Best Premium Credit Cards of December 2024
Updated: Nov 18, 2024
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Premium credit cards come with outsize perks. Rich rewards, travel credits and VIP treatment are just a few of the benefits premium cardholders can expect. But these cards also come with significant annual fees. That means it’s important to make sure you will extract more value from the card than you pay. Not everyone will qualify for premium cards. They are typically aimed at higher-spending consumers with good to excellent credit.
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NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Premium credit cards come with outsize perks. Rich rewards, travel credits and VIP treatment are just a few of the benefits premium cardholders can expect. But these cards also come with significant annual fees. That means it’s important to make sure you will extract more value from the card than you pay. Not everyone will qualify for premium cards. They are typically aimed at higher-spending consumers with good to excellent credit.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards.
Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today,
The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America"
and many other national, regional and local media outlets.
Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Show More
Premium credit cards come with outsize perks. Rich rewards, travel credits and VIP treatment are just a few of the benefits premium cardholders can expect. But these cards also come with significant annual fees. That means it’s important to make sure you will extract more value from the card than you pay. Not everyone will qualify for premium cards. They are typically aimed at higher-spending consumers with good to excellent credit.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Premium credit cards come with outsize perks. Rich rewards, travel credits and VIP treatment are just a few of the benefits premium cardholders can expect. But these cards also come with significant annual fees. That means it’s important to make sure you will extract more value from the card than you pay. Not everyone will qualify for premium cards. They are typically aimed at higher-spending consumers with good to excellent credit.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
NerdWallet's Best Premium Credit Cards of December 2024
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best for Overall premium card
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for Luxury travel perks
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Best for Travel portal benefits
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Best for Premium airline card
American Express® Gold Card: Best for Premium dining card
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for Premium card for business
Show SummaryHide Summary
Best Premium Credit Cards From Our Partners
| Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 The Platinum Card® from American ExpressApply Now on American Express' website on American Express' website | Best for Luxury travel perks | $695 | 1x-5x | 80,000 points | Apply Now on American Express' website on American Express' website |
 Chase Sapphire Reserve®Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website | Best for Overall premium card | $550 | 1x-10x | 60,000 points | Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website |
 The Business Platinum Card® from American ExpressApply Now on American Express' website on American Express' website | Best for Premium card for business | $695 | 1x-5x | 150,000 points | Apply Now on American Express' website on American Express' website |
 Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express CardApply Now on American Express' website on American Express' website | Best for Premium airline card | $650 | 1x-3x | 70,000 miles | Apply Now on American Express' website on American Express' website |
 American Express® Gold CardApply Now on American Express' website on American Express' website | Best for Premium dining card | $325 | 1x-4x | 60,000 points | Apply Now on American Express' website on American Express' website |
 Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardApply Now on Capital One's website on Capital One's website | Best for Travel portal benefits | $395 | 2x-10x | 75,000 miles | Apply Now on Capital One's website on Capital One's website |
Find the right credit card for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Luxury travel perks
The welcome offer, high rewards rates, rich redemption options, perks like airport lounge access and complimentary hotel benefits worth hundreds of dollars — everything about The Platinum Card® from American Express card screams luxury. Terms apply.
Our Take
The Platinum Card® from American Express is designed for consumers with high-end tastes and spending habits. In addition to the large welcome offer, cardholders earn 5 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on airfare (as long as you make the purchase through the airlines or American Express Travel); 5 points per $1 spent on hotels booked through amextravel.com; and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. In addition, you get a number of useful credits, including a $200 credit toward airline fees and $200 of annual Uber credits. Cardholders also enjoy access to over 1,000 airport lounges around the world and automatic upgrades at select hotels. Terms apply.
The biggest downside is the $695 annual fee, which stands out as high even among premium cards. Cardholders who are big travel spenders, though, will have no trouble extracting more value than they’re paying. Another negative is that not all merchants accept American Express, especially overseas.
The welcome offer, high rewards rates, rich redemption options, perks like airport lounge access and complimentary hotel benefits worth hundreds of dollars — everything about The Platinum Card® from American Express card screams luxury. Terms apply.
Overall premium card
Not only does the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offer a massive sign-up bonus and rich ongoing rewards, but cardholders also have a lot of flexibility in how they redeem those rewards, giving them access to a wide variety of airlines and hotel chains.
