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Updated February 2023
With the travel and tourism industry back on track, travellers all around the world travelling by air are looking to spend heavily in putting miles and points to work for them again. In a situation like this, choosing a good travel credit card that not only maximises your earnings but also improves your travel experience should be a priority.
For UAE travellers looking to travel in 2023, here is everything you need to know about some of the best airline travel credit cards, their annual fees, perks and more.
Why use a credit card to travel?
Using a credit card for travel has several advantages. Firstly, it provides convenience as credit cards are widely accepted globally, making it a more convenient way to pay for travel expenses such as flights, hotels, and transportation.
Secondly, many credit cards offer rewards and benefits for travel-related expenses, such as frequent flyer miles, airport lounge access, or travel insurance which incentivizes travelers to use their credit cards. Furthermore, credit cards provide security against fraudulent transactions, and in case your card is lost or stolen, you can have it cancelled and a new one issued without having to worry about losing your travel funds.
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Best airline travel credit cards for UAE travellers in 2023
A travel credit card is a type of credit card that specialises in offering travel-related offers and discounts. Travellers can save money on travel by utilising the features and benefits offered by travel credit cards, including air ticket bookings, reward points accumulation, airport lounge benefits and more.
The following are some of the best airline travel credit cards for UAE travellers in 2023
Platinum Card from American Express
Image © American Express
One of the most popular and expensive travel cards, the Platinum Card from American Express, allows access to the network of more than 40 Centurion Lounges in airports around the US and in several international locations. However, as a subtle downgrade introduced on 1 February 2023, the card no longer includes free guest privileges.
Platinum cardholders are now required to pay around USD 50 (AED 184) per passenger. The price is USD 30 (AED 110) for children ages 2 to 18. The price has been introduced in addition to a recent change that bars entry to an airport lounge until 3 hours before a flight is scheduled to depart. Nonetheless, travellers on layover longer than 3 hours can still enter with a waiver.
Furthermore, the card also allows holders to add up to 3 registered users to their Platinum account for only USD 175 (AED 643) per year. This further allows each registered user to receive a card in their name for use when travelling with or without the cardholder. The cardholders can also give three people unlimited access to Centurion Lounges for a year for little more than the cost of a one-time, single-person lounge visit.
Moreover, as a benefit for the cardholders, sending more than USD 75,000 (AED 275,482) on the card within the calendar year will provide cardholders with the privilege of bringing two visitors for free through the end of the following calendar year and the next January. For instance, if a cardholder earns the benefit by June 2023, they will be able to use it until 31 January 2025.
Annual fee
The annual fee for the Platinum Card from American Express is USD 695 (AED 2,553).
Perks
The annual fee of the Platinum Card from American Express is USD 695 (AED 2,553), and the returns on it are packed with travel benefits as well as new and non-travel ones. The value for this can easily counteract the annual fee, even beyond the prospect of earning points.
This further allows cardholders access to airport lounges, including Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), Escape and Plaza Premium lounges, and Priority Pass membership, with more than 1,300 locations under its belt.
Other benefits of the Platinum Card from American Express include:
- a USD 200 (AED 735) airline credit for incidental fees, including seat assignments and bag surcharges
- monthly credits for Uber and digital entertainment like Disney+, SiriusXM and the New York Times
- a USD 200 (AED 735) hotel credit through the Fine Hotels and Resorts program
- credits toward Equinox gym and Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Clear membership
- instant Gold-level elite status in both Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors loyalty programs. Please note that the Gold status offers bonus points, room upgrades, and complimentary breakfast at many properties.
Furthermore, cardholders can also earn Membership Rewards points, where 1 point equals 1 cent. Hence, these points can be redeemed for flights, hotels and other travel or transferred to airline or hotel loyalty programs such as Air France/KLM, Delta and Virgin Atlantic.
Some benefits of travel insurance include car rentals, trip cancellations or delays, baggage delays, and roadside assistance.
Please note that bonus point earnings will not be as plentiful unless cardholders book their flights or prepaid hotels through American Express. This allows cardholders to earn 5 points per dollar spent. Moreover, the Fine Hotels and Resorts program from American Express offers visitors on-property amenities, complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, and late checkout when booking hotels.
Whom is the Platinum Card from American Express best for?
The Platinum Card from American Express is the best option for travellers who want the maximum benefits in airport lounges, transcending those of any other card and elite hotel status in multiple programs, as well as the capability to redeem points for all kinds of travel.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Image © Investopedia
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is another airline travel credit card that deserves attention for its lower annual fee of USD 550 (AED 2,020). The card also offers a heap of travel benefits.
Moreover, when it comes to securing solid value, the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s favourable redemption rate for travel, that is, 1.5 cents per point, gives it an upper hand in comparison to the American Express Platinum card’s 1 cent per point.
Annual fee
The annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Reserve is USD 550 (AED 2,020).
Perks
Earning bonus points is one of the best privileges of the Chase Sapphire Reserve. The Sapphire Reserve member earns Chase Ultimate Reward points which is a highly valuable points currency cashed in for travel at a lucrative rate or transferred to other loyalty programs like British Airways, Hyatt, or United.
The cardholders will earn 10 points per dollar on hotels, car rentals and dining that are booked through Chase or 5 points per dollar on flights booked through the Chase portal. They will further earn 10 points per dollar on Lyft rides. Furthermore, they will earn 3 points per dollar spent on dining and travel purchases. For all other purchases, 1 point is earned for every USD 1 (AED 4) spent
Further benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve include:
- a USD 300 (AED 1,102) annual credit on any travel booked with the card
- a two-year Lyft Pink All Access membership of value USD 199 (AED 731) value
- a USD 100 (AED 367) credit toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry applications and membership to Priority Pass will open the door to airport lounges around the world which typically cost more than USD 450 (AED 1,653) for an annual membership.
