Best Airline Credit Cards in February 2023

5 18 minutes read

If you happen to’re a frequent flyer, airline bank cards could make an enormous distinction to your finances. Free flights and companion fares can save massive cash, and rewards again on airplane fares and lodge reservations can mitigate the injury of these dear aircraft tickets. Whereas airline bank cards usually require annual charges, their rewards and welcome bonuses normally make it price the fee.

Beneath are one of the best airline bank cards in your most popular airline — whether or not it’s for United, American Airways, Delta, Southwest or in any other case. Whereas there are just a few choices on this listing which can be nice for mixing and matching airways, you might also need to contemplate one of many greatest journey bank cards for extra common journey advantages.

Learn extra: Best Credit Cards for TSA PreCheck and World Entry

For mixing and matching airways

Intro ProvideEarn 60,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the primary 3 months from account opening. That is $900 towards journey whenever you redeem by Chase Final Rewards®

APR21.24% – 28.24% Variable

Intro Buy APRN/A

Advisable Credit Wonderful

Reward Charges
Earn 10x whole factors on motels and automobile leases whenever you buy journey by Chase Final Rewards®.
Earn 5x whole factors on flights by Chase Final Rewards®.
Earn 3x factors on different journey and eating.
Earn 1 level per $1 spent on all different purchases

Annual Price$550

Steadiness Switch APR21.24% – 28.24% Variable

Steadiness Switch Price Both $5 or 5% of the quantity of every steadiness switch, whichever is bigger

International Transaction Charges $0

Penalty APR As much as 29.99%

Earn 10x whole factors on motels and automobile leases whenever you buy journey by Chase Final Rewards®.
Earn 5x whole factors on flights by Chase Final Rewards®.
Earn 3x factors on different journey and eating.
Earn 1 level per $1 spent on all different purchases

Our Take

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a common journey rewards bank card, which means you earn factors on any journey or eating buy, not simply with a single airline card issuer, and your redemption choices are far more versatile and transferable. The Chase Sapphire Reserve rewards card is included right here for many who need extra flexibility however nonetheless need to use rewards to e-book future journey. You earn 10x factors on lodge and automobile rental purchases and 5x factors on air journey purchases by Chase Final Rewards. You may as well earn 3x factors on all different journey and eating purchases (earn elevated rewards on all journey purchases instantly after incomes the $300 annual journey credit score), and 10x factors on Lyft rides by March 2025. All different purchases earn 1x factors.

Our Take

The Platinum Card from American Specific affords frequent flyers excessive potential rewards charges. The Platinum Card earns 5x Membership Rewards factors on flights booked instantly with airways or with American Specific Journey (on as much as $500,000 on these purchases per calendar yr), 5x factors on pay as you go motels booked with American Specific Journey (third-party websites do not qualify), and 1x factors on different eligible purchases. There’s a excessive annual payment of $695, however there are additionally advantages like as much as a $200 airline payment assertion credit score per calendar yr for journey incidentals at one choose qualifying airline, an announcement credit score for World Entry or TSA Precheck (price $100 for World Entry or $85 for TSA Precheck, and legitimate for 5 years) and as much as $200 in Uber Money per yr for U.S. rides and eats (as much as $15 in Uber Money every month, plus a bonus $20 in December). The intro supply can also be on the excessive facet at 80,000 factors whenever you spend $6,000 on purchases in the primary six months of card membership.

Even when you’re loyal to 1 airline, you could get a greater return on spending with The Platinum Card than you’d with a co-branded airline bank card. It is a superb alternative for many who worth premium journey perks, or who need the flexibleness to redeem rewards with a bigger roster of airways.

Word: Phrases apply to American Specific advantages and affords. Enrollment could also be required for choose American Specific advantages and affords. Go to americanexpress.com to be taught extra.

Southwest Airways bank card

Intro ProvideRestricted-time supply: earn Companion Move® good by 2/28/24 plus 30,000 factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the primary 3 months from account opening.

APR20.24% – 27.24% Variable

Intro Buy APRN/A

Advisable Credit Wonderful/Good

Reward Charges
Earn 3X factors on Southwest® purchases.
Earn 2X factors on native transit and commuting, together with rideshare.
Earn 2X factors on web, cable, and cellphone providers, and choose streaming.

