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:: HOME :: CREDIT CARDS · Main Page · Card Recommender · Comparison Chart · Sort by Bank/Issuer · Top Five Credit Cards · Credit Card Specials · Sort by Credit Rating Main Categories · Balance Transfer Cards · Business Credit Cards · Cash Back Credit Cards · Fixed APR Credit Cards · Instant Decision Cards · Low APR on Purchases · Rewards Credit Cards · Student Credit Cards · Travel Reward Cards Other Specialty Cards · Cards for Parents · Gas Rebate Cards · Hotel Reward Cards Bad/Damaged Credit · Bad Credit Credit Cards · Debt Consolidation · Pre-paid Cards Credit Resources · Calculators - New! · Tips & Advice - New! · Credit Card FAQ · Credit Card Glossary · Credit Reports, Scores · Identity Protection · More Credit Resources :: LONG DISTANCE :: INTERNET SERVICE :: LOANS :: CELL PHONES :: INSURANCE :: ONLINE BANKING :: KNOWLEDGE :: MORE |
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Credit Card Tips and Advice Center Topic: Travel Reward Credit Cards See the subtopics menu for tips and advice about travel reward credit cards. For additional information about credit cards, see the topic list directly below.
 Travel Reward Credit CardsWhat is a travel reward credit card? Travel reward credit cards can be a great way to earn points toward travel expenses simply by using your credit card. For every qualifying purchase you make with the credit card, you earn a certain number of points that accumulate and can be used to purchase airline tickets or other travel expenses, depending on the particulars of the rewards program. Each travel reward card is different. While some cards can be used for the purchase of an airline ticket on any airline, other cards deal solely with one airline or exclude certain airlines from the program. The redemption of the accumulated points is contingent upon the rules of the particular card. Redeeming your points can be as simple as purchasing a ticket regularly or made quite difficult by the various rules and regulations set by the credit card company. Travel reward cards are a smart idea for people who regularly use their credit cards and who also enjoy traveling. What a nice bonus it is to earn an airline ticket just by spending as you usually do. ^ Back to top Find the Best Travel Reward CardHow can I compare all the different airline rewards credit cards available? With so many airline rewards credit cards available, it may seem like a daunting task to sift through the various offers. Not every travel rewards card is the same, however, so it definitely makes sense to compare the various offers instead of simply applying for the first offer you come across online. Some travel reward credit cards offer rewards for specific airlines, while other cards ffer rewards that can be used with almost any airline. Also, some travel reward cards offer only free (or discounted) airline tickets, while others offer a variety of travel rewards, such as hotel discounts. In addition, some travel reward cards have restrictions on when and where rewards can be redeemed, while others boast no blackout dates and/or no restrictions. Compare some of the top airline rewards credit cards available online. Depending on your needs, you may find several credit card offers which appeal to you or you may conversely find only one or two. The trick is to take the time to look over the terms and conditions that accompany each credit card application. In the end, there are a lot of differences between travel reward credit cards. If you are patient and do a little bit of research, the best offer for you is well within reach. ^ Back to top RestrictionsIs it difficult to redeem the rewards earned through travel reward credit cards? Are you familiar with the horror stories about various airline mile credit cards that make the process of redeeming the rewards so difficult that cardholders find it nearly impossible to earn anything substantial from the card? Rest assured that not all travel reward cards are this restrictive, and in most cases it is relatively easy to utilize the rewards you earn by making purchases on the card. The most important thing you can do is to thoroughly review the terms and conditions of a travel reward card before you apply. Credit card companies are required to disclose the terms of these programs to applicants, and it is by reviewing this information that you will find out about blackout dates, airline restrictions, and point expiration dates. If the disclosures still leave you with questions then you should contact a customer service representative and ask any specific questions that you have. If you have good credit you should have no problem finding a suitable travel reward card which is not fraught with restrictive rules that will keep you from using the points you earned. What good is a travel reward card if you never use the points you earn by making purchases? ^ Back to top Extra FeesDo travel rewards cards cost more? The idea of an air miles credit card may appeal to you. After all, it certainly sounds like a good idea: Spend money on your credit card, earn points toward airline travel, and then eventually cash in the points for a free (or discounted) airline ticket. Howevr, there are a few things you need to be careful about when using an air miles credit card.
