The best airline credit cards with annual fees under $100
Editor's Note
Airline credit cards can be valuable tools to help you save money and enjoy the additional perks while flying. While some airlines have started offering no-fee credit cards, they are typically stripped-down versions that don't deliver many valuable benefits.
On the other hand, the best airline credit cards provide the first checked bag for free, priority boarding, discounts on inflight purchases and additional rewards on your spending … for an annual fee.
Still, there are great airline credit cards with annual fees of under $100 a year, and some of them even waive the first year's annual fee so you can test drive the benefits before paying a fee.
Here's a list of the best airline credit cards with annual fees under $100 and why you might want to consider each.
The best airline credit cards with annual fees under $100
- Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
- JetBlue Plus Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
- United Explorer Card
The information for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard, Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier and JetBlue Plus cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Comparison of the best airline credit cards with annual fees of $100 or less
| Card | Annual fee | Reward rates | Welcome offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines Visa credit card | $95 | 3 miles per dollar on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases
2 miles per dollar on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services and local transit, including ride-share, purchases 1 mile per dollar on other purchases | Earn 70,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after making $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account. |
| Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard | $99, waived first year | 2 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases, restaurants and gas purchases
1 mile per dollar on other purchases | Earn 50,000 miles after spending $2,500 in the first three months of account opening. |
| JetBlue Plus Card | $99 | 6 miles per dollar on eligible JetBlue purchases
2 miles per dollar on dining and eligible grocery purchases 1 mile per dollar on other purchases | Earn 60,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee. |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card | $99 | 3 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases
2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting (including ride-hailing services) 2 points per dollar spent on internet, cable, and phone services and select streaming 2 points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners 1 point per dollar on other purchases | Earn 40,000 bonus points and a $400 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first four months from account opening. |
| United Explorer Card | $0 introductory annual fee the first year, then $95 | 2 miles per dollar on United, dining, and hotel purchases (direct with hotel)
1 mile per dollar on other purchases | Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. |
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card
Annual fee: $95
Current sign-up bonus: Earn 70,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after making $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Why it's worth it: The Alaska Airlines Visa credit card is most famous for its annual Companion Fare. This benefit allows the cardholder to book a paid round-trip economy airfare on the airline and add a companion for only $99 (plus taxes and fees from $23). Best of all, the primary ticket can be purchased for someone else, too, and both the first passenger and the companion earn miles and are eligible for upgrades, just like with a paid ticket.
Eligible purchases from Alaska Airlines earn 3 miles per dollar, while all other purchases earn 1 mile per dollar. Cardholders also receive 20% back on inflight purchases.
The card provides one free checked bag for the cardholder and up to six guests on the same reservation. With checked bag fees of $30 each way, that's a savings of $60 per person on every round-trip flight.
Related: Your guide to earning and redeeming with Alaska Airlines MileagePlan
Apply here: Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
Annual fee: $99, waived for the first 12 months
Current sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 in the first three months of account opening.
Why it's worth it: The Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard earns 2 miles per dollar spent on dining, gas, and eligible American Airlines purchases. These bonus categories are a quick way to earn enough miles for a free flight.
You'll also earn a $125 flight credit when you spend $20,000 each account year and renew your card.
But the big savings come with people who check their bags. Cardholders and up to four companions traveling on the same itinerary can get their first bags checked for free. That's a savings of $60 per person on round-trip flights.
Related: Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard review
JetBlue Plus Card
Annual fee: $99
Current sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 and paying the annual fee within the first 90 days.
Why it's worth it: JetBlue Plus cardholders earn an additional 5,000 bonus points yearly when they renew the card. With JetBlue points worth 1.4 cents on average, according to TPG valuations, this welcome bonus is worth $840, and the annual bonus is worth $70.
Cardholders also receive the first checked bag free for themselves and up to three companions on the same reservation, which saves the $35 fee each way. For a family of four, that's a savings of $280 on a round-trip flight. Plus, you'll save 50% on inflight, inflight food and cocktail purchases.
Related: JetBlue Plus Card review
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
Annual fee: $99
Current sign-up bonus: Earn 40,000 bonus points and a $400 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first four months from account opening.
Why it's worth it: In addition to the valuable welcome bonus, cardholders earn 3 points per dollar on dining, including restaurants, takeout, and eligible delivery services, for the first year.
With this card, you'll also receive 6,000 bonus anniversary points when you renew your card each year. With Southwest points worth an average of 1.4 cents each based on TPG valuations, that's $84 toward future travel that comes close to offsetting the card's annual fee.
Related: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card review
United Explorer Card
Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee the first year, then $95
Current sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Why it's worth it: The United Explorer Card is the only one on this list that includes airline club passes (two one-time United Club passes each year), upgrade eligibility on award tickets, and reimbursement of up to $120 for either a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee once every four years (4½ years for PreCheck). These benefits, plus the fact that the first year's annual fee is waived, make it a no-brainer to try out.
Cardholders earn 2 miles per dollar on United purchases, dining, and hotel stays booked directly with hotels. All other purchases earn 1 mile per dollar. Folks with this card also receive a first checked bag free for themselves and one companion traveling on the same reservation. Although this is the lowest number of free checked bags of any card on this list, it still amounts to a potential savings of $140 per round-trip itinerary.
Related: United Explorer Card review
Apply here: United Explorer Card
Bottom line
Airline credit cards offer numerous benefits for travelers. Although some of the best airline credit cards charge annual fees, at the minimum, you can still expect the benefits of free checked bags, discounts on inflight purchases, and priority boarding with those that charge $100 or less per year to carry.
Updated as of 12/10/2024.