The information about the The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® and the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
Editorial disclosure: All reviews are prepared by Bankrate.com staff. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of the reviewer and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, presented in the review is accurate as of the date of the review. Check the data at the top of this page and the bank’s website for the most current information.
Get ready for takeoff with Bankrate’s best airline credit cards
Airline credit cards can help frequent flyers make the most of their travels. The best airline cards not only help you save money but also make your travel experience more enjoyable, convenient and maybe even a little luxurious.
From bonus miles on airline purchases to discounts while you’re in the air, a top-rated airline credit card is a must-have for the savvy traveler. You can trust Bankrate to help you choose the right one for you and figure out how to use the card to its maximum value.
Compare Bankrate’s top-ranked airline credit cards
| Card Name |
Our pick for … |
Highlights |
Bankrate Score |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card |
Flexible travel rewards |
2x miles on every purchase |
4.7/5 (Read full card review) |
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card |
Flexible travel miles with no annual fee |
1.25x miles on every purchase |
4.4/5 (Read full card review) |
| American Express® Gold Card |
Travel rewards on dining |
4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide, 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com |
4.4/5 (Read full card review) |
| Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card |
Best welcome offer |
Earn 35,000 Bonus Miles after making $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months |
4.3/5 (Read full card review |
| Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card |
Best airline card with no annual fee |
Earn 2x miles per $1 on purchases made directly with Delta Air Lines and at restaurants worldwide |
4.3/5 (Read full card review) |
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card |
Delta Medallion members |
Earn 40,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs after you spend $3,000 in your first 3 months |
4.6/5 (Read full card review) |
| Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card |
Airline-specific perks |
Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights, domestic round-trip free companion certificate after 1 year (taxes and fees apply). |
4.5/5 (Read full card review) |
| Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® |
American Airlines frequent flyers |
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles per $1 on eligible American Airlines purchases and at gas stations and restaurants |
4.2/5 (Read full card review) |
| Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card |
Best companion discount |
Earn Famous Companion Fare™ from $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22) after spending $2,000 within the first 90 days |
4.7/5 (Read full card review) |
A closer look at our best airline credit cards
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Best for flexible travel rewards
Although the Capital One Venture isn’t connected to a single specific airline, air travelers could still find it useful thanks to the versatile nature of the Capital One Miles program. Capital One has 10+ travel transfer partners, including airlines such as JetBlue, Aeromexico, Air Canada and Air France.
Annual fee: $95
Highlights:
- 2x miles earned on every purchase
- Transfer miles to Capital One travel partners, book through Capital One’s portal or redeem for recent travel
- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 60,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $600 in travel
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credits up to $100
Read our Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review.
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Best for flexible travel miles with no annual fee
As the lower-cost version of Capital One’s Venture card, the VentureOne earns less miles per purchase (1.25x compared with 2x) but doesn’t charge an annual fee. You’ll still enjoy the same versatility with using your miles, including the option of transferring them to several Capital One airline partners.
Annual fee: $0
Highlights:
- 1.25x miles per dollar earned on every purchase
- Transfer Capital One miles to JetBlue, Air France, Air Canada or any other Capital One travel partners
- Earn 20,000 bonus miles after spending $500 within three months of account opening
- Perks include 24-hour travel assistance service and Auto Rental Insurance (Benefits only available to accounts approved for the Visa Signature card. Terms apply)
Read our Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card review.
American Express® Gold Card
Best for travel rewards on dining
Since it carries a terrific rewards rate not only on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, but also at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets, the Amex Gold Card should offer great flexibility for restaurant lovers and home cooks alike. You can redeem points for travel through the Amex portal or transfer to one of the issuer’s many airline and hotel partners, often at a higher point value.
Annual fee: $250
Highlights:
- Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide, 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, and 1 point per dollar on other purchases (Terms apply)
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months
- Annual credits include a $100 hotel credit and $120 dining credit (up to $10 per month) at participating locations
- Transfer points to more than 20 airline and hotel partners, most at a 1:1 ratio
Read our American Express® Gold Card review.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Best welcome offer
This card’s intro bonus offers a generous reward (35,000 Bonus Miles) for a relatively modest effort (a spending requirement of just $1,000 in the first 3 months). You can find a card with a larger welcome offer, but don’t be surprised if you have to spend a lot more to earn it. The rewards program and travel perks also help make this card an attractive option for frequent Delta Air Lines travelers.
