I've always just used a debit card and stayed away from credit cards but I'm starting to feel like I'm really missing out on a lot of free or cheap travel. I'm not looking to take a lot of international trips or anything crazy. Just want to fly the family out for a nice get away every couple years or so.

What's the best overall card to get miles? Chase Sapphire Preferred seems to be highly recommended but I'm not sure if that's because it's a great card or because Chase pays people a lot of money to say it's a great card.

What do you guys use?

Chase Sapphire Preferred is great because it has decent earning for two of the more common spend categories and has a great variety of transfer partners for domestic US airlines that other cards can't transfer to, specifically SWA. Also a very good transfer ratio.

Who do you fly the most? Answer that and that will help narrow down which card to recommend.

Edit: the other reason CSP is recommended is because you can combine it with other strong earning Chase cards, and then later combine your points for even greater point accumulation potential. And the way Chase works, you need either the CSP or their CSR (Reserve) card to transfer to travel partners. That's a bit more advanced than what you're inquiring about.

//If you fly Southwest, use their card, it's actually a Chase card. The pro is direct points for travel on SW routes (SW not in all midsized towns, but covers most of Tx, Fl,Cali and now Hi). One can use it to buy gas, payoff the balances to avoid interest and rack up points. Luggage flys free and points can be shared with family members. Con side, their's a $75 fee annually to hold the card and interest rate is userious 16%. I had one for several years.//

As mentioned, a lot is going to depend on who you fly with and what you do.

I prefer Amex, the fee is high but we get it back every year in credits, not counting the various offers we get or the miles. But we typically only use the points on international travel to upgrade to first class. That's typically where the best value is. We also have the chase sapphire reserve, we feel we get more out of the Amex and will cancel the chase.

Since you stated mainly domestic, I'd agree southwest is probably where to start your search. But, in my opinion, the best value with sw is getting companion pass if you're flying a lot, but doesn't seem like you'd take advantage of that in your op.

Or you could also just do a cash back card.

^the end of this... I don't fly or stay in hotels much. So I just have a 2% cashback card for general purchases. We buy groceries online from Walmart- if you have their card you get 5% cashback. Same with Amazon- have their card and get 5%. Both of those cards the info is saved in the website and on auto-pay, so I rack up points/pay without even thinking about it.

Agree with everyone else, it all depends on where you live and what airline you fly the most. For example, if you live in Houston then it makes sense to get a United or Southwest card, since IAH is a United hub and Hobby is a Southwest hub. If you live in Dallas, then get an American Airlines card since DFW is an American Airlines hub. If the airline has a hub in that airport, that means they have more direct flights to destinations than any other airline in that airport.

If you live in Houston then the Chase Sapphire Preferred is your best bet, since you can transfer those credit card miles to United and Southwest airlines.

I have Chase Sapphire (not preferred) and Cap One Venture. Haven't upgraded because I refuse to pay the higher annual fees.

I prefer the Venture. That may be because I've had it longer, but I'm also not loyal to any one airline or hotel. Between last Nov and this July I will fly on Southwest, WestJet, Delta, United, and American and possibly Azores Airlines, so an airline card makes no sense for me.

With the Venture, I get at least 2x points on every purchase (there are ways tho get more) and cash them in for credits on my bill for travel purchases. I usually get back at least $2k per year which works out to ~2%. The points aren't as valuable if not used for travel purchases, but that's not an issue for me.

Also, if you use the SW Air card enough you get a companion pass where a designated person can fly with you for free

I do blue cash preferred.

6% on groceries, 3% on gas.

TXTransplant said:

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I have Chase Sapphire (not preferred) and Cap One Venture. Haven't upgraded because I refuse to pay the higher annual fees.

I prefer the Venture. That may be because I've had it longer, but I'm also not loyal to any one airline or hotel. Between last Nov and this July I will fly on Southwest, WestJet, Delta, United, and American and possibly Azores Airlines, so an airline card makes no sense for me.

With the Venture, I get at least 2x points on every purchase (there are ways tho get more) and cash them in for credits on my bill for travel purchases. I usually get back at least $2k per year which works out to ~2%. The points aren't as valuable if not used for travel purchases, but that's not an issue for me.

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if you prefer the 2% back, why not use Citi Double Cash since theres no annual fee like there is with the Venture?

Honestly, I've had the venture so long, I haven't even looked at other options. I do like some of the travel perks that come with it. I can book certain hotels and get the best rate plus free breakfast, internet, and usually a free room upgrade. I've taken advantage of that quite a few times.

I can also get a 2% cash back card through Fidelity. But I like the credits to my statement. The Fidelity rewards go in a separate account.

For simplicity - I'd say just Citi double cash or any other 2% cash back card. It's not the most bang for your rewards buck, but it's simple and sometimes simple is best.

