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Former Senior Editor Barry Bridges has been writing about credit cards, personal loans, mortgages and other personal finance products since 2017. Before joining Bankrate, he was an award-winning newspaper journalist in his native North Carolina.
Nouri Zarrugh is a writer and editor for CreditCards.com and Bankrate, focusing on product news, guides and reviews. His areas of expertise include credit card strategy, rewards programs, point valuation and credit scores, and his stories on building credit have been cited by Mic.com, LifeHacker, People.com and more. Through his thorough card reviews and product comparisons, Nouri strives to demystify personal finance topics and credit card terms and conditions to help readers save money and protect their credit score.
Stephanie Zito is a professional traveler, self-employed humanitarian consultant and collector of credit card points. She shares savvy travel tips that she’s learned firsthand circling the globe for more than 25 years. She’s a backpacker, expect and premium traveler who’s visited more than 130 countries and all seven continents. Her life motto is “See the world, change the world, have fun doing it!” and her mission is to inspire others along the journey.
Nouri Zarrugh is a writer and editor for CreditCards.com and Bankrate, focusing on product news, guides and reviews. His areas of expertise include credit card strategy, rewards programs, point valuation and credit scores, and his stories on building credit have been cited by Mic.com, LifeHacker, People.com and more. Through his thorough card reviews and product comparisons, Nouri strives to demystify personal finance topics and credit card terms and conditions to help readers save money and protect their credit score.
Stephanie Zito is a professional traveler, self-employed humanitarian consultant and collector of credit card points. She shares savvy travel tips that she’s learned firsthand circling the globe for more than 25 years. She’s a backpacker, expect and premium traveler who’s visited more than 130 countries and all seven continents. Her life motto is “See the world, change the world, have fun doing it!” and her mission is to inspire others along the journey.
The listings that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which Bankrate receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Here's an explanation for
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Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories, except where prohibited by law for our mortgage, home equity and other home lending products. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range, can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service.
An airline credit card can be a useful traveling companion for the frequent flyer, offering discounted flights, upgrades, companion fares and more. You might be able to earn points without even booking a flight. Compare the best airline cards available from our partners and let us help you make your next business or leisure trip more rewarding (or affordable).
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Why choose Bankrate
We helped put over 115,000 cards in people's wallets in 2023
Match to cards with approval odds and apply with confidence
Over 47 years of experience helping people make smart financial decisions
The Bankrate Promise
At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money and how we rate our cards .
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
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A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day.
2 Miles - 5 Miles
Annual fee
$95
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
5 Miles
5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
2 Miles
2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
What we love: This card’s low cost and quality transfer partners make it a solid first choice for occasional travelers looking to earn miles on everyday purchases.
Alternatives: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers a variety of generous rewards rates and more attractive travel perks for the same annual fee. Plus, the Sapphire Preferred can boost the value of your travel rewards value by 25 percent when you redeem through Chase Travel — all without the hassle of transfer partners.
Pros
Compared to rival travel cards, the sign-up bonus offers a great value for a typical spending requirement.
Cons
It may not be worth it for frequent travelers since it’s one of the few mid-tier travel rewards cards that doesn’t offer annual travel credits or anniversary miles.
Frequent travelers may get more value from competing cards that offer a high rewards rate on general travel, airfare and hotel stays instead of requiring you to book through an issuer portal.
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day.
1.25 Miles - 5 Miles
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
5 Miles
5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
1.25 Miles
1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
What we love: The VentureOne is a practical option if you don’t travel enough to justify an annual fee (but still want the flexibility to transfer miles to airline and hotel partners). You can squeeze a flat 1.25X-mile rate from your non-travel purchases, and it’s one of the only major no-annual-fee travel cards that can transfer rewards for potentially more than a 1 cent value.
Alternatives: The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is a great alternative if you want to avoid annual fees but aren’t impressed by the VentureOne’s low rewards rate. It packs a stronger 3X points on a wide variety of purchases, including dining, fuel, travel, transit and more. Plus, you can redeem for cash rewards and travel without sacrificing point value, and the Autograph is one of the only other no-annual-fee cards that can use transfer partners.
Pros
Its intro APR is on par with rival card offers, which can help you save money on upcoming purchases and an existing balance.
The right transfer partner could boost your miles to about 1.7 cents on average according to Bankrate’s latest valuations — higher than than the 1-cent standard.
Cons
Miles will lose up to half of their value if you redeem on statement credits or gift cards.
There is no major U.S. airline included as a travel partner for this card.
$0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. 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.
3X - 4X
Annual fee
$250
APR
See Pay Over Time APR
4X
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
4X
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
3X
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
What we love: For those who make food a central part of their travel experience, the American Express Gold Card has a tasty menu of valuable rewards and food-related annual credits. You'll earn generous rewards rates at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, as well as on flights booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel.
