The Ultimate Guide to Credit Cards
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

9 Best Airline Credit Cards (March 2024)

Best Airline Credit Cards
Eric Bank

Written by: Eric Bank

Eric Bank
Eric Bank

Eric Bank is an M.B.A. who has covered financial and business topics since 1985, appearing regularly on Credible, eHow, WiseBread, The Nest, Zacks, Chron, BadCredit.org and dozens of other outlets. Eric specializes in taking complex subject matters and explaining them in simple terms for consumer audiences, particularly in the world of personal finance. Eric holds a Master's in Business Administration from New York University and a Master's in Finance from DePaul University.

See full bio »

Edited by: Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro
Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of editing and journalism experience to the CardRates team. She has written and edited for major news organizations, including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the New York Times, and she previously served as an adjunct journalism instructor at the University of Florida. Today, Lillian edits all CardRates content for clarity, accuracy, and reader engagement.

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Reviewed by: Danielle Spurlin

Danielle Spurlin
Danielle Spurlin

With more than 10 years of accounting experience, Danielle Marshall has a deep understanding of many financial disciplines, including personal and commercial lending, retirement annuities, financial forecasting, and general bookkeeping. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Florida's Fisher School of Accounting and currently manages all accounts receivable and payable for the parent company of CardRates.com. She works directly with credit card issuers and advertising partners to ensure our content meets compliance expectations and regulatory standards.

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Advertiser Disclosure

How can there be so many best airline credit cards? It reminds me of Oprah  — “You get a card, and you get a card… .” 

This embarrassment of riches is due, in part, to America’s love of travel, especially post-COVID. The credit card companies tap into our wanderlust by issuing terrific products that make travel easier, more comfortable, and cheaper.

Airline credit cards are the kings of the travel segment. They may reward you with free flights, free insurance, free baggage check, free lounge access, and other freebies that soothe the soul and the wallet.

Annual fees are the price for all this freedom. You can pay well over $500 a year for some travel cards. But you can also find airline cards with no annual fees. Generally, the more you pay, the more you get, but even cards with no annual fees let you earn points or miles to pay for your next airline ticket.

Best Overall Airline Credit Card

The overall winner in the airline card sweepstakes isn’t, strictly speaking, an airline card. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best airline credit card and so much more, a great travel and shopping rewards card available for less than $100 a year. You earn Chase Ultimate Reward points on your travel purchases that go 25% further when you redeem them through Chase Travel.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Review

at Chase’ssecure website

  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
  • Member FDIC
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
21.49%-28.49% Variable
$95
Good/Excellent

If you prefer, you can transfer your points to participating travel programs at a 1:1 value. You have the flexibility to redeem your points for flights on any carrier or to transfer them. 

The reasons for the popularity of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card are apparent when you add in its free insurance, anniversary credits, generous signup bonus, and moderate annual fee.

Best Airline Cards With Flexible Redemptions

These cards give you multiple ways to redeem your airline miles. They’re a great choice if you want flexibility when deciding how to apply your card membership rewards.

TRAVEL RATING

★★★★★

4.8

OVERALL RATING

  • 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
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
  • Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
$95
Excellent, Good

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is the best airline credit card for flexible redemptions. It lets you book a trip with reward miles through Capital One Travel. Alternatively, you can use miles to get reimbursed for past travel purchases made elsewhere.

In addition, you can transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs for more flexibility. You can also pay for Amazon.com purchases with your Capital One rewards or redeem them through PayPal for eligible purchases at millions of online stores.

Discover it® Miles Review

at Discover Card’ssecure website

TRAVEL RATING

★★★★★

4.8

OVERALL RATING

  • UNLIMITED BONUS: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
  • Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase
  • No annual fee
  • Turn Miles into cash. Or redeem as a statement credit for your travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more.
  • 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% – 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
  • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
  • Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 15 months
0% Intro APR for 15 months
17.24% – 28.24% Variable APR
$0
Excellent/Good

You can redeem your Discover it® Miles rewards to reimburse travel purchases you already made with the card. Eligible purchases include airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals, travel agents, online travel sites, commuter transportation, restaurants, and gas stations.

