These New Credit Cards Offer Superior Travel Advantages

Accessing credit-card travel perks is not always an easy endeavor. However, the new Bilt Rewards and Capital One Venture X cards offer an array of benefits, and it doesn’t require an excessive amount of effort to earn and use points.

Bilt is a Wells Fargo World Elite Mastercard with no annual fee that allows holders to earn rewards when paying rent or spending on goods and services. The card has a stellar earning rate: three points per $1 spent on dining, two points per $1 spent on travel, and one point per $1 spent on rent (up to 50,000 points annually). Rewards options are plentiful, as you can transfer points one to one to 11 travel partners, including American Airlines, United Airlines, Air Canada, Turkish Airlines, Air France, Emirates and Hyatt. Holders can also earn interest on points and build consumer credit with Equifax. Mastercard offers a variety of built-in benefits such as trip cancellation protection and auto rental collision/damage waivers.

Capital One Venture X is another strong option among premium travel rewards cards, offering an excellent sign-up bonus of 75,000 points, which covers the annual fee for nearly two years. Venture X earns two miles per dollar on all purchases and features a slew of travel-related perks, including a $300 travel credit and 10,000 bonus miles annually; complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status; up to a $100 credit for either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry; numerous travel and purchase protections; and Priority Pass lounge membership for both the primary cardholder and authorized users. With Capital One you can transfer points one to one to more than 15 travel partners, including Air Canada, Air France, Avianca, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates and Etihad Airways.

Illustration by Maria Hergueta

This doesn’t even factor in the value of having access to some of the least expensive international awards from the United States, such as Emirates first-class to Athens (85,000 Skywards Miles), Etihad first-class to the Middle East (120,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points), and British Airways first-class to Europe (87,000 Asia Miles). In the very competitive space of travel rewards cards, Capital One Venture X and Bilt are among the brightest of the lot.

Which card is best for you?

Bilt

Pros

• Earn 1x on rent payments with no fees (up to $50,000 every year)
• Earn 2x on every purchase within the first 30 days of opening the account. Otherwise, earn 2x on travel and 3x on dining
• No foreign transaction fees

Cons

• No sign-up bonus
• No cash back option

Capital One Venture X

Pros

• New cardholder bonus offer: 75,000 bonus miles
• Anniversary perk: 10,000 bonus miles every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges

Cons

• Does not offer bonuses for flights or hotel purchases made with the airline or hotel