The best airline credit cards offer travelers a way to earn rewards and enjoy travel-related perks with their preferred airlines.
These cards not only allow you to accumulate frequent flyer miles quickly through everyday spending but also provide benefits such as priority boarding, free checked bags, and airport lounge access.
When choosing an airline credit card, it’s important to consider the card’s earning potential, redemption options, and how its specific benefits align with your travel habits and loyalty.
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Best for Flexibility
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review) is one of the most popular travel rewards cards because it offers nice welcome bonus and extra points on travel and dining, which can be transferred to airline and hotel partners or redeemed directly for travel at a rate of 1.25 cents per point through Chase Travel℠. The Sapphire Preferred also offers great travel and purchase protections for a card with a $95 annual fee. Welcome Bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Earning Rewards: 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2x points on all other travel purchases, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Card Benefits: Ability to transfer to airline and hotel partners, 25% bonus when redeeming points through Chase Travel, $50 annual hotel stay credit via Chase Travel, 10% anniversary points bonus, no foreign transaction fees, primary rental car insurance, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty. Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Emirates, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Hyatt, IHG, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Singapore KrisFlyer, Southwest, United, and Virgin Atlantic.
2. United℠ Explorer Card
Best for United Airlines
The United℠ Explorer Card (review) delivers premium travel benefits without the premium price tag, making it ideal if you fly United just a few times yearly. You’ll enjoy practical perks like free checked bags and priority boarding alongside monthly credits for ride-sharing and grocery delivery that provide value throughout the year. Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Earning Miles: 2x miles on United Airlines purchases, dining (including eligible delivery services), hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel; 1x miles on all other purchases. Card Benefits: Free first checked bag for you and one companion, 2 United Club one-time passes each year, $120 Instacart credit, $100 JSX credit, $60 ridesharing credit, $100 United Hotels credit, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee credit, 25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases, no foreign transaction fees, travel insurance (primary rental car, trip delay, trip cancellation, lost luggage, and baggage delay), purchase protection, and extended warranty.
3. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Best for Southwest Airlines
The Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Priority Credit Card (review) offers valuable perks for frequent Southwest flyers, including a $75 annual travel credit and 7,500 anniversary bonus points. This premium card provides the most benefits of Southwest’s personal credit cards, making it ideal for loyal customers who want to maximize their rewards and travel experience with Southwest. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earn Rewards: 3x points on Southwest Airlines purchases; 2x points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners, local transit and commuting (including rideshare), internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; 1x points on all other eligible purchases. Card Benefits: 7,500 points every year on your Cardmember anniversary, $75 Southwest annual travel credit, 4 Upgraded Boardings per year, 25% back on inflight purchases, 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year, lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, extended warranty, and purchase protection.
4. Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Best for Delta Airlines
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (review) offers valuable perks for occasional Delta flyers at a reasonable annual fee. With benefits like a free checked bag and priority boarding, this card can easily pay for itself if you fly Delta even a few times per year. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earn SkyMiles: 2x SkyMiles on Delta Air Lines purchases, at US supermarkets, and at restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the US); 1x SkyMiles on all other eligible purchases. Benefits: Free first checked bag and priority boarding for you and up to 8 travel companions, receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit after you spend $10,000 in a calendar year, 15% award discount, up to $100 back per year as a statement credit to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays, baggage insurance plan, secondary rental car insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty.
5. Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
Best for American Airlines
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
makes earning American Airlines elite status easier by turning your everyday purchases into Loyalty Points, with no cap on how many you can earn. The card’s standout benefit is free checked bags on domestic flights for you and up to four companions, making it valuable for families and frequent travelers. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earn Rewards: 2x miles on purchases with American Airlines, at gas stations, and restaurants; 1x miles on all other eligible purchases. Card Benefits: Free first checked bag and preferred boarding for you and up to four travel companions, 25% in-flight savings, $125 American Airlines discount when you spend $20,000 in a year, no foreign transaction fees, purchase protection, and extended warranty.
6. Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card
Best for Alaska Airlines
The Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card (review) offers valuable perks for frequent Alaska flyers, including a free checked bag and an annual companion fare from $122 when meeting spending requirements. This card excels with its ability to earn hard-to-get Alaska miles, which provide exceptional value when redeeming for partner airline flights, especially in premium cabins.
Welcome Bonus: Receive 60,000 Miles plus Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare after making $3,000 in purchases within the first 90 days; Additionally, receive a 30% flight discount code after account opening.
Earning Miles: 3x miles on Alaska Airlines purchases; 2x miles at gas stations, cable, streaming services, and local transit (rideshare, trains, tolls, etc.); 1x miles on all other purchases.
Card Benefits: Free first checked bag and priority boarding for you and up to six travel companions, annual companion fare, 20% in-flight savings, 10% rewards bonus with a Bank of America account, $100 off Alaska Lounge+ Membership, no foreign transaction fees, and Visa Signature benefits.
7. American Express Platinum Card®
Best for Airport Lounge Access
American Express Platinum Card® (review) offers the most comprehensive airport lounge network available, giving you access to premium Centurion Lounges plus thousands of other lounges worldwide. You can easily offset the card’s large annual fee through generous credits for Uber, hotels, digital entertainment, Resy dining, and lifestyle brands like lululemon. Earning Points: 5x on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel®, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year; 5x points on on prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com; 1x points on all other purchases. Card Benefits: Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Air France – KLM Flying Blue, Hawaiian Airlines, Hilton, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Virgin Atlantic.
