Best Chase Credit Cards for Travel in 2024

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ByRajiv Baniwal
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Reviewed byLee Huffman
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Updated: March 14, 2024

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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 One Rewards Premier Credit Card

    A fantastic card for earning rewards when you stay at IHG hotels and resorts.


    • 3–26 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
    • 21.49% – 28.49% VariableAPR
    • $99Annual Fee
    • Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit

  • Chase Freedom Unlimited®

    An excellent no-annual-fee card that lets you earn unlimited cash back


    • 1.5%–6.5% Cash BackRewards Rate
    • 20.49%–29.24% VariableAPR
    • $0Annual Fee
    • ExcellentRecommended Credit

  • Aer Lingus Visa Signature®

    A travel card with a great welcome bonus for frequent Aer Lingus travelers


    • 1–5 Avios per $1Rewards Rate
    • 21.49% – 28.49% VariableAPR
    • $95Annual Fee
    • Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit

  • British Airways Visa Signature® Card

    A good choice for British Airways loyalists looking to earn Avios


    • 1–3 Avios per $1Rewards Rate
    • 21.49% – 28.49% VariableAPR
    • $95Annual Fee
    • Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit

    British Airways Visa Signature® Card
  • Iberia Visa Signature® Card

    A good travel card for Iberia loyalists looking to earn Avios


    • 1–3 Avios per $1Rewards Rate
    • 21.49% – 28.49%VariableAPR
    • $95Annual Fee
    • Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit

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 Card
    Best For
    Avg. Reward Rate
    Annual Fee
    Credit Needed
  • IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
    IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
    A fantastic card for earning rewards when you stay at IHG hotels and resorts.
    3–26 Points per $1*
    $99
  • Chase Freedom Unlimited®
    Chase Freedom Unlimited®
    An excellent no-annual-fee card that lets you earn unlimited cash back
    1.5%–6.5% Cash Back
    $0
  • Aer Lingus Visa Signature®
    Aer Lingus Visa Signature®
    A travel card with a great welcome bonus for frequent Aer Lingus travelers
    1–5 Avios per $1
    $95
  • British Airways Visa Signature® Card
    British Airways Visa Signature® Card
    A good choice for British Airways loyalists looking to earn Avios
    1–3 Avios per $1
    $95
  • Iberia Visa Signature® Card
    Iberia Visa Signature® Card
    A good travel card for Iberia loyalists looking to earn Avios
    1–3 Avios per $1
    $95
  • Chase Freedom Flex® Card
    Chase Freedom Flex® Card
    An easy-to-use cash back card with quarterly rotating bonus categories
    1%–5% Cash Back
    $0
  • United Explorer Card
    United Explorer Card
    A good miles-earning rewards credit card with some perks and no foreign transaction fees
    1–2 Miles per $1*
    $95
  • Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
    Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
    Great no-annual-fee card for earning points at Marriot properties
    1–3 Points per $1
    $0
  • IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
    IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
    Great card for earning points fast for IHG loyalists
    2-17 Points per $1
    $0
  • United Gateway Card
    United Gateway Card
    A great no-annual-fee rewards card for people who fly United
    1 Mile per $1
    $0
  • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
    Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
    Best starter card for the Southwest Airlines flyer
    1–2 Points per $1*
    $69
  • Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
    Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
    An excellent card for earning reward points and free nights at Marriott hotels
    2 Points per $1
    $95
  • World of Hyatt Credit Card
    World of Hyatt Credit Card
    A great rewards card for travelers who like staying at Hyatt Hotels and Resorts
    1–2 Points per $1
    $95
  • Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
    Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
    A very good rewards card with no foreign transaction fees and comprehensive travel cover
    1–5 Points per $1
    $95
  • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
    Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
    A great miles rewards card with no foreign transaction fee for frequent Southwest customers
    1–2 Points per $1*
    $99
  • United Clubâ„  Infinite Card
    United Clubâ„  Infinite Card
    An excellent card for earning United’s MileagePlus miles
    1–4 Miles per $1*
    $525
  • Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
    Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
    Best for premium travel with flexible redemption points
    1–10 Points per $1
    $550
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MONEYGEEK PRO TIP

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.

1

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.

2

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.

3

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.

4

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.

5

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.

6

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.

7

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

  1. When might someone consider getting a Chase travel credit card with an annual fee?
  2. Which other card issuers provide co-branded travel cards similar to those offered by Chase?
  3. What should cardholders keep in mind to maximize their reward-earning potential through Chase credit cards?   
Julia Menez
Julia Menez

Travel Hacking Coach and Founder of Geobreeze

Andrew Coggins, Jr.
Andrew Coggins, Jr.

Clinical Professor at the Lubin School of Business at Pace University

Dipra Jha
Dipra Jha

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

Further Reading

About Rajiv Baniwal


Rajiv Baniwal headshot

Rajiv Baniwal is a journalist who has been covering financial topics for over 15 years. Meticulous in his research, he provides accurate and up-to-date information. His expertise includes mortgages, loans, credit cards, insurance and international money transfers.


*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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