The best Chase credit cards for travel give you the ability to earn rewards or cash back. If you’re a frequent user of any particular airline or group of hotels, you might benefit by getting a co-branded Chase travel credit card.
MoneyGeek's Take
Best Chase Credit Cards for Travel in 2023
This article is part of our larger series on Best Travel Credit Cards

The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.
Chase travel credit cards let you earn rewards or cash back. However, the rewards/cash back earn rate is not the same across all cards. It’s also common for these cards to come with welcome bonus offers for new cardholders.
While some of the top Chase travel credit cards charge annual fees, a few don’t. Examples of cards from this category that come without annual fees include the Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card and the Chase Freedom Flex℠ Credit Card.
Other aspects that require your attention when narrowing down on a suitable Chase travel credit card include intro APR offers, regular APRs and added benefits. Additionally, depending on the card you get, you might need to pay foreign transaction fees when you use it outside of the country.

This article is part of our larger series on
Best Travel Credit Cards
MoneyGeek's Take: Top 5 Chase Credit Cards for Travel
Quick Summary
The rewards or cash back rates you earn vary based on the Chase credit card you get, as does the annual fee you might need to pay. In addition, some of these cards come without foreign transaction fees. We’ve selected the top five Chase travel credit cards after accounting for these aspects as well as APRs, welcome offers and added perks. We include information on what the other good cards from this category have to offer further down the page.
- IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card
A fantastic card for earning rewards when you stay at IHG hotels and resorts.
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
- $99Annual Fee
- 1–25 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
- 25xRewards Rate at Hotels
- 2xRewards Rate on Groceries
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®
An excellent no-annual-fee card that lets you earn unlimited cash back
- ExcellentRecommended Credit
- $0Annual Fee
- 1.5–5% Cash BackRewards Rate
- 3xRewards Rate on Dining
- 5xRewards Rate on Air Travel
- Aer Lingus Visa Signature®
A travel card with a great welcome bonus for frequent Aer Lingus travelers
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
- $95Annual Fee
- 1–5 Avios per $1Rewards Rate
- 3xRewards Rate on Air Travel
- 2xRewards Rate at Hotels
- British Airways Visa Signature® Card
A good choice for British Airways loyalists looking to earn Avios
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
- $95Annual Fee
- 1–5 Avios per $1Rewards Rate
- 3xRewards Rate on Air Travel
- 2xRewards Rate at Hotels
- Iberia Visa Signature® Card
A good travel card for Iberia loyalists looking to earn Avios
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
- $95Annual Fee
- 1–5 Avios per $1Rewards Rate
- 3xRewards Rate on Air Travel
- 2xRewards Rate at Hotels
Summary of the Best Chase Cards for Travel
Go through this Chase travel card comparison table to determine how all the top alternatives measure up against each other based on factors such as annual fees, welcome offers, APRs and rewards/cash back rates.
- Credit CardBest ForAvg. Reward RateAnnual FeeCredit Needed
- A fantastic card for earning rewards when you stay at IHG hotels and resorts.1–25 Points per $1*$99
- An excellent no-annual-fee card that lets you earn unlimited cash back1.5–5% Cash Back$0
- A travel card with a great welcome bonus for frequent Aer Lingus travelers1–5 Avios per $1$95
- A good choice for British Airways loyalists looking to earn Avios1–5 Avios per $1$95
- A good travel card for Iberia loyalists looking to earn Avios1–5 Avios per $1$95
Keep in mind that Chase has a 5/24 Rule, which limits your eligibility to receive a new credit card. If you've opened up five or more new credit cards in the last 24 months, you will most likely be declined for a new Chase credit card. -- Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com.
How to Compare Chase Credit Cards & Intro Offers
There are many Chase travel credit cards to choose from, which is why you need to compare your options based on different factors.
Co-branded or not
If your travels involve using any particular group of hotels or airlines more than others, you may benefit by getting a co-branded Chase travel credit card. Some of the top examples include the IHG Rewards Club Premier Card, the Aer Lingus Visa Signature Card, the British Airways Visa Signature Card, the Iberia Visa Signature Card, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Card and the World of Hyatt Card.
Annual fees
Determine if you might earn enough rewards/cash back and make ample use of a card’s benefits before getting one that charges an annual fee. Some no-annual-fee Chase travel cards include the Freedom Unlimited Credit Card, the Freedom Flex Credit Card, the IHG Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card and the United Gateway Credit Card.
APR
Chase travel credit cards tend to charge higher APRs than its cards without rewards/cash back. If you plan to carry outstanding balances on your card from one month to the next, you might be better off looking at what low APR cards from Chase have to offer.
Welcome offer
The best Chase credit cards for travel typically come with welcome bonus offers for new cardholders. For instance, you may stand to get a predetermined amount of reward points or cash back if you spend at least a preset amount within a stipulated time frame. Some of these cards come with introductory 0% APR offers for purchases and/or balance transfers too.
Rewards/cash back rate
The rewards/cash back rate may vary based on the card you get. For example, the IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card offers up to 25x points per dollar on spending at IHG Hotels and Resorts. It changes to up to 15x points with the no-annual-fee IHG Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card.
Foreign transaction fees
If you intend to use your Chase travel credit card outside of the U.S., look for one that comes without foreign transaction fees. Otherwise, you may be charged up to 3% extra on every international transaction. Some of the Chase travel cards that do away with this fee include the United Gateway Credit Card, the IHG Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card, the British Airways Visa Signature Card and the Iberia Visa Signature Card.
Added perks/features
If you get a co-branded card, you may expect brand-specific benefits. For instance, the IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card comes with a free anniversary reward night each year. The British Airways Visa Signature Card, on the other hand, offers up to $600 reward flight statement credits each year. Other benefits you may get include free checked bags, automatic or accelerated elite status, purchase protection and travel insurance coverage.
Expert Advice For Finding the Right Card
We’ve asked financial experts from across the country to give our Chase business credit card reviews the once-over and answer a few important questions so you may find it easier to narrow down on a suitable card.
Expert Advice For Finding the Right Card
- When might someone consider getting a Chase travel credit card with an annual fee?
- Which other card issuers provide co-branded travel cards similar to those offered by Chase?
- What should cardholders keep in mind to maximize their reward-earning potential through Chase credit cards?

Assistant Director & Scholarly Associate Professor, School of Hospitality Business Management, Washington State University, Carson College of Business

Clinical Professor at the Lubin School of Business at Pace University

Travel Hacking Coach and Founder of Geobreeze
Further Reading
About Rajiv Baniwal

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