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- Premium cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and The Platinum Card® from American Express
charge high annual fees, but they offer lots of benefits in exchange. - One such perk is an annual travel credit — statement credits that reimburse you for qualifying travel purchases up to a certain dollar amount each year.
- For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers up to $300 in annual travel credits, and this credit is automatically applied to any eligible travel purchase you make with the card.
- See Insider’s guide to the best rewards credit cards.
In recent years, there’s been an uptick in premium credit cards with high annual fees and benefits to boot. Annual travel credits are one of the perks that can help justify paying a hefty annual fee, and several cards offer them in some form.
Here are some of the best cards with annual travel credits.
Insider’s Featured Rewards Credit Cards
Earn unlimited 3x points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Earn 1x points on other purchases.
Limited time offer of 30,000 bonus points when you spend $1,500 in purchases in the first 3 months from account opening (offer expires 01/10/2023)
Earn 3x ThankYou® points on restaurant, supermarket, gas station, air travel, and hotel purchases. Earn 1x ThankYou® points on all other purchases.
80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Earn 5x points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out. Earn 3x points on select streaming services. Earn 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). Earn 2x points on other travel. Earn 1x point per dollar on everything else.
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
What are credit card annual travel credits?
Annual travel credits are essentially cash back in the form of credits to your card account when you make an eligible purchase. Credit cards that offer an annual travel credit will reimburse you up to a certain dollar amount for applicable travel purchases each year.
For example, if you use The Platinum Card® from American Express to pay for checked baggage with your designated airline and you haven’t used up the card’s annual benefit of up to $200 in airline fee credits**, you’d be reimbursed for those baggage fees.
Some annual travel credits, like those on the Platinum Card and the Citi Prestige® Card
(no longer available to new applicants), are based on the calendar year, while others — like on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® — are based on your account membership year.
What’s covered by credit card annual credits?
The specific rules for annual travel credits vary from card to card. The Sapphire Reserve’s annual credit is the most generous because it applies to pretty much anything that you’d consider travel, from airfare, hotel stays, and Uber rides to parking charges and tolls. If you’d be spending at least $300 on these purchases each year anyway, you can effectively subtract this $300 from the card’s annual fee, since you’ll get $300 back.
On the other hand, airline fee credits offered by Amex credit cards explicitly exclude airfare — you can only use them to cover things like baggage fees, inflight snacks, and airline lounge day passes.
If that sounds good to you, here are six credit card annual travel credits you need to know about.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Intro offer
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 5x points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 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.
Intro offer
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 5x points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 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.
Details
Rewards
Earn 5x points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 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.
Intro offer
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.
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Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
20.74% – 27.74% Variable
Editor’s Rating
Our editor’s ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available.
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Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
Annual fee: $550
Annual travel credit amount: Up to $300 each account anniversary year
Eligible purchases: Anything that codes as travel
The Sapphire Reserve is one of the most popular travel rewards credit cards, thanks to perks like the $300 annual travel credit. This credit stands out from similar perks offered by other credit cards because it’s not restricted to a specific airline or hotel chain.
It currently has a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. That’s worth up to $900 in travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, and potentially $1,080 when you transfer points to airline and hotel partners, based on Insider’s valuation of Chase points.
It can be applied to virtually any travel purchase, including vacation packages, train tickets, rideshare expenses, and more. This makes the credit incredibly versatile and easy to redeem. Simply charge a qualifying purchase to the card and the credit will be applied. Easy!
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Intro offer
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year. Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Intro offer
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year. Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
On American Express’s website
Details
Rewards
Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year. Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
Annual Fee
$695
See Rates and Fees
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Intro offer
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
See Pay Over Time APR
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
N/A
Editor’s Rating
Our editor’s ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available.
Show more
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
Annual fee: $695
Annual travel credit amount: Up to $200 each calendar year
Eligible purchases: Airline incidental fees made with your choice of qualifying airline. Incidental fees exclude actual airfare and airline gift cards, but include baggage fees, most onboard purchases, and airline lounge day passes.
Every year, cardholders must choose an airline for the $200 credit and stick with it. It’s much more limiting than credits issued by other cards, since you can only use it with one particular airline, and airfare is excluded.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Intro offer
75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Rewards
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Intro offer
75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Rewards
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.
Details
Rewards
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.