Alternatives: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card might be a better fit for foodies who love to travel and are more comfortable with a lower annual fee ($95). It also rewards dining and groceries (online purchases, excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), and its competitive rewards program can boost your points by 25 percent without the hassle of transfer partners when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Pros
There is no preset spending limit, so you’ll have extra purchasing power and can carry a balance with Pay Over Time if necessary.
Even if you’re not traveling, you can nearly offset the annual fee with up to $120 in Uber Cash and an equal yearly value in dining credits toward partners like Grubhub and The Cheesecake Factory (upon enrollment, up to $10 per month).
Cons
The $250 annual fee may be too pricey for modest spenders who can’t use all of the ongoing credits — especially since the rewards value drops on redemptions other than airfare and transfer partners.
It may not be the best choice if you want a luxury experience since it doesn’t include many valuable airline or airport perks.
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
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.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
$120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. 5 Miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel. 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day.
2 Miles - 10 Miles
Annual fee
$395
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
10 Miles
10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
5 Miles
5 Miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel
2 Miles
2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
What we love: It’s packed with luxury travel benefits, such as Priority Pass Select lounge access, valuable annual credits and excellent travel benefits — all for a $395 annual fee. Other popular travel cards with similar features charge over $500 annually and feature an extensive list of benefits many cardholders may not use. The Venture X is ideal for people who want a more affordable luxury travel experience while keeping a simple, flat-rate rewards structure.
Alternatives: Luxury-focused flyers may squeeze more value from elite cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Though it comes with a higher annual fee of $550, the Reserve card packs equal Priority Pass Select and annual travel purchase credit value, a higher rewards rate for a wider variety of travel-related categories and other deluxe perks.
Pros
It’s a cost-effective middle-ground to other luxury travel cards that focuses on carrying key perks that are valuable enough to easily offset the annual fee — including 10,000 bonus miles and up to $300 of Capital One Travel credits each year.
Includes complimentary Priority Pass and Capital One lounge access as well as credits for expedited security screening, making it especially valuable for frequent flyers.
Cons
It doesn’t grant quite as many luxury hotel, airline or rideshare perks as some pricier cards.
Occasional travelers may have a hard time justifying the card’s annual fee since the rewards rates on everyday spending and travel outside the issuer portal aren’t as lucrative as lower-priced cards’ may be.
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming. Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
1X - 3X
Annual fee
$149
Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% Variable
3X
Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
2X
Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
2X
Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
2X
Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
1X
Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
What we love: This could be the ideal card if you're a frequent flyer looking for the best Southwest travel experience possible. Its slew of impressive benefits give it the edge over lower-cost Southwest cards, including upgraded anniversary bonus points, annual travel credits and Southwest flight perks.
It’s a stronger choice for international travelers than the base Southwest card since it doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee.
There are more than enough features to make up for the annual fee, including a $75 annual Southwest travel credit, upgraded boardings and Delta’s biggest annual point bonus.
Cons
Its $149 annual fee could be steep for occasional travelers, as it offers several of the same features as lower-cost Southwest cards.
You can’t transfer your points to any partner airlines and Southwest isn’t a member of any airline alliance, so you’ll have minimal flexibility when using points for airfare.
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
7,500 anniversary points each year.
Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
1X - 3X
Annual fee
$350
APR
20.99%-29.99% Variable
3X
Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
2X
Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
1X
Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
What we love: Delta regulars can get their money's worth when flying with this card thanks to features like its annual domestic companion certificate, free first checked bag and priority boarding. The annual fee is $350, but loyalty status seekers should have little trouble finding enough value, especially with solid rewards rates on Delta purchases and several other categories.
Alternatives: The American Express® Gold Card can leverage its supersized rewards potential and dining credits to help compensate for its lack of Delta-specific perks. The Gold Card’s rewards program is more flexible and carries more everyday opportunities to earn rewards, including at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants.
Pros
You can smooth out travel with decent travel protections, solid partner perks and plenty of loyalty status opportunities with Medallion Qualification Dollar Headstart and Boost.
The up to $120 in rideshare credits each year can help you recoup the annual fee, along with nearly $300 more in specialized annual credits with Delta Stays and Resy hotel and restaurant bookings.
Cons
The $350 annual fee could prove to be a bit steep if you don’t fly often.
Competing general-purpose cards may provide more flexible rewards and stronger travel perks with wider appeal for a similar annual fee.
Earn 85,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Receive a Companion Certificate on Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of 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.
Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express 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 $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $20 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
1X - 2X
Annual fee
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
APR
20.99%-29.99% Variable
2X
Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
1X
Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
What we love: The benefits give it a big edge over its no-annual-fee counterpart for flyers looking for their first Delta card. It can quickly make up for its annual fee and stack on extra value with perks like 20 percent back in statement credits on select in-flight purchases, Priority Boarding and a $200 annual flight credit after spending $10,000 in a calendar year.
Alternatives: The SkyMiles Gold card’s rewards rates aren’t especially impressive for a premium travel card. The Delta SkyMiles® American Express Card’s perks can help you offset the annual fee more easily, but the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card may be better if you’re focused on general travel value over Delta-specific perks. It offers higher rewards rates on similar categories (plus a few extra), boasts more flexible redemption and several valuable Sapphire Preferred travel perks.
Pros
You can save your hard-earned rewards with the up to $100 annual Delta Stays credit and 15 percent discount on award travel (through the Delta Fly App or delta.com).
This card offers one free checked bag on Delta flights, which can cover the annual fee by your third round-trip ticket (or after the first with two guests).
Cons
The annual $200 Delta Flight credit could be hard to earn for some spenders due to the $10,000 yearly spending requirement.
Despite being a premium card, it’s harder to earn Medallion Status without the Medallion Qualification Dollar Headstart its pricier Delta siblings offer.
Earn 65,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $150.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express 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.
$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.
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.
You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that’s a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight.
Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
$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.
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.
Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
With Send & Split®, you can send money and split your Card purchases with any other Venmo or PayPal user, directly from the Amex App. Enroll today.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming. Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
1X - 2X
Annual fee
$69
Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% Variable
2X
Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
2X
Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
2X
Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
2X
Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
1X
Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
What we love: Thanks to its relatively low annual fee, solid rewards rates, airline perks and anniversary bonus, even occasional Southwest travelers can get plenty of value out of this starter airline card. Although the card doesn’t offer an easier route to A-List Status or some of the annual perks available on higher-tier Southwest cards, budget-conscious domestic flyers will still enjoy a rewards rate and welcome offer on par with those pricier cards.
Alternatives: Regular Southwest passengers may get more value from the upgraded perks and loyalty status shortcuts that the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card offer. Plus, the annual anniversary loyalty bonus of 6,000 points — worth around $90 in Southwest travel based on Bankrate’s latest 1.5-cent point valuation — covers most of the card’s $99 annual fee.
Pros
Southwest’s two free eligible checked bags, two free Southwest EarlyBird Check-Ins per year (a $30+ value) and 25 percent back on inflight purchases perks can save you more on airline incidental fees than the average starter travel card.
The account anniversary could help you pay off a good portion of the card’s annual fee.
Cons
You can’t transfer points to other airlines if you need to redeem for flights outside Southwest.
This isn’t the best option for international travel since it’s the only Southwest card with a foreign transaction fee (3 percent).
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
3,000 anniversary points each year.
Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
60,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer. To qualify, make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases. Earn unlimited 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases. Earn unlimited 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
1 mile - 3 miles
Annual fee
$95
Regular APR
20.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
3 miles
Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases.
2 miles
Earn unlimited 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases.
1 mile
Earn unlimited 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
What we love: This co-branded airline card comes fully-loaded with a generous sign-up bonus, decent base rewards and lucrative ancillary perks for West Coast flyers who frequently travel with friends or family members. But its centerpiece is its annual Famous Companion Fare. Companion pass-style offers are rare but incredibly valuable if you often travel with friends or family, and Alaska Airlines’ discount is one of the easiest to earn each year.
Alternatives: Alaska Airlines routes are limited, so the card may not be a good fit unless you’re based in the West Coast. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card lets you earn unlimited miles on any eligible purchases — including other airlines — that can be redeemed for all sorts of additional travel expenses.
Pros
In addition to its annual Companion Fare offer, the card makes it easy to justify its $95 annual fee with ancillary benefits like a free checked bag (worth up to $60 per person, per-round trip flight), 20 percent in-flight purchase discount and 50 percent discount on Alaska Lounge day passes.
The 10 percent bonus on all purchases is a uniquely rewarding feature if you have an eligible Bank of America account.
Cons
Alaska Airlines has a limited footprint: its routes are concentrated on the U.S. West Coast.
The card’s bonus 3X rewards are restricted to eligible Alaska Airlines purchases, which may make it harder to offset the annual fee if you’re a solo traveler who doesn’t usually check luggage.
Limited Time Online Offer—60,000 Bonus Miles!
Get 60,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer. To qualify, make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Get Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) each account anniversary after you spend $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year. Valid on all Alaska Airlines flights booked on alaskaair.com.
Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases. Earn unlimited 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases. And earn unlimited 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. And, your miles don’t expire on active accounts.
Earn a 10% rewards bonus on all miles earned from card purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America® account.
