FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS: BEST PREMIUM CARDS
Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Our pick for: Overall premium card
The high annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® gives many potential applicants pause, but frequent travelers should be able to wring enough value out of this card to more than make up for the cost. Cardholders get bonus rewards (up to 10X) on dining and travel, a fat bonus offer, annual travel credits, airport lounge access, and a 50% boost in point value when redeeming points for travel booked through Chase. Points can also be transferred to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Read our review.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Our pick for: Luxury travel perks
The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with a hefty annual fee, but travelers who like to go in style (and aren't afraid to pay for comfort) can more than get their money's worth. Enjoy extensive airport lounge access, hundreds of dollars a year in travel and shopping credits, hotel benefits and more. That's not even getting into the high rewards rate on eligible travel purchases and the rich welcome offer for new cardholders. Read our review.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Our pick for: Travel portal benefits
Capital One's premium travel credit card can deliver terrific benefits — provided you're willing to do your travel spending through the issuer's online booking portal. That's where you'll earn the highest rewards rates plus credits that can make back the bulk of your annual fee (see rates and fees). Read our review.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Our pick for: Premium airline card
Every airline has a premium card that gets you into its airport lounges, but the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card also gets you into American Express's Centurion Lounges when flying Delta, and it comes with an annual companion certificate that's good even in first class. Read our review.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Our pick for: Premium hotel card
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card comes with a steep annual fee, but its rich rewards (especially on travel and dining) and generous perks make it near-must for hardcore Hilton loyalists. Enjoy airline and resort credits, airport lounge access, automatic elite status, free weekend night awards and much more. Read our review.
American Express® Gold Card
Our pick for: Premium dining card
The American Express® Gold Card can earn you a pile of points from everyday spending, with generous rewards at U.S. supermarkets, at restaurants and on certain flights booked through amextravel.com. Other benefits include hundreds of dollars a year in available dining and travel credits and a solid welcome offer for new cardholders. There's an annual fee, though, and a pretty substantial one, so it's not for smaller spenders. Read our review.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Our pick for: Premium card for business
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express comes with a big annual fee. But business travelers who prefer to go in style will find plenty that appeals to them: high rewards on certain travel purchases, bonus rewards on larger nontravel purchases, a superb newcomer welcome offer, extensive airport lounge access, elite hotel status, hundreds of dollars a year in available credits and a list of perks as long as your arm. It's not cheap, but luxury never is. Terms apply. Learn more and apply.
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HOW TO CHOOSE A PREMIUM TRAVEL CREDIT CARD
By Sally French, NerdWallet
Maybe you have that one friend who always lives it up on vacation. They post pictures of themselves in airport lounges, champagne in hand. They always seem to be getting suite upgrades at their hotels. Meanwhile, you’re waiting at the gate in the last group to board, trying to cram your airport sandwich into the backpack you’ll soon try to cram under the basic economy seat in front of you.
While your current credit card rewards account might consist of a measly few hundred points you’ll exchange for a restaurant gift card, it’s possible to get a taste of the VIP life by upgrading to a premium travel credit card.
Use this quiz to help you pick the best premium travel credit card:
What’s a premium travel credit card?
There’s no official definition of a premium travel credit card. On the whole, "premium" means a card comes with valuable benefits (though they vary widely by card). Some are airline-specific, like lounge access, free checked bags and priority boarding. Others are hotel-specific, like automatic elite status, free night certificates and free breakfast. And some credit cards are more general, but still packed with benefits.
One thing premium travel credit cards do have in common: three-figure annual fees. Among the most popular premium cards:
The Platinum Card® from American Express (Annual Fee: $695; see rates and fees).
Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Annual Fee: $550).
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (Annual Fee: $395; see rates and fees).
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (Annual Fee: $595).
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Annual Fee: $650; see rates and fees).
United Club℠ Infinite Card (Annual Fee: $525).
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card (Annual Fee: $550; see rates and fees ).
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (Annual Fee: $650; see rates and fees).
Terms apply.
Premium credit cards are not for you if…
A big annual fee has you reaching for the barf bag
All the great benefits don’t come for free. Premium cards generally have a fee of around $400 or more. While it’s generally not difficult for frequent travelers to justify the annual fee, that’s still a big cost upfront.
You need complete flexibility in your traveling
Hold a Delta credit card, and you need to commit to traveling a fair amount with Delta, regardless of whether that United flight is more convenient. Even the flexibility of a Chase or American Express travel portal won’t have all the booking options you may want. If you don’t like that level of commitment, a cash-back credit card is more flexible, but the trade-off is your cash back is unlikely to match the value you could earn by committing to travel rewards.