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99
Highlights:
- Earn 35,000 Bonus Miles after you make $1,000 in purchases within your first 3 months.
- Spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year and receive a $100 Delta Flight.
- Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights so you can stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
- Check your first bag free on Delta flights, a savings of up to $240 per round trip for a family of four.
Read our Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card review.
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
Best airline card with no annual fee
For Delta loyalists who want a no annual fee option to help them rack up more SkyMiles, the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card is a great fit. You’ll earn 2X miles at restaurants worldwide and on directly-made Delta purchases, plus 1X miles on all other purchases. While you aren’t getting the same perks that come with higher-tier Delta cards, this card is a great option for those who are newer to the points and miles game.
Annual fee: $0
Highlights:
- 10,000 bonus miles after spending $500 within the first 3 months
- 20 percent savings in the form of a statement credit for eligible in-flight purchases
- No blackout dates on Delta flights
- Purchase protection, extended warranty on eligible purchases and other American Express benefits
Read our Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card review.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Best for Delta Medallion members
This card’s welcome bonus alone gets you 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) when you spend $3,000 in the first three months. Plus, for every $30,000 you spend in a calendar year, you’ll earn an additional 15,000 MQMs (up to four times per year). Max out this bonus and you could take home 70,000 MQMs in your first year, almost enough for Platinum Medallion status.
Annual fee: $550
Highlights:
- Earn 4X miles at U.S. supermarkets, 3X miles per on eligible Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on general purchases (Terms apply)
- Earn 40,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months.
- Earn 15,000 additional Medallion Qualification Miles for every $30,000 you spend in a calendar year, up to 4 times per year
- Enjoy perks like an annual round-trip companion certificate (valid for domestic first class or Comfort+), a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, Delta Sky Club and Centurion Lounge access and no foreign transaction fees
Read our Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card review.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Best for airline-specific perks
Delta loyalists will appreciate this card’s generous perks, which more than cover the card’s $250 annual fee. Highlights include discounted Delta Sky Club access for you and two companions, a 20 percent discount on in-flight purchases, priority boarding, preferred seating and, perhaps best of all, an annual companion certificate that allows you to bring a friend or family member along on an eligible round-trip domestic flight.
Annual fee: $250
Highlights:
- Earn 3X miles on directly purchased Delta airfare, 3X miles on purchases made directly with hotels, 2X miles on restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases and 1 mile per dollar on general purchases (Terms apply)
- Earn 40,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles when you spend $2,000 in the first 3 months.
- Earn 10,000 additional Medallion Qualification Miles for every $25,000 you spend in a calendar year, up to 2 times per year
- Enjoy perks like an annual round-trip companion certificate, first checked bag free on Delta flights, priority boarding, discounted Delta Sky Club lounge access and no foreign transaction fees
Read our Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card review.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
Best for American Airlines frequent flyers
This card offers several attributes that American Airlines brand loyalists will find attractive. The generous rewards rate on eligible American Airlines purchases, and at gas stations and restaurants, should make it easy to earn the sign-up bonus, especially for frequent flyers who use the card strategically. If you spend $20,000 or more in your first year and renew your card, you can look forward to another reward: a $125 American Airlines Flight Discount
Annual fee: $99, waived for first 12 months
Highlights:
- Earn 2X AAdvantage® miles per $1 on eligible American Airlines purchases, as well as 2X miles per $1 at gas stations and restaurants.
- Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 within the first 3 months.
- Get your first checked bag for free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to four companions traveling with you on the same reservation
- Preferred boarding on American Airlines flights.
Read our Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® review.
