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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
Best credit cards for economy-class flyers: Maximize your miles, minimize your fees
Credit card writer Danyal Ahmed is an avid traveler, averaging about 100,000 aeronautical miles per year. He regularly applies that knowledge and his expertise in credit cards to his role as a credit card writer at TPG.
May 27, 2025 • 15 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Quick summary
The article reviews several travel credit cards that offer valuable perks for frequent economy-class flyers, such as free checked bags, priority boarding and inflight discounts.
These cards are positioned as practical options for travelers who want elite-like benefits without the high costs or premium card requirements.
Key features highlighted include statement credits, companion fares and annual bonuses that can offset travel expenses.
The guide compares options tailored to specific airlines and regions, helping readers identify the best fit for their travel patterns.
What to consider
Some cards provide introductory fee waivers for the first year, while others offer ongoing benefits that may require meeting annual spending thresholds.
Perks like companion fares, lounge passes or statement credits may have specific eligibility rules or require activation each year.
Award availability, bonus structures and redemption values can vary by airline loyalty program and card type.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed side-by-side comparison of benefits, regional strengths and unique perks across top cards for economy flyers.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
First-class and business-class seats and top-tier elite status can be worth thousands of dollars if you travel all the time. But what about the masses who aren't traveling often, travel on their employer's dime or don't have a flexible schedule? Don't worry, there are plenty of affordable travel credit cards that are great for frequent economy flyers.
Flying economy is a great way to stretch your miles. And if you're booking a trip for the whole family, it might be your only option. So, let's take a look at the best credit cards for flyers in the back of the plane.
The information for the JetBlue Plus Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Comparing the best credit cards for economy-class flyers
Credit card
Key benefits
Annual fee
United Explorer Card
Free first checked bag, inflight purchase discount, increased award availability, up to $500 in various statement credits
$150, $0 introductory annual fee the first year
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
Free two checked bags (first on flights worldwide and second on U.S. domestic flights) and priority boarding
$150, $0 introductory annual fee the first year (see )
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
Free first checked bag, priority boarding and inflight discounts
$99, $0 introductory annual fee the first year
Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature credit card
Free checked bag, priority boarding and companion certificate (upon account opening and each year thereafter after spending $6,000 in a year)
$95
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Annual 7,500-point bonus, 10,000 Companion Pass points boost each year, Group 5 boarding (for you and up to 8 companions) and free first checked bag (for you and up to 8 companions)
$229
JetBlue Plus Card
Free checked bag
$99
United Explorer Card
Welcome bonus: Earn up to 80,000 bonus miles: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles after adding an authorized user in the first three months from account opening.
According to TPG's October 2026 valuations, this welcome offer is worth up to $960 (including the points from adding an authorized user).
Annual fee: $150, $0 introductory annual fee for the first year
THE POINTS GUY
Key benefits: This card comes with a free first checked bag for up to two people, priority boarding and 25% back on United inflight purchases. But it also has some unique perks that are not common for a mid-tier card. You'll get two, one-time United Club lounge passes per account year and an application fee statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
In addition, cardholders earn the following partner credits worth more than $500: up to $100 travel statement credit toward United Hotels purchases, up to $60 in statement credits toward purchases with ride-hailing services (up to $5 a month), up to $50 in United TravelBank cash after eligible Avis or Budget rental car purchases, up to $120 in statement credits for Instacart (up to $10 per month through Dec. 31, 2027), $100 in Unites TravelBank cash after spending $10,000 each calendar year and up to $100 in statement credits for JSX purchases. The ride-hailing credit requires activation each year.
Why I chose this card: I found this card to be special for infrequent economy-class flyers because its perks are similar to what we see with entry-level United Premier Silver elite status. The best of these perks is the extra award seats you'll have access to. It's not common to see this many statement credits on a mid-tier card, either.
Best of all, wherever your travels take you, rest assured you'll be protected with a wide range of travel insurance and have no foreign transaction fees. From my perspective, travel protections with Chase-issued credit cards tend to be the best.
Welcome offer: Apply and find out if your welcome offer is as high as 80,000 bonus miles, plus earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. You may not be eligible for the maximum offer amount.
According to TPG's August 2026 valuations, this welcome offer is worth up to $1,210, including the statement credit.
Annual fee: $150, $0 introductory annual fee for the first year
THE POINTS GUY
Key benefits: This card comes with two free checked bags: first checked bag free for the cardmember (and up to eight companions) traveling on the same reservation, and a second checked bag free for the cardmember (and up to eight eligible Delta card-carrying companions) traveling on the same reservation for a domestic U.S. flight. It also provides priority boarding (Zone 5) for the cardmember and up to eight traveling companions. You'll also get 20% back on inflight purchases of food and beverages (as a statement credit), a $200 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year and a $100 statement credit toward Delta Stays purchases.
The Delta SkyMiles Gold is a solid mid-tier card that provides a 15% discount on award tickets, a useful perk for economy flyers looking to maximize their miles. Delta flight sales can include domestic flights starting at 8,000 miles round-trip and decent international award sales. I've seen flights for as little as 20,000 miles round-trip (plus taxes and fees) to Europe and 12,000 miles round-trip to the Caribbean.
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
Welcome bonus: For a limited time, earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,500 on purchases in the first four months from account opening.
According to TPG's October 2026 valuations, this welcome offer is worth $1,160.
Annual fee: $99, $0 introductory annual fee for the first year
THE POINTS GUY
Key benefits: This card comes with preferred boarding (Group 5), plus a free first checked bag for the cardholder and up to four companions traveling on the same reservation. You'll also receive a 25% discount on inflight food and beverages when you pay with your card. On top of that, you can earn a $125 American Airlines flight discount certificate after spending $20,000 on the card in an account year.
