Best Chase Travel Credit Cards for January 2023
Written by
Daria Uhlig
Edited by
Lindsey Kloosterman
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The best travel cards offered by Chase vary a bit. For example, some only reward you for travel purchased through a certain airline, whereas others allow you more flexibility. And while some of these cards are free from foreign transaction fees, the trade off is that you’ll pay an annual fee.
See if any of these travel credit cards from Chase match your lifestyle and spending habits.
5 Best Chase Travel Credit Cards
Take a look at this overview to learn more about the best Chase travel credit cards.
| Credit Card | Best For | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory APR | – 0% introductory APR for the first 15 months, then APR – 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards – 3% on restaurant and drug store purchases – 1.5% on all other purchases – Additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) – 3% foreign transaction fee – annual fee |
|
| No Foreign Transaction Fees | – APR – 5x points on travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards – 3x points for restaurant dining, takeout and eligible delivery services – 3x points for online grocery purchases, excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs – 2x points for all other travel purchases – 60,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within first three months – No foreign transaction fees – annual fee |
|
| Chase United Quest Card | Airline Rewards | – APR – $125 annual statement credit for United purchases – 3x miles on United purchases after earning $125 statement credit – 2x other travel and dining and select streaming – 1x on all other purchases – Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee credit – 25% back on United in-flight purchases – 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months – Two 5,000-mile anniversary award flight credits per year – 500 Premier qualifying points for every $12,000 you spend on purchases, up to 3,000 per calendar year – Free first and second checked bags for you and a travel companion, up to $320 value per roundtrip – Priority boarding – No foreign transaction fees – $250 annual fee |
| Chase United Club Infinite Card | Premium Travel Benefits | – APR – 4x miles on United purchases – 2x other travel and dining – 1x all other purchases – Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee credit – 25% back on United in-flight purchases – 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months – 500 Premier qualifying points for every $12,000 you spend on purchases, up to 3,000 per calendar year – United Club membership worth up to $650 per year – No foreign transaction fees – $525 annual fee |
| Chase United Explorer Card | Airline Rewards Without Big Fees | – APR – 2x miles on United purchases, dining and hotel stays booked with card – 1x miles on all other purchases – Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee credit – 25% back on United in-flight purchases – 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months – 500 Premier qualifying points for every $12,000 you spend on purchases, up to 1,000 per calendar year – 2 one-time United Club passes per year, worth over $100 – Free first checked bag for you and a travel companion, up to $140 value per roundtrip – Priority boarding – No foreign transaction fees – $95 annual fee; $0 for the first year |
Best for: Introductory APR
High cash-back rewards, a valuable bonus offer and a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months — followed by a APR — make the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card the best in this roundup.
Pros
- Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year)
- Generous top-level rewards on travel purchases
- Bottom tier pays 1.5% compared to 1% with other cards
- Introductory APR good on both purchases and balance transfers
- Competitive APR compared to airline cards
- annual fee
Cons
- Balance transfer fee of $5 or 5%, whichever is greater
- 3% foreign transaction fee
Who would benefit from this card? Frequent domestic travelers who want a straightforward rewards program.
Best for: No foreign transaction fees
The Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card offers a 60,000-mile bonus once you spend $4,000 in the first three months of card ownership. That’s worth $750 in travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
You’ll also earn 5x points on travel purchases via Chase Ultimate Rewards; 3x points for online grocery purchases — excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs — and on restaurant dining, takeout and eligible delivery services; and 2x points on all other travel purchases. Plus, if you travel internationally, you’ll benefit from the card’s lack of foreign transaction fees.
Pros
- 60,000-mile welcome bonus offer for spending at least $4,000 in the first three months
- Generous top-level reward on travel purchases via Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 2x points on all other travel purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- No introductory APR on purchases or balance transfers
- annual fee
Who would benefit from this card? Domestic and international travelers who will earn enough points to offset the annual fee.
Chase United Quest Credit Card
Best for: Airline Rewards
The Chase United Quest credit card offers 3x miles on United purchases after you earn your annual $125 statement credit for United purchases and 2x miles on other travel. Additionally, the card offers an impressive 80,000 bonus miles if you spend $5,000 in the first three months, plus additional miles as flight credits.
Pros
- High-value mile and cash back credits
- Airline-specific perks like free checked bags and priority boarding
- Ability to earn up to 3,000 Premier qualifying points while you earn miles
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
- No promotional APR
- Must fly United to take advantage of most rewards
- High annual fee of $250
Who would benefit from this card? Frequent United flyers
Chase United Club Infinite Credit Card
Best for: Premium Travel Benefits
The Chase United Infinite credit card has the highest annual fee of any card in this roundup, but you get a lot for your money, including a whopping 100,000-mile welcome bonus for spending $5,000 in the first three months.
If you’re a frequent luxury traveler who flies United exclusively or nearly so, this could be the card for you.
Pros
- Highest mile rewards among listed airline cards
- High-value perks like United Club membership
- Ability to earn up to 3,000 Premier qualify points while you earn miles
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
- No promotional APR
- Must fly United to take advantage of most rewards
- High annual fee of $525
Who would benefit from this card? The most frequent overseas United flyers who place a premium on luxury.
Chase United Explorer Credit Card
Best for: Airline Rewards Without Big Fees
The Chase United Explorer credit card is a good choice for those who don’t travel enough to earn the kinds of rewards that make high annual fees worth paying. You still get decent rewards and plenty of travel perks. Plus, the annual fee is waived for your first year.
Pros
- Earn 60,000 bonus miles for spending $3,000 in the first three months
- Money-saving cash-back rewards
- Can earn up to 1,000 Premium qualifying points
- Travel benefits like a free checked bag and priority boarding
- Annual fee waived for the first year
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
- $95 annual fee after the first year
- No promotional APR
Who would benefit from this card? Less frequent travelers who want a straightforward airline card for everyday spending.
Which Is the Best Chase Travel Card for You?
If you travel internationally and don’t want to be tied to a particular airline, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers a nice welcome bonus and travel rewards — if you don’t mind paying an annual fee.
The foreign transaction fees make the Chase Freedom Unlimited travel card a better choice for domestic travelers than for those who travel internationally. Plus, the card offers an introductory APR and no annual fee.
Otherwise, the stepped-up benefits of the airline cards could be worth the annual fees if you don’t mind flying United to earn rewards.
In the end, the card you choose should provide the highest level of benefits you’ll use without charging for benefits you don’t need.
Cynthia Measom contributed to the reporting for this article.
Rates are subject to change; unless otherwise noted, rates are updated periodically. All other information on accounts is accurate as of Jan. 11, 2022.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.
The information related to the Chase Freedom Unlimited, Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase United Quest, Chase United Club Infinite and Chase United Explorer cards was collected by GOBankingRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of these cards. Product details may vary. Please see the issuer’s website for current information. GOBankingRates does not receive commission for this product.
