When you buy something with the right airline credit card, it will be easier to plan your next flight. But it’s not always easy to choose a credit card. We spent a lot of time researching and figuring out which airline credit cards are the best. We told you as much as possible about what you get from each.
Why are airline cards useful for people who travel often (or even sometimes)? Frequent flyer miles are given to people who use airline credit cards and co-branded cards from an airline and a bank. The best airline credit cards also come with perks like free or discounted companion fares, no fees for checked bags, and Wi-Fi access on board.
We looked at the credit cards offered by seven of the most popular US airlines to determine which one was the best. We chose the ones that give the most travelers the best value for their money. Most reward rates are between 2x and 3x miles, so the main things that set each card apart are perks like a free checked bag and credits for gift cards or companion fares. By taking the average of what The Points Guy and NerdWallet came up with, dollar values are given to each frequent flyer program reward mile. We change this list from time to time.
The best overall travel card for nonloyalty fliers
Reward rates: 3x points on travel and dining (begins after earning $300 credit), 1x points on all other purchases
Annual fee: $550
New member bonus: 60,000 bonus points
Bonus redemption threshold: Spend $4,000 in the first three months
APR: 16.99% to 23.99% variable
Foreign transaction fee: None
Credit requirement: Excellent
With a general travel rewards credit card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can earn points on any travel or dining purchase, not just with one airline. You have a lot more ways to get your money back. You can pay for travel and other things with them. People who want more freedom but still want to use rewards to pay for a trip in the future can get the Chase Sapphire Reserve rewards card. This reward card is even better for people who like extra travel benefits like travel insurance, hotel discounts, freebies, and access to lounges. Chase Sapphire Reserve is a good credit card for people who spend about $12,000 a year on travel (flights, hotels, rental cars, trains, buses, and taxis) and food (restaurants, cafes, bars).
Rewards card details
From now until March 2022, Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders can earn 3x points on all travel and dining purchases, 1x points on all other eligible purchases, and 10x points on Lyft rides. They can also get points on anything else they buy. Even though there is a $550 fee every year, this is a good deal. You get a $300 credit on your statement every year for travel purchases. This means that your annual payment is only $250. After spending $4,000 in the first three months, you’ll get 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points as a welcome bonus. When used to book a trip through the Chase portal, these points are worth $900. If you have a Chase Sapphire card, you also get a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or $85 for TSA PreCheck, both of which are good for five years. You also get travel perks like a VIP, which you can learn more about in our full review of the card.
Redemption details
There are three ways to use your UR points: Transferring points to one of 13 travel partners, including 10 airlines, costs 1.75 cents per point. This gives you a return of 5.25 percent, or 1.75 cents per point, on your points. You can book travel (flights, hotels, cruises, etc.) on a website called Chase Ultimate Rewards and get 1.5 cents per point, or $1.50 for 100 points. That’s a 4.5% rate on travel and restaurant purchases, which is a lot (well above most airline credit cards). The last option is to get cash back at a rate of 1 cent, which makes your card a 3% cash-back card for travel and dining purchases.
The Best travel card for first-class fliers
Note: Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit AmericanExpress to learn more.
Reward rates: 10x points on eligible purchases at US gas stations and US supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases) during your first six months of card membership. 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year) and 5x points on prepaid hotels booked on American Express Travel
Annual fee: $550 (see rates and fees)
New member bonus: 75,000 points
Bonus redemption threshold: Spend $5,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership
APR: See Pay Over Time APR (see rates and fees)
Foreign transaction fee: None (see rates and fees)
Credit requirement: Good to excellent
The American Express Platinum Card is a travel rewards card with a lot of great perks. It gives frequent flyers the highest reward rate for flights and hotels of any travel rewards card we’ve looked at, which is about 7.5%. To figure out how much money you’ll get back, we took the average values from The Points Guy and NerdWallet and added them to the reward rate of 5x points.
Even if you spend more than $10,000 a year on flights and hotel stays, you can get a better deal with the Platinum card than with a co-branded airline credit card. You don’t have to be a fan of one airline to get a better deal. It’s a good choice for people who want extras like lounge access and hotel upgrades or who want to be able to use their rewards on more airlines.
