Guide · Miles & loyalty
Best travel credit cards in 2026: which one is worth the annual fee?
By the TSA Wait Times team · Updated · Published June 2026
The best travel credit card is the one whose benefits you actually use. All three top premium cards cover Global Entry and earn transferable points — the difference is in lounge access, annual credits, and your preferred airline or hotel chain.
The three premium card tiers
| Tier | Annual fee | Cards |
|---|---|---|
| Premium | $395–$895 | Venture X, Sapphire Reserve, Amex Platinum. Lounge access, Global Entry credit, travel insurance, transferable points. |
| Mid-tier | $95–$290 | Sapphire Preferred, Amex Gold, Capital One Venture, Citi Strata Premier. Good earning rates, no lounge access. |
| Co-branded airline / hotel | $75–$650 | Delta Amex, United Explorer, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors — best if loyal to one brand. |
Chase Sapphire Reserve — best all-around card
Annual fee: $795
Credits
- $300 travel credit (automatic, applies to any travel purchase — flights, hotels, taxis, tolls, parking — making the effective net cost $495).
- The Edit by Chase Travel credits (two flexible $250 credits per calendar year usable any time for select Chase Travel hotel bookings, plus a one-time $250 new-cardholder credit).
- $100 Global Entry or PreCheck credit every 4 years.
Earning
3x on dining and travel worldwide, 1x elsewhere. Ultimate Rewards points transfer 1:1 to United, Southwest, British Airways, Air France, Singapore Airlines, Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott.
Lounge access
Priority Pass Select membership (1,300+ airport lounges worldwide). No Chase proprietary lounges — Priority Pass only.
Travel insurance
Best-in-class coverage. Primary auto rental (no need to decline CDW and use your own auto insurance). Trip cancellation up to $10,000 per person. Trip delay: $500 reimbursement after 6 hours. Hotel after delay: $100/night. Lost luggage: $3,000 per person. Emergency evacuation up to $100,000.
Best for:Travelers who want the best travel insurance, Priority Pass lounge access, and flexibility with multiple transfer partners. The $300 travel credit is automatic and effortless — no portal required, no category restrictions. A true $300/year value off the top.
American Express Platinum — best for lounge addicts
Annual fee: $895
Credits
- $600 hotel credit for Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings via Amex Travel ($300 semi-annually — more restrictive than Chase but higher absolute value).
- $400 Resy credit for restaurant reservations at participating Resy restaurants.
- $300 digital entertainment ($25/month for Disney+, Hulu, ESPN, The New York Times, Peacock, WSJ, YouTube Premium, and others).
- $200 Uber Cash ($15/month + $20 in December for Uber rides and Eats in the US).
- $100 Global Entry credit every 4 years.
Total stated value: $1,500+ in credits, but most require active management across multiple categories. The $895 fee is the highest of the three premium cards and demands full credit utilization to justify.
Earning
5x on flights booked directly with airlines or via Amex Travel. 1x on most other spending. The 5x on flights is excellent for high-airfare spenders.
Lounge access
The most comprehensive access of any consumer card. Centurion Lounges (25+ US locations: ATL, JFK, LAX, SFO, DFW, ORD, MIA, and more — among the nicest airport lounges available). Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta. Priority Pass Select (1,300+ lounges). Plaza Premium Lounges. Escape Lounges. Lufthansa Business Lounges.
Transfer partners
18 airline partners at 1:1 — Delta, Air France/KLM, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, ANA, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, and more. Better partner selection than Chase.
Best for: Frequent travelers who use Centurion Lounges regularly (especially at ATL, JFK, LAX, SFO, DFW, ORD, MIA). The 5x on flights is excellent for high travel spend. Credit utilization requires active management; the $895 fee demands discipline.
Capital One Venture X — best value
Annual fee: $395
Credits
- $300 Capital One Travel credit (must be used through Capital One Travel portal — less flexible than the CSR's automatic credit, but still effectively cancels most of the fee for travelers).
- $100 Global Entry credit every 4 years.
- $189 CLEAR Plus credit (added 2025 — covers a full CLEAR membership).
Earning
10x on hotels and rental cars via Capital One Travel. 5x on flights via Capital One Travel. 2x on everything else — making it an excellent daily-use card without any category tracking.
Lounge access
Capital One Lounges (fewer locations but the lounges themselves are excellent — especially IAD and DEN). Priority Pass Select (1,300+ partner lounges worldwide).
