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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.
If a flight to Korea isn’t at the top of your travel wishlist, it should be.
South Korea, obviously not the North, is fast becoming the coolest destination in Asia. Often passed over for the ever-popular Japan, this brilliant country is coming into its own. It can owe some of that newfound glory to its juggernaut of a music scene, but its reputation as a creative powerhouse has been simmering to a boil for years.
These days, a flight to Korea is as hot a ticket as a BLACKPINK or BTS show. But with that popularity comes sky-high cash prices, especially in peak season. But it doesn’t need to be that way. Points and miles can get you there for pennies.
Read on to discover the best ways to grab a flight to Korea using points and miles.
Finding the best airlines for a flight to Korea using points and miles
Whether you take our advice or do your own thing, the first step in any search for a flight to Korea is to research your routes. Check your local airport’s options: the airlines that fly from there; the routes they take; those airlines’ partners. The more information you have, the better.
From there, you can piece together the best options for your flight to Korea. Some of our advice might work perfectly, as we’ve opted for award chart-based systems, but it’s possible you could find a stellar deal at your own airport.
Using ANA for a flight to Korea using points
Our first and best option for a flight to Korea using points is ANA. The Japanese airline appears in our points and miles guides almost every week, simply because it’s that good.
The airline operates a zonal award-based chart, so you can rely on consistent pricing and some staggeringly good deals. The only minor frustration is that you can only book roundtrip flights, so if your travel is more open-ended, you may be unable to use ANA.
But often, you’ll find a roundtrip flight to Korea with ANA to be cheaper than a one-way flight with another airline. In this case, it’s possible to find a roundtrip flight to Korea for as little as 45,000 points in economy and 95,000 points in business class. That’s incredible.
How to earn enough ANA points
Earning enough ANA points to score one of those deals is simple. While only one credit card issuer allows its customers to transfer points to ANA, that issuer is American Express, so you have plenty of cards to open and use to achieve your goal.
Otherwise, you can earn ANA points by flying with the airline or listing your membership when flying with a partner.
Here are a few different American Express products you could use to earn a flight to Korea.
The American Express® Gold Card
The American Express® Gold Card is an excellent option for your flight to Korea. The card’s current welcome bonus earns you more than enough to grab that low-end 45,000 point roundtrip.
- Best for: Foodies
- Annual Fee: $325
- Pay Over Time APR
- Reward Rate: 1X-4X
- Recommended Credit: 670-850
American Express® Gold Card
60,000 Membership Rewards® Points
Offer Details:
60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within your first 6 months of card membership
Why we like it
The American Express® Gold Card takes your dining and grocery spending to the next level, offering an impressive 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year, and 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
To put this into perspective, if you spend $8,400 annually on dining and groceries, which aligns with the average American’s spending, you could earn enough points for a roundtrip flight to Hawaii. Meanwhile, the bonus alone is worth over $1,000, adding significant value to your everyday spending.
Reward details
4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
0% Intro APR for 6 months from the date of account opening on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time, then a 18.74% to 27.74% variable APR.
$84 Dunkin’ Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations.
Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year for dining at U.S. Resy restaurants or making other eligible Resy purchases. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys, totaling up to $120 per year. Enrollment required.
Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
Apply with confidence. Know if you’re approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you’re approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
Cons
$325 annual fee
No major travel perks like its bigger sibling, the Amex Platinum
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card is American Express’ most premium product. While it does have a hefty annual fee, it’s nullified by a mega 80,000-point intro bonus. You’ll need to spend $8,000 within six months of opening the card to earn those points. Considering the spending threshold, you’ll only be 2,000 points away from being able to afford two roundtrips.
- Best for: Luxury Perks
- Annual Fee: $695
- Pay Over Time APR
- Reward Rate: 5X
- Recommended Credit: 670-850
The Platinum Card® from American Express
80,000 Membership Rewards® Points
Offer Details:
80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in your first 6 months of card membership
Why we like it
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.
Reward details
5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
$200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
$199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
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.
Using Alaska Airlines MileagePlan for a flight to Korea using points
Another excellent option is Alaska Airlines MileagePlan. While the program isn’t as strong as it used to be, it still has some outstanding deals with its partners. It’s possible to find one-way flights for as little as 30,000 miles—not quite as good as ANA, but still pretty impressive.
