The top 6 Chase travel credit cards for 2024.

One of the top card issuers for travel is Chase, which offers valuable travel perks and flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards® points. Additionally, Chase issues co-branded credit cards for airlines and hotels such as Marriott and United for brand loyalists.

To assist you in selecting the best Chase travel credit card for your needs, CNBC Select evaluated travel cards offered by Chase, taking into account the benefits and fees of each card (for more details on our selection process, please refer to our methodology).

Best for beginners

If you're a beginner looking for your first travel card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a beginner-friendly option due to its reasonable annual fee, versatile rewards program, and generous welcome bonus.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers valuable rewards for travelers. With Ultimate Rewards points, you can redeem them for cash back or gift cards at a rate of one cent each. When using Ultimate Rewards points to pay for travel booked through Chase Travel℠, the value increases to 1.25 cents per point. Additionally, you can transfer Chase points at a 1:1 ratio to over a dozen partner travel programs, including United MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards, and World of Hyatt.

Best for no annual fee

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is suitable for those seeking a card with no annual fee and a high rewards rate for everyday purchases. Additionally, it pairs well with other Ultimate Rewards® cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred, allowing you to convert your cashback into transferrable Ultimate Rewards® points.

Pairing the Freedom Unlimited with a Chase card that enables transfers, such as the Sapphire Preferred, can significantly increase the value you receive with this no-annual-fee card. This is because you can transfer the rewards you earn with your Freedom Unlimited to all of Chase's transfer partners.

Best for business owners

This credit card is ideal for business owners seeking flexible travel rewards through its generous bonus spending categories.

The Ink Business Preferred card offers 3X points per dollar spent on shipping, advertising, travel, and internet, cable, and phone services, making it a valuable choice for businesses looking to quickly accumulate Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Best for premium benefits

If you have a strong credit score and desire premium perks such as airport lounge access and built-in travel protections, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is ideal for you.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers an annual travel credit of up to $300, which can be used for travel expenses charged to the card. This credit is automatically applied to eligible purchases, including airfare, lodging, public transit, and parking fees, making it easy to use. Additionally, you can enjoy unlimited access to over 1,300 Priority Pass™ airport lounges with the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Best for IHG stays

This IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is ideal for both frequent and occasional guests due to its brand-specific perks and sufficient value.

IHG hotels offer a standout benefit for every account anniversary: a free night award valid for up to 40,000 points. Additionally, you can top off this award if the night costs more than 40,000 points. If you want to book a room that costs 55,000 points, you can still use your award and pay the 15,000-point difference. This benefit alone can be valuable enough to justify paying the card's annual fee.

Best for Southwest flyers

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card offers additional perks for those who appreciate Southwest's consumer-friendly policies such as free checked bags and no change or cancellation fees.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card offers standout benefits that make earning the Southwest Companion Pass easier. Points earned, including the welcome bonus, count towards qualifying, and you receive a 10,000 qualifying-point boost annually. The Companion Pass is highly valuable as it enables you to bring a guest on any Southwest flight for the cost of taxes and fees.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The value of the points earned and ongoing benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card justify its annual fee.

Rewards

5X points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
5X points per dollar on Lyft rides through Mar. 31, 2025
3X points per dollar on dining
Online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs) offer 3X points.
3X points per dollar on select streaming services
2X points per dollar on all other travel purchases
1X points per dollar on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

After opening an account and spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months, you will earn 60,000 bonus points.

Annual fee

$95

Notable perks

The Sapphire Preferred's benefits provide a fixed value that more than offsets its annual fee, including perks such as:

Book hotel stays through Chase Travel℠ to receive up to $50 in annual travel credit.
10% points boost every card anniversary
Activate by Dec. 31, 2024 to receive a complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership for at least one year (normally costs $9.99 a month or $96 for an annual plan).

This card offers a comprehensive range of insurance benefits, and qualifying purchases receive coverage.

