What are travel credit cards, and how do they work?
Travel credit cards are financial products that offer various rewards and benefits geared towards frequent travelers. They typically earn you points or miles for every dollar spent on eligible purchases. These rewards can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and other travel-related expenses. Travel credit cards may also include perks like travel insurance, airport lounge access, and no foreign transaction fees.
How do I choose the best travel credit card for my needs?
Choosing the best travel credit card depends on your travel habits, spending patterns, and preferences. Consider factors like the type of rewards offered (points, miles, or cash back), the card’s annual fee, sign-up bonuses, earning rates, redemption options, and additional travel perks. Analyzing these features will help you find a card that aligns with your lifestyle and offers the most value.
What are the benefits of using a travel credit card over other types of credit cards?
Travel credit cards provide unique advantages for travelers, such as earning rewards specifically tailored to travel expenses. Additionally, many travel credit cards offer travel-related perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and travel insurance. Some cards also waive foreign transaction fees, making them ideal for international travelers.
What is a sign-up bonus, and how can I qualify for it?
A sign-up bonus is a promotional offer provided by the credit card issuer to entice new cardholders. To qualify for a sign-up bonus, you usually need to meet specific spending requirements within a certain timeframe after opening the account. The bonus can be in the form of points, miles, or cash back, and it’s a great way to jump-start your rewards earning.
Do travel credit cards charge foreign transaction fees?
Not all travel credit cards charge foreign transaction fees. Many of the top-tier travel cards waive these fees, making them ideal for international travel. However, it’s essential to read the card’s terms and conditions to confirm this before using it abroad.
How can I maximize the rewards earned with my travel credit card?
To maximize rewards, use your travel credit card for everyday expenses and large purchases. Take advantage of bonus categories and special promotions to earn more points or miles. Consider combining your travel credit card with loyalty programs to stack rewards and get even more value out of your purchases.
Italy’s special. The food, the wine, the culture, the history, the scenery, the vibes…the list goes on. But while a bottle of world-class vino might be surprisingly affordable, flights to Italy from NYC, or anywhere else in the US, are not.
Thankfully, finding flights to Italy from NYC using points and miles isn’t too tricky, and with a few pointers from us, you’ll be on your way to a carb-induced coma in no time.
If you’re not from New York, don’t worry too much. It’s easier for us to focus on one major area to help keep searches consistent, but many of these options will be applicable wherever you are in the country.
Let’s take a look at how to find flights to Italy from NYC using points and miles.
Finding the best flights to Italy from NYC using points and miles
Italy is an incredibly popular destination. From the canals of Venice through the metropolitan buzz of Milan and Tuscan sunsets to the spectacle of Rome, its reputation more than precedes itself.
The good news is that its popularity means there are a ton of flights to Italy from NYC. Rome is an excellent place to start, as the airport is the country’s most significant hub, but depending on your plans, you can check out Milan and Florence, too.
Using KLM/Air France Flying Blue for flights to Italy from NYC
KLM and Air France’s joint loyalty program, Flying Blue, is one of the best and most consistent ways to find points flights to Italy from NYC. With a huge volume of flights departing from JFK with a quick stop in either Paris or Amsterdam, it’s easy to get to Rome for as little as 20,000 points each way.
The only downside to these rates is the fees. You can expect to pay around $106 in taxes and surcharges for the flight. But even with those fees, you still get more than 2 cents per point—incredible value! Keep an eye out for saver rewards, too. You might find something even better.
How to earn enough Flying Blue Points
Want more good news? Flying Blue points are one of the easiest currencies to earn. You can transfer points from American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, and Bilt, giving you a ton of possibilities.
Here are some cards you could use to earn enough for some flights to Italy from NYC.
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The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card could fly you and a friend to Rome and back. As you’ll need to spend $4,000 within three months to hit the 75,000-mile intro bonus, you’ll already have at least 83,000 miles. That’s because every purchase earns 2x miles per dollar. It doesn’t get much easier.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
75,000 Bonus Miles
after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening
The Capital One Venture X is a direct competitor to the Chase Sapphire Reserve, and for many seeking a simpler earning scheme with premium perks, it could be the better option. But the Venture X truly shines with one benefit in particular: four free authorized users. Not only can they all use the card and earn miles, they all receive a Priority Pass membership which allows themselves and two guests access to airport lounges. In a highly improbable situation, that means you could technically bring 15 people into a lounge with you.
PROS
- Its solid intro bonus of 75,000 miles is worth well over $1,000 when transferred to partner airlines and hotels, or a flat rate $750 when redeemed on the Capital One Travel Portal.
- Cardholders get a bonus of 10,000 miles each year after their first account anniversary, which is nothing to shrug off, especially when a little bit short of that business class flight. It’s worth almost $200 depending on how you use it.
