![Best Credit Cards With Travel Credits and Airline Incidental Credits [2026]](https://awardwallet.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Header-_AA_Aircraft_at_the_gate.png)
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Offers for the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card, Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card, The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card, EXPEDIA®+ VOYAGER CARD from Citi, Citi Prestige® Card and Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business are not available through this site. Some offers may have expired. Please see our card marketplace for available offers
$600 hotel credit offered with American Express Platinum Card® applies to prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings made via American Express Travel®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
Benjamin Franklin famously noted that nothing is certain except death and taxes. These days, rising airline fees might belong on that list, too.
In 2025 alone, U.S. airlines collected more than $6 billion in baggage and change fees, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
Credit cards with airline and travel credits can help offset these costs — but not all credits work the same, and the differences can be confusing. Here’s what you need to know.
Page Contents
- Our Pick: The Best Credit Card With Airline Incidental Credits
- The Best Hotel Card With Airline Credits
- The Best Card for High-Value Airline Credits
- Our Pick: The Best Credit Card With General Travel Credits
- The Most Affordable Card With Travel Credits
- The 15 Rewards Credit Cards With Travel Credits
- Restrictions on Credit Card Travel Credits
- Final Thoughts
Our Pick: The Best Credit Card With Airline Incidental Credits
(Terms apply)
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount - all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
- Earn 5X points on Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings.
The American Express Platinum Card® is famous for its suite of statement credits that cardholders can maximize to help offset its eye-watering $895 annual fee. One of the most valuable — and easiest to use — is the airline incidental fee credit, which offers up to $200 back each year for eligible incidentals charged with your selected airline.
Unlike other Platinum Card® statement credits, you can use the full $200 credit in one transaction or split it up into multiple purchases throughout the year.
Where you can use this credit
The caveat is that you must choose one qualifying airline, and you'll only receive credits charged by that airline. New cardholders can select their airline at any time, while existing cardmembers can change their selected airline once per year in January.
Eligible airlines include:
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Hawaiian Airlines
- JetBlue Airways
- Southwest Airlines
- Spirit Airlines
- United Airlines
How you can use this credit
You can use the credit for a variety of incidentals, including checked bags, in-flight food and beverages, flight change fees, overweight or oversized baggage, airport lounge day passes, pet fees, phone reservation fees, and more.
Other card perks
The Platinum Card® also offers up to $600 in credits, split into two $300 semiannual credits on eligible bookings through Amex Travel. You can book a luxury property through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or a midscale property in The Hotel Collection to trigger the credit. However, The Hotel Collection requires a two-night stay.
If you're a small business owner, consider the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. It offers an identical airline incidental fee credit, along with credits for prepaid hotel bookings through Amex Travel.
Related: Platinum Card® Full Review
The Best Hotel Card With Airline Credits
(Terms apply)
- Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 4/15/2026.
- Enhance your hotel stay with complimentary Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status and enjoy a world of hotel privileges and benefits. Get exclusive perks at any of Hilton's 25 hotel brands, like a 100% Bonus on Base Points earned on every stay, Premium Wi-Fi and space-available room upgrades at select properties, and more.
- Enjoy an Annual Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors in your first year of Card Membership and every year upon Card renewal.
- Card Members can earn 14X Points on purchases made directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
- Card Members can earn 7X Points on purchases of Flights booked directly with airlines or flights booked through American Express Travel, Car rentals purchased directly from select car rental companies, and purchases at U.S. Restaurants.
- Card Members can earn 3X Points on all other eligible purchases.
- $400 Hilton Resort Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually for eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton Resorts on your Hilton Honors Aspire Card. That's up to $400 back annually.
- $200 Flight Credit: Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter, for a total of up to $200 back each year, on flight purchases made directly with airlines or via AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ using your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: You can receive up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you sign up and pay for a CLEAR+ Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your eligible Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
- Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you can earn an additional Free Night Reward from Hilton after you spend an additional $30,000 (for a total of $60,000) in purchases on your Card in the same calendar year.
- $100 Property Credit: Receive up to a $100 credit for qualifying charges at Waldorf Astoria® Hotels & Resorts and Conrad® Hotels & Resorts properties when you book a 2 night minimum stay with your Card at HiltonHonorsAspireCard.com and select the Aspire Card Benefit rate option on the booking page, or call Hilton Honors at 855-292-5757 with the proper booking reference.