Annual Price$149

Steadiness Switch APR20.24% – 27.24% Variable

Steadiness Switch Price Both $5 or 5% of the quantity of every steadiness switch, whichever is bigger.

International Transaction Charges $0

Penalty APR As much as 29.99%

Earn 3X factors on Southwest® purchases.
Earn 2X factors on native transit and commuting, together with rideshare.
Earn 2X factors on web, cable, and cellphone providers, and choose streaming.

Our Take

Given its perks and credit, the Precedence card, which is co-branded with Chase, affords one of the best worth amongst Southwest Speedy Rewards playing cards. With a restricted time welcome supply of 30,000 factors plus a Companion Move® good by 2/28/24 (excludes taxes and charges from $5.60 one-way) after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the primary three months, a reward fee of 1x to 3x factors and a $75 annual Southwest journey credit score, this card pays for itself pretty rapidly. The Southwest Speedy Rewards Precedence card affords 3x factors on Southwest purchases, 2x factors on native transit and commuting, web, cable, cellphone providers and choose streaming and 1x factors on different purchases. Although Southwest already provides flyers their first two checked baggage free of charge and would not have airport lounges, this rewards bank card saves Southwest loyalists cash in different methods.

The $149 annual payment is partially offset by the $75 annual Southwest journey credit score, which is routinely utilized to your account annually whenever you use your card for a Southwest Airways buy, and the 7,500 factors awarded every card anniversary.

Intro ProvideEarn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases in your new Card in your first 6 months.

APR20.24%-29.24% Variable

Intro Buy APRN/A

Advisable Credit Wonderful/Good

Reward Charges
Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made instantly with motels.
Earn 2X Miles at eating places worldwide, together with takeout and supply in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets.
Earn 1X Miles on all different eligible purchases.

Annual Price$250

Steadiness Switch Price N/A

Late Fee Price As much as $40

International Transaction Charges None

Penalty APR 29.99% Variable

Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made instantly with motels.
Earn 2X Miles at eating places worldwide, together with takeout and supply in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets.
Earn 1X Miles on all different eligible purchases.

Our Take

With an annual home companion certificates (taxes and charges of not more than $80 required), a welcome supply for brand spanking new card members and a reasonable annual payment, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Specific Card is one of the best airline rewards card for many Delta flyers. The rewards are pretty common for an airline rewards program, however this airline rewards bank card makes up for that with different perks. The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card earns 3x miles on Delta purchases and purchases made instantly with motels, 2x miles at eating places and U.S. supermarkets and 1x miles on all different eligible purchases. Those that examine baggage usually and journey with a companion (domestically) not less than yearly can save a considerable sum of money.

Learn our full evaluate of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Specific Card for extra particulars.

Word: Phrases apply to American Specific advantages and affords. Enrollment could also be required for choose American Specific advantages and affords. Go to americanexpress.com to be taught extra.

Credit card for United flights

Intro ProvideEarn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the primary 3 months your account is open.

APR20.74% – 27.74% Variable

Intro Buy APRN/A

Advisable Credit Good, Wonderful

Reward Charges
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on eating, lodge stays, and United® purchases
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on eating together with eligible supply providers
1 mile per $1 spent on all different purchases

Annual Price$0 Intro for First 12 months, then $95.

Steadiness Switch APR20.74% – 27.74% Variable

Steadiness Switch Price Both $5 or 5% of the quantity of every switch, whichever is bigger.

International Transaction Charges $0

Penalty APR As much as 29.99%

Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on eating, lodge stays, and United® purchases
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on eating together with eligible supply providers
1 mile per $1 spent on all different purchases

Our Take

The rewards fee of Chase’s United Explorer card is on the low finish for co-branded airline bank cards at 2x miles on United purchases, eating and motels, but it surely does supply respectable worth by its new card member sign-on bonus and waived baggage charges. In lots of instances, you would be higher off with a no-annual-fee cash-back bank card when you do not spend a excessive quantity on journey and eating annually. However when you worth precedence boarding and examine a bag each time you fly United, the Explorer card is price contemplating. Usually, United’s bank cards do not evaluate nicely with the opposite airways in terms of total worth, so this advice is de facto one of the best of some not-so-great choices.

