Best Credit Cards For Airline Miles with No Annual Fee
Do you love to travel? If so, you know that airline miles can be a great way to save money on flights. But not all credit cards that offer airline miles are created equal. Travel cards have high annual fees, which can make figuring out how to maximize your spending far more difficult.
If you're looking for a credit card that will help you earn airline miles (as opposed to cash-back) without paying an annual fee, then you've come to the right place. Here, we'll discuss some of the best credit cards for earning airline miles with no annual fee. We'll compare the different cards based on their rewards, fees, and other features, so you can find the perfect card for your needs.
So whether you're a frequent flyer or just starting out, read on to learn about the best credit cards for airline miles with no annual fee.
Here are some of the factors to consider when choosing a credit card for airline miles:
Rewards: The most important factor to consider is the rewards program offered by the card. Some cards offer a flat rate of miles per dollar spent, while others offer bonus miles for certain types of purchases and spending.
Annual fee: Some cards have an annual fee, while others are free to use. If you don't travel often, then a card with an annual fee may not be worth it. So for this list, we will only mention cards with no annual fee.
No Foreign Transaction Fees: All of the cards discussed will have no foreign transaction fees (FTFs), so you can use them to spend wherever you travel without worrying about any additional fees!
With those three main areas in mind, here is a list of the best credit cards for earning airline miles without an annual fee!
Discover it® Miles
One of the simplest and easiest to get airline miles cards on the market is the Discover it® Miles card. This card is a great option for people who want a straightforward card that they can use for all their purchases without a second thought and still earn consistent miles to use for travel. With the Discover It card, you'll earn 1.5 miles per dollar on every purchase, plus a 100% match on all of your miles earned in the first year of having the card. This means that if you spend $5,000 in the first year, you'll earn 10,000 miles, and Discover will match that for a total of 20,000 miles! And again, you get this all for no annual fee.
Here is a quick summary of the Discover it® Miles card:
Welcome/sign-on bonus: 100% match on all miles earned in your first 12 months of having the card
Rewards: Earn 1.5 Miles per dollar on all purchases.
Foreign transaction fee: None
APR: Variable APR of 16.74% - 27.49%
Eligibility: Good Credit
Recommendation: Good for beginners who are new to credit cards but still have a credit score
Capital One VentureOne Rewards
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is another great option for people who want to earn miles but don’t have a ton of credit history (or just don’t want to pay an annual fee)! With this card, you'll earn 1.5 miles per dollar on all of your purchases, and you can redeem your miles to cover ANY travel purchase, including flights, hotels, and rental cars. There's no annual fee for this card, and you'll also get a one-time bonus of 20,000 miles (worth $200) after you spend $500 in the first three months. This card is also a great way to get into the Capital One system, which has some of the best cards in the game (the Venture and the Venture X).
Here is a quick summary of the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card:
Welcome/sign-on bonus: Earn 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $500 in purchases on your new Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card in the first 3 months from account opening, worth $200 at minimum for travel.
Rewards: Earn 1.5 Miles per dollar on all purchases.
Foreign transaction fee: None
APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers; 19.74% - 29.74% variable APR after that
Eligibility: Good/Excellent credit (increased eligibility if you bank with Capital One)
Bank of America® Travel Rewards
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is a unique card that doesn’t generally get a lot of attention. With this card, you'll earn 1.5 points (miles) per dollar on all your purchases, and you can redeem these points for any travel purchase, including flights, hotels, and rental cars. There's no annual fee for this card, and you'll also get a one-time sign-on bonus of 25,000 points after you spend $250 in the first three months.
Here are some more details about the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card:
Welcome/sign-on bonus: Earn 25,000 bonus points after you spend only $250 in purchases on your new Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card in the first 3 months from account opening!
Rewards: Earn 1.5 Points per dollar on all purchases
Foreign transaction fee: 0%
APR: 0% for 18 billing cycles, and then variable APR of 17.74% to 27.74%
Eligibility: Good/Excellent Credit, with a bonus for those who bank at Bank of America
Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card
The Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card is one of the best airline-specific cards with no annual fee out there on the card market. To start, this card gives you 2x Delta miles on all Delta purchases, 2x miles on restaurants, 1x miles on all other purchases, and a 20% credit on all in-flight Delta purchases. If you frequently fly Delta and want a no-annual-fee card to start accumulating more miles, this is definitely the card for you! Delta also has one of the best mileage redemptions of any airline in the USA, so you’re likely to get a very good deal on any miles you spend—you can even pay with miles and cash to make any flight purchases cheaper. This card is especially good if you live near a Delta hub (such as Boston or Atlanta) and can frequently take advantage of Delta miles.
Here are some more details about the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card:
Welcome/sign-on bonus: Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases on the card in the first 6 months
Rewards: 2x miles on all Delta purchases, 2x miles on restaurants, 1x miles on all other purchases
Foreign transaction fee: None
APR: variable APR of 20.74% to 29.74%
Eligibility: Excellent Credit (big bonus if you have status at Delta)
Summary
In conclusion, there are many great credit cards for earning airline miles without any annual fee. Overall, the best card for you will depend on your individual needs and spending habits. Be sure to compare the different cards we discussed before you choose one to make sure it's the right fit for you.
Here are some additional tips for choosing a credit card for airline miles:
Consider your travel habits. If you fly frequently, you'll want to choose a card that offers a high rewards rate for travel purchases.
Read the fine print. Be sure to read the terms and conditions of each card before you apply. Some cards have blackout dates or other restrictions on when you can redeem your miles (though none of the ones listed here).
Use your card responsibly. Only charge what you can afford to pay off in full each month. Otherwise, you'll rack up interest charges that can quickly negate the value of your rewards. As a general rule, enable autopay and always pay off your statement to avoid falling into credit card debt.
By following these tips, you can be sure that you’re getting a credit card for airline miles that will help you save money on your next trip! If you’re new to credit cards, make sure to check out our guide of 7 key tips for credit card beginners.