Travel Rewards Credit Cards

Review and compare the best travel rewards credit cards for your credit score. See the average and lowest credit scores approved for each credit card (a “0″ means we don’t yet have enough credit score approval data for that card.)

The Premier Miles & More World MasterCard®

Great For: Travel rewards and low introductory rates

Credit Needed: Excellent

Average Approved Score: 692

Lowest Approved Score: 670

Apply Now »

  • Earn 20,000 award miles after your first purchase
  • Earn an additional 30,000 award miles when you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 90 days
  • Cardholders receive a companion ticket annually
  • Enjoy 2 award miles per $1 on Miles & More integrated airline ticket purchases
  • Earn 1 award mile per $1 spent everywhere else
  • No mileage expiration with monthly qualifying purchases
  • 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months after account opening, after that a variable APR currently 15.99% to 24.99% depending upon your creditworthiness
  • Please see terms and conditions for complete details
Intro APR
Purchases
Intro Term
Purchases
Intro APR
Balance Transfers
Intro Term
Balance Transfers
Regular APR Annual Fee
0% 12 Billing Cycles 0% 12 Billing Cycles 15.99% or 24.99%* Variable $79

Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express

Great For: Travel rewards and perks like free bag check and priority boarding.

Credit Needed: Excellent

Average Approved Score: 722

Lowest Approved Score: 676

Apply Now »

  • Bonus Miles: Earn 30,000 bonus miles toward Award Travel after you spend $500 on the Card within the first three months of Cardmembership.
  • Earn As You Spend: Get 2X miles on Delta purchases and 1X miles for all other eligible dollars spent.
  • Check your first bag free on every Delta flight - that's a savings of up to $200 per round trip for a family of four.
  • Premium Travel Perks: Settle in sooner with Priority Boarding, and enjoy the skies with 20% in-flight savings to use toward meals, beverages, and movies awarded as a statement credit.
  • $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
  • Terms and Restrictions Apply.
Intro APR
Purchases
Intro Term
Purchases
Intro APR
Balance Transfers
Intro Term
Balance Transfers
Regular APR Annual Fee
None None N/A N/A 15.24%– 19.24%* Variable $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95

Citi® Platinum Select® / AAdvantage® Visa Signature® Card

Great For: Earning rewards miles for every dollar spent on purchases.

Credit Needed: Excellent

Average Approved Score: 728

Lowest Approved Score: 664

Apply Now »

  • Earn 30,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of cardmembership*
  • Your first eligible checked bag is free*
  • Priority Boarding with Group 1 privileges* and 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases*
  • Earn a $100 American Airlines Flight Discount every cardmembership year with qualifying purchases and cardmembership renewal*
  • Double AAdvantage® miles on eligible American Airlines purchases*
  • Earn 10% of your redeemed AAdvantage® miles back - up to 10,000 AAdvantage® miles each calendar year*
Intro APR
Purchases
Intro Term
Purchases
Intro APR
Balance Transfers
Intro Term
Balance Transfers
Regular APR Annual Fee
N/A N/A N/A N/A 15.24%* Variable $95, waived for first 12 months*

Virgin America Visa®Signature Card

Great For: Earning reward flights with no blackout dates

Credit Needed: Excellent

Average Approved Score: 731

Lowest Approved Score: 636

Apply Now »

  • Earn up to 15,000 bonus points
  • Enjoy 3 Points per $1 on Virgin America purchases
  • Earn 1 Point per $1 spent everywhere else
  • Low Intro rate on balance transfers for the first 15 months after account opening
  • $150 off a companion ticket every year
  • No blackout dates on any seat, at any time for reward flights
  • Please see terms and conditions for complete detail
Intro APR
Purchases
Intro Term
Purchases
Intro APR
Balance Transfers
Intro Term
Balance Transfers
Regular APR Annual Fee
N/A N/A 0% 15 Months 15.99% or 24.99%* Variable $49

Barclaycard Arrival™ World MasterCard® - Earn 1x on All Purchases

Great For: Earning double miles on travel and dining

Credit Needed: Excellent

Average Approved Score: 695

Lowest Approved Score: 625

Apply Now »

  • Start by earning 20,000 bonus miles if you make $1,000 or more in purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. 20,000 bonus miles equates to $200 off your next trip!
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months after account opening. After that, variable APR, currently 14.99% or 18.99% depending upon your creditworthiness.
  • Earn 2X miles on travel and dining purchases
  • Earn 1X miles on all other purchases
  • No mileage caps
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Exclusive Carry-on Miles – earn 10% of your miles back when you redeem for travel
  • Use miles for a statement credit toward any airline purchase to any destination with no seat restrictions and no blackout dates
  • Easily redeem your miles for statement credits toward flights, cruises, car rentals, hotels and more
  • Complimentary one year subscription of TripIt Pro mobile travel organizer – a $49 value
Intro APR
Purchases
Intro Term
Purchases
Intro APR
Balance Transfers
Intro Term
Balance Transfers
Regular APR Annual Fee
0% 12 Months N/A N/A 14.99% – 18.99%* Variable $0

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Great For: Travel benefits and exclusive concierge services.