Trip delay reimbursement
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Baggage delay insurance
Lost luggage reimbursement
Travel accident insurance
Travel and emergency assistance services
Purchase protection
Extended warranty protection

You can redeem your Chase points in various ways, including cash back at a rate of one cent per point and travel booked through Chase Travel℠ at a rate of 1.25 cents per point. Additionally, the Sapphire Preferred allows you to transfer Chase points to airline and hotel loyalty programs such as Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, Air Canada Aeroplan, IHG One Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy and more.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Pairing the Chase Freedom Unlimited with other Chase cards is advantageous because it earns a minimum of 1.5% cash back on all purchases and does not have an annual fee.

Rewards

5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel
5% back on Lyft rides (through March 2025)
3% back at drugstores
Eating out at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services) is now 3% cheaper.
1.5% back on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

You will receive an extra 1.5% cash back on all purchases within the first year, up to a total of $20,000.

Annual fee

Notable perks

Opening a new Freedom Unlimited account grants you a 0% intro APR for 15 months on new purchases and balance transfers. After that, a variable APR of 20.49% to 29.24% applies. The intro balance transfer fee is 3% of the transfer amount with a $5 minimum, which applies to transfers made within the first 60 days of account opening. After the intro fee expires, it increases to 5% of the transfer amount or $5, whichever is greater.

You can also take advantage of the following built-in coverages:

Extended warranty protection
Rental car collision insurance (secondary in the U.S.)
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Travel and emergency assistance services

This card offers cash-back rewards, but if you have another Chase card that enables points transfers, you can transfer your rewards to that card. This makes it an excellent companion with cards that allow points transfers.

You can maximize the value you receive by having the option to convert your rewards into airline miles or hotel points.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a highly versatile business card that boasts an exceptionally generous intro bonus offer.

Rewards

5X points on Lyft rides (through March 31, 2025)
Each account anniversary year, customers receive 3X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases in the categories of shipping, advertising (on select social media sites and search engines), travel, internet, cable and phone services.
1X points on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

After opening an account and spending $8,000 on purchases within the first three months, you will earn 100,000 bonus points.

Annual fee

$95

Notable perks

You and your employees can enjoy various insurance benefits without any additional fees for adding employee cards or foreign transaction fees.

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Roadside dispatch
Rental car insurance (primary when renting for business purposes)
Travel and emergency assistance services
Purchase protection
Cell phone protection

The Ink Business Preferred card earns Ultimate Rewards points that can be redeemed for cash back, travel gift cards, and more. These points are worth one cent each for redemptions like cash back or gift cards. However, the value increases by 25% (1.25 cents per point) if you use your points to book and pay for travel through Chase Travel℠. Additionally, you can transfer points to any Chase travel partner at a 1:1 ratio, including Marriott Bonvoy, Emirates Skywards, Flying Blue (Air France/KLM), and more.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

A luxury travel card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve, offers generous statement credit benefits, airport lounge access, and a comprehensive list of shopping and travel protections.

Rewards

Purchasing hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠* offers 10X total points per dollar.
10X points per dollar on Lyft purchases through March 2025
Earning 10X points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 can result in a maximum of 50,000 total points by March 2025.
5X total points per dollar on flights purchased through Chase Travel℠*
3X points per dollar on other travel*
3X points per dollar on dining
1X points per dollar on all other purchases

*After the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually

Welcome bonus

After opening an account and spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months, you will earn 60,000 bonus points.

Annual fee

$550

Notable perks

The Sapphire Reserve has a substantial annual fee of $550, but its numerous benefits offer more than enough value to justify the cost.

Up to $300 in annual travel credits
You and two guests can enjoy unlimited access to Priority Pass lounges for free, without any guest fees (normally costs $469).
Every four years, you can receive up to $100 in credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or Nexus fees.
When activated by Dec. 31, 2024, you will receive two years of complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership, which is worth $199 per year.
Activate your DashPass membership by Dec. 31, 2024 and receive at least one year of complimentary access.
$5 in DoorDash credit each month through Dec. 31, 2024

The Sapphire Reserve offers automatic coverage for many benefits, including trip insurance and extended warranty protection for eligible purchases.

