17 Best Airline Credit Cards of October 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.
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for simple rewards earning
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: Best for occasional American Airlines flyers
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Best for occasional Delta flyers
- Air France KLM Visa Signature® credit card: Best for Air France-KLM loyalists
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for beginner travelers
- United℠ Explorer Card: Best for occasional United flyers
- American Express Platinum Card®: Best for Premium travel perks and digital entertainment
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Legend Mastercard®: Best for American Airlines lounge access
- Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card: Best for frequent Alaska and Hawaiian 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
- Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card: Best for A premium card with flexible perks for frequent Oneworld flyers
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: Best for casual Southwest flyers on a budget
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Best for frequent Southwest flyers
- Chase Air Canada Aeroplan® Credit Card : Best for Air Canada loyalists
Browse by card categories
Comparing the best airline credit cards
Best for simple rewards earning
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
When it comes to simplicity and strong rewards, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a solid choice for most travelers. You’ll earn 2x miles on every purchase with no bonus categories to memorize, making it an ideal card for those with busy lives. Read our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
Pros
- This flexible rewards card delivers a solid sign-up bonus.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories.
- Rewards earned are versatile as they can be redeemed for any hotel or airline purchase for a statement credit or transferred to 15+ travel partners.
Cons
- A couple of partners' transfer ratios are mediocre at a less than 1:1 ratio
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $300 to use on hotel and vacation rental bookings through Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s more than $1,000 in travel value
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app
Best for occasional American Airlines flyers
at Citi's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 2X | Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases |
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is a solid mid-tier card for American Airlines flyers who want useful travel perks without paying a premium annual fee. It offers a free first checked bag on eligible domestic American Airlines flights, priority boarding and bonus AAdvantage miles on eligible American Airlines purchases, dining and at gas stations. It can be especially valuable for travelers who can use the checked bag benefit and priority boarding without needing lounge access.
Pros
- Free first checked bag on eligible domestic American Airlines flights
- Priority boarding
- Bonus AAdvantage miles on eligible American Airlines purchases, dining and at gas stations
- No foreign transaction fees
- Inflight food and beverage savings
Cons
- Weaker earning rates compared to some flexible rewards cards
- No lounge access included
- Free checked bag benefit is limited to eligible domestic American Airlines flights
- Some benefits require significant spending to unlock
- For a limited time, earn 80,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $3,500 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.
- Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases.
- Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to four companions traveling with you on the same reservation.
- Enjoy preferred boarding on American Airlines flights.
Best for occasional Delta flyers
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 on Delta flights worldwide, a second checked bag free on U.S. domestic Delta flights 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 on flights worldwide and second checked bag free on U.S. domestic flights.
- 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.
- Apply and find out your welcome offer: As High As 80,000 Bonus Miles + Earn a $250 Statement Credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. You may not be eligible for the maximum welcome offer amount. Offer ends 11/04/2026.
- 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.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: With your $120 Rideshare Credit, earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after your first Card renewal when you use your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- $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.
- Check your first bag for free on Delta flights worldwide and get your second bag free when flying domestically.
- $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.
- Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
- 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.
- Send money, split purchases, and focus on the moments that matter – with Send & Split®. Powered by Venmo and PayPal. Enrollment Required. Terms apply.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
at Bank of America's secure site
| 3 miles | Earn 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and SkyTeam member airline purchases |
| 3 miles | Earn 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible dining purchases |
| 1.5 miles | Earn 1.5 miles for every $1 spent on all other purchases |
The Air France KLM Visa Signature® credit card earns 3 miles per dollar spent on eligible Air France, KLM and SkyTeam airline purchases. It provides a status boost every account anniversary, with opportunities to earn additional boosts after reaching certain spending thresholds, plus 5,000 bonus anniversary miles after spending $50 in an account year. These benefits make it a solid choice for travelers who fly with Air France-KLM or other SkyTeam airlines.
Pros
- Earn bonus rewards on Air France, KLM and SkyTeam airline purchases
- Receive status boosts each account anniversary and after hitting certain spending thresholds
- Receive 5,000 bonus miles each account anniversary after spending $50 in an account year
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Annual fee may be tough to justify if you don’t frequently fly with Air France-KLM
- Does not earn flexible rewards
- Only one other bonus category outside of Air France, KLM and SkyTeam purchases
- Limited Time Online Offer! Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles + 100 Experience Points (XP) after you make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening.
