At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for .
Why you can trust Bankrate
At Bankrate, we have a mission to demystify the credit cards industry — regardless or where you are in your journey — and make it one you can navigate with confidence. Our team is full of a diverse range of experts from credit card pros to data analysts and, most importantly, people who shop for credit cards just like you. With this combination of expertise and perspectives, we keep close tabs on the credit card industry year-round to:
Meet you wherever you are in your credit card journey to guide your information search and help you understand your options.
Consistently provide up-to-date, reliable market information so you\'re well-equipped to make confident decisions.
Reduce industry jargon so you get the clearest form of information possible, so you can make the right decision for you.
At Bankrate, we focus on the points consumers care about most: rewards, welcome offers and bonuses, APR, and overall customer experience. Any issuers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide to consumers at each of these levels. At each step of the way, we fact-check ourselves to prioritize accuracy so we can continue to be here for your every next.
Editorial Integrity
Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions.
Key Principles
We value your trust. Our mission is to provide readers with accurate and unbiased information, and we have editorial standards in place to ensure that happens. Our editors and reporters thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate. We maintain a firewall between our advertisers and our editorial team. Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our advertisers.
Editorial Independence
Bankrate’s editorial team writes on behalf of YOU – the reader. Our goal is to give you the best advice to help you make smart personal finance decisions. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. Our editorial team receives no direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is thoroughly fact-checked to ensure accuracy. So, whether you’re reading an article or a review, you can trust that you’re getting credible and dependable information.
How We Make Money
You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey.
Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers.
We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money.
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. 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 offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service.
Insurance Disclosure
This content is powered by HomeInsurance.com, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 8781838) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate.com. HomeInsurance.com LLC services are only available in states were it is licensed and insurance coverage through HomeInsurance.com may not be available in all states. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
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 start flying smarter on your next business or leisure trip.
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.
Rewards rate
5X
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
2X
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
Intro offer
75,000 miles
New Venture cardholders can earn 75,000 miles once they spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Annual fee
$95
Regular APR
16.24% - 24.24% (Variable)
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
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.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card earns miles that you can transfer to more than 15 travel partners, including airlines serving North America, Europe and beyond. You earn 2X miles on every purchase, not just travel, so your flexible travel miles will really add up with everyday use.
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.
Rewards rate
5X
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
1.25X
Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day.
Intro offer
20,000 miles
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
15.24% - 25.24% (Variable)
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
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.
If you’re looking for an easy way to earn miles that you can transfer to 15+ travel partners, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card might be your destination. You’ll earn 1.25X miles earned on every purchase, with plenty of flexibility in how you use them and no annual fee to pay.
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.
See if you're pre‐approved for this card with
CardMatch™
Rewards rate
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.
Intro offer
60,000 points
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.
Annual fee
$250
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
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.
For those who make food a central part of their travel experience, the American Express Gold Card has a tasty menu of rewards and perks. You'll earn generous rewards rates at restaurants (including takeout and delivery and Uber Eats purchases in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets, as well as on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
The points you earn with this card do not expire for the life of the account.
Earn up to $120 in dining credits with proper enrollment (up to $10 per month in statement credits when using the card to pay for purchases at participating restaurant partners like Grubhub and Seamless).
Cons
There is a $250 annual fee to hold this card.
There are no intro APR offers on purchases or balance transfers with this card.
Rose Gold is here to stay. Card Members can choose between a Gold or Rose Gold Card.
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.
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: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Boxed, and participating Shake Shack locations. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
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.
Rewards rate
10X
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
5X
5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel.
2X
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
Intro offer
75,000 miles
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
Annual fee
$395
Regular APR
17.24% - 24.24% (Variable)
Recommended credit
Excellent (740 - 850)
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.