Credit Needed: Excellent

Average Approved Score: 710

Lowest Approved Score: 646

Apply Now »

  • Earn 25K Membership Rewards® points after you spend $2,000 during your first three months of Card membership
  • Premium travel benefits: access over 600 lounges worldwide when you enroll in Priority Pass™Select, no foreign transaction fees
  • Receive up to $200 annually in a statement credit with the airline of your choice to use towards baggage fees, flight-change fees, in-flight food and beverage purchases and more
  • 24/7 Platinum Card® Concierge service for assistance with reservations, travel, gifts, and more
  • Entertainment benefits: get Advance Tickets before the public and access once in a lifetime events with By Invitation Only®
  • Terms and restrictions apply
Intro APR
Purchases
Intro Term
Purchases
Intro APR
Balance Transfers
Intro Term
Balance Transfers
Regular APR Annual Fee
N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A $450 Annual Fee

Capital One® VentureOneSM Rewards Credit Card

Great For: Travel rewards with no foreign transaction fees.

Credit Needed: Excellent

Average Approved Score: 730

Lowest Approved Score: 653

Apply Now »

  • 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and no annual fee
  • One-time bonus of 10,000 miles once you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months, equal to $100 in travel
  • Redeem miles for airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals, and more
  • No limit on the miles you can earn and miles don't expire
  • Fly on any airline, any time with no blackout dates
  • 0% intro APR on purchases until June 2014
  • No foreign transaction fees
Intro APR
Purchases
Intro Term
Purchases
Intro APR
Balance Transfers
Intro Term
Balance Transfers
Regular APR Annual Fee
0% until June 2014 N/A N/A 11.9% – 19.9%* Variable $0

Capital One® Venture℠ Rewards Credit Card

Great For: Rewards redeemable for any travel expense.

Credit Needed: Excellent

Average Approved Score: 732

Lowest Approved Score: 659

Apply Now »

  • 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
  • As seen in Money® Magazine’s “Best” issue three years in a row. - Money® Magazine May 2010, 2011, 2012
  • Earn 10,000 bonus miles when you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months, equal to $100 in travel
  • Redeem your miles for any travel expense
  • No limit on the miles you can earn and miles don't expire
  • Fly on any airline, any time with no blackout dates
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $59 after that
Intro APR
Purchases
Intro Term
Purchases
Intro APR
Balance Transfers
Intro Term
Balance Transfers
Regular APR Annual Fee
N/A N/A N/A N/A 13.9% – 20.9%* Variable $0 intro for first year; $59 after that

U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Travel Rewards Visa Signature® Card

Great For: Earning travel rewards for everyday purchases.

Credit Needed: Excellent

Average Approved Score: 723

Lowest Approved Score: 650

Apply Now »

  • Get 17,500 bonus FlexPoints after the first $2,500 in net purchases in the first 150 days.
  • Award travel starts at just 20,000 FlexPoints (up to a $400 ticket value) on over 150 airlines with no blackout dates or redemption fees
  • Earn one FlexPoint for every $1 of eligible net purchases charged to your card
  • Earn two FlexPoints for every $1 spent on gas, grocery or airline purchases – whichever you spend most on each monthly billing cycle – and on most cell phone expenses
  • Earn Triple FlexPoints for your charitable donations
  • Earn 5,000 FlexPoints when you refer a friend who acquires and uses the card
  • $0 Annual Fee* the first year, after that $49*
  • Earn 3,500 bonus FlexPoints each year when you spend $24,000 in Net Purchases. You can redeem these FlexPoints for your annual fee or combine them with other FlexPoints for travel or many other rewards
  • Receive an airline allowance of up to $25 with every award travel ticket to use toward baggage fees, in-flight food or drinks and more
Intro APR
Purchases
Intro Term
Purchases
Intro APR
Balance Transfers
Intro Term
Balance Transfers
Regular APR Annual Fee
0% 12 Months 0% 12 Months 13.99% – 23.99%* Variable $0 intro first year, then $49

Blue Sky from American Express®

Great For: Travel rewards including airline, car rental, and hotels.