Transfer partners
15+ partners at 1:1 — Air France/KLM, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, Avianca, and more. Growing list with fewer options than Amex, but adequate for most redemptions.
Best for: Travelers who want lounge access and Global Entry at the lowest premium card annual fee. The 2x everywhere makes it a genuine everyday card. Best if you do not specifically need Centurion Lounge access.
Mid-tier cards worth having
Chase Sapphire Preferred ($95/year)
Earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points with the same 1:1 transfer partners as the Reserve. 3x on dining, 3x on online groceries, 2x on travel. $100 annual hotel credit (expanded from $50 in the June 2026 refresh). No lounge access. Good starter card before upgrading to the Reserve.
Amex Gold ($290/year)
4x at restaurants and US supermarkets, 3x on flights. $120 dining credit, $120 Uber Cash. No lounge access. Best for big spenders on food and dining who want to accumulate Amex Membership Rewards points.
Capital One Venture ($95/year)
2x on everything. Simple earning, flexible redemption. Good no-strategy everyday card.
Citi Strata Premier ($95/year)
3x on hotels, air travel, restaurants, groceries, and gas. Transfers to Air France, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and JetBlue at 1:1. An underrated card with unusually broad earning categories and strong transfer partners.
Airline co-branded cards: when to get one
Get an airline co-branded card if you are loyal to one airline and want free checked bags plus bonus miles. The annual fee typically pays for itself in two checked-bag round trips.
| Card | Annual fee | Key perk |
|---|---|---|
| Delta Amex Gold | $150 | Free checked bag (saves $40/person per direction), 3x on Delta purchases, 2x on restaurants |
| United Explorer | $95 | Free checked bag, 2 one-time United Club passes, priority boarding, 2x on United and dining |
| Alaska Airlines Visa | $75 | Free checked bag, companion fare ($99 + taxes) — best-value airline card |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards | $99 | Points toward Companion Pass — outstanding value if you fly Southwest 2–3 times per year |
Which card for which traveler
| Traveler type | Best card |
|---|---|
| Occasional (1–3 trips/year) | Chase Sapphire Preferred ($95) — earns UR points, solid travel insurance, no high annual fee |
| Frequent domestic traveler | Capital One Venture X ($395) — best-value premium card, Priority Pass, 2x everywhere |
| Lounge obsessive / international traveler | Amex Platinum ($895) — Centurion access, 18 airline partners, 5x on flights |
| Best all-around with insurance | Chase Sapphire Reserve ($795) — best trip delay / cancellation / rental coverage, $300 automatic credit, UR flexibility across 10 partners |
| Brand loyalist (Delta, United, Alaska, Southwest) | Airline co-branded card for free bags and status credit |
Related guides
- How to book award flights with miles — finding saver space, transfer partners, and the best programs for international business class in 2026.
- Airline alliances explained — Star Alliance, oneworld, and SkyTeam: which US carrier belongs where and when it matters for earning and redeeming miles.
- Access an airport lounge without a membership — day passes, credit card perks, and Priority Pass options if you are not yet a cardholder.
Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve annual fee worth it?
For most frequent travelers, yes. The $300 automatic travel credit brings the effective fee to $495, which is further offset by The Edit hotel credits (2 x $250 per year), Priority Pass access (saving $35-50 per lounge visit), trip insurance, and 3x earning on travel and dining. Cardholders who use the credits regularly net a fee well under $100.
What is the difference between Amex Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve?
Amex Platinum ($895) has better lounge access — Centurion Lounges are significantly nicer than Priority Pass — more airline transfer partners (18 vs. 10), and 5x on flights. Chase Sapphire Reserve ($795) has better travel insurance, a simpler $300 automatic travel credit with no portal restriction, and is $100 cheaper per year.
Which travel card covers Global Entry for free?
Chase Sapphire Reserve ($100 credit every 4 years), Amex Platinum ($100 credit), Capital One Venture X ($100 credit), and most other premium travel cards. Most airline co-branded cards also include this credit.
Is it worth getting both an airline card and a premium travel card?
Often yes — pair a premium card (Amex, Chase, or Capital One) for everyday spend and lounge access with an airline co-branded card for free checked bags and status credit on your primary airline.
Know when to leave for the airport
Your premium card covers the lounge — make sure you have time to use it. Your Leave-By Timecounts back from departure using today's live TSA security wait, your drive time, and the terminal walk.
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