If you prefer, you can convert your miles to an electronic cash deposit to your bank account, and your miles never expire.

TRAVEL RATING

★★★★★

4.7

OVERALL RATING

  • $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
  • Earn 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Travel when you want with no blackout dates and fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime
  • Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
30.74% (Variable)
$0
Good

The mileage redemption options for the Capital One VentureOne Rewards for Good Credit match those of the issuer’s Venture card. But you must redeem your miles for a statement credit within 90 days, not 180, from the date your travel purchase posts to your account.

You can use your rewards to get tickets to thousands of events through Capital One Entertainment. Other ways to redeem miles include converting them to cash (as a check or account credit) and gift cards. 

Best Airline Cards With No Annual Fee

There’s a special place in heaven for airline credit cards that don’t charge an annual fee. You won’t face interest charges if you pay your entire bill each month, making the rewards card completely free. You can milk these cards for free airline tickets and other travel perks without making the slightest dent in your monthly budget.

Discover it® Miles Review

at Discover Card’ssecure website

TRAVEL RATING

★★★★★

4.8

OVERALL RATING

  • UNLIMITED BONUS: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
  • Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase
  • No annual fee
  • Turn Miles into cash. Or redeem as a statement credit for your travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more.
  • 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% – 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
  • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
  • Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 15 months
0% Intro APR for 15 months
17.24% – 28.24% Variable APR
$0
Excellent/Good

As with all the credit cards from this issuer, you never pay an annual or foreign transaction fee with the Discover it® Miles card. You earn unlimited miles on all eligible purchases and a Miles-for-Miles Match at the end of the first year. 

It’s easy to redeem your miles for cash, and your miles never expire. You can also use your miles to pay for travel, Amazon.com, and PayPal purchases.

6. Chase Freedom Flex℠

This card is currently not available.

Travel Rating

★★★★★

N/A

OVERALL RATING

N/A
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

Additional Disclosure: The information related to Chase Freedom Flex℠ credit card has been collected by CardRates.com and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ welcomes new cardmembers with compelling introductory offers and freedom from annual fees. The card pays high bonus points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Perks include free travel and emergency assistance services, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and secondary collision damage waiver on auto rentals.

You also can redeem your points for airline tickets, hotel stays, and rental cars, among other travel expenses. Alternatively, you can transform points into cash, buy gift cards (including some at a discount), or pay for purchases at Amazon.com and the Apple Ultimate Rewards Store.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card Review

at Bank Of America’ssecure website

TRAVEL RATING

★★★★★

4.9

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
  • 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening – that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
  • Use your card to book your trip how and where you want – you’re not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
  • Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% – 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
  • If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
  • Contactless Cards – The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
  • This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%)
18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
$0
Excellent/Good

Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.

Cardmembers can use the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card to accumulate points to pay for airline flights and other travel expenses from the previous 12 months. You’re not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.

In addition, you can redeem your points for cash and gift cards. The card doesn’t charge annual or foreign transaction fees. 

Best Premium Airline Cards With Lounge Access

Lounge access is a premium perk found on premium travel cards. You’ll pay an annual fee for these cards, but the value of the perks offered far outweigh the costs if you take advantage of them.

Chase Sapphire Reserve® Review

at Chase’ssecure website

TRAVEL RATING

★★★★★

4.9

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™; Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
22.49%-29.49% Variable
$550
Good/Excellent

Our favorite luxury card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, is your passport to the bank’s new lounge network, Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club. The first five locations are New York, Boston, San Diego, Phoenix, and Hong Kong, with more in the works. The card also provides complimentary access to more than 1,300 Priority Pass lounge locations worldwide. Each Sapphire Reserve cardholder can bring two guests for free.

Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a high bonus point rate when you purchase travel through Chase. Your points are worth 50% more through Chase Travel. The card provides extensive travel protections and credits, including primary rental car coverage.

