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Dreaming of going somewhere new but want to kick it up a notch? Flying first class may be just the ticket.
“Travel rewards cards are a great tool for consumers who do a lot of traveling,” Thomas Nitzsche, media relations manager for ClearPoint Credit Counseling Solutions, said. “Travel rewards cards come with many perks, most of which are based on a points system rewarding those who use the card the most.”
If one of those perks you’re looking for is a way to travel in style, a travel credit card may be able to help you do so. Here are three cards that may be what you’re looking for.
For Flying With Any Airline: Capital One Venture Rewards
The Capital One Venture Rewards credit card (which you can read a full review of here) offers new cardholders a nice reward of 50,000 bonus miles (equal to $500 in travel) after spending $3,000 in the first three months after signing up. From there, you’ll get 2X miles for every dollar spent — and there’s no cap on how many points you can earn. Keep in mind, however, that the card comes with a $95 annual fee, but it’s waived for the first year. Your points are redeemable for airline tickets — including a luxurious first class seat on any qualifying airline. It carries a purchase annual percentage rate (APR) between .
For Loyal Delta Airline Travelers: Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card From American Express
If you’re frequently jet-setting on a Delta aircraft, this credit card may be the best route for you. You will earn 30,000 Bonus Miles after spending $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months and a $50 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 3 months. There is no annual fee with this card during the first year, but will raise to $95 after that. You’ll enjoy priority boarding any time you fly. So, even if you’re not using the points you’ve earned using your Gold Delta SkyMiles credit card from American Express (which you can read a full review of here) to book a first class seat, you’ll still get to enjoy some of the perks. The card carries an APR between
For Loyal American Airlines Travelers: Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite MasterCard
Pack your bags — and check them for free, too. That’s right, you can lock in a first class seat on an American Airlines flight when you use your reward points and get your first checked bag free for you and eight others booked on the same reservation. (Full Disclosure: Citibank, as well as American Express and Capital One, advertise on Credit.com, but that results in no preferential editorial treatment.) You’ll get 75,000 bonus miles after spending $7,500 in the first three months to help you get started. With this card, you’ll earn two miles for every dollar spent on American Airlines transactions, and one mile for every dollar spent elsewhere. The card does carry a $450 annual fee, however, so this card is best suited to very frequent fliers and big spenders. It carries a standard APR of 17.49%-25.49%* (Variable)
Before You Pack…
Nitzsche noted that some of the biggest pitfalls people have when using these cards include “failing to cost-compare against other airlines just because you have the branded card” and “being convinced to spend on a card for items you don’t really need just to accrue points.” It’s important you keep these things in mind so you can use your card responsibly.
If you decide you want to sign up for one of these cards, you may want to take a look at your credit before doing so, as they typically require a good or excellent credit score to qualify. (You can see two of your credit scores for free, updated every 14 days, on Credit.com.) After all, you don’t want to suffer the hard inquiry ding just to find out the issuer denied you. If you discover your scores aren’t riding in first class, you can take steps to change that, like paying down debts and fixing any errors you find on your credit reports.
At publishing time, the Capital One Venture Rewards, American Express Gold Delta SkyMiles and the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite MasterCard credit cards are offered through Credit.com product pages, and Credit.com is compensated if our users apply and ultimately sign up for these cards. However, this relationship does not result in any preferential editorial treatment.
Note: It’s important to remember that interest rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products frequently change. As a result, rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products cited in these articles may have changed since the date of publication. Please be sure to verify current rates, fees and terms with credit card issuers, banks or other financial institutions directly.
Image: poba