Airline credit cards can be shared with specific airlines or offer transferable travel rewards that can be used with a variety of carriers.
The right card for you will depend on several factors, such as your preferred airline, loyalty program, credit score and spending levels, and the benefits you value the most.
With that in mind, this is something to consider when choosing an airline credit card.
Best airline credit cards
This is our top pick for the best airline credit cards.
| credit card | The best | Welcome offer | Income rate | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Simple reward income | Spend $4,000 in the first three months of account opening and earning 75,000 miles. |
|
$95 |
| American Express Platinum Card® | Luxury goods | Find out your offer and see if you are eligible to earn up to 175,000 members reward points after spending $8,000 in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. |
|
$695 (see rates and fees) |
| Chase SapphireReserve® | Win the ultimate reward points for chasing | Earn 100,000 bonus points and $500 ChaseTravel℠ points after spending $5,000 in the first three months. |
|
$795 (see rates and fees |
| Chase Sapphire Priority® Card | Beginner Traveler | Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases from the first three months of account opening. |
|
$95 (see rates and fees) |
| Joint business card | United Business Travelers | Spend $5,000 in the first three months of account opening, earning 75,000 miles and 2,000 PQP. |
|
$0 for the first year of annual introduction fee, followed by $150 (see Fees and Fees |
| Citigroup premiere card | Beginner Travel | Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of opening. |
|
$95 (see rates and fees) |
| DeltaSkymiles® Reserve American Express Card | Sky Club Access | Earn 100,000 miles of bonus miles after spending $6,000 on your card’s eligible purchases during the first six months of card membership. The offer ends on July 16. |
|
$650 (see rates and fees) |
| American Express® Gold Card | Have a meal | Spend $6,000 in the first six months of card membership, earning 60,000 points after earning $6,000. |
|
$325 (see rates and fees) |
| Capital One Venture X Reward Credit Card | Advanced Travel | After spending $4,000 in the first three months of opening, earning 75,000 miles of bonus miles. |
|
$395 |
| Southwest® RapidRewards® Performance Business Credit Card | Loyal Southwest Business Traveler | In the first three months of opening an account, you spent $5,000 in purchases and earned 80,000 bonus points. |
|
$199 (see rates and fees) |
| Alaska Airlines Signed Credit Card | Earn Alaska Air Miles | Earn 50,000 miles of bonus miles to buy another ticket, get taxes and fees ($0 fares and fees (from $23) on taxes and more ($23)) and after that, spend $3,000 or more in the first 90 days after the account is opened. |
|
$95 |
How to choose the right airline credit card
To find the best airline card for your travel lifestyle, first ask yourself the following questions.
Do you have your preferred airline?
Airline credit cards provide the best income rates and benefits for specific airlines (and sometimes even their partners). However, when booking a flight, not everyone can stick to a specific airline.
Check out flights from the past year to see which airline you fly most often or narrow it down to the top three. If the airlines are different and you are more concerned with getting the cheapest fares, you may want to bypass the airline card and consider travel credit cards with more flexible reward options.
Some of our favorite options here include Venture Rewards, Amex Platinum and Citigroup Prime Minister.
However, if you always fly on the same airline because you live in a hub city or are working towards elite identity (or like an airline), you will benefit from your airline credit card. You just need to find the right card for the airline.
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What is your credit score?
Airline credit cards fall into the category of travel credit cards. Travel credit cards require good to good credit scores – usually at 690 or higher. You may approve airline credit cards that earn lower scores, but know that your options may be more limited.
Do you check the bag?
One of the airline credit card offers is the ability to check one or two bags for free, depending on the airline credit card. This benefit applies to cardholders flying, and sometimes their companions book under the same booking.
American Airlines charges checked baggage when you fly domestically and choose an international flight. In fact, several major U.S. airlines have increased their check bag fees since 2023. So having an airline credit card can save you $40 per bag per flight, which is a major win for pilots who regularly check bags.
Related: These 26 credit cards will give you free signature bags
How much will you spend on your card?
Understanding your spending habits can help you choose the right airline credit card. All airline credit cards allow you to earn points or miles for their common flyer plans.
For example, Delta Skymiles Reserve Amex Reward those who spend high. You will receive a boost of 1 medal eligibility dollar for every $10 spent in a calendar year, which will help you achieve Delta Elite status faster.
What are the benefits of a card?
You should consider other benefits offered by cards other than points or mileage. If you are happy with basic benefits such as free check bags and priority boarding, aim for airline cards with lower annual fees.
However, if you want to earn bonus points or get bonus points as an elite, declare credit, airport lounge access and free upgrades, purchase an airline credit card with higher annual fees. They tend to offer additional allowances.
Should I use an airline card for my daily expenses?
If you are loyal to the airline, striving to be elite, or want to improve points or mileage balance through a specific airline, it makes sense to use an airline card for your daily spending. However, many airline credit cards lack the benefits of targeting daily expenses.
For example, not all airline credit cards offer purchase protection or extended warranty. So, although you are buying points or miles from buying an airline, you may lose your luck if you purchase a large item (such as a TV or laptop) and you need to file a claim.
If the income rate is low, you may also want to avoid using airline credit cards for daily expenses.
this Joint business card In TPG’s June 2025 valuation, earning 2 miles per dollar for dining at restaurants (worth 1.35 cents per mile), while Chase Sapphire’s preferred card Earn 3 points per dollar on dining (same valuation, worth 2.05 cents).
In this case, it will benefit you to buy a meal in the case of sapphire preferences that will make your income more than you earn in a joint venture. Additionally, you can earn transferable points, which can provide value far beyond the valuation of Chase and TPG if you transfer points to a partner airline.
Related: How (and Why) You Should Earn Transferable Credit Card Points
Bottom line
An airline credit card is the best choice for you to earn points or miles with a specific airline, not to mention other privileges you can enjoy every time you fly. Choosing the right airline credit card depends on your ability to stick to an airline, travel needs and spending habits.
It’s always worth the extra time to study which airlines and their credit cards will benefit you, and how to use points or miles, allowances and benefits to enhance your travel experience.
Related: Airline Credit Cards vs Travel Credit Cards: Which is the best?
For Amex Platinum rates and fees, click here.
For rates and fees for Delta Reserve Amex, click here.
For Amex Gold rates and fees, click here.