- Hilton Honors Aspire Card Members can enjoy complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status, including perks like Executive Area Access (for full-size reservations and above) in the USA and Canada. Card Members must enroll in the National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status through their American Express online account using their Card. Terms apply.
- Pay It Plan It®: Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You'll know upfront exactly how much you'll pay.
- Whenever you travel more than 100 miles from home, Global Assist® Hotline is available for 24/7 emergency assistance and coordination services, including medical and legal referrals, emergency cash wires, and missing luggage assistance. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Other terms and conditions apply.
- Points don't expire while your Hilton Honors American Express Card is active and in good standing.
- $550 annual fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio
- 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly through select rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants
- 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is a particularly valuable card — especially if you enjoy staying at Hilton properties. In addition to automatic Hilton Honors Diamond status, a $200 semiannual Hilton Resorts credit, and an annual free night award, cardholders can get up to $50 in quarterly statement credits on flight purchases made directly with an airline or through AmexTravel.com.
This means you can use your flight credit to offset airfare, cover taxes and fees on an award ticket, or pay for things like checked baggage or in-flight Wi-Fi, as long as the purchase is charged by the airline rather than a third party.
Related: Hilton Aspire Full Review
The Best Card for High-Value Airline Credits
- 2 points for every dollar spent on travel and dining purchases
- 1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases
Bank of America credit cards don't get much recognition in the points and miles community. The issuer doesn't offer transfer partners, so you can't convert points to hotel and airline partners for maximum value. But that doesn't mean these cards don't deserve a spot in your wallet.
The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card offers the most valuable airline incidental credit on this list, as well as a variety of other statement credits and perks. Cardholders receive up to $300 in statement credits each year for qualifying airline purchases, including seat upgrades, baggage fees, airline lounge fees, and in-flight services — $100 more than what's offered by the Platinum Card® or the Hilton Aspire.
The Bank of America Premium Elite Card charges a $550 annual fee. However, for a more affordable option, the Bank of America Premium Rewards Card offers $100 in airline incidental fee credits and charges an annual fee of just $95.
Related: Bank of America Premium Elite Card Full Review
Our Pick: The Best Credit Card With General Travel Credits
- Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music - all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 - a value of $250 annually
- Member FDIC
- 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
- 3x points on dining worldwide
- 1x points on all other purchases
Rather than an airline incidentals fee credit, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers the most flexible travel credit on the market. Cardholders get $300 back each year on travel purchases, including airfare, hotels, cruises, and Airbnb stays. You can easily use the credit to pay taxes and fees on award redemptions, allowing you to travel for nothing out of pocket.
If that's not enough, the $500 booking credit with The Edit might sway you to apply. This benefit is split into two $250 credits and applies to prepaid stays of two nights or more through Chase’s luxury hotel program, which rivals Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts.
The Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ also includes the same $300 annual travel credit and $500 The Edit credit, making it a great option for businesses that regularly travel for work.
Related: Sapphire Reserve Full Review
The Most Affordable Card With Travel Credits
- 10X miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on purchases through Capital One Entertainment
- 5X miles per $1 on flights when booking via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per $1 on all other eligible purchases
Although the $300 travel credit offered by the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Business might sound similar to the credit on the Sapphire Reserve, there's an important distinction. The Capital One Venture X‘s credit is only valid on bookings made through Capital One Travel, which means it's far less flexible.
That said, the card’s annual fee is just $395 — compared to $795 for the Sapphire Reserve — which helps offset that limitation. The credit is also straightforward to use: simply book a flight or hotel through the portal.
In addition, you can redeem Capital One miles for statement credits to cover recent travel purchases made within the last 90 days. Any purchase coded as travel will qualify, and miles can be redeemed at a flat rate of 1 cent per mile. While that’s lower than the 2.04¢ per mile value AwardWallet users typically get, it’s a practical option if your goal is to minimize out-of-pocket travel costs.
