Does a True No Annual Fee Travel Card Exist?

[Kforce]

The also extinct "FNBO Travel-Elite"

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/First-National-Bank-TravElite-American-Express-Card/td-...

[Anonymous]

That fbno card looks about as close to perfect as I was looking for. Maybe next time they offer it.

[Themanwhocan]

Penfed Premium Travel Rewards American Express

5X on Airfare purchases

1X everything else

points are worth about 0.8 cent each

First Hawaiian Bank Priority Destinations World Elite MasterCard

5X on travel on first $6000 per year, 2X after that

2X everyday purchases (gas, grocery, cable TV, phone, and other monthly utilities)

1X everything else

Sams Club MasterCard

5% on Gas

3% on Dining and Travel

1% everything else

requires a Sams Club membership

InFirst Federal Credit Union VISA Rewards

4% Gas

3% Restaurant and Travel

2% Grocery store, Superstores, Wholesale clubs

1% Everything else

https://www.infirstfcu.org/personal-banking/credit-cards/visa-rewards/

Huntington Voice

3x on Travel/Entertainment

[happypill]

I think the OP is differentiating between a card that earns points but must be redeemed for travel (like the BofA travel rewards), and a card that actually awards more points when you spend on travel and can be redeemed for either points/miles/cash.  Basically, the difference between earinig and redeeming.

There are some out there.  The SSFCU Power Travel rewards is my favorite as it offers 3.3% on travel, dining & gas but is geographically restricted.  There's the Penfed Travel Rewards Amex that gives 5x on Airfare.  There's a number of hotel cards out there that give additional rewards with no AF (the basic Hilton card from Citi or Amex comes to mind).  There's the AAA card that someone else already mentioned.

That's what I can think of off the top of my head.  There are others out there.

[Anonymous]

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@happypill wrote:

I think the OP is differentiating between a card that earns points but must be redeemed for travel (like the BofA travel rewards), and a card that actually awards more points when you spend on travel and can be redeemed for either points/miles/cash.  Basically, the difference between earinig and redeeming.

There are some out there.  The SSFCU Power Travel rewards is my favorite as it offers 3.3% on travel, dining & gas but is geographically restricted.  There's the Penfed Travel Rewards Amex that gives 5x on Airfare.  There's a number of hotel cards out there that give additional rewards with no AF (the basic Hilton card from Citi or Amex comes to mind).  There's the AAA card that someone else already mentioned.

That's what I can think of off the top of my head.  There are others out there.

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Yes that is exactly what I was asking. And thank you. That Penfed 5% on airfare card is what I was looking for. 

[Blodreina]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I guess I wasn't clear enough. I spend ~$2000 per year on travel which I know isn't much so an annual fee wouldn't cut it. I was just looking to see if there was a card that offered something like 3% back on airlines and/or hotels without an annual fee and without being specifically geared towards one brand. I'd like to get the rewards back in cash back if possible since I'm not brand loyal. But it seems like that card doesn't exist and I'll just stick to putting it on my cards now. Or get a 2% back on everything card.  

I'm planning a Europe trip this winter which is why I was looking into it. That trip would increase my travel spend for the year. But this is a once in a while type of trip. 

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I think the Orbitz card is decent, and I considered it myself.  I think the reward redemption may be restricted to booking hotels only.  Worth a look, at least.

[Anonymous]

OP question does not really make sense. There are tons of cards out there that are 1%+ back that you can use on travel or cashback if you like.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

OP question does not really make sense.

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I already clarified it. And it made sense to some people cause they were able to answer. I think I got all the information I need. Thanks. 

[Anonymous]

I'll just add one thing.  Just because a card calls itself a 'travel' credit card does not make it a real one.  A lot of those no AF cards have horrible redemption rates and they offer none of the benefits of a true travel credit card.  It's marketing pure and simple and it's shown to work.  In most of those cases, you'd would be far better to get a 2% cash back card.  While a card may say it earns 3X, 4X. 5X or whatever on travel, in reality those points are worth very little because they have ridiculously low and limited redemption rates.  

[MrDisco99]

If you're not wanting to pay an AF there are lots of cards aimed at travel that waive the AF the first year.

I'm getting a bunch of travel cards so I can rack up points for a big trip next year. I'll only keep a few of them past the first year so I won't have to pay fees on the rest. I plan to spend very little on travel before then but I still get points on regular purchases that will help me fly for free. The Amex ED/EDP, Citi TY Premier, and CSP+Freedom+FU are good cards to use for that kind of strategy.