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

The easiest way of getting your credit card annual fee waived would be to pick a credit card that waives the annual fee during the first year as a promotion, or one with no annual fee at all. Alternatively, you can call the issuer’s retention line, but it is not guaranteed that it will work. 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.
• Call the retention line and 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.
• If you’re having difficulty paying your annual fee due to unforeseen financial difficulty, you might be able to apply for a financial relief/ hardship program with the issuer. This way, you could potentially have your annual fee waived. Or you might receive other assistance such as lower monthly payments or lower interest rates.

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.

The best double miles credit card is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card because it offers 2 - 10 miles per $1, plus an initial bonus of 75,000 miles for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. The Capital One Venture X card’s $395 annual fee can be worth it if you take advantage of its big initial bonus, attractive ongoing rewards and numerous other perks. For example, cardholders get free airport lounge access, plus the opportunity to earn hundreds of dollars in statement credits each year.… read full answer

Best Double Miles Credit Cards

The best double miles credit cards also provide a range of other perks, like airport lounge access and various types of travel insurance, that are worth considering before choosing the best card for you. In addition, keep in mind that some cards only give double miles on certain types of purchases, while cards like the Capital One Venture provide double miles on all purchases.

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

6 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.

It’s also 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+) for approval.