The United Explorer card affords 2x miles on United purchases, 2x miles on eating and motels and 1x miles on all different purchases. The cardboard’s $95 annual payment is waived the primary yr of possession and new cardholders can earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the primary three months.

For flying on American Airways

Intro ProvideEarn 60,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles after making your first buy and paying the $99 annual payment in full inside the first 90 days.

APR18.24%, 22.24%, or 27.24% variable based mostly in your creditworthiness

Intro Buy APRN/A

Advisable Credit Wonderful/Good

Reward Charges
2 miles per greenback on eligible American Airways purchases
1 mile per greenback on different purchases

Annual Price$99

Intro Steadiness Switch APR0% intro for first 15 billing cycles following every BT that posts inside 45 days of account opening

Steadiness Switch APR18.24%, 22.24%, or 27.24% variable based mostly in your creditworthiness

Steadiness Switch Price Both $5 or 5% of the quantity of every switch, whichever is bigger.

Late Fee Price As much as $40 (the quantity of the payment varies by state)

International Transaction Charges 0% of every transaction in U.S. {dollars}.

2 miles per greenback on eligible American Airways purchases
1 mile per greenback on different purchases

Our Take

The AAdvantage Aviator Crimson World Elite Mastercard* from Barclays, with its free checked baggage for as much as 4 others on the identical reservation, is right for households who journey collectively usually. It solely takes one round-trip flight with the entire household and a cartload of luggage to earn again the $99 annual payment. It is also the cardboard with the bottom spending threshold (make your first buy and pay the $99 annual payment in full inside the first 90 days) to earn the 60,000 airline mile sign-on bonus.

The cardboard affords 2x miles on eligible American Airline purchases and 1x miles on all different eligible purchases. Cardholders get their first checked bag free and a free checked bag for as much as 4 companions touring on the identical reservation, which might add as much as $300 in baggage payment financial savings for one round-trip flight. The cardboard additionally affords most popular boarding, a $25 assertion credit score for in-flight Wi-Fi purchases per yr and 25% again on in-flight meals and drinks.

Learn extra: Best American Airways Credit Cards

The most effective JetBlue bank card

Intro ProvideEarn 40,000 Bonus Factors after spending $1,000 on purchases in the primary 90 days and fee of annual payment

APR15.99%, 19.99% or 24.99% variable based mostly in your creditworthiness.

Intro Buy APRN/A

Advisable Credit Wonderful

Reward Charges
6X factors on eligible JetBlue purchases
2X factors at eating places and eligible grocery shops
1X factors on all different purchases

Annual Price$99

Intro Steadiness Switch APR0% intro for first 12 billing cycles following every BT that posts inside 45 days of account opening

Steadiness Switch APR15.99%, 19.99% or 24.99% variable based mostly in your creditworthiness.

Steadiness Switch Price Both $5 or 3% of the quantity of every switch, whichever is bigger.

Late Fee Price As much as $40

International Transaction Charges 0% of every transaction in U.S. {dollars}.

6X factors on eligible JetBlue purchases
2X factors at eating places and eligible grocery shops
1X factors on all different purchases

Our Take

The Barclays JetBlue Plus Card* requires a reasonably normal $99 annual payment. It is a good card for JetBlue loyalists and even choice for many who fly JetBlue just a few instances a yr, however who can reap the benefits of the sign-on bonus and free checked baggage.

The JetBlue Plus Card affords 6x factors on eligible JetBlue purchases, 2x factors at eating places and eligible grocery shops and 1x factors on all different purchases. The sign-on bonus is 40,000 TrueBlue factors after spending $1,000 and paying the annual payment in full, each in the primary 90 days. Cardmembers additionally get an extra 5,000 bonus factors annually on their account anniversary. The primary checked bag on every flight is free for you and as much as three companions touring on the identical reservation. JetBlue Plus card holders additionally get 50% off in-flight meals and beverage purchases, twice the low cost that the majority different airline playing cards supply.

Intro ProvideGet 70,000 bonus miles plus Alaska’s Well-known Companion Fare™ from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and charges from $23) with this supply. To qualify, make $3,000 or extra in purchases inside the first 90 days of opening your account.

