9 Best Credit Cards for Free Flights

If you’re like most people, you probably spend a lot of time trying to save up for your next vacation — only to spend a good chunk of your budget simply flying to and from your destination. Thankfully, the best credit cards for free flights can change your entire itinerary.

These cards can provide cardholders with tremendous travel discounts, free accommodations, and a supercharged boost to airline loyalty points or miles. These kinds of perks can get you on your way to your next vacation much faster.

But not every travel card and co-branded airline card operates the same. We’re here to break down the differences so you can optimize your spending power and get the most out of your credit card.

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The cards below can help you earn free flights on your own terms because they aren’t connected to a specific airline or travel provider.

You can use these cards to redeem your earned points or miles to reimburse past travel expenses or decrease the cost of future expenses. In many cases, you can earn free flights or other perks.

And, since you aren’t tied to an airline, you most likely won’t have the same restrictions or other limitations branded cards can bring.

With the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, you can earn an unlimited 2X miles on every purchase. Those miles never expire for the life of the account and you can redeem them to cover past travel-related expenses.

The Discover it® Miles card remains one of the most flexible travel cards on the market because it doesn’t force airline restrictions on its cardholders. You simply earn miles for every purchase charged to your card and redeem those rewards to help cover some — or all — of your recent travel-related expenses.

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card offers rewards similar to those offered by its Venture sibling, but without the annual fee. With this card, you can earn an unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase and use those miles to cover a host of travel-related expenses that you charge to the card.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card allows you to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points that you can redeem for free or discounted flights, rental cars, hotel accommodations, and several other travel-related charges.

And, since points have 25% more value when you redeem them for airfare through the Chase Travel portal, you can likely get that free flight much faster than you think.

The Capital One Venture Business helps ease the financial burden associated with business travel by allowing cardholders to earn miles per dollar on every purchase they make. You can redeem those miles as statement credits or transfer them to more than 10 popular travel loyalty programs.

Don’t let this card’s annual fee scare you off. If you’re looking for free flights, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® has you covered.

Not only will you earn bonus points on travel-related purchases, but all cardholders receive a $300 annual travel credit, a statement credit to reimburse your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® fees, and access to more than 1,000 premium airport lounges across the globe. That’s how you travel in high style for low cost.

If you have an airline that you’re loyal to, you may think it’s a no-brainer to add that company’s branded credit card to your wallet. After all, you can maximize loyalty points and earn price breaks, free checked bags, and other valuable add-ons that make your trip easier and less expensive.

Here are our choices for the top airline-branded cards for earning free flights.

7. Delta SkyMiles® Gold Card from American Express

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Card from American Express lets cardholders take up to $50 off the cost of their flight for every 5,000 rewards miles redeemed. With enough miles, you can pay for your entire flight with the rewards you earn.

And, earning those rewards is easier than ever since you can now accrue 2X miles at restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and purchases through Delta. Cardholders also receive a free first checked bag and a $100 Delta flight credit when they spend at least $10,000 in purchases in a calendar year.

8

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

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Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

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Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.

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★★★★★ 4.5/5.0

at the issuer'ssecure website

• Earn 80,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $3,500 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening
• Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants
• Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
• Receive 25% savings on food and beverage purchases when you use your card on American Airlines flights
• No foreign transaction fees
• First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to four companions traveling with you on the same reservation
• Enjoy preferred boarding on American Airlines flights
• $0 intro annual fee, then $99

Show MoreShow Less See application, terms and details »

Intro (Purchases) N/A

Intro (Transfers) N/A

Regular APR 20.24% - 29.24% (Variable)

Annual Fee $99, waived for first 12 months

Credit Needed Excellent, Good

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® cardholders can earn up to 2X AAdvantage® miles on every purchase they make. Those rewards can help pay for a flight through American Airlines.

Cardholders also receive a free first checked bag, preferred boarding, and a 25% discount on in-flight food and beverage purchases when using their card.

9. United^SM Explorer Card

The United Explorer Card from Chase lets cardholders earn up to 2X miles for every $1 charged to the card. And, if you spend at least $3,000 on purchases during your first three months with the card, you’ll get 60,000 bonus miles — which can help pay for your next flight outright.