TRAVEL RATING

★★★★★

4.8

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
  • Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
  • Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
$395
Excellent

Capital One is so committed to airport lounges that it is constructing several of its own. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card gives you and two guests complimentary access to any Capital One Lounge (currently in Denver, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Washington D.C.). Additional guests pay per visit. Capital One Lounges provide relaxation rooms, chef-inspired food, and high-speed internet. 

As a Visa Infinite card, it also gives you a Priority Pass card membership and unlimited access to more than 1,300 lounge locations. Drinks and snacks are free at most Priority Pass lounges. 

The Platinum Card® Review

at the issuer’ssecure website

TRAVEL RATING

★★★★★

4.8

OVERALL RATING

4.7/5.0
  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases in your first 6 months of Card Membership
  • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points for flights booked directly through airlines or American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Also earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
  • $200 annual hotel credit, $200 annual airline fee credit, $25 monthly Equinox credit, $15 monthly Uber cash credit, $50 bi-annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit, and more.
  • Platinum Card Members have unlimited complimentary access to all locations of The Global Lounge Collection, including 1,400 airport lounges across 650 cities.
  • Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status. Enrollment required.
  • Choose among three card designs
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
20.49% – 27.49% Pay Over Time
$695
Excellent

The Platinum Card® from American Express provides complimentary access to more than 1,400 members of the Amex Global Lounge Collection, located in 140 countries. Members include Delta Sky Club, Lufthansa, and American Express Centurion lounges. 

Centurion Lounges allow you to bring two complimentary guests, but other lounges may charge a fee for guests who aren’t Platinum Card holders. The card pays generous rewards when you book flights with Amex Travel or directly with the airlines. It provides several annual credits, including one for airline fees. 

Best Airline Cards For American Airlines Flights

American Airlines is one of the top US carriers, along with Delta and United, and it has the most extensive fleet of aircraft. Headquartered in Dallas-Fort Worth, it operates out of 10 hubs around the country. 

The following two cards will enhance your American Airlines experience.

11. American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card

This card is currently not available.

Travel Rating

★★★★★

N/A

OVERALL RATING

N/A
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

Additional Disclosure: The information related to American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card has been collected by CardRates.com and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.

The no-annual-fee American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card offers a modest signup promotion and ongoing rewards for eligible purchases. You earn loyalty points and miles for flying on American Airlines or any of its several global partner airlines. In addition, the card saves you money on inflight purchases.

There is no mileage cap on your rewards, and you can add authorized users to help you accumulate miles faster. These are the same AAdvantage miles that American Airlines issues – you can’t use them on Delta or United.

12. Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

This card is currently not available.

Travel Rating

★★★★★

N/A

OVERALL RATING

N/A
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

Additional Disclosure: The information related to Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® has been collected by CardRates.com and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.

If you’d like free access to the Admirals Club, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is your ticket. The card offers you and two traveling guests complimentary access to more than 50 lounges worldwide. This premium credit card packs a steep annual fee but gives you many money-saving perks, such as free checked bags for you and up to eight others.

This Citi card pays a handsome signup bonus, priority check-in, airport screening (where available), and early boarding when you fly on American Airlines. You receive reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck charges and never have to pay a foreign transaction fee.

Best Airline Cards For JetBlue Flights

JetBlue has become America’s highest-rated airline thanks to its extensive features, including onboard snacks, generous coach seating, and in-flight entertainment. Consumers and business people can own a JetBlue credit card to more quickly accumulate TrueBlue points and miles.

JetBlue Card Review

at the issuer’ssecure website

TRAVEL RATING

★★★★★

4.6

OVERALL RATING

4.3/5.0
  • Earn 10,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days
  • Earn 3X points on eligible JetBlue purchases, 2X points at restaurants and grocery stores, and 1X points on all other purchases
  • Enjoy 50% inflight savings on cocktails and food purchases
  • 0% introductory APR for the first 12 billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening (transfer fee applies), then a variable APR applies
  • No foreign transaction fees, no blackout dates, and points never expire
  • $0 Annual Fee
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
0% for 12 billing cycles
20.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49%, based on credit
$0
Good

The JetBlue Card starts you off with bonus miles when you spend the required amount on purchases within the first three months. It also offers a special balance transfer rate for new cardmembers. There are no annual fees, foreign transaction fees, or blackout dates.

