Best Airline Credit Cards

The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Credit Card is one of the more popular airline cards thanks to the yearly Companion Fare, which can completely offset the annual fee and make this card basically free to use.

In fact, as long as you avoid interest and other fees, you’re effectively getting paid to use this card as long as you always take advantage of the Companion Fare.

This is also one of the best credit cards for earning airline miles, offering 3X miles for flight purchases when most airline cards only provide 2X, along with extra miles at some restaurants.

• 5X miles per dollar at select restaurants
• 3X miles per dollar for Alaska Airlines purchases
• 1X mile per dollar spent everywhere else
• 40,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days after account opening
  • Value: $600–$800 (assuming 1.5–2 cents per point)
  • Return on spend: 30%–40%
• Companion Fare credit ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22) after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days after account opening
  • Value: varies, about $120–$400 or more
  • Return on spend: 12%–40% or more

• Annual Companion Fare credit: A yearly Companion Fare credit ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22)
• Additional mile-earning opportunities: Use Alaska Airlines’ shopping portal to earn bonus miles at select retailers
• First checked bag free on Alaska Airlines flights: For you and up to six other travelers on the same reservation
• No foreign transaction fees
• Annual fee: $75

The Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Executive World Elite^™ Mastercard^® is the premier card for flying American Airlines, with a hefty price tag of $450 per year. But if you’re already spending a lot of money and time with the airline, this card’s benefits, particularly the Admirals Club airport lounge membership, could make your life quite a bit more comfortable.

Authorized users of this card have no cost and actually get Admirals Club access as well, a rare feature on premium travel cards like this. Up to ten authorized users can be added.

• 2X miles per dollar for American Airlines purchases
• 1X mile per dollar spent everywhere else
• 50,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening
  • Value: $500–$750 (assuming 1–1.5 cents per point)
  • Return on spend: 10%–15%

• Admirals Club membership: You and up to ten authorized users have access to the Admirals Club airport lounge
• Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ application credit: Get a credit for the application fee of either Global Entry ($100) or TSA Pre✓ ($85) once every five years
• Elite Qualifying Miles: Earn 10,000 Elite Qualifying Miles after spending $40,000 on purchases in a given year
• Reduced Mileage Awards: Get discounted travel for round trip (7,500 miles off) and one-way flights (3,750 miles off)
• Enhanced Airport Experience: Including priority check-in, screening, and boarding privileges
• 25% discount on in-flight purchases on AA flights: The 25% discount will be applied to in-flight purchases of food and beverages only
• First checked bag free on AA flights: For you and up to eight traveling companions
• No foreign transaction fees
• Annual fee: $450

The Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express is expensive, but it comes with complimentary Delta Sky Club access and an annual Companion Certificate.

• 2X miles per dollar spent at Delta Airlines
• 1X mile per dollar spent everywhere else
• 75,000 bonus miles and 5,000 MQMs for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
  • Value: $750–$1,125 (assuming 1–1.5 cents per point)
  • Return on spend: 15%–22.5%

• Delta Sky Club membership: Complimentary access to Delta Sky Clubs, with up to two guests at $29 each
• Annual Companion Certificate: A certificate for a Domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+, or Main Cabin round-trip flight
• Miles Boost tier 1: Spend $30,000 on purchases in a given year to earn 15,000 bonus miles and 15,000 MQMs
• Miles Boost tier 2: Spend $60,000 on purchases in a given year to earn an additional 15,000 bonus miles and 15,000 MQMs
• First checked bag free on Delta flights: For you and up to eight traveling companions
• Priority Boarding on Delta flights: Get on the plane more quickly with Zone 1 priority boarding
• Priority Checkpoint on Delta flights: Access the Sky Priority security lane at participating airports
• 20% in-flight discount on Delta flights: A 20% discount on eligible in-flight purchases, like food, beverages, movies, and audio headsets
• No foreign transaction fees
• $450 Annual Fee ($550 if application is received on or after 1/30/2020)

The Frontier Airlines World Mastercard (Review) is one of the less expensive cards on this list, but it offers miles at a relatively high rate and has a good signup bonus, too. Frontier miles usually aren’t valued very highly, however, typically coming in around 1 cent each.

Take note that your Frontier miles will expire unless there is some account activity at least once every 6 months. Any purchase will qualify as account activity, so you can just buy a pack of gum to keep your miles active.

This is quite a bit more strict than other airline programs, which either give you a longer period or have miles that don’t expire. We recommend setting alerts or notifications of some kind so you don’t forget.

