| Venture Rewards from Capital One | Chase Freedom Unlimited | Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card | Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card | United Explorer Card | Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard | Capital One Venture X | |
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| Our pick for | Best overall | No annual fee | Southwest Airlines | Delta Air Lines | United Airlines | American Airlines | Airport lounge access |
| Minimum credit score | Excellent | Good to excellent | Good to excellent | Good to excellent | Good to excellent | Good to excellent | Excellent |
| Checked bags | None | None | No charge from Southwest for the first two checked bags | First checked bag free for cardholder and up to eight companions | First checked bag free for cardholder and one companion | First checked bag free for cardholder and up to four companions (domestic flights only) | None |
| Priority boarding | None | None | Four Upgraded Boardings per year | Board with Main Cabin 1 group | Board with Group 2 | Board with Group 5 | None |
| Annual fee | $95 | $0 | $149 | $99 (waived the first year) | $95 (waived the first year) | $99 (waived the first year) | $395 |
Our top 7 picks for airline credit cards
- Our pick for best overall: Venture Rewards from Capital One
- Our pick for no annual fee: Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Our pick for Southwest Airlines: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card
- Our pick for Delta Air Lines: Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- Our pick for United Airlines: United Explorer Card
- Our pick for American Airlines: Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
- Our pick for airport lounge access: Capital One Venture X
To find the best airline credit cards, we compared the earning power, welcome bonuses, airline benefits, travel protections, annual fees and other features among a number of credit cards. We assigned scores to each feature from each card to determine the best cards for each type of traveler.
Our picks may be Authorized Partners that compensate us. This does not affect our recommendations or evaluations but may impact the order in which companies appear. For more details on how we selected our top picks, read our full methodology.
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The Venture Rewards card is an excellent all-around airline credit card because you can earn and redeem rewards on any airline.
It also includes a generous welcome bonus, an earn rate of two miles per $1 on every purchase and five miles per $1 spent when you book hotels and rental cars through the Capital One Travel portal. Miles can be used to book travel, cover past travel purchases, transfer to airline and hotel partners and more.
To increase its value, the Venture Rewards card also includes two free airport lounge visits every year and up to $100 in reimbursements for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck once every four years.
What we like
- Welcome bonus of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months
- Two free airport lounge visits per year
- Up to $100 in application fee reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
What to consider
- You must book travel through Capital One to earn at the card’s highest rewards rate.
- Its included travel insurance protections are very limited.
What reviewers say
However, Willliam from Texas said he does not like the pricing offered through the Capital One Travel portal, and noted, "They advertise price matching but will not price match unless it meets ALL their conditions."
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The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a very strong travel card for those who don't want to pay an annual fee. It earns an unlimited 1.5% back on every purchase, and cardholders can redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more.
New cardholders can benefit from an introductory low APR offer that allows them to repay their balance over a 15-month period without incurring any interest.
What we like
- Unlimited 1.5% back on every purchase without an annual fee
- Intro 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months
- Some travel and purchase protections
What to consider
- You must book travel through Chase to earn at the card’s highest rewards rate.
- The card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee.
- Rewards points cannot be transferred to airline or hotel loyalty programs.
What reviewers say
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If you "LUV" to fly Southwest, then the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card is for you. Although it has the highest annual fee of any personal Southwest credit card, its benefits make up for that.
It comes with an annual $75 credit toward Southwest purchases and gives cardholders 7,500 points every year. The card also reimburses Priority Boarding charges up to four times per year, so you can get one of the first 15 seats on your flight.
What we like
- Spending counts toward earning A-List status.
- Regular spending and the welcome bonus count toward earning a Companion Pass.
- Points are earned in a variety of everyday spending categories.
What to consider
- Its travel protections only cover lost or delayed luggage.
- The priority boarding benefit is limited to four times per year (when available).
- It has a higher annual fee than many airline credit cards in its peer group.
What reviewers say
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Frequent Delta travelers get excellent value from the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card.
Cardholders get the first checked bag free for themselves and up to eight travel companions, priority boarding and in-flight discounts on food and beverages. Additionally, you'll save 15% of the miles needed to book Award Travel on Delta.
What we like
- It earns two miles per $1 spent at U.S. restaurants and supermarkets, as well as on purchases made directly with Delta.