Rewards details
Flights booked directly with airlines or through the Amex portal are eligible for 5x Membership Rewards, or MR, points. Flights booked on third-party sites aren’t. The Platinum Card also gets 1x MR points on other eligible purchases. Up to $200 in Uber Cash for rides and food in the United States, as well as a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck worth $100 for Global Entry or $85 for TSA Precheck, are worth the $550 annual fee. 75,000 points for spending $5,000 in the first six months, worth up to $1,500 if you transfer your points to travel partners in the right way, says The Points Guy. The Platinum Card also comes with a lot of extra travel perks, like hotel discounts and access to the Global Lounge Collection.
Redemption details
The Platinum card has two main ways to get money back. The first is for travel purchases made through the Amex Travel portal, where one point is worth one cent. The second is for purchases made outside of the portal. You can transfer MR points to one of 18 airline partners or three hotel partners in the second option. You can get a value of up to 2 cents per point from The Points Guy. Because points are worth twice as much when used through partners, it’s crucial to use them this way. You can also use your points to get a statement credit as an option. The rate is different, though, and you’ll earn fewer rewards if you do this.
The best Delta credit card
Reward rates: 3x miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels; 2x miles on restaurants, and US supermarkets, 1x miles on all other eligible purchases
Annual fee: $250 (see rates and fees)
New member bonus: Limited Time Offer: 90,000 bonus miles
Bonus redemption threshold: $3,000 in the first three months
APR: 15.74% to 24.74% variable (see rates and fees)
Foreign transaction fees: None (see rates and fees)
Credit requirement: Good to excellent
This is the best airline rewards card for most Delta passengers because it comes with an annual domestic companion certificate, a welcome bonus for new customers, and a reasonable annual fee. Taxes and fees of no more than $75 are required to get the certificate. In general, airline reward programs aren’t very good at giving you money back. This airline rewards credit card makes up for that with other benefits. To figure out the overall return rate, we take the average value of miles calculated by The Points Guy and NerdWallet and add that to the reward rate. People who check their bags often and travel with a friend (domestically) at least once a year can save a lot of money. Add that to the $1,035 in value from the new member bonus, and Delta fans can get a lot of value from the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card.
Rewards details
This is the Platinum Delta SkyMiles Card. It gives you three times as many points for Delta purchases and hotel reservations, twice as many points for restaurants and US supermarkets, and one point for all other eligible purchases. About 3.5% of purchases from Delta and 2.3% of purchases from US grocery stores and restaurants will give you 1.15 cents back for every mile you travel (to determine the overall return rate, we apply an average of the calculated mile valuations by The Points Guy and NerdWallet to the reward rate).
Even though some reward cards have annual fees of $550, this $250 fee for a co-branded airline card is a lot for a reward card. But the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card gives you 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in the first three months and a $200 statement credit if you buy something from Delta during that time with your card (limited time offer; expires July 28, 2021).
Delta SkyMiles Platinum cardholders also get their first checked bag for free, priority boarding in Main Cabin 1 (worth up to $100), and either a $100 credit for Global Entry or a $100 credit for TSA PreCheck applications. They also get a $75 companion certificate for a free round-trip domestic primary cabin ticket yearly.
Redemption details
It’s the best way to use Delta SkyMiles to book Delta flights through Delta’s website to get them back. Transferring SkyMiles to one of 19 airline partners in the SkyTeam Airline Alliance, like Air France and KLM, can also be done. Keep in mind that the value of the miles can be less when they are transferred. Delta doesn’t have an award chart if you want to figure out how much a reward flight is worth. You can, however, figure out how much you’re getting per mile by comparing the SkyMiles price to the dollar price and making sure you’re getting at least 1.15 cents per mile. For example, if a flight costs $149 or 15,000 miles, divide the dollar cost by the mile cost, and multiply by 100. In this case, 149/15,000 = 0.99 cents per mile. In addition, there are no blackout dates when you book award flights through Delta. The availability of reward seats varies, and you can’t always book a flight with miles, even if it’s available through other channels.
The best Southwest credit card
Reward rates: 2x points on Southwest, 1x points on all other purchases
Annual fee: $149
New member bonus: Earn 65,000 points
Bonus redemption threshold: $2,000 in first three months
APR: 15.99% to 22.99% variable
Foreign transaction fees: None
Credit requirement: Good to excellent
The Priority card, which is co-branded with Chase, is the best value when it comes to Southwest Rapid Rewards cards. It has perks and credits that other cards don’t have. After spending $2,000 in the first three months, you get 65,000 points. You also get a 1.5% to 3.0% reward rate and $75 in Southwest travel credits each year. This card pays for itself pretty quickly. When people use this rewards credit card, they save money in other ways, even though Southwest already gives people their first two checked bags for free and doesn’t have airport lounges.
