It’s no secret that having a luxury travel credit card can elevate your travel experience. Premium travel credit cards come with plenty of privileges, including lounge access, fee reimbursements, travel credit, complimentary hotel benefits, and more. These perks can save you money and time while giving you a better overall travel experience.
However, there are many different credit cards on the market to choose from. Each of them has different benefits, annual fees, and rewards. We’ll cover some of the best premium credit cards on the market to help you find the right one for your lifestyle and financial situation.
Key Takeaways
- If you are a frequent traveler, getting a premium travel credit card may help you get the most value out of your travels.
- We’ll go over 10 luxury travel credit cards on the market you should consider.
What To Look For In a Luxury Travel Credit Card
All the major credit card companies, including American Express, Chase, Bank of America, and Capital One, offer their own luxury travel credit cards. Most of these cards are not airline-specific, so you do not necessarily need to fly with a specific airline to access the card’s perks.
To choose the right credit card, there are a few things to consider. Weigh the costs of the annual fees to the rewards and benefits. Most luxury travel cards come with high annual fees, but the benefits offered typically make up for the cost. Check if the cards offer a sign-up bonus, which can offset the annual fee for the first year or two.
Other perks to look for include lounge access, secondary travel benefits, hotel and flight credits, and bonus categories. Ideally, look for a card with a rewards structure that matches your everyday spending habits. For example, I applied for the American Express Gold Card because I spend the most on dining every month, and the card offers 4x points for that category.
10 Luxury Travel Credit Cards to Consider
1. The Platinum Card From American Express
The Platinum Card from American Express is one of the most lucrative travel cards on the market. The card boasts top-notch benefits, including a significant welcome bonus, high rewards rates, travel perks worth hundreds of dollars, and more. It’s a deluxe travel credit card with a premium price tag. With an annual fee of $695, this card is best for those with high-end tastes and traveling habits.
With the Platinum Card, you can earn 25,000 membership points after spending $2,000 on purchases within 6 months of account opening. That’s roughly $333 a month. The annual fee for each additional cardholder is $195. In terms of rewards, you can expect to earn:
- 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year
- 5X points on prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com
- 1X points on other eligible purchases
Other notable travel, entertainment, and dining benefits include:
- $200 back in statement credits each year on select prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel
- $20 back each month ($240 annually) on eligible purchases on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal
- Statement credit for a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership
- Complimentary access to 1,400+ airport lounges across 140 countries, including the Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and more
- $15 in Uber cash each month, plus a bonus of $20 in December, for rides or eats orders in the U.S. ($200 annually)
- $200 per calendar year in statement credits for flights after incident fees are charged by the airline
- $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com
- $300 in statement credits each year for your Equinox membership
- CLEAR Plus membership with up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year
- Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® application fee. Card members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck® at no additional cost.
- Access to exclusive reservations and events with Global Dining Access by Resy
You’ll also have access to:
- Platinum Travel Service, where travel consultants will provide custom itineraries and tailored recommendations for your travels
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite stats, where you can receive upgrades to enhanced rooms upon check-in at select properties
- Hilton Honors Gold Status
- No foreign transaction fees
- Car rental privileges with Avis Preferred, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, and National Car Rental Emerald Club
- Car rental loss and damage insurance
- Premium Global Assist Hotline for emergency medical transportation assistance
- Transfer programs with most airline and hotel partners
- Trip delay insurance, up to $500 per trip, maximum 2 claims per year
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance, up to $10,000 per trip and up to $20,000 per card per year
You can use your Amex points for cash back, statement credits, gift cards, online shopping, travel booked through Amex Travel, and more. But to get the most value for your points, you should use your points for travel, especially with Amex transfer partners.
The main downside of the Amex Platinum Card is the annual fee, which stands out even among luxury travel cards. If you travel often, you should have no trouble getting your money’s worth from the card. But, if you don’t, you may not get as much value from this card. Another negative is that not all merchants accept American Express due to the high processing fees compared to Visa and MasterCard.
2. Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card
The Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card is another luxury travel rewards card with elite travel benefits and perks. While it does not come with the same flashy benefits as the Amex Platinum Card, it offers a massive welcome bonus, travel credits, travel insurance protections, and more.
The card carries a high annual fee of $550 plus an additional $75 for each authorized user. However, you can expect to earn up to $300 in statement credit reimbursements every year for travel and 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. If you redeem the points through Chase Ultimate Rewards, that’s worth $900!
