How to Choose Your First Travel Credit Card (Without Getting Overwhelmed)

CREDIT CARDSCREDIT CARD POINTS

1/4/20265 min read

When I got my first travel credit card back in 2022, I had no idea what I was doing. I just picked one that sounded good and hoped for the best.

Turns out, that's what most people do. And honestly? It's not the worst strategy - at least you're starting somewhere.

But after earning hundreds of thousands of points and flying business class to Europe and Asia using those points, I've learned there's a smarter way to choose.

Here's what I wish someone had told me from the beginning.

The Two Types of Travel Credit Cards (And Why It Actually Matters)

Okay, before we dive in, you need to understand there are two main types of travel cards.

I know, I know - you just want someone to tell you which one to get. We'll get there, I promise. But this part matters.

1. Airline Credit Cards

These cards earn miles for ONE specific airline. Like United, Delta, or American.

The good stuff:

You get perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and sometimes lounge access
Your miles work for that airline's flights
Sometimes easier to get approved for

The catch:

Your miles are stuck with that one airline
If that airline doesn't fly where you want to go... you're kind of out of luck

Examples: United Explorer Card, Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card, American Airlines AAdvantage card

2. Flexible Points Cards

These cards earn points you can transfer to MULTIPLE airlines (and hotels).

The good stuff:

Your points aren't stuck anywhere - you can move them to whichever airline has the best deal
Usually better for international flights
Way more options = way more flexibility

The catch:

Annual fees are often higher ($95-$695)
You might not get airline perks like free checked bags

Examples: Capital One Venture X, Chase Sapphire Cards, American Express Gold and Platinum Card

So Which Type Should You Get?

Here's the simple way I think about it:

Get an airline card if:

✅ You fly one airline a lot (like if you live near their hub airport)
✅ You want perks like free checked bags and priority boarding
✅ You mostly take domestic trips within the U.S.

Get a flexible points card if:

✅ You want options (you're not married to one airline)
✅ You're planning to travel internationally at some point
✅ You want to learn about transferring points for better value

Still not sure?

Start with a flexible points card. You can always add an airline card later. That's what I did.

My Honest Recommendation for Beginners: Capital One Venture X

Look, if I were starting over today, I'd get the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

Here's why:

The earning is super simple:

2 miles per dollar on EVERYTHING (groceries, gas, Amazon, literally everything)
5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel
10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel

The perks are actually good:

10,000 bonus miles every year on your card anniversary (that's worth about $100)
$300 travel credit every year
Priority Pass lounge access - you can get into airport lounges worldwide, plus Capital One's own lounges
No foreign transaction fees (so you can use it internationally without extra charges)

Here's the math that sold me:

$395 annual fee
Minus $100 (those anniversary miles)
Minus $300 (travel credit)
= You're basically getting paid $5 to have this card

Plus, Capital One points transfer to 15+ airline partners. So if you decide later that you want to learn about transfers and getting better value, you already have the right card.

[Apply for Capital One Venture X here]

What If I Fly One Airline a Lot?

If you live near a major hub and fly that airline all the time, getting their credit card totally makes sense.

Here's my setup as an example:

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. San Francisco Airport (SFO) is a United hub - they have the most flights here by far.

So I have:

United℠ Explorer Card - Free checked bags, priority boarding, 2 United Club passes per year
Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card - Delta has really good routes from SFO to the East Coast
American Airlines AAdvantage® card - American has the best routes to Asia, which I need for visiting family

Why do I keep all three?

I got huge welcome bonuses on each one (50,000-75,000 miles)
The perks save me actual money (free bags alone save me $60-120 every trip)
I genuinely fly all three airlines depending on where I'm going

But listen - you don't need three airline cards.

I didn't start with three. I started with ONE.

Pick the airline you actually fly most. Get that card. Use it for a while. See how you like it.

You can always add more later.

The One Thing Nobody Tells You: Free Cancellations

Okay, this is huge and nobody talks about it enough.

Most airlines let you cancel award flights (flights booked with miles) for FREE.

This changed everything for me.

As of 2026, here's the deal:

✅ Alaska Airlines - Cancel for free, miles go back to your account
✅ American Airlines - Cancel for free
✅ Delta - Cancel for free if your flight starts in the U.S. or Canada
✅ JetBlue - Cancel for free (except their cheapest Blue Basic fares)
✅ Southwest - Cancel for free up to 10 minutes before departure (!)
✅ United - Cancel for free, no change fees

What this actually means:

If you book a flight with miles and your plans change? You can cancel and get your miles back. No penalty.

This is HUGE.

It means you can book a flight even if you're not 100% sure about your dates yet. Because if plans change, you just cancel and get your miles back.

I do this all the time now. Book first, figure out details later.

(Quick note: Frontier and Spirit still charge fees, so I'd avoid booking award flights with them if you can.)

How I Actually Find Good Deals

Here's the thing about flight deals: they don't last long.

I used to miss really good deals all the time because I just wasn't checking at the right moment.

Now I use Thrifty Traveler Premium. They monitor flight prices 24/7 and send text or email alerts when there's a legitimately good deal - both cash fares and award flights (flights booked with points).

They'll send alerts like:

Business class to Europe for under $700 (normally $3,000+)
Round-trip to Hawaii for 14,000 Delta miles (usually way more)
Economy to Europe for 32,000 points round-trip

And they don't just say "there's a deal" - they tell you the exact dates, all the routes, and step-by-step how to book it.

I'm a partner with them (I earn a commission if you sign up), but I was using them way before that. Their alerts are honestly how I learned what good pricing looks like.

[Check out Thrifty Traveler Premium here - you'll get $20 off for first year]

You don't need it to use your points. But if you want to catch the really good deals without checking prices every day, it helps.

Quick Decision Framework

Still not sure which card to get? I get it. Here's the simplest way to decide:

Step 1: Figure out which airline flies direct from your home airport most often

Step 2: Ask yourself: Do I want to stick with that one airline, or do I want flexibility?

If you want flexibility: Get Capital One Venture X (or Chase Sapphire Preferred if you're more of a Chase person)

If you fly one airline a lot: Get that airline's credit card

If you're still overwhelmed: Get Capital One Venture X. It's the easiest to use and gives you the most options.

Next Steps (Keep It Simple)

If you're ready to get your first travel card:

Start with Capital One Venture X if you want simplicity and flexibility [Apply here]
OR get your most-flown airline's card if you're loyal to one airline
Use it for 3-6 months
See how you like earning miles and points
Add more cards later if you want (but you definitely don't have to)

If you want to catch good flight deals:

The Bottom Line

Here's the truth: there's no "perfect" credit card.

There's only the card that makes sense for where you are right now.

If you're just starting, pick ONE card. Use it. Learn how it works.

You can always add more later. I promise you're not missing out by starting simple.

And remember: the best credit card is the one you'll actually use.

Questions? Find me on Instagram @elevatewithelie - I love talking about this stuff and I'm happy to help.

Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you apply or sign up (at no extra cost to you). I only recommend cards and services I actually use.