Best Airline Credit Cards this year
An airline credit card can be an awesome way to earn rewards that you can use toward free flights, hotels, and other travel perks. Airline credit cards pay a higher amount of rewards when you use your credit card to purchase flights directly from the associated airline.
Chase United MileagePlus Explorer Card
Chase United Explorer card is designed with so many benefits for members who are frequent fliers. The card offers a free first checked bag for cardholders and one companion when you use your card to buy tickets. Your card also gives you access to priority boarding, 2 United Club passes, up to $100 Global Entry or TSA Precheck® credit. cardholders earn two miles per dollar on all items purchased from United, including tickets, Economy Plus®, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, baggage service.
Charges and other United fees; two miles for each dollar spent at restaurants and on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel; and one mile per dollar on everything else.
Minimum Credit Required: Excellent
Annual Fee is charged at $95, waived in the first year
Intro APR: None offered
Ongoing APR is charged at 18.24% to 25.24% variable
Balance Transfer Fee is charged at $5 or 5% of the transfer amount
Cash Advance fee is charged at $10 or 5% of the cash advance
Foreign Purchase Transaction Fee: None
Sign-up bonus: 40,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first three months; earn an additional 20,000 miles after spending $8,000 total in the first six months
JetBlue Plus Card
This credit card offers cardholders a huge rewards rate of six points per dollar on all JetBlue purchases, in addition, two points per dollar at restaurants and grocery stores; and one point per dollar on all other purchases. Every time you redeem your miles you’ll get 10% of your points back. And each year on your account anniversary, you’ll receive 5,000 bonus miles. Get 50% inflight savings on cocktails and food purchases. JetBlue doesn’t operate flights in as many major cities as other major airlines which could limit the use of the rewards you earn.
Minimum Credit Required: Excellent
Annual Fee is charged at $99
Intro APR is charged at 0% on balance transfers for the first 12 billing cycles
Ongoing APR is charged at 18.24% to 27.24% variable
Balance Transfer Fee is charged at $5 or 3% of the transfer amount
Cash Advance fee is charged at $10 or 5% of the cash advance
Foreign Purchase Transaction Fee: None
Sign-up bonus: 40,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 on purchases and paying the annual fee in the first three months
Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite MasterCard
This card offers the first checked bag for free on domestic American Airlines flights for you and up to four companions on the same reservation. You’ll also enjoy preferred boarding and 25% savings on eligible inflight food and beverage purchases. Current cardholders or members will earn two AAdvantage miles for every dollar spent on American Airlines purchases and one AAdvantage mile for every dollar spent on other purchases. Earn a $125 American Airlines Flight Discount after you spend $20,000 or more in purchases during your card membership year and renew your card.
Minimum Credit Required: Excellent
Annual Fee is charged at $99, waived in the first 12 months
Intro APR: None offered
Ongoing APR is charged at 18.24% to 26.24% variable
Balance Transfer Fee is charged at $5 or 3% of the transfer amount
Cash Advance fee is charged at $10 or 5% of the cash advance
Foreign Purchase Transaction Fee: None
Sign-up bonus: 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage(R) bonus miles after spending $2,500 within the first 3 months of account opening
Delta Reserve Credit Card from American Express
The Delta Reserve Credit Card from American Express rewards cardholders with what is called Medallion Qualification Miles (MQM) that go towards earning elite status. In addition to the 40,000 signup bonus, you’ll earn 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQM) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of opening your account.
You can also earn 15,000 MQM and 15,000 bonus miles after you spend $30,000 on eligible purchases on your credit card in a calendar year. Spend $60,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year and you’ll earn an additional 15,000 MQM and 15,000 bonus miles.
Minimum Credit Required: Excellent
Annual Fee is charged at $450
Intro APR: None offered
Ongoing APR is charged at 17.99% to 26.99% variable
Balance Transfer Fee is charged at $5 or 3% of the transfer amount
Cash Advance fee is charged at $5 or 3% of the cash advance
Foreign Purchase Transaction Fee: None
Welcome Offer: 40,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases
Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card From American Express
The Gold Delta SkyMiles is the perfect entry-level rewards credit card. This card offers a checked bag free for its members and up to 9 travelers on your reservation. Plus, in addition, save 20% on eligible inflight purchases. The Gold Delta Skymiles credit card Provides a very good signup bonus with a relatively low minimum spend requirement. You’ll earn two miles for every dollar you spend on purchases made directly with Delta and one mile for every dollar you spend on other credit card purchases.
