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Texas is known for its larger-than-life persona. The best credit cards for Texas can be a good way to maximize your spending and travel habits. Depending on where you are in the Lone Star State, some cards are better a better fit than others.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Credit Cards for Texas
Your credit card rewards will be the most valuable when you redeem them for award flights. Both Dallas and Houston have some of the busiest airports in the nation. Each city also has nice alternate airports such as Dallas Love Field and Houston Hobby Airport.
Dallas
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is the 4th busiest airport in the United States by passenger boardings. DFW is a major hub for American Airlines. Various international airlines including Qantas also offer many flights from DFW.
Dallas Love Field (DAL) is a popular choice for Southwest, Delta, and Alaska Airlines.
Below are some of the best credit cards for Dallas.
The Platinum Card from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express can boost your domestic and international flights. You can transfer your Membership Rewards at a 1:1 ratio to many airline partners, including Delta, British Airways, and Qantas. With British Airways, you can book partner flights on American Airlines.
Texas is lounges for some of the best airport lounge networks. At Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport, this card gives you free access to the Centurion Lounge, Priority Pass, and Delta Sky Club lounges. Houston International (HOU) also has a Centurion lounge and other airline-specific lounges.
Perks
Cardholders earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, and earn 5x Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
Cardholders can get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when they pay with The Platinum Card® from American Express. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
Also, select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Card.
The Centurion® Network access is another perk.
Other Platinum Card from American Express Benefits
There’s also a digital entertainment credit, making this card one of the best for streaming services. Cardholders can get up to $20 in statement credits each month when they pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card®. Enrollment required.
In addition to enjoying TSA PreCheck or Global Entry access, cardholders can also enjoy CLEAR perks. Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®.
Another exciting benefit is the ability for cardholders to get up to $300 back each year in the form of statement credits on an Equinox+ subscription or any Equinox club membership when they pay with their Platinum Card. Enrollment required.
Plus, get up to a $155 annual Walmart+ credit, which covers the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. The cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax.
New The Platinum Card® from American Express cardmembers can earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $8,000 on purchases on their new Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
The annual fee is $695 (See Rates & Fees) but can be offset with the perks, which are valued at over $1,400. Get the full details and learn more in our in-depth The Platinum Card from American Express review.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card
Southwest Airlines corporate headquarters are in Dallas. When flying from Love Field, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card offers the best personal travel benefits:
- $75 annual Southwest travel credit
- 4 Upgraded Bookings per year (when available)
- 25% back on inflight purchases
- 7,500 anniversary points each card renewal
- No foreign transaction fee
Cardholders earn unlimited:
- 3x points on Southwest® purchases
- 2x points on local transit and commuting, including rideshares
- 2x points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming purchases
New Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card cardholders can earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Your annual fee for this card is $149, one of the best credit cards for Texas.
Related: Best Southwest Credit Cards
Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
The information for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The premium Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is the most luxurious credit card for American Airlines.
You get these benefits:
- Admirals Club lounge access
- One free checked bag for you and up to 8 companions traveling on the same domestic American Airlines itinerary
- Priority check-in, airport screening (where available), and priority boarding
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- No foreign transaction fee
For a limited time, earn a total of 4 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases through December 31, 2022. After that, earn 2 miles per $1 on eligible American Airlines purchases.
Earn 1x AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.
Plus, earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
The lounge benefit alone can be worth the $595 annual fee.
New Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® cardholders can earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, enjoy a complimentary Admirals Club® membership (a value of up to $850).
Related: Best Credit Cards for American Airlines
Houston
Houston has Texas’ second busiest airport at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). Notable airlines operating from HOU include United Airlines, Delta, Singapore Airlines, and Emirates.
Southwest Airlines has a large presence at Hobby Airport (HOU).
United Explorer Card
As Houston is a United Airlines hub, you might like the United℠ Explorer Card, one of the best credit cards for Texas.
United Explorer Card benefits include:
- The first checked bag is free for you and one companion
- Two one-time United Club passes at account opening and each card anniversary
- Earn 2x United miles on United® purchases, dining including eligible delivery services, and hotel accommodations booked directly from the hotel
- Fee credit of up to $100 for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
- 25% back on United® inflight purchases
- No foreign transaction fee
The annual fee is $0 for the first year and then $95 for each card renewal. Although you may primarily fly United, you can also redeem your miles for Star Alliance partner flights like Lufthansa for nonstop service to Frankfurt.