In terms of rewards, you can expect to earn:
- 10X points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually)
- 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025
- 10X on Peloton purchases, including equipment and accessory purchases over $150 through March 31, 2025
- 5x points on flights when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually)
- 3X points on dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout, or dining out
- 3X points on other travel worldwide after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
- 10x points on Chase Dining purchases with Ultimate Rewards
- Get 50% more value when you redeem for travel through Chase
Other notable travel benefits and perks include:
- Complimentary airport lounge access to 1,300+ VIP lounges in 500+ cities worldwide
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Fee Credit, up to $100 every 4 years as reimbursement
- Complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership for 2 years when activated by December 31, 2024 (a value of $199/year), including 10% off Lux rides, free Priority Pickup upgrades discounts on bike-share, and more
- Complimentary access to DashPass — a $120 value for 12 months when you activate by December 31, 2024
- $5 in DoorDash credits each month through December 31, 2024
- 1 year of complimentary Instacart when you activate by July 31, 2024, plus $15 in Instacart credits each month through July 2024
- Room upgrades, complimentary daily breakfast, late checkout, and a special benefit worth up to $100 with the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
You’ll also have access to secondary travel benefits, including:
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance, up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip
- Auto rental collision damage waiver
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Trip delay reimbursement
- Emergency evacuation and transportation
- Purchase protection
- Return protection
- Extended warranty protection
- No foreign transaction fees
While the steep annual fee alone may deter some people from applying, avid travelers should be able to get enough value from the card to make up for the cost. You can redeem the points at a rate of 1.5 cents each toward travel through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal or offset purchases through Chase’s Pay Yourself Back. Other ways to redeem points include statement credits, gift cards, charitable donations, and merchandise. To get the best value, stick to Chase’s travel portal and transfer partnerships.
3. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One’s Venture X is an elevated travel rewards credit card that delivers a strong suite of rewards and benefits. With this card, you can expect to earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. It comes at a price tag of $395 per year, much lower than the Amex Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve. You can add up to 4 authorized users for free.
In terms of rewards for travel and beyond, you can expect to earn:
- 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles on all other eligible purchases
Other perks you’ll have access to include:
- 10,000 bonus mile (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- $300 back as statement credits when you make bookings through Capital One Travel
- $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and 2 guests per visit to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounges and Plaza Premium Lounges
- Complimentary PRIOR subscription ($149 value), where you can access extraordinary travel experiences, destination guides, and more
- 6-month complimentary Enthusiast membership to The Cultivist ($220 value)
- $300 toward an annual membership at Gravity Haus, a social club that offers hotel accommodations, premium gear access, and more
- No foreign transaction fees
- Cell phone protection, up to $800
- Access to 15+ travel loyalty programs, where you can use your miles to cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars, etc.
To maximize your miles, redeem them for travel via Capital One Travel or transfer miles to airline and hotel partners. Alternatively, you can use your miles for gift cards, online merchandise, and statement credits.
Note the benefits you’ll gain from using this card are highly dependent on whether or not you will use Capital One’s travel portal. If you prefer making reservations directly with airlines or hotels, you won’t be able to earn as many miles using this card.
4. Bank of American Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card
For those who are beginners in the realm of luxury travel credit cards, the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card is a good starter card to consider. At a low annual fee of $95, this card is well within reach for most people.
You can earn a sign-up bonus of 60,000 points after making at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. That’s equivalent to $600 in points. In terms of rewards, the card offers:
- 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases
- 1.5 points per $1 on all other purchases
There are no limits to the points you can earn and the points do not expire. You can redeem your points for cash back as a deposit into your checking or savings account, for credit to eligible Merrill accounts including 529 accounts, as a statement credit to your credit card, or for gift cards and purchases at the Bank of America Travel Center.
Other benefits include:
- $100 in Airline Incidental Statement Credits annually for qualifying purchases, including seat upgrades, baggage fees, in-flight services, and airport lounge fees
- $100 in Airport Security Statement Credits for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry application fees every 4 years
- No foreign transaction fees
- Preferred Rewards members earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase
- Travel Insurance protections, including for trip delays, cancellations and interruptions, baggage delays, lost luggage, and emergency evacuation and transportation
- 24/7 Roadside Dispatch access
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
- Visa Signature concierge service for travel planning, restaurant recommendations, and event reservations
- Warranty Manager Service, Return Protection, and Purchase Security
- Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection
Compared to some of the more premium credit cards on our list, the benefits offered by the Premium Rewards credit card are not as robust. However, this card is much more affordable and still comes with a good list of perks.
5. Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card
A sister card to the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card is a great alternative for those looking for a travel card with a mid-range annual fee. At $95 per year, the Sapphire Preferred is more affordable than the Sapphire Reserve but still packs a punch in terms of rewards and benefits.
You can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s equivalent to $750 when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Note that there may be restrictions if you already have a Chase Sapphire card or received a new card member bonus for any Sapphire card in the past 48 months.
With the card, you can earn:
- 5X total points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 Annual Ultimate Rewards
- 2X points on other travel purchases
- 3X points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 3X points on select streaming services
- 1X point on all other eligible purchases
- $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
Other travel benefits include:
- 1:1 point transfer to airline and hotel travel partners, including British Airways Executive Club, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance, up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip
- Auto rental collision damage waiver
- Baggage delay insurance, up to $100 a day for 5 days
- Trip delay insurance, up to $500 per ticket
- Travel and emergency assistance services
- Purchase protection and extended warranty protection
- No foreign transaction fees
To get the most value out of your points, redeem them through Chase Ultimate Rewards or transfer partners. You can also redeem your points for statement credits, gift cards, or online shopping, though you’ll net less value compared to using Chase’s travel portal.
6. U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card
The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card carries a moderate annual fee of $400, with no extra cost for additional cardholders. You can earn 50,000 bonus points if you spend $4,500 in the first 90 days of account opening, worth $750 in the Altitude Rewards Center.
With this card, you can earn:
- 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center
- 3X points on eligible travel purchases and mobile wallet spending (Google Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay)
- Up to $325 in annual credits for eligible travel purchases and dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery purchases
Additional travel benefits include:
- No foreign transaction fees
- Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, which gives you 4 free individual visits and 4 guest visits to 1,300+ airport VIP lounges worldwide
- Access to the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection
- Up to $100 in statement credits for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry every 4 years
- 24/7 fraud monitoring, shopping protection, and assistance with trip delays, cancellations, interruptions, and more while traveling
- ID Navigator powered by NortonLifeLock
- Access to the Visa Infinite Concierge
With the $325 credit towards eligible travel and food purchases, you should be able to make your money back. What makes the Altitude Reserve stand out is the 3X points on mobile wallet purchases. If you are tech-savvy, this is an easy way to earn points with minimal effort.
You can redeem your points at a rate of 1.5 cents toward travel using the Altitude Rewards Center. Alternatively, you can redeem them for statement credits, real-time rewards, or cash. If you have an online account with U.S. Bank, you can earn additional points by shopping online using the Rewards Center Shopping Deals.
7. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
The Hilton Honors Card by American Express carries its weight in terms of travel and dining benefits. While the annual fee of $450 is a bit high, the card comes with 150,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $4,000 in purchases on the card within your first 3 months from account opening. Rewards-wise, you can earn:
- 14X points on hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
- 7X points on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- 7X on select travel, including flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies
- 3X points for each dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
Other featured benefits include:
- $250 Hilton Resort credit for eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton Resorts each anniversary year
- $250 airline fee credit for incidental fees charged by a qualifying airline
- $100 Hilton on-property credit with a 2-night minimum stay at participating Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts
- Complimentary Diamond Status with Hilton
- Complimentary Priority Pass Select at over 1,200 global airport lounges for you and up to 2 guests at no additional charge per visit
- Annual Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors in your first year of card membership and every year upon card renewal
- No foreign transaction fees
- Car rental loss and damage insurance
- Premium Global Assist Hotline
- Baggage insurance plan
- Access to American Express Experiences
- Global Dining Access by Resy
If you are a loyal fan of Hilton, this card is a must-have. It offers a rich assortment of rewards and benefits, particularly on stays with Hilton and dining purchases. You can redeem your points for hotel points, premium rooms, event credits at the Hilton, Hilton Experiences, airlines, and more.
8. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card is a luxurious travel credit card tailored towards Marriott loyalists who want complimentary Platinum Elite status. The card comes with a high price tag of $650 per year. But you can earn 95,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in purchases on the card in the first 6 months from account opening.
