The best airline credit cards make traveling easier with valuable rewards and exclusive perks. Enjoy seat upgrades, priority boarding, and more with these top picks!
The best airline credit card is the one you can actually use , starting with the airlines that fly from your area. Decide whether a co-branded airline card or a flexible travel card offers the best rewards and perks for you.
1. Credit card: Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Rating: 4.8 / 5
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 (see rates and fees)
Rewards rate: 1x-2x (Earn 2X miles on Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets; Earn 1X miles on all other eligible purchases)
Intro offer: 80,000 miles
Rewards Breakdown: Earn 2X miles on Delta purchases; Earn 2X miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S.; Earn 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets; Earn 1X miles on all other eligible purchases.
Card details: Earn 80,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible 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 on your Card in a calendar 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.
Pros: You’ll earn 2 miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases, at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets, and 1 mile per dollar on everything else. You can earn a $200 Delta flight credit if you spend at least $10,000 on the card in a calendar year. There’s a great bonus offer for new cardholders, too. And if you like to travel as a group, this card provides a free checked bag for yourself and up to eight other people traveling on your reservation. You also get priority boarding.
Cons: When the annual fee kicks in, it’s considerably higher than what you’d pay on other major airlines’ comparable cards. You won’t pay foreign transaction fees, but it’s an American Express card, and AmEx isn’t as widely accepted outside the U.S. as Visa and Mastercard.
2. Credit card: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Rating: 5.0 / 5
Annual fee: $95
Rewards rate: 1x-5x (Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries; 2x on all other travel purchases; 1x on all other purchases)
Intro offer: 60,000 points (Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening)
Rewards Breakdown: Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; Earn 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries; Earn 2x on all other travel purchases; Earn 1x on all other purchases.
Card details: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠ — for example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel. Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more. Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
Pros: You earn 5 points per $1 spent on all travel booked through Chase; 3 points per $1 spent on dining (including eligible delivery services and takeout), select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (not including Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs); 2 points per $1 spent on travel not purchased through Chase; and 1 point per $1 spent on other purchases.
Cons: As a general-purpose travel card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card doesn’t offer free checked bags, preferred boarding or other perks offered by credit cards that carry an airline’s brand.
3. Credit card: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Rating: 4.2 / 5
Annual fee: $149
Rewards rate: 1x-3x (Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases; Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; Earn 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners; Earn 1X point on all other purchases)
Intro offer: Companion Pass® + 30,000 Points
Rewards Breakdown: Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases; Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; Earn 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners; Earn 1X point on all other purchases.
Card details: Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases; Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; Earn 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners; Earn 1X point on all other purchases. Get 7,500 bonus points each year after your account anniversary. Enjoy 4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available, a $75 Southwest® travel credit each year, and 25% back on inflight purchases.
Pros: This card offers the same (excellent) sign-up bonus and earns the same rewards as Southwest cards with annual fees that are $50 to $80 lower. But its perks quickly make up the difference: a $75 annual credit for Southwest purchases, up to four free upgraded boardings every year (worth $30 to $50 apiece), a 7,500-point annual bonus, 20% off in-flight purchases, and a boost toward elite “A-List” status. Rewards: 3 points per dollar on Southwest purchases; 2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting (including ride sharing services), internet, cable, phone services and select streaming; 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
Cons: Many airline credit cards waive the annual fee the first year, but this one does not. Like to travel abroad? Southwest provides service to only a limited number of international destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean.
4. Credit card: United℠ Explorer Card
Rating: 5 / 5
Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95
Rewards rate: 1x-2x (Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases; Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases)
Intro offer: 50,000 miles
Rewards Breakdown: Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining; Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on hotel stays; Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases; Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Card details: Earn 50,000 bonus miles. $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95. 2x miles on United® purchases, dining, and hotel stays. Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club℠ with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary. Free first checked bag – a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip. Terms Apply. Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit. 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Explorer Card.
Pros: You earn 2 miles per dollar on United purchases, at restaurants and on hotel stays; other purchases earn 1 mile per dollar. The first checked bag is free for you and a companion, and you get priority boarding. Each year, you receive two one-time passes to United Club airport lounges, and the card reimburses your application fee for TSA Precheck or Global Entry. You even get primary rental car insurance and a great sign-up bonus.
Cons: Other cards provide a free checked bag for more people traveling on your reservation. As with any branded airline card, you’re limited in how you can redeem your rewards.
5. Credit card: Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
Rating: 4.9 / 5
Annual fee: $99, waived for first 12 months
Rewards rate: 1x-2x (Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, gas stations, and restaurants; Earn 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases)
Intro offer: 75,000 miles
Rewards Breakdown: Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases; Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations; Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at restaurants; Earn 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.
Card details: First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to four companions traveling with you on the same reservation. Enjoy preferred boarding on American Airlines flights
Pros: You get a free checked bag for you and up to four other people on your reservation, priority boarding on domestic flights and a discount on in-flight food and beverage purchases. When using the card, you earn 2 miles per $1 spent with American Airlines, at gas stations and at restaurants, and 1 mile per $1 spent elsewhere. There’s a sign-up bonus: For a limited time, earn 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $3,500 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening. You can earn a $125 flight discount if you put $20,000 on the card in a year. And when you redeem miles, you’ll receive 10% of those miles back, up to 10,000 miles per calendar year.
Cons: When redeeming your miles for travel, you’re limited to American Airlines or other Oneworld partner airlines.
6. Credit card: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card
Rating: 4.5 / 5
Annual fee: $95
Rewards rate: 1x-5x (Earn 5X points on hotels; Earn 4X points on airlines; Earn 3X points on other travel and restaurants; Earn 1X points on other purchases)
Intro offer: 60,000 points (Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months — that’s worth $600 toward travel)
Rewards Breakdown: Earn 5X points on hotels; Earn 4X points on airlines; Earn 3X points on other travel and restaurants; Earn 1X points on other purchases.
Card details: Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months — that’s worth $600 toward travel. Earn 5X points on hotels; Earn 4X points on airlines; Earn 3X points on other travel and restaurants; Earn 1X points on other purchases. Redeem points through Wells Fargo’s travel portal or transfer them to participating airline and hotel partners.
Pros: You earn 5 points per dollar on hotel stays booked directly with the hotel; 4 points per dollar on airfare booked directly with airlines; 3 points per dollar on dining and other travel; and 1 point per dollar elsewhere. There’s a $50 annual airfare credit (minimum purchase $50), trip cancellation/interruption protection and more. Bonus offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip. Finally, the points are flexible and can be redeemed for travel or statement credit at the same penny-per-point value.
Cons: While you can transfer your points to participating hotel and airline loyalty programs, the list of partners is fairly short and includes no domestic airlines. There’s also no credit for the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, an increasingly common benefit on cards in its price range.
