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Beyond top general travel cards like the Platinum Card® from American Express, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, there are a number of airline-specific credit cards appealing to all types of frequent (or not so frequent) fliers. Some airlines go as far as offering an entire range of cards, at one end catering to carrier loyalists, at the other those who cringe at high annual fees and paying for checked baggage (and will do anything not to). Several cards are also available to those who simply want to earn points fast through introductory offers and fly for free.
Even if you only plan to take a few trips in the near future, carrying an airline credit card can be your ticket to a world of perks. Plus, all the bonus miles you can earn will come in handy for booking award flights in the future. Here’s what to look for in an airline credit card and the best ones to apply for.
Benefits to look for in an airline credit card
When deciding on an airline credit card, consider the following possible benefits.
- Welcome offer: When you apply for a new airline credit card, you can often earn tens of thousands of miles quickly thanks to high welcome offers. Currently, several airline credit cards are luring new cardholders with best-ever bonus offers.
- Free checked bags: Nobody likes paying $30–$35 for a checked bag. Knowing this, most airline credit cards include a first checked bag for free not just for the cardholder but for others on their reservation, too. Typically you must use your airline-branded card for the tickets in order to get the free bag benefit.
- Airport lounge access: At the higher end of the price range (annual fees over $450 per year), select premium airline credit cards include membership to their airport clubs, more than offsetting annual fees.
- Elite status boosters: Some airlines offer clever ways to fast-track toward elite status by spending on their cobranded credit cards.
- Discounts and statement credits: Get discounts on in-flight purchases like food, drinks, and Wi-Fi from some cards while others offer statement credits toward airline charges when using an airline-branded credit card.
- Earning opportunities: Bonus miles on expenses beyond flight purchases, such as charges at restaurants, on gas, and groceries are possible with some airline cards.
- Companion offers and anniversary bonuses: Some airline credit cards include companion tickets among their perks while others give cardmembers bonus points on their card anniversaries.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit: Some airline credit cards will reimburse you for a Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($85) application fee every four years.
Each airline credit card will check some of these boxes but not all. Think about the perks you value (and will use) most, the airlines you tend to fly, and the annual fee you are willing to pay, and then focus on the cards that shake out in the mix. We’ve made it easy for you below by highlighting the key features of the eight best airline credit cards to sign up for right now.
New cardholders can earn up to 100,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points within 12 months of opening an account.
Photo by Vytautas Kielaitis / Shutterstock
Best low-fee airline credit cards for accumulating lots of points now
If you want a great card for earning points quickly through welcome offers and with excellent redemption opportunities, consider these airline credit cards.
Aeroplan® Credit Card
The Aeroplan® Credit Card is best for those who have advanced knowledge of maximizing the use of points and miles. Naturally, the card is a smart choice for those who travel on Air Canada, but it’s even better for those looking to bank valuable Aeroplan miles quickly. (This frequent-flier program has more award partners than any other loyalty program in the world—currently 45 and counting—serving more than 1,300 global destinations.)
- Welcome offer: New cardholders can earn up to 100,000 points within 12 months of opening an account. The first 75,000 points come after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, with an additional 25,000 points after spending $20,000 total in the first 12 months. If used wisely, 100,000 Aeroplan points can go far. For example, 35,000 Aeroplan points can get you a one-way economy ticket from New York City to Lisbon, Portugal, on partner TAP Portugal.
- Annual fee: $95
- Free checked bags: On Air Canada flights, expect one free checked bag for the cardholder plus up to eight travel companions on the same itinerary.
- Elite status boosters: Receive Aeroplan 25K Elite Status for the first two calendar years of card membership and opportunities to elevate this status through card spending.
- Earning opportunities: Earn three points per dollar spent on Air Canada, at grocery stores, and on dining.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit: Yes
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is best for those who want to score free flights quickly thanks to a generous welcome offer and not pay for luggage or change fees. (Southwest is unique among U.S. airlines with trailblazing policies of charging no fees for checked bags or ticket changes.)
- Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 Rapid Rewards points after you spend $3,000 within the first three months of account.
- Annual fee: $69
- Free checked bags: No free bag benefit needed as Southwest continues to offer two free checked bags per passenger. Thank you, Southwest!
- Earnings opportunities: Earn two points per dollar spent on purchases with Southwest, its hotel and car rental partners, local transit and commuting purchases (including rideshares), internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming purchases. Get one point per dollar on everything else.
- Discounts and statement credits: Get two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year
- Companion offers and anniversary bonuses: Get an account anniversary bonus of 3,000 points annually
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit: No
The welcome offer on Southwest’s credit cards put the airline’s coveted Companion Pass within easy reach.
Photo by Hairem/Shutterstock
Best low-fee airline business credit card for earning points and free flights
It may come as a surprise to some, but you don’t need to be a big firm to get a business card—a sole proprietorship, single-member LLC, or the like will do. In many cases, like the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card, the business card comes with even more benefits—and points—than its consumer counterparts.
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card is best for those who want to bank plenty of points for free flights and earn a Companion Pass through spending.
- Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- Annual fee: $99
- Free checked bags: No free bag benefit needed as Southwest continues to offer two free checked bags per passenger.
- Earning opportunities: Earn three points per dollar spent on purchases with Southwest, two on its hotel and car rental partners, local transit and commuting purchases (including rideshares). Get one point per dollar on everything else.
