Are credit cards worth it for travel points?

It depends on how you use your card. If you only use your card for occasional purchases, or if you don't pay off your balance in full each month, you may not earn enough travel points to justify the card's annual fee and high interest rate. But if you find a card with a high rewards earn rate and use it for a wide range of regular purchases, and also make sure to pay your full balance each month, travel rewards cards can definitely be worth it.

How do points caps work?

Some cards come with spend caps, meaning you might be able to only earn a certain number of points per statement period. For example, you may only be able to earn up to 7,500 points per statement period. After you have reached this cap, you'll either continue to earn points at a reduced earn rate or will be unable to earn points until the next statement period. Check your credit card's terms and conditions for details of points caps and consider whether it could impact your points earning potential. For example, if you have a card that earns 1 point per $1 up to 7,500 points per month, you would only be affected by the cap if you spend over $7,500 each month.

Can I cancel my travel credit card after receiving a bonus points offer?

In most cases, you can cancel the credit card with no additional fees or charges after receiving your bonus points so long as you have paid off your balance in full. However, you may be charged the annual fee or a percentage of that fee based on how long the account has been active. If your credit card has $0 annual fee for the first year and you cancel within the first 12 months, you may be able to avoid this. Check with your provider to find out if fees will apply.

Can I earn points across different travel rewards programs?

This is possible with a credit card reward program that allows you to transfer reward points into travel rewards points. Make sure you check the transfer rate for these cards though as you may "lose" points when exchanging them to different travel rewards programs. Alternatively, if you have a direct earn travel rewards card, the associated airline partners and alliances let you use your points to travel with other airline partners. [/fin_accordion] As a general rule, most travel reward points cannot be redeemed after they have expired. Some will expire after a certain amount of time, whereas others will expire if your rewards account has remained inactive (meaning you haven't earned or redeemed any points) over a particular period of time. Check with the travel rewards program to confirm when and how your points expire so you can use them while they're still valid.

How do I get complimentary access to lounges?

A selection of premium credit cards offer access to airport lounges, including most travel rewards credit cards.

What is the best credit card for travelling?

There's no best credit card to earn points for travel for every person. This is because everyone has a unique set of needs and lifestyle that will demand different features in a credit card. The best card for you will be one that fits your budget, offers practical benefits and gives you a decent return on points.

How do I get the most travel rewards?

Start by looking for the travel rewards credit card with the highest earn rate and check the value of the points you earn. Then it's a matter of using your card for your regular purchases as well as any other eligible purchases that let you earn points at an accelerated rate. At the same time, you need to be careful not to fall into the trap of overspending with your card.

Is it worth getting a prepaid travel card?

Prepaid travel cards are well worth considering if you're planning an overseas vacation, but they have a mix of pros and cons. On the plus side, they're an easy and safe alternative to carrying a large amount of cash, you can load them with multiple currencies, and they can help you secure a better exchange rate before your trip. However, you'll need to watch out for card fees and transaction fees, and make sure you have enough funds loaded to your card to cover all your travel expenses.

Which frequent flyer program should I get my credit card with?

Only you can know which frequent flyer program best suits your needs. As a starting point, you could try to think about what you want to get out of the program. For example, do you want to earn double the miles on your purchases? Then it could make sense to go with Aeroplan or AIR MILES. Do you want more flexible rewards? Then a bank-affiliated program like Avion or Aventura might be a better fit. Are you looking to earn miles with a specific airline? Perhaps an airline-affiliated card is the right choice for you. Think about what's most important to you to help determine which program is the best fit.

Can I apply for a travel rewards credit card online?

Yes. You can apply online for one of the credit cards in the table above by clicking "Go to Site" next to the card you're interested in. These cards don't represent all of the credit cards with airline miles on the market, but they are popular options.

Should I get a travel card now or wait until my credit score is better?

There are actually few high-perk travel cards for consumers with fair credit, so you might have a hard time finding the right product. In that case, there's no shame in waiting until your credit score improves. Once you have a good to excellent score, you'll have access to many stronger cards. Ultimately, the decision rests with you, and it depends on what you're looking for right now.

Is trip delay insurance worth it?

There's no hard-and-fast answer to this. Trip delay insurance is probably most useful if you're a frequent traveler, as there will be more instances in which your trips might be delayed. At the same time, you might find insurance valuable just for peace of mind on an occasional trip. If you're willing to shop around, there are travel credit cards with annual fees under $100/year that come with trip delay insurance. However, keep in mind that the most comprehensive insurance policies usually come with premium cards that charge higher annual fees.

Will I earn rewards for a balance transfer to my travel card?

No. You'll only earn rewards points or miles for eligible purchases.

Do all travel credit cards have annual fees?

No. You'll find a few no annual fee travel cards, but for the best rewards and benefits, however, you'll need to pay an annual fee — typically $99 and up. Some of these travel cards do come with perks such as travel and baggage insurance, trip delay and car rental insurance and free checked bags.

Will my travel rewards expire?

It depends on the rewards program. Rewards are more likely to expire for hotel and airline cards. Check your cards terms and conditions to learn about your specific rewards program.