You will have to wrangle with availability but do your research, and it’s more than possible to find an excellent deal for your flight to Korea.
How to earn enough Alaska Airlines MileagePlan points
The downside to Alaska Airlines is that earning its miles is limited to flying with the airline and its partners or opening a co-branded credit card. With that in mind, your only option is this card.
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card is for far more people than Alaska Airlines fans. In fact, fans of the airline’s partners will reap the most benefits from it. It’s currently running a sweet 70,000-mile intro bonus, earned by spending $3,000 within three months of opening the card.
- Best for: Frequent Alaska Airlines Fliers
- Annual Fee: $95
- Variable APR: 20.74% - 28.74% on purchases and balance transfers
- Reward Rate: 1X-3X
- Recommended Credit: 670-850
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Credit Card
70,000 Bonus Miles
Offer Details:
Earn 70,000 bonus miles plus Alaska’s Companion Fare from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer. Must spend $3,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Why we like it
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card is powerful in the hands of someone who can use it well. The Seattle-based airline’s routes are overwhelmingly located on the West Coast, but thanks to its valuable miles, the card doesn’t pigeonhole anyone because of Alaska’s airline partners like American Airlines, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, and more. Its sign-up bonus is worth around $1200, and the card gives the holder access to its coveted Companion Pass.
Reward details
3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases.
2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases.
1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Pros & Cons
Pros
The 70,000-mile intro bonus is worth around $900 and earned by spending $3000 in three months.
Alaska Airlines miles are extremely valuable and can be used on a number of different airlines around the world.
Cardholders are entitled to the Alaska Airlines Companion Pass, which allows you to bring a companion on an Alaska flight for 122 ($99, plus taxes and fees from $23)— this can save hundreds and even thousands of dollars if maximized.
A free checked bag for the cardholder and up to six travelers on the same booking, comfortably validating the $75 annual fee.
20% back on any Alaska Airlines in-flight purchases
Cons
A $95 annual fee
Those on the East Coast may not be able to take advantage of some of the best perks the card offers
Earning categories are extremely limited, making it harder to accrue points after the bonus
Using Air Canada’s Aeroplan for a flight to Korea
Air Canada’s Aeroplan is another airline program that features heavily in our weekly guides. Its generous zonal award chart means it’s a reliable source of great deals and should always feature in any search for flights.
For a flight to Korea, the rates will depend on the location. Those on the West Coast can get the best rates in this scenario, with a one-way flight dropping as low as 45,000 points. Those on the East will be better served with one of the other options listed in this article, but it’s still not a terrible option.
How to earn Aeroplan points
The big benefit of Air Canada’s Aeroplan is the ease with which you can earn points. Capital One, American Express, and Chase all allow transfers to your Aeroplan account, giving you an incredible range with your strategy. Here are just a few cards you could check out.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card could just about get you a flight to Korea and back with its generous 75,000-mile intro bonus. When you consider the fact you’ll need to spend $4,000 within three months to earn it, and its 2x miles per dollar on everything, you’ll have at least 83,000 miles in the bank. That’s a good start, if nothing else.
- Best for: Overall Travel
- Annual Fee: $395
- Regular APR: 19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
- Reward Rate: 2X - 10X
- Recommended Credit: 720-850
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
75,000 Bonus Miles
Offer Details:
75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Why we like it
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.
Reward details
10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
5 Miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
2 Miles per dollar on every purchase
Pros & Cons
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.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card could top up that balance if you have time to open two cards before your flight to Korea. Its 60,000-point intro, also earned by spending $4,000 within three months, would leave you with over 140,000 Aeroplan points to play with.
- Best for: Beginner Travelers
- Annual Fee: $95
- Variable APR: 20.99% - 27.99%
- Reward Rate: 1X - 5X
- Recommended Credit: 670-850
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
60,000 Bonus Points
Offer Details:
60,000 Bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Why we like it
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.
Reward details
5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries.
2x on all other travel purchases.
1x on all other purchases.
Pros & Cons
PROS
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals, and cruises through Chase 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 12/31/2027).
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.
The point
Just because a flight to Korea is pricey, doesn’t mean you need to pay it. With so many airlines offering tremendous points and miles deals, you’ll be jetting off in no time, with extra bulgogi money to boot.
by your friends at The Daily Navigator
