8 best credit cards with travel insurance of September 2024

Katie Genter is a digital nomad who has traveled full time since June 2017. She writes and edits stories about points and miles, and loyalty programs, often letting her personal experiences color these stories.

Madison Blancaflor is the managing editor for TPG's content operations team. She focuses on helping TPG's broader editorial team bring news, features and advice to readers. She has nearly six years of experience covering the credit cards and travel industries.

Compliance manager Stanley Sanford has years of compliance experience in the credit card industry dating back to 2017. He's reviewed content for several reputable sites, including CreditCards.com, Bankrate, CNET. and even thepointsguy.com before leading the compliance team for The Points Guy full time in early 2022.

Most of the cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you approve through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

Many things can go wrong on a trip, so having one of the best credit cards with travel insurance in your wallet can provide peace of mind. Protection against unforeseen trip delays and mishandled baggage can save you money when your travels don’t go as expected. Many credit cards include travel insurance coverage when you use them to purchase your trip. But our expert team has chosen the best credit cards with travel insurance to help ensure that your trips are as secure as they are captivating.

At The Points Guy, our goal is to help you maximize your travel experiences while minimizing spending. Our travel and credit cards experts share their own experiences and give honest analyses to help you make decisions that benefit you the most. While we do receive compensation through our credit card application links, ads, and clearly indicated sponsored content, our editorial content, points valuations and card analysis are entirely our own.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Year after year, the Chase Sapphire Preferred wins at the TPG Awards for Best Travel Rewards Card. In exchange for a $95 annual fee, you’ll gain access to the incredible Ultimate Rewards program — unleashing tons of potential value for award travel. Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

Pros

• Earn multiple points per dollar on things like travel and dining
• The current welcome bonus on this card is quite generous
• Premium travel protection benefits including trip cancellation insurance, primary car rental insurance and lost luggage insurance

Cons

• The card comes with a $95 annual fee

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
• Member FDIC

United Club℠ Infinite Card

Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

The United Club Infinite Card comes with the most perks and highest earning rates of any of United’s personal credit cards. Read our full review of the United Club Infinite Card.

Pros

• Earn 4x miles on United purchases; 2x miles on travel and dining; 1x on everything else
• United Club℠ membership for you and your eligible travel companions at all United Club locations and participating Star Alliance lounges worldwide
• Up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry/TSA Precheck application every four years
• Free first and second checked bags for you and one travel companion on the same reservation
• 25% inflight statement credit on eligible purchases

Cons

• High $525 annual fee

• Earn 80,000 bonus miles after qualifying purchases
• Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
• Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining
• Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $360 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access® travel services
• 10% United Economy Saver Award discount within the continental U.S. and Canada
• Earn up to 10,000 Premier qualifying points per calendar year (25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases)
• Member FDIC

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

This card has a unique set of perks that make it attractive for business owners looking to maximize their earning potential and unlock valuable rewards through the Ultimate Rewards program. And it currently comes with its best-ever offer — 120,000 bonus points after $8,000 worth of spend in the first three months after card opening. Read our review of the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card.

Pros

• Best-ever offer — 120,000 bonus points after $8,000 worth of spend in the first three months after card opening
• Bonus categories that are most relevant to business owners for a reasonable $95 annual fee
• Access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal for points redemption
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement and primary car rental insurance when traveling on business
• Additional perks including extended warranty, cellphone protection and purchase protection

Cons

• High spending needed to get 120,000-point sign-up bonus
• Subject to Chase's 5/24 rule on card applications

• Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
• Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
• Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
• With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
• Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
• Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
• Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
• Member FDIC

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Business Platinum is a multifaceted Card that offers more than just business luxury travel perks. Unlock over $1,400 per year in value with the Business Platinum Card® for statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting, travel and more. Enrollment required. Terms apply. Read our full review on The Business Platinum Card from American Express.

