Top Rated Travel Credit Cards

As attractive as cheaptravel options such as cheap airplane tickets, cheap fares, cheapdeals, discounthotel rooms, cheap auto rentals, discounttravel deals, and cheap vacation packages are,nothing beats traveling for free. Airline rewards credit cards offer bonus miles/points promotions for newsign ups which make free travel all that more achievable.

Many airline miles or points can be redeemed for traveloptions other than airline tickets, such as hotel accommodations, car rentals,cash, or merchandise.

The following are very attractive travel credit cards thatoffer bonus miles to new sign-ups that can be earned after an initial purchasewith the card or after spending a set amount within the first couple of months:

• The ChaseSapphire Preferred Card offers 40,000 bonus points worth $500 in travel rewardswhen the new car holder spends $4,000 during the first three months. An additional 5,000 points can be earned byadding an authorized user. Two points areearned for travel purchases through Chases online mall and restaurantpurchases, and one point per dollar spent everywhere else.

  Points are unlimited, do not expire, and canbe redeemed for airline tickets good on any airline, hotel stay, cash,merchandise or other rewards. The cardsannual fee ($95) is waived for the first year.

• The BankAmericardTravel Rewards credit card awards 10,000 bonus points for signing up for thecard and making at least $500 in purchases within the first 90 days. Card holders earn 1.5 points per dollar spenton purchases. Points never expire andthere is no limit on the amount of points that can be earned. Points can be redeemed for travel purchasesmade with this card.

• The CapitalOne Venture Rewards credit card comes with a one-time bonus of 40,000 miles(worth $400 in travel) when $3,000 is spent within the first three months. Two miles are earned, with no limit, perdollar spent on any purchase. This cardcomes with Visa Signature privileges including advanced ticket sales toentertainment events, and 24/7 concierge service. The cards annual fee ($50) is waived for thefirst year.

• The SouthwestAirlines Rapid Reward Premier credit card is being offering to new sign-upswhere they can earn 50,000 (that can be used to purchase two round triptickets) after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months. Card holders earn two point per dollar spenton Southwest Airlines purchases made directly with the airline, as well as onRapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases. One point is earned per dollar on every otherpurchase. Points never expire and can beredeemed for Southwest airline tickets, hotels, vacation packages, cruises, carrentals, or gift cards. Card holdersreceive an additional 6,000 points yearly on their card anniversary. No foreign transaction fee is charged. The annual card fee is $99.

• BritishAirways Visa Signature card comes with up to 50,000 bonus points for new cardholders who spend at least $2,000 on purchases during the first threemonths. This card charges no foreigntransaction fees. 2.5 points are earnedusing the card to purchase British Airways flights, with all other purchasesearning one point per dollar. Thiscards annual membership fee ($95) is waived for the first year.

• The UnitedMileagePlus Explorer card awards new card holders 30,000 bonus miles afterspending $1,000 during the first three months. An additional 10,000 bonus miles can be earned annual by card holderswho spend $25,000 in a single year with their cards. 5,000 bonus miles is earned when anauthorized user is added and makes a purchase within the first threemonths. Double miles are earned forevery dollar spent on tickets purchased directly from United, with one mileawarded for every dollar spent elsewhere.

  There is no mileage cap and the miles neverexpire. These points can be redeemed forUnited airline tickets, hotel stays, and car rentals. Two complimentary one-time passes to Unitedsairport lounge are awarded annually. Card holders get their first bag checked in for free. The cards annual fee ($95) is waived for thefirst year.

• The CitiAAdvantage Platinum Select MasterCard awards new card holders with 50,000 bonusmiles when they spend $3,000 within the first three months. Double miles are earned for each dollar spenton eligible purchases from American Airlines and one mile per dollar spentelsewhere. When redeeming miles cardholders will get back 10% of the miles redeemed, up to 10,000 milesannually. There is no cap on miles andcard holders first checked bag is free. Card holders who spend a minimum of $30,000 on purchases in a year andrenew their card membership receive a $100 American Airlines Flight Discountannually. The annual fee ($95) is waivedfor the first year.

• TheHawaiian Airlines World Elite MasterCard awards 35,000 bonus miles to new cardholders who spend $1,000 on purchases with this card within the first 90days. Annual spending of $10,000 earns5,000 bonus points per year. Two milesare earned for every direct Hawaiian Airlines purchase. The annual fee is $89.

• TheWells Fargo Propel World American Express card awards 40,000 points to newcardholders who spent $3,000 in purchases during the first three months. Airline purchases earn three points for everydollar spent. Hotels stays earn twopoints per dollar, with all other purchases earning one point per dollar. Points never expire and there is no cap. Card holders can be reimbursed annually forup to $100 spent on airline charges on things such as baggage fees, airlinelounges, and in flight food purchases. Auto rental collision and liability insurance and trip cancellation comewith this card. The annual fee ($175) iswaived for the first year.