Bilt Mastercard®

Most top travel credit cards require a good to excellent credit score, generally 700 or higher. Some of the most premium cards may look for scores above 740. That said, approval also depends on other factors like income, credit history, and recent applications.

💡 Pro tip: Check your credit score for free before applying. That way, you’ll avoid a hard inquiry for a card you might not qualify for.

Honestly? Not much. "Points" and "miles" are just terms different credit card issuers use for their rewards systems.

For example, Capital One cards often earn "miles," while Chase Ultimate Rewards cards earn "points." The value really comes down to how you redeem them, not what they’re called.

Things only get a bit tricky when comparing cash-back cards, where rewards might be shown as dollars or as points. But again, it's just branding, the key is how you use them.

Absolutely! If you know how to redeem your points strategically, travel credit cards can deliver way more value than simple cash back.

Sure, cash-back cards give you a flat 1–2% return. But with travel cards, you can often turn your points into 2x, 5x, even 10x their face value by booking luxury flights or five-star hotels. That means 100,000 points could be worth $1,000 in cash — or $5,000+ in business class flights if used the right way.

Add in perks like airport lounge access, statement credits, and travel protections, and you’re looking at serious value — often far beyond the annual fee.So if you travel even a couple times a year and are willing to learn the basics of redeeming points, travel credit cards aren’t just worth it — they’re a no-brainer.

You’ll typically get the most bang for your buck when you use points and miles for travel-related redemptions, especially long-haul business or first class flights. These premium redemptions can turn 100,000 points into a $5,000+ flight, giving you 5–10x more value than cash back or gift cards.

That said, not all redemptions are created equal. Domestic economy flights often have low cash prices, which means you're usually better off paying with cash and saving your points for high-value trips. The same goes for gift cards or merchandise — those tend to offer poor value and should only be used if you're clearing out leftover points.

Everyone defines “value” a bit differently. Some travelers are happy redeeming 25,000 miles for a $250 flight; others would rather save those miles for a luxury travel experience.

‍General rule of thumb:‍

• Use cash for cheap domestic flights or small purchases
• Use points for premium travel experiences (especially long-haul business/first class)
• Avoid low-value redemptions like gift cards or physical merchandise

Use your rewards wisely, and you’ll unlock travel experiences that cash alone couldn’t buy.

Not all travel credits are created equal. Some are a breeze to use and they apply automatically to everyday purchases. Others require more effort, like booking through specific portals, registering in advance, or dealing with complicated terms and exclusions.

Here are a few of the most user-friendly travel credits:

💳 Chase Sapphire Reserve® – $300 Annual Travel Credit
‍One of the easiest and most flexible out there. It automatically applies to any travel purchase — flights, hotels, tolls, rideshares, parking, campgrounds, even some public transit. No special portal, no pre-registration — just swipe and the credit applies until you've used the full $300.

💳 Capital One Venture X – $300 Annual Credit for Capital One Travel
‍Great value, but with one small catch: You must book through Capital One Travel to use it. That means flights, hotels, or rental cars booked directly on their travel portal. Still easy to use if you’re okay with booking inside their ecosystem.

💳 Amex Platinum – $200 Airline Fee Credit
‍More limited and less user-friendly. You have to pre-select one airline each year, and the credit only applies to incidental charges like seat selection, baggage fees, or in-flight purchases — not actual airfare. If you don’t often pay for these extras, this credit can be hard to use.

💳 Amex Platinum – $200 Hotel Credit (Fine Hotels + Resorts / The Hotel Collection)
‍Valuable if you stay at luxury properties, but it's only usable on prepaid bookings made through the Amex Travel portal and limited to participating properties. Still a great perk, but requires more planning.What makes a travel credit “easy”?

• No portal or hoops to jump through
• Applies to a wide range of everyday travel purchases
• No need to opt-in or pre-select categories

If simplicity is important to you, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the gold standard. It works quietly in the background and just… works.