5 Best Airline Credit Cards
Airline credit cards are some of the best ways to earn additional rewards and benefits where you otherwise would not.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Pros
- Earn 2x miles with Delta, supermarkets and restaurants.
- 40,000 bonus miles after $2,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months.
- $0 introductory annual fee.
- Free checked bag + priority boarding.
Cons
- Required credit score of 670+.
- Annual fee of $150 after your first year.
- Benefits apply to Delta specifically.
This is a great option for travelers who frequently use Delta as their preferred airline! As an American Express card, you gain most of the privileges of a Platinum AMEX card without the hefty annual fee of $695 that the competing card offers.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Pros
- 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months.
- 5x points on travel through Chase Travel.
- 3x points on all dining and grocery store purchases.
- Rewards can be redeemed through Chase Travel for multiple airlines/hotels.
Cons
- $95 annual fee.
- Points are less powerful when exchanged for certain airlines/hotels.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is the best option if you’re looking for flexibility. Rather than being bound to a single airline, earn your points with Chase and spend those points at whichever airline or hotel you prefer. Book through Chase Travel for the best rewards value too!
United Quest Card
Pros
- Earn 60,000 miles after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months.
- 3x miles on United purchases.
- 2x miles on all other travel, dining and streaming services.
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.
- 1st and 2nd checked bags free.
Cons
- $250 annual fee.
- Recommended 700+ credit score.
- Rewards are restricted to United Airlines only.
For travelers who use United Airlines as their preferred flight, the United Quest card is arguably the best option on the market. With the two free checked bags guaranteed and the extra miles earned on all travel booked through United, you shouldn’t have a problem making back the $250 annual fee spent on the card!
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
Pros
- Earn 50,000 points after spending $1,000 within the first 3 months.
- 3x points on Southwest purchases.
- 2x points on Rapid Rewards, local transit and commuting, internet, cable, phone services and streaming services.
Cons
- $99 annual fee.
- Points earned can only be spent on Southwest transactions or purchases.
Similar to the cards mentioned above, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier credit card is a great option for travelers who opt to travel with Southwest. With a small annual fee of $99, the card is a great option to earn points on your Southwest travel!
Citi® / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard Credit Card
Pros
- Earn 50,000 miles after spending $2,500 within the first 3 months.
- 2x miles on American Airlines purchases.
- 2x miles on purchases at gas stations and restaurants.
- First checked bag free.
Cons
- $99 annual fee (waived for the first 12 months).
- $125 American Airlines flight discount if you spend $25,000 in one full year.
The Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard is a great option for travelers who often book with American Airlines and are looking for a cheaper annual fee with their credit card! With just a $99 fee, travelers will earn more miles on American Airlines purchases and have some extra benefits for free when booking with American Airlines!
Maximize Your Miles
In most cases, you will earn points based on the amount of miles you purchase through your select airline. Beyond that, you will earn perks like free checked luggage, access to lounges or even in-flight Wi-Fi or food.
In terms of airline credit card options, there certainly are a lot out there for you to choose from. Generally speaking, each card has their own pros and cons that will make it worthwhile for each person on an individual basis.
Love flexibility? The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is probably your best option. Travel regularly through Delta? Well, the Delta SkyMiles Gold AMEX card is probably your best bet!
It’s best to analyze your own position and preferences when looking into the best airline credit card to suit your needs. The five above cards, though, should cover pretty much any desire or preference that you might have.
Check out the best unsecured credit cards if you have bad credit.