All cardholders also receive a $100 statement credit every four years for Global Entry or TSA Precheck® fees, as well as 25% back as a statement credit for purchases onboard United-operated flights.

(Non-Monetized. The information related to United Explorer Card was collected by CardRates.com and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardRates.com does not receive commission for this product/card.)

The cards above can help you earn travel credits for your next flight or give a boost to your frequent-flyer miles account. But not every card packs the same perks.

Here are our choices for the best cards in some popular travel-related categories.

Highest Ongoing Rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Cardholders earn 2X miles for every $1 spent, which can add up quickly to compensate all, or part, of a travel-related expense. If you save up enough rewards, you can pay for entire flights, hotel stays, rental cars, or other charges that can bog down a trip.

Since Capital One doesn’t partner with a specific airline for its Venture-branded credit cards, you’ll have the freedom to redeem your rewards for any flight at any time.

Best Airline Miles Signup Bonus: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase continually offers some of the best signup bonuses in the credit card industry, but the Chase Sapphire Reserve® may be among its most attractive deals.

New cardholders can earn hefty bonus points after spending a predefined amount on purchases during their first three months with the card. That represents a potential major discount toward your next flight when you redeem the points through the Chase portal.

Best Business Card for Airline Miles: Capital One Venture Business

Business travel can weigh down your bottom line quickly — but with the Capital One Venture Business, you can get moving without going into the red.

All cardholders earn 2X miles per $1 on every purchase and a sizeable signup bonus if you meet the criteria as a new cardholder. You can redeem your miles as statement credits to cover previous travel-related expenses or transfer them to more than 15 of the world’s leading travel loyalty programs.

Best for Delta Loyalists: Delta SkyMiles® Gold Card from American Express

Delta is one of the most popular airlines in the world, and the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Card from American Express makes it easy to earn free flights through the carrier.

Cardholders can earn up to 2X points on their purchases and redeem their rewards for flights and onboard purchases through Delta. You’ll also get your first checked bag for free, and a $100 flight credit when you spend at least $10,000 in purchases during a calendar year.

Travel rewards credit cards have increased in popularity as card issuers have upped the rewards and perks associated with these cards.

With just about all of these cards, you earn either miles or points for every $1 you charge to your card. The number of points you earn will vary by the card type, as will the way you redeem your rewards.

For example, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Discover it® Miles card aren’t associated with a specific airline. This means you can redeem your miles for statement credits that essentially erase all, or part, of a recent travel-related expense.

That means you can pay yourself back for a flight, rental car, hotel stay, or other approved expense.

Other cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, work on a dedicated platform (in this case, Chase Ultimate Rewards®) where you can redeem your rewards for anything you’d like. Options range from flights to electronics, cash back, and gift cards.

Rewards points have varying values, based on what you redeem them for. As an example, you will get more value when you redeem your points for travel accommodations than if you opt for cash back.

Every card allows you to redeem your rewards online through the issuer’s website or via the card’s mobile application. In most cases, the redemption process takes a matter of minutes and you can use your rewards instantly.

This depends on how frequently you fly and whether you have a preferred airline.

Regardless of how often you find yourself in the friendly skies, a travel rewards credit card makes a great addition to any wallet.

A non-branded card will allow you to redeem your rewards not only for flights, but for hotel stays, rental cars, ride-sharing services, and other travel-related expenses. This allows you to use your rewards even if you aren’t flying.

An airline-branded card, though, may limit how you use your rewards. Not only are you stuck with flights only through the specific carrier listed on the card, but you may also face blackout dates and other restrictions.

Still, you can find good utility with one of these cards if you’re loyal to a specific airline. That’s because the cards often provide other perks — such as a free checked bag and discounts on in-flight food, beverage, and WiFi purchases.

That savings can add up if you live a jet-set lifestyle — be it for business or pleasure.

Flying can be an enjoyable experience. Paying for the flight? Not so much.

If you often find yourself blowing a good chunk of your travel budget on getting to and from your preferred destination, you should consider one of the best credit cards for free flights. Not only will these cards help you save money on your travel-related expenses, but they can also help you earn enough rewards to fly for free. It doesn’t get much better than that.