17 Best Airline Credit Cards of October 2026

Frequently asked questions

• Is it worth renewing an airline credit card?

  Are you utilizing benefits such as free checked baggage, companion tickets, priority boarding and lounge access? Does your airline credit card help you earn elite status faster? Do the card’s bonus categories allow you to earn additional miles on purchases?

  If you’re getting more value out of your airline credit card than it’s costing you each year for the annual fee, it makes sense to renew the card so you can continue reaping those rewards.

  However, even if you’re convinced you’re not getting the full value out of the card, consider how long you’ve had the card before you cancel it. The longer you’ve had a credit card card, the more harm canceling it could do to your credit score, since age of accounts is one of the factors that go into determining your credit score.

  You can also try calling your issuer to explain that you’re considering canceling your card. By doing so, you might be offered a retention offer such as earning bonus points for hitting a spending threshold, or have your annual fee waived, which will make the idea of renewing all the more enticing.

• Who should get an airline credit card?

  Just about every type of traveler can take advantage of an airline card, whether you’re a beginner to the points and miles game or a seasoned frequent flyer.

  Most airline credit cards include benefits such as free checked bags, priority boarding and discounts on inflight purchases — and even casual travelers can get a lot out of those perks.

  Airline credit cards of a more premium nature may also earn elite qualifying miles for those pursuing airline status and even offer lounge access in some cases. Those who need a little help achieving elite status, or want to enjoy elite status-like benefits while they work to hit a tier can benefit from an airline card and its perks.

  When deciding if an airline card is right for you, it’s important to consider whether you’ll use the card and its benefits enough to offset the cost of its annual fee. Infrequent travelers may benefit most from a card with a low annual fee and fewer benefits, whereas those who are on the road more often might decide a premium card that costs more annually but offers luxury benefits is the right fit.

• Do airline miles expire?

  Unfortunately, your hard-earned airline miles can expire. Whether your miles will expire varies by airline, though.

  The good news is that many of the top U.S. airlines (including Delta, JetBlue, Southwest and United) don’t have mileage or points expiration dates, which means you won’t lose any miles even after a stint of account inactivity.

  American Airlines miles expire after 24 months of inactivity, and Alaska Airlines will lock your account after 24 months of inactivity (though you can call customer service to reactivate your Alaska account).

  As a general rule, make sure you’re earning or redeeming miles with the airlines that do have expiration dates semiregularly, and you won’t have to worry about losing out on any miles or points earned. Pro tip: Cobranded airline spending counts as account activity for airlines like American Airlines with miles that do expire, so carrying an airline credit card can actually help you avoid the expiration of your airline miles.

  You can check out TPG’s full guide to airline and hotel loyalty program expiration policies for an in-depth look at how to keep your airline accounts active.

• How many miles do I earn with an airline credit card?

  How many miles you earn with an airline credit card varies on the credit card. Typically, cards with higher annual fees offer higher earn rates but you should choose a card that best suits your budget and travel habits. Having an airline credit card can help you earn miles towards your next trip on spending you are already doing.