Best Airline Credit Cards In 2024

Every traveler would love to enjoy perks or bonuses on their trips. Access to the best airline credit cards is a popular way for passengers to save money and enjoy unlimited rewards.

Every major local and global airline with a significant U.S. presence advertises credit cards to passengers. However, this makes it difficult for passengers to determine which credit card brand will provide the best travel credit in 2024.

So, continue reading as we evaluate the best airline credit card brands and help you make the best choice.

Airline Credit Cards: Best Choices

Most frequent fliers will select a credit card offered by their preferred airline. However, comparing other good airline cards will help you make a better choice and allow you to make the most of your flying miles.

There is a plethora of airline credit cards available in the industry. Sifting through the numerous cards to come up with the best required us to take into account the following:

Quality of the airline’s frequent flier programs
The value of points
Access to lounges
Annual fees
Good travel perks
Spending requirements

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is among the best airline credit cards available. At only $95 a year, this plan is affordable for everyone. Its adaptability makes it suitable for both frequent and infrequent flyers.

Rewards

This brand’s credit card cements itself as one of the best by offering a huge points bonus. There is a 60,000 bonus points award for purchases totaling $4000 during the first three months of having the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

They offer 5 points per dollar on travel booked through the Chase travel portal. Also, the ability to transfer those points to quality hotel partners or redeem them is another good benefit.

Interest rate

The APR ranges from 20.24% to 27.24%.

Credit Score:

680-850

Pros

Huge signup bonus
Quality partners in the hospitality industry
Good APR and interest rates
Good system of earning points
Top-tier travel safety features such as vehicle rentals and lost luggage insurance.

Cons

Low return on daily expenditures
Cost of the signup fee.

Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Credit Card

Priced at $75 per annum, the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card stands out from the competition with its unique perks. One such perk is the companion fare, where a cardholder can buy a plane ticket for a friend or family member for $121.

However, to qualify for this deal, the cardholder must spend a minimum of $2,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of creating an account.

Rewards

Due to Alaska Airlines’ poor coverage, travelers are rewarded with three miles for every dollar spent on their services and one mile for every dollar spent elsewhere. Also, they provide perks like free checked bags, discounts at airport lounges, and cashback on in-flight purchases.

Interest rate

Currently, the APR ranges from 20.24% to 27.24%.

Credit Score:

680-850

Pros

Annual companion fare
Dynamic points award system
Quality partners in the hospitality industry
Good system of earning points.

Cons

Low return on daily expenditures
Cost of signup fee
Limited flight coverage.

American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card

The American Airlines AAdvantage MileUpSM Card, with its annual $0 price membership, is a basic card with no exceptional features. This card is appropriate for entry applicants to earn additional American Airlines points at no cost. However, it is not among the most widely held because of its meager set of bonuses and lackluster card protections.

Rewards

With the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUpSM Card, cardholders can earn double miles when buying groceries, double miles on eligible American Airlines purchases, and one mile per dollar on everything else they buy.

Interest rate

Currently, the APR ranges from 20.24% to 27.24%.

Credit Score:

680-850

Pros

No annual fee.

Cons

Low return on daily expenditures
Limited benefits and perks
No purchase protection benefits
Foreign transaction fee.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

The Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard, which has an annual cost of $99 but is waived the first year, is one of the more affordable cards geared at American Airlines passengers.

Their welcome bonus rewards new cardholders with 50,000 points after expenditures worth $2500 in the first 90 days of opening an account.

Rewards:

Cardholders get 2 miles for every dollar expenditure at American Airlines.
For every dollar spent at restaurants and gas stations, cardholders are awarded two-mile rewards.
For all other purchases, 1 mile is equivalent to 1 dollar.

Interest rate:

Although variable, the APR ranges from 19.74% to 28.74%.

Credit Score:

670-850

Pros

No annual fee in the first year
Huge signup bonus
Best system of awarding points.

Cons

Low return on daily expenditures
Limited benefits and perks.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

The Delta SkyMiles Card offers loyal fliers access to premium perks at a reasonable cost, with a $0 first-year annual fee and a $99 renewal charge. However, because Delta employs a dynamic award pricing structure, redemption prices always change.

