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Best credit cards for travel (October 2026)
Flights, hotels and other travel purchases. Ranked by roughly how much you earn back at our point valuations. How we value points
- The Platinum Card from American Express
5x on travel ≈ 10% back · $895 annual fee · Welcome offer worth about $3,500 · Earns Amex Membership Rewards · KritScore 73
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
4x on travel ≈ 8% back · $795 annual fee · Welcome offer worth about $2,000 · Earns Chase Ultimate Rewards · KritScore 68
- JetBlue Premier Card
6x on travel ≈ 7.8% back · $499 annual fee · Welcome offer worth about $1,170 · Earns JetBlue TrueBlue · KritScore 46
- IHG One Rewards Premier Select
12x on travel ≈ 7.2% back · $350 annual fee · Welcome offer worth about $1,200 · Earns IHG One Rewards · KritScore 50
- Hilton Honors Aspire American Express
14x on travel ≈ 7% back · $550 annual fee · Welcome offer worth about $1,000 · Earns Hilton Honors · KritScore 53
- American Express Gold Card
3x on travel ≈ 6% back · $325 annual fee · Welcome offer worth about $2,000 · Earns Amex Membership Rewards · KritScore 73
- IHG One Rewards Premier
10x on travel ≈ 6% back · $150 annual fee · Welcome offer worth about $1,080 · Earns IHG One Rewards · KritScore 63
What is the best credit card for travel?
On our ranking it is the The Platinum Card from American Express: 5x on travel, about 10% back at our valuation of 2 cents per point, with a $895 annual fee.
How are these cards ranked?
By the approximate percentage you earn back in this category: the card’s earn rate multiplied by our editorial value for its points (cash-back cards at one cent per point). KritScore breaks ties.
Bonus categories can be limited (for example to bookings through the issuer’s travel portal, or capped per year), and offers change. Check each card’s current terms with the issuer before applying.
More rankings
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