- There’s an extended timeframe of six months to meet the minimum spending requirement for the card’s welcome bonus.
- You’ll get a free checked bag, as well as priority boarding and in-flight discounts on Delta flights.
What to consider
- It does not include flight or luggage protection benefits.
- Its maximum rewards earning rate is lackluster compared with competing travel cards.
- There are no options for earning elite status through spending.
What reviewers say
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The United Explorer Card offers tremendous value for travelers who fly United Airlines.
The card provides the first checked bag for you and one travel companion for free, as well as priority boarding and discounts on in-flight food, beverage and Wi-Fi purchases. It also includes two one-time United Club entrance passes each year and upgrades on award tickets for those who have MileagePlus Premier status.
The card's annual fee is waived the first year, so you can try its benefits for 12 months before having to pay a fee.
What we like
- Free checked bag, priority boarding and discounts on in-flight purchases
- Robust travel protections
- Two complimentary United Club airport lounge visits each year
What to consider
- The card has underwhelming earning power for miles.
- Checked bag benefits are limited to the cardholder and one travel companion.
- You must have MileagePlus Premier status to receive complimentary upgrades on award tickets.
What reviewers say
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Travelers who prefer American Airlines should consider the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard.
It offers a generous welcome bonus and waives the first year's annual fee. Additionally, cardholders get preferred boarding, the first checked bag free for the cardholder and up to four companions on domestic flights and a 25% discount on in-flight purchases.
Plus, you'll receive a $125 discount on a future American Airlines flight if you make $20,000 or more in purchases in a one-year period and renew your card membership for the next year.
What we like
- Purchases earn points toward AAdvantage status.
- You’ll earn a $125 American Airlines discount after making $20,000 in purchases during one year.
- The card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees on purchases.
What to consider
- It earns extra miles in a limited number of spending categories.
- It doesn’t include travel insurance.
- It doesn’t come with free airport lounge passes.
What reviewers say
However, Felix from Florida canceled his Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard due to his disappointment with changes to the value of AAdvantage miles. He was also disappointed with the card’s customer service after he canceled. "I asked they return the annual fee since I would not use the card in 2023. They said that 37 days had passed since the charge in December, and they could not return the fee because the card was used more than 30 days. Besides that, they charged interest on the $99.00," said Felix.
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Airport lounges make the airport experience considerably better with complimentary or discounted food and drinks, comfortable seating and other amenities.
The Capital One Venture X includes unlimited complimentary access for the cardholder and up to two guests per visit at Capital One lounges and lounges in Capital One’s partner lounge network, which includes Priority Pass and Plaza Premium Group lounges.
Additionally, the card earns 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Its flexible miles can be redeemed for travel expenses or transferred to airline and hotel loyalty programs.
You'll receive up to $300 in travel credit and 10,000 miles every year you renew the card, which can make up for its $395 annual fee.
What we like
- Complimentary access to Capital One, Priority Pass and Plaza Premium Group lounges
- Extra miles earned on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- No foreign transaction fees
What to consider
- It has a high annual fee, which can be hard to justify for the occasional traveler.
- You must book through Capital One Travel to earn miles at the card’s highest rate.
What reviewers say
Compare airline credit card offers
| Card | Travel features |
|---|---|
| Venture Rewards from Capital One | Two miles per $1 on every purchase; transfer miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | Up to 5% cash back on travel; some travel and purchase protections included |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card | Annual $75 Southwest travel credit; 7,500 points when you renew the card |
| Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card | 15% off Award Travel; free checked bag, priority boarding and in-flight purchase discounts |
| United Explorer Card | Two free lounge passes each year; free checked bag, priority boarding and in-flight purchase discounts |
| Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard | $125 discount on an American Airlines flight after spending $20,000 in one year; preferred boarding, free checked bag on domestic flights and in-flight purchase discounts |
| Capital One Venture X | Unlimited complimentary lounge access; 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel; up to $300 in travel credit and 10,000 bonus miles every year |
What is an airline credit card?
An airline credit card offers special benefits for traveling with a specific airline. These co-branded credit cards reward travelers with perks like waived baggage fees, priority boarding and discounts on in-flight purchases. Some may also include complimentary or discounted airport lounge access when flying with the airline.
Select airline cards also offer accelerated elite status based on your annual spending with the card.