The card pays a moderately high reward rate on eligible JetBlue purchases and saves money on inflight food and drink. You can redeem your miles for any JetBlue seat anytime, and the miles pile up faster through the card’s Point Pooling program.

JetBlue Business Card Review

at the issuer’ssecure website

TRAVEL RATING

★★★★★

4.6

OVERALL RATING

4.6/5.0
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 bonus points when a purchase is made on an employee card.
  • Earn 6X points on eligible JetBlue purchases, plus 2X points at restaurants and office supply stores, 1X points on all other purchases
  • Earn 5,000 bonus points every year after your account anniversary
  • Receive a 50% savings on eligible inflight purchases of cocktails and food on JetBlue-operated flights
  • Enjoy an annual $100 statement credit after purchasing a JetBlue Vacations package with your card
  • Free first checked bag for you and up to 3 companions on the same reservation when you use your card to book JetBlue-operated flights.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
20.49% or 29.49% (Variable)
$99
N/A

The JetBlue Business Card offers a high reward rate on eligible JetBlue purchases and a generous signup bonus that pays the first year’s annual fee. You save money on inflight purchases through annual credit and bonus point awards. You also get your first bag checked for free.

The card, from Barclays Bank, offers TrueBlue points good for any seat, any time, on JetBlue-operated flights. You can pool your points, which never expire, and add employee cards at no extra cost. The card doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee. It is different from the similarly named JetBlue Plus Card.

Best Airline Cards For Delta Flights

Delta Airlines is the nation’s third-ranked airline (after Southwest and JetBlue) for passenger satisfaction. This venerable airline (founded in 1925) has headquarters in Atlanta, GA, and serves more than 300 destinations in 52 countries. It has nine domestic hubs that help keep it competitive.

The following three Delta credit cards from American Express differ by annual fee and offer SkyMiles rewards on eligible purchases.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Review

at the issuer’ssecure website

TRAVEL RATING

★★★★★

4.6

OVERALL RATING

4.6/5.0
  • Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months of ownership
  • Earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your card, up to 4 times/year
  • Earn 3X miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta — all other purchases earn 1 mile per $1
  • Complimentary access to The Centurion Lounge and the Delta Sky Club® plus two Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes each year
  • Receive a domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express card
  • As a benefit of Card Membership, you can check your first bag free on Delta flights booked with your card. You can save up to $60 on a round-trip Delta flight per person.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
20.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
$550
Excellent

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is the best credit card in this trio and charges the highest annual fee. That fee buys you a large signup bonus, a ton of Medallion Qualification Miles, an annual companion certificate, and a high rewards rate.

You can check your first bag for free and receive reimbursement for your TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fees. The card comes in your choice of metal or 70% reclaimed plastic. You receive two Delta Sky Club one-time guest passes each year so you can share the experience with family and friends when you’re traveling together. You also get complimentary access to the Centurion Lounge network.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Review

at the issuer’ssecure website

TRAVEL RATING

★★★★★

4.6

OVERALL RATING

4.5/5.0
  • Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months
  • Earn 3X miles on Delta purchases and hotels, 2X miles at restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and U.S. supermarkets, all other purchases earn 1 point per $1
  • Earn 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, up to two times.
  • Get your first bag free on Delta flights booked with your card
  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your card
  • Receive a 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.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
20.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
$250
Good/Excellent

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card has an intermediate annual fee and reward structure. It offers many of the same perks as its Reserve sibling for less money, including a signup bonus, a moderately high rewards rate on Delta purchases, a free checked bag, a companion trip certificate, and a statement credit.

You get priority boarding on Delta flights and discounted access to SkyClub locations for you and two companions. You also receive reimbursement for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry fees.