Purchase protection
Extended warranty protection
Return protection
Primary rental car collision coverage
Trip interruption/cancellation insurance
Travel accident insurance
Baggage delay protection
Travel accident insurance
Emergency medical and dental insurance
Travel and emergency assistance services

The Sapphire Reserve offers increased redemption value for travel booked through Chase Travel℠, with points worth 50% more or 1.5 cents per point. However, you may be able to receive a higher value per point by transferring your rewards to programs such as Air Canada Aeroplan or Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) and booking costly flights.

This card has no foreign transaction fees.

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card enhances your IHG stays by offering bonus points on IHG purchases and IHG Platinum elite status perks.

Rewards

10X points at IHG hotels and resorts
5X points on travel
5X points at gas stations
5X points at restaurants
3X points on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

After three months of using the card, you will earn 140,000 points for every $3,000 spent.

Annual fee

$99

Notable perks

If you value IHG One status, you'll receive automatic Platinum status with the card, and have the opportunity to earn IHG Diamond status by spending $40,000 in a calendar year. Additionally, every year you keep the card, you'll receive a free night award valid for rooms up to 40,000 points, and can top off the award with extra points to book a more expensive room.

Using this card, you can indirectly increase the value of your IHG points by taking advantage of its fourth-night free benefit. This benefit allows you to book an IHG stay of at least four consecutive nights and have the fourth night free. You can use this benefit as often as you like, resulting in significant savings.

The card also comes with statement credit offers and other perks, including:

A 20% discount on IHG points purchases
Each year, you can earn up to $50 in United TravelBank Cash by making a $25 deposit twice.
Every four years, you can receive up to $100 in application fee credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS.
After spending $20,000 on your card in a calendar year, you will receive a $100 statement credit and 10,000 IHG points.

The new version of the sentence is: "The card offers no foreign transaction fees and includes insurance benefits such as purchase protection and trip cancellation/interruption coverage."

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Earning Southwest A-List elite status can be accelerated with the use of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card.

Rewards

3X points on Southwest purchases
2X points on hotel and rental cars booked through Southwest
2X points on local transit
2X points on internet, cable and phone services
1X points on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

After three months of opening your account, you will receive 85,000 bonus points for every $3,000 spent on purchases.

Annual fee

$149

Notable perks

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card has the highest annual fee among Southwest consumer credit cards, but it also offers the most valuable benefits. Each year, you'll receive a $75 Southwest travel credit and 7,500 bonus points (worth roughly $97). If you use both offers to their fullest, you'll more than offset the card's annual fee.

Earning a Southwest Companion Pass is made easier with a Southwest card, as points earned from spending with the card and its welcome offer contribute towards earning a Companion Pass. Additionally, you receive a 10,000 qualifying-point boost every calendar year.

Easily earn Southwest status with this card by accumulating 1,500 TQPs for every $5,000 spent annually, with no limit on the number of TQPs earned. Additionally, enjoy 25% back on inflight purchases and four upgraded boardings annually (when available).

The card offers travel and purchase protections, including roadside assistance, rental car damage coverage, purchase protection, extended warranty coverage, lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, and travel accident insurance.

Chase travel credit card application rules

The Chase 5/24 rule applies to all Chase credit card applications and states that you are unlikely to be approved if you have opened five or more cards from any bank in the past 24 months.

There are also specific restrictions for these cards:

IHG One Rewards credit cards

If you currently have a personal IHG One Rewards card or have earned an intro bonus offer from any personal IHG One Rewards card in the previous 24 months, you are not eligible for a personal IHG One Rewards card.

Eligibility for the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card is restricted if you currently possess or have earned an intro bonus from an IHG One Rewards business card within the past 24 months.

You can still qualify for a personal IHG card if you open an IHG business card, and vice versa.

