Best Airline Credit Cards
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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!
By Brendan Harkness
Our Selection Criteria
- Reasonable annual fee: Most airline cards have annual fees, so you want to make sure you’re getting more out of the card than it costs.
- 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.
By Brendan Harkness
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.
BEST PICK FOR
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Credit Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
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.
| Spending Rewards |
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- 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
- 20% in-flight purchase discount: 20% back on all Alaska Airlines in-flight purchases
- Alaska Lounge discount: Get 50% off day passes at the Alaska Lounge.
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $75
Alaska Airlines Visa® Business credit card
- 3X miles per dollar for purchases made directly from Alaska Airlines
- 1X mile per dollar on all other purchases
- 40,000 bonus miles and a Companion Fare for spending $2,000 in the first 90 days
- First checked bag free on Alaska Airlines flights: For you and up to six other travelers on the same reservation
- 20% in-flight purchase discount: 20% back on all Alaska Airlines in-flight purchases
- Alaska Lounge discount: Get 50% off day passes at the Alaska Lounge.
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $50 for the company and $25 per card
- 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.
BEST PICK FOR
American Airlines
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Details
securely on the issuer's website
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (Review) 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.
| Spending Rewards |
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| Introductory Bonus Offer |
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- 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
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $450
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard®
- 2X AAdvantage miles per dollar spent on:
- American Airlines
- Gas stations
- Restaurants
- 1X AAdvantage mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 70,000 AAdvantage bonus miles for spending $4,000 within the first 4 months of account opening
- Perks: First checked bag free, Preferred Boarding, 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $99, waived for first 12 months
AAdvantage® Aviator™ Red World Elite Mastercard®
- 2X AAdvantage miles per dollar spent at American Airlines
- 1X AAdvantage mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 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
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $99
American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card
- 2X AAdvantage Miles per dollar on:
- Eligible American Airlines purchases
- Grocery Stores
- 1X AAdvantage Mile per dollar for everything else
- 10,000 AAdvantage bonus miles and a $50 statement credit for spending $500 in the first 3 months
- Perks: 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%
- Annual fee: $0
AAdvantage® Aviator™ Business Mastercard®
- 2X AAdvantage miles per dollar at:
- American Airlines
- Telecom merchants
- Office supply merchants
- Car rental merchants
- 1X AAdvantage mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 65,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days; 10,000 bonus miles after a purchase on an employee card
- Perks: First checked bag free, Preferred Boarding, 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases, 5% AAdvantage mileage bonus
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard®
- 2X AAdvantage miles per dollar spent on:
- American Airlines
- Cable and satellite providers
- Gas stations
- Select telecommunications merchants
- Car rentals
- 1X AAdvantage mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 70,000 AAdvantage bonus miles for spending $4,000 within the first 4 months of account opening
- Perks: First checked bag free, Preferred Boarding, 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $99, waived for first 12 months
- 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.
Citi is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
BEST PICK FOR
Delta Air Lines
securely on the issuer's website
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 |
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- 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 on eligible in-flight purchases, like food, beverages, movies, and audio headsets
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $550
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- 3X SkyMiles per dollar for:
- Purchases made directly with Delta
- Hotels
- 2X SkyMiles per dollar at:
- Restaurants
- U.S. Supermarkets
- 1X SkyMile per dollar for all other purchases
- 90,000 bonus miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- Lounge access: You and two guests can enter Delta Sky Club lounges for $39 per person.
- Perks: First checked bag free, Priority Boarding, Annual companion certificate, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit, 20% back on in-flight purchases
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $250
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
- 2X SkyMiles per eligible dollar for:
- Purchases made directly with Delta Air Lines
- Restaurants
- U.S. Supermarkets
- 1X SkyMile per dollar for all other purchases
- 70,000 bonus miles for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: First checked bag free, Priority Boarding, 20% back on in-flight purchases
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
- 2X SkyMiles per eligible dollar spent for:
- Purchases made directly with Delta Air Lines
- Restaurants
- 1X SkyMile per eligible dollar spent for every other purchase
- 10,000 bonus miles for spending $500 in the first 3 months after account opening
- Perks: 20% back on in-flight purchases, ShopRunner membership
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $0
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
- 2X SkyMiles per eligible dollar spent for:
- Purchases made directly with Delta Air Lines
- Restaurants
- 1X SkyMile per eligible dollar spent for every other purchase
- 80,000 bonus miles, 20,000 MQMs, and a $200 statement credit for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: First checked bag free, Priority Boarding, Annual companion certificate, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit, 20% back on in-flight purchases
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $550
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
- 3X SkyMiles per dollar for:
- Purchases made directly with Delta
- Hotels
- 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
- 90,000 bonus miles and a $100 statement credit for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: First checked bag free, Priority Boarding, Annual companion certificate, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit, 20% back on in-flight purchases
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $250
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
- 2X SkyMiles per eligible dollar spent for:
- Purchases made directly with Delta Air Lines
- U.S. Shipping
- U.S. Advertising in select media
- Restaurants
- 1X SkyMile per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 70,000 bonus miles and a $50 statement credit for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: First checked bag free, Priority Boarding, 20% back on in-flight purchases
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 80,000 bonus miles and 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer expires 4/28/2021.
