11 best airline credit cards: Free flights, lounge access and more
Ben Nickel-D'Andrea covers credit cards and luxury travel. With more than a decade of experience with points and miles, Ben brings his expertise as a freelance travel writer breaking down complex rewards programs with easy-to-understand writing. He has a background in linguistics and languages, and loves traveling in first or business class all over the world.
Dia Adams is the senior editor leading the credit cards team at Fortune Recommends. Previously, Dia was a managing editor on the credit cards and travel rewards team at Forbes Advisor. She has been featured on national television, radio, print, and online media as an expert in the realms of credit cards, points and miles, Disney and family travel.
Fortune Recommends™ has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Fortune Recommends™ and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
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If earning airline miles towards your next vacation or simply looking to make the flying experience more enjoyable is what you’re after, airline credit cards can make that easier. You can earn airline frequent flyer program miles, preferred boarding, checked bag waivers, and even gain entry to the coveted VIP airport lounges. You may notice that our list doesn’t include just airline co-branded credit cards that earn miles, but also travel credit cards earning transferable points that can transfer into a multiple of airline miles programs. For those travelers who are in a committed relationship with one specific airline, co-branded credit cards may be the best option as some of the benefits are targeted precisely to those frequent flyers.
See our full methodology here.
The best credit cards for earning airline miles in July 2024
- Best overall: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Best no-annual-fee card that earns airline miles: Bilt Mastercard®
- Best card earning miles for Companion Pass: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
- Best Delta Air Lines miles-earning card: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Best United Airlines miles-earning card: United℠ Explorer Card
- Best American Airlines miles-earning card: Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
- Best foreign airline mile-earning card: Aeroplan® Credit Card
- Best flat-rate card: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Best card earning airline miles for transfer partners: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Best card earning airline miles for lounge access: The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Best cash-back airline card: U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect VISA Signature® Card
Best overall airline card: Capital One Venture X
The Venture X takes the top spot because it offers premium benefits, including airport lounge access, for hundreds of dollars less in annual fees than other cards in its class.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Intro bonus
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening| Annual Fee | $395 |
| Purchase APR | 19.99%–29.99% variable |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | None |
at Cardratings.com
Rewards Rates
- 10X 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 5X 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X 2x miles on everyday purchases
Other benefits
- Travel protections including car rental insurance, trip cancellation/interruption and travel delay protection
- Consumer protections including extended warranty and return protection
at Cardratings.com
Why we like this card: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has a robust rewards program and travel benefits that cater to frequent travelers. One of its standout features is the generous rewards rate. These miles can be redeemed for travel, transferred to over a dozen travel partners, or use your miles to cover recent travel purchases.
As an extra perk, you can earn 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary.
Another hallmark of the Venture X card is its rich suite of travel perks. Cardholders enjoy access to the Capital One lounge network and over 1,300 partner lounges worldwide through Priority Pass. Additionally, the card offers a statement credit for the TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee, up to a $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, and no foreign transaction fees. Its comprehensive travel protection benefits, including trip delay and cancellation insurance, add another layer of comfort for travelers.
For more info, check out our review of the Capital One Venture X.
Best no-annual-fee for earning airline miles: Bilt Mastercard
The Bilt Card is marketed as a card for renters and while it is definitely valuable for earning miles on a necessary expense, it stands as a strong travel card as well.
Bilt Mastercard®
Special feature
The Bilt Mastercard offers the unique ability to earn points on rent.| Annual fee | $0 |
| Regular APR | See Terms |
at Bilt
Rewards Rates
- Make at least 5 transactions in a statement period, in order to earn points on rent and qualifying net purchases (purchases minus returns /credits) for that statement period.
- 3X3X Bilt Points on dining
- 2X2X Bilt Points on flights, hotels, rental cars, and cruises when booked directly with airlines, hotels, and car rental agencies
- 1X1X Bilt Points on rent paid through the Bilt App with your card account up to a maximum of 100,000 points each calendar year
- 1X1X Bilt Points on purchases
- Rewards and benefits terms.
- Travel perks: Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection, Trip Delay Reimbursement, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver. See this page for details.