Free checked bag and enjoy priority boarding for you and up to 6 guests on the same reservation, when you pay for your flight with your card — Also available for authorized users when they book a reservation too!
With oneworld® Alliance member airlines and Alaska’s Global Partners, Alaska has expanded their global reach to over 1,000 destinations worldwide bringing more airline partners and more ways to earn and redeem miles.
Plus, no foreign transaction fees and a low $95 annual fee.
This online only offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases.
. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
1X - 3X
Annual fee
$650
APR
20.99%-29.99% Variable
3X
Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases.
1X
Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
What we love: Delta packs in plenty of premier features that justify the steep $650 annual fee for frequent flying fans of their airport lounge, including complimentary access to Delta Sky Clubs and an annual companion certificate. Just keep in mind that, effective Feb. 1, 2025, this card’s perks are changing: Cardholders will only receive 15 complimentary Delta Sky Club visits per year instead of unlimited access.
Alternatives:The Platinum Card® from American Express is the only general-purpose travel card that also provides complimentary access to Delta Sky Club lounges. It has a sky-high $695 annual fee, but the Amex Platinum’s perks (including access to other airport lounges) may help make up for that cost. Similar to the SkyMiles Reserve, the Amex Platinum card’s Sky Club access will also be limited (to six annual visits) in February 2025.
Pros
This is one of the only cards that offers complimentary access to the valuable Delta Sky Club and The Centurion Lounge when traveling on Delta flights.
It carries the best Delta perks available, including boosts toward elite loyalty status, a companion certificate and annual credits toward eligible rideshares, Delta Stays hotel bookings and Resy restaurant purchases — enough to potentially offset the annual fee.
Cons
The $650 annual fee can be difficult to recoup if you can’t take advantage of its airport lounge, specialized annual credit and companion certificate perks.
The rewards rates are weaker than competing flagship travel cards considering its only bonus category is its 3X miles on specific Delta purchases.
Earn 95,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Enjoy complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club® and bring up to two guests or immediate family members at a rate of $50 per person per visit when flying Delta. 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.
Receive four Delta Sky Club® One-Time Guest Passes each year when you fly together on Delta. After that, you may bring up to two guests at a per-visit rate of $50 per person, per location.
Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $10 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving elevated Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
Receive a Companion Certificate on First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of 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.
$240 Resy Credit: With the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Resy Credit, earn up to $20 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card.
$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.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express 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.
With your Card receive upgrade priority over other Medallion Members within the same Medallion level and fare class.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members.
Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
4X points at restaurants (including eligible U.S. delivery, such as Uber Eats) and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per year, then 1X points)
3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on American Express Travel
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
2X points on hotel and car rental partners, local transit and commuting (including rideshares) along with internet, cable, phone and select streaming services
Southwest perks, including a $75 annual travel credit, boost toward Southwest Companion Pass and four upgraded boardings each year
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
2X miles at U.S. supermarkets, restaurants worldwide (including U.S. delivery and takeout) and on Delta purchases
Delta perks, including a potential annual Delta flight credit, priority boarding, free first checked bag, discount on reward-booked Delta flights and more
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
2X points on Southwest purchases, Southwest hotel and car rental partners, local transit and commuting (including rideshares) along with internet, cable, phone and select streaming services
3,000-point annual bonus on your account anniversary, two EarlyBird Check-In boardings each year, a boost toward Companion Pass and other perks
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Complimentary Delta Sky Club lounge access and two free one-time guest passes annually (then 15 complimentary Delta Sky Club visits per year starting Feb. 1, 2025)
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
An airline credit card is a type of rewards card, often co-branded with a major issuer like American Express or Citi, that offers rewards and perks for people loyal to a specific airline. Typically, these cards earn airline miles for purchases made directly with the airline, but they can sometimes earn rewards in other categories as well.
You can use airline credit cards just like any credit card. There are defined credit limits and interest rates that apply to your purchases. However, with airline credit cards, you earn travel rewards specific to an airline and can participate in that airline’s rewards program. For example, Delta SkyMiles cards earn miles you only can redeem for Delta flights, while Southwest card rewards can only be redeemed for flights with Southwest.
Most airline cards have higher rewards rates for purchases you make directly with the airline, but that doesn't mean you can't use them elsewhere. Many cards earn miles on everyday purchases, including groceries, gas, dining and other categories.
You might even think of an airline credit card as a sort of VIP airport pass. The best airline rewards cards routinely include perks such as access to airport lounges, priority boarding, free checked bags and more.
Airline credit cards vs. travel credit cards
Both airline credit cards and travel credit cards typically reward you with points or miles. But there are a few key differences.