- Accelerate your path to Medallion Status, with Status Boost®. Plus, in 2021 you can earn even more bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) to help you reach Medallion Status.
- Complimentary access into the Delta SkyClubs® for you when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book your Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $550 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
BEST PICK FOR
Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines World Mastercard
Details
securely on the issuer's website
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 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.
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.
| Spending Rewards |
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- 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
- Purchase APR: 18.24%, 22.24% or 27.24% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 billing cycles (for transfers completed within 45 days of account opening), then 18.24%, 22.24% or 27.24% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $79
- 5X miles per dollar spent on purchases from Frontier Airlines
- 3X miles per dollar spent at restaurants
- Earn 40,000 Bonus Miles after spending $500 in purchases in the first 90 days after account opening and payment of the annual fee
- 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
- No foreign transaction fees
- $79 Annual Fee
BEST PICK FOR
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®
Details
securely on the issuer's website
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.
| Spending Rewards |
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- $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
Hawaiian Airlines® Business Mastercard®
- 3X HawaiianMiles per dollar spent on purchases from Hawaiian Airlines
- 2X HawaiianMiles per dollar spent on:
- Gas
- Dining
- Office supplies
- 1X HawaiianMile per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 60,000 bonus miles for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days; 10,000 bonus miles if a purchase is made on an employee card in the first 90 days
- Perks: One time 50% off companion discount, up to 40,000 annual bonus miles, discounted award flights
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $99
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days
- First checked bag free on eligible bags for the primary cardmember when you use your card to purchase eligible tickets directly from Hawaiian Airlines
- One-time 50% off companion discount for roundtrip coach travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines
- Earn 3X miles on eligible Hawaiian Airlines purchases
- Earn 2x miles on gas, dining and grocery store purchases
- Earn 1X miles on all other purchases
- No foreign transaction fees means you don’t pay additional transaction fees on international purchases
- Receive an annual $100 companion discount for roundtrip travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines after each account anniversary
- Share Miles allows you to send and receive miles from family and friends through HawaiianAirlines.com, without a fee
- No blackout dates
BEST PICK FOR
JetBlue
JetBlue Plus Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
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.
| Spending Rewards |
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- 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.
- Purchase APR: 18.24%, 22.24%, or 27.24% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 12 months (for balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening), then 18.24%, 22.24%, or 27.24% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $99
JetBlue Card
- 3X points per dollar at JetBlue
- 2X points per dollar at:
- Restaurants
- Grocery stores
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 10,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days
- Perk: 50% discount on in-flight purchases
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
JetBlue Business Mastercard®
- 6X points per dollar for JetBlue purchases
- 2X points per dollar at:
- Restaurants
- Grocery stores
- 1X point per dollar spent everywhere else
- 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
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $99
- Earn 40,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 90 days.
- Earn 6X points per $1 on JetBlue purchases, 2X points per $1 at restaurants and grocery stores, and 1X point per $1 on all other purchases.
- Earn 5,000 bonus points every year automatically after your account anniversary.
- Get 10% of your points back every time you redeem.
- No blackout dates on JetBlue-operated flights & redeem for any seat, any time on JetBlue-operated flights.
- Free first checked bag for you and up to three traveling companions.
- 50% savings on eligible inflight purchases like cocktails and food.
- Enjoy TrueBlue Mosaic benefits after you spend $50,000 or more on purchases each calendar year with your card.
- Enjoy a $100 statement credit after purchasing a JetBlue Vacations package of $100 or more with your JetBlue Plus Card.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- $99 annual fee.
BEST PICK FOR
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Details
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 annual fee.
Read more about how you can fly for free with Southwest Airlines credit cards.
| Spending Rewards |
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| Introductory Bonus Offer |
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- 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 fee
- Annual fee: $149
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
- 2X points per dollar at:
- Southwest Airlines
- Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 40,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months; 3X points on dining for the first year
- No foreign transaction fee
- Perks: Anniversary bonus points, earn tier qualifying points
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $99
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
- 2X points per dollar at:
- Southwest Airlines
- Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 40,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months; 3X points on dining for the first year
- Foreign transaction fee: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
- Annual fee: $69
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
- 3X points per dollar spent on Southwest Airlines purchases
- 2X points per dollar spent on:
- Social Media and Search Engine Advertising
- Internet
- Cable
- Phone Services
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 80,000 bonus points for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: Four upgraded boardings per year, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, in-flight WiFi credits, anniversary bonus points
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $199
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
- 2X points per dollar at:
- Southwest Airlines
- Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 60,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: Earn tier qualifying points, anniversary bonus points
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $99
BEST PICK FOR
United Airlines
United Club℠ Infinite Card
Details
Compared to the other United co-branded credit cards available, the United Club℠ Infinite Card (Review) is expensive ($525), but it comes with several perks to help make your time spent at airports and hotels more enjoyable.
| Spending Rewards |
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| Introductory Bonus |
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- 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
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit: Get a $100 credit for the application fee of Global Entry, or $85 for TSA PreCheck, once every four years.