- The $300 annual credit for purchases made on the Capital One Travel Portal, combined with the yearly free miles, more than annul the $395 annual fee.
- Four authorized users can be added for free.
- The cardholder is entitled to a Priority Pass membership and entry to Capital One Lounges, even the authorized users.
- A generous offering of travel insurance, protections and reimbursements round out an excellent array of benefits.
CONS
- The $300 credit is a bit less flexible than the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s comparable benefit.
- Miles earning is the same as the Sapphire Reserve on portal-based purchases, but less on general travel spending.
- Capital one transfer partners are solid, but still don’t include any US-based airlines or hotels.
Annual Fee: $395 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
The American Express® Gold Card
The American Express® Gold Card is another option for flights to Italy from NYC. Flying Blue often runs transfer bonuses with Amex, allowing you to get maximum value from the card’s 60,000 point intro bonus, earned after spending $6,000 within six months.
American Express® Gold Card
60,000 Membership Rewards® Points
after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first 6 months of card membership
The American Express® Gold Card gives your munch more punch with an outstanding 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x). For some context, if you spent $8,400 a year on eating out and groceries, which is roughly what the average American spends, you’d have enough points for a roundtrip flight to Hawaii. That’s not even factoring in the huge 60,000-point bonus worth over $1,000.
PROS
- Huge returns on popular spending categories like dining at restaurants, takeout and delivery in the U.S .and U.S. supermarkets
- Solid earnings on travel purchased via Amex or directly with an airline
- Solid intro bonus of 60,000 points worth over $1,000
- Up to $120 in Uber Cash for rides and food delivery, and up to $120 in statement credits for selected dining outlets including the GrubHub food delivery app, Shake Shack, Wine.com, and more
- Nice, but pointless in the grand scheme of things, customizable card designs
CONS
- $250 annual fee
- No major travel perks like its bigger sibling, the Amex Platinum
Annual Fee: $250 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
Using Air Canada Aeroplan for flights to Italy from NYC
Air Canada’s Aeroplan system is almost always an excellent place to find great deals. Its zonal-based partner awards mean its rates are consistent, and it’s not hard to find availability for flights to Italy from NYC with the likes of Emirates for just 35,000 points.
While not as low as Flying Blue, there are often fewer fees, which is a huge plus. Better yet, it runs a 5,000-point stopover, so you could use that to extend your trip elsewhere.
How to earn enough Air Canada Aeroplan points
Aeroplan is another program with easy-to-earn points thanks to its array of credit card transfer partners. American Express, Capital One, and Chase all transfer to Air Canada, so owning one of those cards is a surefire way to find flights to Italy from NYC using points and miles.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the best mid-tier products out there. It’s running a 60,000-point intro bonus, earned after spending $4,000 within three months of opening the card. With that bonus in tow, you’ll be just shy of the amount needed for a return flight. You could always open the next card to finish the job.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
60,000 Bonus Points
after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is the ultimate all-around travel credit card—it fits perfectly into almost any points-earner’s wallet. Points novices can enjoy a significant intro bonus and easy to grasp spending categories with an approachable annual fee. The more experienced can utilize its high value earning potential as a secondary card and also gain access to Chase’s strong travel booking portal.
PROS
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals, and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. The 60,000 points, for example, are worth $750 toward travel.
- The $50 dollar hotel credit for stays purchased on the Chase Travel Portal already cuts the already approachable $95 annual fee significantly.
- A 10% annual points bonus is tacked on every year, adding a little more value.
- A free year-long Doordash DashPass membership is also thrown in, which gives you free delivery and some extra discounts. It’s a solid perk if you order food delivery at least semi-frequently (Activate by 12/31/2024).
- Along with all of the above, cardholders also have access to a string of travel protections like rental coverage, cancellation insurance, and purchase protection.
CONS
- Maximizing the value of Chase points can still be complicated for complete novices.
Competing cards like the Capital One Venture have a better earning rate for non-bonused spend.
It’s subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. So, if you’ve opened five cards in the last two years, you’re most likely not going to be accepted.
Annual Fee: $95 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
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If you find yourself just short of the miles needed to fly to Italy from NYC, this card is a low-risk option to help take you over the threshold. The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card has no annual fee yet offers a 20,000-mile intro bonus earned by spending $500 within three months of opening the card.
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One VentureOne is an excellent card for those taking more deliberate steps into the world of travel rewards thanks to its lack of annual fee and flat-rate earning. Cardholders earn 1.25X miles per dollar spent on all purchases, plus 5X miles per dollar on travel purchased through Capital One. Its 20,000-mile welcome bonus is also solid for a no-annual-fee card.
PROS
- Its flat-rate earning system makes the VentureOne an easy option for earning miles on all types of spending. While not as high of a rate as its sister cards, it may be the right option for some lower-spending users.