Rewards

As a Delta Gold American Express cardholder, you will receive the following rewards in exchange for using the card:

Delta offers cardholders 2 miles for every dollar spent.
Two miles for every dollar spent on dining out, including U.S. takeaway and delivery services.
In American supermarket purchases, your $1 will get you two miles.
You’ll earn one mile for every dollar spent on all other purchases.

Interest rate:

Although variable, the APR ranges from 19.85% to 28.50%.

Credit Score:

670-850

Pros

No annual fee in the first year
God signup bonus
Rewards everyday expenses.

Cons

Limited redemption options
Not as effective as sister cards.

The Chase Aeroplan credit card, which debuted in December 2021, is the most recent and most beneficial airline credit card available. Cardholders can earn points that may be redeemed for future flights when using this card to book flights on Air Canada or one of its partner airlines.

Yearly Cost:

$95

Rewards:

Spending money on groceries earns you 3 points.
When dining out, earn 3 points for every $1 spent.
Direct purchases with Air Canada get triple points.
All other purchases get one point for every dollar spent.
Earn 500 extra points for every $2000 spent in a given month.

Interest rate

Currently, the APR ranges from 20.24% to 27.24%.

Credit Score:

680-850

Pros

Dynamic points award system
Quality partners in the hospitality industry
Faster system of earning points.

Cons

Low return on daily expenditures
Cost of signup fee.

United℠ Explorer Card

The UnitedSM Explorer Card is the airline’s best credit card since it caters to the broadest range of customers, regardless of how often they fly. It has a $0 introductory annual charge for the first year and afterward $95, but it offers perks that few other airline and travel credit cards do.

Rewards

You can earn 2 MileagePlus miles for every $1 you spend on United.
You’ll earn double miles for every dollar spent at restaurants and hotel rooms booked directly with the hotel.
For any other expenditures, cardholders get 1 mile for every $1.
Their welcome bonus rewards new cardholders with 60,000 extra after expenditures worth $3000 within 90 days of opening an account.

Interest rate:

Although variable, the APR ranges from 19.84% to 28.74%.

Pros

No annual fee in the first year
Huge signup bonus
No foreign transactions.

Cons

Low return on daily expenditures.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Suppose you often fly with Delta and want access to lounges, a faster path to elite status, and a voucher for a local travel companion every year. In that case, the Delta Reserve American Express is the card for you.

Rewards:

You can earn three miles for every dollar for purchases made directly with Delta.
All other purchases get 1 mile for every $1 spent.
Their welcome bonus rewards new cardholders with 60,000 bonus points and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after expenditures worth $5,000 within 180 days of opening an account.

Interest rate:

Although variable, the APR ranges from 19.84% to 28.77%.

Pros

No annual fee in the first year
Huge signup bonus
Priority Boarding
First checked bag
MQMs and MQDs waiver

Cons

Low return on daily expenditures
Limited benefits and perks.

What Are Airline Credit Cards?

Airline credit cards are a kind of credit card associated with a particular airline brand or loyalty program and allow users to earn frequent flier miles or points on every transaction.

Using your airline credit card, you earn points for every dollar spent. Also, you get different points per dollar spent on different cards and with different kinds of purchases.

How do Airline Credit Cards Work?

When cardholders make purchases with the associated airline, they are often rewarded with frequent flier points or other good perks. The points you earn from using a credit card issued by an airline can be transferred straight to your frequent flier account.

These cards offer simple ways to rack up points and miles with every transaction. Some ways to rack up points include.

Buying products or services through the airline’s shopping portal
Patronizing an airline dining program
Qualifying for welcome bonuses
Pool miles from affiliate loyalty programs

What is Airline Miles?

Spending money with an airline or using a credit card co-branded with the airline earns you airline miles, also called frequent flier points. Once accumulated, members may use their miles to buy flights or other prizes through the loyalty program.

Depending on the program, you may be eligible for other incentives, such as modifications or brand products.

How to Choose The Best Airline Credit Card

Choosing the best airline card is a personal decision. However, you can choose the best airline card by answering the following questions.

Is this your regular airline?

Getting an airline credit card with your preferred airline proves sensible as you are already comfortable with their services.

Is it possible to rack up points?

The accumulation of points depends on the types of points you want to acquire. However, If you want the easiest points, consider a card that allows you to apply points toward travel.

Also, some cards allow you to cash in points or trade them with affiliate partners.

What benefits would you most need on your trip?

Picking up in terms of benefits is another reason to get an airline card. If you would love to access the lounge, want free checked bags, priority boarding, etc., apply for a card that will give you the most available benefits.

Pros and Cons Of Airline Credit Cards

Compared to other travel rewards credit cards, the typical airline credit card doesn’t have as many showy perks and plush incentives. A credit card issued by an airline may be worth considering if you’re hoping to quickly rack up bonus miles or cut costs on your next vacation.

However, before applying for one, you should consider the benefits and drawbacks of an airline credit card. This evaluation will tell you whether or not purchasing one is beneficial.

Pros	Cons
A free upgrade to a better seat	This might force you to choose just one airline.
One bag of checked luggage is free	An annual charge for most brands.
Companion tickets are either free or highly subsidized.	Having less generous welcome bonuses
Lounge access at the Airport	Fewer chances to accumulate bonus miles
Offers of savings on in-flight purchases	Challenges in claiming rewards

Airline Credit Cards vs. Travel Credit Cards

For casual and frequent fliers, travel rewards offer a veritable convenience. General travel and airline credit cards are the most popular rewards travelers look for when planning to travel, and though they both give benefits to fliers, there are some distinctions.

Airline credit cards are less versatile in terms of award redemption options. Still, they do provide perks for frequent flyers who are devoted to a specific airline, such as lounge access at the airport, no foreign transaction fees, and expedited elite status earning.

In contrast, points accrued with a travel rewards credit card aren’t tied to any particular travel company; instead, they may be redeemed for any trip, either through the card’s travel site or by exchanging them with a wide variety of hotel and airline partners.

Valuable Tips on How to Maximize Airline Miles’ Value

Almost as essential as selecting the best card for you is learning how to optimize the value of the miles you earn with a particular airline. Most of the effort required to maximize card advantages and rewards is spent selecting the optimal card to earn points.

After making a set number of purchases in the first few months after opening an account, many airline and travel credit cards provide lucrative welcome bonuses. Utilizing these deals is a smart strategy for maximizing mileage and point accumulation.

You may further increase the value of your miles and points by transferring them across airlines that are members of the same airline alliance. Also, ensure you know the guidelines for your chosen program and how to maintain your account status while you’re not on the move.

Dive Into Additional Card Analyses

FAQ

How do airline credit cards work?

When cardholders make purchases with the associated airline, they are often rewarded with frequent flier points or other perks. The points earned from using an airline issued credit card can be used to enjoy benefits such as priority boarding, free bag check, lounge access, and sometimes cash back.

Should I get an airline credit card?

Those who frequently fly or are considering flying with a specific airline may benefit most from having a credit card issued by that airline. Although most major airline credit cards offer airline credit cards, it is up to an individual to decide if the card’s benefits will be of any use to them.

How to cancel an Alaska airline credit card?

Here’s what you have to cancel your Alaska Airlines credit card:

If you want to close your credit card account, you should call the company that issued your card.
If you have any unredeemed prizes, utilize them first before canceling.
Get your credit card balance down to zero.
Make sure your credit card balance is zero by calling the credit card company or checking online.
The credit bureaus should be contacted, and a dispute filed if problems are encountered.

Which airline credit card has the best perks?

Each traveler has unique requirements, so it’s impossible to recommend a single credit card as the best option. Although there are a lot of airline credit cards to choose from, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is often regarded as the best option.

What documents do I need to get an airline credit card?

You don’t need a document to get an airline credit card. However, you should know that your credit score is crucial when applying for an airline credit card.

Your interest rate and other loan terms will be determined in large part by your credit history and credit ratings. This has a significant impact on your ability to manage your credit.