General Travel Credit Card vs American Express: Which Wins?

Choosing a general travel credit card over a premium American Express product can deliver annual savings in the range of a few hundred dollars on flights, hotels, and car rentals. The key to maximizing those savings is aligning the card's earning structure and fee schedule with your travel habits. For example, a card that offers 3x points on all travel purchases and a low annual fee will beat a premium card that charges a higher fee and offers a more limited set of travel partners. When evaluating options, compare the points per dollar earned on flights, hotels, and rentals, the presence of foreign transaction fees, and the redemption flexibility. A general travel card that allows you to transfer points to airline and hotel partners often provides a better return than a card that only offers a fixed travel credit. In short, pick the card that matches your spending patterns and provides the highest net benefit after fees.

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