Allie Hubers If you’re an active-duty military member or military spouse, you have access to one of the best-kept secrets in travel hacking: premium credit cards with waived annual fees.
Thanks to federal protections like the Military Lending Act (MLA) and the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), credit card issuers like American Express and Chase waive hefty annual fees on many of their most rewarding cards.
That means you can enjoy thousands of dollars in travel perks without paying a cent in annual fees, which is a major benefit for military families who travel often or live abroad.
As a military spouse myself, I’ve learned many of the ins and outs of travel credit cards and waived annual fees. Between my husband and me, we have over 16 credit cards that offer this benefit, allowing us to stack hundreds of dollars in travel credits each year and consistently earn points toward future trips.
In fact, we saved $23,000 on travel with our credit card points and annual credits!
Here’s a look at the best travel cards for military members, plus tips for earning even more rewards through referrals, authorized users, and smart card combinations.
Best military credit cards for travel in 2025
Military members can receive top-tier credit cards without having to pay the annual fees. You can take advantage of all the perks without paying any annual fees, including sign-up bonuses, luxury travel perks, lounge access, referral bonuses, travel credits, insurance, and more.
Below is my list of the best military credit cards for travel that you should consider applying for, based on my experience using these cards for six years.
1. Chase Sapphire Reserve
Annual waived fee: $550
Travel credits: $300 annual travel credit
Rewards: 3x points on travel and dining
Points: Redeem for 1.5 cents per point in Chase Portal
Perks:
- Priority Pass lounge access
- Primary car rental insurance
- Comprehensive travel protection (trip delay, cancellation, lost baggage, etc.)
Why I love the Chase Sapphire Reserve: For military travelers, this is one of the most valuable all-in-one travel cards on the market. It combines high earning potential, luxury perks, and top-tier insurance.
In addition, Visa is the most widely accepted credit card when traveling internationally. This makes the Chase Sapphire Reserve our most-used credit card when traveling out of the country, as it has no foreign transaction fees.
Sign up here for the latest sign-up bonus. You’ll earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. That’s worth $900 in the Chase Travel Portal, which you can use for airfare, cruises, rental cars, and hotels.
2. The Amex Platinum Credit Card
Annual fee: $695
Travel credits:
- $200 airline fee credit
- $200 Uber Cash
- $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit
- $200 hotel credit
- $240 entertainment credit
Perks:
- Access to Amex Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, and Priority Pass
- Hilton Gold and Marriott Gold elite status
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck and CLEAR credit
- Travel insurance, purchase protection, and cell phone protection
Why it’s great: The Amex Platinum credit card is one of the best options for military members. Even though it’s not the best for earning points on everyday spending, the elite status, lounge access, and credits make it an essential card for frequent flyers.
Sign up here for the latest sign-up bonus. You’ll earn 80,000 points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your Platinum Card within the first 6 months. That’s worth more than $800!
3. Amex Gold Card
Annual fee: $250
Rewards:
- 4x points at restaurants (including takeout/delivery)
- 4x at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25k per year)
- 3x on flights
Credits:
- $120 annual dining credit ($10/month at select restaurants)
- $120 Uber Cash (can be paired with Amex Platinum)
- Monthly Credits for Dunkin’ Donuts and Resy
Why it’s great: The Gold card is perfect for everyday use, particularly for military families who spend heavily on groceries and dining with 4x points. Paired with the Platinum card, it creates a powerful combo: earn points for travel with the Amex Gold and enjoy luxury travel perks with the Amex Platinum.
Sign up here for the latest sign-up offer. You’ll earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after using your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months. That’s worth more than $600!
4. Amex Green Card
Annual fee: $150 (waived for military under MLA)
Rewards:
- 3x points on all travel (including transit)
- 3x points at restaurants
Credits:
- $189 annual CLEAR credit
- Up to $100 in LoungeBuddy credits
Why it’s great: A strong middle-ground travel card for those who want elevated rewards on dining and travel but don’t need all the luxury perks of Platinum. You’ll earn extra points on all travel, including cruises, hotels, and train tickets.
Sign up here for the latest sign-up bonus. You’ll earn 40,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months.
5. Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
Annual Fee: $550
Rewards:
- 3x SkyMiles on Delta purchases
- Annual companion certificate
- 15% off award reward travel redeemed with Skymiles
- MQD head start and boost
Credits:
- Complimentary Delta Sky Club access when flying Delta
- $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
- First checked bag free and Main Cabin 1 priority boarding
- $120 ride-share credit
- $240 Resy credit
- $200 Delta Stays credit
Why it’s great: This is the ideal card for loyal Delta flyers, especially those near major Delta hubs. With the annual fee waived for military, you get lounge access, free bags, and elite status benefits without the usual premium cost.
Sign up here for the latest welcome offer. You can earn 70,000 bonus SkyMiles after spending $5,000 in the first 6 months.
6. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Annual Fee: $550
Rewards:
- 14x points at Hilton hotels
- 7x on flights, car rentals, and restaurants
- 3x on everything else
- Complimentary Diamond status with lounge access
Credits:
- Up to $250 Hilton Resort credit
- Up to $250 annual airline incidental fee credit
- One free weekend night reward every year (plus another after $60k in spending)
Why it’s great: With instant Hilton Diamond status, annual free nights, and hundreds of dollars in statement credits, this card is an unbeatable value for military travelers who prefer Hilton properties.
7. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
Annual Fee: $650
Rewards:
- 6x points at Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- 3x at restaurants worldwide and on flights
- 2x on all other purchases
- Complimentary Platinum Elite status
Credits:
- Free night award (up to 85,000 points) after each account anniversary
- Priority Pass Select lounge membership
- $25 monthly dining credit
- $100 Marriott Property credit
Why it’s great: Perfect for military members who stay at Marriott properties like JW Marriott, Westin, or Ritz-Carlton. With Platinum Elite status, annual free nights, and hundreds in credits — all with no annual fee — this card is a top-tier value for Marriott loyalists.
Sign up here to earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months. You’ll earn an extra 50,000 bonus points after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.
How to maximize points and perks as a military member
Waived annual fees are just the beginning. Here’s how to earn even more rewards and benefits from your travel credit cards. These are some of my favorite strategies to maximize your credit card perks and redeem for travel.
Refer your spouse or friends
Most card issuers offer referral bonuses when you share your unique referral link. When your spouse or a friend signs up through your link and is approved, you earn bonus points — sometimes 10,000 to 40,000 points per referral.
Since your spouse also qualifies for waived annual fees under MLA, you can both hold the same card (like two Amex Platinum or two Chase Sapphire Reserves) and double up on travel perks:
- Two sets of lounge access
- Two Uber Cash credits
- Two travel credits, etc.
It’s a great way to earn more while unlocking benefits for your whole household.
Add authorized users for free
With Amex, authorized user fees are also waived for military members. This is different than having your own account number as a primary cardholder (mentioned above). Keep an eye on your account for bonus point offers to add authorized users.
An authorized user is someone who is added to someone else’s existing credit card account. They receive a card with their name on it and can make purchases, but they are not legally responsible for repaying the charges.
For authorized users:
- You can add your spouse, parents, siblings, or even teenagers (13+) as cardholders
- Each authorized user gets their own access to benefits like lounges
- You may earn bonus points just for adding users and making a purchase
For example, adding authorized users to your Amex Platinum card can grant them access to Centurion Lounges and Priority Pass, all without paying the usual $195 per user fee.
My husband and I both have our Amex Platinum cards, but we are also authorized users on one another’s accounts. This allows us to have extra lounge access, and we earned bonus points for adding one another to our accounts.
Open and stack cards strategically
You’ll want to open and stack your cards strategically if you plan to hold multiple credit cards (which you should). Most military members have a multitude of travel credit cards because of the annual waived fees. Just make sure you open a new credit card when you can reach the spending requirement for the sign-up bonus.
First, open any Chase credit cards, as you will need to meet the criteria for the 5/24 rule, meaning you can’t open 5 or more cards under your name within 24 months.
Next, open your Amex cards. You should plan to stack your cards to maximize your earning potential. All of your Membership Reward points with Amex are pooled together.
- Amex Platinum: Use for flights, lounges, hotel perks, and luxury travel credits
- Amex Gold: Use for all grocery and dining purchases (4x points)
- Amex Green: Use for general travel and transit (3x points)
By using the right card for each purchase, you can rack up points quickly while enjoying elite-level travel perks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I get annual fees waived on travel credit cards?
If you’re on active duty, most major card issuers, especially Amex and Chase, will waive annual fees under the Military Lending Act (MLA) or Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). This includes cards like the Amex Platinum, Amex Gold, and Chase Sapphire Reserve.
How do I waive the annual credit card fees for military?
When you apply, Amex and Chase will automatically check the Department of Defense (DoD) database using your SSN and personal information. If you’re eligible, the annual fee will be waived automatically, often with no additional action required.
For Amex, you can confirm your annual fee is waived when you receive your paperwork after opening the card. You should see “covered borrower” at the bottom of Part 1 of your Card Member Agreement.
Are there military spouse credit cards with waived annual fees?
Military spouses also qualify for MLA protections as long as the card is opened while their service member spouse is on active duty. That means spouses can get the same premium cards, with no annual fee.
This is different than adding your spouse as an authorized user. Your spouse is eligible to receive waived fees just like the active duty service member as a primary cardholder.
Even better: If you refer your spouse using your referral link, you can earn bonus points when they’re approved.
Can I keep these cards after I leave the military?
You can, but once you separate or retire, you may be charged the full annual fee when the next renewal date hits. At that point, you can:
- Downgrade the card
- Cancel it
- Or keep paying the fee if the benefits are worth it to you
Can military members receive the annual fee waived for authorized users?
Yes! You can add authorized users to cards like the Amex Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve without paying the annual fee. Many issuers even offer bonus points when you add users and make a purchase within a certain time frame.
Bottom line: Take advantage of travel credit cards for military members
Military members and their families have a rare opportunity to unlock premium travel rewards with zero out-of-pocket costs — if they use the right strategy.
As a military spouse who travels frequently, having these premium credit card perks without paying the annual fee is a game-changer. I always joke that my qualms towards the military physically leave my body the minute I step into an airport lounge.
By combining powerful cards like the Amex Platinum, Amex Gold, and Chase Sapphire Reserve, and by referring your spouse, adding authorized users, and choosing smart spending categories, you can enjoy luxury travel perks, free flights, and elite status — all without paying annual fees.
This is a unique benefit of military life and one you should take full advantage of while you can.
Disclaimer: The strategies outlined in this article are based on my personal experience and financial situation. Credit card benefits, rewards, and waived military fees are subject to issuer policies and may change at any time. While leveraging credit card rewards can lead to significant savings, it is important to practice responsible credit management, including paying balances in full each month to avoid interest charges. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Always research and evaluate credit card options based on your individual financial needs.
Credit card links: I earn a small referral bonus if you enroll in a credit card using my link!