Airline credit cards
These co-branded cards are tied to a specific airline — like American Airlines, Delta, Southwest or United — and reward your loyalty with exclusive perks you won’t find with general travel cards. Typical benefits include free checked bags, priority boarding, companion tickets and even accelerated elite status. Unfortunately, airline card rewards aren’t as flexible since they can usually only be redeemed for plane tickets with that specific airline.
General-purpose travel credit cards
General-purpose credit cards are not tied to specific airlines. Although they don’t normally carry airline-specific perks, general travel cards are typically more versatile since they let you earn and redeem rewards with a variety of airlines and on general travel, including hotels, rentals and more. You might also be able to transfer your rewards to airline and hotel programs (sometimes at a higher value) or redeem your points or miles for cash back, gift cards and merchandise (though the value may not be as high as when you redeem for travel). Some premium travel cards also provide complimentary access to airline-branded airport lounges.
Comparing top credit card and airline rewards programs
*Based on weighted average of median point/mile values across economy and first/business class fares.
As you can see, American Express Membership Rewards are some of the most valuable points out there. Although it’s not solely an airline rewards program, Amex Membership Rewards points can be transferred to many airline and hotel partners for a redemption value of over 1 cent per point (the base value you’d get by redeeming for travel with Amex).
If you want to look exclusively at the best airline rewards programs, Delta SkyMiles, Alaska Airlines AAdvantage points and Southwest Rapid Rewards points carry some of the best redemption value. These values bolster the rewards rates and perks offered on each airline’s co-branded credit cards.
According to Bankrate’s points and mile valuations, Southwest Rapid Rewards are about 36 percent more valuable than Alaska Airlines miles, but only 25 percent more valuable than Delta SkyMiles. However, comparing these programs can be difficult since Southwest and Alaska Airlines offer fewer routes.
To choose the right card or rewards program for you, consider which airlines you fly with most and how much flexibility you need with how you can use your rewards.
Pros and cons of airline credit cards
Before applying for a new airline credit card, it's important to consider the advantages and disadvantages.
Pros
Earning rewards. You’ll earn miles or points that you can apply to travel expenses or redeem towards future trips.
Extra perks. The best airline credit cards usually come with benefits that make traveling easier, such as lounge access, priority boarding, free checked baggage and more.
Loyalty benefits. With a co-branded card, your loyalty to your favorite airline translates to actual monetary benefits.
Cons
No airline flexibility. If you have a bad experience with your airline of choice and decide to never fly with that carrier again, your co-branded airline card loses value. Likewise, your rewards usually won’t translate to other travel programs if your travel plans need to change.
Annual fees. Like travel cards in general, the annual fees for airline cards can range from less than $100 to more than $500.
Fewer intro offers. Not many airline credit cards offer 0 percent intro APR offers for purchases or balance transfers, making them unsuitable for managing debt.
An airline credit card is a good idea for…
Not everyone can benefit from an airline credit card, but those who can are likely to make it the most valuable addition to their wallet. Here are some types of cardholders who would be a great fit for airline cards:
Airline loyalists: If you’re already a fan of a particular airline, it makes sense to get a co-branded card that earns rewards you can redeem for flights with that airline. Not only can you boost the number of miles you earn for your spending, but most airlines offer valuable perks and benefits with their cards that make flying easier.
Frequent flyers: Air travel is expensive, but that cost creates opportunity. By rewarding every dollar spent on tickets and other eligible purchases, an airline credit card can help your travel dollar go further. Airline cards also provide perks to make your travel smoother, comfier or even less expensive — such as priority boarding, in-flight discounts, reduced baggage costs or credits for expedited screening.
Business travelers: Some of the top airline and travel cards are designed with business travel in mind. They have features and perks similar to those of consumer cards, but the rewards categories are more tailored to business-related expenses.
Luxury travelers: Top-tier airline credit cards help travelers upgrade their travel experience by offering airport lounge access, elite hotel status and other perks. While these cards typically carry higher annual fees, travelers with a taste for luxury might find the expense worthwhile.
Credit-builders: If you’re building credit, rewards and point values should be the last things you’re concerned about when it comes to your credit card. Focus your efforts on establishing a good credit score before thinking about the rewards you can gain from using credit.
People new to credit: Like credit-builders, people new to credit should focus on building strong credit habits to increase their score. Points, miles and reward valuations may distract you from the important routines you should be establishing, like paying on time and in full.
People who rarely travel: If you don’t travel frequently, you can’t make the most of an airline credit card. These cards reward generously for purchases with the airlines they’re branded with. Unless you’re spending thousands of dollars each year on a specific airline, you may be better off with a cash back credit card or another rewards card.
What people are saying about airline rewards cards
As people gear up for peak travel season, potential travel card applicants are taking to the internet for advice to prepare, resurfacing the question: Is an airline-branded credit card worth it for me?