Rewards details
When you use the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card, you get two points for every dollar you spend on Southwest Airlines and one point for every dollar you spend on other things. At 1.45 cents per point, that’s about a 3% return on sales for Southwest Airlines.
To make up for the $149 annual fee, when you use your card to buy something from Southwest Airlines, you get $75 in travel credits. You also get 7,500 points every time your card is renewed, which is worth about $110 to us. Lastly, the Priority card comes with four upgraded boardings a year, which usually cost between $30 and $50 each, and 20% back on in-flight drinks and Wi-Fi.
Redemption details
Booking “Wanna Get Away” flights on Southwest’s website is the best way to earn Rapid Rewards points. With these economy tickets, you can change or rebook your flight, but you can’t cancel and get a refund. Southwest doesn’t have a chart showing how many points are worth. You can figure it out by comparing the price in Rapid Rewards points to the price in dollars and ensuring that each point is worth at least 1.45 cents. For example, if a flight costs 15,000 points, or $149, divide the cost in dollars by the cost per mile, then multiply by 100. In this case, 149/15,000 is 0.99 cents per mile. When you book with Rapid Rewards, Southwest ensures no blackout dates or seat limits. This means you don’t have to worry about not being able to get on certain flights.
The Best United Airlines credit card
Reward rates: 2x miles on United, 2x miles on restaurants and hotels, 1x miles on all other purchases
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95
New member bonus: 40,000 miles. Plus, earn an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you spend $10,000 total on purchases in the first six months your account is open
Bonus redemption threshold: $2,000 in first three months for 40,000 miles; $10,000 in first six months for additional 25,000 miles
APR: 16.49% to 23.49% variable
Foreign transaction fees: None
Credit requirement: Good to excellent
Chase’s United Explorer card is a co-branded airline credit card with a 2% reward rate. It also gives new cardholders a sign-up bonus and doesn’t charge baggage fees for the first year. People who don’t spend more than $10,000 a year on travel and food might be better off with the Wells Fargo Propel card, which has no fees and gives cash back. But the Explorer card is worth looking into if you want to sit in first class and check your bag every time you fly United. There aren’t many good United credit cards, so this suggestion is the best out of a lot of not-great options.
Rewards program details
In addition to getting double points on United purchases, you get two points for every dollar you spend at a restaurant or hotel and one point for every dollar you spend anywhere else. At about 1.05 cents per mile, that’s a return on your money of about 2%. The card’s $95 annual fee is waived for the first year, and after spending $2,000 in the first three months, new cardholders get 40,000 bonus miles, worth about $420 in United travel. They get another 25,000 bonus miles if they spend $10,000 in the first six months.
People with a credit card get a $100 credit that can be used for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, 25% back on United purchases made in-flight, and priority boarding on United-run flights. Because this card doesn’t charge for checked bags, if you check your bags on each leg of a round-trip flight, you’ll get $60 back for each trip.
Redemption details
Most United MileagePlus points can be redeemed for flights on United or transferred to other Star Alliance airlines (such as Lufthansa and Air Canada). For instance, United doesn’t have a chart that shows how many points different flights or distances are worth. You can figure it out by comparing the MileagePlus cost to the dollar cost and making sure you’re getting at least 1.05 cents per point. For example, if a flight costs 15,000 points, or $149, divide the cost in dollars by the cost per mile, then multiply by 100. In this case, 149/15,000 is 0.99 cents per mile.
You can get two seats with miles: “Saver Awards” and “Everyday Awards.” When you use your credit card to buy tickets to an Everyday Awards show, there are no dates that you can’t go.
The best American Airlines credit card
Reward rates: 2x miles on American, 1x points on all other eligible purchases
Annual fee: $99
New member bonus: 60,000 AAdvantage miles; Anniversary companion certificate at $99 (*after spending $20,000 on purchases)
Bonus redemption threshold: Make one purchase, and pay the annual fee within 90 days
APR: 15.99%, 19.99% or 24.99% variable
Foreign transaction fees: None
Credit requirement: Good to excellent
The Barclays Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard is great for families that travel together a lot, like when they go to school or the beach. The card is great for families who travel together because it gives free checked bags for up to four people. With a big family and a lot of luggage, this card pays for itself in just one round-trip flight. The 60,000 airline miles that come with this card don’t require you to spend a lot.
