Travel Credit Cards: Getting Started

Wanderlust Wednesday: Week 2 

These days, my husband and I only go on two types of trips…the type of trips that are mostly free and the type of trips that are completely free! And travel credit cards are a big part of how we do it. In fact, they are the ONLY reason we can afford to travel right now. I won't drone on and on about how travel credit cards work or about being fiscally responsible with them because I've already done that here. For today, I want to share our recommendations for the best travel credit cards to use when you're just getting started. 

Using travel credit cards can be overwhelming, especially if you've never had a credit card before. Ahem, me a couple of years ago. Your best bet is to go directly to the source. Because transportation is almost always the biggest cost associated with travel, airline credit cards are a great place to begin. But then the question becomes, which one should you chose?

{charleston}

Pretty much every airline has it's own credit card. People make plenty of claims about which is best, but in reality, they are all very similar. Which card is best for you has a lot to do with personal preference. But I recommend signing-up for a credit card with the airline that you like most because you will be entering a long-term committed relationship with them. So don't start dating American Airlines, if you're just going to cheat on them with Delta next week. If you're unsure about which card to chose, here are a few recommendations for credit cards we've used and loved in the past. 

{nantucket}

ALASKAN AIRLINES 
If you're feeling nervous about getting a travel credit card, this is the BEST card to start with because there is no spending minimum. Most travel credit cards require you to spend $1000 or $2000 or more to get access to the rewards points. Not Alaskan Airlines. Currently, they will hand you 25k in points the moment you sign up! Depending on where you're going, that's enough for a few FREE flights. Check out even more benefits here. 

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES 
People rave about the Southwest Airlines credit card and with good reason. Their biggest claim to fame is their companion fare. After hitting the threshold, your companion can fly with you for free! This is great for married couples like us. I only have one real problem with Southwest. Like most travel credit cards, they waive the annual fee during the first year, after which you will be charged $69-$99 (ouch!) a year to continue using the card. To offset the cost, Southwest offers members a 6k point bonus to stick around and many people do. Don't be fooled by this. You're actually much better off ditching the card completely and signing up again later or with a different airline entirely to receive the sign-up bonus {more details on sign-up bonuses}. Don't allow the lure of a few points (6k) overshadow the possibility of several (50k). If you can't tell, I've made it my mission to squeeze as many points as possible out of every travel credit card. 

{napa}

JETBLUE
This has been a personal favorite of ours in the past. JetBlue is actually in transition from American Express to MasterCard. And the new card being offered seems pretty darn good. Like Southwest, they will be offering a companion program. Plus, you will get 4 bonus points per every $1 spent booking flights {that's amazing} and they are offering a 10% rebate redemption. Cards offering redemptions are the best! After you use your rewards to book a flight, you automatically get 10% of the points back to help you with your next flight. Another favorite are the bonus badges with extra points earned simply from frequent flying. Basically, we can't say enough good things about this card. 

{niagara falls}

We don't use these types of credit cards as much anymore (we've graduated), but we have had these in the past. They were some of our first travel credit cards and a great start with travel hacking.  If you are considering using travel credit cards for the first time, please check out my travel credit cards: do's and don'ts. In the meantime, keep up with wanderlust wednesday for more on tips for travel. As always, feel free to comment below or email me {makingrestorations@gmail.com} if you have any questions about travel budgeting. 

linking up with financefriday//traveltuesday//thinkingoutloud