- Low $89 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.
- Earn 3 Miles for every $1 spent on eligible Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and SkyTeam member airline purchases. Earn 3 Miles for every $1 spent on eligible dining purchases. And, earn 1.5 Miles for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- 5,000 Miles every year on your account anniversary after you spend $50 or more on purchases within the anniversary year.
- Redeem Miles toward flights with any SkyTeam member airline to over 1,000 destinations worldwide.
- Receive 20 XP every year on your account anniversary. Earn an additional 80 XP (totaling 100 XP) on the account anniversary after you spend $15,000 or more on purchases within the anniversary year. Plus, earn an additional 60 XP (totaling 160 XP) on the account anniversary after you spend $25,000 or more on purchases within the anniversary year.
- 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.
| 5x | Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. |
| 3x | Earn 3x on dining, vacation homes at top brands, gas & EV charging, top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs). |
| 2x | Earn 2x on all other travel purchases. |
| 1x | Earn 1x on all other purchases. |
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card remains one of the easiest travel rewards cards to recommend because it has elevated rewards across everyday spending categories, valuable travel protections, useful statement credits and an approachable annual fee. Whether you're new to points and miles or already maximizing transfer partners, it offers a rare combination of flexibility and long-term value for both beginners and experienced travelers alike.
Pros
- Earn elevated rewards in popular categories, including travel, dining, gas, EV charging and vacation home stays at top brands
- Premium travel protection benefits include trip cancellation/interruption insurance, primary car rental insurance and lost luggage insurance
- Versatile airline and hotel transfer partners
- Features up to $100 in annual hotel credits through Chase Travel℠
Cons
- Has an annual fee
- No airport lounge access
- Transfers to Hyatt at a lower rate than other Sapphire cards
- 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, 3x on vacation homes at top brands, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.
- Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Emergency Evacuation and Transportation, and more.
- Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $180.
- Complimentary DashPass membership, a $120 value for 12 months. Enjoy $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible DoorDash orders, plus exclusive Chase savings on grocery, everyday essentials, and more. Activate by 12/31/29.
- Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application.
- Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs.
- Member FDIC
Comparing the best airline credit cards
Credit card | Best for | Intro offer | Earning rate | Annual fee | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Limited Time: Earn 75k bonus miles + $300 stays credit at Capital One's secure site | simple rewards earning | Earn more than $1,000 in Travel Bonuses Open Intro bonus Earn more than $1,000 in Travel Bonuses with a limited-time $300 Capital One Travel stays credit, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening—that's more than $1,000 in travel value | 2 - 5X miles Open Rewards rates
| $95 | ||||||||
Limited-Time Offer at Citi's secure site | occasional American Airlines flyers | Earn 80,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles Open Intro bonus For a limited time, earn 80,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $3,500 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening. | 2X miles Open Rewards rates
| $99, waived for first 12 months | ||||||||
Limited-Time Offer at American Express's secure site | occasional Delta flyers | As High As 80K Miles + $250 Statement Credit Open Intro bonus You may be eligible for as high as 80,000 Bonus Miles and a $250 Statement Credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply to find out your offer. Terms Apply. Offer ends 11/04/2026. | 1 - 2X miles Open Rewards rates
| $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150. | ||||||||
Limited-Time Offer at Bank of America's secure site | Air France-KLM loyalists | Limited-time online offer – 70,000 Bonus Miles + 100 Experience Points Open Intro bonus Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles + 100 Experience Points (XP) after you make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening | 1.5 - 3X miles Open Rewards rates
| $89 | ||||||||
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 |
Which airline credit card is right for you?
Best credit card for someone loyal to one airline: United Quest Card
Who this is for
For travelers who are United Airlines loyalists, the United Quest℠ Card is a true standout. With a $350 annual fee, the United Quest is a mid-tier airline card that packs in valuable United-specific benefits and statement credits to help offset its cost.
