I am looking for recommendations on travel credit cards. I fly once a month (sometimes 2) and prefer a card with less than a $200 annual fee.
I don’t care for lounges or early boarding. I just want to rack up points for cheaper flights, hotels, and also get points on other stuff like groceries, shopping, etc.
I also am not loyal to one airline, whatever is cheapest is the one I go with so anything works for me.
Any recommendations?
Travel credit card recommendation needed
byu/Character_Avocado163 inCreditCards
Posted by Character_Avocado163
4 Comments
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred $95 AF. 3% dining amd online grocery, 5% through travel portal, 2% non-portal travel
2. Wells Fargo Autograph no AF or FTF with 3x rewards on travel, dining, gas, transit, streaming.
3. US Bank Altitude Connect no AF or FTF 4x on travel, gas/EV, 2x on dining, grocery, streaming, and $100 for GE/TSA and 4 PP lounge passes per year.
Most cards in that price range are pretty solid for your travel pattern. I switched to one of the general travel cards last year after getting tired of airline-specific ones and it was good decision. You get decent multipliers on travel purchases plus the bonus categories for everyday spending really add up when you’re consistent with it.
Since you fly that often the annual fee basically pays for itself with just few trips. I’d look at cards that give you flexibility to transfer points to different airlines rather than being locked in to one program. The redemption options are usually better and you can still chase those cheap flights without worrying about loyalty programs.
Make sure whatever you pick has good grocery and gas multipliers too since those everyday purchases will probably earn you more points than the actual travel spending over time.
Domestic or international?
What are your main spend categories?
Amex Gold is a strong point earner if you can offset the AF with the credits organically
Citi Strata Premier should cover most categories for you if you like their transfer partners @ $95 AF
Chase Sapphire Preferred for solid insurance and United/Hyatt transfers @ $95 AF
BILT if you pay rent and want to earn points on it
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey + Active Cash
Effective AF – $45
5x on hotels, 4x on flights, 3x dining, 3x travel. Active Cash earns 2% on everything else and can be converted to points if you so choose.
You can add the other Autograph card to get 3x on gas and streaming and cell phones
Solid travel protections too