Getting to your travel destination can cost between 25% – 50% of your trip. Try these tips to fly for free and use that money for nicer accommodations or to treat yourself to something special.
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card – $625 in free airfare (no annual fee for the first year)
If you have excellent credit and can spend $3,000 in the first 3 months, then the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card gives you 50,000 points (worth $625 toward airfare when you book through Chase Ultimate Rewards). As a bonus, the card has no annual fee for the first year. If you’re traveling overseas, then this card will save you 3% on each purchase since you won’t have to pay any foreign fees.
2. Citi ThankYou Premier Card – $665 in free airfare (no annual fee for the first year)
With this card, you only need to have good credit to apply. If you can spend $2,000 within 3 months, then you get 50,000 points – good for $665 of travel booked through Citi’s ThankYou Travel Center. In addition to the bonus rewards, the card has no annual fee for the first year. And, like the Chase Sapphire Card, it saves you the 3% foreign fees when you’re traveling overseas.
3. UnitedPlus Explorer Card – 25,000 points – enough for a free domestic ticket (no annual fee for the first year)
United announced their new card that gives you 25,000 bonus miles after your first purchase. This is enough miles to get a domestic round-trip ticket for free. With this card, you don’t have any spending requirements to meet before you get the bonus reward. To redeem, book your rewards travel on united.com. This card has no annual fee for the first year.
4. Continental Airlines OnePass Plus Card – 25,000 points – enough for a free domestic ticket (no annual fee for the first year)
Continental now has their new OnePass Plus Card that offers 25,000 after your first purchase. No need to meet a spending requirement before you get your bonus reward. The 25,000 miles entitles you to a free round-trip ticket on Continental when you book your rewards travel on continental.com. In addition to the free ticket, this card has no annual fee for the first year.
- See Details on the Continental Airlines OnePass Plus Card
- Apply for the Continental Airlines OnePass Plus Card
5. Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card – 25,000 points – worth over $400 in free airfare ($65 annual fee)
While this card is not actually free for the first year, the $65 fee is a small price to pay for over $400 worth of tickets on Southwest Airlines. You don’t have any spending requirements on this card – so the points are available to use after your first purchase.
- See Details on the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
- Apply for the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
