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Do you travel often? Whether it's for business or pleasure, are you enjoying your trips as much as you could be? What about the price tag? Are you missing out on deals and discounts that could save money or get you more for your buck? Airline credit cards to the rescue!
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The information related to British Airways Visa Signature® Card, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express have been collected by Credit Card Insider and have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of these products.
Good rewards program: The standard is 2X miles per dollar for most cards, although some offer more than that.
Valuable travel benefits: The best airline credit cards offer credits for travel purchases and other cost-saving benefits that will lighten the load on your wallet.
Airport lounge access: Some airline cards provide complimentary or limited access to airport lounges, with all the amenities that come with them.
Free checked bags: You should usually expect to get your first checked bag free, although it’s not always true for airline cards with no annual fee.
Priority boarding: You can typically board the plane before non-cardholders — but again, not always for cards without annual fees.
No foreign transaction fees: Airline cards, like other travel cards, shouldn’t charge for purchases in foreign currency.
Is an Airline Card Right for You?
Do you travel by plane every year? Are you planning a big trip?
If so, chances are good that you could save some money and access valuable travel perks with an airline credit card. You’re already planning on spending the money, so why not take advantage of a great card offer?
An airline card, if it’s right for you, should fit neatly into your current or projected spending habits. As long as you use it responsibly, and pay the statement balance in full each month, you can get a variety of benefits without paying a dime of interest.
Many big airlines provide co-branded credit cards, and you can probably find one to suit your needs. They come with perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, discounts on in-flight purchases, and access to airport lounges. You may be able to transfer miles to other loyalty programs.
The more you travel, the more value you’ll get out of an airline card.
In many cases there are no blackout dates when redeeming the frequent flyer miles you earn. This isn’t always true for general travel credit cards.
Ask yourself some questions to help figure out which airline card (or cards) you should apply for:
What’s my favorite airline?
Which airline do I use (or plan to use) the most?
Do I want to build a relationship with a specific airline to gain a higher status?
Are there any airport hubs nearby that focus on particular airlines?
If you don’t fly with a specific airline somewhat regularly, a co-branded card probably won’t be very valuable for you. Instead, look into a general travel rewards card like those above, which you can use with any airline.
NEW – 40,000 Bonus Mile + Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ Offer.
Get 40,000 bonus miles and Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare from $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22) with this offer. To qualify, make purchases of $2,000 or more within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Save with a free checked bag on Alaska flights for you and up to six other guests on the same reservation.
Get Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ every year! EACH YEAR on your account anniversary get a companion fare from $121 ($99 plus taxes and fees from $22). Valid on all Alaska flights booked on alaskaair.com.
Earn 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases and 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Get exclusive access to discounted redemption levels when you redeem miles for hotel stays at over 400,000 properties using Alaska Airlines Hotels.
Earn unlimited miles and travel with no blackout dates and no foreign transaction fees.
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 if you always take advantage of the Companion Fare.
Spending Rewards
3X miles per dollar spent on Alaska Airlines & Virgin America purchases
1X mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
Introductory Bonus
40,000 bonus miles and a Companion Fare for spending $2,000 in the first 90 days
Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage®bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Admirals Club® membership for you and access for up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you
Earn 10,000 AAdvantage® Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) after you spend $40,000 in purchases within the year
No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation
The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 15.99% – 24.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi’s discretion.
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (Review) is the premier card for flying American Airlines, with a hefty price tag. 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.
Spending Rewards
2X AAdvantage miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
1X AAdvantage mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
Introductory Bonus
50,000 AAdvantage bonus miles for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months of account opening
Admirals Club membership: You and up to ten authorized users have access to the Admirals Club airport lounge.
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application credit: Get a credit for the application fee of either Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($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
60,000 AAdvantage bonus miles and a Companion Certificate for 1 guest at $99 (plus taxes and fees) after making a purchase in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee
Perks: First checked bag free, Preferred Boarding, 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases, $25 annual credit for in-flight WiFi
Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion(R) Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
Plus, earn up to $100 back in statement credits for eligible purchases at US restaurants with your card within the first 3 months of membership.
Accelerate your path to Medallion Status, with Status Boost(R). Plus, in 2021 you can earn even more bonus Medallion(R) Qualification Miles (MQMs) to help you reach Medallion Status.
Receive a Domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+(R) or Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card.*Payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $75 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
Complimentary access into the Delta Sky Club(R) for you when travelling on a Delta flight.
Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion(R) Lounge when you book your Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck(R).
Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Review) is expensive, but it comes with quite a few valuable benefits. You get complimentary Delta Sky Club access and two free one-time Sky Club guest passes (guests are $39 after that), plus complimentary access to Centurion Lounges (where guests will cost $50).
Other perks include an annual Companion Certificate and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit.
Spending Rewards
3X SkyMiles per eligible dollar spent for purchases made directly with Delta Air Lines
1X SkyMile per eligible dollar spent on all other purchases
Introductory Bonus
50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months; up to $100 back in statement credits for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants in the first 3 months
Delta Sky Club and Centurion Lounge access: Get complimentary access to Delta Sky Clubs, with up to two guests at $39 each, plus complimentary access to Centurion Lounges, with up to two guests at $50 each. Includes two free Delta Sky Club one-time guest passes.
