Augusta Stone is a credit cards writer for TPG. She joined the TPG team in 2023 and is excited to take points and miles beginners with her on a journey toward maximizing rewards.
July 10, 2026 • 7 min read
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Quick summary
Many premium travel cards offer annual credits that can offset costs, but the ease of using these credits varies widely.
Some credits are highly flexible, automatically applying to a broad range of travel purchases, while others require bookings through specific portals or have category restrictions.
Hotel and airline credits may be used for prepaid stays or incidental fees, with some cards providing quarterly or monthly credits for services like ride-hailing or expedited airport security memberships.
Certain credits require enrollment or selection of a specific provider each year, and some allow credits to be used for purchases beyond traditional travel, such as dining at hotel restaurants.
What to consider
Some credits only apply to purchases made through designated travel portals or require advance enrollment.
Quarterly or monthly credits may expire if not used within the specified period, and some credits must be redeemed in a single transaction.
Eligibility, provider selection and redemption rules can differ, so reviewing each benefit’s terms is important.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of which travel credits are easiest to use and practical tips for maximizing each type.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
However, these credits aren't all the same. Some are simple and easy to use, while others are highly restrictive and come with complicated requirements.
Here’s our list of the travel credits that are easiest to maximize.
General travel credits
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Arguably the easiest travel credit on the market is the $300 annual travel credit on the (see rates and fees).
This credit is simple because it automatically kicks in on the first $300 you spend on travel each account anniversary year. You don't have to book through a travel portal or meet any minimum spending requirement to earn the credit. (Note that you won't earn bonus Chase Ultimate Rewards points on purchases before you hit the $300 credit.)
AUTOCAMP
Chase broadly defines what qualifies as a travel purchase. So, flights, hotel stays, parking garages, Uber rides and tolls are all included.
I used half of the Sapphire Reserve's $300 flexible travel credit on a recent trip to London, offsetting every public transport expense and Uber ride.
You can book flights, hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars through the Capital One Travel portal and the Capital One Business Travel portal.
I hold the personal Venture X and used this year's credit to take $300 off the $611 cash rate of a Virgin Atlantic economy seat from London to New York.
Six of the seven Delta American Express cards offer annual statement credits when you book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals. These range from $100 to $250 in value and are applied when you book through Delta Stays, the airline's hotel portal.
These credits reset each calendar year, which means some cardmembers may be able to effectively double-dip by combining credits across the same stay, depending on when you apply and redeem them.
United cards
Similar to the statement credits on select Delta Amex cards, two of United's cards offer credits each anniversary year for hotel stays booked directly through Renowned Hotels and Resorts, the airline's luxury hotel portal.
These credits can be used on a single booking. They're not split into quarterly or biannual credits. Plus, you'll receive perks such as complimentary breakfast and a property credit when you book an eligible stay with Renowned Hotels and Resorts.
Hilton cards and Business Platinum
Three American Express cards offer a quarterly statement credit for eligible Hilton purchases:
: Up to $60
: Up to $50
: Up to $50 (separate enrollment in Hilton for Business is required)
This credit can be used for more than just stays. Data points show that, even if you aren't staying at the property, purchases at Hilton restaurants, bars and gift stores can often trigger the credit.
Both and offer up to $200 in statement credits for airline incidental fees each calendar year (enrollment required).
You must select one qualifying U.S. airline each calendar year, and the incidental fee credit applies only to the airline you select.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
You can use this credit on anything from baggage and seat selection fees to inflight Wi-Fi and drinks. This $200 credit helps offset the $895 annual fee on both of these cards (see rates and fees for the Amex Platinum and the Business Platinum).
Hilton Aspire
The offers up to $50 in quarterly statement credits on flights booked directly with an airline, through amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Data points show that you can also use the credit on seat upgrades, award taxes and fees, and United TravelBank cash purchases.
This card charges $550 each year (see rates and fees), so this credit effectively brings down the annual fee to a more manageable $350.
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey
The (see rates and fees) offers a $50 annual statement credit when you make an airline purchase of at least $50. Note that you must use the credit in a single transaction.
The following cards offer easy-to-use credits for ride-hailing services:
: $10 monthly in Uber Cash to use in the U.S.
: $15 monthly in Uber Cash to use in the U.S.; $20 bonus in December
These benefits provide discounts when you take a ride or make an order through Uber Eats.
STEVEN ERRICO/GETTY IMAGES
To receive this benefit, your Amex Gold or Amex Platinum must be added to your Uber account first. Then, you can redeem your Uber Cash with any Amex Card.
The following cards offer statement credits each calendar year toward Clear+, a popular expedited security membership program (enrollment required; subject to auto-renewal):
If you already have Clear+ on one eligible card, you can use another eligible card’s credit to pay for someone else’s membership.
The information for the American Express Classic Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
For rates and fees for the Amex Platinum, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Aspire, click here.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