8. Aeroplan® Credit Card
Best for Air Canada
The Aeroplan® Credit Card (review) stands out with automatic elite status the first year and flexible redemption options across more than 50 partner airlines worldwide. This travel rewards powerhouse offers strong earning rates on dining, groceries, and Air Canada flights, plus valuable perks like free checked bags and priority boarding. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Additionally, new cardmembers will automatically receive Aeroplan 25K Status for the remainder of the calendar year and the following calendar year. Members can keep their Aeroplan 25K Status with $15,000 in account spending during a calendar year. Earning Points: 3x points at grocery stores, restaurants, and Air Canada purchases; 1x points on all other purchases; 500 bonus points for every $2,000 you spend in a calendar month – up to 1,500 points per month. Card Benefits: Free first checked bag for cardmember and up to eight travel companions, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee credit of up to $100 every four years, 10% bonus on Ultimate Rewards points transfers, preferred pricing on flight rewards, no foreign transaction fees, travel insurance (trip delay, trip cancellation, baggage delay, secondary rental car), and purchase protection.
9. United Club℠ Infinite Card
Best for United Club Access
The United Club℠ Infinite Card (review) stands out as United’s most premium personal credit card offering extensive United Club lounge access and elite-style benefits. The card provides excellent value for loyal United travelers through its lounge access, free checked bags, and bonus miles on United purchases. Welcome Bonus: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months; plus 5,000 bonus miles after you add an authorized user in the first 3 months. Earning Miles: 4x miles on United Airlines purchases; 2x miles on all other travel purchases (hotels, rental cars, cruises, transit, rideshare, etc.) and dining (including eligible delivery services); 1x miles on all other purchases. Card Benefits: United Club membership, free first and second checked bags for you and companion, Premier Access, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee credit of up to $120 every four years, 25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases, IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status, Avis President’s Club, No foreign transaction fees, travel insurance (trip delay, trip cancellation, baggage delay, lost luggage, and primary rental car), purchase protection, return protection, and extended warranty.
What Is an Airline Credit Card?
An airline credit card is a type of co-branded credit card that is partnered with a specific airline. These cards are designed to reward frequent flyers with benefits and perks related to that airline.
When you make purchases with an airline credit card, you typically earn frequent flyer miles or points that can be redeemed for air travel, seat upgrades, or other travel-related rewards.
The benefits of an airline credit card often include:
- Miles or Points: Earned for every dollar spent, with bonus miles for purchases made with the airline.
- Free Checked Bags: Many airline cards offer a first checked bag free for the cardholder and sometimes for companions on the same reservation.
- Priority Boarding: Cardholders may be given priority or early boarding on flights.
- In-Flight Discounts: Savings on in-flight purchases such as food, beverages, or Wi-Fi.
- Airport Lounge Access: Some premium airline credit cards provide access to the airline’s airport lounges or offer discounts for lounge entry.
- Companion Tickets: Certain cards may offer a free or discounted companion ticket as a regular benefit or as a reward for meeting spending thresholds.
- Elite Status Qualification: Spending on the card may contribute to earning elite status with the airline, which comes with its own set of perks and benefits.
Airline credit cards are best for those who are loyal to a particular airline and fly often enough to take advantage of the benefits. The miles or points earned are usually most valuable when redeemed for flights with the airline or its partners.
It’s important to consider the card’s annual fee and whether the benefits justify the cost. Additionally, these cards often offer a sign-up bonus, which can be a substantial number of miles or points after meeting a minimum spending requirement within the first few months of opening the account.
What Are Airline Miles?
Airline miles, also known as frequent flyer miles, are a type of reward currency that airlines offer to customers as part of their loyalty programs. When you enroll in an airline’s frequent flyer program, you can earn miles through various means, such as flying with the airline, using a co-branded airline credit card for purchases, or through partnerships with hotels, car rental agencies, and other service providers.
These accumulated miles can then be redeemed for a range of rewards, including free flights, seat upgrades, and other travel-related services or products. The value of airline miles can vary greatly depending on how they are earned and redeemed, and they are most valuable to those who frequently travel with the same airline or its partners.
Pros and Cons of Airline Credit Cards
Airline credit cards come with a set of advantages and disadvantages that can affect travelers in different ways depending on their travel habits and financial goals.
Pros:
- Earn Miles: These cards allow you to earn airline miles on everyday purchases, which can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and other travel benefits.
- Travel Perks: Cardholders often enjoy travel-related perks such as priority boarding, free checked bags, and sometimes even airport lounge access.
- Sign-Up Bonuses: Many airline credit cards offer generous sign-up bonuses, providing a large number of miles after meeting initial spending requirements.
- Status Boost: Spending on the card can help you achieve or maintain elite status with the airline, granting you additional benefits and recognition.
Cons:
- Annual Fees: Airline credit cards often come with annual fees, which can be substantial. It’s important to ensure that the benefits outweigh these costs.
- Limited Flexibility: Miles are typically tied to a specific airline and its partners, which may limit your travel options and redemption flexibility.
- Fluctuating Value: The value of airline miles can vary, and airlines may change redemption rates or impose blackout dates, affecting how and when you can use your miles.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