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card
Best companion discount
With the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card, you’ll earn unlimited 3X miles for every dollar spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases, plus 1 mile on every dollar spent on all other purchases. After spending $2,000 within the first 90 days of account opening, you’ll also receive a 40,0000- bonus miles and their Famous Companion Fare™ from $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22). For those who frequent travel with friends or family members, you can easily save hundreds of dollars with the Companion Fare™ perk alone.
Annual fee: $75
Highlights:
- 40,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 within the first 90 days of account opening
- Free checked baggage for you and 6 guests on the same reservation
- Cardholders are automatically enrolled in the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Dining Rewards program, which earns up to 1 mile for every $2 spent at more than 11,000 restaurants nationwide
Read our Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card review.
What is an airline credit card?
An airline card is a credit card, often co-branded with a major issuer like American Express or Citi, that offers rewards and perks for those loyal to a specific airline. Typically, these cards offer bonus miles for purchases made directly with the airline, and potentially for other categories as well. You can then redeem those miles for award airfare with the 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.
How do airline credit cards work?
Airline credit cards work in conjunction with a travel loyalty program, like Delta SkyMiles. You earn miles by using the airline card for eligible purchases and in some cases by spending enough to qualify for the card’ sign-up bonus. Then you redeem the miles you’ve earned, applying them to travel-related expenses.
Most airline cards have higher rewards rates for purchases made directly with the airline, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be utilized elsewhere. Many cards earn miles on everyday purchases, including groceries, gas, dining and other categories. Using an airline rewards card can not only earn miles but also add a little excitement to an otherwise mundane transaction.
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.
As is with any credit card, airline cardholders must pay off their balance each month to reap the full benefits. Failure to keep up with payments can lead to interest charges and late fees, affecting the card’s value.
Learn more with Bankrate: Loyalty programs and airline transfer partners
For airline credit cardholders, loyalty programs and transfer partners are essential parts of the travel toolkit. Both offer the potential for more value, more flexibility and a better overall travel experience.
Here’s a list of informative resources from Bankrate:
Loyalty program guides
Airline transfer partner guides
The difference between airline and travel credit cards
Most airline cards only offer worthwhile rewards on brand-specific purchases. Plus, your redemption options usually aren’t as flexible as with a travel rewards card.
The best travel rewards cards come with a variety of redemption options — like hotel stays, dining expenses and gift cards — in addition to airfare purchases. Also, these cards often feature more ways to earn miles for non-travel purchases.
For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card allows you to earn 2X points on a number of different travel and dining purchases, and you aren’t limited to redeeming points within a certain list of airlines. The Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card earns 3X points on travel, at gas stations and on transit costs.
At the end of the day, choosing a credit card is about finding one that fits your lifestyle. If you’re constantly on the move and live near an airline’s main hub, an airline card is probably your best bet. Anyone interested in travel but not fully committed to one airline could find great benefit from a travel card.
How to choose the right airline credit card
Airline credit cards are great for those who book flights at least a few times a year, especially if you have an allegiance to a particular airline. However, you don’t have to be loyal to just one flight provider to enjoy the benefits of an airline credit card.
Whether you’re a travel newbie or a frequent luxury traveler, there is an airline card out there that can help you upgrade your flight experience. Here’s how:
Decide whether you want brand-specific perks
Beyond offering a way to rack up miles, airline cards typically offer brand-specific benefits and perks that general travel cards do not. Prioritizing which of the add-ons matter most to you is a great way to sort through your options. Common perks that come with an airline credit card include:
- Preferred boarding
- Discounts on in-flight purchases
- First checked bag free
- Lounge access
If you’re willing to pay a higher annual fee, some top-tier airline cards will offer elite status (or at least an easier path to elite status) or anniversary bonus miles. Elite status with an airline can help you score flight upgrades, priority boarding (which is better than preferred boarding) and more.