Earning directly on flight purchases just got a whole lot easier. Earn 5X miles on flight purchases when booked through Capital One Travel, along with 10X miles on hotel and rental car purchases when booked through Capital One Travel and 2X miles on everything else. You also have plenty of opportunities to earn statement credits that can translate directly into more travel-spending rewards.
This card does not charge foreign transaction fees.
There is no penalty APR attached to this card (though the late payment fee is still up to $40).
Cons
The required spend to earn the intro bonus is fairly high at $10,000 spent in the first 6 months.
You must book through Capital One’s travel portal to reap the full benefits of your rewards rates.
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 up to $300 back annually as statement credits for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of 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
Escape the airport crowd and recharge before your flight with unlimited access to all-inclusive amenities at the Capital One Lounge and at 1,300+ Priority Pass lounges worldwide
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
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
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.
Rewards rate
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, phone services, and select streaming.
Intro offer
Earn 40,000 points.
Earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
Annual fee
$149
Regular APR
16.24% - 23.24% Variable
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
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.
If you're a frequent Southwest flyer who likes a lot of perks, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card has a lot to offer. In addition to earning 3 points per $1 on Southwest purchases and at least 1 point per $1 on other purchases, you'll get many opportunities to enhance your air travel experience.
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.
Rewards rate
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.
Intro offer
50,000 miles
Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
Annual fee
$250
Regular APR
16.49%-25.49% Variable
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
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.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card helps loyal Delta customers get their money's worth when they fly their favorite airline. The annual fee is $250, but you should have little trouble finding value in the perks and benefits, along with solid rewards rates on Delta purchases and several other categories.
You’ll receive discounted lounge access and priority boarding on Delta flights opportunities with this card.
There’s a waived checked bag fee for the first bag on each flight you take with Delta.
Cons
The $250 annual fee could prove to be a bit steep.
Other cards offer a much more accessible welcome offer in terms of the spending required.
Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
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.
Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $75 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
Enjoy an exclusive rate of $39 per person per visit to enter the Delta Sky Club® for you and up to two guests when traveling on a Delta flight.
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.
Rewards rate
2X
Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets.
1X
Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
Intro offer
40,000 Miles
Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
Annual fee
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99
Regular APR
16.49%-25.49% Variable
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
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.
The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card has a welcome offer that's both generous and easy to obtain. The offer represents quite a bit of value, though American Express does charge a $99 annual fee ($0 introductory annual fee for the first 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.
Rewards rate
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, phone services, and select streaming.
1X
Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Intro offer
Earn 40,000 points.
Earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
Annual fee
$69
Regular APR
16.24% to 23.24% Variable
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
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.
Southwest Airlines flyers new to travel rewards should consider the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card as a useful way to learn the basics. Beginners not quite ready for the luxury perks of more expensive options might find this card to be just the ticket.
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.
Rewards rate
2X
Earn 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
2X
Earn 2X Miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases.
1X
Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
Intro offer
10,000 miles
Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $500 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
16.49%-25.49% Variable
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
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.
Annual fees are common with airline cards, which makes the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card something out of the ordinary. Rewards rates are solid, as are the benefits and perks. The cost of owning the Delta SkyMiles Blue card is low, appealing to budget-minded travelers who make Delta their first choice for air travel.
The spending requirement for the welcome offer is fairly accessible for the airline card market at only $500 or more in the first three months to get 10,000 bonus miles.
Your Delta miles won’t expire for the life of the account.
Cons
There are no intro APR offers with this card.
This card does not offer a free checked bag or priority boarding opportunities.
Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $500 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
No Annual Fee.
Earn 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
Earn 2X Miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases, and 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
Pay with Miles: 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 after you use your Card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and audio headsets.
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.
Rewards rate
3X
Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases.
1X
Unlimited 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Intro offer
$100 Statement Credit + 40,000 Bonus Miles
Limited Time Online Offer! Get a $100 statement credit, 40,000 bonus miles and Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ from $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22) with this offer. To qualify, make $2,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Annual fee
$75
Regular APR
16.24% - 24.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
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.