- Foreign Transaction Fee: None
at Bilt
Why we like this card: The Bilt Mastercard partners with United MileagePlus, Flying Blue, Virgin Red, and Alaska Airlines Mile Plan among other appealing options to transfer your points. If you want to buy flights outright, you can get 1.25 cents per dollar in value by booking through Bilt. And if you get in the right Rent Day promotion you can get outsized value from the points you earn. The main caveat of the Bilt Card is that you have to use it five times per month to earn points.
For more info check out our review of the Bilt Mastercard.
Best airline miles-earning card for Companion Pass: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Southwest Airlines’ Companion Pass is one of, if not the best, travel deals on the market and the Premier Card will get you this prized benefit more quickly. For every flight that you take—even an award flight—you can take a companion with you, and this card helps you earn points to get there. For every dollar that you spend on the card you’ll earn one point towards your companion pass status and you’ll even earn a 10,000 point boost each year on your card member anniversary.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Intro bonus
Earn 85,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening (worth up to 3 round trips in continental U.S.).| Annual fee | $99 |
| Regular APR | 21.49%–28.49% variable |
Rewards Rates
- 3x 3X points on Southwest® purchases
- 2x 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners, local transit and commuting, including rideshare, internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming
- 1x 1X points on all other purchases
- Additional perks: Purchase protection, Extended warranty, Baggage delay, DashPass membership
- Foreign transaction fee: None
Why we like this card: If you value Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards then this card is for you, earning a strong 3 miles per dollar on all Southwest purchases. Transit, rideshare and commuting purchases all earn 2 miles per dollar as do internet, cable, cell phone and streaming services. All of these are popular categories you’re probably spending money on, so earning a bonus is a no brainer.
All Southwest Airlines flights come with two free checked bags, so there’s no need to worry about having this card to get free bags, but if something were to happen to those bags, you’re protected against loss, damage, and delay. If your bags are damaged or lost, you’re covered for up to $3,000 and if your bags are delayed in getting to you, you can go get basic necessities on your trip so you’re not left without toiletries and clothes.
For more info check out our review of the Southwest Premier card.
Related reading
- Southwest Early Bird check-in: Your chance to get ahead of the crowd
- How to beat Southwest’s boarding process
- Best credit cards for Southwest Airlines
Best Delta Air Lines card: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
If you are a Delta Air Lines fan, the Reserve will fit nicely into your wallet. With 15 SkyClub visits per year, a companion certificate upon renewal good for even a first class flight and a status jumpstart, you should come out ahead even factoring in the hefty annual fee.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Intro Bonus
Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership| Annual fee | $650 |
| Regular APR | 20.99%–29.99% variable |
at Bankrate
Reward Rates
- 3xEarn 3X Miles on Delta purchases
- 1xEarn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- 15% discount on Delta award flights
- Travel protections including accident insurance, rental car coverage, trip cancellation and delay insurance
- Consumer protections including cell phone insurance, extended warranty, purchase and return protection
at Bankrate
Why we like this card: The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card gives Delta Air Lines frequent flyers access to the Delta Sky Club and Centurion Lounges as well as free checked bags and a companion certificate. You will enjoy access to both the Delta Sky Club and the Centurion Lounge network so you can relax before boarding your flight.
The card packs other benefits like first checked bags free for you and up to eight other passengers on the same reservation, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars on your next family vacation, as well as an annual companion certificate that allows you to buy a second ticket for a domestic round-trip flight for just the taxes and fees. Other fringe perks include a 15% discount when redeeming miles for award flights on Delta, 20% back on in-flight purchases with Delta and an up to $100 credit towards your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership every 4 years.
However, if the high annual fee scares you away from this card, there are other cards worth considering for Delta aficionados. For more info check out our Delta Reserve review.
To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, see this page.
Related reading
- Delta Skymiles: All you need to know
- How to use Delta Companion Certificates
- Is the Delta Skymiles Reserve worth it?
Best United Airlines miles-earning card: United℠ Explorer Card
The United℠ Explorer Card will get you free checked bags and access to the United Club for a low annual fee that is waived for the first year. You also get two one-time United Club passes per year so you can get a taste of the VIP treatment.