• 5X miles per dollar for Frontier Airlines purchases
• 3X miles per dollar at Restaurants
• 1X mile per dollar spent everywhere else
• 40,000 bonus miles after paying the annual fee and spending $500 on purchases in the first 90 days after account opening
  • Value: $400 (assuming 1 cent per point)
  • Return on spend: 80%

• Award redemption fee waiver: A fee waiver when you pay for flights using Frontier miles, starting at $5.60 for one-way tickets
• $100 Frontier Flight Voucher: Get a $100 Flight Voucher after your account anniversary for every year that you spend at least $2,500
• Fast track to Elite Status: Earn 1 Qualifying Mile for every $1 spent on purchases
• Priority Boarding on Frontier flights: Zone 2 priority boarding privileges
• 15-month 0% intro APR: For balance transfers made in the first 45 days
• No foreign transaction fees
• Annual fee: $79

The Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® (Review) is your only consumer card option for flying Hawaiian Airlines.

The spending rewards are about average for an airline card, but it has a valuable annual companion discount that can completely offset the $99 annual fee.

• 3X miles per dollar for Hawaiian Airlines purchases
• 2X miles per dollar at:
  • Gas stations
  • Restaurants
  • Grocery stores
• 1X mile per dollar spent everywhere else
• 60,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days after account opening
  • Value: $600–$780 (assuming 1–1.3 cents per point)
  • Return on spend: 30%–39%

• $100 annual companion ticket discount: Each year you’ll get a $100 discount on a companion ticket for roundtrip travel between Hawaii and North America
• One-time 50% companion ticket discount: Eligible for roundtrip travel between Hawaii and North America
• Free first checked bag on Hawaiian Airlines flights: For the primary cardholder only
• Discounted flight award prices for Hawaiian Airlines flights
• No foreign transaction fees
• Annual fee: $99, waived the first year

The JetBlue Plus Card is one of three rewards cards available through JetBlue. It offers more points than your average airline card, along with an excellent discount rate on in-flight purchases.

• 6X points per dollar for JetBlue purchases
• 2X points per dollar at:
  • Restaurants
  • Grocery stores
• 1X point per dollar spent everywhere else
• 40,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days after account opening
  • Value: $400–$600 (assuming 1–1.5 cents per point)
  • Return on spend: 40%–60%

• 10% point redemption bonus
• 5,000 annual bonus points: Get 5,000 bonus points every year on your account anniversary
• First checked bag is free on JetBlue flights: For you and up to three traveling companions
• 50% discount on in-flight purchases on JetBlue flights: 50% off eligible in-flight purchases, like food and cocktails
• Fast track to TrueBlue Mosaic status: Spend $50,000 on purchases in a given year to get TrueBlue Mosaic status for a year
• $100 vacation package credit: Get a $100 statement credit every year that you buy a vacation package of $100 or more
• 12-month 0% intro APR: For balance transfers made in the first 45 days
• No foreign transaction fees
• Annual fee: $99

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (Review) is the newest entry in Southwest’s line of credit cards, offering an annual flight credit to help offset the $149 annual fee.

Read more about how you can fly for free with Southwest Airlines credit cards.

• 2X points per dollar at:
  • Southwest Airlines
  • Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
• 1X point per dollar spent everywhere else
• 40,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening
  • Value: $400–$600 (assuming 1–1.5 cents per point)
  • Return on spend: 40%–60%

• 7,500 annual bonus points: You’ll receive 7,500 bonus points every year on your account anniversary
• $75 annual Southwest travel credit: An automatic statement credit every year for Southwest purchases, excluding upgraded boardings and in-flight purchases
• Upgraded Boardings: Get four upgraded boardings per year (reimbursed as a statement credit at the end of the year)
• Tier Qualifying Points: Every $10,000 spent earns 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List status, up to $100,000 spent
• 20% discount on in-flight purchases on Southwest flights: 20% off eligible in-flight purchases, like food, drinks, and WiFi
• No foreign transaction fees
• Annual fee: $149

Compared to the other United co-branded credit cards available, the United MileagePlus® Club Card (Review) is expensive ($450 annual fee), but it comes with several perks to help make your time spent at airports and hotels more enjoyable.

• 2X miles per dollar for United Airlines purchases
• 1.5X miles per dollar spent everywhere else
• 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening
  • Value: $500–$750 (assuming 1–1.5 cents per point)
  • Return on spend: 16.67%–25%

• United Club membership: Complimentary membership to the United Club airport lounge, with free access for you and two guests
• Premier Access airport travel services: Includes priority check-in and security screening, and boarding/baggage handling privileges
• Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection: Hotel perks like daily breakfast for two, complimentary WiFi, and room upgrades when available
• World of Hyatt Discoverist status: A 10% point bonus, room upgrades, and other benefits at Hyatt properties
• Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle Elite Status: Get a 25% point bonus, upgrades, and exclusive offers at Hertz
• Complimentary Premier Upgrades on United award flights: MileagePlus Premier members can get award ticket upgrades when available
• Free first and second checked bags: For you and one traveling companion
• No foreign transaction fees
• Annual fee: $450