Know what kind of traveler you are
If you want to take full advantage of an airline card, you’ll want to first take stock of your travel preferences and needs. Do you use a certain airline for certain trips, or would you prefer earning points on all purchases made to redeem for travel? Consider the following guidelines on airline cards for specific types of travelers:
The travel beginner
When you’re first getting into points and miles, flexibility is a hot commodity. You want the ability to earn rewards across multiple categories and redeem for more than just one airline. Consider a card like the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card. You won’t have to pay an annual fee, and Delta offers various ways to rack up miles. The card itself will earn 2X miles on restaurants worldwide and directly-made Delta purchases (plus 1X miles on all other purchases), but you can also earn Delta SkyMiles when you stay with Airbnb, by shopping through the Delta portal, dining at a participating SkyMiles Dining location, flying with their airline partners and more. You will also be able to redeem your miles with multiple airlines.
The business traveler
If you’re flying the same routes on the same airline often, it only makes sense to take advantage of the perks an airline card can get you. A business credit card that offers an elite-qualifying dollar waiver is an excellent option in this case. These cards help you reach elite status faster, bringing you exclusive perks like Priority Boarding and automatic upgrades when available. Delta, United and Southwest all have business credit card options that waive certain elite status requirements by hitting certain spend requirements.
The luxury traveler
Top-tier airline credit cards offer incredible perks that help luxury travelers upgrade their overall travel experience. While they also typically come with a larger annual fee, the value of the benefits can easily surpass the cost of the fee with any committed frequent flyer.
CardSmart: Which trusted traveler security program is best for you?
Expedited security programs such as TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and CLEAR can greatly reduce your wait time at the airport. The question is, which one works best for you?
Here’s some advice from Bankrate on how to choose the option that fits the way you travel:
More programs and more resources
- NEXUS — Expedited entry into the U.S. from Canada
- SENTRI — Expedited entry into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico
How to maximize the value of your airline miles
Many major airlines are devaluing the worth of their miles by introducing dynamic award pricing and making it harder to hit elite status. However, that doesn’t mean it’s time to give up on earning airline miles. You still have several ways to make the most of them.
Pair airline cards with general 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.
Don’t let unused miles expire or get stale
Airline miles can decline in value over time, and some loyalty program miles even expire after an extended period of inactivity. If you’re willing to put in the work to get the most out of your airline miles, you can save hundreds of dollars on flights and receive additional benefits that make flying more enjoyable.
Explore transfer partners
Many major airlines have other airline partners, and you can transfer points between the programs. Some are also members of international airline alliances. American Airlines, for example, is a member of the oneworld® alliance partners. You can redeem your rewards earned with American Airlines for flights with any of the airlines in the alliance. Make sure to read the terms and conditions for any airline rewards credit card you’re interested in to find out about transfer policies.
How credit score affects your choice of airline cards
Airline credit cards generally require good to excellent credit (670-850) in order to be approved. So no need to prematurely fret if you’re on the lower end of that spectrum. You can still qualify for a top-tier airline credit card with a lower credit score — just know that this means you probably won’t be approved for the lowest interest rates or highest lines of credit. However, you can always work to increase your score over time so you can eventually be approved for an airline card.
Five ways to build up your credit score
There’s no shortcut to getting a better credit score, but you can take certain steps to achieve the goal. With patience and discipline, you can help your credit score take flight and get one step closer to qualifying for an airline credit card.
- Get a secured credit card or credit-builder card. Used properly, these cards could help you see positive results in a matter of months.
- Make consistent and on-time payments. Payment history is one of the top factors in determining your credit score. The longer you go without a missed or late payment, the more trustworthy you appear to creditors.
- Lower your credit utilization ratio. You don’t want to have a large percentage of your available credit line in use. If you’re struggling with credit card debt, it’s a good idea to pay off that debt before you start digging into the points and miles game.
- Be selective about opening new lines of credit. When you apply for a new credit card, a car loan, a mortgage and other types of credit, it generates a “hard pull” on your credit report. While the negative effects of a hard inquiry are normally short-term, applying for multiple credit cards in a short period of time could send up a red flag to potential lenders.
- Compensate for a thin credit profile. You can also take advantage of programs such as Experian Boost and UltraFICO. These programs measure good financial habits that might not be reflected by traditional credit scoring models, including reliable payment history for utilities.
Frequently asked questions
Are airline credit cards worth it?
