JetBlue Premier

For loyal JetBlue passengers, the $499 annual fee is straightforward to recoup. The annual $300 TrueBlue Travel statement credit alone wipes out more than half the cost, while perks like free checked bags for four travelers, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, Priority Pass lounge access, and BlueHouse lounge privileges supply hundreds of dollars in real value. On top of that, an annual 25-tile bonus gives frequent flyers a huge head start toward earning Mosaic status.

This card is not intended for everyday spending, however. With a flat earn rate of 1x TrueBlue points across purchases, it serves much better as a dedicated travel card than a primary wallet card. If you fly JetBlue several times a year and make full use of the annual travel credit, the card's premium features far outweigh its annual fee.