped at you in partnership with The Factors Man.

Advertiser Disclosure: This put up incorporates references to merchandise from a number of of our advertisers. We could obtain compensation while you click on on hyperlinks to these merchandise. Phrases apply to the affords listed on this web page. This relationship could influence how and the place hyperlinks seem on this web site. This web site doesn’t embrace all monetary firms or all obtainable monetary affords. All details about the Citi Premier® Card has been collected independently by Lonely Planet. This card shouldn’t be obtainable by Lonely Planet.

Think about planning the last word dream journey to say, New Zealand, and never having to fret about paying for any of your flights, motels, sightseeing excursions or rental automobile. The excellent news is, that’s fully potential if you happen to develop a credit card technique to make your on a regular basis purchases work in your favor.

Relating to selecting the proper airline credit card, there are two methods to go about it. You possibly can enroll for a flexible rewards journey credit card that permits you to earn transferable rewards factors, which might be then redeemed for free flights with companion airlines. 

Your different choice is to get a cobranded airline credit card that permits you to earn and redeem miles with a single airline, an important choice if you happen to’re striving for standing with a selected service otherwise you’re based mostly close to a sure airline’s hub.

One of the best flexible rewards credit cards allow you to earn factors and miles you possibly can redeem for free flights. In our search for the very best, we thought of a number of elements: the welcome bonus, journey protections, elite standing perks and annual advantages.

Notice that not one of the cards on our checklist have international transaction charges, and whereas many do have excessive annual charges (starting from $95–$695), utilizing the included credit and advantages will definitely assist offset them.

Right here’s the very best flexible rewards credit cards for airlines in 2023.

How you can get began with journey factors and airline miles

Best flexible rewards cards for airlines in 2023

One of the best journey credit cards

Best journey credit card with a low annual payment: Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card

The Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card is likely one of the hottest journey credit cards available on the market due to the various alternatives it affords for incomes and redeeming Chase Final Rewards factors. There are 14 airline and lodge switch companions and factors might be converted at a 1:1 ratio.

Apart from its modest annual payment and profitable welcome bonus, cardholders obtain an annual $50 assertion credit towards motels booked through Chase Final Rewards. Factors redeemed through the Chase journey portal are value 1.25 cents per level and also you’ll rating a 10% factors bonus annually based mostly on what number of have been earned the earlier yr. 

Cardholders even have entry to companion advantages, together with a complimentary six-month subscription to Instacart+ with as much as $15 in assertion credit quarterly by July 2024 and a free membership to DoorDash and Caviar.

Welcome bonus: 60,000 factors after spending $4,000 throughout the first three months of account opening.

Rewards: Earn 5X factors on journey reserved through Chase Final Rewards, not counting lodge stays that qualify for the annual $50 lodge credit; 5X factors on Lyft rides by March 2025; 5X factors on Peloton purchases over $150 (as much as 25,000 factors) by March 2025; 3X on eating and on-line grocery purchasing (besides Goal, Walmart and wholesale golf equipment); 3X factors on streaming companies; 2X factors for journey bills; and 1X factors on all different purchases.

Airline switch companions: Aer Lingus, Air Canada, British Airways, Emirates, Air France / KLM, Iberia, JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.

Journey advantages: Auto rental collision injury waiver; baggage delay, journey cancellation and interruption insurance coverage; journey delay reimbursement and emergency journey help.

Credit rating: Good to wonderful.

Annual payment: $95.

Execs

• Low annual payment.
• Beneficiant welcome bonus offering $750 value of journey while you redeem factors by Chase Final Rewards.
• Many choices for redeeming rewards, together with 14 airline companions.

Cons

• Approval is topic to Chase’s 5/24 rule, so that you received’t be accepted if you happen to’ve opened 5 credit cards inside 24 months.
• Lounge entry shouldn’t be provided as an included profit.

How you can make a journey price range utilizing factors and miles

Best premium journey credit card: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

For vacationers who count on premium-level service and advantages, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a best choice, although it does carry a $550 annual payment.

That stated, it’ll nearly pay for itself if you happen to use all of the perks — a $300 annual journey credit; Precedence Cross lounge membership; a $100 credit towards World Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS enrollment; entry to The Luxurious Resort & Resort Assortment; and unique sports activities, eating and leisure occasions through Reserve by Sapphire. 

Redemptions are value 1.5 cents per level when booked by Chase Final Rewards and you’ll switch them to any of Chase’s 14 airline and lodge companions. Cardholders additionally obtain one free yr of Instacart+ service with as much as $15 in assertion credit per quarter by July 2024, plus free membership to DoorDash and Caviar.