United℠ Explorer Card
Intro bonus
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open| Annual fee | $0 introductory annual fee for the first year (then $95) |
| Regular APR | 21.99%–28.99% variable APR |
at Cardratings.com
Rewards Rates
- 2x2x miles on dining (including eligible delivery services), hotel stays, and United® purchases (including tickets, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, Economy Plus® and more)
- 1x1x miles on all other purchases
- United perks: 25% back on in-flight purchases checked bag benefit, expanded Saver award ticket availability
- Travel perks: TSA/Global Entry credit, trip cancellation and interruption protection
- Foreign transaction fee: None
at Cardratings.com
Why we like this card
United MileagePlus is one of the easier programs to understand and the Explorer card is one of the easiest ways to earn miles. A handy perk of the card is expanded access to Saver award availability, so it’s easier to redeem miles with the card, too.
The Explorer card comes with a credit of up to $100 for your Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS membership every 4 years, and it can help you save on your in-flight purchases or United ClubSM premium drinks by giving you back 25% on those purchases.
For more info check out our United Explorer review.
Related reading
Best American Airlines miles-earning card: Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
The Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is a premium airline co-branded card specifically targeted to American Airlines frequent flyers. Its flagship benefit is the Admirals Club® membership, which allows both the primary cardholder and authorized users access to American Airlines Admirals Club lounges. This perk alone can justify the card’s annual fee, as a membership costs between $700 and $850 depending on the individual’s status with the airline.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Intro bonus
70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening| Annual fee | $595 |
| Regular APR | 21.24%–29.99% variable |
Rewards Rates
- 10xEarn 10X AAdvantage miles on eligible hotels booked through aa.com/hotels and on eligible car rentals booked through aa.com/cars.
- 4x4x AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases (5X after you spend $15,000 on airfare)
- 1x1x AAdvantage miles on all other purchases
- Travel perks: AAdvantage club membership, checked bag benefit, trip cancellation and interruption protection
- Credits: Up to $120 annual credit to Avis or Budget rental cars, Up to $10 monthly credits to Lyft and Grubhub
- Foreign transaction fee: None
Why we like this card: The AAdvantage Executive card helps accelerate mileage earnings with a whopping 10 miles per dollar spent on eligible car rentals and hotels booked through American’s travel portal, and a respectable rewards rate on other eligible purchases. New cardholders can also earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first three months of account opening.
You’ll also earn a 10,000 Loyalty Point bonus after reaching 50,000 Loyalty Points in a status qualification year. Earn another 10,000 Loyalty Point bonus after reaching 90,000 Loyalty Points in the same status qualification year.
This card comes with a suite of travel benefits that enhance the flying experience with American Airlines, such as a 25% discount on inflight food and beverage purchases, a fee credit of up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every 4 years, priority check-in and boarding privileges, a free checked bag on domestic itineraries for up to eight travel companions, and more. These features make the card highly valuable for loyal American Airlines customers, offering a fast track to both comfort and status within the airline’s loyalty ecosystem.
For more info about American Airlines credit cards check out Best credit cards for American Airlines or for more detail on this card check out our AAdvantage Executive card review.
Best foreign airline card that earns miles: Aeroplan® Credit Card
Aeroplan is a hidden gem if you fly United Airlines or other Star Alliance partners. The program has wide award availability on many flights, often at prices cheaper than United itself.
Aeroplan® Credit Card
Intro bonus
Earn 70,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months.| Annual fee | $95 |
| Regular APR | 21.74%–28.74% variable |
Rewards Rates
- 3XEarn 3X points for each dollar spent at grocery stores
- 3XEarn 3X points for each dollar spent on dining at restaurants including takeout and eligible delivery services
- 3XEarn 3X points for each dollar spent with Air Canada directly
- 1XEarn 1X points for each dollar spent on all other purchases
- Earn 500 bonus points for every $2,000 you spend in a calendar month - up to 1,500 points per month
- Additional perks: Purchase protection, Trip cancellation/interruption, Air Canada benefits including free baggage allowance and Aeroplan 25K status for the first year
- Foreign transaction fee: None
Why we like this card
For a low annual fee, the Aeroplan® Card will give you great perks when flying Air Canada including status, free checked bags and the ability to earn substantial rewards with your spend.
