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Using the right credit card for airfare purchases can help you rack up points quickly, especially if you’re anything like me, and spend a lot on air travel (at least in the long run). Over the years a lot has changed regarding the best credit cards to use for airfare purchases, so in this post I wanted to take a closer look at that. There are a couple of key things to consider when deciding which card to use for buying airline tickets:
Ideally you’ll find a card that ticks both of those boxes. With that in mind, let’s talk about the all-around best cards for purchasing your airline tickets. Best Personal Cards For Buying Airline Tickets As Of August 2021Below I’ll talk about what I consider to be the best personal cards for airline ticket purchases. With each card I’ll note the rewards points offered, how much I value those points, and the travel protection offered, if any. I’ll be sorting these cards based on my perceived value of the points offered, and then for those that are tied, will order them by the travel protection offered. Some cards also offer extra bonus points when you book through a credit card portal, so I’ll note when that’s the case (that has its pros and cons). Everyone will have to decide for themselves how much they value the travel protection in comparison to the rewards points offered. 1. The Platinum Card® from American ExpressReward for airline tickets: 8.5% (5x Membership Rewards points, which I value at 1.7 cents each) Currently, I consider the Amex Platinum to be the single best personal card for airfare purchases, as you can earn 5x Membership Rewards points while also getting great travel coverage. Read a review of the Amex Platinum Card (apply for the Amex Platinum). 2. Citi Prestige CardReward for airline tickets: 8.5% (5x ThankYou points, which I value at 1.7 cents each) In the past the Citi Prestige was my go-to card for airfare purchases, but unfortunately the card no longer offers travel protection, so I’m not using it anymore for those purposes. Read a review of the Citi Prestige Card. 3. Chase Sapphire Reserve®Reward for airline tickets: 5.1% (3x Ultimate Rewards points, which I value at 1.7 cents each) The Chase Sapphire Reserve is an extremely well-rounded card for airfare purchases, thanks to the 3x points combined with the excellent travel protection. If you can book through the Chase Travel portal, you can do even better than that. Read a review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card (apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve). 4. American Express® Green CardReward for airline tickets: 5.1% (3x Membership Rewards points, which I value at 1.7 cents each) The Amex Green offers 3x points on airfare purchases, along with trip delay coverage, which is extremely solid. Read a review of the Amex Green Card (apply for the Amex Green). 5. American Express® Gold CardReward for airline tickets: 5.1% (3x Membership Rewards points, which I value at 1.7 cents each) The Amex Gold offering 3x points on airfare purchases, along with trip delay coverage, is a very good return. Read a review of the Amex Gold Card (apply for the Amex Gold). 6. Citi Premier® CardReward for airline tickets: 5.1% (3x ThankYou points, which I value at 1.7 cents each) The Citi Premier offers a good return on airfare purchases in terms of points earned, but doesn’t offer any travel protection. Read a review of the Citi Premier Card (apply for the Citi Premier). 7. Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardReward for airline tickets: 3.4% (2x Ultimate Rewards points, which I value at 1.7 cents each) Travel protection: the Sapphire Preferred offers good travel coverage, including coverage for delayed bags, lost luggage, trip cancelation and interruption, as well as for trip delays The Sapphire Preferred strikes an excellent balance between offering bonus points on travel, and also offering great travel coverage. If you can book through the Chase Travel portal, you can get an even better return on your airfare spending. Read a review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred (apply for the Sapphire Preferred). 8. Chase Freedom FlexSM Credit Card & Chase Freedom Unlimited®Reward for airline tickets: 8.5% (5x Ultimate Rewards points, which I value at 1.7 cents each) This is no doubt niche since you need to book through Chase Travel, but if you can, it’s great to be able to earn 5x points on airfare purchases with no annual fee cards. Just be aware of the lack of travel protection, plus the foreign transaction fees. Read a review of the Chase Freedom Flex (apply for the Chase Freedom Flex), read a review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited (apply for the Chase Freedom Unlimited). 9. Citi® Double Cash CardReward for airline tickets: 3.4% (2x ThankYou points, which I value at 1.7 cents each) While the Citi Double Cash card isn’t specifically that great for airfare, it offers an excellent return on all spending, and that would include on airfare. However, ideally, I’d have a more rewarding card for airfare purchases. Read a review of the Citi Double Cash (apply for the Citi Double Cash). 10. World Of Hyatt Credit CardReward for airline tickets: 3% (2x World of Hyatt points, which I value at 1.5 cents each) The World of Hyatt Card is an especially good option for Hyatt loyalists, given the spending thresholds on this card, which can earn you bonus elite nights, an additional Category 1-4 free night certificate, and more. Read a review of the World of Hyatt Credit Card (apply for the World of Hyatt Card). Best Business Cards For Buying Airline Tickets As Of August 2021As you can see, there are many great personal cards for earning bonuses and getting travel protection on airfare purchases. Meanwhile, the number of business cards offering bonuses in these categories is more limited. Here are the best business cards to consider for your airline ticket purchases: 1. Ink Business Preferred® Credit CardReward for airline tickets: 5.1% (3x Ultimate Rewards points, which I value at 1.7 cents each) The Ink Business Preferred is the most well rounded business card out there, as it has a reasonable annual fee, huge welcome bonus, 3x points on all travel purchases, and also has good travel protection. Read a review of the Ink Business Preferred Card (apply for the Ink Business Preferred). 2. American Express® Business Gold CardReward for airline tickets: 6.8% (4x Membership Rewards points, which I value at 1.7 cents each) I wouldn’t get the Amex Business Gold solely for the bonus offered on airfare purchases, but this is a good card to use for those purchases if you have the card anyway, assuming it’s one of your top two spending categories. Read a review of the Amex Business Gold Card (apply for the Amex Business Gold). 3. The Business Platinum Card® from American ExpressReward for airline tickets: 8.5% (5x Membership Rewards points, which I value at 1.7 cents each) While the travel coverage on the Amex Business Platinum is good, the catch is that you only earn 5x points on flights booked through Amex Travel, and I consider that to be a major restriction. Read a review of the Amex Business Platinum Card (apply for the Amex Business Platinum). Bottom LineWhen deciding on the credit card to use for airline ticket purchases, consider both the card that offers the most valuable rewards, as well as the card that offers the best travel protection. My top picks for airline ticket purchases are the: Of course, for many it won’t be worth picking up a card just because it offers a good return on airfare purchases, so you should balance the above advice with your current card portfolio. For example, I’d say the Chase Sapphire Reserve® strikes a good balance between offering a good return on airfare spending, while also having great protection. What card do you use for airline ticket purchases? The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: American Express® Business Gold Card (Rates & Fees), American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees), The Business Platinum® Card from American Express (Rates & Fees), and The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees).
Via https://globalconnekt.com/which-credit-card-is-best-for-buying-airline-tickets/
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