Welcome bonus: 60,000 factors after spending $4,000 throughout the first three months of account opening.

Rewards: Earn 10X factors on automobile leases and motels, not counting The Luxurious Resort & Resort Assortment, booked by Chase Final Rewards (after the $300 annual journey credit); 10X factors on Lyft rides by March 2025; 10X factors on Peloton purchases over $150 (as much as 25,000 factors) by March 2025; 10X factors on Chase Eating purchases; 5X factors on flights reserved by the Chase journey portal (after the $300 journey credit); 3X factors on eating; and 3X factors on all different journey purchases (after the $300 annual journey credit).

Airline switch companions: Aer Lingus, Air Canada, British Airways, Emirates, Air France / KLM, Iberia, JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.

Journey advantages: Misplaced baggage and journey delay reimbursement, baggage delay and journey accident insurance coverage, auto rental collision injury waiver, journey interruption and cancellation insurance coverage, emergency journey and roadside help, emergency transportation and evacuation companies and emergency dental and medical advantages.

Credit rating: Wonderful.

Annual payment: $550.

Execs

• Complimentary entry to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide due to the included Precedence Cross membership.
• The $300 annual journey credit and $100 credit for World Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS registration assist to offset the annual payment.
• A beneficiant welcome bonus that’s value $900 in journey when factors are redeemed through Chase Final Rewards.

Cons

• Excessive annual payment.
• Approval is topic to Chase’s 5/24 rule, so that you received’t be accepted if you happen to’ve opened 5 credit cards inside 24 months.

Chase Sapphire evaluate: an in-depth have a look at the cardboard beloved by vacationers

Best card for lounge entry: The Platinum Card® from American Specific

The Platinum Card® from American Specific cardholders obtain a ton of premium journey advantages, together with entry to The American Specific World Lounge Assortment and greater than 1,400 lounges worldwide through its Precedence Cross and Plaza Premium Lounge partnerships, an as much as $200 lodge credit on Advantageous Resorts + Resorts or The Resort Assortment stays booked by American Specific Journey, a $200 airline payment credit for incidentals on a chosen airline and an as much as $189 credit for CLEAR Plus.

Cardholders additionally obtain an as much as $240 digital leisure credit to cowl as much as $20 per thirty days spent with sure streaming platforms, a $155 credit for a month-to-month Walmart+ membership and a $100 assertion credit while you store at Saks Fifth Avenue ($50 per six-month interval).

Extra perks embrace as much as $200 value of Uber Money yearly — $15 per thirty days, plus an additional $20 in December — and an as much as $300 Equinox credit.

Welcome bonus: 80,000 factors after spending $8,000 throughout the first six months of account opening.

Rewards: Earn 5X factors on flights booked straight with the airline or through American Specific Journey (as much as $500,000 per calendar yr); 5X factors on motels reserved through AmexTravel.com, together with The Resort Assortment; 1X factors on all different purchases.

Airline switch companions: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada, Air France / KLM, All Nippon Airways, Avianca, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Strains, Emirates, Etihad, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia, JetBlue, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic.

Journey advantages: Baggage insurance coverage, secondary protection on commonplace rental automobile insurance coverage, journey cancellation and interruption insurance coverage, journey delay reimbursement, entry to a world emergency help hotline, evacuation and medical transport service in an emergency and medical help*.

Credit rating: Good to wonderful.

Annual payment: $695. (see charges and charges)

Execs

• 18 airline switch companions to select from if you happen to’re seeking to redeem factors for free flights.
• Beneficiant quantity of assertion credit provided for varied journey, eating and purchasing expenses.
• Profitable welcome bonus that’s value $1,600 in journey when factors are redeemed by American Specific Membership Rewards.

Cons

• Excessive annual payment.
• Secondary automobile insurance coverage as an alternative of main.

One of the best credit cards for airport lounge entry

Best card for frequent vacationers: Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit Card

When you’re continually touring for work or leisure, the Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit Card affords loads of methods to earn miles you possibly can put towards your subsequent journey. 

Cardholders additionally obtain complimentary subscriptions to PRIOR and The Cultivist, an additional 10,000 miles to have a good time every anniversary, a $300 annual journey credit so you possibly can “erase” trip-related gadgets booked by Capital One Journey and a $100 assertion credit meant to cowl your complimentary World Entry or TSA PreCheck membership enrollment.

Welcome bonus: 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 throughout the first three months of opening your account.

Rewards: Earn 10X miles for rental vehicles and motels booked through Capital One Journey, 5X miles for flights booked by Capital One Journey and 2X miles for all different purchases.