- when booking rooms through Chase’s Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, as well as Relais & Châteaux properties, DoorDash DashPass membership with a monthly USD 5 (AED 18) credit toward the service, hotel perks such as free breakfast, room upgrade, late checkout will be available to the visitors.
Some of the travel insurance protections include rental cars, trip delay or cancellation, baggage delay or loss, and roadside assistance.
Whom is the Chase Sapphire Reserve best for?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is the best choice for frequent travellers looking for airport perks and the best dollar value from travel redemptions without being tied to a particular airline.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Credit Card
Image © American Express
Making headlines in the year 2022 for issuing a subset of cards made of scrap metal from a former Delta Boeing 747, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Credit Card comes with the ability to earn 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases or 1 mile for every other purchase, securing higher priority on the upgrade list.
For elite Delta flyers left in the lurch following the airline’s sudden changes to its airport lounge policies, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Credit Card can act as a workaround in 2023. To combat lounge overcrowding, effective 2 February 2023, Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallion travellers in economy class or Delta Comfort+ on international flights, who previously were granted lounge access even without a Sky Club membership, will lose this SkyTeam alliance benefit.
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Credit cardholders will further get Sky Club access on all itineraries and access to Centurion Lounges when flying Delta or partner airlines. This applies to long-haul flights when they are not booked in the premium cabin or holding a general Sky Club membership.
Moreover, cardholders will get two free one-time guest passes per year, which otherwise costs around USD 50 (AED 184) per person to bring up to 2 additional passengers who are travelling on the same itinerary.
Annual fee
The annual fee for the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Credit Card is USD 550 (AED 2,020).
Perks
The basic benefits of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Credit Card include:
- free checked bags.
- a 20% discount on in-flight purchases.
- priority boarding.
- credit for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
The travel insurance perks are, however, manifold, as they include car rental, bag delay or loss, flight delay or cancellation, and general travel mishap issues.
Moreover, by meeting certain annual spending thresholds, cardholders can earn Medallion Qualifying Miles and Medallion Qualifying Dollars, which will help them attain Medallion elite status with Delta.
The card with a USD 550 (AED 2,020) annual fee does not earn transferrable points. It only awards SkyMiles, an inflated mileage currency that is criticised in many aviation circles. Although the redemptions for economy-class flights are quite acceptable, for premium cabin flights, cardholders are usually charged quadruple or even more miles than they would with other airline loyalty programs, depending on where they live. Besides, there is no award chart to help them.
Whom is the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Credit Card best for?
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Credit Card is the best choice for frequent Delta flyers who are not aiming for a maximum value when redeeming miles.
United Club Infinite Card
Image © Time
The real value of this United Club Infinite Card comes from offering cheaper access to United Clubs, which is basically a USD 125 (AED 459) discount on the USD 650 (AED 2,387) general membership fee for a year, and better access to United MileagePlus award redemptions just for holding the card.
Annual fee
The annual fee for the United Club Infinite Card is USD 525 (AED 1,928).
Perks
Generally viewed as a highly valuable currency, the United miles program still offers fair rates on the economy and business-class awards, with an abundance of transparency in award availability. With the United Club Infinite Card, cardholders can earn 4 miles per dollar spent on United purchases, 2 miles on dining and other travel charges, and 1 mile on all other things.
Further benefits of the United Club Infinite Card include:
- on reaching certain spending thresholds, the card provides Premier Qualifying Points, which helps reach United elite status faster, further providing credit toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry membership.
- free checked bags
- 25% off in-flight and United Club purchases
- a 10% discount on most North American mileage awards
The travel insurance covers some standard benefits, including trip delay or cancellation, bag delay or loss, rental cars and other general travel protections.
Furthermore, the United Club Infinite Card also comes with complimentary membership as an IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite membership, offering late checkout, bonus points and room upgrade perks, and DoorDash DashPass membership.
Please note that although there are no transfer partners, United’s membership in Star Alliance carries plenty of redemption options on other airlines.
Whom is the United Club Infinite Card best for?
The United Club Infinite Card is the best choice for United flyers seeking lounge access and sufficiently priced mileage redemptions on global airlines.
Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
Image © creditcards.aa.com
One of the best airline travel credit cards that come as a highlight for 2023 is the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard. Although since 2022, American Airlines has been allowing co-branded credit card spending to count toward elite status earnings, the no-fee American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card presenting the same path to status, lacks the perks of the USD 450 (AED 1,653) travel-focused Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard.
Annual fee
The annual fee for the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is USD 450 (AED 1,653).
Perks
The Citi /AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard comes with Admirals Club lounge access that permits 2 additional passengers. Furthermore, this comes without the time limits imposed by other airlines when flying American or with a partner carrier.
This further helps get lounge access at a discount as American charges around USD 650 (AED 2,387) for general membership. Moreover, cardholders can earn double miles on American Airlines purchases and 1 mile on everything else. Some of the other perks of the card include:
- a free checked bag
- USD 100 (AED 367) credit to TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
- priority boarding
- 25% off in-flight food and drink purchases.
Cardholders can also choose to expedite the points-earning process to get closer to the elite status by meeting certain spending thresholds for additional loyalty points. Some examples include earning 10,000 loyalty points after reaching USD 40,000 (AED 1,46,924) in qualifying-year spending.
Please note that a major limitation of the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is that, unlike its many competitors, it does not offer travel insurance protection.
Whom is the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard best for?
The Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is the best choice for frequent American Airlines flyers who wish to have an expedited path to elite status, some additional travel perks and a discount on lounge membership in exchange for the forgoing travel insurance.
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Source: blog.wego.com