Best Airline and Travel Credit Cards According to Reddit
Travel credit card have tons of benefits and if you are a staunch career member, perhaps it is time you got yourself one. Depending on your annual airline fees, reddit advisors that the benefits of having a travel card outweighs not having one.
Through subreddits that discuss some of the best airline cards, we have compiled a list of the top 5 based on redditors comments. Based on reddit comments below and links, the features and benefits of each card is explained in detail.
| 5 best airline cards pick |
|
|---|---|---|
MOST FLEXIBLE  | Chase Sapphire Preferred Mentioned in 1,250 Reddit threads | |
Best domestic airline card  | Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Mentioned in 152 Reddit threads | |
lowest annual fee  | Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Mentioned in 185 Reddit threads | |
Best for delta  | American Express- Gold Delta Skymiles Mentioned in 6,230 Reddit threads | |
Best for jetblue  | JetBlue Plus Mentioned in 418 Reddit threads |
Reddit's Airline Credit Card Benchmarks
In the rest of this post we'll review the above airline credit cards in depth and share some quotes and reviews from reddit.
Here are some of the things redditors cared about most when they were looking for an
airline credit card:
Let's see how each credit card measures up for the above benchmarks! Starting with reddit's top pick.
Reddit's Favorite Airline Credit Card in Flexibility:
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Bonuses
You get to experience a double up in points (2X) with an additional point added on each dollar you spend on purchases. A 25% additional bonus when you redeem it for a travel award so you get an additional $150 instead of the $600 value if you opt for cash or gifts instead. An equivalent, 1:1 point transfer to airline or hotel partners.
Annual Fee
The card charges an annual fee worth $95
Perks
No fee applied on global transactions
2X worth of points applied on dining and travel with an additional point on each dollar spent on every purchase globally
60,000 applied bonus point with $4000 spent in the first 3 months of registration and this has benefits applied of up to $750 travel reward.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card stands out as one of the best because of its distinctive bonus point deal together with an amazing premium travel privileges. For you to experience the true rewards this card offers, you actually need to travel at least once every year. Otherwise, you will miss out on the Ultimate Rewards that the card company offers. International travellers get to experience better rewards with the increase in mileage since it has no foreign transaction charges and a global VISA acceptance feature.
If your preference is dining out, this card has an outstanding bonus feature on restaurants worldwide. You get to experience a double up in points (2X) with an additional point added on each dollar you spend on purchases. Some other outstanding feature of the card include:
- A trip cancellation insurance
- Trip delay refunds
- Travel accident insurance
- Reliable and dedicated customer support
- User purchase protection with a comprehensive warranty on qualified purchases
The 60,000 points you earn on sign up can be utilized effectively on two main benefits:
- A 25% additional bonus when you redeem it for a travel award so you get an additional $150 instead of the $600 value if you opt for cash or gifts instead.
- An equivalent, 1:1 point transfer to airline or hotel partners.
Quotes from Reddit About This Card
"People like it so much cause you can transfer points from another chase card like the freedom with 5% back (rotating categories) or the freedom unlimited 1.5% back on everything to the preferred or reserve. When you transfer these points they get 25 or 50% more value. Also, cant go wrong with the customer service you get with it"
"You get the 25% (Preferred) or 50% (Reserve) bonus on your points' value when using them through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal (which lets you book airfare and hotels)."
"It opens up the ability to transfer points to airline/hotel/etc partners."
Overall rating : 4.5 / 5
Reddit's Favorite Airline Credit Card in Domestic Flights:
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature
Bonuses
When you sign up, you get a 40,000 bonus provided you spend up to $2,000 on purchases within the initial 90 days
Annual Fee
The card charges an annual fee worth $75
Perks
Has Companion Fare
Zero foreign fee transaction
Marriot points are transferable to Alaska at a 1:1 rate. This means you get 5000-mile bonus with a transfer of 6,000 points.
The outstanding benefit of this card is the Companion Fare that ensures you can treat your friend or partner with a ticket for just $99 (tax and other fees included) once annually. With the airline considered as the leading carrier of passengers in the lower states, the card is not limited to Alaskan tundra flights. Therefore, when you sign up, you get a 40,000 bonus provided you spend up to $2,000 on purchases within the initial 90 days. The points earn translate into an estimated $720 that can be redeemed when flying, shopping or dining.
The earning rate of Alaska Airline Visa Signature is remarkable and pits it against the other carrier cards. Most cards offer 2X miles on every dollar in airline purchase. However, this card guarantees you 3X when you spend on Alaska Airline purchase.
One noticeable downside to this card is that Alaska offers you limited options of accumulating points since it does not partner with the main transferable points programs. However Marriot points are transferable to Alaska at a 1:1 rate. This means you get 5000-mile bonus with a transfer of 6,000 points.
Quotes from Reddit About This Card
"Alaska points are usually the most valuable US airline miles, and it's the easiest to get any sort of status with. If you're paying for your ticket, you'll get 3x points, which is unusual for these cards, and the AF ($75) ends up paying for itself instantly if you ever use the companion certificate"
"My partner and I both have this card. It’s phenomenal. We take 8-10 trips a year, so the companion fare makes a big difference when flying across the country or out to Hawaii. If you fly with Alaska a lot, it’s totally worth it."
