Airline bank cards may be cobranded with a specific airline or supply transferable travel rewards that can be utilized with varied carriers.
The appropriate card for you’ll rely upon a number of components, resembling your most well-liked airline, loyalty program, credit score and spending degree — plus the advantages you worth probably the most.
With that in thoughts, here is what you must take into account when selecting an airline credit card.
Evaluating the very best airline bank cards
Listed here are our prime picks for the very best airline bank cards.
| Bank card | Finest for | Welcome supply | Incomes charges | Annual payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Easy rewards incomes | Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases inside the first three months of account opening. |
|
$95 |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | Luxurious advantages | Discover out your supply and see if you’re eligible to earn as excessive as 175,000 Membership Rewards Factors after spending $8,000 on purchases inside the first six months of card membership. Welcome provides differ, and also you will not be eligible for a suggestion. |
|
$695 (see rates and fees) |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Incomes Chase Final Rewards factors | For a restricted time, earn 100,000 bonus factors plus a $500 Chase Journey℠ credit score after spending $5,000 within the first three months. |
|
$795 (see rates and fees |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Newbie vacationers | Earn 75,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. |
|
$95 (see rates and fees) |
| United℠ Business Card | United enterprise vacationers | Earn 75,000 bonus miles and a couple of,000 PQP after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. |
|
$0 introductory annual payment for the primary yr, then $150 (see rates and fees |
| Citi Strata Premier℠ Card | Starter journey | Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening. |
|
$95 (see rates and fees) |
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card | Sky Membership entry | Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases in your card within the first six months of card membership. Provide ends July 16. |
|
$650 (see rates and fees) |
| American Express® Gold Card | Eating | Earn 60,000 factors after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. |
|
$325 (see rates and fees) |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | Premium journey | Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. |
|
$395 |
| Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card | Loyal Southwest enterprise vacationers | Earn 80,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. |
|
$199 (see rates and fees) |
| Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card | Incomes Alaska Airways miles | Earn 50,000 bonus miles plus purchase one ticket, get one for simply the taxes and costs ($0 fare plus taxes and costs from $23) after spending $3,000 or extra on purchases inside the first 90 days from account opening. |
|
$95 |
How to decide on the correct airline bank card
To seek out the airline card that most closely fits your journey way of life, begin by asking your self the next questions.
Do you may have a most well-liked airline?
Airline bank cards supply the very best incomes charges and advantages for particular airways and typically their companions. Nonetheless, not everybody can stick to 1 explicit airline when reserving their flights.
Have a look at your flights over the previous yr to see which airline you fly with most frequently, or slim it right down to your prime three. If the airways differ and also you’re extra involved with getting the most affordable fare whatever the airline, chances are you’ll need to bypass the airline card and take into account a travel credit card with extra versatile rewards choices as a substitute.
A few of our favourite choices right here embody the Venture Rewards, the Amex Platinum and Citi Strata Premier.
Nonetheless, if you happen to all the time fly with the identical airline since you reside in a hub metropolis or are working towards elite status (otherwise you similar to the airline), then you’ll profit from an airline bank card. You simply want to seek out the correct card for that airline.
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What’s your credit score rating?
Airline bank cards fall inside the journey bank card class. Journey bank cards require a good to excellent credit score — typically, wherever from 690 or greater. You might be accepted for an airline bank card with a decrease rating, however know that your choices could also be extra restricted.
Do you test luggage?
Among the finest perks airline bank cards supply is the power to test one or two luggage totally free, relying on the airline bank card. This profit applies to the cardholder flying and typically their companions booked beneath the identical reservation.
U.S. carriers cost for checked luggage if you fly financial system on home and choose worldwide flights. In truth, a number of main U.S. airways have increased their checked bag fees since 2023. So, having an airline bank card that may prevent as much as $40 per bag, per flight is a serious win for frequent flyers who test luggage usually.
Associated: These 26 credit cards can get you free checked bags
How a lot will you spend on the cardboard?
Understanding your spending habits may also help you select the correct airline bank card. All airline bank cards let you earn factors or miles for his or her frequent flyer program.
As an example, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex rewards these with excessive spending. You will earn a lift of 1 Medallion Qualification Greenback for each $10 you spend in a calendar yr, which is able to provide help to obtain Delta elite status quicker.
What are the cardboard advantages?
You must take into account the opposite advantages a card provides along with factors or miles. Should you’re glad with primary advantages resembling a free checked bag and precedence boarding, intention for an airline card with a low annual payment.
Nonetheless, if you wish to earn bonus factors or miles towards elite standing, assertion credit, airport lounge access and complimentary upgrades, then go for the airline bank card with greater annual charges. They have an inclination to supply these further perks.
Ought to I take advantage of an airline card for on a regular basis spending?
Should you’re loyal to an airline, striving for elite standing or seeking to increase your factors or miles steadiness with a selected airline, it is sensible to make use of an airline card for everyday spending. Nonetheless, many airline bank cards lack the advantages which can be geared towards on a regular basis spending.
For instance, not all airline bank cards supply purchase protections or an prolonged guarantee. So, though you’re incomes airline factors or miles in your purchases, chances are you’ll be out of luck if you happen to’ve bought a big-ticket merchandise (like a TV or laptop computer) and have to file a declare.
You additionally could need to keep away from utilizing an airline bank card for on a regular basis spending if the incomes charges are low.
The United Business Card earns 2 miles per greenback spent on eating at eating places (price 1.35 cents per mile, in accordance with TPG’s June 2025 valuations), whereas the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3 factors per greenback spent on eating (price 2.05 cents per level, per the identical valuations).
On this state of affairs, placing eating purchases on the Sapphire Most well-liked would profit you as you earn extra per greenback spent than with the United Enterprise. Plus, you earn transferable factors, which may present worth far past Chase’s and TPG’s valuation if you happen to switch factors to companion airways.
Associated: How (and why) you should earn transferable credit card points
Backside line
Airline bank cards are your finest wager for incomes factors or miles with a selected airline, to not point out the extra perks you’ll be able to get pleasure from each time you fly. Choosing the right airline bank card comes right down to your capacity to stay to 1 airline, your journey wants and your spending habits.
It is all the time price the additional time to analysis which airline and its bank card will profit you, in addition to how one can leverage the factors or miles, perks and advantages to boost your journey expertise.
Associated: Airline credit cards vs. travel credit cards: Which are best?
For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum, click on here.
For charges and costs of the Delta Reserve Amex, click on here.
For charges and costs of the Amex Gold, click on here.