If you’ve dabbled in the points and miles game long enough, you’re bound to come across the question of whether it makes sense to buy points. I know that I have. When you’re thinking about the best travel credit card to use for these purchases, feel free to bookmark this list.
One of the most important things to consider prior to buying points with these best credit cards is how the airline processes these purchases. American AAdvantage, Avianca Lifemiles, and Delta SkyMiles process points purchases directly meaning the purchase codes as airfare on your credit card statement. Generally speaking, all other airlines use points.com to process points purchases.
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Best Travel Credit Cards to Buy Points With (Airfare Bonus Category)
Amex Express Platinum Card
- Earning Structure: 5x Membership Rewards points
- Annual Fee: $695
- Details: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
American Express Gold Card
- Earning Structure: 3x Membership Rewards points
- Annual Fee: $250
- Details: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $4,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
American Express Green Card
- Earning Structure: 3x Membership Rewards points
- Annual Fee: $150
- Details: Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $2,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Earning Structure: 3x Ultimate Rewards points
- Annual Fee: $550
- Details: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Citi Premier Card
- Earning Structure: 3x ThankYou Rewards points
- Annual Fee: $95
- Details: Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in purchases with your card within the first 3 months of account opening.
Best Travel Credit Cards to Buy Points With (Preferred)
Chase Freedom Reserve
- Earning Structure: 1.5% cashback (convert cashback to points by also holding the Chase Sapphire PReferred, Chase Sapphire Resserve, or Ink Business Preferred)
- Annual Fee: $0
- Details: Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus earn 5% cash back on gas station purchases on up to $6,000 spent in the first year.
Citi Double Cash Card
- Earning Structure: Earn 2% cash back on purchases; 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay
- Annual Fee: $0
- Details: Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.
Capital One Venture Card
- Earning Structure: 2x miles on all purchases
- Annual Fee: $95
- Details: Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
Capital One Venture X
- Earning Structure: 2x miles on all purchases
- Annual Fee: $395
- Details: Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
Common Best Travel Credit Cards to Buy Points With
What card is best to use for travel?
American Express Gold Card per this article.
What Capital One card is best for travel?
The best Capital One travel card is the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card per this article.
How many credit cards are too many?
Credit bureaus suggest that five or more accounts — which can be a mix of cards and loans — is a reasonable number to build toward overtime per this article.
What is the hardest Capital One card to get?
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card per this article.
Conclusion on Best Travel Credit Cards to Buy Points With
The best travel credit cards to buy points with Amex Express Platinum Card, American Express Gold Card, American Express Green Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Citi Premier Card, Chase Freedom Unlimited, Citi Double Cash Card, Capital One Venture Card, and Capital One Venture X.
What credit cards do you use to buy points? Please let me know in the comments or by sending me an email on my contact page.
Disclaimer: If you click and sign up for a credit card through certain links on this site or any of my related social media platforms, I may make a commission from that click-through. The editorial content on this page and the user comments are not provided by any of the companies mentioned and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. The opinions expressed here are mine alone.