Why I chose this card: This was my first cobranded airline credit card and it still holds a place in my wallet 10 years later. If you're a beginner or infrequent flyer, the $695 annual fee Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Legend Mastercard® (see ) is overkill. You're essentially paying seven times more for Admirals Club access and to earn 4 miles per dollar spent on American Airlines purchases.
Despite flying with American Airlines often and earning elite status, I have found the AAdvantage Platinum Select to be a more suitable and no-frills choice to keep costs low while still enjoying benefits like priority boarding and a free checked bag. Even the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card does not offer these benefits.
The information for the AAdvantage MileUp card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The AAdvantage Platinum Select is a decent everyday card as it offers 2 miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines, restaurant and gas station purchases. It's a decent way to build up your miles and Loyalty Points toward elite status throughout the year. Cardholders earn 1 Loyalty Point for every AAdvantage mile they earn.
Welcome bonus: Earn up to 80,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare: Earn 60,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 90 days from account opening. Earn an additional 20,000 bonus points after spending a total of $5,000 on purchases, also in the first 90 days from account opening.
According to TPG's September 2026 valuations, the points in this welcome offer are worth up to $1,240.
Annual fee: $95
Key benefits: You'll get a free checked bag on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines for the cardholder and up to six companions. You'll also receive $100 off an Alaska Lounge+ membership and 20% back on eligible inflight purchases when you pay with your card.
The best benefit on this card is its single-use Companion Fare, which allows you to bring a guest on any Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines-operated domestic economy flight for just $99 plus taxes and fees.
You'll get a Companion Fare every year you keep the card as long as you spend at least $6,000 in an account year, making this one of the best companion fare benefits available outside of the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass. For a frequent economy flyer, Alaska has an impressive route network that continues to grow, so it shouldn't be hard to utilize this card's perks.
Why I chose this card: Free checked bag and priority boarding on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, for you and up to six guests on the same reservation, when you pay for your flight with your card — also available for authorized users when they book a reservation too.
With Alaska's acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, we can expect more routes and redemption opportunities to Hawaii, a valuable proposition as cash fares during peak travel months can be quite costly. I have always found value in Alaska MileagePlan thanks to its impressive award chart, and the best way to take advantage of it is by earning through a cobranded credit card.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
According to TPG's May 2026 valuations, the points in this welcome offer are worth $750.
Annual fee: $229
THE POINTS GUY
Key benefits: If you're a regular economy flyer, chances are you're a big Southwest Airlines fan. Despite the recent changes with Southwest, cardholders will still have the ability to bring one free checked bag. In addition, you'll receive 25% off inflight purchases and earn tier qualifying points toward A-List status.
This card comes with a 10,000 points boost for each year, 7,500 bonus points (worth $97.50 according to TPG's February 2026 valuations), preferred seat selection when available at booking* and unlimited upgrades to extra legroom seating (when available) within 48 hours of departure*.
The information for the Southwest Premier card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
As an economy flyer, Southwest is often a great option. The Southwest Priority card can help alleviate Southwest's unfavorable changes to keep your trip as smooth and painless as possible.
Welcome bonus: Earn 70,000 points after spending $1,000 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days.
According to TPG's May 2025 valuations, this welcome offer is worth $945.
Annual fee: $99
THE POINTS GUY
Key benefits: You and up to three companions will get your first checked bag free when you purchase your JetBlue fare with your card. Plus, inflight purchases made with the card will earn 50% back as a statement credit. Every year, you'll get 5,000 bonus points on your cardmember anniversary (worth $68 according to TPG's May 2025 valuations) and an annual $100 statement credit on JetBlue vacation purchases of $100 or more that you make with your card.
A fan-favorite perk is a 10% rebate on JetBlue award redemptions. You'll get your points rebate after you complete the flight, and there's no maximum amount of points you can earn back.
Why I chose this card: JetBlue is the cream of the crop of economy class with exceptional legroom, unlimited snacks and free Wi-Fi. It also operates a loyalty program similar to Southwest's, so you'll enjoy no blackout dates for award flights. Conveniently, the points price is tied to the cash price.
Compared to the no-annual-fee JetBlue Card, the JetBlue Plus is worth its annual fee thanks to its free checked bag for you and up to three companions and higher earning rates on JetBlue purchases.
The JetBlue Plus card also trumps the hefty JetBlue Premier Card with its $499 annual fee, since the JetBlue Premier's only additional benefits include Group A boarding and a $300 statement credit on Paisly purchases. You won't get substantial benefit from paying so much more for the JetBlue Premier versus the JetBlue Plus.
The information for the JetBlue Card and JetBlue Premier Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
How I chose the best credit cards for economy-class flyers
When choosing the best credit cards for economy-class flyers, I focused more on the cards' ongoing benefits and each loyalty program's value for economy redemptions than I did on the cards' welcome bonuses (which can vary). I also limited our selection to cards with lower annual fees or perks that could outweigh the annual fee, even if you only travel occasionally.
This way, you still get to enjoy the card's perks without feeling the burden of a high annual fee. Plus, you don't have to worry about maximizing the extra, and perhaps unnecessary for you, perks of a premium cobranded airline credit card.
Bottom line
Economy-class travel is a great way to take a modest miles or points balance and transform it into a dream vacation. Besides being cheaper to book, economy awards are much easier to find. So, they are better if your travel dates aren't flexible. And if you're traveling with a large group or family, you'll have much better luck securing awards on the same flight if you're booking economy.
But just because you're traveling in economy doesn't mean you need to board last or pay baggage fees. There are plenty of airline credit cards with benefits that mirror entry-level elite status, like free checked bags and priority boarding.
With perks like award ticket discounts, airport lounge passes and travel-related statement credits, sometimes all you need is a lower-annual-fee airline card instead of a top-tier premium one.
