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Whether you're a frequent flyer or you're planning a big trip, you could save on airfare with one of the best airline credit cards. You'll earn miles on your purchases that you can use for free flights. That's not the only reason these cards are valuable, either. They usually include plenty of extra perks, which can include bonus miles for new cardholders, access to airport lounges, and free checked luggage. Get ready for your next vacation with our picks for the top airline cards.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Great for: Travel rewards bonus
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.24% - 28.24% Variable
Rewards Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
1x - 5x points
Annual Fee N/A
$95
Welcome Offer Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
60,000 bonus points
With a big sign-up bonus, the sky’s the limit for this top-rated travel rewards card. Plus, the premium points program for travel and dining make it a no brainer for travel enthusiasts everywhere. Read Full Review
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Great for: Travel card with no annual fee
On Bank of America's Secure Website.
On Bank of America's Secure Website.
Intro APR 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 17.99% - 27.99% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee applies to all balance transfers.
Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days
Regular APR
17.99% - 27.99% (Variable)
Rewards
1.5 points per dollar
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
25,000 points
No-annual-fee travel cards typically skimp on the sign-up bonus, but this card delivers with its intro bonus offer, unlimited rewards on purchases, and a generous 0% intro offer on purchases and balance transfers. Read Full Review
Great for: Luxury air travel benefits
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.74% - 28.74% Variable
Rewards Earn 5x total points on air travel and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
1x - 10x points
Annual Fee N/A
$550
Welcome Offer Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
60,000 bonus points
The sign-up bonus, premium rewards for travel & dining, and wide array of valuable travel credits make this a compelling offer that will offset the cost of the annual fee for many. The array of limited time offers make it even more compelling. Read Full Review
Great for: Travel and restaurants
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Rewards Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other eligible purchases.
1X - 4X points
Annual Fee
$250
Welcome Offer Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
60,000 bonus points
The welcome offer, lucrative rewards at restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and on travel more than justify the annual fee for most who spend in these categories. Read Full Review
United℠ Explorer Card
Great for: United benefits
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.24% - 28.24% Variable
Rewards Earn 2 miles per dollar on United purchases, at restaurants, and on hotel stays booked with the hotel. Earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
1x - 2x miles
Annual Fee $0,First Year
$95
Welcome Offer Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Earn 50,000 bonus miles
With a big sign up bonus and rewards for United and dining purchases, the miles will accumulate quickly if you're a frequent traveler.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Great for: Delta benefits
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
Regular APR
20.74%-29.74% Variable
Rewards Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
1X - 2X miles
Annual Fee
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
Welcome Offer Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
40,000
May be the best card for most Delta travelers, given the balance of a nice welcome offer, premium rewards program, and a low annual fee. Read Full Review
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
Great for: American Airlines benefits
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
20.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Rewards 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations, telecom merchants, cable & satellite providers, car rental merchants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases, 1 mile per dollar on other purchases
1x - 2x miles
Annual Fee $0 intro annual fee for the first 12 months, $99 thereafter
$0 intro fee
Welcome Offer Earn 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage®bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.
65,000 miles
The rewards program makes this a compelling card to carry with OK earning opportunities beyond just American Airlines purchases.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Great for: Southwest travelers
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
20.74% - 27.74% Variable
Rewards Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
1x - 3x points
Annual Fee N/A
$149
Welcome Offer Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 50,000 points.
This feature-packed travel credit card for Southwest fans has a solid rewards program as well as Southwest credits and discounts.
Alaska Airlines Visa® Card
Great for: Alaska Airlines travelers
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
19.74% to 27.74% (Variable)
Rewards 3 miles per $1 on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases and unlimited 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases
1x - 3x miles
Annual Fee
$75
Welcome Offer For a limited time, get 70,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after you make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days after opening your account.
70,000 miles and a Famous Companion Fare
A long list of features for a reasonable fee make this card a favorite of frequent flyers. Just know that Alaska Airlines has a smaller footprint than some airlines.
Great for: Travel rewards bonus
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a lucrative welcome bonus offer and earns bonus points on travel and dining. Points are transferable to several domestic and international airlines.
Read the full Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review
Great for: No annual fee
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card offers travel points for no annual fee. It earns a competitive rate of 1.5 points per $1 on eligible purchases, and points are redeemable toward airfare as well as other travel purchases.
Read the full Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card review
Great for: Luxury air travel benefits
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® provides airport lounge access and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit to get travelers through security faster. This rewards card earns bonus points on travel and dining, and points are transferable to all Chase's airline partners.
Read the full Chase Sapphire Reserve® review
Great for: Restaurants and travel
The American Express® Gold Card is ideal for foodies of all kinds, offering 4x Membership Rewards points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in eligible purchases), 4x points on dining purchases, and 3x points on travel booked with airlines. Users also get annual dining and Uber credits. Select enrollment required, terms apply.
Read the full American Express® Gold Card review
Related: See The Ascent's list of the Best American Express Credit Cards.
Great for: United benefits
The United℠ Explorer Card is a great value for United flyers, as it offers a free checked bag, a big airline mile welcome bonus, and two free United Club℠ passes each card membership year.
Read the full United℠ Explorer Card review
Great for: Delta benefits
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is an affordable option for the airline's frequent flyers. It offers a free checked bag on Delta flights, bonus miles on Delta purchases, and the opportunity to earn a $100 Delta Flight Credit every calendar year. Terms apply.
Read the full Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card review
Related: See The Ascent's list of the best Delta credit cards.