Intro offer
75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Recommended Credit
Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
21.24% – 28.24% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
Annual fee: $395
Annual travel credit amount: Up to $300 each account anniversary year
Eligible purchases: Capital One Travel bookings, including flights, hotels, and car rentals
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a more recent addition to this list, and it also has a slightly lower annual fee than some of the other options. One of its biggest selling points is the annual statement credit it offers for up to $300 on Capital One Travel bookings made each account anniversary year. Capital One Travel is the card issuer’s proprietary booking platform, and you can use it to book flights, hotels, and car rentals.
Beyond the statement credit, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and 5x miles on flights booked through that same portal. You’ll earn 2x miles on all other purchases, and get 10,000 bonus miles each year, starting after your first account anniversary.
U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
Intro offer
50,000 points after you spend $4,500 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
Rewards
Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Less Highlights. Earn 3X points for every $1 on eligible travel purchases and mobile wallet Less Highlights. Earn 1X point per $1 spent on all other eligible net purchases.
U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
Intro offer
50,000 points after you spend $4,500 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
Rewards
Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Less Highlights. Earn 3X points for every $1 on eligible travel purchases and mobile wallet Less Highlights. Earn 1X point per $1 spent on all other eligible net purchases.
Details
Rewards
Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Less Highlights. Earn 3X points for every $1 on eligible travel purchases and mobile wallet Less Highlights. Earn 1X point per $1 spent on all other eligible net purchases.
Intro offer
50,000 points after you spend $4,500 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
21.24% – 28.24% Variable
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
N/A
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
Annual fee: $400
Annual travel credit amount: Up to $325 each account anniversary year
Eligible purchases: Airlines, hotels, car rental companies, taxis, limousines, passenger trains, cruise lines, dining, takeout, and restaurant and delivery services
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card offers one of the biggest travel statement credits relative to the annual fee. In exchange for a $400 annual fee, cardholders receive a $325 statement credit applicable towards travel bookings, and the definition of what counts for this credit is generous. Plus, the statement credit now applies to dining purchases as well.
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card also earns 3x points on mobile wallet spending and comes with excellent travel and purchase protections. These benefits make this a great card for frequent and occasional travelers alike.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Intro offer
150,000 points after spending at least $4,000 in the first three months of account opening
Rewards
Earn 14x Points on hotels & resorts at eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Earn 7x Points on select travel including flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies. Earn 7x Points on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 3X Points on all other purchases.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Intro offer
150,000 points after spending at least $4,000 in the first three months of account opening
Rewards
Earn 14x Points on hotels & resorts at eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Earn 7x Points on select travel including flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies. Earn 7x Points on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 3X Points on all other purchases.
On American Express’s website
Details
Rewards
Earn 14x Points on hotels & resorts at eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Earn 7x Points on select travel including flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies. Earn 7x Points on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 3X Points on all other purchases.
Intro offer
150,000 points after spending at least $4,000 in the first three months of account opening
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
15.74% to 24.74% variable APR on purchases
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
Annual fee: $450
Annual travel credit amounts: Up to $250 in airline fee credits each calendar year, up to $250 in Hilton resort credits each account anniversary year
Eligible purchases: Incidental charges such as baggage fees and onboard purchases count for the airline fee credit; room rates and expenses charged to your room count for the Hilton resort credit
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is loaded with benefits, including not one but three annual travel credits. In exchange for a $450 annual fee, cardholders get a $250 airline fee credit, a $250 Hilton resort credit, and a $100 Hilton on-property credit per qualifying two-night stay booked on HiltonHonors.com/aspirecard.
If you’re looking for VIP treatment, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is like no other. Cardholders get automatic Hilton Diamond status, qualifying them for benefits like free breakfast, lounge access, and space-available suite upgrades.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Intro offer
120,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first 3 months of card membership
Rewards
Get 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 eligible purchases 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 everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Intro offer
120,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first 3 months of card membership
Rewards
Get 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 eligible purchases 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 everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
On American Express’s website
Details
Rewards
Get 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 eligible purchases 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 everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
Intro offer
120,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first 3 months of card membership
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
18.49% – 26.49% Variable
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
N/A
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
Annual fee: $695
Annual travel credit amount: Up to $200 each calendar year
Eligible purchases: For checked baggage fees, lounge day passes, and more at one airline of your choice
This perk works just like it does on the personal Amex Platinum. Read our comparison of the Amex Platinum and the Business Platinum to learn more about how the two cards stack up.
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