You can’t afford to pay your balance in full every month
These cards tend to have high APRs. If you’re not able to keep up with your bills in full, you’ll pay interest charges and other fees that’ll quickly eat into the value of any potential rewards. If you tend to carry a balance, consider a low-interest credit card instead.
How to know which premium travel credit card is best for you
You’ll probably just have one (maybe two) premium credit cards, so think carefully about which one you want. Unlike when you built your existing credit card collection, where you might have four store credit cards — Target, Amazon, Costco plus that Old Navy credit card you got in college — that tactic probably won’t fly on cards with $450 annual fees.
Once you’ve committed to getting a premium travel credit card, prioritize the benefits you value most and whittle down your options from there. There’s no one ultimate credit card that has everything, like airline status and hotel status and Centurion Lounge access and travel credits. But some cards come pretty close.
» Learn more: Should I get more than one travel credit card?
If you’re willing to be loyal to a specific brand
Some people find it easy to show brand loyalty. In some cases, it feels like the choice is made for you, like if your local airport happens to be an Alaska hub or if your corporate headquarters are next to a Marriott. Others like brand loyalty so they can build up status.
While brand-specific cards probably won’t help you much when you’re traveling with the brand’s competitor, they can propel you to VIP status at that brand with benefits like upgrade priority, free room nights on hotel cards or extra lounge access with the airline cards.
If you’re already loyal to American, Delta, United, Hilton or Marriott, or any of those brands’ transfer partners, then consider their branded card (click name for review):
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
United Club℠ Infinite Card
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
If you’d rather be a free agent
Loyalty to one brand means minimal flexibility to book at others, which is challenging if your airline doesn’t serve your next travel destination. It also poses a cost-saving conundrum if a similar hotel from the competitor hotel chain is offering a huge discount.
You're considered a "travel credit card free agent" if you:
Like the flexibility to book different hotel brands or airline flights at the cheapest price.
Don’t want to commit to one brand.
Don’t stay at big brands at all, instead preferring mom-and-pop hotels, boutique lodging, or bed and breakfasts.
If that sounds like you, you’re probably better off with a card that lets you earn and redeem rewards through a broad “travel spending” category, which might entail one of these cards:
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
If you want both brand-specific perks and flexible points
You can’t have it all, but you can get pretty close with this option:
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Additional perks to optimize for
Now that you’ve decided whether you want to be loyal to one brand versus having point flexibility, you can rule out a big chunk of cards from your list of premium cards to consider.
Cards for brand loyalty | Cards for flexibility |
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. | The Platinum Card® from American Express. |
United Club℠ Infinite Card. | Chase Sapphire Reserve®. |
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®. | Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. |
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. | |
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. |
Other factors to consider when picking the best premium credit card for you include airport lounge access, in-flight extras and checked bags, Global Entry and TSA PreCheck, bonus points on spending, trip insurance benefits and car rental coverage. Here's a closer look at which cards make sense for your specific preferences.
Airport lounge access
Are you the kind of person who brags about showing up to the gate five minutes before it closes? Or are you the kind of person who shows up two hours early to avoid the stress of missing your flight, and enjoys sipping a cappuccino before takeoff?
If you’re the former, you probably don’t need lounge access. If the latter, airport lounge access can drastically improve the quality of your trip. It’s amazing what a free drink consumed in a less-crowded, quieter setting can do.
All eigh cards give you some degree of airport lounge access; a good one for you will depend on which lounges you want access to.
The Platinum Card® from American Express: More than 1,300 airport lounges, including Centurion, Priority Pass (sans restaurants), Delta Sky Club and several others. Enrollment required.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Priority Pass Select (restaurants not included).
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Priority Pass Select (restaurants not included), Plaza Premium lounges (including select Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses) and Capital One Lounges.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Priority Pass Select (sans restaurants). Enrollment required.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Delta Sky Club.
United Club℠ Infinite Card: United Club membership.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®: Admirals Club.
Terms apply.
In-flight extras and checked bags
Do you regularly check bags, line up to be the first to board, and treat yourself to an in-flight beverage or snack beyond the usual soda and pretzels? Or do you pack light, bring your own in-flight meal and prefer being last to board anyway?
If the former, you’re either going to want a credit card that automatically covers the costs of those extras, or at least one that provides a statement credit reimbursing you for them.