Product Details
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Member FDIC
Our Take
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® stands out for its large sign-up bonus as well as ongoing rewards: 3 points per dollar spent on travel and dining and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. If you purchase through Chase, you can earn even more: 10 points per dollar on Chase Dining, hotel stays and car rentals and 5 points on air travel. Those points can then be redeemed for 1.5 cents each when you book travel through Chase. You might even be able to squeeze more value out of your points by transferring them to the card's various hotel and airline partners. Other perks and highlights include an annual $300 travel credit, airport lounge access, application-fee credit for TSA Precheck or Global Entry, and no foreign transaction fees.
The $550 annual fee is a big one, and anyone who pays it should ensure they are getting more value out of the card than they are paying. If you use the $300 annual travel credit, then you’re already most of the way there.
Not only does the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offer a massive sign-up bonus and rich ongoing rewards, but cardholders also have a lot of flexibility in how they redeem those rewards, giving them access to a wide variety of airlines and hotel chains.
Premium card for business
For frequent business travelers, the perks that come with The Business Platinum Card® from American Express are hard to beat: elevated rewards, access to airport lounges, hotel status, and credits toward airline fees.
Product Details
- Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
- Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
- Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card®, here.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to the Card.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card®.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
- $695 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- View Rates & Fees
Our Take
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express comes with an impressive welcome offer, rich ongoing rewards, including 5X Membership Rewards on flights and prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com, and additional bonus points opportunities, including 35% points back on first- and business-class flights when you meet certain requirements. Terms apply. The card also gives you access to over 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and an annual $200 credit toward airline fees. Terms apply.
The annual fee of $695 is high, but can easily be worth it if you travel a lot for business. The opportunities to earn bonus points can also get a little complicated.
For frequent business travelers, the perks that come with The Business Platinum Card® from American Express are hard to beat: elevated rewards, access to airport lounges, hotel status, and credits toward airline fees.
Premium airline card
Every airline has a premium card that gives access to its airport lounges, but the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card gives you that AND an annual companion certificate that's good even in first class.
Product Details
- Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Enjoy complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club® when you fly Delta. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter. Once all 15 Visits have been used, Eligible Card Members may purchase additional Delta Sky Club Visits at a per-Visit rate of $50 per person using the Card.
- Receive four Delta Sky Club® One-Time Guest Passes each year when you fly Delta so you can share the experience with family and friends.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
- Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $10 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving elevated Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
- Receive a Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for round-trip domestic flights and no more than $250 for round-trip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Card receive upgrade priority over other Medallion Members within the same Medallion level and fare class.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $650 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.
- View Rates & Fees
Our Take
The card gets you access to Delta's Sky Clubs (an annual membership costs $695), and you can also use it to access American Express Centurion Lounges when flying Delta. Every year, you get a companion certificate, which lets you bring someone with you on a roundtrip flight to a domestic destination or to Mexico, the Caribbean or Central America, regardless of what fare class your ticket is. Rewards: 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases. And don't forget the sterling sign-up bonus. Terms apply.
You'll have to be a frequent Delta traveler to justify paying an annual fee of $650. Lounge access is only valuable if you use it, and to use a companion certificate, you have to pay full price for a ticket for yourself.
Every airline has a premium card that gives access to its airport lounges, but the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card gives you that AND an annual companion certificate that's good even in first class.
Premium dining card
With rich dining and travel rewards, not to mention valuable credits, the American Express® Gold Card can offset the cost of indulging in a little luxury.
Product Details
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- 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.
- View Rates & Fees
Our Take
You get an impressive welcome offer: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply. You also can earn high rewards rates in certain categories, including restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and flights booked with airlines or through amextravel.com. The card also offers $10 in monthly statement credits when you use the card at eligible merchants, including Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory and Wine.com. Terms apply. The card has no foreign transaction fees. Its annual fee, $325, is also lower than the fees on other premium cards. Terms apply.
Unlike many other premium cards, this one doesn’t come with automatic airport lounge access. You might also still run into merchants who don’t accept American Express. And while the card's benefits can help offset most of its annual fee, you'll want to make sure you can make use of those benefits.
With rich dining and travel rewards, not to mention valuable credits, the American Express® Gold Card can offset the cost of indulging in a little luxury.
Travel portal benefits
Capital One's premium travel credit card can deliver terrific benefits — provided you're willing to do your travel spending through the issuer's online booking portal. That's where you'll earn the highest rewards rates plus credits that can make back the bulk of your annual fee.
Product Details
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- View Rates & Fees
Our Take
As with the regular Venture-branded card, you earn 2 miles per dollar on purchases. But when booking through Capital One Travel, you also get 5X miles on airfare and 10X miles on hotel and rental cars. There's up to $300 a year in statement credit for bookings through the portal, a 10,000-point annual bonus, airport lounge access and a jumbo sign-up offer.
