Best Travel Credit Cards of September 2023

Whether planning a trek across the globe or a simple staycation, the best travel credit cards can give you unparalleled access to exclusive perks. Imagine swimming in cliffside pools at luxury hotels, flying in style with first-class airfare, or simply saving money and hassle while traveling as a family.

The top cards give you high earn rates for credit card travel rewards, which can be redeemed directly or turned into airline miles or travel points. If you're a frequent traveler with good credit, there are a lot of great options right now.

Our globetrotting credit card experts and travel connoisseurs researched stacks of travel cards, comparing rewards earn rates, perks, welcome bonus offers, annual fees, and more.

Together, we've accumulated over 1 million reward points. We've visited airport lounges in countless countries. We've checked into the finest hotels using rewards instead of cash. From Casablanca to Kyoto (literally), we've tested where travel cards can take you. All so we can recommend the best rewards cards for travel.

Note that we don't simply list credit cards that we're paid to list. The cards you find here are travel cards that we use ourselves and recommend to our family and friends.

The best travel credit cards

If you're short on time, here's a quick run-down of our top five travel cards right now.

• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees): In our view, this is the overall best travel credit card because it's a dead simple way to boost your travel credit card game with a single card. You get two points per dollar spent and a great 75,000-mile welcome offer.
• Bank of America? Travel Rewards credit card (see rates and fees): Our top no annual fee travel card. You get 1.5 points per dollar spent and a welcome offer of 25,000 points. The card also features matching introductory purchases and balance transfer APR offers.
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees): Our favorite premium travel card. Yes, there's a premium annual fee here, but you get what you might expect from a luxury card, like up to 10x points on spending, a $300 travel credit, lounge access, experience credits, and a big welcome bonus offer.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred? Card (see rates and fees): This is our favorite travel card for flexible redemption options. It earns Ultimate Rewards points, which you can transfer to over a dozen airlines and hotels or redeem at a competitive fixed rate for travel bookings, experiences, and more.
• American Express? Gold Card (see rates and fees): This travel card is our pick when dining out. There is an annual fee of $250 but with no foreign transaction fees, the rewards continue with 4x points at restaurants worldwide, 4x points at grocery stores, uber cash, and dining credit.

Our top pick: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Rewards rate: Unlimited two miles per dollar on every purchase.

Why we picked it: With two miles for every dollar spent, plus a 75,000 miles bonus offer (after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months), this card is an excellent way to up your travel game while keeping it simple.

My first-hand review:

The Capital One Venture Card was the anchor of my wallet for a long time, notably while I was living in Europe. The beauty of this card is in its generous rewards combined with its simplicity.

Because the rewards are a flat two miles per dollar spent, there's no need to juggle cards and remember which card to use when. Every purchase, no matter whether at a coffee shop, electronics retailer, or music streaming service – two miles per dollar.

Now this doesn't mean that you can't juggle cards. I did. The two miles per dollar is a great baseline rewards rate, so I would use this as my default card, but then pull out other specific cards only for focused categories, for instance keeping my Amazon spending on my Amazon card. But in my view, you can get away with a single card if you have this one.

Rewards redemption is another way this card is extremely easy. There are a wide variety of ways you can use miles, including booking travel on the Capital One travel portal, transferring to one of Capital One's partners, and using miles to cover travel purchases on your card statement. I did mostly the latter – it's not the highest opportunity redemption, but it was ridiculously easy.

I will admit I didn't make the most of the perks on this card, but there are quite a few. Traveling around Europe, the no foreign transaction fees were critical. And I always make use of card protections when available – like the rental car coverages and extended warranty on this card. And though I'm more of a "get in and out of the airport fast" kind of person, the card does provide limited lounge access for the Capital One lounges and certain partner lounges.

There's a $95 annual fee (see rates and fees), which I never balked at because I got so much value out of the card. Right now, with a welcome offer of 75,000 miles, it's even easier to justify that fee.

Apply for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card on Capital One's website.

Pros:

• Unlimited flat-rate rewards of 2X miles on every purchase
• 75,000-mile bonus offer
• Easy miles redemption
• Many useful travel perks, including lounge access

Cons:

• $95 annual fee
• Higher rewards rate possible with tiered systems

Best no annual fee travel credit card: Bank of America? Travel Rewards credit card

Rewards rate: Unlimited 1.5 points per dollar spent on per $1 spent on all purchases

Why we picked it: Many of the top travel cards come with an annual fee. This card proves that you don't need to pay an annual fee to get solid travel rewards.