This co-branded airline credit card comes fully-loaded with a generous sign-up bonus, decent base rewards and lucrative ancillary perks, like a free checked bag for you and up to six guests on the same reservation. But its centerpiece is its annual Famous Companion Fare™, which allows you to book a companion flight from just $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22) and renews each account anniversary.
Get a $100 statement credit, 40,000 bonus miles and Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ from $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22) with this offer. To qualify, make $2,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™. Every year on your credit card account anniversary you'll receive a companion fare which allows you to book a companion flight from $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22). Valid on all Alaska Airlines flights booked on alaskaair.com.
Free checked bag for you and up to 6 guests on the same reservation - that's a savings of $60 per person roundtrip!
Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases and unlimited 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases. And, your miles don't expire on active accounts.
With oneworld® Alliance we've expanded our global reach to over 900 destinations worldwide, bringing you more airline partners and more ways to earn and redeem miles.
Flexibility with no blackout dates on Alaska Airlines flights when booking with miles or a companion fare.
Plus, no foreign transaction fees and a low $75 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.
Rewards rate
3X
Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases.
1X
Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
Intro offer
50,000 miles
Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
Annual fee
$550
Regular APR
16.49%-25.49% Variable
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
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.
If you're looking for a supersonic route to elite Medallion Status, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card can help you get there. The welcome offer can help get you on the way to Silver Medallion Status, which begins at 25,000 MQMs.
The card offers luxe rewards for Delta airline loyalists, including access to Delta Sky Club and The Centurion Lounge when traveling on Delta flights.
There’s a great 50,000-mile bonus and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first three months.
Cons
There is a hefty $550 annual fee that comes with holding this card.
The 3X miles rewards rate only applies to Delta purchases.
Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
Earn up to 60,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) With Status Boost® per year. After you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 15,000 MQMs up to four times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
Receive a Domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+® or Main Cabin round -trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $75 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
Complimentary access into the Delta Sky Club® for you when travelling on a Delta flight.
Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
10X miles on hotel and rental car purchases booked through Capital One Travel, 5X miles on flight purchases booked through Capital One Travel and 2X miles on all other purchases
Earn 40,000 bonus miles plus the Famous Companion Fare™ from $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22) after spending $2,000 within the first 90 days
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for flexible travel rewards
What we love about the Venture Rewards card: Capital One makes it easy for travelers to earn both a high rewards rate (on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel) and a generous flat rate of 2X miles on all other purchases.
Who this card is good for: Travelers who want the freedom to transfer miles to different travel partners (Capital One has well over 15) rather than being tied to a single airline or hotel chain.
Alternatives: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card provides better value. Points are worth 1.25 cents when booking travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal—25 percent more than the value of the Venture Rewards mile.
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: Best for flexible travel miles with no annual fee
What we love about the VentureOne Rewards card: With a decent sign-up bonus and a straightforward way to earn miles, this entry-level travel card gives budget travelers a no-frills introduction to travel rewards.
Who this card is good for: Travelers who don’t want to pay an annual fee but want the flexibility to transfer miles to one of Capital One’s airline and hotel transfer partners.
Alternatives: The Chase Freedom Unlimited also charges no annual fee but gives people more bonus rewards categories and a slightly higher flat rate. This cash back card may be more appealing to people not ready to invest in a mid-level travel rewards card that charges an annual fee.
American Express Gold Card: Best for travel rewards on dining
What we love about the Amex Gold Card: On top of the high bonus rewards categories for restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com, Amex offers cardmembers plenty of perks and annual statement credits to help offset the high $250 annual fee.
Who this card is good for: Big spenders who want to leverage their enthusiasm for travel and food into generous Amex Membership Rewards points.