Annual Companion Certificate: A certificate for a Domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+, or Main Cabin round-trip flight
Status Boost: Earn 15,000 MQMs for spending $30,000, up to four times per calendar year.
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.
Complimentary upgrades: If you don’t have Medallion status you can still get some upgrades for free.
20% in-flight discount on Delta flights: A 20% discount, in the form of a statement credit, on eligible in-flight purchases, like food, beverages, movies, and audio headsets
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $550
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
50,000 bonus miles and 5,000 MQMs for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months; up to $100 back in statement credits for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants in the first 3 months
Perks: Annual Companion Certificate; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit; First checked bag free, Main Cabin 1 Priority boarding, and 20% in-flight discount on Delta flights; Delta Sky Club access for $39 per person; Status Boost
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $250
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
40,000 bonus miles for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months; up to $50 back in statement credits for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants in the first 3 months
Perks: First checked bag free on Delta flights; Main Cabin 1 priority boarding; 20% back on in-flight purchases; $100 Delta flight credit for spending $10,000; ShopRunner membership
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
3X SkyMiles per eligible dollar spent for purchases made directly with Delta Air Lines
1.5X SkyMiles per eligible dollar spent on all other purchases for the rest of the year after spending $150,000 in a calendar year
1X SkyMile per eligible dollar spent on all other purchases
Introductory Bonus
60,000 bonus miles, 10,000 MQMs, and a $100 statement credit for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
Perks: Delta Sky Club an Centurion Lounge access; Annual Companion Certificate; First checked bag free, Priority Boarding, 20% in-flight discount on Delta flights; Complimentary upgrades; Status Boost; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit
Shopping and travel protections: Purchase Protection; Extended Warranty; Return Protection; Baggage Insurance Plan; Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance; Trip Delay Insurance; Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $550
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
1.5X SkyMiles per dollar for purchases of $5,000 or more, up to 50,000 miles per year
1X SkyMile per dollar for all other purchases
Introductory Bonus
60,000 bonus miles, 5,000 MQMs, and a $100 statement credit for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
Perks: Annual Companion Certificate; First checked bag free, Main Cabin 1 Priority boarding, 20% in-flight discount on Delta flights; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit; Status Boost
Shopping and travel protections: Baggage Insurance Plan, Trip Delay Insurance, Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance, Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $250
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
1X SkyMile per dollar spent on all other purchases
Introductory Bonus
50,000 bonus miles and a $50 statement credit for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months
Perks: First checked bag free, Main Cabin 1 priority boarding, 20% back on in-flight purchases on Delta flights; $100 Delta flight credit for spending $10,000 in a calendar year
Shopping and travel protections:Baggage Insurance Plan, Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance, Purchase Protection, Extended Warranty
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
5X miles per dollar spent on purchases from Frontier Airlines
3X miles per dollar spent at restaurants
50,000 bonus miles after paying the annual fee and spending $500 in the first 90 days
No award redemption fee when you book an award ticket using your Frontier Airlines World Mastercard to pay the related taxes and fees, starting from $5.60 for a one-way ticket
$100 Frontier Airlines flight discount voucher after your account anniversary, after spending $2,500 on purchases in a given year
Use your Frontier Airlines Mastercard for at least one purchase every six months to keep your miles from expiring
0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles (for transfers completed within 45 days of account opening) on balance transfers, and then your rate will be 18.24%, 22.24% or 27.24% Variable
View your FICO® Score online – with no charge and no hidden fees
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.
Spending Rewards
5X miles per dollar spent on purchases from Frontier Airlines
3X miles per dollar at Restaurants
1X mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
Miles expire if you do not show activity in your Frontier Miles account once every 6 months
Introductory Bonus
50,000 bonus miles after paying the annual fee and spending $500 in the first 90 days
Take note that your Frontier miles will expire unless there is some activity in your Frontier Miles account at least once every six months. Any purchase will qualify as account activity, so you can just buy a pack of gum to keep your miles active.
$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 award prices for Hawaiian Airlines flights
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee first year, then $99
50,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days; 10,000 bonus points for adding an employee card within 30 days and making a purchase with that card within 90 days
Perks: 50% discount on in-flight purchases, free first checked bags, TrueBlue Mosaic boost, vacation package benefits
Earn 40,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Plus, earn 3X points on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery services, for the first year.
7,500 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary each year.
$75 Southwest® travel credit each year.
4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available.
20% back on inflight drinks and WiFi.
Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases.
40,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months; 3X points on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery services, for the first year
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
40,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months; 3X points on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery services, for the first year
No foreign transaction fee
Perks: Anniversary bonus points, earn tier qualifying points
40,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months; 3X points on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery services, for the first year
Foreign transaction fee: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Plus, earn 10x points on eligible purchases on the Card at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the U.S., on up to $25,000 in combined purchases, during your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Enrollment required.
New! American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Now there are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline.
$200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status available to Basic Card Member only.
