Best airline credit cards of July 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.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for beginner travelers
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Best for occasional Delta flyers
- United℠ Explorer Card: Best for occasional United flyers
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®: Best for American Airlines lounge access
- American Express Platinum Card®: Best for Premium travel perks and digital entertainment
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Best for premium travel
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Best for Sky Club access
- Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card: Best for frequent Alaska and Hawaiian flyers
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for simple rewards earning
- 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
- United Quest℠ Card: Best for frequent United flyers
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Best for frequent Southwest flyers
- Capital One Venture X Business: Best for businesses with high-spending
Browse by card categories
Comparing the best airline credit cards
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, 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
- 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 100,000 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, 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 Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $156.
- 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.
- 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
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 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.
- $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.
- 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 a second bag free when flying domestically.
- 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.
- 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 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 60,000 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 $200 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 10% or more when booking flights with miles. Premier members save even more.
- Member FDIC
Best for American Airlines lounge access
at Citi's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4x AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. |
| 1X | 1 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on other purchases |
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is best for American Airlines flyers who value lounge access. It provides a full Admirals Club membership, as well as a number of other benefits that make flying American Airlines more enjoyable, such as a free checked bag, priority check-in, priority airport screening and priority boarding privileges, along with a boost toward elite status.
Pros
- Offers Admirals Club lounge access
- Priority check-in, airport screening, boarding and a free checked bag for you and up to 8 travel companions
- 25% discount on inflight food and beverages
- Receive a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Fee Statement Credit
Cons
- Miles redemption limited to American Airlines and its Oneworld partners
- 25% inflight credit doesn't include Wi-Fi
- Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $7,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
- Admirals Club® membership for you and access for up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
- Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases
- First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X | Earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. |
The American Express Platinum Card® has a high annual fee but remains one of the best cards on the market for those who prioritize premium travel experiences. A combination of updated and new statement credits makes the refreshed Amex Platinum an ideal card for frequent travelers and digital entertainment enthusiasts alike.
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- Up to $600 hotel credit (disbursed as up to $300 in statement credits semiannually; enrollment required)
- Up to $300 digital entertainment credit (disbursed as up to $25 in statement credits per month; enrollment required)
- Earns transferable Membership Rewards points
Cons
- $895 annual fee
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 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.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 Delta Sky Club visits (subject to visit limitations) when flying on an eligible Delta flight, Priority Pass™ membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. *As of 01/2026
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights™ by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. As a Platinum Card® Member you have special access to reservations on select nights at participating sought after Resy restaurants in select cities through Platinum Nights™ by Resy. Simply add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to book your reservation.
- $219 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $219 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM late check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Get up to a $12.95* statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Comparing the best airline credit cards
Credit card | Best for | Intro offer | Earning rate | Annual fee | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Offer Ending Soon at Chase's secure site | beginner travelers | 100,000 bonus points Open Intro bonus Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. 75,000 bonus points | 1 - 5X points Open Rewards rates
| $95 | ||||||||
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. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. | 1 - 2X miles Open Rewards rates
| $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150. | ||||||||
at Chase's secure site | occasional United flyers | Earn up to 60,000 miles Open Intro bonus Earn 50,000 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 | ||||||||
at Citi's secure site | American Airlines lounge access | Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles Open Intro bonus Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $7,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. | 1 - 4X miles Open Rewards rates
| $595 | ||||||||
at American Express's secure site | Premium travel perks and digital entertainment | As High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. Open Intro bonus You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. | 5X points Open Rewards rates
| $895 |
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.