Credit Needed: Excellent

Average Approved Score: 709

Lowest Approved Score: 644

Apply Now »

  • Welcome Bonus: earn 7,500 points after you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months of Cardmembership - redeemable for a $100 statement credit.
  • Flexible Ways to Earn: earn 1 point for virtually every dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
  • Unlimited Travel Options: Travel with any airline, hotel, cruise, car rental and travel package - with no blackout dates.
  • Flexible Bill Payments: pay your bill all at once or over time.
  • No annual membership fee and 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months, after that, your APR will be a variable rate, currently 17.24%- 22.24%.
  • Terms and Restrictions Apply.
Intro APR
Purchases
Intro Term
Purchases
Intro APR
Balance Transfers
Intro Term
Balance Transfers
Regular APR Annual Fee
0% on Purchases for 12 months N/A N/A 17.24% – 22.24%* Variable $0

Barclaycard Arrival™ World MasterCard® - Earn 2x on All Purchases

Great For: Earning travel rewards with no mileage caps

Credit Needed: Excellent

Average Approved Score: 743

Lowest Approved Score: 702

Apply Now »

  • Earn 40,000 bonus miles if you make $1,000 or more in purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. 40,000 bonus miles equates to $400 off your next trip!
  • 0% introductory APR on purchases for the first 12 months after account opening. After that, variable APR, currently 14.99% or 18.99%, based upon your creditworthiness.
  • Earn 2X miles on all purchases
  • No mileage caps
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Exclusive Carry-on Miles – earn 10% of your miles back when you redeem for travel
  • Use miles for a statement credit toward any airline purchase to any destination with no seat restrictions and no blackout dates
  • Easily redeem your miles for statement credits toward flights, cruises, car rentals, hotels and more
  • Complimentary subscription to TripIt Pro mobile travel organizer – a $49 annual value!
Intro APR
Purchases
Intro Term
Purchases
Intro APR
Balance Transfers
Intro Term
Balance Transfers
Regular APR Annual Fee
0% 12 Months N/A N/A 14.99% – 18.99%* Variable $89, waived first year

BankAmericard Travel Rewards® Credit Card

Great For: Earning flexible travel rewards faster with 1.5 points per dollar spent on purchases.

Credit Needed: Excellent

  • Earn 10,000 bonus points when you spend $500 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening, which can be $100 towards travel purchases
  • Earn flexible travel points good for everything from flights to baggage fees
  • Earn 1.5 points for every dollar spent on purchases - 50% more than the average rewards programs which only offer 1 point per dollar
  • No limit to the total number of points you can earn and points don't expire
  • No annual fee
  • Simply pay for your travel with your card. Then, call or go online and you can redeem your points for a statement credit towards all or part of your travel purchases
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Chip Technology provides you expanded global acceptance when shopping anywhere you go, outside of the U.S.

See Terms and Conditions accompanying application for additional offer details.

Intro APR, Purchases Intro APR, Balance Transfers Regular APR Annual Fee
0% for 12 billing cycles None 14.99% - 22.99% Variable APR on purchases None

About Travel Rewards Credit Cards

If you are a frequent traveler it might make good sense to apply for a travel rewards card. With a travel rewards credit card, you earn points based on the money you spend on your card. These points might come in the form of frequent flyer miles, or might be redeemable for travel-related expenses such as baggage fees. Travel rewards cards often also come with perks like priority boarding, no blackout dates, or free bag check. These types of cards come in a few varieties, which make them appealing both to people with airline brand loyalty as well as to those who appreciate the flexibility of being able to fly on whichever airline offers the cheapest fare.

Those with loyalty to a specific airline like Delta, American Airlines, United, Southwest, or Virgin, will enjoy earning frequent flyer miles on their daily purchases, as well as the reduced baggage fees and priority boarding that some of these carriers offer their card holders. Travelers craving more flexibility with their points can find a card that awards them points which can be used on any airline.

It is important to note that many travel rewards cards come with annual fees after the first year, so you should weigh the benefits of having a travel rewards card against the fees associated with it. For example, if you fly often with checked bags and your travel rewards card grants you free bag check, it might be savvy to pay the credit card fee rather than repeatedly paying the exorbitant baggage fees charged by most airlines these days.

Keep in mind that many travel rewards cards charge a higher APR than non-rewards cards, something to note if you plan on carrying a balance. If you plan on using the card for a big purchase that will take a while to repay, you would be better off with a card that charges a low or zero percent intro APR.