Families Fly Free Names Top Credit Card Picks
By Lyn Mettler, founder Families Fly Free
Here at Families Fly Free, I focus on a handful of cards to make the process of flying free as simple and easy as it should be. In fact, you can follow my process with just 2 to 3 cards, but I have recommendations for more advanced travel rewards users, as well.
My favorite overall travel credit card that I recommend to everyone following my simple process is Chase Sapphire Preferred® along with 1 to 2 Southwest Airlines cards.
We can then build you a more advanced plan if you like from there.
Here are my top travel card recommendations from our partners…
MY TOP CREDIT CARD
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn signup_reward bonus points after you spend signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
REWARDS RATE
Enjoy benefits such as 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, earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠, plus more.
APPLY
KEY CARDS FOR MY FLY FREE PLAN
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn signup_reward bonus points after you spend signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
REWARDS RATE
Enjoy benefits such as 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, earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠, plus more.
APPLY
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CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
REWARDS RATE
Earn 8X points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠; 4X points on flights and hotels booked direct; 3X points on dining worldwide; and 1X points on all other purchases.
APPLY
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn Companion Pass through 2/28/27 and signup_reward bonus points after spending signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
REWARDS RATE
Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines® purchases; 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year; and 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases. Receive 3,000 bonus points each year after your cardholder anniversary.
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CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
REWARDS RATE
Earn three points per $1 on Southwest purchases as well as two points per $1 on local transit and commuting (including rideshares) and on internet, cable, phone services and select streaming and one point per $1 on other eligible purchases. Receive 6,000 bonus points each year after your card member anniversary.
APPLY
discontinued All information about Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by Cardratings.com.
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn Companion Pass through 2/28/27 and signup_reward bonus points after spending signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
REWARDS RATE
Earn 4 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines® purchases, including flights, inflight, and Southwest gift cards; and 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants. Receive 7,500 bonus points each year after your cardholder anniversary.
APPLY
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn signup_reward points after you spend signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases in the first three months your account is open.
REWARDS RATE
Earn 3X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases; 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per year; and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. Receive 6,000 bonus points after your cardholder anniversary
APPLY
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn signup_reward points after you spend signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases in the first three months your account is open.
REWARDS RATE
Earn 4 points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases; 2 points per $1 spent on gas station and restaurant purchases; 2 points per $1 spent on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel; 2 points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
APPLY
BEST CARDS TO FLY FREE TO EUROPE
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn signup_reward Avios after you spend signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases within the first signup_bonus_timeframe of account opening.
REWARDS RATE
Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with Iberia, British Airways, Aer Lingus, and LEVEL. Earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
APPLY
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn signup_reward Avios after you spend signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases within the first signup_bonus_timeframe of account opening.
REWARDS RATE
Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, and LEVEL and 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
APPLY
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CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn signup_reward Avios after you spend signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases within the first signup_bonus_timeframe of account opening.
REWARDS RATE
Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with Iberia, British Airways, Aer Lingus, and LEVEL. Earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
APPLY
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HOTEL REWARDS CARDS
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn signup_reward bonus points after spending signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
REWARDS RATE
Earn up to 26 total points for every $1 spent at IHG hotels and resorts; 5 points per $1 spent on travel and at gas stations and restaurants; and 3 points per $1 on your other purchases
APPLY
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn up to 5 free nights. Earn 3 free nights after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, 2 free nights after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 6 months. Free nights can be redeemed at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort worldwide.
REWARDS RATE
Earn up to 9 points total per $1 spent at Hyatt – 4 bonus points per $1 on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels & up to 5 base points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member. Earn 2 points per $1 at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly with airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club/gym memberships.
APPLY
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn 5 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within three months of account opening.
REWARDS RATE
Earn up to 17x total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® and 3x points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases annually on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
APPLY
ADVANCED CREDIT CARDS
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn signup_reward bonus points after you spend signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
REWARDS RATE
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases-with no limit to the amount you can earn.
APPLY
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn a signup_reward bonus after you spend signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases in your first three months from account opening.
REWARDS RATE
Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service; and 1.5% on all other purchases.
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CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn $200 cash back after $500 spent in the first three months
REWARDS RATE
Earn 5% back on up to $1,500 spent in categories that rotate quarterly (activation required); 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 3% back at restaurants (takeout and delivery included); 3% back at drugstores; and 1% back on all other eligible purchases
APPLY
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Information related to Chase Freedom FlexSM has been collected independently by CardRatings and was neither reviewed nor provided by the card issuer
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
Earn signup_reward bonus miles when you spend signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases in the first three months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel!
REWARDS RATE
Earn 10 miles per $1 on hotel and rental car bookings through Capital One Travel; 5 miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel; and 2 miles per $1 on all other purchases
APPLY
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CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
AnnualFees
WELCOME OFFER
For a limited time, earn $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases within the first three months from account opening – that’s equal to signup_reward in travel!
REWARDS RATE
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day, plus earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
APPLY
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