What we think you need to know about the Bank of America Travel Rewards:

I haven't used this card in particular, but I do have and use its sister card – the Bank of America? Customized Cash Rewards credit card. The rewards program is different, but the core of these cards, as well as the Bank of America? Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card, is very similar. Namely, they're all really great rewards cards with no annual fee, and all get a significant bump in rewards if you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member (as I am).

The rewards here are simple: You get 1.5 points for every dollar spent, no matter the category. Points can be redeemed as a statement credit to pay for travel-related expenses like flights, hotels, rental cars, and restaurants. Each point credits $0.01, so every $1,000 spent on the card gets you 1,000 points, which gets you $10 in potential credits for travel spending.

The 25,000 points you can earn via the card's welcome offer (after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days days after account opening) work the same way. So that welcome offer is worth $250 towards travel.

You generally can't expect a huge number of extra perks on a card with no annual fee, and that's the case here. However, there is an introductory 0% interest offer, currently at 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases and 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (after that, the go-to variable rate applies, which is currently 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)).

I don't always enjoy trying to manage my financial accounts via app, but the Bank of America app is one that I do use regularly. I could quibble a bit about the design, but I think the usability is great. It's easy to navigate between multiple types of Bank of America accounts. I can see card balances, due dates, rewards earned, and easily sign up for partner deals that often feature 10% to 15% savings.

Also, Bank of America Preferred Rewards members get a 25% to 75% boost on the rewards that this card earns. That means that they're getting between 1.87 and 2.62 points per dollar spent. That, combined with no annual fee (see rates and fees), makes this card or one of its sister cards basically a no-brainer for Preferred Rewards members.

Apply for the Bank of America? Travel Rewards credit card on Bank of America's website.

Pros:

• No annual fee
• Unlimited 1.5 points per dollar spent on every purchase
• 25,000 points bonus offer
• 0% intro APR offer for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers (after which the go-to rate of 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable) applies)
• 25%-75% rewards boost for Preferred Rewards members

Cons:

• Higher rewards rates available on cards with an annual fee
• Limited perks

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

Rewards rate: Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. 2X miles on all other purchases.

Why we picked it: High rewards rates, hefty welcome bonus offer, travel credit, anniversary miles, and travel perks that you'll actually use. For frequent travelers, the benefits of this card can easily justify the high annual fee.

What we think you should know about the Capital One Venture X Card:

The first question you should ask with a premium travel card is whether the big annual fee (see rates and fees) is justified. For frequent travelers, we think the answer is most likely yes for the $395 fee on the Capital One Venture X Card.

It'd be hard to not get more than that value back in the first year, as the card has a welcome offer of 75,000 miles (after spending $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months). We'd say that's conservatively worth $750 in travel, and possibly more if you redeem well.

Past the first year though, we still think the value of the card holds up well. For one, you get an annual $300 in statement credits for bookings through Capital One Travel. Plus, you get a 10,000 mile anniversary bonus, worth $100. So right there, you've got $400 in value to weigh against the $395 annual fee. We could argue that everything else is gravy.

In any case, the rest of the features just further bump up the value of the card on an ongoing basis. That includes the high rewards rates you get booking through Capital One Travel – 10X miles for hotels and car rentals and 5X miles for flights. It also includes the solid 2X miles per dollar that you get on the rest of your purchases. And it includes premium travel perks like unlimited access to lounges for you and two guests (there aren't many Capital One lounges, but you also have access to the 1,300+ lounges available in its partner network).

There is a longer list of perks for many of the competing premium travel cards. This dings the Capital One Venture X Card a bit, but a lot of those perks get more targeted and won't be a fit for everyone. Plus, many competing premium travel cards have an even higher annual fee.

It's also worth pointing out that additional cardholders can be added with no fee. That's not always the case, especially with premium-level cards.

And of course rewards points and miles are only as good as your ability to actually use them. In this case, there are multiple options, including the extremely easy option of using miles to cover travel expenses on your statement.

Apply for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card on Capital One's website.