^ Back to top Travel ExtrasWhat other benefits do travel reward cards have? Frequent travelers know the importance of being prepared for anything while away from home. Luggage gets lost, travelers get sick, purses get stolen, etc. The best travel rewards credit cards offer more than just points that can be applied toward purchasing airline tickets. Many companies offer valuable protection for a variety of travel-related issues which may arise. Some of these offerings include travel assistance in the event of an unforeseen emergency, insurance for rental cars, and travel accident insurance. Some travel reward cards also offer special VIP privileges to travelers who carry their cards. This means that a cardholder can call a virtual concierge at the credit card company who will assist them in booking travel, getting reservations for shows, and even researching an area prior to the vacation or business travel. Frequent travelers enjoy these extras because it makes their travels much easier when they know they are covered in the event of an emergency and additionally that there is someone a phone call away who can help them. Not every travel reward card offers these extra services, so be sure to thoroughly read the credit card disclosures before assuming that you have access to these types of services. ^ Back to top Maximize Travel RewardsHow can I maximize my travel rewards? Travel reward card accounts earn points depending on the type of rewards program the cardholder is enrolled in, and what type of purchases are eligible for rewards. For example, some credit card companies offer a higher percentage of reward points for certain purchases such as gas, groceries, or travel expenses. Travel rebate credit cards are specifically designed to earn a higher return when used to buy airline tickets than when other purchases are made. Some reward card programs offer double or triple points when the card is used to buy an airline ticket at a specific airline. This means that by buying an airline ticket with the reward card, the cardholder quickly adds points toward earning another airline ticket. Frequent flyers can really pile up travel reward points using this method, and since the cost of an airline ticket can sometimes be a major expense it makes sense to try to earn as many points as possible to edge closer to a free ticket. You may also have the option of receiving cash rewards from eligible travel purchases, and sometimes these cash rewards are higher when earned through purchasing a ticket at a specific airline. Be sure to understand all the specifics associated with the travel rebate card before you apply, otherwise you may find yourself making purchases under the assumption that you are earning double or triple points when you actually aren't. ^ Back to top Airline Reward CardsIs it better to apply for a travel reward card offered through a specific airline? Credit cards with airline rewards can allow cardholders to quickly earn points toward the cost of an airline ticket. This can be a fun bonus for people who enjoy traveling. Some airline reward credit cards are offered specifically through certain airlines. Delta, Jet Blue, and Alaska Airlines are just a few of the many airlines that offer travel reward credit cards specific to the airline. If you have one specific airline you use frequently, and you rarely take flights using any other carrier, then you may want to take a look at one of these programs. Often the airlines will have a specific VIP lounge or other special privileges for cardholders. Rarely, however, is it the case that a person flies one airline exclusively and without fail. For this reason, many credit card companies offer airline reward cards that accumulate points usable at any airline, instead of only one specific airline. This flexibility makes the reward points much easier to use. If you travel on a variety of airlines then it is a more logical decision to obtain one reward card that is valid at all the airlines instead of piling up several reward cards from various airlines. ^ Back to top Other Travel ExpensesCan I use a travel card for more than airline tickets? Not everyone travels by plane. Credit card companies are beginning to recognize that the best travel reward credit cards they offer must meet the need of travelers who do travel by other means of transportation. Many lenders now offer reward cards which allow account holders to earn points toward rental cars, hotel stays, and even cruise vacations. These versatile reward cards are great for people who do a lot of traveling but do not utilize airlines as their sole means by which to get from place to place. They are also a good idea for frequent travelers who incur major expenses beyond airline tickets. Rental cars and hotel stays can sometimes be even more expensive than the airline ticket, depending upon the length of the stay and the location. A reward card that allows for points to be redeemed for a variety of travel expenses truly maximizes the potential of the rewards. This versatility in a rewards program is not offered by every travel credit card, but with a little research you can find a suitable program. ^ Back to top Extra MilesWhat if I don't need my airline miles? Many applicants sign up for travel reward cards with the best intentions of using the points they earn for travel. But in some cases, the credit card travel miles build up so much that the account holder realizes they will probably never get used entirely. If you find that you have an abundance of reward points that are about to expire, or you simply don't think you will ever use for travel, then you may have some alternatives that are offered by the credit card company. Some reward card programs allow you to switch your point redemption to where you can receive a cash-back bonus for your points instead of applying them toward airline tickets. Other companies actually give you the option of donating your accumulated reward points to a charity so they can be put to good use instead of sitting in your account unused. Not every reward program offers these options, so if you aren't sure then contact your lender and ask about the different options for your unused credit card travel miles. If these options are available, however, you should look into them because it is far better to put your rewards to work instead of letting them expire or go unused. ^ Back to top Visa Travel Rewards CardsWhat travel reward products does Visa offer? Visa offers a vast variety of travel rewards cards with diverse products available for different applicants. Since there are so many different types of credit histories, Visa has to have a wide selection in order to accommodate all of their customers. People with excellent credit essentially have their choice of rewards cards, so Visa offers very attractive interest rates and terms to applicants in this situation. Additional products offered to applicants with excellent credit may include travel insurance and VIP programs. Applicants with fair credit can also find a suitable Visa travel rewards card, but may not receive as many of the benefits and may not be offered as low an interest rate as applicants with excellent credit. Visa does offer travel reward cards to applicants with bad credit, but the product offered to applicants with bad credit is vastly different from the product offered to applicants with excellent credit. Bad credit applicants will have much higher interest rates in addition to higher fees. Redemption of airline miles may be more restrictive with a credit card designed for people with bad credit. No matter what your credit score, there is a Visa travel rewards card available to you. The only question is what interest rates and benefits you might receive. ^ Back to top Business Travel Reward CardsAre there travel reward cards for small businesses? Small business owners need to make smart decisions when it comes to their money. If a great deal of travel is necessary for their particular line of work then finding a suitable air miles credit card may result in substantial savings. Many credit card issuers offer travel reward cards designed specifically for small businesses. These cards accumulate points from purchases, and these points can then be applied toward an airline ticket. The amount of the points accumulated and the basis of the percentage from purchases varies depending on the specific credit card. Business owners should take care to make sure they pick the very best card for their needs. A travel reward card with an extraordinarily high interest rate may not be the best idea for business owners who carry a high balance on their credit cards. Business owners who do not need to travel very often for their work may be better off looking into a different reward card, such as cash rewards or a card which earns points toward merchandise. Business owners who are constantly on the go, and who have the credit rating necessary to obtain a travel reward card with a relatively low interest rate, may find that using these types of credit cards helps tremendously. ^ Back to top
Should you transfer an existing balance from one card to another? Use this calculator to help determine the best distribution of your credit card debt. Enter your credit card balances, rates and credit limits to find out. · Calculate which balance transfers will produce the greatest savings
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