The Best Airline Credit Cards
Disclosure: Easy Travel Points, LLC has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Easy Travel Points, LLC and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on the site. This site does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
Have you been looking for an airline credit card but aren’t sure which one to get? We have compiled a list of best airline credit card offers currently available so you have everything in one place. Before you get started, take a look at which airlines you fly most frequently, then see which of the following cards will provide you with the most benefits that are most useful to you.
Airline credit cards are some of the best travel cards you can have in your wallet. In fact, I always carry the co-banded card for the airline I always fly most frequently. Having their card has saved me a lot of money on checked bag fees and I get other great benefits like discounts on in-flight purchases and lounge access. They also offer some great welcome bonuses that will help you get a lot closer to your next vacation.
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My Take – While the card_name credit card isn’t co-branded with a specific airline, you can transfer the points earned with this card to several airlines. With the flexibility this card provides, it’s my top choice for the best airline credit card. You can read why this is the card I recommend most often here. If you’re just starting out, this is the first card I recommend to almost everyone.
Welcome Bonus – bonus_miles_full
Highlights – These points can easily be redeemed through the Chase travel portal. You can also transfer the points to one of several airlines and take advantage of some of the redemption sweet spots like this for flying to Hawaii. This card also offers great travel insurance that covers a lot of those unexpected events that come up while traveling.
Annual Fee – $95 (not waived during the first year)
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My Take – I love this card because it comes with a solid welcome bonus, premium travel benefits and a lower annual fee than other premium travel reward cards. This card comes with some great benefits like lounge access and Hertz elite status that I use all the time. For anyone who is a frequent traveler, you should definitely give this card a closer look.
Welcome Bonus – bonus_miles_full
Highlights – These points can be redeemed for $750 worth of travel! Like the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, these points can also be transferred to one of several transfer partner airlines. No foreign transaction fees are incurred on purchases made with this card. You will receive up to a $100 credit on Global Entry or TSA PreCheck frees every 4 years.
Annual Fee – $95 that isn’t waived the first year.
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My Take – This card is an excellent choice for small business owners who fly Southwest Airlines frequently. I love this card because it has a welcome bonus that’s higher than a lot of other business cards and comes with some excellent travel benefits as noted below. Plus, Southwest points are super easy to use, so you’ll be able to easily use your points for an upcoming trip.
Bonus – bonus_miles_full
Highlights – Earn 4 points for every dollar spent with Southwest Airlines as well as 2 points per dollar on select business categories. Each year you’ll receive 4 upgraded boarding passes to positions A1-A15 that can be used on any available flight. Each card anniversary year you will receive 9,000 additional Rapid Rewards points. Every 4 years you can receive up to a $100 statement credit on Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fees.
Annual Fee – $199 (not waived during the first year)
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My Take – This is a great card for those who love to fly Southwest Airlines. Especially if you’re traveling as a family. The thing I love most about Southwest’s programs, is the points are super easy to use. As long as there’s an open seat on the flight, you can book it with your miles. So when you’re traveling as a family, you don’t need to worry about trying to find enough award seats for everyone.
Bonus – bonus_miles_full
Highlights – Earn 2x on Southwest purchases, internet, cable and phone purchases. Earn 3,000 bonus points each anniversary year. Plus get 2 free Early Bird check-ins each year.
Annual Fee – $69 (not waived during the first year)
Final Thoughts
These offers are constantly changing, so be sure to bookmark this page and check back regularly as new offers become available. If you’re looking for other types of cards, be sure to check out our recommendations for the best overall credit card offers as well as the best business credit card offers.
If you still have questions after reviewing our list, you can always reach out to us and we’d be happy to help.
Disclosure: Easy Travel Points, LLC has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Easy Travel Points, LLC and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on the site. This site does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
Disclosure: Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.