Rewards program details
When you use the Aviator Red World Elite card and make your first purchase and pay the $99 annual fee, you get 50,000 AAdvantage miles. You also get a bonus of 50,000 AAdvantage miles just for signing up. The value of those 50,000 miles is $720.
The card gives you two miles for every dollar you spend on American Airlines and one mile for every dollar you spend on everything else. At about 1.2 cents per mile, that’s a return on your money of 2.4 percent. Cardholders get their first checked bag for free, and so do up to four other people who are on the same flight with them. This can save them up to $300 in baggage fees for a round-trip flight. The card also lets you board first, gives you a $25 statement credit for Wi-Fi purchases made in-flight once a year, and gives you 25% cash back on food and drinks bought in-flight.
Every year, AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite cardholders who spend $20,000 during their “card membership year,” which starts when they sign up for the card, can get a $99 gift certificate for a friend or family member. We don’t care much about the companion certificate because it costs so much.
Redemption details
You can buy flights on American Airlines or on other Oneworld airlines like British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Japan Airlines with your AAdvantage points. American Airlines is one of the few airlines that has an award chart, so make sure you start there when you want to book a trip. Based on where you’re going, this chart will help you figure out how far your miles will take you. Most of the time, you should try to get at least 1.2 cents per mile. Compare the price of an AAdvantage mile to the price of a dollar to find out. For example, if a flight costs 15,000 points, or $149, divide the cost in dollars by the cost per mile, then multiply by 100. In this situation, 149/150,00 = 0.99 cents per mile.
The best JetBlue credit card
Reward rates: 6x points on JetBlue, 2x points on dining and groceries, 1x points on all other purchases
Annual fee: $99
New member bonus: 40,000 bonus points; 5,000 annually
Bonus redemption threshold: $1,000 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full within the first 90 days
APR: 15.99%, 19.99%, or 24.99% variable
Foreign transaction fees: None
Credit requirement: Good to excellent
On this list, the Barclays JetBlue Plus card has the best rewards rate of all the airline cards on this list. It also has the same features, perks, and bonuses as the rest of the cards in its category, including a $99 annual fee. Good for JetBlue fans and even good for people who only fly JetBlue a few times a year but can use the sign-on bonus and free checked bags.
Rewards program details
People who use the JetBlue Plus card to buy things from the airline get six times as many points. They also get double the points when they go to restaurants and grocery stores. For everything else, they only get one point. About 8% of what you spend on JetBlue is equal to a point worth about 1.3 cents. That’s a lot more than what most airline cards offer. You get 50,000 points if you spend $1,000 in the first three months. You get another 50,000 points if you spend $6,000 in the first year. Also, every time your account’s birthday comes around, you get an extra 5,000 points. That’s about $65 worth.
The first checked bag on each flight is free for you and up to three other people on the same reservation. This means that each person can save up to $70 on a round-trip flight. People with a JetBlue Plus card also get 50% off food and drinks bought on the plane, which is twice as much as most other airline cards offer.
Redemption details
The TrueBlue rewards system is one of the best airline loyalty programs because when you redeem points, you almost never get less than 1 cent per mile. Even if you book a flight with JetBlue or a vacation package with Hawaiian Airlines, this is still true. You can book a flight at any time with points because there are no blackout dates. When you book a flight, you should always do some quick math to make sure you’re getting 1.3 cents per point. For example, if a flight costs 15,000 points, or $149, divide the cost in dollars by the cost per mile, then multiply by 100. In this case, 149/15,000 is 0.99 cents per mile.
The Best Alaska Airlines credit card
Reward rates: 3x miles on Alaska, 1x miles on every other purchase
Annual fee: $75
New member bonus: 40,000 miles; $100 statement credit; Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare
Bonus redemption threshold: $2,000 in the first 90 days
APR: 15.99% to 23.99% variable
Foreign transaction fees: None
Credit requirement: Good to excellent
Only the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card from Bank of America is available from Alaska Airlines, but it is a good card. Alaska frequent fliers can save a lot of money by taking advantage of the annual $99 companion fare and the 4% cash back on Alaska purchases each year. If you have a family, this is the only credit card we found that allows you to check a bag for free for up to six people. The rewards rate is also very high, and with a low annual fee of $75, this card can save Alaska Airlines fans a lot of money.
Rewards details
In addition to getting 3x miles on Alaska purchases, you get 20% back on in-flight purchases. You get 1x miles on all other purchases with this card. At a value of 1.35 cents per mile, that works out to about 4% back on your money. You can get 40,000 points after spending $2,000 in the first three months, which is worth about $540. There’s also a $100 statement credit that will cover the annual fee for the first year (and then some.)
If you and up to six other people flying with you each time you fly are on the same reservation, you’ll get a free checked bag each time you fly. That’s the best part. If you book a round-trip flight for seven people, the checked bag fees will be waived. The companion fare is suitable for any destination that Alaska flies to with no blackout dates.
Redemption details
If you want to figure out which parts of Alaska make the most sense for your trip or get you the best value, look at Alaska’s award chart first. It’s also working with international airlines or airlines that fly around the world, like Cathay Pacific and British Airways, Qantas, and American Airlines (full list on its website).
Booking flights with international partners can sometimes be the best way to get the most value for your miles. Keep in mind, though, that sometimes that means booking a first-class ticket at a big discount, which could still cost more than an economy ticket. If you want to figure out the value of a mile, you should compare the price of a flight to the number of miles it costs. We suggest that you try to get 1.3 cents per mile or more. For example, if a flight costs 15,000 points or $149, divide the dollar cost by the mile cost, then multiply by 100. In this case, 149/15,000 = 0.99 cents per mile.
If you want to find the best airline credit card for you, look at the table below. We’ve broken down the most important features of each card to help you choose.
Best Airline credit cards compared
Card | Reward rates | New member bonus | Annual fee |
---|---|---|---|
Chase Sapphire Reserve | 3x points on travel and dining (*begins after earning $300 credit), 1x points on all other purchases. | 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in first three months | $550 |
The Platinum Card from American Express | 10x points on eligible purchases at US gas stations and US supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases) during first 6 months of card membership, 5x points on flights booked directly w/ airline or American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year) and 5x points on prepaid hotels (booked on American Express Travel). Terms apply. | 75,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases in first six months of card membership. Terms apply. | $550 (see rates and fees) |
Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Credit Card | 3x miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2x miles on restaurants, US supermarkets, 1x miles on all other eligible purchases. Terms apply. | Limited Time Offer: 90,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first three months and a $200 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your card in the first three months (offer expires July 28, 2021). Terms apply. | $250 (see rates and fees) |
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card | 2x points on Southwest, 1x points on all other purchases. | 65,000 points after spending $2,000 on purchases in first three months. | $149 |
United Explorer Card | 2x miles on United, 2x miles on restaurants and hotels, 1x miles on all other purchases. | 40,000 miles after spending $2,000 in first three months. Plus, earn an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you spend $10,000 total on purchases in the first 6 months your account is open. | $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95 |
AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard | 2x miles on American, 1x points on all other purchases. | 60,000 AAdvantage miles; Anniversary companion certificate at $99 (*after spending $20,000 on purchases). Have to make one purchase, pay the annual fee within 90 days | $99 |
JetBlue Plus Card | 6x points on JetBlue; 2x points on dining and groceries, 1x points on all other purchases. | 50,000 points after spending $1,000 in first three months, and 50,000 additional points after spending $6,000 in first year; 5,000 annually after spending $1,000 in first three months. | $99 |
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card | 3x miles on Alaska, 1x miles on every other purchase. | 40,000 miles; $100 statement credit; Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare after spending $2,000 in first 90 days. | $75 |
How do airline credit cards work?
People who have airline credit cards get points or miles from the airline’s frequent flyer program, which they can use to buy flights with that airline whenever they want. The travel partners of the airline might be able to use the points you’ve earned. This choice depends on the airline you’re flying with.
Like loyalty programs, airline credit cards keep you in a rewards system that only benefits you. You get points when you buy a flight on the airline. You can book more flights in the future with those points. Some airline credit cards also offer rewards for purchases made at restaurants, grocery stores, and other places. Because airline credit cards usually give less money back for these purchases than other credit cards, we suggest using a cash-back credit card or a general travel rewards credit card to pay for these purchases.
Who should use an airline credit card?