If you want some travel perks (like centurion lounge/lounge access), I'd say look where you're likely to fly most frequently and see what lounges are there. I'd do the Amex plat + Citi Double Cash. Amex Plat gives you centurion lounge access and delta lounge access when flying delta. You also get status with Marriott, Hilton, and multiple rental car agencies. The Amex offers can be good deals. You get something like $200 back in airline fee credits (for checked bags and the like, but one airline per year and you choose in January), and maybe $150 or so Uber credits per year, parsed out monthly, and some other credits on top of that. It's a high annual fee, but if you can get value with the credits they offer and travel a few times a year, it can be quite handy. They also have a somewhat generous extended warranty perk so I put electronics purchases on it. BUT if all you fly is Southwest, these miles will be way less helpful. Their main transfer partner is Delta.

So. To recap - if simplicity is what you're after and you don't travel much, do a 2% cash back card and call it good. If you want to get fancy, there are some store branded cards out there (I saw Walmart above) that will give you more at that specific store so can always add that one.

If you travel a decent amount on various airlines but still favor simplicity - id do a 2% cash back card then the Amex platinum.

If you prefer to travel with Southwest - ignore the Platinum, do 2% cash back or the Southwest card.

This has a pretty good rundown of the most popular cards.

https://www.nerdwallet.com/best/credit-cards/rewards

I haven't made it through everyone's posts yet, but just wanted answer a common question I keep seeing - which airline I fly. I wouldn't really say I have a "normal" airline. I've only made 5 roundtrips in the past 17 years and only 1 of them was for pleasure. This is what I'm trying to correct, get out a little more. That said, it will probably be Southwest most of the time.

Thanks for all the great responses!

Then yeah, I'd do something like a 2% cash back card, or the Southwest credit card. If you don't travel a ton, though I realize you say you're trying to change that, I'd actually just lean towards Citi Double Cash or the Fidelity 2% cash back card and call it a day. Both are annual fee free.

If you want some flexibility on airlines, you could use the Chase Sapphire Preferred card to transfer 1 for 1 to United or Southwest. Both SW and Chase will have annual fees.

One thing to consider is what signup bonus they are offering. Chase Saphire was offering 100,000 sign up points sometimes, they claim about a $1,200 value.

I fly mainly southwest, i have the SWA card, but occasionally take advantage of a bonus and took the Saphire 100,000 pts and converted them to SWA.

SWA does have about. $75 fee, but they give you 3000 points each year and a few drink coupons, together, those can have about a $75 value anyway.

SWA and other cards do the online shopping bonuses like x points per dollar spent at whatever common online store. They also do holiday promotions like spend X amount and get 1000 free points, again, common amounts you would probably spend anyway. You just need to know if you would make the minimal effort to capitalize on those deals.

I have more cards then I need, part because of work travel and capitalizing on those points:

Airline - SWA (fee, but my main airline)

Hotel - Hilton (fee, but main work hotel and spend $15k per year and get a free weekend night and minimum gold status)

Amazon - 5% for Amazon purchase (no card fee)

Saphire - will cancel, occasionally add new card for signup bonus

Amex preferred blue - cancelled, but good card for groceries/gas. 6% groceries are capped, I think it was $6k per year, so $360 rewards. If groceries weren't capped, this would easily be my go to card. Plus I only pay for gas in one vehicle, so the 3% isn't that big of deal.

Bottom line, be disciplined and pay it off every month. If you aren't, you are better off losing out on the points and not have a credit card.

Drawkcab said:

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I haven't made it through everyone's posts yet, but just wanted answer a common question I keep seeing - which airline I fly. I wouldn't really say I have a "normal" airline. I've only made 5 roundtrips in the past 17 years and only 1 of them was for pleasure. This is what I'm trying to correct, get out a little more. That said, it will probably be Southwest most of the time.

Thanks for all the great responses!

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Ok now time to answer the other most important question lol, which airport do you fly out of most and is nearest to you? My recommendation for a card for the DFW airport will be different than IAH.

Lot to look at here. Based on your flying frequency you won't capitalize on SWA's Companion Pass unless you spend a **** ton of money on your card every year.

Also have to factor other perks. I get $300 in uber/Lyft credits per year and my points transfer to SWA anyway. Would focus on Chase Sapphire or similar rather than an airline card if you can't trigger any airline's "specific to their card" benefits like Companion Pass.

Drawkcab said:

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I've always just used a debit card and stayed away from credit cards but I'm starting to feel like I'm really missing out on a lot of free or cheap travel. I'm not looking to take a lot of international trips or anything crazy. Just want to fly the family out for a nice get away every couple years or so.

What's the best overall card to get miles? Chase Sapphire Preferred seems to be highly recommended but I'm not sure if that's because it's a great card or because Chase pays people a lot of money to say it's a great card.

What do you guys use?

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To answer your original comment, you are leaving money on the table for sure. It's negligent not to have a CC, frankly, assuming you are paying it off every month.

I just redeemed $1,500 in cash from my CC based on 2021 spend which was a light year for us.