APRSee Phrases

Intro Buy APRN/A

Advisable Credit Wonderful/Good

Reward Charges
Earn 3 miles for each $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airways purchases.
New! Earn 2 miles for each $1 spent on eligible gasoline, cable, streaming providers and native transit together with experience share purchases.
Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all different purchases.

Annual Price$95

Steadiness Switch APRSee Phrases

Steadiness Switch Price 3% of the quantity of every transaction

Late Fee Price See phrases

International Transaction Charges None

Penalty APR as much as 29.99% APR

Earn 3 miles for each $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airways purchases.
New! Earn 2 miles for each $1 spent on eligible gasoline, cable, streaming providers and native transit together with experience share purchases.
Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all different purchases.

Our Take

This on-line solely supply is probably not out there elsewhere when you go away this web page. You may reap the benefits of this supply whenever you apply now.

The Alaska Airways Visa® bank card from Financial institution of America is the one shopper airline card supplied by Alaska Airways, but it surely’s one. The annual companion fare from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and charges from simply $23) every account anniversary after you spend not less than $6,000 inside the prior anniversary yr, free checked bag and 3x miles on eligible Alaska Airways purchases can translate into priceless financial savings for an Alaska frequent flyer. It is the one card we discovered that provides a free checked bag for you and as much as six companions on the identical reservation, so households will clearly profit from these waived charges. The rewards fee can also be substantial, and paired with an annual payment of $95, this card can save Alaska Airline loyalists a big sum of money.

You additionally earn 20% again on Alaska Airways in-flight purchases, 2x miles on eligible gasoline, cable, streaming providers and native transit (together with experience share purchases) and 1x miles on different purchases.

What are airline bank cards and the way do they work?

Airline bank cards reward customers with factors or miles from an airline’s frequent flyer program, which could be redeemed for flights with that airline. Generally you’ll be able to switch these factors to one of many airline’s journey companions, although this feature varies from airline to airline — as will the worth of the airline’s miles.

Airline bank cards function like loyalty applications in that you simply keep in a closed-loop rewards system, which means you’ll be able to solely use rewards in-house. That is frequent amongst co-branded bank cards. You earn rewards whenever you buy flights with the particular airline, and then you definitely flip these rewards into airfare.

Nonetheless, some airline bank cards supply further rewards for on a regular basis purchases like eating places or grocery shops. Nonetheless, many cash-back bank cards will supply larger charges on particular purchases whereas providing extra redemption flexibility. The worth of airline miles will decide which is the extra rewarding alternative. You may examine the worth of airline miles by dividing the variety of miles or factors required to e-book airfare by the greenback value.

Who ought to get an airline bank card?

Airline reward playing cards are greatest for many who are already loyal to 1 airline, and thus do not thoughts the inflexibility of the rewards. Those that fly steadily can reap the benefits of airport lounge entry, waived baggage charges and precedence boarding.

The worth of those perks can add up. As an illustration, when you examine a bag usually, waived baggage charges can add as much as tons of of {dollars} in annual financial savings. Plus, early boarding usually ensures overhead bin house, supplying you with extra legroom and fewer stress.

If you happen to hardly ever examine a bag and bargain-hunt for many flights, an airline bank card won’t be the only option. As an alternative, contemplate a journey bank card, a cash-back bank card or perhaps a enterprise bank card.

Professionals and cons of airline bank cards

Think about these execs and cons whenever you’re deciding if an airline bank card is for you:

Professionals

Airline advantages like waived checked baggage charges, precedence boarding and inflight discountsTravel advantages like airport lounge entry or World Entry/TSA PreCheck utility payment creditsAccelerated airline standing qualificationComplimentary or diminished companion faresNo overseas transaction feesGenerous welcome bonuses

Cons

Inflexible reward programsAnnual charges would possibly outweigh the worth of the cardboard’s perksMay must make the most of level transfers to get the best per-point valueYou’ll should fly with just one airline

How to decide on the suitable airline bank card for you

First, you will have to look at your flying habits. If there’s one airline you favor over the others — and also you’re on the transfer sufficient to warrant the fee — check out that airline’s bank card choices. See which set of perks greatest matches your wants.

