Best Airline Credit Cards in December 2024

There are a variety of airline co-branded credit cards, each designed to appeal to different types of travelers, from the beginner to the status-earning fly-every-week loyalist. It’s hard to crown one winner as the best airline credit card, but here are the best options:

• United℠ Explorer Card is the best airline credit card for beginners — assuming you can or already fly United when you fly — for its high-value-for-money perks and ability to earn bonus miles on dining and hotels, not just on United fares.
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is the best for status earners who travel regularly — assuming you can or already fly American Airlines — for its accelerated miles and status earning as well as lounge access.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best airline card that isn’t co-branded. It offers a wide range of bonus earning categories and the ability to transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards 1:1 to other loyalty programs, including United Mileage Plus and Southwest Rapid Rewards.

Here are the rest of the best current airline credit card offers:

Our picks for the best airline credit cards were selected after evaluating a wide range of options based on their rewards system, travel perks and overall value. We assessed each card's ability to meet the needs of various traveler profiles, from frequent business travelers to leisure vacationers.

After assessing 20 cards, we determined that the following are the best airline credit cards:

Choosing the right airline credit card can enhance your travel experience and help you save on travel expenses.

Here are some questions to consider when deciding if an airline card is worth it and which one best suits your needs:

Choosing the right airline credit card depends on how often you fly, your preferred airline and the perks that matter most to you. Here’s a breakdown of popular airlines and their co-branded credit cards to help you decide.

American Airlines

American Airlines is a great option if you fly frequently across its extensive domestic and international network. Since American doesn’t have transfer partnerships with major credit card rewards programs, its co-branded cards are the best way to earn AAdvantage miles. For elite perks like Admirals Club membership, the AA Executive World Elite is an excellent choice. If you’re just starting out, the AA Aviator Red World Elite offers solid benefits like priority boarding and free checked bags.

United Airlines

United Airlines offers an expansive route network with access to Star Alliance partners, making it great for both domestic and international travelers. United co-branded cards like the United Explorer and United Gateway offer strong introductory bonuses and everyday perks like free checked bags and priority boarding. For frequent flyers, the United Club Infinite provides higher miles and access to United Club and Star Alliance lounges.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest is great for those who value customer-friendly policies, offering no change fees, two free checked bags and the Companion Pass, a status that lets you turn any flight into a buy one get one deal for a companion after you pay fees. The Rapid Rewards Priority is the standout option among Southwest’s co-branded cards. However, Southwest doesn’t have alliance partners, so it’s best suited for domestic travelers or those flying on Southwest’s limited international routes.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines has an extensive route network, thanks partly to its membership in the oneworld alliance. This partnership allows Alaska flyers to access global destinations through partner airlines. If you’re a frequent flyer, the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® is a strong choice. It offers high rewards from purchases and a valuable Companion Fare, letting you bring a guest for a one-time fee each year.

Delta Airlines

Delta Airlines is a top pick for travelers who value reliability and extensive domestic and international routes. With the Delta SkyMiles Platinum, you can enjoy perks like priority boarding, free checked bags and the ability to earn Medallion Status faster, which adds significant value for frequent Delta travelers. The card’s Delta Sky Club access also enhances the travel experience for business and leisure flyers alike.

JetBlue Airways

JetBlue is a budget-friendly carrier known for its affordable fares and reliable service. For frequent JetBlue flyers, the JetBlue Plus is an excellent choice. It provides 6X points on JetBlue purchases, free checked bags and a faster path to Mosaic status. It’s a great option for travelers who want both affordability and consistent rewards in their travel experience.

Most airline credit cards offer 2X points or miles on flights booked with the airline. Typically, each point or mile is worth about 1 to 1.5 cents. The value you get varies depending on different factors, including your method for redeeming rewards and the airline's current valuation rate.

Some cards offer higher rewards or bonus points on everyday categories like dining and groceries, helping you earn more even when you're not traveling.

Here are a few standout cards that offer higher rewards:

• JetBlue Plus: 6X points on JetBlue purchases
• Delta SkyMiles Platinum: 3X miles on Delta purchases, 2X on dining and groceries
• Sapphire Preferred: 5X points on travel booked through Chase, 3X on dining, 2X on other travel purchases and 3X on select streaming services

Airline credit cards stand out for the airline-specific perks they offer. Generally, cards with higher annual fees come with better perks, but the key is to choose perks that match your travel habits. Remember, perks are only valuable if you actually use them.