Alternatives: The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a competitive rewards program with points earning 25 percent more when redeemed for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. This might be a better fit for people looking for a more affordable annual fee of $95.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Best Capital One travel card
What we love about the Venture X card: It’s packed with luxury travel benefits, such as lounge access, a credit worth up to $100 on Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and more—all for a $395 annual fee. Other popular travel cards with similar rewards structures charge over $500 annually.
Who this card is good for: People who are looking to try out a more affordable luxury travel experience than those provided by other premier travel cards.
Alternatives: Loyal and frequent Delta flyers in search of luxury will want to invest in the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card instead. Access to the Delta Sky Club lounges, an annual companion certificate and a chance at elite status are only a few of the perks that can help offset the $550 annual fee.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card: Best overall Southwest card
What we love about the Rapid Rewards Priority card: There are plenty of features to help offset the $149 annual fee. Perks include 25 percent back on in-flight drinks and Wi-Fi, a yearly cardmember anniversary bonus of 7,500 points and a chance to earn a companion pass.
Who this card is good for: Loyal Southwest flyers looking for top value on domestic Southwest flights.
Alternatives: Travelers looking for more flexibility in the airlines they fly as well as with how they earn and redeem miles will want to look at a general-purpose travel card like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card: Best for Delta Air Lines perks
What we love about the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card: A generous welcome offer and the annual domestic companion certificate each year after renewing your card make it easy to quickly offset the $250 annual fee. Cardholders still have plenty of other features to take advantage of, including free first checked bag on Delta flights, priority boarding on Delta flights, in-flight savings and lots of travel and shopping protections.
Who this card is good for: Regular Delta flyers and even the occasional traveler looking to save on yearly domestic vacation costs can squeeze plenty of value out of the SkyMiles Platinum card.
Alternatives: If you’re not loyal to Delta, the American Express Gold Card comes with supersized rewards earning potential and dining credits that may help offset the lack of Delta-Specific features. The Gold Card also comes with Amex’s impressive Membership Rewards program, which offers greater flexibility in how you redeem points.
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card: Best welcome offer
What we love about the SkyMiles Gold card: The $0 intro annual fee for the first year (then $99) gives you time to take advantage of an impressive welcome offer and see if the features and benefits it comes with are enough for you.
Who this card is good for: Budget-friendly travelers looking for a no-frills credit card will appreciate perks like free first checked bag on Delta flights, priority boarding on Delta flights, in-flight discounts and chance for a $100 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 in a calendar year.
Alternatives: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has greater flexibility. It lets you earn an unlimited 2 miles per dollar on all of your purchases. Rewards can be redeemed for a broad range of travel purchases, and Capital One Miles can be used for a variety of valuable redemption options.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card: Best Southwest starter card
What we love about the Rapid Rewards Plus card: Even with a low annual fee of $69, select travelers can get a lot of value out of this starter card.
Who this card is good for: Budget-friendly domestic travelers looking to sample Southwest travel benefits, which include a solid rewards program, sign-up and anniversary bonuses, as well as travel and purchase protections.
Alternatives: Thanks to a high bonus travel miles category, sign-up bonus and a variety of travel perks, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a standout alternative that rivals this card.
Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card: Best airline card with no annual fee
What we love about the SkyMiles Blue card: This starter Delta SkyMiles card lets travelers rack up unlimited miles while also sampling a few other perks.
Who this card is good for: Occasional travelers who want to fly Delta with the help of a no-frills, no-annual-fee travel rewards card that can help them earn SkyMiles.
Alternatives: If you want a few more perks than the SkyMiles Blue offers, the Delta SkyMiles Gold adds U.S. supermarkets to the list of categories you can earn rewards and offers free first checked bag along with priority boarding on Delta flights. And to top it off, the intro annual fee is $0 (then $99 annually).
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card: Best companion discount
What we love about the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card: Fans of this West Coast-based airline will get a lot of value out of this $75 a year card. The sign-up bonus, free checked bag, discounts on inflight purchases and day passes for Alaska Airlines lounges, as well as a chance at a discounted companion fare every year are some of the standout features.
