What’s the Best Credit Card for Airline Miles? (2023)

If you’re a frequent flyer, or anyone who just likes to travel on the cheap, you may be wondering, “What’s the best credit card for airline miles?” Identifying this can deliver some serious benefits in the long run. These cards provide the opportunity to fly around the world for little to no money, with perks like priority boarding, airport lounge access, free checked baggage, and in-flight wifi.

Air miles work just like rewards points on other credit cards: points accumulate by making purchases, and the points can be redeemed for free or discounted products and services. In this case, your points go toward travel rewards like free flights and hotel stays. Read on for our picks for some of the best credit cards for airline miles on the market today. We’ll also offer some tips on how to rack up those miles.

We reviewed some of the best air miles and travel credit cards

currently available and chose our top picks based on the rewards earning potential, APR, annual fees, and overall benefits to you.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

AIR MILES RATING

★★★★★

4.9

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

4.9/5.0

About this rating

Our experts rate air miles credit cards based on miles earning rates, annual and foreign transaction fees, signup bonuses, and travel perks like insurance and statement credits. We also compare similar travel cards to assess overall value. Issuers have no influence on our ratings.

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Ashley Fricker Senior Editor

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OVERALL RATING

4.9/5.0

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

4.9/5.0

About this rating

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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Ashley Fricker Senior Editor

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Our Review »

• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
• 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

• See application, terms and details.

See Rates & Fees

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
0% for 15 months	0% for 15 months	19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)	$0	Excellent, Good

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

AIR MILES RATING

★★★★★

4.8

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

4.8/5.0

About this rating

Our experts rate air miles credit cards based on miles earning rates, annual and foreign transaction fees, signup bonuses, and travel perks like insurance and statement credits. We also compare similar travel cards to assess overall value. Issuers have no influence on our ratings.

See Our Review»

Ashley Fricker Senior Editor

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OVERALL RATING

4.8/5.0

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

4.8/5.0

About this rating

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.

See Our Review»

Ashley Fricker Senior Editor

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Our Review »

• 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, vacation rentals 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 $120 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

• See application, terms and details.

See Rates & Fees

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
N/A	N/A	19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)	$95	Excellent, Good

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

AIR MILES RATING

★★★★★

4.8

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

4.8/5.0

About this rating

Our experts rate air miles credit cards based on miles earning rates, annual and foreign transaction fees, signup bonuses, and travel perks like insurance and statement credits. We also compare similar travel cards to assess overall value. Issuers have no influence on our ratings.

See Our Review»

Ashley Fricker Senior Editor

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OVERALL RATING

4.7/5.0

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

4.7/5.0

About this rating

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.

See Our Review»

Ashley Fricker Senior Editor

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Our Review »

• 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 and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment

• See application, terms and details.

See Rates & Fees

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
N/A	N/A	19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)	$395	Excellent

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

AIR MILES RATING

★★★★★

4.8

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

4.8/5.0

About this rating

Our experts rate air miles credit cards based on miles earning rates, annual and foreign transaction fees, signup bonuses, and travel perks like insurance and statement credits. We also compare similar travel cards to assess overall value. Issuers have no influence on our ratings.

See Our Review»

Ashley Fricker Senior Editor

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OVERALL RATING

4.7/5.0

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

4.7/5.0

About this rating

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.

See Our Review»

Ashley Fricker Senior Editor

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Our Review »

• Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
• Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions, and miles won't expire for the life of the account
• Unlimited 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site
• Transfer your miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Redeem your miles instantly for any travel-related purchases, from flights and hotels to ride-sharing services
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®

• See application, terms and details.

See Rates & Fees

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
N/A	N/A	25.24% (Variable)	$0 intro for first year; $95 after that	Excellent, Good

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

at the issuer'ssecure website

AIR MILES RATING

★★★★★

4.7

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

4.7/5.0

About this rating

Our experts rate air miles credit cards based on miles earning rates, annual and foreign transaction fees, signup bonuses, and travel perks like insurance and statement credits. We also compare similar travel cards to assess overall value. Issuers have no influence on our ratings.

Ashley Fricker Senior Editor

Close

OVERALL RATING

4.6/5.0

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

4.6/5.0

About this rating

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.

Ashley Fricker Senior Editor

Close

• Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months of ownership
• Earn $1 Medallion^® Qualification Dollar for each $10 of purchases made on your Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving elevated Medallion Status for next Medallion 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
• Enjoy a Companion Certificate on First Class, Delta Comfort+^®, or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after renewal of your Card
• As a benefit of Card Membership, you can check your first bag free on Delta flights booked with your card

• See application, terms and details.

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
N/A	N/A	19.99% - 28.99% (Variable)	$650	Excellent

Once you’ve found your preferred credit card for airline miles, it’s important to know how to use the card to get the most out of those high-flying benefits. There are a few ways consumers can really maximize perks and fly off into the sunset sooner than later.

1. Take Advantage of Bonuses

Cards with big sign-up bonuses are an easy way to accumulate a lot of points quickly. By spending a certain amount within an allotted time frame — usually 3 months or so — you can earn as many as 50,000 bonus miles.

2. Look for Special Offers

Sometimes issuers offer extra miles for using your card at certain times like holidays or for making purchases at places like gas stations or supermarkets. Some issuers even offer air mile bonuses for adding an authorized user to the account. Opt in to the credit company’s newsletter so you’ll know about the offers when to take advantage of them.

3. Utilize Partnership Deals

Many issuers have partnerships with companies and will reward you with points if you utilize their services. This includes insurance quotes, car rentals, hotel stays, monthly subscriptions like magazines, newspapers, and even Netflix. Check with your issuer to see which companies they partner with so you can earn bonus miles on things you may already be paying for or need.

The perks of each card vary, so choosing the best credit card for airline miles is really up to you. Evaluate the rewards and match them to your spending and travel habits. You can then choose the right card for your needs.

Airline miles credit cards — and really any type of rewards cards — are best for consumers who are able to pay their bill in full each month and not carry a balance. Otherwise, the interest you’re paying can make it so that the earned rewards might as well have been paid for.

Other than that, it’s easy: use the card, pay the bill, earn rewards, and enjoy the free ride.