Top-Tier Perks:

• Companion Fares: Allow you to bring a companion on flights for only taxes and fees, potentially saving significant money if you frequently travel with your spouse or other family members.
• Lounge Access: This benefit provides complimentary access to airline lounges, which provide food, drinks and more comfortable waiting areas before your flight.
• Upgrade Priority: Some premium cards give higher priority for seat upgrades, which can increase your chances of moving to first or business class when available.
• Elite Status Boosts: Offer qualifying miles or credits to help cardholders earn elite status faster, which may include perks like upgrades and priority boarding.
• Annual Travel Credits: Some cards offer credits that can be used toward purchases within the airline, helping to offset the cost of the card's annual fee.

Common Perks:

• Free Checked Bags: Waives baggage fees for cardholders and sometimes companions, reducing the overall cost of travel.
• Priority Boarding: Grants earlier boarding, helping ensure access to overhead bin space and a smoother boarding process.
• In-Flight Discounts: Provide savings on purchases such as food, beverages and Wi-Fi during your flight.
• Travel Protections: Includes insurance for trip cancellations, baggage delays and travel accidents. These protections vary from card to card, so it’s best to review these perks carefully.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees: Eliminates fees on international purchases, which can benefit frequent international travelers.

Most airline cards offer bonus miles or points after you meet a spending requirement, typically within the first few months of card membership. Cards with higher annual fees usually offer larger bonuses but come with higher spending thresholds — sometimes $5,000 or more.

To get the most value from an introductory offer, be sure that the spending requirement aligns with your regular spending habits. If the threshold is too high, you’ll either miss out on the points or, worse, go into debt trying to get the points.

Here are some cards with standout intro offers:

• AA Aviator Red World Elite: This card offers 50,000 miles after making any purchase and paying the annual fee. It's an excellent option for beginners because of its low spending requirement.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority: While the card itself doesn’t directly offer a Companion Pass, its $400 statement credit and 40,000 points bonus after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first four months of owning the account can help you earn the pass faster. The Companion Pass lets you bring a guest for just taxes and fees, which is one of the most valuable perks in the airline industry.
• United Club℠ Infinite Card: This card offers 90,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in the first three months, making it one of the highest bonus amounts available. While the spending requirement is higher, the generous bonus and premium perks, like United Club access, make it ideal for frequent United flyers.

The annual fee is an important factor when deciding if an airline card is worth it. Although some cards (like the United Gateway) have no annual fee, others can charge over $500 per year. Generally, higher-fee cards come with more valuable rewards and premium perks.

Cards with annual fees around $100—such as the United Explorer and JetBlue Plus—offer solid benefits like free checked bags, priority boarding and bonus points on flights and everyday categories, making them cost-effective for most flyers.

Premium cards, like the United Club Infinite or Delta SkyMiles Platinum, come with higher fees ($525 and $350, respectively) but include perks such as lounge access, travel credits and enhanced rewards rates. For regular travelers, these benefits can easily justify the higher annual cost.

However, the value of these perks depends on how often you use them. A lower-fee card might offer better value if you don't travel frequently.

Here are answers to some common questions to help you choose the right airline credit card.

We thoroughly analyzed over 20 airline credit cards, focusing on key factors that matter most to travelers. Our evaluation framework uses specific criteria and weights to ensure we provide reliable and expert recommendations:

• Expected Value for Travelers (40%): We assessed the overall monetary value of each card's rewards and perks, factoring in the annual fee to determine the net benefit for frequent travelers. This calculation accounts for both earning potential and savings on travel expenses.
• Airline Scope (20%): We evaluated the number of destinations each airline serves, an essential factor for travelers seeking flexibility and accessibility to both domestic and international routes.
• Offer ROI (15%): We analyzed the return on investment from each card's introductory bonus offers, weighing the value of the bonus miles or points against the spending requirement to unlock the offer.
• Airline Rewards Rate (10%): This measures the rewards earned on airline-related spending, with a particular focus on frequent flyers who prioritize earning miles or points on flights and related purchases.
• Issuer Satisfaction (5%): We considered customer satisfaction ratings based on J.D. Power’s annual study, which reflects cardholder experiences with the issuer, including service quality, transparency, and overall satisfaction.
• Foreign Transaction Fees (5%): We rated each card based on its foreign transaction fees, with higher scores for cards that waive these fees—an important factor for international travelers who want to avoid extra costs.
• Recommended Credit (5%): We evaluated how accessible each card is, considering the credit score typically needed for approval. Cards that are more accessible to a wider range of applicants received higher scores.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please click here.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.