Who this card is good for: Loyal Alaska Airlines flyers who frequently travel with friends or family members. They could easily save hundreds of dollars with the Famous Companion Fare from just $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22).
Alternatives: Not ready to commit to one airline? The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card lets you earn unlimited miles on all of your purchases that can be redeemed for all sorts of travel costs beyond just airline.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card: Best for Delta Medallion members
What we love about the SkyMiles Reserve card: Delta packs in plenty of premier features that justify the steep $550 annual fee. Fans of complimentary access to Delta Sky Clubs and annual companion certificates should have no trouble offsetting that annual fee.
Who this card is good for: Loyal Delta flyers looking to travel in comfort and style.
Alternatives: The Capital One Venture X has a lower annual fee ($395) and more chances to earn unlimited miles on everyday spending. Those miles can then be transferred to a number of hotel and airline partners.
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 can sometimes earn miles in other categories. Then, those miles are redeemed for award airfare with that specific airline.
You can use airline credit cards just like a more general rewards credit card, but that may not be the best strategy for maximizing rewards. 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.
How do airline credit cards work?
Airline credit cards work just like regular credit cards—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 redeemable only for Delta flights, while Southwest Priority Rewards card rewards are used for Southwest airfare.
Most airline cards have higher rewards rates for purchases made directly with the airline, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be used 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 sort of a 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 loyalty programs and transfer partners
Some credit card issuers offer general travel rewards cards that aren’t tied to a specific airline. Instead, they partner with airlines for more flexibility in redeeming points for airfare. While airline loyalty programs let you earn miles only with that airline, issuers will let you exchange points for miles with their transfer partners. Here are major airline loyalty programs and issuers with airline transfer partners:
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 are tied to a specific airline like American Airlines, Delta, Southwest or United. These co-branded credit cards reward your loyalty with exclusive perks you won’t find with general travel cards. These may include free checked bags, priority boarding, companion tickets and even accelerated elite status. Unfortunately, redemption options usually aren’t as flexible with airline credit cards, which can typically only be redeemed for plane tickets with that specific airline.
In contrast, travel credit cards are not tied to specific airlines. Although you won’t earn the exclusive perks, travel rewards cards are more versatile and let you earn and redeem in a variety of travel-related ways. This includes different airlines, hotels and car rentals. Depending on the travel credit card, you might also be able to redeem your points or miles for cash, gift cards and merchandise, though the value may not be as high as when you redeem for travel.
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, saving money and getting more value out of your travel budget.
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.
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 on your airline of choice and decide to never fly with that carrier again, your co-branded airline card loses value.
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.
Who should get an airline credit card?
Cash back cards benefit shoppers and business credit cards are designed for small business owners, but who should get an airline card? The answer might be you if you fit any of these categories:
If you’re already a diehard fan of a particular airline, it makes sense to get a co-branded card that earns miles redeemable with it. Not only do you boost the amount of miles you earn on your spending, but most airlines offer valuable perks and benefits with their cards that make flying easier.
Frequent air travel costs a lot, but that cost also creates opportunities. By rewarding every dollar spent on tickets and other eligible purchases, an airline credit card can help your travel dollar go further.
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.
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.
If you’re new to the travel rewards game, an airline credit card could be a valuable teaching tool. You can use it to learn the ins and outs of rewards programs, redemption policies, transferring to travel partners and more.
Still unsure if an airline credit card is right for you? Check out our Credit Card Spender Type Tool where you can get personalized credit card recommendations based on your credit score, spending habits and daily needs.
How to choose the right airline credit card
An airline credit card can be a great way to make travel more affordable. The best card for you will fit your travel habits and your budget. Getting an airline credit card can be an exciting thing, but asking yourself the right questions about a card is important.
To be sure an airline credit card is right for you, ask yourself these questions:
Do I have a 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.
Do I care about perks?
