Dreaming of business class flights, luxury hotels, or free family vacations—without breaking the bank? This guide will show you how to get there faster through the Best cards to earn travel rewards in 2025.
✈️ Introduction: Travel Better, Spend Smarter
Imagine booking a round-trip business class ticket to Europe using points. Or covering a $500 hotel stay with your card rewards. Sounds like a fantasy? It’s not. With the right credit cards, you can earn travel rewards faster—and unlock luxury experiences at a fraction of the price.
This beginner’s guide will walk you through the best credit cards to earn travel rewards in 2025, explain how rewards work, and give you step-by-step strategies to start earning smarter today. Whether you’re a savvy parent planning the next Disney trip or an aspiring globe-trotter dreaming of champagne in the sky, this is your launchpad.
💡 Travel Rewards 101: How Credit Cards Can Work for You
Before we dive into the best cards, here’s a quick breakdown of what you’re signing up for—literally.
✨ What Are Travel Rewards?
- Points or miles earned through spending
- Redeemable for flights, hotels, upgrades, car rentals, and more
- Some cards earn flexible points (like Chase Ultimate Rewards), others are tied to specific airlines or hotel chains
📘 Key Terms to Know
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sign-up bonus | A large amount of points awarded if you spend a set amount (e.g., $4,000 in 3 months) |
| Authorized user | A family member added to your card who helps you earn points |
| Transfer partner | An airline/hotel where you can send points (e.g., Chase → United) |
| Redemption | How you use your points for free or discounted travel |
💳 Best Personal Credit Cards for Travel Rewards in 2025
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Best for overall beginners
- Bonus: 100,000 points after $5,000 spend in the first three months from account opening(worth ~$750 in travel)
- Earning: 2x on travel and dining, 1x everywhere else
- Annual fee: $95
- Highlights:
- Points transfer to United, Hyatt, Southwest, and more
- Primary rental car insurance
- No foreign transaction fees
🧠 Pro Tip: Combine with Chase Freedom cards to earn more on groceries, gas, or rotating categories.
2. American Express® Gold Card
Best for foodies and flexible travel
- Bonus: 75,000 Membership Rewards points after $6,000 spend in the first 6 months of the membership.
- Earning: 4x at restaurants and supermarkets (up to $25k), 3x on flights
- Annual fee: $350
- Highlights:
- Transfer to Delta, Air France/KLM, Emirates, and more
- Monthly dining credits ($10 at Grubhub, Uber Eats, etc.)
- High long-term earning potential
3. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Best for simple rewards
- Bonus: 75,000 miles after $4,000 spend
- Earning: 2x miles on every purchase
- Annual fee: $95
- Highlights:
- Transfer to 15+ partners or erase travel purchases
- Easy to understand and manage
🛫 Best Co-Branded Airline Credit Cards
These cards earn miles directly with airlines and usually offer loyalty perks.
1. Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
- Bonus: 50,000 miles after $2,000 spend after the first 6 months
- Perks:
- First checked bag free
- Priority boarding
- 2x on Delta purchases, restaurants, groceries
- Annual fee: $0 first year, then $150
2. United℠ Explorer Card
- Bonus: 80,000 miles after $3,000 spend after the first 3 months.
- Perks:
- Free checked bags for two
- 2 United Club passes per year
- Priority boarding
- 7x on United purchases, 2x on hotels and dinning and 1x on all other purchases.
- Annual fee: $0 first year, then $95
3. JetBlue Plus Card
- Bonus: 70,000 points after $1,000 spend
- Perks:
- Free first bag, 6x on JetBlue flights, 1x on all other purchases
- 10% points back after redemption
- Earn 5,000 points each year after your Jefblue Plus Card account anniversary
- Annual fee: $99
🧾 Best Business Credit Cards for Travel Rewards
You don’t need a corporation to get a business card—freelancers, gig workers, and online sellers all qualify.
1. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Chase)
- Bonus: 90,000 points after $8,000 spend in the first 3 months after account opening.
- Earning: 3x on travel, shipping, advertising, internet/phone
- Annual fee: $95
- Perfect for: Entrepreneurs and side hustlers
2. American Express® Business Gold Card
- Bonus: 100,000 points after $15,000 spend in the first 3 months
- Earning: 4x on top two categories where you spend most, 3x on flights and prepaid hotels, 1x on all other purchases
- Annual fee: $375
- Great for: High-spending small businesses
⚡️ Smart Strategies to Earn Miles Faster
🎯 1. Hit Your Sign-Up Bonus
- Break big purchases into a timeline (e.g., annual bills, insurance, gift cards)
- Use the card for everything during the bonus period
👨👩👧 2. Add Authorized Users
- Let your partner or family help you earn faster (most cards allow free users)
- Example: Chase lets you combine points into one account
🛍️ 3. Use Your Card Strategically
- Use bonus categories: groceries, dining, gas
- Book flights directly through the card portal when it gives extra points
🔁 4. Transfer Points Wisely
- Amex → ANA for cheap business class to Japan
- Chase → Hyatt for outsized hotel value
- Capital One → Turkish Airlines for US domestic deals
🍽️ 5. Stack with Loyalty Programs
- Sign up for dining rewards, airline shopping portals
- Double dip: earn miles from both the card and the portal
❌ Mistakes Beginners Should Avoid
- Missing the bonus: Set reminders to track your spend
- Paying interest: Always pay the full statement balance
- Applying too often: Stick to one or two cards to start
- Not redeeming smartly: Don’t use points for gift cards or statement credit—they’re worth less!
💺 How to Redeem Miles for Maximum Value
✨ Why Business Class is the Best Use
- Economy ticket: $500 = 50,000 miles → 1 cent per mile
- Business ticket: $4,000 = 100,000 miles → 4 cents per mile!
🧭 Tools to Help
- Point.me – search multiple airline award charts
- AwardHacker – best ways to book a flight using points
- Seats.aero – shows open business class awards
📊 Quick Comparison Chart
| Card | Bonus | Annual Fee | Best For | Transfer Partners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | 90k | $95 | Beginners, flexibility | Yes |
| Amex Gold | 75k | $350 | Dining, groceries | Yes |
| Capital One Venture | 75k | $95 | Simplicity | Yes |
| Ink Business Preferred | 100k | $95 | Small business | Yes |
| Delta Amex Gold | 50k | $150 | Delta flyers | No |
| United Explorer | 80k | $95 | United flyers | Yes |
| JetBlue Plus | 70k | $99 | JetBlue loyalists | No |
✅ Beginner’s Checklist: Get Started Today
- Choose your first card
- Track your sign-up bonus spending
- Link loyalty accounts (Delta, United, Marriott)
- Add an authorized user if helpful
- Learn one transfer strategy (e.g., Chase → Hyatt)
- Set a reward goal (e.g., Italy in business class)
🎉 Final Thoughts
Getting started with travel credit cards might feel overwhelming—but the rewards are truly worth it. With the right strategy, your everyday spending can become your ticket to the front of the plane.
This guide gave you the essentials. Now you’re ready to take off.
Want more smart travel hacks?
👉 Next up: [How to Fly Business Class for Less – The Complete Strategy]