- Discounts and statement credits: Get two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year, 25 percent in-flight savings, and a $500 fee credit per year for Rapid Rewards points transfers.
- Companion offers and anniversary bonuses: Receive an account anniversary bonus of 6,000 points annually.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit: No
Even if you’re flying an airline just a few times a year, a credit card with a fee of $100 or less is worth it for the free checked bags.
Photo by Shutterstock
Best low-fee consumer airline credit cards for airline-specific perks
If you fly an airline regularly and already have another card that gets you into Priority Pass or credit card–branded lounges, consider these airline credit cards that offer benefits like free checked bags but command low annual fees.
United℠ Explorer Card
The United℠ Explorer Card is best for those who fly United often enough to want free checked bags but not often enough that they’d consider themselves United loyalists.
- Welcome offer: Earn up to 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open.
- Annual fee: There is no intro annual fee the first year, then it’s $95.
- Free checked bags: The primary cardholder and one companion traveling on the same reservation will each receive their first standard checked bag free.
- Earning opportunities: The card earns two miles per dollar on United purchases, as well as on hotels and dining, including eligible delivery services.
- Airport lounge access: Visit the United Club with two one-time passes gifted each year for your account anniversary.
- Discounts and statement credits: Get 25 percent back on in-flight purchases of Wi-Fi and food and drinks.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit: Yes
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is best for those who fly Delta but don’t fly so often that they need lounge access or to attain elite status.
- Welcome offer: Earn 40,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months.
- Annual fee: The introductory annual fee is $0 the first year, then $99 (see rates and fees).
- Free checked bags: Get a free checked bag for yourself and up to eight other traveling companions.
- Earning opportunities: Accrue two miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases, at restaurants, and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit: No
Delta’s top-tier card gets you into its Sky Clubs when flying the airline and the Centurion Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
Photo by Lyndsey Matthews
Best airline credit cards for loyalists of legacy carriers
If you travel often and stick to one carrier or alliance for all your flying needs, consider these premium airline credit cards to rack up points with your favorite airline and get access to their branded lounges.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is best for those who fly Delta often, want to access Delta’s Sky Clubs, and also want a fast-track to Delta elite status through credit card spending.
- Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first six months of account opening.
- Annual fee: $550 (see rates and fees)
- Free checked bags: Receive a free checked bag for yourself and up to eight other traveling companions.
- Airport lounge access: This card gets you into Delta’s Sky Clubs when flying the airline and the Centurion Lounge both at no cost when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card. Starting February 1, 2025, those with the Reserve will receive 15 Sky Club visits per year. They can earn unlimited access after spending $75,000 on their eligible card in a calendar year, valid for the year in which the spending is achieved plus the following calendar year.
- Elite status boosters: Achieve elite status simply through credit card spending. Through December 31, 2023, you can earn 15,000 MQMs after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, up to four times, meaning you could earn up to 60,000 MQMs—enough for mid-level Gold status. Effective January 1, 2024, this benefit will no longer be available since Delta is changing how status is earned.
- Companion offers and anniversary bonuses: Receive a Domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+, or Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your card.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit: Yes
United Club℠ Infinite Card
The United Club℠ Infinite Card is best for those who plan to use United Airlines as their primary carrier, want to enjoy the benefits of United lounge access, plus want to bank miles aplenty for future free flights with United and its Star Alliance partners.
- Welcome offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months.
- Annual fee: $525
- Free checked bags: Cardholders receive up to two checked bags per flight for themselves and the same for one travel companion on the same reservation.
- Earning opportunities: Get four miles per dollar spent on United Airlines purchases and two per dollar on all other travel and dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services. Earn one mile per dollar on everything else.
- Airport lounge access: United Club membership (valued at $650) grants the primary cardholder plus two adult companions (or one adult companion and dependent children under 21) access to United Club locations and participating Star Alliance affiliated lounges worldwide.
- Discounts and statement credits: Get 25 percent back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi on United-operated flights. Card members also get a 10 percent discount on United Economy Saver Award flights within the continental United States and Canada.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit: Yes
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is for American Airlines loyalists who want Admirals Club access.
- Welcome offer: Earn 100,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $10,00 on purchases in the first three months.
- Annual fee: $595
- Free checked bags: On American Airlines flights, the primary cardholder can expect one free checked bag for his- or herself and up to eight travel companions on the same itinerary.
- Earning opportunities: Earn 4x AAdvantage Miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 10x AAdvantage Miles per dollar spent on eligible car rentals booked through aa.com/cars and eligible hotels booked through aa.com/hotels. Earn 1x AAdvantage Mile per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Airport lounge access: Get full Admirals Club Membership (valued at $850), which grants access to nearly 50 AA-branded lounges for the cardholder plus two guests or immediate family members traveling with the cardholder. It also grants access to more than 50 partner oneworld lounges, from the Alaska Lounge in Anchorage to the Qantas Club in Melbourne, Australia.
- Discounts and statement credits: Get 25 percent savings on in-flight food and beverage purchases.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit: Yes
All information about the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by AFAR.
Takeaways
From Southwest to Delta, there are many great airline credit cards to choose from, each with its own suite of perks. Your decision likely hinges on which airline you fly the most and the annual fee you are willing to pay, but in all cases look forward to benefits in the air and on the ground plus plenty of bonus points and miles through welcome offers.
This article was originally published in 2019; it was updated on December 9, 2023, with current information. While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they are subject to change at any time, and may have changed or may no longer be available.