The value you'll get from this card is highly dependent on whether you use Capital One to book your travel. If you prefer to reserve directly with airlines or hotels, look elsewhere. The bonus offer is big, but so is the spending required to earn it.
Capital One's premium travel credit card can deliver terrific benefits — provided you're willing to do your travel spending through the issuer's online booking portal. That's where you'll earn the highest rewards rates plus credits that can make back the bulk of your annual fee.
FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS: BEST PREMIUM CARDS
Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Our pick for: Overall premium card
The high annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® gives many potential applicants pause, but frequent travelers should be able to wring enough value out of this card to more than make up for the cost. Cardholders get bonus rewards (up to 10X) on dining and travel, a fat bonus offer, annual travel credits, airport lounge access, and a 50% boost in point value when redeeming points for travel booked through Chase. Points can also be transferred to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Read our review.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Our pick for: Luxury travel perks
The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with a hefty annual fee, but travelers who like to go in style (and aren't afraid to pay for comfort) can more than get their money's worth. Enjoy extensive airport lounge access, hundreds of dollars a year in travel and shopping credits, hotel benefits and more. That's not even getting into the high rewards rate on eligible travel purchases and the rich welcome offer for new cardholders. Read our review.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Our pick for: Travel portal benefits
Capital One's premium travel credit card can deliver terrific benefits — provided you're willing to do your travel spending through the issuer's online booking portal. That's where you'll earn the highest rewards rates plus credits that can make back the bulk of your annual fee (see rates and fees). Read our review.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Our pick for: Premium airline card
Every airline has a premium card that gets you into its airport lounges, but the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card also gets you into American Express's Centurion Lounges when flying Delta, and it comes with an annual companion certificate that's good even in first class. Read our review.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Our pick for: Premium hotel card
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card comes with a steep annual fee, but its rich rewards (especially on travel and dining) and generous perks make it near-must for hardcore Hilton loyalists. Enjoy airline and resort credits, airport lounge access, automatic elite status, free weekend night awards and much more. Read our review.
American Express® Gold Card
Our pick for: Premium dining card
The American Express® Gold Card can earn you a pile of points from everyday spending, with generous rewards at U.S. supermarkets, at restaurants and on certain flights booked through amextravel.com. Other benefits include hundreds of dollars a year in available dining and travel credits and a solid welcome offer for new cardholders. There's an annual fee, though, and a pretty substantial one, so it's not for smaller spenders. Read our review.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Our pick for: Premium card for business
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express comes with a big annual fee. But business travelers who prefer to go in style will find plenty that appeals to them: high rewards on certain travel purchases, bonus rewards on larger nontravel purchases, a superb newcomer welcome offer, extensive airport lounge access, elite hotel status, hundreds of dollars a year in available credits and a list of perks as long as your arm. It's not cheap, but luxury never is. Terms apply. Learn more and apply.
• • •
HOW TO CHOOSE A PREMIUM TRAVEL CREDIT CARD
By Sally French, NerdWallet
Maybe you have that one friend who always lives it up on vacation. They post pictures of themselves in airport lounges, champagne in hand. They always seem to be getting suite upgrades at their hotels. Meanwhile, you’re waiting at the gate in the last group to board, trying to cram your airport sandwich into the backpack you’ll soon try to cram under the basic economy seat in front of you.
While your current credit card rewards account might consist of a measly few hundred points you’ll exchange for a restaurant gift card, it’s possible to get a taste of the VIP life by upgrading to a premium travel credit card.
Use this quiz to help you pick the best premium travel credit card:
What’s a premium travel credit card?
There’s no official definition of a premium travel credit card. On the whole, "premium" means a card comes with valuable benefits (though they vary widely by card). Some are airline-specific, like lounge access, free checked bags and priority boarding. Others are hotel-specific, like automatic elite status, free night certificates and free breakfast. And some credit cards are more general, but still packed with benefits.
One thing premium travel credit cards do have in common: three-figure annual fees. Among the most popular premium cards:
The Platinum Card® from American Express (Annual Fee: $695; see rates and fees).
Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Annual Fee: $550).
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (Annual Fee: $395; see rates and fees).
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (Annual Fee: $595).
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Annual Fee: $650; see rates and fees).
United Club℠ Infinite Card (Annual Fee: $525).
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card (Annual Fee: $550; see rates and fees ).
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (Annual Fee: $650; see rates and fees).
Terms apply.
Premium credit cards are not for you if…
A big annual fee has you reaching for the barf bag
All the great benefits don’t come for free. Premium cards generally have a fee of around $400 or more. While it’s generally not difficult for frequent travelers to justify the annual fee, that’s still a big cost upfront.