Southwest credit card application rules

Currently, Southwest offers three personal credit cards and two business credit cards. It is possible to have one personal Southwest card and one business Southwest card simultaneously. However, individuals are not eligible for a new personal Southwest card if they currently possess a personal Southwest card or have earned a new card member intro bonus from a Southwest personal card within the past 24 months. Similarly, individuals are not eligible for a Southwest business card if they currently possess a business Southwest card or have earned a Southwest business card intro bonus within the past 24 months.

Marriott Bonvoy credit card application rules

Both Chase and American Express offer co-branded Marriott Bonvoy credit cards, but their restrictions and waiting periods vary depending on the cards you have, have had, and when you earned previous Marriott Bonvoy card welcome bonuses. Therefore, it is crucial to review each card's specific terms before applying, as even having an Amex Marriott card could affect your eligibility for a new cardmember bonus.

Chase Sapphire credit card application rules

To be eligible for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you must not have had any Sapphire card in the last 48 months. The rules for these cards are more restrictive compared to other Chase cards.

You can upgrade or downgrade your card account if you already have one, and the Sapphire Reserve offers more perks while the Sapphire Preferred has a lower annual fee.

World of Hyatt credit card application rules

If you currently have a World of Hyatt Business Credit Card or have earned a welcome bonus from that card in the past 24 months, you won't qualify for the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card or World of Hyatt Credit Card. However, having a personal Hyatt card won't prevent you from opening a Hyatt Business card, and vice versa.

United credit card application rules

United Airlines and Chase have teamed up to offer various personal and business credit cards. The application requirements are consistent across all Chase United credit cards. Generally, you cannot apply for a specific card product if you currently possess that exact card or have received an intro bonus from that card within the past 24 months.

You won't qualify for the United Club℠ Infinite Card if you currently have any United Club card or if you have earned an intro bonus from any United Club card in the previous 24 months.

Pros and cons of Chase travel credit cards

Among the best credit cards for travel, Chase credit cards offer a range of co-branded airline and hotel cards. Additionally, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are highly valuable and practical travel points to earn.

To qualify for the best Chase travel cards, you typically need a higher credit score. While the rewards may be valuable, redeeming the miles and points can be complicated.

Pros of Chase travel credit cards

You can use the miles and points you accumulate to book expensive travel, such as business-class tickets or lavish hotels.
Some high-end Chase cards come with exclusive benefits such as airport lounge access and automatic elite status.
Numerous cards offer exceptional welcome bonuses, with some of the top deals worth over $1,000.

Cons of Chase travel credit cards$

Redeeming travel rewards for the highest value can sometimes be a complicated endeavor
The cards with the best perks often come with the highest annual fees among most travel cards.
A higher credit score is usually required to qualify for the best Chase travel card.

Why trust CNBC Select?

Our mission at CNBC Select is to deliver top-notch service journalism and in-depth consumer advice to our readers, enabling them to make well-informed decisions when it comes to their finances. Each credit card review we publish is the result of thorough reporting by our team of expert writers and editors, who possess extensive knowledge of credit card products. At CNBC Select, we are committed to maintaining our journalistic standards and ethics, even when it comes to earning a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links. Our methodology outlines the process we use to select the best Chase travel credit cards, which are based on our rigorous reporting and extensive research.

Our methodology

To determine the best value for Chase travel credit cards, CNBC Select analyzed Chase's offerings based on various features. We evaluated rewards, annual fees, welcome bonuses, and other fees such as introductory and standard APR, balance transfer fees, and foreign transaction fees. Additionally, we considered additional perks, cardholder protections, ease of application, and redemption options. We also took into account CNBC Select audience data, such as demographics and engagement with our content and tools.

We prioritized travel protections and elite status benefits when choosing the best Chase travel cards, in addition to focusing on relevant features such as widely accepted cards that offer bonus rewards on travel spending.

Stay up to date with CNBC Select's comprehensive coverage of credit cards, banking, and money by following us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.