Airline switch companions: AeroMexico, Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Avianca, British Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Finnair, Air France/KLM, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, TAP, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic.

Journey advantages: Free entry to Capital One Lounges, plus any of Capital One’s Precedence Cross or Plaza Premium companions; unique occasions through Capital One Eating and Capital One Leisure; entry to Capital One’s Premier and Life-style lodge collections; computerized elite standing with Hertz President’s Membership for automobile leases; journey accident insurance coverage; entry to Visa Infinite Concierge; and auto rental collision injury waiver protection for automobile leases. 

Credit rating: Wonderful.

Annual payment: $395. (see charges & charges)

Execs

• Complimentary airport lounge entry provided as an included profit.
• Good $300 annual journey credit, plus a $100 assertion credit for World Entry or TSA PreCheck.
• 14 airline switch companions to select from if you happen to’re seeking to redeem factors for free flights.

Cons

• Excessive annual payment.
• Journey insurance coverage advantages aren’t as strong as with different cards.

Capital One Enterprise X evaluate: a wonderful credit card for journey lovers

Best journey card for while you’re not touring: American Specific Gold Card

If you already know you most likely received’t be touring for some time however nonetheless wish to rack up an honest quantity of factors for when you possibly can, the American Specific Gold Card is a brilliant selection. When it’s time to make a journey, redeem your hard-earned factors together with your selection of 17 airline companions by Amex Membership Rewards, or use them to e-book flights through AmexTravel.com.

Not solely are you able to earn bonus factors on the belongings you’re already shopping for, however you’ll additionally obtain as much as $120 value of Uber money annually ($10 per thirty days to make use of on rides or Uber Eats supply) in addition to as much as $120 in eating credit ($10 per thirty days while you store with Grubhub, The Cheesecake Manufacturing facility, Milk Bar, Goldbelly, Wine.com or at sure Shake Shack areas).

Cardholders even have entry to The Resort Assortment, a part of American Specific Journey, and Most well-liked Entry for unique tickets to reveals, sporting occasions and different cultural occasions worldwide. 

Welcome bonus: 60,000 factors after spending $6,000 throughout the first six months of account opening.

Rewards: Earn 4X factors at eating places worldwide, 4X factors at U.S. supermarkets (on as much as $25,000 value of purchasing yearly), 3X factors on flights booked through AmexTravel.com and 1X factors for all different purchases.

Airline switch companions: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada, Air France / KLM, ANA, Avianca, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Strains, Emirates, Etihad, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia, JetBlue, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic.

Journey advantages: Journey accident and baggage insurance coverage, secondary protection on commonplace rental automobile insurance coverage (with the choice to improve to Premium Safety for a further payment), journey delay and cancellation insurance coverage and entry to a world emergency help hotline*.

Credit rating: Good to wonderful.

Annual payment: $250. (see charges and charges)

Execs

• Reasonable annual payment.
• Skill to earn factors on on a regular basis purchases like eating and groceries so it can save you them up for future journeys.
• Number of airline switch companions and an honest quantity of included journey insurance coverage to cowl emergencies.

Cons

• Lounge entry shouldn’t be provided as an included profit.
• Secondary automobile insurance coverage as an alternative of main.

American Specific Gold Card evaluate

Best enterprise journey rewards card: Ink Enterprise Most well-liked® Credit Card

For frequent vacationers who additionally occur to be enterprise house owners, the Ink Enterprise Most well-liked® Credit Card is a best choice, letting you earn bonus factors on on a regular basis business-related purchases to make use of towards free flights. Not solely that, however your rewards are value 1.25 cents per level when redeemed through Chase Final Rewards, or they are often transferred to any of Chase’s 11 airline companions at a switch ratio of 1:1.

Welcome bonus: 100,000 bonus factors after spending $8,000 throughout the first three months of opening your account.

Rewards: Earn 5X factors on Lyft rides by March 2025; 3X factors on the primary $150,000 in mixed spending on journey, transport purchases, promoting through social media and engines like google and cable, telephone and web companies; and 1X factors on all different expenses.

Airline switch companions: Aer Lingus, Air Canada, British Airways, Emirates, Air France / KLM, Iberia, JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.

Journey advantages: Auto rental collision injury waiver; journey interruption and cancellation insurance coverage and entry to journey and emergency help and roadside dispatch companies.

Credit rating: Good to wonderful.

Annual payment: $95.

Execs

• Low annual payment.
• Beneficiant welcome bonus offering $1,250 value of journey while you redeem factors by Chase Final Rewards.
• Worker cards might be added with out having to pay a further payment.

