Choosing the right credit card for flights can significantly enhance your travel experience. By earning points, miles, or cash back on your everyday spending, you can redeem these rewards for flights, upgrades, or other travel-related expenses, making your dream vacation more affordable. This guide will explore the best credit cards for flights in 2024, helping you make an informed decision based on your spending habits and travel preferences.
| Credit Card | Key Features | Earning Potential & Redemption |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Sign-up Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Annual Fee: $95. Travel & Purchase Protections: Trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance, purchase protection. Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit: Statement credit up to $100 every 4 years. | Earning: 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 2x on all other travel & dining, 3x on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), and 1x on all other purchases. Redemption: Points are worth 1.25 cents each when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Can transfer points to partner airlines and hotels. |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card | Sign-up Bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Annual Fee: $550. Travel & Purchase Protections: Trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance, purchase protection. Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit: Statement credit up to $100 every 4 years. Lounge Access: Priority Pass Select membership. | Earning: 5x points on flights and 10x on hotels purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x on all other travel & dining, and 1x on all other purchases. Redemption: Points are worth 1.5 cents each when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Can transfer points to partner airlines and hotels. |
| American Express® Gold Card | Sign-up Bonus: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Annual Fee: $250. Dining Credits: Up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (distributed monthly). Up to $120 dining credit annually at select restaurants (distributed monthly). | Earning: 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1x), 4x points at restaurants worldwide, 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, and 1x on all other purchases. Redemption: Points can be transferred to partner airlines and hotels. Redemption value varies. |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | Sign-up Bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. Annual Fee: $395. Travel Credits: $300 annual travel credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel. Lounge Access: Access to Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass lounges. Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit: Statement credit up to $100. | Earning: 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 2x miles on all other purchases. Redemption: Miles are worth 1 cent each when redeemed for travel through Capital One Travel. Can transfer miles to partner airlines and hotels. |
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card | Sign-up Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Annual Fee: $550. Delta Sky Club Access: Complimentary access to Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta. Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs): Receive a head start toward Medallion Status each year. Upgrade Priority: Higher upgrade priority on Delta flights. | Earning: 3x miles on Delta purchases and direct hotel purchases, 1x miles on all other eligible purchases. Redemption: Miles can be redeemed for Delta flights, upgrades, and other travel-related expenses. |
| United℠ Explorer Card | Sign-up Bonus: Limited-time offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Annual Fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95. Free Checked Bag: First checked bag free on United flights. Priority Boarding: Priority boarding on United flights. 25% Back on United Inflight Purchases: Receive 25% back as a statement credit on United inflight purchases. | Earning: 2x miles on United purchases, restaurant purchases, and hotel stays when booked directly with the hotel, 1x miles on all other purchases. Redemption: Miles can be redeemed for United flights, upgrades, and other travel-related expenses. |
Detailed Explanations
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: This card is an excellent option for beginners in the travel rewards world. It offers a solid sign-up bonus and valuable travel and purchase protections. The $95 annual fee is relatively low compared to other premium travel cards, making it accessible to a wider audience. The points earned can be redeemed for travel at a rate of 1.25 cents per point, or transferred to partner airlines and hotels for potentially greater value.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card: This is a premium travel card with a higher annual fee, but it comes with more lucrative rewards and benefits. The Priority Pass Select membership provides access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. The points earned are worth 1.5 cents each when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. The higher earning rates on travel and dining make it ideal for frequent travelers.
American Express® Gold Card: While not strictly a "flight" card, the Amex Gold card shines with its high earning rates on dining and groceries, making it a great everyday card. The 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com is a decent rate, and the points can be transferred to a variety of partner airlines and hotels. The annual dining credits can help offset the annual fee.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: This card offers a compelling value proposition with its generous travel credit and lounge access benefits. The $300 annual travel credit effectively lowers the annual fee. The earning rates on travel booked through Capital One Travel are very competitive. The ability to transfer miles to partner airlines and hotels adds flexibility to redemption options.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: This card is tailored for loyal Delta flyers. The Delta Sky Club access is a significant perk for frequent travelers on Delta. The Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) head start helps accelerate the path to elite status. The higher upgrade priority can improve the travel experience.
United℠ Explorer Card: This card is ideal for United Airlines enthusiasts. The free checked bag perk can save a significant amount of money for those who frequently fly United. Priority boarding allows for a more convenient boarding process. The 25% back on United inflight purchases is a nice bonus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best credit card for earning miles on flights? The best card depends on your preferred airline and spending habits. The Delta SkyMiles Reserve and United Explorer cards are excellent choices for loyal customers of those airlines.
How do travel credit cards work? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points or miles on your purchases, which can then be redeemed for flights, hotels, and other travel-related expenses.
What is a sign-up bonus? A sign-up bonus is a reward offered by a credit card company when you open a new account and meet certain spending requirements within a specified timeframe.
What is an annual fee? An annual fee is a yearly charge for owning a credit card. Some cards with premium benefits have higher annual fees.
Are airline-specific credit cards worth it? Airline-specific cards can be worth it if you are loyal to a particular airline and can take advantage of the benefits they offer, such as free checked bags and priority boarding.
What is a travel credit? A travel credit is a statement credit that can be used towards travel-related purchases, such as flights and hotels.
What is a point transfer partner? Point transfer partners are airlines and hotels that allow you to transfer your credit card points to their loyalty programs, often at a 1:1 ratio or better.
How important is travel insurance when choosing a credit card? Travel insurance benefits like trip cancellation/interruption insurance, baggage delay coverage, and rental car insurance can provide valuable protection in case of unexpected events.
What is the difference between miles and points? Miles are typically associated with airline or hotel loyalty programs, while points are often used by credit card rewards programs. Both can be redeemed for travel.
How can I maximize my rewards with a travel credit card? Maximize your rewards by using your card for all eligible purchases, taking advantage of bonus categories, and redeeming your points or miles strategically for high-value travel redemptions.
Conclusion
Choosing the best credit card for flights depends on your individual travel habits and preferences. Evaluate your spending patterns, preferred airlines, and desired benefits to select a card that aligns with your needs and helps you maximize your travel rewards. By carefully considering the factors outlined in this guide, you can find the perfect credit card to elevate your travel experience.