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| Your ticket to free flights |
| by Tarah Chieffi, Senior Writer |
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I don’t know about you, but I used to overlook airline cards because I (wrongly) assumed I didn’t fly enough to reap the benefits.
But as airlines like United and Delta continue to prioritize cardholders with things like better award redemptions, free checked bags and discounts on in-flight purchases, it makes more sense than ever to hold an airline credit card.
Some of TPG’s top airline cards are offering limited-time welcome bonuses that make them even more attractive right now, no matter which airline you fly. Let’s take a look…
✈️ Best for Alaska Airlines flyers: New Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card holders can earn 100,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening.- This card does have a $395 annual fee, but with a bonus worth up to $1,938 (when you include the value of the 25,000-point Global Companion Award) per TPG’s Oct. 2026 valuations, it’s an incredible value.
- Alaska also offers the mid-tier Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card. This card comes with its own valuable bonus and a lower $95 annual fee.
- Both cards come with perks like free checked bags and priority boarding on both Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines, so you really can’t go wrong.
✈️ Best for United Airlines flyers: If United flights are the most convenient for you, the airline offers a $150-annual-fee United℠ Explorer Card, but that fee is waived for the first year.- Currently, the United Explorer Card is offering 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.
- If you fly more frequently, the United Quest℠ Card also offers an even higher welcome offer and comes with enhanced perks like a $200 annual United travel credit and an annual 10,000-mile award flight discount that help to offset the $350 annual fee.
✈️ Best for American Airlines flyers: I fear I saved the best for last here, because American Airlines travelers can currently earn up to 125,000 miles with the Citi/AAdvantage cards.- For a limited time, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Legend Mastercard® is offering the chance to earn a whopping 125,000 bonus miles after spending $15,000 on purchases in the first five months from account opening, worth $1,813 per TPG’s valuations.
- If you don’t fly American Airlines often enough to justify the card’s $695 annual fee, let me point you toward the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®. The $99 annual fee is waived for the first year and for a limited time you can earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,500 on purchases in the first four months from account opening, worth $1,160.
Check out these articles to learn more before these offers take off (get it?):
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| Photo Credit: Clint Henderson/The Points Guy. |
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