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card Review

at the issuer’ssecure website

TRAVEL RATING

★★★★★

4.6

OVERALL RATING

4.6/5.0
  • Earn 10,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months of card membership
  • Earn 2X miles at restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and 2X miles for every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X miles on all other purchases.
  • Receive a 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
  • 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
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • $0 Annual Fee
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
20.24% – 29.24% Variable
$0
Good

If you love Delta but hate annual fees, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card may be perfect for you. It offers a modest signup bonus and rewards rate on Delta purchases. The card saves you money with flight credits and waives foreign transaction fees. 

The Blue Delta Card gives you complimentary car rental loss and damage insurance. You can access the Global Assist Hotline when you need to coordinate services or receive emergency assistance. The card also provides purchase protection and extended warranty coverage.

Best Business Airline Cards

Businesspeople are often frequent flyers. To soothe travel pains, these three credit cards offer perks that save their company money while adding to a traveler’s satisfaction and convenience.

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card Review

at Chase’ssecure website

BUSINESS CARD RATING

★★★★★

4.5

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • 9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
  • Earn 4X pts on Southwest® purchases.
  • Earn 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
  • Earn 2X points on rideshare.
  • Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services and 1X points on all other purchases.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
21.49% – 28.49% Variable
$199
Good/Excellent

The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card has impressive travel perks and a moderately high annual fee, making it the best credit card for business travelers. You get a nice signup bonus and a high Rapid Reward rate on eligible Southwest Airlines purchases. You also receive upgraded boarding and reimbursement for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fees. 

Your points can help qualify you for Southwest Airlines A-list status. You also earn a yearly fee credit for Rapid Reward point transfers and access to inflight wifi. You don’t have to pay for employee cards or foreign transactions, and there are no change fees, baggage fees, or limits on reward seats. 

United℠ Business Card Review

at Chase’ssecure website

BUSINESS CARD RATING

★★★★

4.4

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
  • Receive a 5,000-mile “better together” bonus each anniversary when you have both the United℠ Business Card and a personal Chase United® credit card.
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, dining including eligible delivery services, at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting.
  • Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, employee cards at no additional cost – miles earned from their purchases accrue in your account so you can earn rewards faster.
  • Enjoy a free first checked bag – a savings of up to $140 per roundtrip (terms apply), 2 United Club℠ one-time passes per year, and priority boarding privileges.
  • $100 United® travel credit after 7 United flight purchases of $100 or more each anniversary year.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
21.99% – 28.99% Variable
$99
Good/Excellent

Get the United℠ Business Card if you frequently fly United Airlines for business and your company is about to go on a spending spree. New cardmembers get an excellent signup bonus by hitting the three- and six-month spending targets. This Chase co-branded card charges a moderate annual fee, but the reward rate for United Airlines purchases is mediocre.

With this card, you don’t have to pay for your first checked bag or to add employee cardmembers. You also get two United Club one-time passes per year.

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card Review

at Chase’ssecure website

BUSINESS CARD RATING

★★★★

4.3

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
  • 6,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
  • Earn 3X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
  • Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
  • Earn 2X points on rideshare.
  • 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
21.49% – 28.49% Variable
$99
Good/Excellent

The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card offers a nice signup bonus and rewards rate but charges a moderate annual fee. There’s no charge for foreign transactions or returned checks.

Cardmembers earn tier qualifying points toward A-List status for a set amount of spending. You get two EarlyBird check-ins yearly, cash back on inflight purchases, and an annual fee credit for point transfers.

Best Airline Cards For Limited Credit

You don’t have to miss out on all the action just because you have limited credit. Here are two cards that will let you establish and build your credit while enjoying valuable perks.

NO/LIMITED CREDIT RATING

★★★★★

4.6

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
  • No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn, and cash back doesn’t expire for the life of the account. It’s that simple
  • Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
  • Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
  • Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
30.74% (Variable)
$39
Average, Fair, Limited

The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is a cash back card that pays a flat reward on all eligible purchases. Capital One designed the card for consumers with fair or limited credit.

