This one isn't a travel card in the traditional sense, but I think it's good for beginners. There's no annual fee, so there's no pressure to "use it enough."

Here's what's good:

• 5% back on travel booked through Chase Travel
  
• 3% back at restaurants and drugstores
• 1.5% back on literally everything else, no categories to track
• Decent welcome bonus for a no-fee card, plus a long 0% intro APR window if you need to finance a purchase

Potential Cons:

• On its own, it earns cash back, not premium travel points. The trick (and it's a good one) is pairing it with a Chase card that earns Ultimate Rewards, like a Sapphire or an Ink card. Once you have both, your Freedom Unlimited earnings convert into full-value, transferable Ultimate Rewards points automatically. 
• Charges 3% foreign transaction fees, so it's not the card to bring on an international trip

Also worth knowing:

• It does come with travel coverage, up to $1,500 per covered traveler and up to $6,000 per trip, which surprises a lot of people for a no-fee card
• Auto rental insurance up to $60,000, covering theft, damage, and valid loss of use charges, another perk people don't expect from a no-fee card
• It currently includes a complimentary DoorDash membership too, though that's a promotional perk that could go away, so don't count on it being permanent

Who it's best for: anyone who wants a simple, no-fee card to earn on everyday spending, especially paired with a points-earning Chase card. 

If United is your hometown airline or shows up in your itineraries more than once or twice a year, this card starts paying for itself fast, mostly through the free checked bag alone.

Here's what's good:

• First checked bag free for you (and it extends to companions on the same reservation)
• Two United Club one-time passes every year
• Priority boarding
• Earns bonus miles on United flights and other United purchases, plus dining and hotel bookings
• $0 intro annual fee the first year, so you get to test drive it before paying anything

Also worth knowing (current perks, so double check these are still active before you fly):

• TSA PreCheck or Global Entry statement credit up to $120
• 25% savings on United inflight purchases
• Up to $100 in United Hotels credits
• $100 credit toward JSX private charter purchases
• $100 United Travel Bank cash back when you spend $10,000 or more in a year
• A 10,000-mile award flight discount when you spend $20,000 or more in a year
• No foreign transaction fees, so it travels well internationally too

Potential Cons:

• The annual fee jumps in year two, and if you're not flying United at least a couple times a year, the free bag and lounge passes won't offset it
• Miles are only really valuable if you're using them on United or its Star Alliance partners, not the most flexible currency out there
• Perks like the checked bag only apply on United-operated or United Express flights, so codeshares can get tricky

Who it's best for: occasional to semi-frequent United flyers who want perks (hello, free bag) without committing to a premium annual fee tier.

Southwest has changed a lot lately, assigned seating, checked bag fees for most fliers, so this card actually matters more now than it used to for people who fly Southwest regularly.

Here's what's good:

• Free seat selection at booking, including Preferred seats, even on the cheapest fare class
• First checked bag free for you and up to eight companions on the same reservation
• Unlimited complimentary upgrades to Extra Legroom seating within 48 hours of departure, when available
• A nice chunk of bonus points deposited automatically every year on your card anniversary
• Earns extra points toward Southwest's Companion Pass, which honestly might be the single best perk in all of loyalty travel if you can snag it
• No foreign transaction fees

Where it falls short:

• It carries the highest annual fee of Southwest's personal cards, and there's no longer a built-in annual travel credit to help offset it like there used to be
• If you don't fly Southwest more than a couple times a year, the lower-fee version of this card probably makes more sense

Who it's for: Southwest loyalists, especially anyone chasing (or maintaining) that Companion Pass, or who just really doesn't want to gamble on getting a decent seat.

This is the one I recommend most to clients who fly American Airlines regularly but don't want to jump straight to a premium annual fee card. It's a nice middle ground.

Here's what's good:

• Free first checked bag for you and up to four companions on the same reservation
• Preferred boarding on American flights
• Earns bonus miles at restaurants, gas stations, and on AA purchases, which covers a lot of everyday spending
• Annual fee is waived the first year, so you get a full year to decide if it earns its keep
• No foreign transaction fees

Potential Cons:

• Once that first free year ends, the fee kicks in, and if you're not a regular AA flyer, it's easy to let this one go unused
• The everyday earning rate outside bonus categories is pretty modest
• No lounge access or elite-status shortcuts, that's reserved for AA's pricier cards

Who it's for: American Airlines regulars who want free bags and better boarding without committing to a high annual fee, especially international travelers who'll appreciate no foreign transaction fees.

Honestly? It depends entirely on how and where you fly. If you're loyal to one airline, the co-branded card for that airline is almost always worth it once you're flying it a few times a year. If you're more of a "whatever gets me the best deal" traveler, the Freedom Unlimited paired with a points-earning card gives you way more flexibility.

If you want to talk through which combination actually makes sense for your travel habits (not just whatever influencer told you to get), that's a conversation I love having. Reach out and let's figure out your setup together.