New United℠ Explorer Card cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
Plus, there’s a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the most flexible travel rewards cards and one of the best credit cards for Texas.
Benefits include:
- Earn up to 5x points on purchases
- Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for award travel on Chase
- 1:1 airline and hotel point transfers
- Trip cancellation/interruption benefits
- No foreign transaction fee
You can transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio to airlines like United, Southwest Airlines, British Airway, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines. You won’t have a problem redeeming points for the major airlines operating from Houston.
Related: Best Travel Credit Cards
Austin
The best credit cards for Texas can also help you with the state capital. The primary airport is Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS).
The legacy domestic carriers and discount airlines have a large presence. You will even see several international airlines flying to Canada and Europe.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card earns unlimited 2x miles on all purchases. Your purchase rewards can be redeemed for travel statement credits, booking upcoming travel, or transferring to airline partners. If you tend to fly the airline with the cheapest price or best flight times for that route, you will appreciate this flexibility.
One additional travel benefit is a fee credit of up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. The annual fee is $95.
However, if you are wanting to earn a few more miles on travel, good news—earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel, with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card can be your best option for flying Delta Airlines and one of the best credit cards for Texas. It has a reasonable annual fee and plenty of Delta travel benefits. It is also one of the best Delta credit cards.
Card benefits include:
- Free checked bag for you on Delta flights and up to 8 companions
- Main cabin 1 priority boarding
- Terms apply
You get Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights.
The Delta SkyMiles Gold Credit Card earns 2x Miles on Delta purchases at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets (1x Mile for everything else that is eligible). It also has 20% savings in the form of a statement credit after you use your Card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and audio headsets.
Additionally, you can Pay with Miles: take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
Plus, Gold card members will receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use for future travel after spending $10,000 in purchases on their card in a calendar year. Additionally, enjoy up to $100 back annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com.
Cardholders can also get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
Welcome Bonus
New Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card cardholders can earn 40,000 bonus miles after they spend $2,000 in purchases on their new Card in their first 6 months of Card Membership.
The introductory annual fee of $0 for the first year, then $150 (See Rates & Fees).
As Austin is home to a Delta Sky Club (along with DFW and IAH), you may also consider one of the other premium Delta credit cards.
Summary of Credit Cards for Texas
In conclusion, Texas is home to some of the nation’s busiest airports, you have plenty of domestic and international travel options. The best credit cards for Texas let you maximize your travel habits but can help boost your daily spending power as well.
FAQs
What is the best credit card for Dallas, Texas?
The best credit card for Dallas, Texas can be a flexible rewards card like the Platinum Card from American Express. This card is great for frequent flyers and international travel. You can get free lounge access at the Centurion, Priority Pass (enrollment required), and Delta Sky Clubs in Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport.
Other airlines with a major presence in Dallas include American Airlines and Southwest Airlines. One of their co-brand cards can be helpful if you favor a particular airline.
What is the best credit card for Houston, Texas?
You might consider getting the Chase Sapphire Preferred to earn flexible travel rewards. For instance, you can transfer your Ultimate Rewards to United Airlines or Southwest Airlines. Both of these airlines fly multiple flights from Houston’s airports. Houston also has many international airlines that you can either transfer Ultimate Rewards to or redeem your points for award flights with a 25% travel redemption bonus.
As United Airlines has a major hub in Houston, their co-brand United Explorer Card is worth considering. You and one companion get one free checked bag. At the card opening and each renewal, you get two one-time United Club lounge passes.
What is the best credit card for Austin, Texas?
Austin has plenty of domestic and international flight destinations for a mid-size airport. As one airline doesn’t have an overwhelming presence like Dallas or Houston, the Capital One Venture Card is a great option. You earn unlimited 2x miles on all purchases. You can redeem your miles for travel statement credits, upcoming travel, or transfer to airline partners.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, please click here.
Johnny Jet has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Johnny Jet and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