Overall rating : 4 / 5
Reddit's Favorite Airline Credit Card Best for Delta:
American Express- Gold Delta Skymiles
Bonuses
60,000 earned bonus miles with purchase worth $2,000 in 3 months, with additional $50 Statement Credit upon making any Delta purchase within the same period
Annual Fee
The card charges an annual fee worth $95
Perks
Priority boarding and free checked bag, Up to 20% discount offered for inflight purchases, Low annual fee and a Sign up bonus
This card is tailor-made for those that fly Delta since it promises a lot of benefits for its users. Looking to spend little time at the airport and avoid those unnecessary fees, the card offers you priority boarding with free bag check.
It gets better! With the limited offer, you are given up to 60,000 Delta miles on the condition that you spend $2,000 in 3 months. Also, you are guaranteed a $50 statement credit should you make a Delta purchase before July 2nd this year.
If you opt to get the Gold Delta credit card, you automatically qualify for a $95 waiver in annual fee for the first year. This gives you enough time to judge if this is your proffered card and you can then change before the year lapses.
Those who continuously use the card and meet the minimum spending fee; you can have a minimum 62,000 Delta miles.
Quotes from Reddit About This Card
"The Delta card will give you Group 1 boarding, reduced lounge access cost ($29 instead of $60), and free bag each leg of a trip"
"If you are going to get a Delta Card, Get the Platinum - all the benefits of the Gold, but for $100 more, you get a free companion fare every year, which is worth more than the annual fee."
Overall rating : 4 / 5
Reddit's Favorite Airline Credit Card in Low Annual Fee:
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Bonuses
You can earn a bonus of 50,000 miles on the condition that you spend $3,000 in 3 months. To earn your miles, a dollar gets you 2X in miles every time you spend
Annual Fee
The card charges an annual fee worth $95 and is waived off the first year.
Perks
Lowered annual fees ($95 waivered in first year)
A Global Entry credit fee of up $100
VISA travel advantages (Travel Accident Insurance up to $250,000, Luggage Reimbursement $3,000 with Auto Rental Coverage)
Zero foreign fees charged on global transactions
With the company adding more transfer partners, the appeal of the card changed drastically since users can now spread their miles and enjoy the bonus feature. When you sign up, you can earn a bonus of 50,000 miles on the condition that you spend $3,000 in 3 months. Therefore, with an estimate of 1.4 cents per mile, it would mean the 50,000 miles is worth a redemption fee of $700.
If you feel you rather redeem your miles for a statement credit, you can qualify for an estimated 1 cent per point reward. This would mean that you would get $500 reward and an added waiver on annual fee in your first year worth $95.
To earn your miles, a dollar gets you 2X in miles every time you spend.
Ever since the company partnered with Hotels.com, they have been able to get one of the most competitive bonus return. With the deal running through to January 2020, users get 10 miles on every $10 purchase from a unique link on the Hotels.com website.
Quotes from Reddit About This Card
"Venture has a simpler rewards structure but the CSP takes minimal effort in order to beat the value of the Venture......"
"Capital One Venture is definitely better if you make large purchases on goods or services that only give you 1% on the Chase card......"
Overall rating : 3.5 / 5
Reddit's Favorite Airline Credit Card Best for JetBlue:
JetBlue Plus Card
Bonuses
For elite users who spend $50,000 in annual fee, they are accorded JetBlue Mosaic elite tag that puts you in a place where you get to earn 5,000 points on each anniversary.
Annual Fee
The card charges an annual fee worth $99.
Perks
50% discounts offered on inflight packages
Up to 3 companions get free checked bag
You get 10% of redeemed points reimbursed
If your preferred flight is JetBlue, this card will make your experience with the airline easier. It promises great conveniences and bonuses. The first benefit of the JetBlue Plus card is that you will enjoy saving on up to $20 in bag checking fee with up to three of your travel companion getting free checked bag.
For elite users who spend $50,000 in annual fee, they are accorded JetBlue Mosaic elite tag that puts you in a place where you get to earn 5,000 points on each anniversary. The best part is that the earned points can earn you a $65 waiver on your annual fees, making you pay even less during renewal.
Its earnings are also quite remarkable as compared to other cards. 2 points are worth a dollar in restaurants, 6 points/ $1 on every JetBlue purchase, 1X on the other purchases made.
Quotes from Reddit About This Card
"JB points do not expire. There is no chart and the award prices are tied to the actual ticket prices -- usually between 1.2-1.4 cpp, but can do slightly better sometimes (usually on Mint fares)........ "
"One thing the Plus version also has is 10% back on award redemptions. I still have the 75K match from Virgin last year, and with the +40K, I'll be near 120K. If I use those 120k points, I'll get 12K points back, which pays for the $99 fee as well."
Overall rating : 3.5 / 5
How do Airline Credit Cards Work?
First, you need to get approved for the card, which the airline calculates, based on your APR. The cards then charge an annual fee that are tied to a bonus that calculates the mileage you earn. Since individual cards have various benefits, you will then decide which one suits your lifestyle. You then qualify for rewards that you can use every time you travel which may include faster check-in, best seating and some also issue free baggage checks. Points earned every time you use your card can then be rede
"I signed up for this card. Jetblue has some crazy redemptions if you can make it work. For example I remember seeing JFK-BGI for 3.6k + $, one way earlier this year.."
Conclusion
Whether you value a card because of its bonus features or services covered, you need to evaluate the value of each card based on convenience. While some users do not mind the annual fee payment, some prefer the perks that come with each card. You want a card with low service fee and great bonus rewards. This way you can definitely choose from the five listed above. Redditors agree that what differentiates the value of one card from the other would be bonus features, redemption value of each mile and special privileges that not only save on money but travel time.
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