Minimum Credit Required: Good
Annual Fee is charged at $95, waived in the first year
Intro APR: Not offered
Ongoing APR is charged at 17.99% to 26.99% variable
Balance Transfer Fee is charged at $5 or 3% of the transfer amount
Cash Advance fee is charged at $5 or 3% of the cash advance
Foreign Purchase Transaction Fee: None
Welcome Offer: 30,000 bonus miles when you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months. $50 statement credit after you make your purchase Delta purchase in the first three months
Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card
Cardmember will receive 6,000 bonus points yearly. you’ll earn two points per dollar spent on Southwest Airlines flights and purchases from Southwest hotel and car rental partners, and earn one point per dollar spent on all other purchases. Your purchases help you earn tier-qualifying points that help you reach A-list or A-List Preferred status that gets you access to priority check-in and boarding, free same-day standby, and a dedicated customer support phone line.
Minimum Credit Required: Good
Annual Fee is charged at $99
Intro APR: Not offered
Ongoing APR is charged at 18.24% to 25.24% variable
Balance Transfer Fee is charged at $5 or 5% of the transfer amount
Cash Advance fee is charged at $10 or 5% of the cash advance
Foreign Purchase Transaction Fee: None
Sign-up Bonus: 60,000 bonus miles when you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first three months.
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card
This credit card has a good bonus offer that includes Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare which allows a companion to fly with you for a $99 fare plus taxes and fees. Card membership also gives you access to the same companion flight deal each year on your account anniversary. Get the first checked bag free on Alaska flights for you and up to six guests on the same reservation, as long as you use your card of course.
Minimum Credit Required: Good
Annual Fe is charged at $75
Intro APR: Not offered
Ongoing APR is charged at 17.24% to 25.24% variable
Balance Transfer Fee is charged at $10 or 3% of the transfer amount
Cash Advance fee is charged at $10 or 3% of the cash advance
Foreign Purchase Transaction Fee: None
Sign-up Bonus: 40,000 bonus miles plus Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare when you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first three months.
British Airways Visa Signature Card
British Airways offers new cardholders the opportunity to earn up to 120,000 Avios in the first year. In year one, you’ll earn 4 Avios for every dollar you spend on all purchases up to $30,000. After that, you’ll earn 3 Avoid per dollar on British Airways purchases and one Avios per dollar spent on everything else. You’re not limited to flights on British Airways – you can use your points to book with any of the airline’s partners including American Airlines and Alaska Airlines.
Minimum Credit Required: Good
Annual Fee is charged at $95
Intro APR: Not offered
Ongoing APR is charged at 18.24% to 25.24% variable
Balance Transfer Fee is charged at $5 or 5% of the transfer amount
Cash Advance fee is charged at $10 or 5% of the cash advance
Foreign Purchase Transaction Fee: None
Sign-up Bonus: None offered
Frontier Airlines World Mastercard
To earn a sign-up bonus with this card which is very easy, spend $500 and pay the annual fee in the first 90 days and you’ll receive a 40k mile bonus. You will earn 5x miles on purchases at FlyFrontier.com; 3x miles on restaurant purchases; and 1x mile per dollar on all other purchases.
Every amount you spend allows you to earn one Qualifying Mile toward Elite Status and a $100 flight voucher each year on your account anniversary when you spend $2,500 or more annually. You’ll have 180 days to use your flight voucher before it expires.
Minimum Credit Required: Good
Annual Fee is charged at $79
Intro APR: 0% on balance transfers for the first 15 months
Ongoing APR is charged at 18.24% to 27.24% variable
Balance Transfer Fee is charged at $5 or 3% of the transfer amount
Cash Advance fee is charged at $10 or 5% of the cash advance
Foreign Purchase Transaction Fee: None
Sign-up Bonus: 40,000 miles when you spend $500 on purchases in the first 90 days
