Credit Card Deep Dive

If you're like me, high annual credit card fees are an immediate turn-off… Even if the perks and extras make the 500+ fee worth it, nope..cannot in good continuous do it. Below are a few of the best travel, airline, and zero annual fee credit cards.

Travel Credit Cards:

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card:

Annual Fee: $95
Rewards: Earns 2 miles per dollar on every purchase.
Sign-up Bonus: Varied but generally offers a good sign-up bonus.
Key Benefits: Provides up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
Foreign Transaction Fee: No foreign transaction fees.
Redemption Options:
- 1. 1. - Miles can be redeemed for travel expenses, gift cards, or cash.
      - Can also transfer miles to multiple travel partners, including airlines and hotels.
Note:
- 1. 1. - This card is known for its flexibility in redemption options, as there are no blackout dates or restrictions for travel redemptions.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card:

Annual Fee: $95
Rewards: Earn 2 points per dollar on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Sign-up Bonus: Often has a lucrative sign-up bonus; please verify the current offer.
Key Benefits: Offers trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, primary rental car insurance, and other travel perks.
Foreign Transaction Fee: No foreign transaction fees.
Redemption Options:
- - Points can be transferred to several airline and hotel loyalty programs, often at a 1:1 ratio.
  - When redeeming points for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, points are worth 25% more.
Note:
- - The value of the points can vary depending on how they are redeemed, with travel redemptions typically offering the best value.

American Express Gold Card:

Annual Fee: $250
Rewards: Earns 4x points at restaurants, 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1x), 3x points on flights.
Sign-up Bonus: Generally offers a valuable sign-up bonus; verify the current offer.
Key Benefits: Up to $120 in dining credits and up to $100 in airline fee credits.
Foreign Transaction Fee: No foreign transaction fees.
Redemption Options:
- - Points can be transferred to numerous airline and hotel partners.
  - Can also redeem points for travel, gift cards, shopping, or statement credits.
Note:
- - Provides a variety of redemption options with varying point values.

Discover it Miles:

Annual Fee: $0
Rewards: Earns 1.5 miles per dollar on every purchase.
Sign-up Bonus: Discover will match all the miles you've earned at the end of your first year.
Key Benefits: No foreign transaction fees. Discover cards are not as widely accepted internationally as Visa or Mastercard.
Foreign Transaction Fee: No foreign transaction fees.
Redemption Options:
- - Miles can be redeemed as a credit toward travel purchases on your statement or as cash back.
Note:
- - Offers a straightforward rewards structure and easy redemption options.

Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card:

Annual Fee: $0
Rewards: Earns 1.5 points per dollar on every purchase.
Sign-up Bonus: Typically offers a decent sign-up bonus; please verify the current offer.
Key Benefits: Points can be redeemed for travel or dining expenses.
Foreign Transaction Fee: No foreign transaction fees.
Redemption Options:
- - Points can be redeemed as a statement credit to offset travel and dining purchases.
Note:
- - Offers flexibility with no blackout dates when booking travel, and points don’t expire.

Airline Credit Cards:

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card:

Annual Fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
Rewards: Earns 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide, and at U.S. supermarkets; 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Sign-up Bonus: Varied but generally offers a good sign-up bonus.
Key Benefits: First checked bag free on Delta flights and Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding.
Foreign Transaction Fee: No foreign transaction fees.
Redemption Options:
- Miles can be redeemed for flights, seat upgrades, and more on Delta and partner airlines.
Note:
- Benefits and rewards are tailored towards frequent Delta flyers.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card:

Annual Fee: $69.
Rewards: Earns 2 points per dollar on Southwest® purchases and Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partner purchases; 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Sign-up Bonus: Varies; consult the latest offer.
Key Benefits: 3,000 bonus points after your card-member anniversary each year.
Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
Redemption Options:
- Points can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, gift cards, and more through Southwest.
Note:
- Offers benefits and rewards for those who frequently fly Southwest Airlines.

United Explorer Card:

Annual Fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Rewards: Earns 2 miles per dollar on United purchases, at restaurants, and on hotel stays; 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.
Sign-up Bonus: Varied but generally offers a good sign-up bonus.
Key Benefits: First checked bag free, priority boarding, 2 one-time passes to the United Club each year, and up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit.
Foreign Transaction Fee: No foreign transaction fees.
Redemption Options:
- Miles can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and more with United and Star Alliance partners.
Note:
- Tailored benefits for frequent United Airlines flyers.

American Airlines AAdvantage MileUP Card:

Annual Fee: $0.
Rewards: Earns 2 miles for every $1 spent at grocery stores and on eligible American Airlines purchases; 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
Sign-up Bonus: Typically offers a sign-up bonus; consult the current offer.
Key Benefits: 25% savings on in-flight food and beverage purchases on American Airlines flights.
Foreign Transaction Fee: No foreign transaction fees.
Redemption Options:
- Miles can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, vacation packages, and more with American Airlines and Oneworld partners.
Note:
- This is a suitable card for those who want to earn American Airlines miles without paying an annual fee.

Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card:

Annual Fee: $75.
Rewards: Earns 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases; 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.
Sign-up Bonus: Varied but generally offers a good sign-up bonus.
Key Benefits: Alaska's Famous Companion Fare every year, free checked bag on Alaska flights for you and up to six other guests on the same reservation.
Foreign Transaction Fee: No foreign transaction fees.
Redemption Options:
- Miles can be redeemed for flights with Alaska Airlines and its global airline partners.
Note:
- Offers valuable benefits for frequent Alaska Airlines flyers.

Zero Annual Fee Credit Cards:

Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card:

Annual Fee: $0
Rewards: Earn 1.5 points per dollar on every purchase.
Sign-up Bonus: Typically offers a decent sign-up bonus; please verify the current offer.
Key Benefits: Points can be redeemed for travel or dining expenses.
Foreign Transaction Fee: No foreign transaction fees.
Redemption Options:
- Points can be redeemed as a statement credit to offset travel and dining purchases.

Discover it Miles:

Annual Fee: $0
Rewards: Earns 1.5 miles per dollar on every purchase.
Sign-up Bonus: Discover will match all the miles you've earned at the end of your first year.
Key Benefits: No foreign transaction fees.
Redemption Options:
- Miles can be redeemed as a credit toward travel purchases on your statement or as cash back.

Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card:

Annual Fee: $0
Rewards: Earn 3x points on dining out and ordering in, gas stations, rideshares, transit, and travel, and 1x on other purchases.
Sign-up Bonus: Sometimes offers a sign-up bonus; verify the current offer.
Key Benefits: Cell phone protection.
Foreign Transaction Fee: No foreign transaction fees.
Redemption Options:
- Points can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, cash redemption, or charitable donations.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card:

Annual Fee: $0
Rewards: Earn 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase.
Sign-up Bonus: Usually, there’s a modest sign-up bonus available; verify the current offer.
Key Benefits: No foreign transaction fees.
Redemption Options:
- Miles can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, or cash.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®:

Annual Fee: $0
Rewards: Earn at least 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
Sign-up Bonus: Typically offers a decent sign-up bonus; please verify the current offer.
Key Benefits: Offers purchase protection and extended warranty.
Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
Redemption Options:
- Cash back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open, and they can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, travel, and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Please always double-check all of the benefits, fees, and restrictions of any card before applying. Some of the above information may have changed since this was posted.

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