Other than the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (which comes with only $300 in Marriott hotel credits) and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card the other cards discussed here come with some form of airline specific or general travel credit to cover these types of fees.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®: Free checked bags, early boarding and more (on American flights).
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Free checked bags, a Companion Certificate and more (on Delta flights).
United Club℠ Infinite Card: Free checked bags, upgrades on award tickets and more (on United flights).
The Platinum Card® from American Express: $200 in airline incidental credits for one airline of your choice.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Up to $200 back annually ($50 each quarter) on eligible flight purchases.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: $300 in broad travel credits.
Terms apply.
Global Entry and TSA PreCheck
Global Entry and TSA PreCheck are two types of programs that allow you to get through airport security quicker, which means you probably won’t have to take off your shoes, and you’ll likely get to your gate (or airline lounge) faster. Many premium credit cards on the market today will reimburse you for your application fee (TSA PreCheck is $78 and Global Entry is $100).
If you’re seeking Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, every card in this guide, with the exception of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, will get you a credit for these programs.
Bonus points on spending
One of the best ways to continually rack up more points and miles (to cover the cost of your travel) is by earning points for your everyday spending. Yet with premium credit cards, earning supercharged spending rewards can be a mixed bag. Some cards offer the best spending rewards you’ll find in certain categories, namely travel and dining. But other cards offer paltry earn rates, to the point where you’d be better charging your purchases to a cash-back card and using your earnings to pay for your next vacation.
Trip insurance benefits
Some credit cards — including many in this guide — provide travel insurance if you use your card to pay for your travel expenses.
The degree of coverage differs by card. Depending on how much coverage you need and the level of customization you’re willing to sacrifice, you might find your credit card’s coverage is sufficient enough that you don’t need to buy a separate policy from a travel insurance company at all.
The following travel cards also offer some sort of trip insurance:
Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
United Club℠ Infinite Card.
Terms apply.
Car rental coverage
Many credit cards also include some degree of rental car coverage. While most policies won’t cover absolutely everything, you might be able to avoid taking up the rental car company’s offer of coverage, usually for around an additional $10 a day, by charging your rental car to the right credit card.
For some cards, coverage is primary, while for others it’s secondary. If your card offers primary insurance coverage, typically you’ll have to decline the collision damage waiver or similar coverage offered by your rental car company in order for your credit card’s primary coverage to be applicable. Then use the card to pay for your rental.
The following travel cards also offer rental car coverage.
Primary coverage:
Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
United Club℠ Infinite Card.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
Secondary coverage:
The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
Terms apply.
The ultimate guide to picking the best luxury travel credit card
With annual fees in the hundreds of dollars for premium credit cards, you’ll have to think carefully about which one you want. Considering that many cards have overlapping benefits, it doesn’t make sense to pay two huge annual fees.
The biggest factor in deciding which premium card is best for you comes down to how flexible you’re willing to be with brands. If you’re flying with American, Delta or United regularly, you’ll find you get better benefits with their co-branded credit cards.
If you dislike the idea of sitting on a mountain of brand-specific miles you’re not certain when you’ll use, it’s almost always better to go for a general premium travel credit card.
Once you’ve committed, determine which other benefits you value most.
You can’t have it all, as there’s no single card that offers early boarding, airline lounge access, hotel status and unlimited free checked bags. If you’re looking for that, readjust your expectations.
But you can determine which credit card benefits are nonnegotiables, which ones might be nice-to-haves and which ones you don’t anticipate using at all.
It’s impossible to say whether one credit card is “the best.” After all, personal finance is personal. But for travelers who appreciate the finer things in life — and don’t mind paying hundreds of dollars in annual credit card fees to get them — the right premium credit card can greatly improve their travel experiences.
Insurance Benefit: Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
The maximum benefit amount for Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is $10,000 per Covered Trip and $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Insurance Benefit: Trip Delay Insurance
Up to $300 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 12 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Insurance Benefit: Trip Delay Insurance
Up to $500 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Insurance Benefit: Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance
Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
Insurance Benefit: Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance
Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
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To view rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, see this page. All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is no longer available through NerdWallet. To view rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
Methodology
NerdWallet's credit cards team selects the best credit cards in each category based on overall consumer value. Factors in our evaluation include fees, promotional and ongoing APRs, and sign-up bonuses; for rewards cards, we consider earning and redemption rates, redemption options and redemption difficulty. A single card is eligible to be chosen as among the "best" in multiple categories. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.