- 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 fee
- Annual fee: $525
United℠ Explorer Card
- 2X MileagePlus miles per dollar spent:
- United Airlines
- Hotel accommodations made directly with the hotel
- Restaurants
- 1X MileagePlus mile per dollar spent on other purchases
- 40,000 bonus miles for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months; 25,000 bonus miles for spending a total of $10,000 in the first 6 months
- Perks: Two United Club passes, priority boarding, first checked bag free, 25% in-flight discount, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95
United Gateway℠ Card
- 3X United miles per dollar for Grocery store purchases (up to $1,500 spent per quarter, through 9/30/21)
- 2X United miles per dollar for:
- United purchases
- Local transit and commuting
- Gas
- 1X United mile per dollar on all other purchases
- 20,000 bonus miles for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Perk: 25% in-flight discount
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
United Club℠ Business Card
- 2X MileagePlus miles per dollar spent on United Airlines
- 1.5X MileagePlus miles per dollar spent on other purchases
- 100,000 bonus miles for spending $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
- Perks: United Club membership, Premier Access travel services, first and second checked bags free, 25% in-flight discount
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $450
United℠ Business Card
- 2X miles per dollar for:
- United Airlines
- Local transit, commuting, and rideshare services
- Gas stations
- Office supply stores
- Restaurants
- 1X mile per dollar on every other purchase
- 75,000 bonus miles for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
- Perk: Two United Club passes, priority boarding, first checked bag free, 25% in-flight discount, $100 credit after seven United flights over $100
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99
BEST PICK FOR
Various Airlines
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.
The Platinum Card® from American Express (Review) is a great example, with a 5X point category for airlines and some great transfer partners.
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.
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- Global Lounge Collection: 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.
- 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.
- $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 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).
- 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.
- Complimentary elite hotel statuses: Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status.
- Point transfer: To a selection of airline and hotel loyalty programs.
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $550
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
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- Perks: $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass Select membership, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, Lyft Pink membership, DoorDash membership and credits, point transfer partners
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $550
Citi Prestige® Card
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- Perks: 4th night free on hotel stays, Priority Pass Select membership, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, point transfer partners, $250 travel credit
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $495
American Express® Gold Card
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- Perks: $120 dining credit, The Hotel Collection, point transfer partners
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $250
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
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- Perks: 25% redemption bonus, DoorDash membership, Shop through Chase/Chase Offers, primary auto rental collision damage waiver, point transfer partners
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
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- Perks: Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, Luxury Hotel Collection, point transfer partners
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- 5X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on:
- Flights on Amex Travel
- Prepaid hotels on Amex Travel
- 1.5X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (up to 1 million extra points per year)
- 1X Membership Rewards point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 100,000 bonus points for spending $15,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership
- Perks: Up to $200 in airline fee statement credits annually; Global Lounge Collection airport lounge access; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit; Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $595
- Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 10x points on eligible purchases on your new Card at U.S. Gas Stations and U.S. Supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, during your first 6 months of Card Membership. That’s an additional 9 points on top of the 1 point you earn for these purchases.
- 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 is available to Basic Card Member and Additional Centurion Cards only.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. Starting January 1, 2021, earn 5X points on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- Enjoy complimentary access to the Global Lounge Collection, the only credit card airport lounge access program that includes proprietary lounge locations around the world.
- Receive complimentary benefits through American Express Travel with an average total value of $550 with Fine Hotels & Resorts® program at over 1,100 properties . Learn More.
- Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $550 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
Other Airline Credit Cards
| Best for | Card & Rewards | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Allegiant Air | Allegiant World Mastercard®
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$59 |
| British Airways |
British Airways Visa Signature® Card (Review)
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$95 |
| Cathay Pacific | Cathay Pacific Visa Signature Card
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$95 |
| Korean Air | SKYPASS Visa Signature Credit Card
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$95 |
| LATAM Airlines | LATAM Visa Signature® Card
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$75, $0 first year |
| Lufthansa | Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard® (Review)
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$89 (waived for Senator and HON Circle Members) |
| Spirit Airlines | Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard®
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$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.
Other cards are co-branded with specific airlines. You’ll find cards dedicated to flying United, Southwest, American Airlines, Delta, and more.
What’s the Best Airline Credit Card?
There are a handful of top-notch airline cards. The right one for you will depend on your favorite airline:
- Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Credit Card
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (Review) (for American Airlines)
- JetBlue Plus Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (Review)
- United Club℠ Infinite Card (Review)
- The Platinum Card® from American Express (Review) (for various airlines)
How Much Are Airline Miles Worth?
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.
So, did you find the right airline card for you? If not, check out some general travel rewards credit cards that might be more your style. Or consider hotel credit cards, which are co-branded with specific hotels and tend to be quite valuable.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
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The information related to 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.
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