You can use your cash back rewards for any purpose, including to purchase airline tickets. The card has no foreign transaction fees and allows you to redeem your rewards at Capital One Travel to get the best prices on thousands of trip options.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students Review

at Bank Of America – Credit Cards’ssecure website

NO/LIMITED CREDIT RATING

★★★★★

4.7

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
  • 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening – that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
  • Use your card to book your trip how and where you want – you’re not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
  • Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% – 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
  • When handled responsibly, a credit card can help you build your credit history, which could be helpful when looking for an apartment, a car loan, and even a job. Access your FICO® Score for free within Online Banking or your Mobile Banking app.
  • Contactless Cards – The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
  • This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%)
18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
$0
Excellent/Good

Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students pays unlimited points you can redeem to pay for airline flights and other travel costs. Bank of America issues the cards to students. 

You can apply the card’s signup bonus and flat rewards toward travel and dining purchases, including flights, baggage fees, and vacation packages. The card helps you build credit and provides monthly FICO score updates for free.

What Is an Airline Credit Card?

An airline credit card rewards you with points or miles you can use toward travel expenses, including flights. This type of card frequently pays a signup bonus and a high rewards rate on travel-related purchases. 

If the card is co-branded, the rewards only apply to that airline’s flights (and those of its travel partners). But if the card is not co-branded, you can use your rewards to buy tickets on any airline.

The reward schemes vary from card to card. For example, one card may give you three miles or points for every dollar you spend. When you accumulate enough rewards, you can redeem them for a free flight — or rental car, hotel accommodations, and other benefits, depending on the card.

For co-branded cards, the airline, rather than the credit card company, determines how many miles you’ll need for a free flight. If you’re short of the required miles, you can make up the difference with a cash payment. You can also use your miles for a seat upgrade and priority boarding.

Some general travel cards give your points extra value when you redeem them through the issuer’s travel agency. For example, the Chase Sapphire cards inflate the value of your Chase Ultimate Rewards when redeemed through Chase Travel. 

What Credit Score Do I Need For an Airline Credit Card?

Almost all airline cards require applicants to have good to excellent credit. In the FICO scoring system, this means a score of 670 or higher.

FICCO Score Scale
Applicants generally need a credit score above 670 to qualify for travel rewards cards.

Issuers don’t necessarily carve score requirements in stone. Some airline cards may insist on higher scores, while others take a less strict stance. Other factors may affect your approval odds, including your recent credit history, income, and debts. 

You can increase your approval chances by recruiting a cosigner. But many credit card companies no longer accept cosigned applications. Bank of America is one of the few remaining holdouts that welcomes cosigners.

A card issuer must provide you with an Adverse Action Notice (AAN) if it declines your application. The notice explains why your application was rejected and discloses the information sources on which the credit card company relied. 

Typical reasons for rejection include the card issuer’s inability to confirm your identity, low credit scores, insufficient income, and a troubling credit report. You can help your prospects by treating an AAN as a valuable resource, indicating what you must fix before reapplying.

You can raise your credit score by practicing creditworthy habits. The two most important habits are to pay your bills on time and reduce your credit card debt. You should also review your three credit reports (from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) for any mistakes damaging your score.

You can dispute report errors directly or with the assistance of a credit repair company. You should see scores improve quickly when a credit bureau removes inaccurate negative information.

What Is the Difference Between Miles and Points?

Airline credit cards offer two types of rewards:

  • Points: General credit cards provide point rewards that you can use on any airline. These cards generally offer more ways to redeem your points besides purchasing airline tickets. While some general airline cards label their rewards as miles, they are really points that you can use for various types of travel.
  • Miles: Co-branded airline cards issue frequent flyer miles for the carrier’s loyalty program. These miles are far less flexible since you can only apply them to the co-branded airline and its partners. 

Credit card issuers set point reward rates and values. For example, the issuer may offer 2X or 5X points per dollar, with each point worth one cent. As mentioned, some issuers increase the value of your points when you redeem them through their travel departments.

The number of points you need for an airline ticket depends on the ticket’s cost.

Many general airline cards let you transfer your points to a partner loyalty program, often on a 1:1 basis. These points convert to the recipient’s frequent flyer miles, which means their value may change for better or worse.

