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.
The canals of Amsterdam, tulips as far as the eye can see, and cheese wheels the size of a small child—what more could you ask for? The Netherlands is amazing.
But while those Dutch wonders are more than worth paying for, some ludicrously inexpensive flights to the Netherlands would sweeten the deal a bit—Amsterdam is expensive after all.
Read also: How to Use Points and Miles to Get Flights to Australia
Luckily, using points and miles for this transatlantic jaunt is a breeze. We’re going to show you some of the best ways to use your points and miles to grab flights to the Netherlands for as little as $6.
Let’s dive in.
Finding the best airlines for points and miles flights to the Netherlands
The natural place to start on any search for points and miles flights to the Netherlands is the country’s flagship carrier—KLM. It shares its Flying Blue loyalty program with Air France, and between the two airlines, you’ll find a ton of direct flights from major US hubs to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
But don’t leave your search there. Amsterdam is one of the most popular destinations in Europe, so plenty of airlines are sharing the wealth. A broad search could reap major dividends here.
Using KLM/ Air France Flying Blue for flights to the Netherlands
As mentioned above, KLM/Air France Flying Blue is the best place to start your search. With most routes heading directly to the Netherlands from the US, you’ll be spoilt for choice. The program often boasts unbelievable roundtrip rates as low as 30,000 points with just $80 in fees.
As Delta is a partner of KLM/Air France, you’ll often find flights with the American carrier for far less than on its own portal. If you’re a Delta loyalist, always check in with these airlines.
Also make regular check-ins with the program’s deals page—you’ll sometimes find some incredible rates even lower than this.
How to earn enough Flying Blue miles
Flying Blue is an incredibly easy program to earn points with. Almost every major credit card issuer transfers points to the program, including American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, and Bilt.
Read also: How to Earn $1,600 in Travel With the Amex Platinum Card
With this logic in mind, literally any card with an intro bonus of 30,000 points or more could grab you flights to the Netherlands for almost nothing. That’s a major win and one of the reasons we love Flying Blue so much.
The American Express® Gold Card
One of our favorite cards at the moment, the Gold boasts an excellent 60,000-point intro bonus, earned after spending $6,000 within six months of opening the card. In theory, you’d have enough points to whisk you and a companion to the Netherlands and back.
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 Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card’s 75,000-mile intro bonus lets you do the same thing with some room to spare. You’ll only need to spend $4,000 within three months of opening the card to earn the points, and they’ll throw in lounge access and some other brilliant perks for good measure.
Read also: The Best Airline Credit Cards of 2024
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
Using United MileagePlus for flights to the Netherlands
Next up is United Airlines. While the airline switched to a dynamic system a while ago, it remains a more stable option than some of its competitors (looking at you, Delta). It’s always worth a look on any search, and in this case, flights to the Netherlands come out to around 30,000 miles each way.
While it’s nowhere near as good as the Flying Blue offering, United’s fees are more forgiving, so you’ll only pay around $25 in cash.
How to earn enough United MileagePlus miles
United MileagePlus miles can only be transferred from a Chase account, so you’ll need one of the issuer’s cards in your arsenal to work this one out. Otherwise, you’ll need to grab a United cobranded card or earn miles by flying with the airline and its partners.
Here’s one of the best options for earning those miles:
Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
If you’re in the market for a business card, the Ink Business Preferred could be the one to take you to new heights—at least when it comes to travel. Its huge 100,000-point intro bonus leaves you plenty of room to grab those flights to the Netherlands. You’ll need to spend $8,000 within three months of opening the card but know you can reap over $2,000 in travel back from that spend.
Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
100,000 bonus points
after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
The Ink Business Preferred Business Card pulls attention with its big intro bonus, currently sitting at 100,000 points.That’s worth in $1,000 cash back, $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠, or even more when transferring to Chase’s travel partners like Hyatt, United Airlines, British Airways and more. But the card shows its real value with its high-earning bonus-spending categories. Freelancers and business owners alike will earn 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year.
PROS
- Simply put, for small business owners and freelancers it’s one of the best cards for turning business spending into valuable travel. The bonus alone is worth $1,000 cash back, $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠, or potentially more when transferring to Chase’s travel partners like Marriott or Air Canada.
- It also offers some stellar protections including a comprehensive reimbursement on damaged or stolen cellphones and primary rental car coverage
- It has a reasonable $95 annual fee.
- If you have another Chase card like the Sapphire Preferred or Reserve, or even a cash-back earning Chase card, you can pool your points and make them more valuable.
CONS
- It does lack some of the juicier benefits attached to other business credit cards likes the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. But with the low fee, it’s hard to argue with its value proposition
- 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
Using Delta SkyMiles for flights to the Netherlands
The last option for your flights to the Netherlands is Delta. While the SkyMiles program is notoriously temperamental, it’s still possible to find incredible value. In our searches, we found multiple dates with similar points rates to United with even lower fees‚—like $6 each way.
Be patient with the program, and check the Sky Deals page regularly to look for seriously outsized value, but as a rule, make sure you look at Flying Blue for any Delta flight you fancy.
How to earn Delta SkyMiles
You’re limited to two options when it comes to SkyMiles–Delta cobranded cards and American Express products. If you’re a regular Delta passenger, owning one of its co-branded cards can be a big leg up on your way to elite status, but because it can be awkward to use the points, American Express represents a more valuable option.
Regardless, here’s one of the best choices:
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card is the mid-tier option in Delta’s co-branded card line. Its intro bonus is only 40,000 points at the minute after spending $2,000 within six months of opening the card. While it’s not huge, the easy spending goal could make it a great pairing card with another product to grab a ton of points.
Read also: The Best Airline Credit Cards of 2024
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
40,000 Bonus Miles
after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card isn’t a showstopper, but it’s an excellent example of an airline card that’s easy to keep in your wallet. Its annual fee is $0 for the first year and then $150 the years after, but if you and a partner fly one roundtrip a year with Delta, its free checked bag benefit already makes up for that fee. Throw in a solid 40,000-point intro bonus and simple rewards-earning categories, and it’s almost a no-brainer for anyone with even a little domestic US travel on the horizon.
PROS
- The substantial 40,000-mile intro bonus is earned by spending an extremely achievable $2,000 in six months—well within a realistic budget for many.
- The free first-checked bag for everyone on the booking more than validates the $150 annual fee.
- A simple 2X miles on dining at restaurants (including U.S. takeout and delivery), and U.S. supermarket transactions make earning points simple.
- $200 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 annually is a nice reward that shouldn’t be too hard to meet
- Card members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. The discount is not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
CONS
- SkyMiles award redemption rates on Delta’s partners can be pricey
- Its 2X miles on Delta purchases is lower than what its sister cards earn
Annual Fee: $0 intro annual fee the first year, then $150 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
The point
Grabbing cheap flights to the Netherlands is easy with points and miles. The well-operated route gives plenty of scope, even with dynamic programs. Any of the cards mentioned above can get you there for almost nothing.
Read also: How to Fly to Hawaii Using Points and Miles
by travelers, for travelers.
