These are the four cards in my actual wallet. Nothing theoretical about it.
Chase Sapphire Preferred ($95/year) — My all-around go-to. Earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points on everything, transfers to a dozen airline and hotel partners, and the travel protections are solid. For $95 a year this card is hard to beat for anyone who travels 2-3 times a year.
Chase United Explorer ($95/year) — My Star Alliance card. United’s network covers a massive chunk of the world — Lufthansa, ANA, Singapore Airlines, and Air Canada all fall under Star Alliance. Free checked bag on United flights, priority boarding, and two United Club passes per year.
Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus ($69/year) — My domestic card, though I’ve been giving Southwest some space lately while they work out the kinks in their new seat assignment system. The Rapid Rewards program is solid and points don’t expire as long as your card stays active.
Citi AAdvantage Business — My OneWorld card. American Airlines anchors OneWorld, which also includes British Airways, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Iberia. Good for international routes where American or its partners are the best option.
One honest gap: I don’t carry a SkyTeam card — no Delta, Air France, or KLM coverage. I simply don’t fly those airlines. If Delta is your carrier, the Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex is worth a look.
I don’t personally carry any of these, but if you travel frequently enough to actually use the perks, they can pay for themselves. Here’s what’s worth knowing.
Capital One Venture X ($395/year) — The best value in the premium tier right now. $300 annual travel credit, 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary, and Priority Pass lounge access. If you use the travel credit, the effective annual fee drops to $95. Hard to argue with that math.
Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550/year) — The card that defined the premium travel era. $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass lounge access, 3x points on travel and dining, and some of the strongest travel protections available. A serious card for serious travelers.
Amex Platinum ($695/year) — The prestige option. The fee is real, but so are the perks — up to $200 airline fee credit, $200 hotel credit, Centurion Lounge access, and more. Heavy travelers who actually use every benefit can come out well ahead. If you have to ask whether it’s worth it, it probably isn’t yet.
If you travel once or twice a year and don’t want to think about justifying an annual fee, these cards earn solid rewards with no cost to carry.
Chase Freedom Unlimited ($0/year) — Earns 1.5% cash back on everything, 3% on dining and drugstores. The real value: if you also carry the Sapphire Preferred, you can combine the points and transfer them to travel partners. A great companion card that costs nothing to hold.
Capital One VentureOne ($0/year) — Simple flat-rate miles earning with no annual fee. Easy to use, no complicated category tracking, and miles transfer to a solid list of airline partners.
Bilt Mastercard ($0/year) — Unique in one specific way: it earns points on rent payments with no transaction fee. If you’re a renter, this is the only card that turns your biggest monthly expense into travel rewards. Points transfer to airlines and hotels just like the premium cards.