Great for: American Airlines benefits
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® delivers big savings for American Airlines flyers. Cardholders get a free checked bag, 25% back on American Airlines in-flight purchases, and the opportunity to earn a $125 flight discount every card membership year.
Read the full Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® review
Related: How to redeem American Airlines miles
Great for: Southwest benefits
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is the most feature-packed card in Southwest's lineup. It includes a a nice annual Southwest travel credit, bonus points every year, and up to four free Upgraded Boardings per year.
Read the full Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card review
Great for: Alaska Airlines benefits
The Alaska Airlines Visa® Card delivers big savings with Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ every year, an introductory bonus miles offer, and a free checked bag for the cardholder and up to six guests on the same reservation.
Read the full Alaska Airlines Visa® Card review
An airline credit card earns miles that are redeemable for airfare. Traditional airline credit cards are tied to a specific airline and earn miles in that airline's frequent flyer program. Most of them also offer airline benefits, such as a free checked bag, companion pass, and airport lounge access. Their perks make them one of the best types of credit cards for frequent flyers.
There are also airline cards that are part of a credit card company's rewards program instead of an airline program. These cards earn airline rewards that you can use to book flights with multiple airlines.
Credit card miles are earned on eligible purchases made with airline cards. These miles are redeemable for air travel through the card issuer's loyalty program.
With a traditional airline credit card that's tied to a specific airline, miles are added to your frequent flyer account. You can redeem airline credit card miles through the frequent flyer program to purchase award tickets. For example, if a ticket is available for 25,000 miles and you have that many miles available, you could purchase it with your airline rewards instead of cash.
For airline cards that are part of a credit card company's rewards program, redemption options vary. Some of them offer transferable rewards you can send to any of the card issuer's airline partners. Others offer rewards you can redeem toward airfare and other travel at a fixed cash rate. There are also cards that offer both those options.
Here are the steps to follow so you can choose the best airline rewards credit card:
The best credit card for airline miles is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It offers a big sign-up bonus and is affordable with a $95 annual fee. This card also earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points. You can either transfer points to Chase's various airline partners or redeem them towards any type of travel at a rate of $0.0125 per point. With its combination of value and flexibility, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one that just about any traveler can use.
While that's the best airline rewards credit card overall, the best card for each specific person depends on their travel habits. If you fly all the time, you may prefer a travel credit card with more benefits for a larger annual fee. If you're a loyal customer to a certain airline, then the best airline card for you is likely one of that airline's cards.
Learn more: A Guide to Chase Sapphire Preferred Travel Insurance
A FICO® Score of 670 or higher is recommended before applying for an airline credit card. Airline credit cards are aimed at consumers who have good or excellent credit. The good credit range starts at a credit score of 670 under the widely used FICO scoring system.
Note that there are many factors that come into play during a credit card application. Your credit score is among the most important, but it's not the only factor. It's possible to get denied for an airline credit card even though you have good credit. You could also be approved without good credit. However, good credit greatly improves your chances of success.
The table below breaks down the biggest airline credit card pros and cons:
Here are more details on the advantages of airline cards:
Next, we'll look at the disadvantages:
An airline credit card is right for you if you fly at least two or three times per year. In that case, you'll have plenty of opportunities to redeem credit card miles for free flights. You'll also be able to take advantage of any airline benefits your travel card offers to save money and improve your travel experience. Ready to get started? Here's how to apply for a credit card (and get approved).
Want the biggest sign-up bonus? Check out The Ascent's guide to the best sign-up bonus credit cards.
Card | Rating | Great For |
---|---|---|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50 stars
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. |
Great For: Travel rewards bonus |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50 stars
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. |
Great For: Travel card with no annual fee |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50 stars
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. |
Great For: Luxury air travel benefits |
|
Terms apply
![]() |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50 stars
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. |
Great For: Travel and restaurants |
|
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00 stars
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. |
Great For: United benefits |
Terms apply
![]() |
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00 stars
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. |
Great For: Delta benefits |
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00 stars
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. |
Great For: American Airlines benefits |
|
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00 stars
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. |
Great For: Southwest travelers |
|
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00 stars
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. |
Great For: Alaska Airlines travelers |
An airline credit card earns miles on purchases that are redeemable for air travel. Most of these cards also have airline benefits, which can include free checked baggage, priority boarding, access to airport lounges, and complimentary upgrades.
Credit card miles are the rewards earned by airline credit cards. They're redeemable for air travel through the credit card's loyalty program. The type of loyalty program determines the redemption options.
A traditional airline credit card is connected to an airline and earns miles in its frequent flyer program. Miles are redeemable through the frequent flyer program for award tickets.
A general airline credit card isn't connected to a single airline and is instead part of a credit card company's rewards program. Miles are redeemable through that rewards program. Redemption options may include transferring miles to the credit card company's airline partners, using miles as cash towards airfare purchases, or both.
Here's how to choose the best airline credit card:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best credit card for airline miles. It's part of the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, which has domestic and international airline partners where you can transfer your points. Points are also redeemable for cash travel purchases through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal at a fixed rate of $0.0125 per point. With multiple redemption options, a great sign-up bonus, and a justifiable annual fee, it can work well for most travelers.
Keep in mind that there's no single airline card that's the best for every traveler. Some can get more value from other credit cards, such as a travel credit card tied to one airline.
You need a FICO® Score of 670 or higher to maximize your chances of qualifying for an airline credit card. Your credit score isn't the only factor that matters, so it doesn't guarantee an approval or a denial. That being said, airline credit cards are designed for consumers who have good credit or excellent credit.
Our Credit Cards Experts
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
For rates and fees for the American Express® Gold Card, click here
For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, click here
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