$300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $25 back each month on select Equinox memberships. Enrollment required.
$179 CLEAR® Credit: Use your Card and get up to $179 back per year on your CLEAR® membership.
Maybe you don’t have a favorite airline, or you tend to take whatever flight will work best for you. If that’s the case, a general travel rewards card will probably be more useful than a co-branded airline card.
General travel cards can be used to earn points anywhere, no matter which airline you’re taking. And they provide points for other travel purchases as well, like hotels, car rentals, and taxis.
Airline and hotel transfer partners give you a way to move your points to your favorite loyalty programs, where they’ll often be worth more. So, if you’re planning a trip and you’ve got a bunch of points ready and waiting, you can transfer them to the airline you’re booking and look for a great redemption value.
5X Membership Rewards points per dollar (on up to $500,000 spent per calendar year, then 1X) on:
Flights booked directly through airlines or through American Express Travel
Prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel
2X Membership Rewards points per dollar on other eligible travel expenses booked through American Express Travel
1X Membership Rewards point per dollar on all other purchases
Introductory Bonus
100,000 bonus points for spending $6,000 in the first 6 months; 10X points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the U.S., on up to $25,000 in combined purchases, during the first 6 months
Global Lounge Collection: Enroll for complimentary access to Priority Pass, Centurion, American Express International, Delta Sky Club, Escape, Airspace, Lufthansa, and Plaza Premium Lounges.
Up to $200 in annual Uber Cash: Add your Platinum card to the Uber App to get up to $15 in Uber Cash per month, plus a bonus $20 in December; U.S. Eats orders and rides only.
$300 Equinox credit: Pay with your Platinum card to get up to $300 in statement credits annually with Equinox (up to $25 per month), for Equinox All Access, Destination, E by Equinox, or Equinox+ membership fees.
$240 digital entertainment credit: Pay with your Platinum card to get up to $240 in statement credits annually for digital entertainment (up to $20 per month), only for eligible purchases from Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, and The New York Times.
CLEAR credit: Up to $179 in statement credits annually for CLEAR biometric security, enough for a membership.
Uber Eats Pass: Get unlimited $0 delivery fees and 5% off orders at eligible restaurants for 12 months; must enroll by 12/31/21. Taxes and service fees may apply and do not count toward the order minimum. Eats Pass will start auto-billing 12 months from enrollment, at then-current monthly rate. Learn more.
Uber VIP status: Add your Platinum card to the Uber App to get Uber VIP status where available.
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit: A statement credit for the application fee of either Global Entry ($100 every four years) or TSA PreCheck ($85 once every four and a half years)
Complimentary elite hotel statuses: Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
The Hotel Collection: A $100 hotel credit and room upgrades when available for every eligible two-night stay
Fine Hotels & Resorts Program: Daily breakfast for two, room upgrades when available, amenities valued at $100, and more at eligible properties
$100 annual Saks credit: Up to $100 in statement credits each year for Saks Fifth Avenue: $50 from January through June, and $50 from July through December
Global Dining Access by Resy: Resy provides access to exclusive reservations and dining experiences.
Point transfer: To a selection of airline and hotel loyalty programs
Shopping and travel protections: Purchase Protection; Extended Warranty; Return Protection; Baggage Insurance Plan; Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance; Trip Delay Insurance; Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $695
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees)
1X Membership Rewards point per dollar for every other purchase
Introductory Bonus
60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 6 months
Perks: Up to $120 annual dining credit; Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash; Uber Eats Pass; The Hotel Collection; Amex Offers; ShopRunner membership; Point transfer
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $250
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
5X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels on the American Express Travel website
1.5X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (an extra .5 points per dollar, up to 1 million extra points per year)
1X Membership Rewards point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Introductory Bonus
100,000 bonus points for spending $15,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership
Perks: Global Lounge Collection airport lounge access; Up to $200 in annual airline fee statement credits; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit; Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status; Up to $200 in annual Dell statement credits; The Hotel Collection; Fine Hotels & Resorts program; Point transfer
Shopping and travel protections: Baggage Insurance Plan, Trip Delay Insurance, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance, Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, Return Protection
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $595
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees)
40,000 bonus points + $100 Companion Flight Voucher after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days
$79, $0 first year
How Do Airline Credit Cards Work?
Airline credit cards provide miles or points for the purchases you make. You can usually book flights with those rewards, shopping around until you find a good deal.
Some cards are designed to be used with various airlines — they provide rewards no matter what airline you’re booking. And you can typically transfer those rewards to a selection of airline partners, where you can use them as you see fit.
The value of airline miles will vary depending on how you use them.
Say you have 10,000 miles, and you use them to book a flight worth $200 — that would mean your miles are worth 2 cents each. $200 divided by 10,000 miles equals $0.02 per mile.
Different airlines, routes, and fare classes may all lead to different values for miles. The same is true for certain times of year, and how far in advance you book.
Whether you’re flying with United, Southwest, Delta, or any other airline, it can pay to look for a good deal. It’s often wise to wait until you can get a high value per mile; until then, pay with your air miles credit card and keep stacking those rewards.
