What is the best airline credit card with no annual fee?

It’s easy to get a credit card annual fee waived. You just have to pick the right card. Lots of credit cards waive the annual fee during the first year as a promotion, and many have no annual fee at all. But beyond that, you’re unlikely to get your credit card’s annual fee waived unless you’re an active-duty member of the military. Still, it never hurts to ask, even if success is a long shot.… read full answer

Being well-informed about your rights and alternative credit card options definitely will help your chances. And you can find the most important info below.Here’s how to get a credit card annual fee waived:

• If you’re employed full-time by the U.S. military, call your issuer and tell them you’d like your SCRA benefits. Exactly how the process works differs by company, but they will ask you to prove your active military status. For example, you might provide a copy of your active duty orders. Once you send the issuer proof, they should waive your annual fee as well as reduce your interest rate. When applying for a card, there’s sometimes a box you can check to indicate your military status, too.

• If you’re not in in the military, you can still ask your card’s issuer to waive or lower its annual fee. Long-time customers and high-spenders with great credit who always pay in full likely have the best chance.

• It’s a common credit card promotion to waive the annual fee for the first year your account is open. This will be noted on the offer when you apply, though. It’s not something you have to ask for.

• If you really want to avoid fees, get a no annual fee credit card. Hundreds are available, including cards with rewards and 0% APRs. You might be able to get a better deal overall by paying an annual fee for more rewards.

Since annual fees help pay for the benefits credit cards provide, issuers aren’t eager to waive them. But there’s no penalty for asking. And if you’re in the military, you should definitely take advantage of the waiver you’ve earned with your service.

Two of the best double miles credit cards are the Capital One Venture Card and the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard. Both cards offer double miles on purchases, but only Citi AAdvantage Platinum waives its annual fee the first year. Citi AAdvantage Platinum charges $99 starting the second year, and Venture charges $95 from first year on. Both offer big initial bonuses: AAdvantage Platinum’s 50,000 miles for spending $2,500 in 3 months vs Venture's 60,000 miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. … read full answer

Of course, the best double miles card for you is a highly personal decision. Depending on how much you travel and which airline your normally use, another card could be your best bet.

Here are the best double miles credit cards:

• Capital One Venture Rewards Card: Double miles on all purchases. $95 annual fee. 60,000 miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. You need good credit to get this card.

• Lufthansa Mastercard: Double miles on tickets purchased directly from Lufthansa and partner airlines. $89 annual fee. 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days. 1 mile per $1 on non-airline purchases. You need good credit to get this card.
• Asiana Credit Card: Double miles on gas and at grocery stores. $99 annual fee. 30,000 miles for spending $3,000 in your first 90 days. 3 miles per $1 for Asiana tickets, 1 for everything else. 10,000 bonus miles, a $100 credit for an Asiana ticket and 2 Asiana Airlines lounge vouchers every year when you renew your card. This card requires good credit.

• JetBlue Plus Card: Double miles on restaurants and groceries. $99 annual fee. 40,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in your first 90 days. 6 points per $1 on JetBlue purchases, 1 everywhere else. 10% of your points back when you redeem them for JetBlue flights. This card requires excellent credit.

• Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express: Double miles on Delta purchases, restaurants and U.S. supermarkets. $99 annual fee, waived the first year. 70,000 miles for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months (limited-time offer, ending 11/10/2021). If you spend another $10,000 in purchases in your first 12 months, you’ll get an extra $100 in Delta Flight Credits. 1 mile per $1 on all non-Delta purchases. This card requires good credit.

• Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard: Double miles on American Airlines purchases, on gas stations and restaurants. $99 annual fee, waived for the first year. 50,000 miles for spending $2,500 within 3 months of opening an account, plus $125 American Airlines Flight Discount for spending a total of $20,000 in the first 12 months and renew your card. 1 mile per $1 on all non-American Airlines purchases. This card requires good credit.

Keep in mind that the best double miles credit cards tend to require good or excellent credit. But if your credit isn’t quite at that level yet, you still have options. The SKYPASS Secured Credit Card offers 5,000 miles after your first purchase with the card and 1 mile per $1 on everything. And the annual fee is reasonable too: $50.

Travel credit cards are worth it for people who travel multiple times per year and who spend enough for the cards’ rewards and supplemental benefits to outweigh any annual fees. People who travel less frequently may also find travel credit cards with no annual fee to be worth it. In addition, it’s worth noting that a travel credit card could be one of multiple cards in your wallet. It’s not necessary to choose between travel rewards and cash back, for example.… read full answer

Travel Credit Cards That May Be Worth It

• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Chase Freedom Unlimited®
• Discover it® Miles
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

7 Tips for How to Decide if a Travel Credit Card Is Worth It

1. Compare expected rewards earnings to the cost of the card.

For a travel credit card to be worth it, the card’s rewards and benefits should outweigh its fees.

2. Compare the value to other credit card offers.

The travel credit card’s net value – rewards and benefits, minus fees – should be higher than what other comparable cards offer. A credit card is not truly worth it if getting that card means bypassing a better deal.

3. Take annual fees into account, but don’t rule them out.

Nearly all of the best travel credit cards charge an annual fee. But there are plenty of benefits that reduce the impact of such a fee. For example, an initial bonus is one factor that can easily make a travel credit card worth getting. The best travel rewards cards offer sizeable bonuses when you meet minimum spending requirements in the first year. Top initial bonus offers cover the cost of their card’s annual fee for several years.

4. Make sure the redemption options suit you.

Typically, you can redeem a travel card’s rewards for travel-focused purchases such as airfare or hotel stays, as well as other options like gift cards, merchandise or cash. The value of those rewards varies by card. But in most cases, you’ll get the highest value when you redeem for travel.

5. Consider co-branded travel cards if you have a favorite airline or hotel chain.

People who frequent a specific hotel or airline may get the most value from co-branded travel cards that offer enhanced rewards for loyal customers. Common perks on such cards include free checked bags, seat or room upgrades and lounge access.

However, you’ll lose flexibility when earning and redeeming rewards, relative to a general travel card. Co-branded travel cards tend to give the best rewards at their affiliated airline or hotel, and your rewards are usually tied to that company’s loyalty program.

6. Make sure there’s no foreign fee if you’re spending internationally.

The travel credit cards that are most worth it for international travelers and shoppers are ones that come with no foreign transaction fee. Foreign transaction fees can be as costly as 3% of each purchase made with a foreign merchant. But luckily, most travel cards don’t have this fee.

7. Check your credit score before applying.

It’s important to check your credit score before submitting an application for any travel credit card. The best travel credit cards tend to require at least good credit (a score of 700+), and some even require excellent credit (a score of 750+).