Pros

• Up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry every 4 years or $85 TSA PreCheck credit every 4.5 years (enrollment is required)
• Up to $400 annual credit for eligible U.S. Dell purchases (enrollment required)
• Gold status at Marriott and Hilton hotels (enrollment required)
• Access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts program and Hotel Collection
• International Airline Program and Cruise Privileges Program

Cons

• Steep annual fee
• Difficulty meeting high spending requirement for the welcome offer for smaller businesses
• Limited high-bonus categories outside of travel

• Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
• Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
• Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card®, here.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to the Card.
• $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card®.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
• $695 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

The Amex Platinum card is not just a symbol of luxury. It comes with an immense number of travel, entertainment, wellness and retail benefits making it a versatile card option that boasts more than $1,400 in potential value. Read our full review of The Platinum Card from American Express.

Pros

• The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative
• This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more
• The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway

Cons

• The high annual fee is only worth it if you’re taking full advantage of the card’s benefits. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost
• Outside of the current welcome bonus, you’re only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so it’s not a great card for other spending categories
• The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.¤
• Terms Apply.
• See Rates & Fees

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex is an excellent choice for flyers who want Sky Club access while traveling, or who can spend their way for a boost toward elite status. Read our full review of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card.

Pros

• Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
• Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta
• Ability to earn MQDs through spending

Cons

• High annual fee
• Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories

• Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Enjoy complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter. Once all 15 Visits have been used, Eligible Card Members may purchase additional Delta Sky Club Visits at a per-Visit rate of $50 per person using the Card.
• Receive four Delta Sky Club® One-Time Guest Passes each year when you fly Delta so you can share the experience with family and friends.
• Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
• Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
• Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $10 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving elevated Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
• Receive a Companion Certificate on First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
• $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• With your Card receive upgrade priority over other Medallion Members within the same Medallion level and fare class.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members.
• Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• $650 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.
• See Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a no-brainer card for those who are looking to up their reward earnings to the highest level. Chase Ultimate Rewards are one of the most valuable points currencies. Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Pros

• $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year
• Access to Chase Travel hotel and airline travel partners
• Unlimited 3x points on the broad category of travel and dining
• 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠
• Broad definitions for travel and dining bonus categories

Cons

• Steep annual fee
• May not make sense for people that don't travel frequently
• You must spend the $300 travel credit before earning 3x points for travel and dining
• No automatic hotel elite status

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Member FDIC

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel

Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

The Venture X combines high-end benefits like travel credits, mileage bonuses and lounge access with a simple earning formula that’s easy to maximize. Read our full review of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

Pros

• Excellent welcome offer worth 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months
• $300 in annual credits toward bookings make through Capital One Travel
• 10,000 bonus miles (worth $100 toward travel) each account anniversary

Cons

• The $395 annual fee might be expensive for some, but this card’s benefits provide much more value than that
• If you don’t travel frequently, this might not be the best card for you

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

Receive 60,000 online bonus points - a $600 value - after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

The Bank of America Premium Rewards card allows cardmembers to earn 2 points per dollar on travel and dining expenses, but Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members will earn at a higher rate of up to 3.5 points per dollar spent. Read our full review of the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card.

Pros

• This card is more valuable for Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members, who can get between a 25% and 75% bonus on points earned
• Comes with up to $100 in airline incidental statement credits annually and up to $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® statement credit and travel protections
• Can transfer points earned into a 529 college fund

Cons

• Other cards offer higher points for key bonus categories
• Must open a Bank of America account to get the best value for points

• Low $95 annual fee.
• Receive 60,000 online bonus points - a $600 value - after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
• Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases. No limit to the points you can earn and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
• If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means you could earn 2.5-3.5 points on travel and dining purchases and 1.87 - 2.62 points on all other purchases, for every $1 you spend.
• Redeem for cash back as a statement credit, deposit into eligible Bank of America® accounts, credit to eligible Merrill® accounts, or gift cards or purchases at the Bank of America Travel Center.
• Get up to $100 in Airline Incidental Statement Credits annually and TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry Statement Credits of up to $100, every four years.
• Travel Insurance protections to assist with trip delays, cancellations and interruptions, baggage delays and lost luggage.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Comparing the best travel insurance credit cards

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel

Receive 60,000 online bonus points - a $600 value - after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

More details on the best travel insurance credit cards

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is my favorite consumer credit card with travel insurance because you’ll earn at least 2 points per dollar on travel purchases. You’ll get access to trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay insurance and lost luggage reimbursement when you use your card to pay for flights and some other types of scheduled transport that require a ticket. You’ll also get primary rental car insurance when you pay for a rental car with your card.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a good choice for most travelers who don’t want to pay a massive annual fee. Between bonus earning on dining, travel, online grocery purchases and streaming, plus benefits like an Chase Travel hotel credit each account anniversary year, the Chase Sapphire Preferred can be useful for occasional and frequent travelers.