The reward structure includes:
- 6X points on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
- Up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy for being a Marriott Bonvoy member on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
- Up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy with 50% bonus points on stays
- 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases
Other features and benefits include:
- $25 a month in dining statement credits each calendar year ($300 value)
- $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis when you book directly using a special rate for a 2-night minimum stay
- 1 Free Night Award every year after your card renewal month at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- 25 Elite Night Credits towards the next level of Marriott Bonvoy Elite status
- 1 Earned Choice Award per calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases
- Priority Pass Select, which offers unlimited access to 1,200+ lounges in over 30 countries
You can redeem your points for hotel stays in the Marriott Bonvoy program, experiences, shopping, and more. Additionally, you can combine your accounts, share your points with other members, or transfer points to miles for flight credits.
9. Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card
If you are a Southwest Airlines enthusiast, consider getting the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card. This card is the most expensive among Southwest’s consumer cards. However, at a price tag of $149, this card is one of the more affordable options on our list.
With the Rapid Rewards Priority, you can earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Additionally, you’ll get:
- 3X points on Southwest purchases
- 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
- 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming
- 2X points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
- 1X points on all other eligible purchases
- 7,500 anniversary points after your Cardmember anniversary
You’ll also receive:
- $75 in Southwest annual travel credit each year
- 4 Upgraded Boardings every year when available
- A boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points every year
- Earn 1,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) toward A-List status for every $10,000 spent in purchases annually, with no limit on the amount of TQPs you can earn
- 25% back on inflight purchases
Other travel and purchase protection benefits include:
- Auto rental collision damage waiver
- Roadside dispatch
- Purchase protection
- Extended warranty protection
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Baggage delay insurance
- Travel and emergency assistance services
- Travel accident insurance
However, unlike some of the higher-end travel cards we mentioned, you won’t get airport lounge access, priority boarding on flights, credit for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee, or other luxury travel benefits. The points you earn using this card also cannot be transferred to other airlines or travel partners. But you can redeem your points for Southwest Airlines flights, hotel stays and car rentals, Rapid Rewards Access Events, gift cards, merchandise, or international flights.
10. Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
If you are a frequent flyer with Delta, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card offers a range of amazing benefits, including lounge access, status boost, and more. You’ll get a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months of card membership. This is worth roughly $846 for flight redemptions. Unfortunately, if you have had this card in the past or had a previous version of it, you won’t be eligible for the welcome bonus.
The rewards structure is more barebones compared to other premium luxury travel cards, but you can earn:
- 3X miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta
- 1X miles on all other eligible purchases
While the earnings structure isn’t the best, you’ll receive a ton of Delta perks instead, including:
- First checked bag free on Delta flights
- Access to the Complimentary Upgrade list after Medallion Members
- 15% off when booking Award Travel on Delta flights
- Complimentary Delta Sky Club Access for you and up to 2 guests at a rate of $50 per person per visit
- 20% back on in-flight purchases
- Priority boarding on Delta flights
- Access to Status Boost, where you can earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $30,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, up to 4X per year
- Medallion Qualification Dollar Waiver (MQD Waiver) toward Platinum, Gold, or Silver Medallion Status after making at least $25,000 in eligible purchases in a calendar year
- Complimentary access to The Centurion Lounge
- A Delta Reserve Annual Companion Certificate each year upon card renewal for a domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+, or Main Cabin round-trip
- Upgrade priority over other Medallion members within the same Medallion level and fare class grouping
Other non-Delta perks include:
- Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years up to $100
- Trip delay insurance
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
- Car rental loss and damage insurance
- Premium Global Assist Hotline
- No foreign transaction fees
- Global Dining Access by Resy
- Complimentary ShopRunner membership
- Return and purchase protection
- Extended warranty on Covered Purchases
Delta’s dynamic pricing model can make it difficult to redeem your Delta SkyMiles, especially if you are looking at flights during the holiday season. If you are flexible on travel dates, you may be better off saving your Delta miles for Delta’s flash award sales. Alternatively, you can use your SkyMiles to fly on international SkyTeam partner airlines, such as Air France and Korean Air, and select non-alliance partners like WestJet. Another option is to redeem your miles for hotels and rental cars or top-shelf Champagne in Sky Clubs, though you’ll get less value from your miles this way.
The Bottom Line
Don’t let the steep prices of luxury travel credit cards deter you from applying for them. These types of cards tend to offer high-quality rewards and benefits that will more than makeup for the cost of the card. From airport lounge access to generous welcome bonuses and flight and hotel transfer partners, there are plenty of perks to consider.