Best airline credit cards of May 2026
The best airline credit card varies for each traveler, depending on where you live and how often you fly. Whether you're an airline loyalist or a casual traveler, any of the cards on our list below could help make your flights more rewarding and enjoyable.
Check out our curated selection and comprehensive guide on some of the best airline cards from our partners below.
- Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card: Best for frequent Alaska and Hawaiian flyers
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Best for occasional Delta flyers
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for beginner travelers
- Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card: Best for A premium card with flexible perks for frequent Oneworld flyers
- United℠ Explorer Card: Best for occasional United flyers
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Best for Sky Club access
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Best for premium travel
- United Quest℠ Card: Best for frequent United flyers
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®: Best for mid-tier American Airlines rewards
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for simple rewards earning
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®: Best for Admirals Club access
- American Express Platinum Card®: Best for premium travel perks and digital entertainment
- Citi Strata Elite℠ Card: Best for earning AAdvantage miles without flying
- United Club℠ Card: Best for United Club access
- American Express® Gold Card: Best for dining
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: Best for no annual fee
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best for dining and travel combined
- Capital One Venture X Business: Best for businesses with high-spending
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Best for mid-tier Delta flyers
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for business owners who prioritize premium travel perks
Browse by card categories
Comparing the best airline credit cards
Best for frequent Alaska and Hawaiian flyers
at Bank of America's secure site
| 3 points | Earn unlimited 3 points for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases. |
| 2 points | Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases. |
| 1 point | Earn unlimited 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. |
The Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card is a solid choice for budget-conscious Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines flyers who want to minimize the cost of holding a cobranded airline card.
Pros
- Free checked bag on Alaska and Hawaiian flights
- Priority boarding on Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines (for main cardholder and up to 6 guests on the same reservation when you pay for flights with this card)
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Has a $95 annual fee
- Limited-time online offer – 80,000 bonus points + a 50% flight discount code.
- Receive a 50% flight discount code for a qualifying future flight after opening your new account. Additionally, earn 80,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $4,000 or more on purchases within the first 120 days of opening your account.
- Get a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) each account anniversary after you spend $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year. Valid on all Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines flights within North America booked on AlaskaAir.com.
- Earn unlimited 3 points for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases. Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases. And earn unlimited 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. Points don’t expire on active accounts.
- Earn a 10% rewards bonus on all points earned from card purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America® account.
- Get a free checked bag and preferred boarding for you and up to 6 guests traveling on the same reservation when you purchase Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines airfare with your card.
- Earn and redeem across 1,000+ destinations worldwide with oneworld® Alliance member airlines and 30+ global air partners.
- Plus, no foreign transaction fees and a low $95 annual fee.
- This offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 2X | Earn 2X miles on Delta Purchases, restaurants, and U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X miles on all other eligible purchases. |
The Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex provides valuable elite-like benefits for causal Delta flyers including a first checked bag free and priority boarding. It can easily justify getting and keeping this card. Read our full review of the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card.
Pros
- First checked bag free for you and up to eight companions.
- Priority boarding.
- 20% back in the form of a statement credit on in-flight purchases (not including Wi-Fi).
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta.
- There are better Delta cards if you want lounge access or a boost to earn elite status.
- You may be eligible for as high as 80,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Enjoy a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- $200 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
- When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, you can earn: 2X miles on Delta Purchases, 2X miles at restaurants, 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets, 1X miles on all other eligible purchases. Every mile you earn brings you closer to the places you want to go. Turn them into your next trip, use them for seat upgrades, and more.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights and save up to $70 per person on a round-trip Delta flight.
- Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
- $100 Delta Stays Credit: Get up to $100 back per year as a statement credit after using your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
- Want even more flexibility? 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 on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- With Send & Split®, you can send money and split your Card purchases with any other Venmo or PayPal user, directly from the Amex App. Enroll today.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
at Chase's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5x | Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. |
| 3x | Earn 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries. |
| 2x | Earn 2x on all other travel purchases. |
| 1x | Earn 1x on all other purchases. |
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the most popular travel rewards credit card on the market. Offering an excellent return on travel and dining purchases, the card packs a ton of value that easily offsets its $95 annual fee. Cardholders can redeem points for Chase Travel bookings or transfer points to one of Chase’s 14 valuable airline and hotel partners. Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
Pros
- You’ll earn 2 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on travel and 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on dining including eligible delivery services and takeout.
- The current sign-up bonus on this card is quite generous.
- Premium travel protection benefits including trip cancellation insurance, primary car rental insurance and lost luggage insurance.
Cons
- The card comes with a $95 annual fee.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Best for A premium card with flexible perks for frequent Oneworld flyers
at Bank of America's secure site
| 3 points | Earn unlimited 3 points for every $1 spent on eligible dining, foreign transaction, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases. |
| 1 point | Earn unlimited 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. |
The Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card features a great welcome bonus and valuable travel perks, making it a premium contender among similar cobranded airline cards in its class.
Pros
- 8 Alaska lounge passes annually (2 passes per quarter)
- Fast track to elite status thanks to 10,000 status points annually plus earning 1 status point for every two dollars spent on purchases
- Up to $120 TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit every four years
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- $395 annual fee
- Limited-time online offer – 100,000 bonus points + a 50% flight discount code.
- Receive a 50% flight discount code for a qualifying future flight after opening your account. Additionally, earn 100,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $6,500 or more on purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
- Each account anniversary, get a 25,000-point Global Companion Award for a travel companion on the same itinerary, when booking travel using your Atmos™ Rewards points.
- Additionally, receive a 100,000-point Global Companion Award annually after spending $60,000 or more on purchases each anniversary year.