» MORE: Best hotel credit cards
How to use airline credit cards
With an airline credit card, you can earn miles, redeem miles for flights and save money. Understanding all of your card's benefits enables you to maximize the value you receive in exchange for its annual fee.
Earn miles and save money
- Book flights and pay for airline fees. Make sure to use your airline credit card when booking flights, as you might earn miles at a particularly high rate. Also, use the card when paying airline fees for flight upgrades, checked bags and in-flight purchases.
- Use discounts on in-flight purchases. Airline credit cards may offer discounts of up to 50% on in-flight purchases, such as alcohol, snacks and Wi-Fi.
- Eliminate checked bag fees. Avoid paying for your checked bags by using your airline credit card to book your flight. Some airline credit cards cover a checked bag for up to eight passengers on the same reservation, so this benefit can potentially save a large group of travelers about $500 or so for a round-trip flight. The number of free checked bags varies by airline and credit card, so compare benefits.
- Get on the plane quicker. Cardholders may receive priority boarding that allows them and their travel companions to board before other travelers.
- Access airport lounges. A premium airline credit card may offer unlimited complimentary access to the airline's airport lounge or to lounges in the airline’s partner lounge network. Other cards with lower annual fees may include a limited number of free lounge passes each year.
- Earn rewards on everyday expenses. Airline credit cards may earn a high number of miles for purchases made in certain spending categories. For purchases made outside those categories, you'll earn at least one mile per dollar spent.
Redeem rewards for flights
To redeem miles with most airlines, you can just search for flights on the airline’s website as you normally would. Enter your travel dates, departure and destination cities, number of passengers and fare class. Choose “miles” instead of “cash” in the search box before executing your search. Some airlines allow you to click back and forth between cash and miles, while others have a dedicated search process for award flights.
Always compare a flight’s regular cash price with what it costs in miles. It helps to understand the value of your miles so that you can decide whether to pay cash or redeem miles for the reservation. Typically, you want to receive a value of at least $0.015 or so per mile on your redemption.
To determine the value you’re getting for each mile, divide the flight’s cash price by the number of miles required. For example, a $500 flight that costs 25,000 miles has a value of $0.02 per mile. That is considered a good redemption for most airlines.
Pros and cons of airline credit cards
Airline credit cards can be a great way to save money for frequent flyers who typically fly with one specific airline. But they might not be a great fit for those who travel occasionally or with a variety of airlines.
Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using an airline credit card rather than a standard credit card.
Pros
- Purchases with the card’s affiliated airline usually earn a lot of miles.
- A passenger will usually get special benefits when flying with the airline or one of its partners.
- You might get accelerated elite status based on your annual spending level.
Cons
- Miles are generally only redeemable through the card’s affiliated airline.
- Annual fees may not be worthwhile for all travelers.
- Some of the card’s benefits may overlap with benefits offered by the loyalty program’s elite statuses.
What to look for in an airline credit card
Before applying for an airline credit card, you should compare different options to determine which one matches your needs, spending patterns and travel style. Many benefits of these cards are valuable if they’re used frequently. If you won't use them, they won't offer any value to you.
Keep the following features in mind.
- Welcome bonus: How many miles can you earn, and how much do you have to spend to earn the bonus? Additionally, how long do you have to meet the minimum spending requirement? Are there any eligibility restrictions?
- Earning power: How many miles per dollar can you earn on your purchases? Which spending categories give the most miles back? Are there any annual spending limits to keep in mind?
- Airline benefits: Does the card offer special perks when flying with the airline, such as free checked bags or priority boarding? Are there any limits on how many travel companions can receive the benefits?
- Airport lounge access: Does the card include airport lounge access? Are the lounges available at the airports you travel to frequently? Can you bring guests into the lounge with you for free or at a low cost?
- Travel protections: Is travel insurance included when booking travel with the card? What are the limits and exclusions of the card’s insurance coverage?
- Ease of redemption: How easy is it to redeem your miles for travel? Are there any additional fees required when booking award travel?
- Annual fees: How much is the card's annual fee? Are the card’s cumulative benefits worth more than its annual fee?
It can also be useful to compare airline credit cards with general travel cards. Airline credit cards typically offer benefits when flying with a specific airline, while travel credit cards may offer more general benefits that could be applicable to a variety of airlines and hotels.