"The Chase Sapphire Preferred has been in my wallet for 5+ years and is the go-to mid-level rewards credit card that I recommend to people. It usually has a pretty solid sign-up bonus, with points that can be transferred to some of my favorite loyalty programs, like British Airways Executive Club and World of Hyatt. The strong earn rate on dining and travel as well as streaming services makes it a good choice for a millennial like me." - Matt Moffitt, managing editor

Consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which offers more perks and slightly more comprehensive travel insurance in exchange for a higher annual fee.

The United Club Infinite Card offers perks with United, the ability to earn United miles on purchases and travel insurance comparable to the Chase Sapphire Preferred. This means you’ll get useful protections like trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay insurance and primary rental car insurance.

If you can benefit from travel perks with United, including a United Club membership and free first- and second-checked bags for you and a companion on United flights, the United Club Infinite Card is likely a good option. You’ll also get Avis President's Club status and IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status with your card, making it a good choice for travelers who use these programs.

If you’re considering buying a United Club membership, you’ll likely come out ahead with the United Club Infinite Card. You’ll get some nice perks with United, as the card offers perks for United loyalists as well as those who don’t travel with United frequently enough to earn elite status with the airline.

If the United Club Infinite’s annual fee is too high for you, consider the lower-annual-fee United℠ Explorer Card.

The Ink Business Preferred is a go-to travel credit card due to its bonus earnings on travel and its built-in travel insurance. It earns valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points and provides travel insurance that’s comparable to what is offered by the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

You should get the Ink Business Preferred if you’re eligible for a small-business credit card and want to earn bonus points on shipping purchases, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines, internet, cable and phone services and travel each account anniversary year. Getting such a good earning rate with a card with a sub-$100 annual fee is amazing.

"I originally signed up for the Ink Business Preferred primarily for its sign-up bonus. But, over the last year, I've found myself making it my go-to card when booking travel. After all, the Ink Business Preferred earns 3 points per dollar spent on travel and provides excellent travel protections, including trip delay protection and rental car insurance." - Katie Genter, senior writer

If you are looking for a consumer card offering similar travel insurance and a slightly lower earning rate on most travel purchases, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a good option.

The Amex Business Platinum Card offers many of the same travel insurance benefits as the consumer-focused Amex Platinum but with different perks for the business owner. For example, Business Platinum cardholders can get up to $200 in Dell Technologies statement credits semi-annually and up to $10 in statement credits per month for eligible purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S.

If you have a small business and can use many of the benefits offered by the Amex Business Platinum card, it could be a good fit. You’ll earn bonus Membership Rewards points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com, so the Amex Business Platinum is a good option if you want to book most of your flights and hotels through Amex Travel.

“I find that the annual perks and credits vastly outweigh the large annual fee. And that's even without using some of them. By using the benefits with Priority Pass and Amex lounges, the airline incidental credits, plus the statement credits for Clear, our cellphone plan and restocking my home printer with ink and paper from Dell, I get more value out of the card than it costs to keep it. Plus, it earns my favorite points — American Express Membership Rewards — earning 5 points per dollar on flights and hotels booked with Amex Travel.” - Ryan Smith, former credit cards writer

If you want to earn bonus points on a wider variety of travel purchases with a lower annual fee, consider adding the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card to your wallet.

The Amex Platinum Card offers one of the highest bonus rates on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel, making it a compelling card to use when booking flights. Plus, you’ll get trip delay insurance and a baggage insurance plan when you use your card to book eligible round-trip travel.

You should consider the Amex Platinum If you’ll use the many benefits it offers, from Centurion Lounge access to a monthly digital entertainment credit. However, be sure to calculate the value you’ll obtain from the Amex Platinum’s perks and read the fine print on its travel insurance before deciding whether it is right for you.