Pros:

• High rewards rate, including strong baseline rate
• 75,000-mile welcome offer
• Annual $300 travel credit and bonus 10,000 anniversary miles
• Premium travel perks, including worldwide lounge access
• No fee for additional cardholders

Cons:

• High annual fee
• Highest rewards rates annual travel credit require using Capital One Travel portal
• Not as many perks as other premium travel cards

Runner-up: best premium travel card with flexible redemption options: Chase Sapphire Preferred? Card

Rewards rate: 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards?, 2X points on other travel, 3X points on dining, online grocery orders, and select streaming services, 1 point per $1 on other purchases

Why we picked it: It earns bonus rewards across a variety of categories and has a welcome offer of 60,000 bonus points. Plus, this card's Ultimate Rewards points give you lots of high-value redemption options.

What we think you should know about the Chase Sapphire Preferred? Card: Both Chase Sapphire cards are loaded with benefits, but there's one in particular that makes them special -- their rewards program. Chase Ultimate Rewards is The Ascent's pick for the best credit card rewards program.

I have the Chase Sapphire Reserve?, and I also had the Chase Sapphire Preferred? Card, back when you could have one of each. I got both because they each have fantastic welcome offers and rewards rates, so they're great for earning lots of points.

With either card, you can transfer your points to many airline and hotel loyalty programs, and there are some incredible savings opportunities this way. For example, I've transferred Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt and booked a stay at a four-star hotel in New York, paying in points for what would have been a $5,634 stay. I've also transferred points to book business-class airfare, once saving $4,142 in the process.

Apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred? Card on Chase's website.

Pros:

• 2x to 5x points in bonus categories that include dining, travel, and online grocery orders
• Welcome offer of 60,000 bonus points
• Transferable points with over a dozen travel partners

Cons:

• Charges a $95 annual fee
• Non-bonus purchases earn standard rate of 1x point per $1

Also good for: best premium travel card for dining out: American Express? Gold Card

Rewards rate: 4X points at supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year) and restaurants (including U.S. takeout and delivery), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 1x point per $1 on other purchases, terms apply.

Why we picked it: There aren't many travel cards that earn high rewards rates on groceries and dining. This American Express card does, offering outstanding rewards on your U.S. supermarket and restaurant spending. Terms apply.

What we think you should know about the American Express? Gold Card: The American Express? Gold Card seems expensive at first, with a $250 annual fee. (see rates and fees). But if you can take advantage of its benefits, it's practically a steal.

Case in point, it offers $10 per month in dining credits at participating restaurants and $10 per month in Uber Cash. That's up to $240 in annual credits. Use those, and this card is only costing you $10. Select enrollment required, terms apply.

American Express cards are usually a good fit for big spenders, and this one's no exception. If you have high spending in its bonus categories, you'll earn points quickly. And its bonus categories cover some of the biggest monthly expenses for many households.

Many of this card's benefits are designed with U.S. consumers in mind, including the spending credits and bonus rewards at U.S. supermarkets. That's something to keep in mind if you travel often or live abroad.

Apply for the American Express? Gold Card on American Express's website.

Pros:

• 4X points at supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year) and restaurants (including U.S. takeout and delivery)
• Transferable points with many airline and hotel partners
• Up to $120 in annual dining credits
• Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash

Cons:

• Expensive with a $250 annual fee
• U.S.-centric benefits that may not be as useful for frequent travelers

Best Airline Card: Delta SkyMiles? Gold American Express Card

Rewards rate: 2X miles on U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S..

Why we picked it: 40,000-mile welcome offer, free checked bags, and a variety of useful travel perks make this a top airline-specific credit card. (terms apply).

My first-hand review:

Choosing an airline credit card is fairly simple: choose the card of the airline you fly a lot. The rewards rates on airline cards are generally not that great, the ones that are even halfway worthwhile have annual fees, and the rewards are focused on that airline's frequent flyer program.

So if you don't regularly fly the airline of the card, it's going to be very hard to justify having that card. Past that, there are some airline cards that are just not that good, whether or not you fly that airline.

Which brings us to the Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold. This card meets the sweet spot of being an airline that has broad enough route coverage that it's a good option out of many airports, plus the credit card itself is good. Which is why I used to have this card in my own wallet.

The welcome bonus offer is a big part of the value here. Currently 40,000, this could be worth significant travel value on Delta flights.

For ongoing value though, the free checked bags, the $100 flight credit (after spending $10,000 in a calendar year), and the potential Delta-specific savings are what could easily justify the card staying in your wallet. (Terms apply; enrollment may be required.)