Signing up for this card comes with automatic Aeroplan 25k status for the year you sign up and the following year, meaning that when you travel through the airport you’ll get premium treatment and even have the chance to get upgrades on Air Canada flights. Plus, Aeroplan miles are useful when flying Star Alliance partners like United Airlines, meaning the Aeroplan card may actually earn you more miles to use on United than a United card depending on your spending.
Not only will you earn 3 Aeroplan miles per dollar spent with Air Canada directly but you’ll snag 3 miles at grocery stores, restaurants, takeout, and delivery services. This means the potential to build up a big balance of miles is limited only by your appetite to eat at restaurants and grocery stores.
The free luggage perk isn’t just for you when you book a flight. If you’ve got friends and family traveling with you, up to eight additional members, everyone will get a free bag, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars per flight. A slew of other benefits like a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS membership credit, bonused mileage transfers, and a complimentary Doordash membership make the annual fee much easier to swallow.
For more info, check out our full Aeroplan Card review.
Best flat-rate airline card: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture is ideal for those who want to set and forget their travel rewards. The simplicity of flat-rate rewards is coupled with the flexibility of redemption options; miles can be used to book travel through Capital One, cover travel purchases, or transferred to a variety of both airline and hotel loyalty programs to obtain even more potential value.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Intro Bonus
Earn 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, plus receive a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit in your first cardholder year - that's equal to $1,000 in travel.| Annual fee | $95 |
| Regular APR | 19.99%–29.99% variable |
at Cardratings.com
Reward Rates
- 5xEarn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2x Earn 2x miles on every purchase
- The Venture offers travel accident insurance, rental car coverage, extended warranty protection, exclusive access to events through Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment
at Cardratings.com
Why we like this card: The Capital One Venture Rewards card is ideal for both avid travelers and everyday consumers who want to earn travel rewards without the complexity often associated with other travel rewards cards. The card offers a flat earn rate of 2x miles on every purchase, without the need to track specific spending categories. It also boosts the rewards rate to5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel .
Further, the Capital One Venture Rewards card comes with added benefits such as an up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees every 4 years, rental car insurance, extended warranty protection, and more. The card also has no foreign transaction fees, making it a cost-effective choice for international spending. With a substantial welcome bonus, this card strikes a balance between lucrative rewards and user-friendly features, appealing to a broad spectrum of cardholders.
For more info check out our Venture card review.
Best airline miles-earning card for transfer partners: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers top-tier protections including primary auto rental coverage, trip delay and cancellation and baggage insurance. It also has a best-in-class 1.5 cents per point redemption rate when you use them for Chase Travel.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Intro bonus
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening| Annual fee | $550 |
| Regular APR | 22.49%–29.49% variable |
at Cardratings.com
Rewards Rates
- 10x10x points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.
- 5x5x points on flights through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.
- 3x3x points on other travel and dining immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.
- 1x1x point on all other purchases
- Additional perks: Airport lounge access, purchase protection, extended warranty protection, trip cancelation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, cell phone protection, complimentary Doordash and Instacart+ membership along with monthly Instacart+ credits
- Foreign transaction fee: None
at Cardratings.com
Why we like this card
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® not only offers a generous rewards structure, but many ways to boost their value when you redeem them. Points can be redeemed for 1.5 cents each towards travel booked through Chase, or they can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to a number of airline and hotel loyalty programs. This flexibility in redemption makes the points extremely valuable for travelers looking to leverage them for premium flights and accommodations.
Aside from its rewards program, the card offers a comprehensive suite of travel benefits. Cardholders also enjoy an up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees every 4 years which along with the travel credit helps take the sting from the card’s annual fee.
The inclusion of a Priority Pass Select membership provides access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide for added comfort during your travels, and for peace of mind, a number of travel protections, such as trip cancellation/interruption insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and emergency evacuation coverage are also included. These premium perks, combined with strong earning potential, make the Chase Sapphire Reserve one of the most attractive cards for avid travelers.