You need complete flexibility in your traveling
Hold a Delta credit card, and you need to commit to traveling a fair amount with Delta, regardless of whether that United flight is more convenient. Even the flexibility of a Chase or American Express travel portal won’t have all the booking options you may want. If you don’t like that level of commitment, a cash-back credit card is more flexible, but the trade-off is your cash back is unlikely to match the value you could earn by committing to travel rewards.
You can’t afford to pay your balance in full every month
These cards tend to have high APRs. If you’re not able to keep up with your bills in full, you’ll pay interest charges and other fees that’ll quickly eat into the value of any potential rewards. If you tend to carry a balance, consider a low-interest credit card instead.
How to know which premium travel credit card is best for you
You’ll probably just have one (maybe two) premium credit cards, so think carefully about which one you want. Unlike when you built your existing credit card collection, where you might have four store credit cards — Target, Amazon, Costco plus that Old Navy credit card you got in college — that tactic probably won’t fly on cards with $450 annual fees.
Once you’ve committed to getting a premium travel credit card, prioritize the benefits you value most and whittle down your options from there. There’s no one ultimate credit card that has everything, like airline status and hotel status and Centurion Lounge access and travel credits. But some cards come pretty close.
» Learn more: Should I get more than one travel credit card?
If you’re willing to be loyal to a specific brand
Some people find it easy to show brand loyalty. In some cases, it feels like the choice is made for you, like if your local airport happens to be an Alaska hub or if your corporate headquarters are next to a Marriott. Others like brand loyalty so they can build up status.
While brand-specific cards probably won’t help you much when you’re traveling with the brand’s competitor, they can propel you to VIP status at that brand with benefits like upgrade priority, free room nights on hotel cards or extra lounge access with the airline cards.
If you’re already loyal to American, Delta, United, Hilton or Marriott, or any of those brands’ transfer partners, then consider their branded card (click name for review):
If you’d rather be a free agent
Loyalty to one brand means minimal flexibility to book at others, which is challenging if your airline doesn’t serve your next travel destination. It also poses a cost-saving conundrum if a similar hotel from the competitor hotel chain is offering a huge discount.
You're considered a "travel credit card free agent" if you:
Like the flexibility to book different hotel brands or airline flights at the cheapest price.
Don’t want to commit to one brand.
Don’t stay at big brands at all, instead preferring mom-and-pop hotels, boutique lodging, or bed and breakfasts.
If that sounds like you, you’re probably better off with a card that lets you earn and redeem rewards through a broad “travel spending” category, which might entail one of these cards:
If you want both brand-specific perks and flexible points
You can’t have it all, but you can get pretty close with this option:
Additional perks to optimize for
Now that you’ve decided whether you want to be loyal to one brand versus having point flexibility, you can rule out a big chunk of cards from your list of premium cards to consider.
Cards for brand loyalty | Cards for flexibility |
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. | The Platinum Card® from American Express. |
United Club℠ Infinite Card. | Chase Sapphire Reserve®. |
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®. | Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. |
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. | |
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. |
Other factors to consider when picking the best premium credit card for you include airport lounge access, in-flight extras and checked bags, Global Entry and TSA PreCheck, bonus points on spending, trip insurance benefits and car rental coverage. Here's a closer look at which cards make sense for your specific preferences.
Airport lounge access
Are you the kind of person who brags about showing up to the gate five minutes before it closes? Or are you the kind of person who shows up two hours early to avoid the stress of missing your flight, and enjoys sipping a cappuccino before takeoff?
If you’re the former, you probably don’t need lounge access. If the latter, airport lounge access can drastically improve the quality of your trip. It’s amazing what a free drink consumed in a less-crowded, quieter setting can do.
All eigh cards give you some degree of airport lounge access; a good one for you will depend on which lounges you want access to.
The Platinum Card® from American Express: More than 1,300 airport lounges, including Centurion, Priority Pass (sans restaurants), Delta Sky Club and several others. Enrollment required.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Priority Pass Select (restaurants not included).
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Priority Pass Select (restaurants not included), Plaza Premium lounges (including select Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses) and Capital One Lounges.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Priority Pass Select (sans restaurants). Enrollment required.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Delta Sky Club.
United Club℠ Infinite Card: United Club membership.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®: Admirals Club.
Terms apply.
In-flight extras and checked bags
Do you regularly check bags, line up to be the first to board, and treat yourself to an in-flight beverage or snack beyond the usual soda and pretzels? Or do you pack light, bring your own in-flight meal and prefer being last to board anyway?