Cons

• Lounge entry shouldn’t be provided as an included profit.
• Approval is topic to Chase’s 5/24 rule, so that you received’t be accepted if you happen to’ve opened 5 credit cards inside 24 months.

One of the best credit cards for airline miles

Best journey card for highway warriors: Citi Premier® Card

When you’re continually paying for gasoline and groceries or eating out at eating places — or spending so much on automobile leases and lodge stays — the Citi Premier® Card makes an important choice. Rack up a ton of factors on the bottom, then switch them to one in all Citi ThankYou’s 14 airline companions for free flights.

Welcome bonus: 60,000 factors when you spend $4,000 throughout the first three months of opening your account.

Rewards: Earn 10X factors on automobile leases and motels reserved through the Citi Journey portal now by June 30, 2024; 3X on motels and air journey, in addition to at eating places, gasoline stations and supermarkets; and 1X factors for all different purchases.

Airline switch companions: AeroMexico, Avianca, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad, EVA Air, Air France/KLM, JetBlue, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.

Journey advantages: A $100 annual lodge credit while you reserve a single keep of no less than $500 by Citi Journey; entry to Citi Leisure so you possibly can e-book unique experiences at concert events, sporting occasions and eating places; and entry to Citi Concierge companies for all of your journey help wants. 

Credit rating: Good to wonderful.

Annual payment: $95. (see charges and charges)

Execs

• Low annual payment.
• The $100 lodge credit you earn annually on stays over $500 booked through Citi Journey is a pleasant perk.
• An honest quantity of airline switch companions to select from when it’s time to redeem your Citi ThankYou factors.

Cons

• You’re not eligible for the welcome bonus if you happen to’ve already acquired a one for a Citi Premier® account throughout the previous 48 months.
• No journey insurance coverage or related protections are provided with this card.

How you can journey to Italy with factors and miles

Who ought to get an airline credit card?

Anybody who enjoys incomes factors to redeem for free flights — or, as with airline-specific cobranded cards, particular perks like free checked luggage, lounge entry or the flexibility to earn standing — can profit from an airline credit card.

Chase Final Rewards switch companions: How you can get the very best worth

How to decide on the very best airline credit card

When you’re loyal to a selected airline — perhaps you’ve at all times flown with it otherwise you’re based mostly close to its airport hub — a cobranded credit card may make extra sense. In any other case, if you happen to’re open to flying any service and its airline companions, a flexible journey rewards credit card could possibly be extra helpful.

American Specific Membership Rewards vs. Chase Final Rewards

FAQ

Are airline credit cards value it?

It depends upon what your finish aim is. Are you making an attempt to earn sufficient factors to attain a free flight to Hawaii or to switch factors to your favourite airline and fly to Australia for free? If that’s the case, a card just like the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked, Chase Sapphire Reserve or The Platinum Card® from American Specific could possibly be a very good decide for its flexible rewards factors.

In case your aim is to at all times fly with free checked luggage or take pleasure in complimentary upgrades and different perks with a selected airline, a cobranded card together with your most popular service would undoubtedly come in useful.

10 wonderful motels all over the world you possibly can e-book with factors

Why ought to I take into account getting a flexible journey rewards credit card as an alternative?

All of it comes all the way down to your private journey preferences. When you’re a creature of behavior who solely travels with one service, take into account that you simply even have entry to its companion airlines, not solely by its airline alliance but additionally its credit card loyalty program. 

Chase Sapphire Most well-liked or Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders, for occasion, have entry to 14 companions throughout the Chase Final Rewards community, whereas these with The Platinum Card® from American Specific can select from 17 companions by American Specific Membership Rewards.

How you can get main perks at world occasions and concert events together with your credit card

Do you want a credit card to e-book a flight?

Whereas a credit card does make issues simpler when it comes to paying for your purchases on-line and incomes rewards factors towards future journeys, you too can choose to pay for a aircraft ticket with a debit card, present card or by a fee service resembling PayPal, if obtainable by the reserving web site.

Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Capital One Enterprise X Card: two of the most well-liked rewards cards

*Eligibility and Profit stage varies by Card. Phrases, Situations, and Limitations Apply. Please go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for extra particulars. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Firm.

Phrases apply to American Specific advantages and affords. Enrollment could also be required for choose American Specific advantages and affords. Go to americanexpress.com to be taught extra.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed listed below are the writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, credit card issuer, airline or lodge chain, and haven’t been reviewed, accepted or in any other case endorsed by any of those entities.