Airline credit cards can provide tons of value by helping offset travel expenses. Although the cards typically come with an annual fee, frequent travelers can easily recoup the cost through earning miles, earning sign-up bonuses and redeeming miles strategically. In addition, luxury perks such as airport lounge access might be invaluable to the cardholder who wants to enhance their overall travel experience.
On the flip side, people who don’t travel very often are less likely to realize the full benefit of an airline credit card. The redemption programs are overwhelmingly travel-focused, so redeeming rewards for any other purpose delivers significantly less value.
What are the best airline credit cards with no annual fee?
No-annual-fee airline credit cards are rare. Most cards in the airline category charge annual fees ranging from $95 to $500 or more. The exceptions to the rule include the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card and the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.
Both cards have lower rewards rates and a less ritzy slate of perks than their annual-fee counterparts, which is a typical trade-off. Still, “lower” and “less ritzy” don’t mean “non-existent.” Occasional travelers could find it fairly easy to get value from a no-annual-fee airline card, especially if they appreciate the virtues of economizing.
Here’s an example: You can earn a statement credit that saves you 20 percent on eligible food, beverages and audio headsets purchased on a Delta flight using your Delta SkyMiles Blue card. To get a general idea of the value, pick an item on the Delta Flight Fuel Menu and knock off 20 percent.
Annual-fee airline cards are best suited for frequent travelers who use the cards frequently enough that the rewards and benefits justify the fee. On the other hand, someone who books only a few flights a year might find satisfaction with a card that has fewer bells and whistles but no annual fee.
Do airline miles expire?
The answer depends on your loyalty program. As of this writing, airlines with no-expiration policies include Delta, JetBlue, Southwest and United. With most airline loyalty programs, however, miles can expire after 18 to 36 months of account inactivity.
Note the word “inactivity.” For example, you might be able to prolong the life of your unused miles if you make purchases using the program’s online shopping portal or otherwise keep your account active.
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.
No matter your loyalty program, it’s best to follow three rules of thumb on airline miles:
- Check the terms and conditions periodically.
- Watch for emails about impending changes.
- Use them so you know you won’t lose them.
Expired rewards from loyalty programs represent money left on the table. A Bankrate Credit Cards survey found that nearly half of U.S. adults who take part in airline and hotel rewards programs have let points or miles expire.
‘How many miles would I need for a free flight?’
Your mileage may vary, if you’ll pardon the joke. Airline reward programs differ greatly in the number of miles required to earn what are commonly called “award flights” or “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 look to an example from American Airlines AAdvantage® to get a general idea.
Here’s the specific wording on the AAdvantage flight award chart: “If your plans are flexible, MileSAAver awards are available for as low as 7,500 miles each way plus any applicable taxes and carrier-imposed fees.”
The hypothetical 7,500-MileSAAver flight has several conditions including:
- Traveling within the contiguous 48 U.S. states and Canada
- Less than or equal to 500 miles
- Valid only on non-stop flights
- Main Cabin seating
With that 7,500-MileSAAver figure as the baseline, award flights of greater length and different seating class get increasingly expensive.
So, depending on the rewards program and other factors, a free flight is likely to cost 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.
‘Should I purchase airline miles?’
In most cases, buying airline miles doesn’t make financial sense. Redeeming miles earned through a loyalty program is typically much less expensive. The sale price of miles could be two to three times greater than their redemption value.
Possible exceptions include:
- When the airline is running a promotion selling miles at a deep discount
- When you need a small number of miles to earn a high-value award flight
If you want to compare sale price versus estimated value, check The Points Guy’s valuation guide to points and miles.
How we chose our list of 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.
Learn more about airline credit cards using educational resources from Bankrate:
Senior Editor Barry Bridges has been writing about credit cards, loans, mortgages and other personal finance products for Bankrate since 2018. His work has also appeared on websites including Nasdaq.com, Zillow.com and The Simple Dollar. He was previously an award-winning newspaper journalist in his native North Carolina. Send your questions about credit cards (and fantasy baseball) to bbridges@bankrate.com.
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