Many airline credit cards offer great perks,like free lounge access or discounted in-flight purchases. These perks typically come at a cost though. Airline credit cards tend to come with higher annual fees. An elevated travel experience might be worth it if you travel often or just prefer it. Be sure you’re willing to spend the extra money for the benefits.
What’s my credit like?
Any type of travel card typically requires a good-to-excellent credit score (670-850). If your credit score isn’t quite there yet start working on building it up before you begin your search for an airline credit card. (Here are some ways to improve your credit score.)
Does this card match my spending habits?
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, like gas and groceries, not just travel-related expenses. This makes it possible to earn points and free-or-discounted airfare, even if you’re not 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 questions 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 that you may qualify for and review issuer offers to find one that works for you.
Bankrate insight
If you’re looking for an easy way to earn extra rewards with your airline credit card, look no further than your appetite. Several airlines, including Southwest, United and American, have dining programs that let you earn additional points at participating restaurants.
3 ways to maximize your airline miles’ value
Once you’ve accumulated thousands of airline miles, it’s time to redeem them for your next vacation or trip. When earning and using airline miles, here are some things to keep in mind to reap maximum value:
Pair airline cards and travel 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.
Take full advantage of sign-up bonuses. 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.
Track blackout dates and off-peak times. 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.
Bankrate insight
With cards that offer airline companion passes, there’s a lot of variation in how you qualify. Requirements can include completing a number of flights within a certain time period, earning a specific amount of points or spending a required amount of money with your card. It’s another example of how it pays to read the terms and conditions.
Should I get an airline credit card in 2022?
Travel in 2022 may be increasing—especially from the U.S. to Europe, but Covid-related trip cancellations and interruptions are still a distinct possibility.
If travel is a bit farther down your to-do list, it may still make sense to get an airline card. If you have an airline card that rewards a variety of spending, you can get rewarded for purchases like your daily coffee or gas and use those points to fund travel at a later time.
How we chose our list of the best airline credit cards
Finding the right airline credit card can be complicated, but Bankrate's independent research helps clear the air so that you can make an informed choice. We review cards from our partners using a 5-star system, and our analysis in the category of airline credit cards focuses on:
Rewards
We evaluate each card's rewards program on its rewards rate (mile per $1 spent and inclusion of non-airline spending categories), as well as the ease of redemption.
Perks
We factor in additional benefits, such as priority boarding or free checked bags, that enhance the travel experience and increase the card's overall value.
Annual fee
We consider the annual cost of owning the card (if applicable) and determine whether the fee is justified by rewards, perks or sign-up bonuses.
More information on airline credit cards
Learn more about airline credit cards using educational resources from Bankrate:
Have more questions for our credit cards editors? Feel free to send us an email, find us on Facebook, or Tweet us @Bankrate.
Frequently asked questions about airline credit cards
Airline credit cards may be worth it if you are a frequent flyer who prefers flying 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 they earn should also consider a general-purpose travel rewards credit card that earns transferable points.
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:
American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card
United Gateway Card
the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card
The answer depends on your loyalty program. As of 2022, Delta, JetBlue, United and Southwest do not expire miles. However, American Airlines miles expire in 18 months, Alaska Airline miles expire in two years and Frontier miles expire in six months if there is no qualified activity on the account.
Some loyalty programs might offer the chance to buy back miles that you've lost to expiration, but be prepared to pay more for them than the value of unexpired miles.
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.
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.
Mariah Ackary is a personal finance writer who specializes in small businesses and credit. Mariah is a lifelong writer, but joined the Bankrate team in 2019, excited by the opportunity to help people make good financial decisions. Send your questions to mackary@bankrate.com
* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.
Advertiser Disclosure
Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. The offers that appear on this site are from companies from which Bankrate.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they may appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and the likelihood of applicants' credit approval also impact how and where products appear on this site. Bankrate.com does not include the entire universe of available financial or credit offers. Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover.