Many airlines offer co-branded credit cards that allow you to earn miles and many other valuable rewards. If you frequently fly with the same airline or travel a lot in general, I recommend you open an airline credit card to maximize your earnings.
Be sure to keep reading to learn about the best airline credit cards to earn great travel benefits and rewards.
Airline Credit Card Features
Make sure you consider these features when choosing an airline credit card:
- Airline loyalty. Co-branded cards only earn miles for a specific airline, so make sure you consider which one you most frequently fly with. However, other cards allow you to earn points toward award travel with many different airlines.
- Bonus categories. There are some cards that allow you to earn bonus points for spending in certain categories like groceries or dining. You should choose a card that allows you to maximize your rewards on things you would usually purchase.
- Annual fee. Although some cards have hefty annual fees, they usually come with lots of valuable perks such as travel credits, free checked bags, and access to airport lounges. If you travel a lot and can take full advantage of these perks, this should make the annual fee well worth it. However if you don’t travel too often, I recommend checking out a lower cost card.
The Best Airline Cards This Year
If you’re looking for a travel card with simple redemptions, check out the Capital One Venture Rewards Card. With this card, you are able to use your Venture miles to “get rid of” your travel purchases at a fixed rate of $0.01 per mile, with no blackout dates.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a one-time bonus of 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. You're able to earn: • 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. • 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel This card does come with a $95 annual fee. Enjoy no foreign transaction fees and receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✔®. |
If you are a beginner, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card® is a great option for you and also offers a generous welcome bonus. Chase Ultimate Rewards points are one of the easiest travel rewards to use. You can redeem them for travel and earn $0.0125 per point. Furthermore, you can transfer your points to a partner program to maximize your rewards.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers 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. You'll earn: • 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards • 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries • 2x on all other travel purchases • 1x on all other purchases • $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more. Enjoy new benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit and when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, you'll get 25% more value! This card carries a $95 annual fee. |
If you’re looking for a great travel card with luxury perks, check out the Platinum Card from American Express.
The Platinum Card® from American Express offers 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. You'll 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. • 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. This card comes with an annual fee of $695 (See Rates & Fees), but you cardholders can enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member and Additional Centurion Cards only. Terms Apply. Terms apply. |
The best American Airlines rewards card is the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® because it offers bonuses when you spend on dining and gas and there are many travel rewards.
The best Delta Air Lines rewards card for elite flyers is the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. Some perks include an annual companion certificate, access to Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs, fast-track to elite status and many other travel benefits.
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card offers 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. Enjoy complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. You will receive four Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes each year. After that, you may bring up to two guests at a per-visit rate of $50 per person, per location. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter. Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card. Receive a Companion Certificate on First Class, Delta Comfort+, or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details. You'll earn: • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. • Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. • $120 Rideshare Credit: You can earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers after you pay with your Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card. Enrollment Required. • $200 Delta Stays Statement Credit: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card Members can earn up to $200 back in the form of a statement credit annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com. Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com. Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. This card does come with a $650 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. (See Rates & Fees) Terms Apply. |
The best Delta Air Lines card for regular flyers is the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. This card offers bonuses on hotel, restaurant and supermarket spending, an annual companion certificate and much more.
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees. You'll earn: • 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. • 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets. • 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. • $120 Rideshare Credit: You can earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers after you pay with your Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card. Enrollment Required. Receive a Companion Certificate on Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details. Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck: Receive $100 back for Global Entry or $85 back for TSA PreCheck after you apply through any Official Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck. $150 Delta Stays Credit: Delta SkyMiles(R) Platinum American Express Card Members can earn up to $150 back annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com. Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner. Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com. This card comes with a $350 annual fee and no foreign transaction fee. You'll also get fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®. (See Rates & Fees). Terms Apply. |
The best Delta Air Lines card for occasional flyers is the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card. You can receive bonuses on restaurant and supermarket spending. In addition, it comes with many travel benefits.