If the former, you’re either going to want a credit card that automatically covers the costs of those extras, or at least one that provides a statement credit reimbursing you for them.
Other than the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (which comes with only $300 in Marriott hotel credits) and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card the other cards discussed here come with some form of airline specific or general travel credit to cover these types of fees.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®: Free checked bags, early boarding and more (on American flights).
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Free checked bags, a Companion Certificate and more (on Delta flights).
United Club℠ Infinite Card: Free checked bags, upgrades on award tickets and more (on United flights).
The Platinum Card® from American Express: $200 in airline incidental credits for one airline of your choice.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Up to $200 back annually ($50 each quarter) on eligible flight purchases.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: $300 in broad travel credits.
Terms apply.
Global Entry and TSA PreCheck
Global Entry and TSA PreCheck are two types of programs that allow you to get through airport security quicker, which means you probably won’t have to take off your shoes, and you’ll likely get to your gate (or airline lounge) faster. Many premium credit cards on the market today will reimburse you for your application fee (TSA PreCheck is $78 and Global Entry is $120).
If you’re seeking Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, every card in this guide, with the exception of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, will get you a credit for these programs.
Bonus points on spending
One of the best ways to continually rack up more points and miles (to cover the cost of your travel) is by earning points for your everyday spending. Yet with premium credit cards, earning supercharged spending rewards can be a mixed bag. Some cards offer the best spending rewards you’ll find in certain categories, namely travel and dining. But other cards offer paltry earn rates, to the point where you’d be better charging your purchases to a cash-back card and using your earnings to pay for your next vacation.
Trip insurance benefits
Some credit cards — including many in this guide — provide travel insurance if you use your card to pay for your travel expenses.
The degree of coverage differs by card. Depending on how much coverage you need and the level of customization you’re willing to sacrifice, you might find your credit card’s coverage is sufficient enough that you don’t need to buy a separate policy from a travel insurance company at all.
The following travel cards also offer some sort of trip insurance:
Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
United Club℠ Infinite Card.
Terms apply.
Car rental coverage
Many credit cards also include some degree of rental car coverage. While most policies won’t cover absolutely everything, you might be able to avoid taking up the rental car company’s offer of coverage, usually for around an additional $10 a day, by charging your rental car to the right credit card.
For some cards, coverage is primary, while for others it’s secondary. If your card offers primary insurance coverage, typically you’ll have to decline the collision damage waiver or similar coverage offered by your rental car company in order for your credit card’s primary coverage to be applicable. Then use the card to pay for your rental.
The following travel cards also offer rental car coverage.
Primary coverage:
Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
United Club℠ Infinite Card.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
Secondary coverage:
The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
Terms apply.
The ultimate guide to picking the best luxury travel credit card
With annual fees in the hundreds of dollars for premium credit cards, you’ll have to think carefully about which one you want. Considering that many cards have overlapping benefits, it doesn’t make sense to pay two huge annual fees.
The biggest factor in deciding which premium card is best for you comes down to how flexible you’re willing to be with brands. If you’re flying with American, Delta or United regularly, you’ll find you get better benefits with their co-branded credit cards.
If you dislike the idea of sitting on a mountain of brand-specific miles you’re not certain when you’ll use, it’s almost always better to go for a general premium travel credit card.
Once you’ve committed, determine which other benefits you value most.
You can’t have it all, as there’s no single card that offers early boarding, airline lounge access, hotel status and unlimited free checked bags. If you’re looking for that, readjust your expectations.
But you can determine which credit card benefits are nonnegotiables, which ones might be nice-to-haves and which ones you don’t anticipate using at all.
It’s impossible to say whether one credit card is “the best.” After all, personal finance is personal. But for travelers who appreciate the finer things in life — and don’t mind paying hundreds of dollars in annual credit card fees to get them — the right premium credit card can greatly improve their travel experiences.
Insurance Benefit: Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
The maximum benefit amount for Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is $10,000 per Covered Trip and $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Insurance Benefit: Trip Delay Insurance
Up to $300 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 12 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Insurance Benefit: Trip Delay Insurance
Up to $500 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Insurance Benefit: Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance
Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
Insurance Benefit: Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance
Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
• • •
To view rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, see this page. All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is no longer available through NerdWallet. To view rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
Last updated on November 18, 2024
Methodology
NerdWallet's credit cards team selects the best credit cards in each category based on overall consumer value. Factors in our evaluation include fees, promotional and ongoing APRs, and sign-up bonuses; for rewards cards, we consider earning and redemption rates, redemption options and redemption difficulty. A single card is eligible to be chosen as among the "best" in multiple categories. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.
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