Families Fly Free Names Top Credit Card Picks
By Lyn Mettler, founder Families Fly Free
Here at Families Fly Free, I focus on a handful of cards to make the process of flying free as simple and easy as it should be. In fact, you can follow my process with just 2 to 3 cards, but I have recommendations for more advanced travel rewards users, as well.
My favorite overall travel credit card that I recommend to everyone following my simple process is Chase Sapphire Preferred® along with 1 to 2 Southwest Airlines cards.
We can then build you a more advanced plan if you like from there.
Here are my top travel card recommendations from our partners…
MY TOP CREDIT CARD
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn signup_reward bonus points after you spend signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
REWARDS RATE
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
APPLY
KEY CARDS FOR MY FLY FREE PLAN
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn signup_reward bonus points after you spend signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
REWARDS RATE
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
APPLY
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CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn signup_reward bonus points after you spend signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
REWARDS RATE
Book through Chase Travel to earn 5x points on flights and 10x points on car rentals and hotels (after your annual $300 travel reimbursement). Earn 3 points per $1 spent on other travel (after your travel credit) and on dining; 1 point per $1 on other purchases
APPLY
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn signup_reward bonus points after spending signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
REWARDS RATE
Earn 2 points per $1 on Southwest purchases; local transit and commuting (including rideshares); and on internet, cable, phone services and select streaming. Earn 1 point per $1 on other eligible purchases. Receive 3,000 bonus points each year after your cardholder anniversary.
APPLY
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
REWARDS RATE
Earn three points per $1 on Southwest purchases as well as two points per $1 on local transit and commuting (including rideshares) and on internet, cable, phone services and select streaming and one point per $1 on other eligible purchases. Receive 6,000 bonus points each year after your card member anniversary.
APPLY
discontinued All information about Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by Cardratings.com.
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn signup_reward bonus points after spending signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
REWARDS RATE
Earn three points per $1 on Southwest purchases as well as two points per $1 on local transit and commuting (including rideshares) and on internet, cable, phone services and select streaming and one point per $1 on other eligible purchases. Receive 7,500 bonus points each year after your cardholder anniversary.
APPLY
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open.
REWARDS RATE
Earn 3 points per $1 on Southwest purchases; two points per $1 on rideshares and Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partner purchases; and 1 point per $1 on other purchases. Receive 6,000 bonus points after your cardholder anniversary
APPLY
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CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first three months.
REWARDS RATE
Earn 4 points per $1 on Southwest purchases; 3 points per $1 with Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners; 2 points per $1 on social media and search engine advertising as well as on internet, cable and phone services; and 1 point per $1 on other purchases. Receive 9,000 anniversary bonus points each year
APPLY
BEST CARDS TO FLY FREE TO EUROPE
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn signup_reward Avios after you spend signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases within the first signup_bonus_timeframe of account opening.
REWARDS RATE
Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with Iberia, British Airways, Aer Lingus, and LEVEL. Earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
APPLY
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn 85,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
REWARDS RATE
Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, and LEVEL and 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
APPLY
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CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn 85,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
REWARDS RATE
Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with Iberia, British Airways, Aer Lingus, and LEVEL. Earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
APPLY
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HOTEL REWARDS CARDS
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn signup_reward bonus points after spending signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
REWARDS RATE
Earn up to 26 total points for every $1 spent at IHG hotels and resorts; 5 points per $1 spent on travel and at gas stations and restaurants; and 3 points per $1 on your other purchases
APPLY
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn up to 65,000 Bonus Points. Earn 35,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first six months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.
REWARDS RATE
Earn up to 9 points total per $1 spent at Hyatt – 4 bonus points per $1 on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels & up to 5 base points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member. Earn 2 points per $1 at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly with airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club/gym memberships.
APPLY
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Information related to The World of Hyatt Credit Card has been collected independently by CardRatings and was neither reviewed nor provided by the card issuer
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
For a limited time, earn 100,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening.
REWARDS RATE
Earn up to 17X points for every $1 spent at over 7,000 participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels; 3X total points per $1 spent on up to $6,000 in combined purchases at gas stations, restaurants and grocery stores each year; and 2X points everywhere else.
APPLY
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Information related to the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card has been collected independently by CardRatings and was neither reviewed nor provided by the card issuer
ADVANCED CREDIT CARDS
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠. This is the highest signup bonus available among any of the Ultimate Rewards cards.
REWARDS RATE
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases-with no limit to the amount you can earn.
APPLY
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
For a limited time, earn a signup_reward bonus after you spend signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases in your first three months from account opening.
REWARDS RATE
Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service; and 1.5% on all other purchases.
APPLY
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn $200 cash back after $500 spent in the first three months
REWARDS RATE
Earn 5% back on up to $1,500 spent in categories that rotate quarterly (activation required); 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 3% back at restaurants (takeout and delivery included); 3% back at drugstores; and 1% back on all other eligible purchases
APPLY
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Information related to Chase Freedom FlexSM has been collected independently by CardRatings and was neither reviewed nor provided by the card issuer
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn 75,000 miles, worth up to $750, after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
REWARDS RATE
Earn 10 miles per $1 on hotel and rental car bookings through Capital One Travel; 5 miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel; and 2 miles per $1 on all other purchases
APPLY
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CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening, that’s equal to $1,000 in travel.
REWARDS RATE
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day, plus earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
APPLY
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Disclaimer: The information in this article is believed to be accurate as of the date it was written. Please keep in mind that credit card offers change frequently. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this article. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. See the online credit card application for full terms and conditions on offers and rewards. Please verify all terms and conditions of any credit card prior to applying.
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