Additionally, airline miles are usually the most valuable when booking flights with the card's co-branded airline. Flexible points earned with general travel cards may be used to book travel, get cash back, buy gift cards or transfer to airline and hotel partners.
While some travelers may be put off by an airline card’s annual fee, experts advise that a fee will most likely be worth it.
Jon Nickel-D'Andrea, a blogger with the travel hacking siteNo Mas Coach, said: "It is easy for most travelers to cover the cost of an airline credit card's annual fee. You can break even on the $100 annual fee with the savings from three one-way flights on most airlines. That doesn't include other benefits, like priority boarding, that are harder to assign a value to."
» MORE: Best travel insurance companies
FAQ
Are there any fees associated with airline credit cards?
Airline credit cards may charge fees in certain situations. Many cards have annual fees, and you should make sure you're getting enough value from the card to justify that annual cost. While airline credit cards often waive foreign transaction fees, some charge fees up to 3% of your international purchases. Airline credit cards may also charge standard credit card fees for late payments and going over your card’s credit limit.
What are the restrictions of airline credit cards?
Most airline credit cards offer their best benefits when the cardholder travels with the card’s co-branded airline. When you travel on a different airline, you generally won't receive the same benefits, like priority boarding, free checked bags or in-flight discounts. Additionally, airline miles offer the best value when redeemed for flights with their associated airline or its partners. You can't redeem them for flights on competing airlines, which may offer lower prices or better routing to meet your travel needs.
Can I use airline benefits for other travelers?
Many airline credit cards allow cardholders to extend benefits to others traveling on the same reservation. Depending on the card you have, these benefits may include complimentary flight upgrades, priority boarding, free checked bags, airport lounge access and more. However, you usually can’t gift card benefits to others if you aren't traveling with them.
Can I redeem my airline credit card miles for flights on any airline?
Most travel loyalty programs require that you redeem your miles through the loyalty program’s sponsoring airline or one of its partners. If you want the flexibility to book with any airline, you're better off using a general travel credit card or a cash-back credit card.
Bottom line
If you fly with a specific airline on a regular basis, you should consider using one of that airline’s credit cards to access rewards and benefits like free checked bags, priority boarding and in-flight discounts. Some airline credit cards include airport lounge access or an accelerated path to elite status that improves your travel experience.
But if you're not loyal to a specific airline, consider getting a general travel card, which may offer more flexible benefits and award redemptions that are not restricted to a single airline.
Methodology
To make our top picks, the ConsumerAffairs team compared more than 60 different cards from major financial institutions — including American Express, Bank of America, Chase, Capital One, Citibank, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo — that offer airline credit cards and general travel credit cards.
We reviewed these cards for a variety of factors, including fees, earning power, welcome bonuses, airline benefits, travel protections and consumer reviews.
- Fees: We compared cards with a variety of annual fees. The level of benefits that cards offer often varies based on the fee cardholders pay each year.
- Earning power: All cards chosen earn extra miles or points when making purchases from a co-branded airline partner specifically or from any airline generally. We also selected cards with strong earning power in other common purchase categories to maximize the rewards you can earn on everyday spending.
- Welcome bonus: We searched for cards that offer generous welcome bonuses for new cardholders. These bonus incentives encourage cardholders to shift their daily spending to their new card in order to meet the minimum spending requirements.
- Airline benefits: We considered perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, airport lounge access and companion fares, as these ongoing benefits may offer significant value in exchange for paying the card's annual fee.
- Travel protections: These insurance benefits protect travelers in case of delayed or canceled flights, an interrupted trip, lost or damaged bags, rental car damage and other unexpected incidents that can occur while traveling.
Article sources
- Southwest Airlines, " Checked baggage ." Accessed June 15, 2023.
- Delta Air Lines, " Boarding Priority ." Accessed June 15, 2023.
- United Airlines, " Boarding process ." Accessed June 15, 2023.
- American Airlines, " Boarding process ." Accessed June 15, 2023.
- Capital One, " Capital One miles transfer partners ." Accessed June 20, 2023.
- Southwest Airlines, " 2023 Rapid Rewards Qualifying Transactions for 2023-2024 Status ." Accessed June 21, 2023.
- Delta Air Lines, " Baggage & Travel Fees ." Accessed June 21, 2023.
