Fly to London for Free With These 3 Credit Cards

My trip to London was one of the best experiences of my life. This city has it all -- bustling markets, beautiful parks, awe-inspiring architecture, world-class food, and endless entertainment.

If only it were cheaper to get there. A round-trip flight to Heathrow (LHR) usually costs $600 or more from most U.S. hubs. But the right travel credit card could cover the entire cost -- just for signing up and using it for your regular expenses.

With generous welcome offers and travel rewards, these three cards offer enough value to fly across the Atlantic for free.

1. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

• Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Welcome offer value: up to $750 in Chase Travel℠ value
• Annual fee: $95

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) is one of our favorite travel cards for good reason. Its annual fee is relatively low, but it still offers tons of value.

Here are the top perks:

• 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries
• 2X points on all other travel
• 1X points on other purchases
• Up to $50 in annual statement credits for hotels booked through Chase Travel
• Points are worth 25% more when redeemed through Chase Travel

Points can be transferred to airline partners like British Airways and United. Watch for transfer bonuses to stretch your points even further.

To start earning premium travel rewards without paying a premium fee, apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card now.

2. Chase Sapphire Reserve®

• Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Welcome offer value: up to $900 when redeemed for travel through Chase Travel
• Annual fee: $550

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) is the card that got me a free flight to London nine years ago, and I still have it today. It's basically the premium version of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, with lots of extra perks.

Here are the highlights:

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 5x total points on air travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 3x points on other travel and dining
• $300 annual credit for travel expenses
• Access to over 1,300 Priority Pass lounges and Chase Sapphire Lounges
• Credit of up to $100 for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry enrollment (once per four years)
• Points are worth 50% more value when redeemed through Chase Travel

I use this card for most of my spending, and my rewards cover a few flights each year (I recently booked a flight to Prague with points!). That means I'm getting several hundred dollars in value after the annual fee.

And it's hard to put a value on airport lounge access, but a similar Priority Pass membership would cost $469 without the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. There aren't many Chase Sapphire Lounges yet, but they are nice. (I stopped by the Sapphire Lounge at Boston Logan, and the food and drinks were delicious, the bartender was generous, and there were even private bathrooms with showers.)

So if you're a frequent traveler who wants top-shelf rewards, apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® today.

3. The Platinum Card® from American Express

• Welcome offer: You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Terms apply.
• Welcome offer value: $800 when redeemed for flights through American Express Travel
• Annual fee: $695 (see rates and fees)

This premium card is packed with benefits for those who like to travel in style.

Perks include:

• 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year
• 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®
• 1X points on other purchases
• Access to over 1,400 airport lounges
• Up to $200 in airline fee credits
• Up to $200 in credits for hotels booked through American Express Travel
• Up to $240 in digital entertainment credits
• $200 in Uber Cash
• $199 CLEAR® Plus credit
• $100 credit for incidental charges at The Hotel Collection properties, as well as free room upgrades (when available)
• Credit of up to $120 for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry enrollment (once per four years)
• Terms apply; enrollment may be required

If you use the statement credits, then you'll easily recoup the annual fee -- and the points you earn will be icing on the cake.

Like the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, the Amex Platinum Card gets you a Priority Pass membership, which is worth several hundred dollars a year. On top of that, you get access to luxurious Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Club lounges, and more. Terms apply.

If you like to enjoy the finer things while you're on vacation, then apply for the Amex Platinum Card today.

Final boarding call

You don't have to pay out of pocket for your next international flight. With the right travel card and smart use of rewards, your trip to London could cost next to nothing.

Just keep in mind that your "free" flight could actually be very expensive if you:

• Don't recoup your annual fee through rewards and/or statement credits
• Don't pay your bill in full every month (credit cards have high interest rates!)

So spend responsibly and take full advantage of your credit card's perks. Then you'll be on your way to saving hundreds (or thousands) on travel every year -- no "travel hacking" required.