This is the big question users on Reddit, YouTube and other forums are focusing on. One Reddit user sums up airline rewards cards up nicely: co-branded airline cards’ main value comes from the perks that save you time, money and sanity when you travel with that airline, and general-purpose cards are better for racking up more flexible rewards and broad travel credits.
Other users in the thread agree, and the airline perks that are the most useful in their experience are airport lounge access, baggage delay insurance, lost baggage reimbursement and — most popularly, like this Reddit user reports — free checked baggage.
“If you have two kids and a [significant other], and you all have to check bags for the family vacation, then the [discounted] baggage fees alone make the card worth it.”
Like users in this myFICO forum attest, determining which of these two cards is the best fit for you depends on factors like where you travel, how often and where you travel, as well as what perks you value (like savings, airport lounge access, priority boarding and etc.).
For general-purpose travel, the Chase Ultimate Rewards cards (mainly the Sapphire Preferred and Reserve) are often recommended by users, but the Capital One Venture X and the Wells Fargo Autograph are also popular recommendations. On the flip side, the Delta SkyMiles Gold, Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority and United Club℠ Infinite Card were popular co-branded airline choices.
*The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate. Please see the issuer’s website for updated terms and conditions.
Tips on choosing the best airline credit card for you
Getting an airline credit card can be exciting, but it’s important to make sure you can make the most of it. Here are some tips:
Check your credit score
Any type of travel card typically requires a good-to-excellent credit score (a FICO score of 670 to 850, or a VantageScore of 661 to 850). If your credit score isn’t quite there yet, work on building your credit before you begin your search for an airline credit card.
Consider your preferred airline
If you’re already a member of an airline loyalty program or you have a preferred airline, choosing a co-branded card is a good move. You can earn free or discounted flights with your preferred airline when you choose a co-branded airline credit card.
Evaluate perks you’d use
Many airline credit cards offer great perks like free lounge access or discounted in-flight purchases. However, airline credit cards tend to come with higher annual fees, so these perks come at a cost. An elevated travel experience might be worth it if you travel often, but be sure you’re willing to spend the extra money for the benefits.
Calculate potential rewards
If you’re not a frequent traveler but still looking to save money on the occasions that you do travel, look for an airline credit card that allows you to earn points on everyday purchases. This makes it possible to earn points and free or discounted airfare, even if you’re not regularly spending on flights or hotels. Conversely, if you do spend a lot on travel, you might be best served by a card that offers a lucrative return on travel-related expenses, including airfare.
Keep these factors in mind when searching for the best airline credit card to add to your financial arsenal. You can also use comparison tools like CardMatch™ to shop for cards you may qualify for and review issuer offers to find one that works for you.
Here’s how one Bankrate expert chose their airline card
Senior Bankrate editor and credit card reviewer Nouri Zarrugh initially chose a lower-tier Southwest card, but he compared the value to the annual fee and eventually upgraded to a higher-tier airline rewards card for its stronger features.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card was one of the first cards I got after I’d built credit history. At the time, I wasn’t thinking much about long-term value and I couldn’t have told you the difference between a general travel card and a co-branded airline card. I just wanted to get a big sign-up bonus and earn rewards on my Southwest flights.
And the card got the job done there. I’d use it for most purchases, and every so often I’d find I’d earned enough points for a free ticket.
But as the years passed and I learned more about credit card rewards, I started to wonder if the card was the best fit for me. I’d added a few everyday rewards cards to my wallet and so was only using the Rapid Rewards Plus for Southwest purchases, limiting my earnings. I also wasn’t flying enough to be sure I could offset the annual fee with rewards, so I considered closing the account altogether.
But then I compared the Rapid Rewards Plus card’s features and annual fee with those of the higher-tier Southwest cards. I was surprised to find that the higher-fee cards could actually be more lucrative for me.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card stood out. It offered a pair of annual bonuses that were valuable enough to offset its annual fee entirely: 7,500 bonus points each year on your account anniversary and a $75 annual Southwest travel credit. Assuming a 1.5-cent-per-point valuation, 7,500 points would be worth around $112; combined with the $75 credit, that’s a total annual value of around $187. So as I saw it, as long as I took one Southwest flight a year, I’d at least break even.
I couldn’t say the same for the Rapid Rewards Plus card. It charged a $69 annual fee but only offered 3,000 anniversary bonus points, with no travel credit. Even if I assumed a 1.5-cent-per-point value, that bonus would only be worth around $45.
I ended up switching to the Rapid Rewards Priority card and I’ve been happy with it since. While the $149 annual fee sounds intimidating, I know that it can essentially be made up for by those annual perks. It’s just on me to take one trip a year via Southwest – and I could use the nudge!
— Nouri Zarrugh, Senior Credit Card Editor at Bankrate
Expert advice for airline credit cards
Airline cards provide the most value when used strategically with other cards and are especially useful for the travel-specific perks they offer, such as priority boarding, seating upgrades and companion fares. Owning an airline credit card while being a member of the airline's frequent flyer program can also help you get maximum value. But you can’t set and forget your rewards with these cards, like you can with some automatic redemption cash back cards. You’ll need to develop a strategy to make the most of your airline card.
Maximizing airline rewards
Along with your card’s ongoing rewards rate in its highest-earning categories, a sign-up bonus or welcome offer from a new airline card could be worth several hundred dollars or more in travel costs. Keep track of your progress toward the spending requirement and start thinking about how you might use those bonus miles once you’ve earned them.
Make sure you use your card to book flights with your preferred airline and follow through making the most of those points by taking a look at Bankrate’s points and miles valuations.
Pair travel and airline cards
Let’s say you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card. Because Southwest is a Chase travel partner, you can transfer your Ultimate Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio. This way, you can rack up points to use for Southwest flights between both cards, but you aren’t stuck redeeming with Southwest if you find a better award price for your Ultimate Rewards points elsewhere.
Travel off-peak
Some airlines restrict when you can use miles to book flights during busy traveling periods. On the other hand, they also may heavily discount award flight costs during off-peak travel periods. Keep track of these fluctuations in cost to maximize the value of your miles.
How we assess the best airline credit cards
150+
cards rated
50+
rewards programs valued
1800
data points analyzed
40+
perks evaluated
When evaluating the best airline cards, we consider a mix of factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether cards offer features that fit the priorities of a diverse group of cardholders, from earning rewards in popular categories to scoring a large sign-up bonus or high-value perks. Whenever possible, we also feature cards that are available at various credit levels and price points.
We analyzed over 150 of the most popular cards and scored each based on its rewards rate, estimated annual earnings, welcome bonus value, APR, fees, perks and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup of the best airline cards.
While we primarily focus on co-branded airline cards, assuming many cardholders are interested in earning rewards in a specific airline loyalty program or scoring airline-specific perks, we also include some general travel cards that offer solid rewards rates and redemption value on airline bookings. Ideally, they also give you the flexibility to transfer points or miles directly to airline loyalty programs.
How we rate rewards cards
Nearly all airline cards fall into our “Rewards” scoring category. Our rating methodology for these cards focuses heavily on rewards value — what kind of return we’d expect based on the average person’s spending and a card’s added bonuses and annual fee.
Here’s how overall scoring breaks down for rewards cards.
Value65.00%
Flexibility15.00%
Perks15.00%
Customer experience5.00%
The primary criteria for a rewards-earning card’s rating is its rewards value. This includes the card’s average rewards rate, estimated annual rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value and reward redemption value.
To estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings, we first calculate its average rewards rate based on how much it earns in different bonus categories and how closely its categories align with the average person’s spending habits. In other words, we assess whether the card earns rewards at a high rate in the most popular spending categories.
We use consumer spending data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to get a reliable third-party measure of people’s spending habits. The most recent BLS data estimates average total spending in 2021 was $66,928 per consumer. From here, we determine a “chargeable” spend (which purchases are likely to be put on a credit card and earn rewards). After subtracting expenditures like housing, vehicle purchases, education and healthcare, we get a total “chargeable” annual spend of around $22,500.
This includes the following spending by category:
Groceries: $5,200
Dining out: $3,000
Entertainment: $2,500
Gas: $2,100
Apparel and services: $1,700
Using this data, we are able to assign a weighting to each of a card’s bonus categories. For example, a card’s grocery rewards rate receives a 23 percent weighting based on how much of the average person’s budget is spent on groceries.
This weighting and rewards valuation allows us to estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings — how many points or miles you’d earn with a given card if your spending was about average and you used the card for all of your purchases — as well as what those points are worth. We also use point valuations to determine a card’s sign-up bonus value
With these calculations complete, we assign each card a score based on how its average rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value, rewards rate and redemption value stack up against other rewards cards.
The better these values, the higher its score will be, making it more worthy of inclusion in our list and increasing its potential ranking.
Here’s a deeper look at the factors considered as part of a rewards card’s “Value” rating:
5
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Overall Score
Ongoing rewards value 30%
Sign-up bonus value25%
Annual fee & average APR20%
Rewards rate15%
Annual bonus value10%
We also score cards based on how much it costs to keep them in your wallet or carry a balance.
To start, each card is scored based on whether it offers an intro APR and how its ongoing APR compares to the rates available on other rewards cards. However, the latter rating only has a slight influence on the card’s score and whether the card is included in our list, since rewards card users generally try to avoid carrying a balance.