All miles-earning Capital One cards qualify, including:
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One Venture X Business
- Capital One Spark Miles for Business
- Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business
Related: Capital One Venture X Full Review
The 15 Rewards Credit Cards With Travel Credits
Here is an overview of the best credit cards with travel credits and airline incidental credits:
| Credit Card | Annual Credit | Eligible Purchases | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Platinum Card® | Up to $200 airline incidentals credit on one airline (chosen annually) $600 hotel credit (up to $300 semiannually) on select prepaid hotels with Amex Travel (The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay) Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits. | Baggage fees, change or cancellation fees, in-flight food and beverages, and lounge admission Fees must be charged separately from ticket purchase to qualify Applies only to Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings | $895 - Rates & Fees |
| The Business Platinum Card® from American Express | Up to $200 airline incidentals credit on one airline (chosen annually) $600 hotel credit (up to $300 semiannually) on select prepaid hotels with Amex Travel (The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay) Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits. | Baggage fees, change or cancellation fees, in-flight food and beverages, and lounge admission Fees must be charged separately from ticket purchase to qualify Applies only to Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings | $895 - Rates & Fees |
| Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card | $200 airline credit, issued as $50 quarterly for airline or Amex Travel® purchases up to $400 Hilton Resort statement credit Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits. | Airfare booked through Amex Travel; excludes most ancillary fees, including change or cancellation fees Eligible purchases at participating Hilton Resorts, including on-property dining, spa services, and other charges billed to your room | $550 - Rates & Fees |
| Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card | $300 airline incidentals credit on qualifying U.S. domestic airlines only | Preferred seating, change or cancellation fees, checked baggage, in-flight purchases, and airline-affiliated lounge access | $550 |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees) | $300 travel credit $500 credit (up to $250 semiannually) on prepaid hotels booked with The Edit (two-night minimum required) | Almost any travel purchase Applies only to bookings with The Edit | $795 |
| Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (Rates & Fees) | $300 travel credit $500 credit (up to $250 semiannually) on prepaid hotels booked with The Edit (two-night minimum required) | Almost any travel purchase Applies only to bookings with The Edit | $795 |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | $300 travel credit that applies to bookings with Capital One Travel | Flights, hotels, and car rentals | $395 |
| Capital One Venture X Business | $300 travel credit that applies to bookings with Capital One Business Travel | Flights, hotels, and car rentals | $395 |
| Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card (Rates & Fees) | $50 airline credit | Airline purchases of $50 or more (one-time use) | $95 |
| Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card | Up to $100 airline incidentals credit on U.S. domestic airlines only | Preferred seating, change or cancellation fees, checked baggage, in-flight purchases, and airline-affiliated lounge access | $95 |
| Crystal® Visa Infinite® Credit Card | $350 airline incidentals credit on U.S. domestic airlines only | Change or cancellation fees, checked baggage, in-flight purchases, lounge memberships or day passes, onboard Wi-Fi, and TSA PreCheck application fees | $400 |
| PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® | Up to $100 airline incidentals credit on U.S. domestic airlines only | Baggage fees, seat upgrades, in-flight purchases, Wi-Fi and entertainment, and lounge fees; change/cancellation fees may not qualify | $95 (waived for PenFed Honors Advantage members) |
| Citi Prestige® Card (not open to new applicants) | $250 travel credit | Airlines, hotels, car rentals, travel agencies, transit (including ferries, trains, subways, and buses), taxis and rideshares, cruises, tolls, and parking | $495 |
| The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card (available only by product change) | $300 airline incidentals credit (not automatic; request via phone or secure message) | Airline fees outside of airfare, including baggage fees, seat upgrades, in-flight purchases, and lounge access | $450 |
| U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card (not open to new applicants) | $325 travel credit | Any merchant classified as travel as well as dining, restaurant takeout, or food delivery | $400 |
Restrictions on Credit Card Travel Credits
Not all credit card travel credits are created equal. Most have restrictions on what you can claim. Some require you to manually enroll or request the credit, while others are credited automatically and cover most travel-related expenses.
To complicate things further, some credits only apply to a specific airline or to bookings made through the bank's travel portal. While we cover the basics for each card, reading your card's guide to benefits will give you a much greater understanding and possibly save you hundreds of dollars over your card's lifetime.
Final Thoughts
Airline and travel credits are a great way to reduce out-of-pocket travel expenses. Yes, most cards charge a hefty annual fee. But they can also include valuable benefits — like lounge access, hotel elite status, and trip insurance — that help offset that cost over time.
Which travel credit is best? All things considered, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees) stands out for its flexibility. The up to $300 annual credit applies to a broad range of travel purchases, from airfare and hotels to tolls and transit.
However, each card on this list offers something a little different. The right choice comes down to how you travel and which credits you’ll actually use.
Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: American Express Platinum Card® (Rates & Fees), Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees), Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (Rates & Fees), and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees)