Related reading
- A beginner’s guide to frequent flyer programs
- Best ways to spend Chase Ultimate Rewards points
- A crash course in Chase Sapphire car insurance
Best miles-earning airline card for lounge access: The Platinum Card® from American Express
The The Platinum Card® from American Express is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year for a reason: It’s the OG travel card and if you want to get into more airport lounges than with any other card, it’s still the best choice.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Intro bonus
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of card membership| Annual Fee | $695 |
| Purchase APR | See Pay Over Time APR |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | None |
at Bankrate
Reward Rates
- 5XEarn 5x Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year)
- 5XEarn 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
- 1XEarn 1x points on other eligible purchases
Other benefits
- Travel benefits including hotel and car rental chain statuses, car rental insurance, trip cancellation/interruption and travel delay protection
- Consumer protections including extended warranty and return protection
at Bankrate
To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.
Why we like this card: The The Platinum Card® from American Express is perhaps the epitome of luxury travel and comprehensive benefits. One of the card’s best features is its vast access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, including the exclusive Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), and Priority Pass Select lounges. This card also offers an impressive suite of travel credits that easily offset the annual fee, including:
- up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your card
- up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card® (minimum 2-night stay required)
- up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only (Terms Apply)
- up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal (enrollment required)
Coupled with comprehensive travel insurance coverage and purchase protections, the card’s benefits cater to a luxury-oriented clientele who can leverage these features in order to offset the premium card’s annual fee.
For more info, check out our American Express Platinum card review.
Best cash back airline card: U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
The Altitude Connect offers a suite of travel and lifestyle benefits that far outweigh the $95 annual fee, which is waived in the first year. For example, cardholders enjoy an array of protections such as rental car insurance, extended warranty coverage, and cell phone protection when the monthly bill is paid with the card.
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect
Intro bonus
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 in the first 120 days worth $500 towards travel and more.| Annual fee | $0 first year, then $95 |
| Regular APR | 21.24% to 29.24% |
Rewards Rates
- 5x 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center
- 4x 4X points on travel, at gas stations and EV charging stations
- 2x 2X points at grocery stores, grocery delivery, dining and streaming services
- 1x 1X on all other purchases
- Additional perks: Cell phone protection, Trip cancellation/interruption, TSA/Global Entry fee rebate
- Foreign transaction fee: None
Why we like this card: The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card sets itself apart with a rewards program that bonuses a wide range of spending categories. The Altitude Connect offers a suite of travel and lifestyle benefits that far outweigh the $95 annual fee, which is waived in the first year. For example, cardholders enjoy an array of protections such as rental car insurance, extended warranty coverage, and cell phone protection when the monthly bill is paid with the card.
The Altitude Connect also comes with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, which gives you four free visits to over 1,300 airport VIP lounges and experiences worldwide. You also receive a statement credit of up to $100 every 4 years to cover your TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry fees, a $30 credit for annual streaming service purchases like Netflix, Apple TV+, Spotify and more. There are no foreign transaction fees with this card.
For more info check out our Altitude Connect review.
Airline mile-earning cards and transferable point cards
Travelers who are more airline independent may want to opt for cards earning transferable points. These cards tend to offer wide ranging premium benefits like lounge access, travel credits and other perks you can take advantage of regardless of the airline you’re flying. Additionally, all the points you earn can be transferred to a multitude of airline programs in order to redeem for award tickets, so your options are much broader.
Lounge Access
Most of the cards on this list will grant you some sort of access to an airport lounge, however not all lounges are created equal. Many of these co-branded airline credit cards come with access to their own lounges, like the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex letting you into the Delta Sky Club or the Citi AAdvantage Executive card letting you into the Admirals Club.
Other cards, especially those with their own transferable points programs, come with complimentary Priority Pass memberships that will proverbially open doors to more than 1,300 lounges and restaurants at airports worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose the best airline credit card?