Popular Reward Redemption Values

The story for co-branded cards is quite different. The miles you earn are added directly to your frequent flyer account with the co-branded airline. Therefore, their value depends on the terms of the airline’s loyalty program.

Is it Better to Apply For an Airline Credit Card On a Flight?

You are a captive audience when flying. It’s an excellent opportunity for the airline to hawk a co-branded credit card, sometimes on better terms than you’d get on the ground. You may be more willing to apply for the card if you enjoy your travel experience.

The onboard pitch may emphasize the massive number of bonus miles you’ll earn by signing up for the card. The carrier may extend special terms, such as a larger bonus or a waived first-year annual fee. But there’s no guarantee you’ll get a better deal, and you may be on the losing end of inferior terms.

It’s always best to spend some time performing due diligence before applying for any credit card. That’s hard to do at 50,000 feet, especially if you haven’t paid the wifi fee. Ideally, the airline will allow you to take the application with you for later submission without sacrificing any special terms, but make sure you get an offer code ensuring you don’t miss out. 

On the plus side, getting the card inflight assures you’ll receive frequent flyer miles for your flight that you may otherwise lose. But you also may hurt your credit due to a hard inquiry and a possible increase in your credit utilization ratio (CUR).

Credit Card Utilization Example
Example of credit utilization across three card accounts. The higher the percentage, the worse your credit scores.

The FICO system may reduce your score by a few points whenever a creditor performs a hard credit inquiry in response to your application for a new account. The pull remains on your credit report for two years but only impacts your score for the first year.

You can also lose credit score points when your CUR (i.e., credit used divided by total credit available) exceeds 30%, though the best credit scores have CURs below 10%. This can occur if you spend a substantial portion of your new card’s credit line. 

But a new credit card could reduce your CUR by increasing your available credit, and you don’t go on a spending spree.

If you have access to in-flight wifi, you’ll benefit by checking CardRates.com for an objective review. You’ll quickly see how good the deal is and whether it’s worth pursuing. We suggest you apply only for cards you actually want, especially if the card charges a sizeable annual fee. 

Finally, ask yourself whether you want a credit card tied to a specific airline. It may not make sense if you fly multiple airlines — you may do better with a general-purpose airline card that doesn’t lock you into one carrier. 

How Many Miles Do You Need For a Free Flight?

The answer depends on whether you use general credit card points or a specific airline’s frequent flyer miles.

Points have a dollar value, sometimes enhanced when used for purchases through the issuer’s travel department (e.g., Chase Travel, Capital One Travel, etc.). The number of points you need hinges on the price of the ticket. 

For example, a $500 fare may require you to cash in 50,000 points to cover the cost. If a point’s average cost is $0.50 (i.e., an average of 2X points per dollar), you’d have to spend $25,000 on eligible purchases to get your free ticket.

Carriers decide the number of frequent flyer miles you’ll need for a free flight (or seat upgrade), and those requirements can change anytime. 

For example, Airline X may require 30,000 miles for a $500 coach-class seat on a flight from New York to Los Angeles. At an average 2X miles per dollar reward rate, your spending requirement would be $15,000. Airline Y may require a different number of miles (and a different spending requirement) for a similar flight. 

ValuePenguin put together a chart on how many miles each major airline generally requires:

Miles Chart
ValuePenguin found prices for domestic flights between New York City (EWR/JFK/LGA) and Los Angeles (LAX) to collect this data.

Additional research found that international flights can cost:

International Miles Chart
ValuePenguin researched the price of booking a flight between New York City (EWR/JFK) and London (LHR/LGW) to acquire this data.

The carriers reserve the right to change their programs at any time, so the value of your points may fluctuate. You usually cannot cash in frequent flyer miles, although some airlines will let you convert them to in-house gift cards. 

If you can’t get a better deal using frequent flyer miles, you’ll benefit more from a general-purpose airline card that doesn’t bind you to a single carrier. 

In the above example, Airline X required less spending than did the general-purpose card for the $500 flight. Airline Y may have a less desirable deal, and any carrier can change its airline mile requirements whenever it wants. 

