An airline credit card is often a co-branded travel reward credit card that is provided in conjunction with a specific airline by a card issuer or network. The benefits and added points you’ll get from a travel credit card will make your trip more enjoyable. You might prefer a credit card with no annual fee if you’re on a tight budget or simply don’t travel much and don’t want to worry about the expense of a yearly membership. The finest annual-fee-free travel cards offer the advantages of both worlds. These credit cards can help you save money on travel without costing you a penny when used properly.
If you are confused about the cards and their functions, we’ve compiled a list of the 5 best travel credit cards for you.
Wells Fargo Autograph Card
With no limitations or annual earnings ceilings, the Wells Fargo Autograph offers Rewards on every purchase. What’s best is that there isn’t an annual cost that you have to pay to enjoy these benefits. Following the earning of points, your rewards balance will be updated every one to two months, allowing you to get these reward benefits pretty promptly. When you’re ready to use them, you may choose from a variety of options, including purchasing gift cards, cash back, or booking trips. However, due to its triple points on travel spending, it is largely positioned in the market as a travel credit card.
There are no brand-specific benefits like free checked luggage that airline credit cards frequently offer, nor will you get the transfer partners or upmarket amenities of high-annual-fee travel credit cards. The Wells Fargo Autograph Card stands out as a top choice among both cash-back and no-fee travel credit cards thanks to a sizable sign-up bonus and nice-to-have cell phone insurance, though.
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Customers who use the Hilton Honors American Express Card have the opportunity to accumulate worthwhile hotel points without having to pay an annual fee. Bonus points given in categories like dining, transportation, and groceries can make accruing points toward free hotel stays and room upgrades easier than ever.
When you enroll for the Hilton Honors American Express Card, you’ll be eligible to receive 5X points for every dollar spent at a U.S. supermarket, 5X points for every dollar spent at an American petrol station, and 7X points for every dollar charged directly to a Hilton-owned hotel or resort. Additionally, you will receive a flat rate of 3X points for every dollar spent on non-bonus purchases, which is a greater rewards rate than many hotel cards provide for everyday expenditures.
If you own this airline credit card, on purchases made outside of the US, you might not have to pay international transaction fees. Along with access to a Global Assist hotline that may assist with lost passports, legal referrals, medical referrals, and more when you’re far from home, cardholders also receive secondary rental coverage insurance.
Citi AAdvantage Mile Up
Among branded airline cards, the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card is unique. Due to its annual price of zero dollars, it accrues frequent flier miles but doesn’t cost anything to transport. Hence, the card can be a tempting option for households that rarely fly and dislike yearly fees. For those with high grocery costs, the benefits offered by the card make the deal even sweeter. Additionally, it assists you in accumulating points toward elite status, unlike other no-annual-fee airline cards.
To redeem for a one-way economy flight inside the continental United States, you need to meet the requirement of 12,500 miles. For one-way trips in economy less than 500 miles, the redemption requirement is only 7,500 miles. Within the continental United States, round-trip award flights begin at 15,000 miles (less than 500 miles each way), or 25,000 miles for lengthier journeys. For short-haul and long-haul flights, the starting distance for business and first class is 15,000 miles and 25,000 miles, respectively.
Discover it Miles Card
Some travel credit cards allow you to choose to use your points or miles for cash back instead of travel, however, doing so typically results in receiving a lower value per point. An interesting exception is the Discover it Miles. Whether you want to redeem your miles for cash back or use them to pay for travel, each mile you earn with the card is worth one penny. When compared to travel credit cards with annual fees, the Discover it Miles earns 1.5 miles for every dollar spent, which is decent for a card with no annual fee. For infrequent travelers who desire a user-friendly credit card, the numerous redemption possibilities and distinctive sign-up bonus make this a terrific low-cost option.
You should typically anticipate your points to be worth between $0.005 and $0.02 per mile when redeeming for airfare, while values may be higher on longer-haul and foreign flights. You can combine miles and cash to redeem for cheaper tickets if you have at least 1,000 AAdvantage miles.
Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card
For regular travelers who want flexible rewards but simply cannot bring themselves to pay an annual fee for a credit card, the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card is a great choice. Infinite 1.5 points are awarded to cardholders for every dollar spent on purchases. While there is no expiration date for rewards as long as the account is active, some redemption alternatives do have a time limit.
Any restaurant or vacation purchase may be applied to the credit earned by redeeming points.
This card definitely packs light since there are no foreign transaction fees and no yearly charge.
For Bank of America travel cards, there is no specific airline or hotel chain that is affiliated with the credit card. You can book any hotel that you want and get the rewards. No limits or blackout periods apply when booking travel, and you can use points to offset the cost on your account. Among all major issuers, Bank of America has one of the widest definitions of “travel.” And of course, you can use points to earn credit for things like travel, cruises, lodging, and car rentals, but you can also use them to pay for things like camping, amusement parks, museums, aquariums, circuses, and zoos.
Additionally, you can use points as credit for purchases at restaurants.
This is all about the best airline credit card with no annual fee. We hope this list helps you choose the best that suits you. However, if you have to choose one, then we’ll suggest the Wells Fargo card. Having said that, you can always compare and choose the best that suits you.
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