More important to both a card’s score and its inclusion in our list is how its annual fee influences its overall value. We consider a card’s annual fee in two ways — how it ranks relative to the fees you’ll find on other cards in the category and how it impacts a card’s overall rewards value.
Cards with an annual fee will always be at a slight disadvantage in our scoring system since annual fees inherently cut into your rewards value. However, if a card offers terrific value via its ongoing rewards and perks, it can earn a high score and a spot in our list even if it carries a high annual fee. After all, the highest rewards rates and most valuable perks are often found on cards with annual fees.
With this in mind, we rate a card based primarily on how its ongoing rewards value and ongoing perk value (such as annual credits or bonuses) stack up against those of other cards in the category when you subtract annual fees.
That said, we strive to include as many no-annual-fee options in our list as possible since many people would rather not worry about offsetting fees, even if a card carries impressive rewards and perks.
Rewards cards may make it easy to earn a lot of points, miles or cash back, but how easy is it to use those rewards? After all, if it takes a ton of effort to redeem rewards or you can only redeem rewards in a couple of ways, a card may be more trouble than it’s worth.
As such, we rate each card’s flexibility based on the restrictions it imposes on earning and redeeming rewards. We factor this rating into a card’s overall score and consider it when deciding on a card’s inclusion in our list.
Flexibility factors include whether a card only allows you to earn a high rewards rate on only a small amount of spending or requires you to meet a certain earning threshold before you can redeem rewards. We also examine whether your points are worth less when you opt for some redemption options over others and whether a card gives you the flexibility to transfer rewards to travel partners.
We also score each card’s set of features – its perks and benefits — against five tiers of features to provide a rating.
We break down these tiers as follows:
Tier 1 includes fewer features than even standard credit cards (for example, an ultra-streamlined card that offers basic utility and next to nothing in the way of ancillary benefits).
Tier 2 includes the benefits you’d expect on standard Visa or Mastercard credit cards, such as free access to your credit score, car rental insurance and $0 liability for fraudulent charges.
Tier 3 includes “prime card” or better-than-average card features like cellphone insurance, lost luggage insurance, concierge services and purchase protection.
Tier 4 includes luxury features such as airport lounge access, elite status with an airline or hotel and credits for expedited security screening membership programs.
Tier 5 includes the sort of exemplary benefits you’ll find on top-tier luxury cards, such as high-value travel credits, cardholder memberships and other unique and valuable perks.
In evaluating the best cards, we tend to favor cards that offer at least Tier 3 benefits, unless they include other unique features that could make up for less-impressive perks.
Frequently asked questions about airline credit cards
Airline credit cards may be worth it if you are a frequent flyer who prefers one particular airline. The airline-specific perks you may earn can make flying more affordable and far more convenient. But people looking for flexibility and to maximize the amount of rewards will likely find a general-purpose travel rewards card is worth it, especially if it earns points or miles that are transferable to their favorite airlines.
Airline cards that don’t charge an annual fee have limited features. But if you are more interested in earning miles and welcome offers and don’t care about perks like free checked bags, priority boarding or free lounge visits, a no-annual-fee airline card may be the answer. Top picks for no-annual-fee airline cards include:
J.D. Power’s most recent credit card customer satisfaction study also included a survey that names the best co-branded airline cards. Of the winners, the American Airlines MileUp card is the only no-annual-fee card that won a spot on the list, ranking above the average in third place.
As you can see, there aren’t many co-branded airline cards with no annual fee. A general-purpose travel card — like the Capital One VentureOne (See Rates & Fees) or Discover it® Miles — could also be plenty rewarding for air travel if you’re avoiding annual fees.
Airline reward programs differ greatly in the number of miles required to earn reward flights. Some programs have fixed prices in miles, while others determine prices based on the cash value of tickets. To further complicate matters, not every program has a published chart that explains the number of miles you need for an award flight. However, you can generally expect award flights to set you back several thousand miles.
Fortunately, an airline credit card with a lucrative sign-up bonus and generous rewards program could make it much easier to earn the miles you need.
Depending on the credit card, airline miles and credit card miles are terms that can be used interchangeably. Credit cards that earn airline miles are usually co-branded with a particular airline and earn cardholders free or discounted flights within that airline’s frequent flyer programs. General travel credit cards, on the other hand, earn miles or points that can be redeemed on multiple airlines or used for other travel purchases.
You can also earn airline miles through a frequent flyer program without the use of a credit card. You may be able to pool these miles with airline credit card rewards to maximize earnings.
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Former Senior Editor Barry Bridges has been writing about credit cards, personal loans, mortgages and other personal finance products since 2017. Before joining Bankrate, he was…
Nouri Zarrugh is a writer and editor for CreditCards.com and Bankrate, focusing on product news, guides and reviews. His areas of expertise include credit card strategy, rewards…
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