Why the United Quest Card is a good fit
United Quest cardholders and a companion can check their first and second bags for free, enjoy a $200 annual TravelBank credit and earn Premier qualifying points (PQPs) toward United elite status with every purchase. Add in the value of annual award flight discounts, partner perks with Renowned Hotels and Resorts, JSX and Instacart, and the United Quest shines for frequent United flyers.
Key benefits for loyal United travelers:
- Cardholders receive their first and second checked bags free for themselves and one companion (note you must use your Quest card to pay for your ticket to check bags for free, including taxes and fees paid for award tickets)
- Earn at least 10 miles per dollar spent on standard fares (earn rate may be higher if you have status with United) and 4 miles per dollar spent on all other eligible United purchases
- Get a 1,000 PQP boost automatically each year, and earn 1 PQP for every $20 spent (up to 18,000 PQPs annually)
- Receive a 10,000-mile discount after each account anniversary
- Enjoy expanded award availability and exclusive cardmember pricing on select United flight redemptions
Quick summary
The United Quest Card is a great option for United loyalists, offering a range of United-related perks. These include high mileage earning rates, PQP earnings, free checked bags and a mile discount on each account anniversary. The card also provides multiple useful statement credits, including a $200 annual TravelBank credit to help offset its $350 annual fee, making it worth carrying year after year.
Best credit card for travelers who fly multiple airlines: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Who this is for
For travelers who are an airline free agent (someone who doesn't stick to one carrier), the Chase Sapphire Reserve® rewards you regardless of how you fly. With a flexible travel credit, high earning rates and airport lounge access, the Sapphire Reserve is an excellent choice for travelers who want to earn bonus points and enjoy perks when flying with multiple airlines.
Why the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a good fit
The Sapphire Reserve comes with an annual $300 travel credit that can be applied toward bookings with any airline. The card also earns 4 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly and 8 points per dollar spent on flights purchased through the Chase Travel℠ portal. (Purchases that apply to the $300 travel credit do not earn points.) Those earning rates, combined with the value and flexibility of Chase Ultimate Rewards points, make the Sapphire Reserve one of the strongest options for travelers who regularly book flights with multiple airlines. Plus, cardholders receive extensive airport lounge access, regardless of the airline they’re flying.
Key benefits for travelers who fly multiple airlines:
- Annual $300 travel credit that can be applied toward any airline
- 8 points per dollar spent on flights purchased through Chase Travel and 4 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly
- Complimentary Chase Sapphire Lounge access for the primary cardholder and up to two guests
- Priority Pass lounge access worldwide (excluding restaurants) for the primary cardholder and up to two guests
- Access to more than 20 Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges when flying a Star Alliance carrier
- Up to $120 in credits every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus
Quick summary
For travelers who refuse to be locked into one airline, the Sapphire Reserve covers all the bases. You’ll enjoy a travel credit that works anywhere, strong earning rates and lounge access across multiple networks. It's one of the strongest all-around travel cards for the true airline free agent.
Best credit card for frequent international flyers: Atmos Summit
Who this is for
For travelers who frequently travel internationally, the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card is an excellent choice. One of its standout features is earning 3 Atmos Rewards points per dollar on foreign transactions — a rare benefit among travel credit cards that rewards eligible purchases made outside the U.S.
Why the Atmos Summit is a good fit
The Atmos Summit’s rare 3 points per dollar earning rate on foreign transactions is the highlight for frequent international travelers. You’ll also earn 3 points per dollar spent on eligible dining, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases, which makes it easy to collect valuable Atmos Rewards points. The Atmos Summit also provides up to $120 in reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck applications every four years, helping cardholders breeze through customs and immigration upon return.
Key benefits for frequent international flyers:
- Earn an unlimited 3 points per dollar spent on all foreign transactions
- Pay no foreign transaction fees
- Receive up to $120 in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credits every four years
- Receive 8 Alaska lounge passes annually and 8 Wi-Fi passes annually (2 of each per quarter)
- Earn valuable Atmos Rewards points, which can be redeemed for international travel with partners
Quick summary
Frequent international travelers have a lot to look forward to with the Atmos Summit. It earns where other cards don’t, providing 3 points per dollar spent on every foreign transaction (without charging foreign transaction fees). Add in Global Entry coverage, lounge passes and the high value of Atmos Rewards points, and it’s a strong earner for those who often travel abroad.
How we rate cards
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.