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card offers 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees. Earn now. Travel when you're ready. After you spend $10,000 in purchases in a calendar year, you will receive a $100 Delta Flight Credit on your Card to inspire your next travel. You'll earn: • 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. • 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. • $100 Delta Stays Credit: Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card Members can earn up to $100 back annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com. • $200 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases in a year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel. Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card. Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com. There is a $150 annual fee ($0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150) and no foreign transaction fees. (See Rates & Fees). Now, you'll get get more savings with your first checked bag for free on Delta flights. Terms Apply. |
The best rewards card for JetBlue frequent flyers is the JetBlue Plus Card. You can receive bonuses when you spend on restaurants and grocery stores, fast track to Mosaic elite status and some other travel benefits.
The best Southwest Airlines rewards card is the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card. You can receive bonus points on partner hotel and car rental spending, fast-track to elite status, $75 in Southwest travel credit every year and more.
The best United Airlines rewards card is the United℠ Explorer Card. You can receive bonuses on hotel and restaurant spending and many travel benefits.
The United Explorer Card offers 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. You'll earn: • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United purchases • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining including eligible delivery services Perks of this card include: • Getting up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS fee credit • Get your first bag checked for free (up to $140 savings per roundtrip). Terms apply. • Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary • 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks • Get one-year complimentary DashPass, a membership for both DoorDash and Caviar that provides unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders. After that, you are automatically enrolled in DashPass at the current monthly rate. Activate by 12/31/24. This card does come with a $95 annual fee, however, the annual fee is waived for the first year. |
The Best No-Annual-Fee Airline Credit Cards This Year
You can receive many benefits from the best airline credit cards such as free checked bags, priority boarding, lounge access, elite status and more. However, many of these cards charge a large annual fee.
Although you might not get as many perks as a card with an annual fee, no-annual-fee airline cards might be a better option for you if you are a beginner or prefer earning miles over premium benefits.
CREDIT CARD | WELCOME BONUS | EARNING RATES |
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp℠ Mastercard® (no annual fee) |
10k miles + $50 statement credit when you spend $500 within 3 months. ($190 value*) | 2x miles on AA purchases 2x miles at grocery stores 1x miles on everything else |
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card (no annual fee) |
10k miles when you spend $500 within 3 months. ($120 value*) | 2x miles on Delta purchases 2x miles at restaurants 1x miles on everything else |
JetBlue Credit Card (no annual fee) |
10k points when you spend $1k within 90 days. ($130 value*) | 3x points on JetBlue purchases 2x points at restaurants 2x points at grocery stores 1x points on everything else |
Additional Guides
- The Best Hotel Credit Cards For Travel Benefits + Rewards
- The Best Travel Credit Cards: Rewards and Benefits
- Best Credit Cards For Restaurant Purchases
- Best Credit Cards for Supermarket & Grocery Store Purchases
- No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards
Author’s Verdict
If you are a frequent flyer, be sure to take advantage of the best airline credit cards to maximize your earnings. You can receive many great bonuses and rewards when you sign up for any of these credit cards.
In addition, we have a list of bank promotions to get some extra cash in your pockets today. You may also want to check out savings accounts if you want to get started on saving up money.
PROMOTIONAL LINK | OFFER | REVIEW |
U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking | $400 Cash | Review |
Chase Private Client | $3,000 Cash | Review |
U.S. Bank Business Checking | $800 Cash | Review |
U.S. Bank Business Checking | $350 Cash | Review |
Chase Business Complete Checking® | $400 Cash | Review |
KeyBank Checking | $200 Cash | Review |
Chase Total Checking® | $300 Cash | Review |
Chase College CheckingSM | $100 Cash | Review |
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing | Up to $700 Cash | Review |
Chase Secure BankingSM | $100 Cash | Review |
SoFi Checking and Savings Account | $275 Cash | Review |
Huntington Bank Unlimited Plus Business Checking | $1,000 Cash | Review |
Huntington Bank Unlimited Business Checking | $400 Cash | Review |
Huntington Bank Business Checking 100 | $100 Cash | Review |
TD Bank Beyond CheckingSM | $300 Cash | Review |
Fifth Third Bank Checking | $325 Cash | Review |
Axos Bank Rewards Checking | $300 Cash | Review |
Axos Basic Business Checking | $400 Cash | Review |
Axos Business Interest Checking | $400 Cash | Review |
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