“Whilst this card has a high annual fee, it more than justifies itself for frequent travelers like me. The lounge access options that come with the Platinum are unrivaled by competitors. I put all of my flights — whether bought with cash or points — on this card to earn 5 points per dollar spent and trip protection insurance. I make sure to take full advantage of the Uber, Saks Fifth Avenue, Hulu/Disney+ and Clear statement credits. And, honestly, pulling a Platinum card out of your wallet to pay for something does feel pretty fancy.” - Matt Moffitt, managing editor

Consider the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card if you prefer a card that earns at least 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases, offers access to Capital One lounges and still provides competitive travel insurance.

The Delta Reserve Amex offers many of the same travel insurance perks as other premium Amex cards, like the Amex Platinum. But we love the Delta Reserve for its Delta Sky Club access, 15% off Delta-operated award flights and 20% back on inflight purchases on Delta-operated flights. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.

If you are a Delta loyalist who wants to earn Delta miles on your credit card purchases and will benefit from Delta-related benefits, the Delta Reserve Amex may be a good fit. However, bonus earning is limited to Delta purchases, so you may want to use a different card for many of your travel expenses.

"As a Delta Diamond Medallion, I spend a lot of time on Delta jets. The card's annual companion ticket is valid on first class itineraries and has helped me offset the card's annual fee multiple years in a row." - Andrew Kunesh, former senior points and miles editor

If you want to earn more on flights, consider The Platinum Card® from American Express to earn bonus points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel. After all, you can transfer Amex points to Delta.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers at least 3 points per dollar on travel purchases, an annual $300 travel credit and what is likely the most comprehensive credit card travel insurance available. On top of what is offered by many other cards in this guide, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers travel accident insurance, emergency evacuation and transportation and an emergency medical and dental benefit.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve lets you redeem points for travel through the Chase Travel portal at a rate of 1.5 cents each, making it a good option if you prefer to redeem your Ultimate Rewards this way. It’s also a valuable option if you spend a lot of money on dining and general travel purchases, as both purchase categories earn 3 points per dollar spent.

"I've had the Sapphire Reserve for years, and it's going to stay in my wallet for the near future. I get $300 off travel every year along with great earning rates on travel and dining (3 points per dollar) and varied travel protections that can reimburse me when things go wrong. And by leveraging other cards in the Ultimate Rewards ecosystem, I'm able to maximize the earnings across all of my purchases." - Nick Ewen, senior editorial director

If the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s annual fee is too high, consider its sibling with a lower annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

The Capital One Venture X offers 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. Plus, cardholders get access to car rental insurance, trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay reimbursement and more when using their Venture X card for eligible purchases.

If you can benefit from earning at least 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, the Capital One Venture X is a good option. The card offers two perks — a $300 annual credit for Capital One Travel bookings and 10,000 bonus miles each year (starting on your first anniversary) — that fully offset the annual fee before you even consider the card’s other benefits.

"With an annual fee that is $300 less than the Amex Platinum, the Capital One Venture X card is my favorite travel credit card. The card comes with an annual $300 Capital One Travel Portal credit, which I use to book flights. That effectively brings the annual fee down to $95 per year. Cardholders enjoy a Priority Pass Select membership and Hertz President's Circle status. I use my Venture X card to earn 2 miles per dollar in spend categories where most cards would only accrue 1 mile (e.g. auto maintenance, pharmacies, medical bills)." - Kyle Olsen, former points and miles reporter Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.

If you want to pay a lower annual fee in exchange for fewer benefits, you can still earn at least 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

The Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card offers travel insurance protections to its cardholders if they experience trip delays, baggage delays, lost luggage and more. Plus, cardholders can claim up to $100 in airline incidental statement credits annually for qualifying purchases, which is more than enough to offset the card’s $95 annual fee.

This card offers 2 points per dollar on travel and dining purchases and 1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases. But, if you are a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you’ll get 25% to 75% bonus rewards on every purchase. So, this card is a particularly good option for Preferred Rewards members.

If you are a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, you should seriously consider adding this card to your wallet. Other travelers should also consider this card, as it offers competitive travel insurance protections and earning rates given its sub-$100 annual fee that can be fully offset by the card’s annual airline incidental statement credits.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a good option since it carries a similar annual fee and offers 2 points per dollar spent on general travel purchases.