- Receive 8 Alaska Lounge passes and 8 Wi-Fi passes every year (2 of each per calendar quarter).
- Earn unlimited 3 points for every $1 spent on eligible dining, foreign transaction, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases and unlimited 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, earn a 10% rewards bonus on all points earned from card purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America® account.
- Get 10,000 status points every year on your account anniversary and earn 1 status point for every $2 spent on purchases.
- Get a free checked bag and preferred boarding for you and up to 6 guests traveling on the same reservation when you purchase Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines airfare with your card.
- Receive an airport security credit up to $120 every four years in connection with the TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry trusted traveler programs.
- Receive a $50 voucher for Alaska Airlines flight cancellations or departure delays of 2 hours+.
- Plus, no foreign transaction fees and a competitive $395 annual fee.
- This offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
at Chase's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 9x | Earn 9x total miles on eligible United flights. |
| 3x | Earn 3x miles on all other eligible United® purchases. |
| 2x | Earn 2x miles on dining, and hotel stays when booked with the hotel. |
| 1x | Earn 1x mile on all other purchases. |
Between a TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee credit, two annual lounge visits and a free checked bag, the United Explorer card is packed with perks that will enhance your trips for even occasional United flyers. Read our full review of the United Explorer card.
Pros
- First checked bag free for you and a companion on United flights
- Two, one-time United Club passes when the cardholder or authorized user is traveling each year of card membership
- Up to $120 credit every four years for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
- Elite status shortcut
- Trip cancellation, trip delay and baggage insurance
Cons
- Miles redemption limited to United and Star Alliance partners
- Only provides lounge access two times
- Earn up to 80,000 bonus miles
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
- NEW! 9x total miles on eligible United flights and 3x miles on all other eligible United® purchases
- 2x miles on dining and hotel stays when booked with the hotel. 1x mile on all other purchases.
- Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip. Terms Apply. Plus, priority boarding on United® flights.
- 2 United Club one-time passes per year - over a $100 value
- Over $500 in partner credits each year
- NEW! Save at least 10% when booking flights with miles. Premier members earn even more.
- Member FDIC
Comparing the best airline credit cards
Credit card | Best for | Intro offer | Earning rate | Annual fee | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Limited-Time Offer at Bank of America's secure site | frequent Alaska and Hawaiian flyers | Limited-time online offer – 80,000 bonus points + a 50% flight discount code. Open Intro bonus Earn 80,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $4,000 or more on purchases within the first 120 days of opening your account. Additionally, receive a 50% flight discount code for a qualifying future flight after opening your new account. | 1 - 3X points Open Rewards rates
| $95 | ||||||||
New Offer at American Express's secure site | occasional Delta flyers | As High As 80,000 Bonus Miles. Find Out Your Offer. Open Intro bonus You may be eligible for as high as 80,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. | 1 - 2X miles Open Rewards rates
| $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150. | ||||||||
at Chase's secure site | beginner travelers | 75,000 bonus points Open Intro bonus Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | 1 - 5X points Open Rewards rates
| $95 | ||||||||
Limited-Time Offer at Bank of America's secure site | A premium card with flexible perks for frequent Oneworld flyers | Limited-time online offer – 100,000 bonus points + a 50% flight discount code. Open Intro bonus Earn 100,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $6,500 or more on purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account. Additionally, receive a 50% flight discount code for a qualifying future flight after opening your account. | 1 - 3X points Open Rewards rates
| $395 | ||||||||
Limited-Time Offer at Chase's secure site | occasional United flyers | Earn up to 80,000 bonus miles Open Intro bonus Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. | 1 - 9X miles Open Rewards rates
| $0 Intro Annual fee for the First Year, then $150 |
How we rate cards
Ask our experts
What's your favorite airline credit card — and why?
“I often use a travel rewards card that offers bonus points when buying flights. But, I also hold and use several cobranded airline cards due to their checked baggage benefits, statement credits for onboard purchases and ability to earn toward my desired elite status tier.”
Best US Airlines of 2024 by Rank
TPG’s annual, data-driven report on the best airlines in the U.S. is out, and for the sixth year in a row, Delta Air Lines secured the top spot. Alaska Airlines was nipping at its heels in second, with United, American and Southwest rounding out the top five. The lowest performer? Frontier Airlines, which had the highest rate of delayed and canceled flights, received the most complaints from consumers, and imposed more fees (per passenger) than any other carrier.
Check out the full breakdown of scores below.
Credit pointers with Brian Kelly
How to choose the best airline credit card
- Consider how much traveling you plan to do in the future and opt for a card that features a generous sign-up bonus. This way, you can bank those points or miles and use them when you need them. Just remember to check whether your earned rewards expire or not.1Welcome bonus
- Typically, airline credit cards with higher annual fees offer more travel perks and upgrade options.2Annual fee
- Choose an airline credit card based on your travel needs and spending habits — this means looking at which bonus categories a card offers before applying.3Bonus categories
Pros + cons of airline credit cards
Pros
- Using airline credit cards responsibly can help you build your credit score
- Airline credit cards can earn points or miles on every dollar you spend
- Airline credit cards provide purchase, theft and fraud protection
- Airline credit cards provide perks like travel insurance, shortcuts to elite status and more
Cons
- Airline credit cards can encourage overspending
- Carrying a balance and using your airline card irresponsibly can damage your credit score
- The cost of borrowing on airline credit cards is higher than traditional loans
- Having too many card applications can negatively affect your credit score
- You may not travel enough to make an airline credit card worthwhile
Frequently asked questions
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.
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.
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 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.