Even the best travel credit card can change its point reward program, offering different rates for purchases from various merchants or modifying a flat rate. Of course, the airlines may raise or lower their fares, adding another element of uncertainty to the mix.

When they say your mileage may vary, they really mean it.

What Benefits Do Airline Credit Cards Provide?

The question with any credit card is how much you must pay for the perks. Airline credit cards can cost anywhere from $0 to almost $1,000 a year. Benefits may include:

  • High reward rates on travel purchases. Co-branded cards may limit the best rewards to purchases from the issuing airline.
  • Bonus miles or points when you sign up for a new card.
  • Access to airport lounges for free or at a reduced fee.
  • Travel-related insurance, including coverage for interrupted/delayed flights, lost baggage, accidents and illness while traveling, and auto rental collision damage waiver.
  • Free baggage check
  • Travel credits
  • Reimbursement for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry fees
  • Special vacation packages and hotel deals
  • Waived foreign transaction fees
  • Flexible redemption of points (for general-purpose travel cards)
  • Enhanced value of points you redeem through the card’s travel agency

The better travel cards also offer non-travel perks. These may include extended warranties, roadside assistance, and price protection, among other benefits. You may find these other benefits worth a higher annual fee, but you may decide to get a second, low-cost cash back card that provides shopping perks.

You may have to pay an annual fee exceeding $500 to get many of these travel benefits. On the other hand, some airline cards charge a small fee or no yearly fee at all yet provide several of these perks. 

Are There Any Drawbacks to Airline Credit Cards?

The possibility of a steep annual fee is certainly a drawback that could give you pause. General-purpose airline cards have few other disadvantages. One negative is any extra charge for authorized users — some issuers charge up to $175 or more for an additional cardholder.

Co-branded airline cards are a bit more problematic because they lock you into a specific carrier (and its partners). In addition, co-branded cards seldom allow you to cash in your miles. 

That’s a problem when your airline can’t provide the flight you want. It’s even worse if the airline goes bankrupt, leaving its frequent flyers high and dry.

Credit cards do not guarantee that their reward programs will remain the same over time. That could be a plus or a minus, depending on how the programs change.

Are Airline Credit Cards Worth It?

Airline credit cards make sense if you can take advantage of their benefits. You should consider the usefulness of what you’re getting for your money. 

For example, access to airport lounges can add hundreds to a card’s annual fee. That may be fine if you like and use airport lounges, but a waste of money otherwise. The logic is similar if your card gives you free baggage check, but you always carry your bags onboard.

Airport Lounge Access
Don’t pay for an expensive card that offers lounge access if it’s a perk you won’t use.

If you are a frequent flyer, airline cards can pay for themselves with benefits and cost savings. A co-branded card can be a good deal if you travel on one airline. Otherwise, stick to a general travel rewards credit card that lets you choose which carriers to use.

Timing is also an issue. If you plan a big future vacation, time your card application to take advantage of the signup bonus, which usually has a three-month window. Some cards offer six-digit airline mile or point bonuses that may significantly reduce your travel costs.

Your spending will ultimately influence your choice of the best travel credit card for your lifestyle. Folks with tight budgets may not be able to travel much, and if they do, they may have to spread their payments over multiple months, incurring a high interest rate. For them, cards with relatively low APRs and annual fees make the most sense.

Affluent travelers may own several expensive airline cards without any regret. They may not care whether they are getting their money’s worth and would rather know they’re ready for most travel contingencies. 

Get Onboard For Free Flights

Our review of the best airline credit cards leaves little doubt that there’s a card candidate out there that fits your lifestyle. Frugal or spendthrift, excellent or limited credit — all are welcome to climb aboard for free flights and seat upgrades. 

Our reviews are a great place to start your search for the ideal airline card. But nothing substitutes for a careful read of a card’s fine print. With so many choices, there’s little reason to settle for a card that doesn’t ideally fit your travel needs.

Advertiser Disclosure

CardRates.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation for referrals for many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across CardRates.com (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CardRates.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.