Choosing the best airline credit card for you is much like going shopping for clothes. While there are always great options in the rack, not everything will end up being a great fit for you. Credit cards are tailored to target different cardholders’ wants and needs, so before choosing one, think hard about their benefits and drawbacks. If you’re able to take advantage of most of the offered perks, you might be able to justify its annual fee, but if you don’t see yourself using those perks, it may be smart to try on the next card for size. Consider the categories you spend the most money on, the kind of travel you’re currently doing, the types of award travel you would like to embark on and how willing you are to pay for premium annual fees in exchange for perks and benefits – this will help you narrow down what card would best fit your travel needs.
How much are airline miles worth?
The value of airline miles is, at best, hard to calculate because of its subjective nature. Some airline miles are easy to earn as you can do so in many ways, ranging from flying with the airline to spending with its co-branded credit card. Others are virtually impossible to obtain if you’re not spending multiple hours sitting on a flight after spending hundreds of dollars with the airline.
The most important calculation you can do is weigh how much value you are able to obtain from them. If these miles are hard for you to earn but you can redeem them for the kind of travel you want, then they are valuable to you. Conversely, the easiest miles to earn will be worthless if they are of no use to you.
Do I earn status using an airline credit card?
It depends. Some credit cards automatically confer airline status just by holding them like Aeroplan credit card, other cards like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® will help you get part of the way into qualification, but others, like those earning transferable points, will not help you earn any kind of airline status while offering you some of the most exclusive perks.
Do I get into the airport lounge with an airline card?
While airline credit cards offer a whole host of airline specific perks, not all of them will grant you access to an airline lounge. Generally, premium credit cards -particularly those with a high dollar amount annual fee- will offer entry to airport lounges. Some cards let you access lounges for one specific airline, like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, but others offer access to a larger network of non-airline affiliated lounges, like the Capital One Venture X or American Express Platinum card, as well as the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect card, which comes with access to the Priority Pass network of lounges.
Do I get free checked bags with an airline card?
Not all cards offer the same kind of benefits. Some, like the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card will grant you a fee-free first checked bag for you and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation when flying Delta, some will get you and just one companion a free checked bag each like the United Explorer Card, but other cards -like The American Express Platinum card- offer to offset some airline incidental fees in general which can be used to cover checked bag fees.
Methodology
To bring you our top picks for the best airline credit cards, the Fortune RecommendsTM team compared approximately 30 cards available from major issuers.
We ranked each account in these core categories:
- Annual fee (15%): Some credit cards charge an annual fee, which can range from $50 to several hundred dollars. Usually, the more valuable the rewards and perks associated with a card, the higher the annual fee. However, some cards do not charge a fee at all.
- Highest travel rewards rate (20%): This is the maximum rewards rate awarded on travel purchases.
- Transferable miles/points (10%): We examined whether miles or points could be transferred to other loyalty programs.
- Welcome bonus (10%): It’s common for airline cards to offer new cardholders a miles or points bonus after they spend a certain amount within a specific timeframe after opening an account.
- Foreign transaction fee (10%): Some credit cards charge a fee for transactions made overseas. Cards that charge foreign transaction fees were docked in our rankings.
- Travel perks (25%): Cards were awarded 0–6 points based on which added travel perks were included: lounge access, companion ticket, statement credit for Global Access/TSA PreCheck, inflight travel credits or discounts, free checked bags, priority boarding.
- Consumer benefits (10%): Cards were awarded 0–5 points based on which consumer benefits/protections were included: lost baggage/baggage delay insurance, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, purchase protection, extended warranty, cell phone insurance.
Keep in mind that the rewards, interest rates, and fee structures for the cards mentioned are available for limited periods and subject to change, which could impact how many miles or points you earn.
To learn more, see our credit cards methodology.
Fortune Recommends™ has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Fortune Recommends™ and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefits guide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
About the contributors
Ben Nickel-D'Andrea covers credit cards and luxury travel. With more than a decade of experience with points and miles, Ben brings his expertise as a freelance travel writer breaking down complex rewards programs with easy-to-understand writing. He has a background in linguistics and languages, and loves traveling in first or business class all over the world.
EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE: The advice, opinions, or rankings contained in this article are solely those of the Fortune Recommends™ editorial team. This content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of our affiliate partners or other third parties.