Starting with the checked bag fee waiver, this alone can make the card very valuable for a family. We are a family of four, with young kids. It's basically impossible to travel carry-on only like when my wife and I were child-free and globetrotting. The first checked bag on a Delta flight is $30 each way. If you take one flight per year and check two bags round trip, the $120 that you save already more than pays for the annual fee of this card in years 2+.

Then we can add on the $100 flight credit. You have to spend $10,000 to earn this, but this isn't points that you have to redeem -- it's a much simpler Delta Flight Credit. And then the card also gives you access to TakeOff 15, which takes 15% off the price when you book Award Travel with Delta points on delta.com or the Delta app.

But what about earning rewards? Well, that's not as great. 2X miles per dollar on select categories – in this case Delta purchases, restaurants, and U.S. supermarkets – is not all that great, especially for a card that (after the first year) carries an annual fee. (Terms apply; see rates and fees.)That said, it's nice that this card offers higher earning rates on spend other than with the airline, as many airline cards only give elevated rewards rates for spend with that airline.

I mentioned above that I "used" to have this in my wallet. Why don't I have it anymore? We got sick of driving to Atlanta (a Delta hub) for flights, so we don't fly Delta much anymore. Which brings me back to my original point: If you're going to get an airline card, the best one is the one of the airline you fly most (or at least fly a lot).

And if you happen to fly Delta a lot? You're in luck, because this is a very good card for Delta fliers.

Apply for the Delta SkyMiles? Gold American Express Card on American Express's website.

Pros:

• First checked bag fee waived for main cardholder and up to eight others (nine waivers total)
• 40,000-mile bonus offer (after spending $2,000 in the first 6 months)
• 15% savings on Delta Award Travel when booked through delta.com or Delta app
• Higher rewards rate on restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, in addition to Delta spend

Cons:

• Uninspiring 2X miles is the higher rewards rate
• $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.

Best hotel credit card: Hilton Honors American Express Card

Rewards rate: 7X points on Hilton purchases, 5X on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations, 3X for all other purchases.

Why we picked it: This is a no annual fee card with decent rewards earning rates and a welcome offer of 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points. If you stay at Hilton properties, this card can be a great fit. (Terms apply; see rates and fees.)

What we think you need to know about the Amex Hilton Honors Card:

As with airline cards, choosing a hotel credit card really comes down to two factors: 1) Which hotels do you usually choose? and 2) Does that hotel group offer a decent card?

If you don't stay at a certain hotel group's properties, that hotel-brand card isn't going to make much sense for you. And even if you do stay at the brand's properties, some hotel credit cards just aren't that good.

If you do happen to stay at Hilton properties though, this is a quality card that brings some nice perks.

Before we talk about rewards, it's important to note that Hilton Honors points don't value out as highly as other points systems (this is true of most hotel points programs). It's basically fair to think of points as worth about half of other non-hotel points, depending on what exactly you're comparing it to.

That means that the points-earning on this card isn't as wildly high as it may seem at first glance. However, even after cutting the rates in half – 3.5x on Hilton spend, 2.5x on dining, 2.5x on U.S. supermarkets and gas stations, etc. – it's still very reasonable for a card that has no annual fee.

Right now there's also a welcome offer of 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months.

The card also gives holders Hilton Honors Silver Status, which unlocks Hilton property bonuses like a 20% boost on points-earning on stays, free bottled water, and a fifth night free on reward stays.

There aren't all that many beyond this, but for those that stay more often at Hilton properties and are willing to pay an annual fee, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass? Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offer higher earn rates, bigger welcome bonuses, a higher status boost, and more perks.

Apply for the Hilton Honors American Express Card on American Express's website.

Pros:

• No annual fee
• Welcome offer of 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points (after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months)
• Hilton Honors Silver Status boost
• 7X points on purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio

Cons:

• Limited perks
• Lower comparative rewards value after adjusting against other (mainly non-hotel) points systems

More of our top travel credit card picks

Though these cards didn’t make our top picks list above, they are still high-quality travel cards in our view. Depending on your personal situation, these could easily be a better fit for you than the cards above.

Here’s a look at some of our other favorite travel cards:

Start by figuring out which types of travel credit cards you're interested in to narrow down your options.

Once you have the best credit cards ready, here are the things to look at:

• Annual fee: Most of travel credit cards charge annual fees, but amounts can vary from $100 up to $500 for a premium credit card. Make sure the card you choose works for your budget or stick to the best travel credit card with no annual fee if you'd prefer.