Airline reward cards are a good choice if you’re a big fan of one airline and don’t mind that your rewards aren’t very flexible. Also, if you like extras like using the airline lounge and not having to pay for your bags. Even though airline cards have a lot of rules, they are still useful a lot of the time. Some cards, for example, let you transfer your balance, give new cardholders a sign-up bonus, and give you other benefits just for being a member.
If you rarely check a bag and usually look for cheap flights, you might not want to get an airline credit card. You may not need one at all. You could use a business credit card, a credit card for travel, or a credit card that gives you cash back instead. A credit card could save you a lot of money over the course of a year if you always check a bag when you fly. People who have the card don’t have to pay for their bags. Also, if you get on the plane early, there’s a better chance that there will be room in the overhead bins, giving you more legroom and less stress.
What are the benefits of an airline credit card?
Some common benefits of an airline credit card include:
- Waived checked baggage fees
- Priority boarding
- Lounge access (during some, not all, itineraries)
- Accelerated airline status qualification
- Complimentary or reduced companion fares
- No foreign transaction fee
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credits
- Generous sign-on bonuses
How do airline cards compare with travel rewards cards?
American Express has Membership Rewards points, and Chase has Ultimate Rewards points, which are both travel reward credit cards. Airline credit cards offer rewards in the form of airline miles or points. Use your general travel credit card points for flights with any airline through the travel portal of your card issuer, or transfer them to a partner airline to get the most out of your points for the best value. You also get more points on any travel purchase, no matter which airline you use.
The general travel reward credit cards have higher annual fees, but they tend to have better return rates, and because they cover a wider range of purchases, they are often the better choice. You can get even more money back if you transfer American Express Membership Rewards points and Chase Ultimate Rewards points in a smart way, making the return even better.
This is even true for the best airline credit cards because you only get the bonus reward rate when you buy something from an airline, and your options for redeeming your points are much more limited. Because airline credit cards aren’t very flexible, they’re best for people who want to use airline-specific perks. Cards like this one can help you save money if you often buy extra seats or checked luggage and you always fly with the same airline.
In this case, a general travel credit card is better because you don’t have a lot of baggage to check, don’t care about your frequent flyer status, and don’t have a lot of money to spend.
How to use an airline card as a secondary travel rewards card
In general, people who travel a lot with the same airline are the best candidates for airline credit cards. But when used with a general travel rewards card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, American Express® Gold Card, or The Platinum Card from American Express, they can also be very useful “secondary” cards.
Use the welcome bonuses, which can be worth as much as $1,000. To get the bonuses, you’ll need to spend a certain amount of money, but the strategy works if you can find a chance, like on a holiday flight, a business trip, or a family vacation. So, you could apply for the credit card ahead of time and use it to book your trips. Then, in a year, you could look back and decide if this card is still useful to you.
“Superuser” cards are great for getting bonuses, but I don’t like them because they take more time and effort than they’re worth in the long run. It’s not smart to try to keep track of a lot of different accounts. Most of the time, it’s better to use a general travel rewards card for all of your purchases from different airlines.
How we pick the best airline credit card
Each major airline usually has three or four levels of credit cards, and each level has a different annual fee, reward structure, and perks. Some of the lower-tier cards have annual fees that are less than $100, while the annual fees for the highest-tier cards can reach $450 or even $500. There are many airline credit cards that are in the middle of that range. Many of them are good. This is because there are a lot of good cash-back credit cards that don’t charge an annual fee or have low fees. These cards have better reward rates than most airline cards. Once you travel enough to make a $500-a-year airline card worth it, you’ll get more value from a high-end travel rewards card like the Platinum Card from American Express or the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
To figure out which airline credit card is best, we looked at all the cards from seven major airlines and chose the ones that could save us the most money in the long run. Because the value of airline credit cards can change a lot depending on things like how many bags you check with your favorite airline in a given year, it’s hard to know when to get one. So, we focus on the rewards and perks that matter most with each airline credit card so you can find the best one based on your needs.
- For rates and fees of The Platinum Card from American Express, click here.
- For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card, click here.
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Disclaimer: The information in this article, including program features, fees, and credit card credits that can be used to pay for programs, may change occasionally and are not guaranteed. The credit card company’s website and terms and conditions should be checked when comparing offers. This way, you can be sure to see what’s new. The opinions expressed here are not those of any bank, credit card company, hotel, airline, or other business. This post has not been approved, reviewed, or otherwise endorsed by any of the organizations that appear in it.
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