- No annual fee makes it fairly risk-free for learning how to transfer points to travel partners and maximize the value of your rewards
- The 20,000-mile intro bonus is worth $200 when used directly on the Capital One Portal, and even more when transferred to an airline or hotel partner. With only $500 of spending required to receive the miles, that’s a wonderful 20% return.
- No foreign transaction fees. This is fairly uncommon for a no-annual-fee card.
CONS
- Earning rate isn’t huge
- Big and moderate spenders can earn more points elsewhere
- Cash-back cards may be more lucrative
Annual Fee: $0 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
Using ANA for flights to Italy from NYC
Our third option is ANA, a hugely underrated airline based in Japan. Not only is the airline itself one of the best rates on the planet, its loyalty program is spectacular.
Its one major quirk is that you can only book roundtrip flights with points, so no open-ended Italian getaways this time, but for simple roundtrip flights to Italy from NYC, it’s incredible. Finding roundtrips for 55,000 points in economy or 88,000 points in business is standard, making it an exceptionally high-value choice.
How to earn ANA Mileage Club Points
ANA doesn’t have the same volume of partners as our previous entries, but its partnership with American Express still gives you a lot of scope for finding the necessary points. You can use any of these cards to help find your flights to Italy from NYC with ANA.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card is American Express’ most premium product. That means it’s got a huge 80,000-point intro bonus (or more, maybe) and a hefty fee to match. You’ll need to spend $8,000 within six months of opening the card to earn the bonus, but you won’t be too bothered about that when you’re four negronis deep in Rome.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
80,000 Membership Rewards® Points
after you spend $8,000 on purchases in your first 6 months of card membership
The Amex Platinum was once the sole dominating force in the luxury credit card space. While it now faces some stiff competition, it still offers unbeatable perks like unprecedented airport lounge access, elite status at Hilton and Marriott, and some outstanding statement credits making the mammoth $695 worth it for some.
PROS
- The Amex Platinum’s typical intro bonus of 80,000 points is massive in itself. It’s worth $800 when spent directly through Amex’s travel portal on flights and hotels, which is already stellar. But when transferred to a partner, it’s very possible to squeeze over $1,600 or more in value.
- The Platinum has a slew of top-tier benefits, like Priority Pass, which gives the cardholder access to thousands of airport lounges and restaurants around the world, as well as Amex’s own Centurion lounges which are known for the high-quality (and free) food and cocktails. Other perks include up to $200 in Uber credits, up to $200 in airline fee credits (given in statement credits), up to $240 in digital streaming credits, up to $200 towards hotel bookings (given in statement credits) with Amex’s Fine Hotels and Resorts (2 night minimum stay required), and more. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
- A number of statement credits spanning multiple industries can build even more value into the card, including free stays when applied strategically.
- The Amex concierge is an underutilized benefit that can transform a trip by helping book hard-to-find dinner reservations or show tickets.
CONS
- The $695 annual fee is brutally high. Too high for many that can’t, or don’t want to take full advantage of its benefits.
- Points-earning rates are low unless spending directly on flights or with the Amex Portal.
- Some of the benefits, like travel credits, are more limited and are harder to use than competing cards’ offerings.
Annual Fee: $695 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
The American Express® Gold Card
We’ve already covered the American Express® Gold Card and its 60,000-point intro bonus earned after spending $6,000 within six months. What we didn’t say was how much it could earn you while you’re in Italy. Food is top of the agenda on any Italy trip, and this card can earn you 4x points per dollar on dining. Get something back for your indulgence.
American Express® Gold Card
60,000 Membership Rewards® Points
after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first 6 months of card membership
The American Express® Gold Card gives your munch more punch with an outstanding 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x). For some context, if you spent $8,400 a year on eating out and groceries, which is roughly what the average American spends, you’d have enough points for a roundtrip flight to Hawaii. That’s not even factoring in the huge 60,000-point bonus worth over $1,000.
PROS
- Huge returns on popular spending categories like dining at restaurants, takeout and delivery in the U.S .and U.S. supermarkets
- Solid earnings on travel purchased via Amex or directly with an airline
- Solid intro bonus of 60,000 points worth over $1,000
- Up to $120 in Uber Cash for rides and food delivery, and up to $120 in statement credits for selected dining outlets including the GrubHub food delivery app, Shake Shack, Wine.com, and more
- Nice, but pointless in the grand scheme of things, customizable card designs
CONS
- $250 annual fee
- No major travel perks like its bigger sibling, the Amex Platinum
Annual Fee: $250 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
The point
Flights to Italy from NYC are super frequent, making points and miles deals easy to come by. There’s a great redemption to be found, no matter which card you open or already have in your wallet.
by travelers, for travelers.