• Sign-up bonus: Many travel cards offer some of the biggest sign-up bonuses on the market. Compare both the bonuses that your chosen cards offer and the amount you'd need to spend on eligible purchases to receive each bonus.

• Rewards rate: The best credit cards for travel rewards often have bonus categories where they earn more rewards, such as 3 points per $1 on dining. Others earn the same rate on purchases, such as 2 points per $1 on all eligible purchases no matter the category. See which travel credit cards have rewards rates fit for your spending habits.

• Additional benefits: There are all kinds of features available with credit card travel rewards, from complimentary elite status with airlines and hotels to travel insurance policies. Review each card's extras to figure out how much value it would offer you.

Choose some of the top travel credit cards that stand out to you. If you're looking for the best travel credit cards for beginners, the simplest way to evaluate them is to use The Ascent's tool to compare credit card offers for a feature-by-feature review.

The more that you travel, the better a travel points credit card will work for you. If you go on two or three trips per year, you should be able to make the most of the benefits that the best travel card offers. If you're traveling even more frequently than that, then the best travel rewards card will likely be extremely valuable to you. If you don't travel that much, other rewards credit cards would be a better option.

There are a lot of different loyalty programs, and they all have their own travel rewards. The tricky part is figuring out how these travel rewards compare to each other. For example, are miles with Delta and Southwest worth the same amount, or is one more valuable?

Although airline and hotel rewards don't have a fixed value, we've calculated approximate values based on what they're usually worth. You may get more or less depending on how you redeem them, but these are the usual values with the major airline and hotel loyalty programs.

Airline rewards values

Hotel rewards values

Love Rewards? If you do, you should check out The Ascent's guide to the best rewards checking accounts.

A credit card with travel points offers all kinds of perks that make traveling more enjoyable and easier on your wallet. Below are the types of benefits available with travel cards. Once you know which benefits you want, you can look for cards that have those features.

Purchase rewards: The best travel credit cards earn rewards on purchases, and you can redeem them for free travel. Many of the most popular travel cards also have bonus categories in which you earn more rewards than the standard rate. If you find a card with bonus categories that match your spending habits, you can maximize your rewards.

Sign-up bonus: Most travel cards include a sign-up bonus offer, which is a big chunk of rewards you can earn as a new cardholder. To get the bonus, you need to complete the terms. This usually requires spending a certain amount on the card within a timeframe, such as $3,000 in the first three months.

Airport lounge access: Airline credit cards and premium travel credit cards often include complimentary access to airport lounge programs. If you spend a lot of time at the airport, this perk can make waiting for your flight more comfortable.

Free checked luggage: Many airline credit cards allow you to check one or more bags for free. Depending on the card, companions traveling on the same itinerary may get to share in this benefit.

Free night certificate: A common feature of hotel credit cards is a yearly free night certificate. Terms apply on when and where you can use these certificates, and they usually don't work at the most expensive properties. However, they can still save you $100 or more.

Travel protections: Many of the best travel credit cards often include complimentary protections on eligible purchases such as:

• Car rental loss and damage insurance
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
• Trip delay insurance
• Lost luggage reimbursement

Spending credits: Premium travel credit cards with high annual fees typically have spending credits to balance out their fees. These credits automatically apply on eligible purchases. Here are a few examples:

• A membership fee credit for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or CLEAR
• An annual credit covering travel purchases
• A monthly credit for Uber, DoorDash, or other popular apps

Elite loyalty program status: Gaining elite status in airline and hotel loyalty programs normally requires that you make quite a few bookings. Some of the top travel credit cards let you cut the line by offering cardholders complimentary elite status with one or more loyalty programs.

There are four types of travel rewards credit cards. You'll find a description of each type below.

Airline credit cards

An airline credit card is tied to an airline loyalty program, also known as a frequent flyer program. When you use the best credit card for frequent flyers, it earns miles in that program. You can redeem your miles for award airfare. Instead of paying $250 for a ticket, you may be able to buy it for 25,000 miles. The best credit card for airline miles often include additional perks with the airline, such as free checked luggage or airport lounge access.

Hotel credit cards

A hotel credit card is tied to a hotel loyalty program. When you use a hotel credit card, it earns rewards points in that program. You can redeem your points for award hotel stays, such as paying 30,000 points per night instead of $150 per night. Hotel credit cards also frequently offer extra perks with the hotel chain. These could include a complimentary late checkout, elite status in the hotel's loyalty program, or a free night award every year.

Travel credit cards with fixed-rate rewards

A travel credit card with fixed-rate rewards lets you redeem your rewards for cash travel purchases. Rewards are always worth the same amount toward travel this way. For example, if your card offers $0.01 per point, then 10,000 points will always be worth $100 in travel. Depending on the card, you can either use your rewards as a statement credit toward previous travel purchases, use them in the card issuer's travel portal to book travel, or both.

Travel credit cards with transferable rewards

A travel credit card with transferable rewards lets you send your rewards to other loyalty programs. For example, if your travel card has rewards you can transfer to Hyatt Hotels, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines, then you could send your points to any of those programs. You would then be able to book travel through that loyalty program using your points.

They're great if you don't have any specific airlines or hotels you like more than the rest. Specifically, look for travel cards in a major credit card rewards program:

• Chase Ultimate Rewards
• American Express Membership Rewards
• Capital One Venture Rewards
• Citi ThankYou Rewards

Since these card issuers have large rosters of airline and hotel partners, they offer the best international travel credit cards.

Not sure if a credit card with travel points is what you need? Here are the most popular alternatives.

Cash back credit cards

A cash back credit card earns rewards on purchases. The difference is that instead of rewards you can use for travel, it earns cash rewards. You can typically redeem your cash back as a statement credit on your credit card bill, a deposit to your bank account, or a check. Cash back cards are great for consumers who want to earn credit card rewards but aren't big travelers. The reward can also be much easier to use, and many cash back credit cards don't have annual fees.

Credit cards for bad credit

A credit card for bad credit is one that you can get even if you have a low credit score or no credit history. In that situation, it's unlikely you'll qualify for a travel card. The better route is to get one of these credit cards for bad credit, use it to build your credit, and apply for a travel card once you have a higher credit score.

Airport lounge access: A credit card feature that allows the cardholder to visit certain airport lounges free of charge or at a discounted rate.

Annual fee: A fee charged once per year for a credit card. Annual fees for travel credit cards range from $0 to over $500.

Bonus category: A spending category in which a credit card earns bonus rewards. For example, a travel credit card may earn 5 points per $1 on air travel, compared to 1 point per $1 on regular purchases.

Credit card rewards program: A loyalty program offered by a credit card company. The most popular credit card rewards programs are:

• Chase Ultimate Rewards
• American Express Membership Rewards
• Capital One Venture Rewards
• Citi ThankYou Rewards

Elite status: Any status above the basic, introductory tier in a travel provider's loyalty program. Airlines and hotels usually have multiple tiers in their loyalty programs, and elite status tiers offer more benefits. Each tier has its own entry requirements, such as spending a minimum amount or making a minimum number of bookings. Some travel cards include elite status in a loyalty program as a complimentary perk.

Foreign transaction fee: A credit card fee charged on transactions made in foreign currencies or transactions that go through international banks. Most travel credit cards don't charge foreign transaction fees.

Loyalty program: A program offered by a business to encourage customer loyalty. Loyalty programs offer special rewards for members. These programs are common with travel providers such as airlines and hotels, and allow travelers to earn rewards to use for free bookings. They're also referred to as rewards programs, and airline loyalty programs are also referred to as frequent flyer programs.

Redemption options: The ways that travel rewards can be used. These options depend on the type of travel rewards and the loyalty program.

Rewards rate: The amount of rewards a credit card earns per $1 spent. Some credit cards offer the same amount on every purchase, such as 2 points per $1 on all eligible purchases. Other cards offer more in bonus categories.

Sign-up bonus: A credit card bonus offer available to new cardholders. Most sign-up bonuses include a requirement to earn the bonus amount, such as spending a certain amount within a set time period. Another common term for a sign-up bonus is a welcome bonus or welcome offer.

Spending credit: A statement credit towards one or more purchases on your credit card bill. Some travel credit cards offer spending credits, and they generally apply to specific types of purchases over a certain time. For example, a travel card could offer a $300 annual credit towards travel purchases.

Transferable rewards/points/miles: Rewards that can be transferred to the loyalty programs of multiple travel providers. Transferable rewards are widely considered the most valuable, because they can be used for travel bookings with different airlines and/or hotels.

Travel portal: An online platform for booking travel. Many major credit card issuers have travel portals cardholders can use to book trips.

Travel rewards: A loyalty program currency that can be redeemed for travel. Travel rewards are usually referred to as points or miles, depending on the loyalty program.