If you happen to go for an airline bank card that carries an annual payment, be sure you’ll use the cardboard sufficient to justify it. Which means spending sufficient to qualify for any annual credit and having the ability to reap the benefits of the entire perks it affords, whether or not that be TSA PreCheck or airport lounge entry.

How one can apply for an airline bank card

Comply with these steps to use for an airline card:

Discover a card that matches your journey habits.Comply with one of many hyperlinks about to be taken to a safe utility.Fill out the appliance with the entire required data.Use your card responsibly and all the time pay on time.

FAQS

Some airways might set expiration dates for miles, however others will not. Check out your card’s phrases and circumstances to see.

What number of miles do I must earn a free flight?

It will fluctuate from airline to airline, and rely in your vacation spot and schedule. Mile values are risky and can fluctuate with quite a lot of elements together with whether or not or not it is peak journey season and even what day of the week it’s.

Are airline miles and bank card miles the identical?

They’re comparable. Airline miles could be earned from being a frequent flyer member in addition to from co-branded bank cards, whereas bank card miles can solely be earned from spending with them. What differs is what you are able to do with them. Credit playing cards that earn miles sometimes have extra redemption choices than co-branded airline playing cards.

What are the advantages of an airline bank card?

Some frequent advantages of an airline bank card embrace:

Waived checked baggage charges
Precedence boarding
Lounge entry (throughout some, not all, itineraries) Accelerated airline standing qualificationComplimentary or diminished companion fares
No overseas transaction payment
World Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
Beneficiant sign-on bonuses

How do airline playing cards evaluate with journey rewards playing cards?

Whereas airline bank cards supply rewards in the type of an airline’s miles or factors, common journey rewards bank cards have their very own techniques, like American Specific’ Membership Rewards factors or Chase’s Final Rewards factors. Common journey bank card factors can be utilized to redeem journey (with any out there airline) by the cardboard issuer’s journey portal, or for a doubtlessly larger worth, transferred to an airline companion. You additionally earn further factors on any journey buy, whatever the airline.

Although they might cost larger annual charges, the final journey rewards bank cards have a tendency to supply superior return charges and, since they cowl a a lot better vary of purchases, they’re usually the higher choice. American Specific Membership Rewards factors and Chase Final Rewards factors can also be price extra cents per level when transferred strategically, making the return even better.

Even one of the best airline bank card is usually much less versatile than common journey playing cards, because you solely earn the bonus reward fee when making purchases with an airline, and your choices for redemption are far more restricted. Given their relative inflexibility, airline bank cards are greatest for vacationers who need to reap the benefits of airline-specific perks. If you happen to usually spend on upgraded boardings or checked baggage and also you all the time fly with the identical airline, these playing cards can prevent cash.

If you happen to’re not loyal to 1 airline, hardly ever examine baggage and do not care about your frequent flyer standing, a common journey bank card is a more sensible choice.

Our methodology

ClassyBuzz critiques bank cards by exhaustively evaluating them throughout set standards developed for every main class, together with cash-back rewards, welcome bonus, journey rewards and steadiness switch. We consider the everyday spending habits of a variety of shopper profiles — with the understanding that everybody’s monetary state of affairs is completely different — and the designated perform of a card.

For cash-back bank cards, for instance, key elements embrace the annual payment, the “welcome bonus” and the cash-back fee (or charges, in the event that they differ by spending class). For rewards and miles playing cards, we calculate and weigh the online financial worth of a card’s respective perks. And with steadiness switch bank cards, we analyze specs such because the length of the introductory 0% APR interval and the steadiness switch payment, whereas acknowledging secondary elements similar to the usual APR and the size of time it’s important to make a steadiness switch after you open the account.

Cards we researched

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Specific Card
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Specific Card
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Specific CardDelta SkyMiles® Reserve American Specific Card
Southwest Speedy Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Southwest Speedy Rewards® Precedence Credit Card
United℠ Explorer Card
United Membership℠ Infinite Card
United TravelBank Card (not out there)
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®
American Airways Benefit MileUp℠ Card
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Choose® World Elite Mastercard®
Citi® / AAdvantage® Govt World Elite Mastercard®
Alaska Airways Visa® bank card
JetBlue Card
JetBlue Plus Card

For charges and charges of The Platinum Card from American Specific, click on here.

For charges and charges of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Specific Card, click on here.

*All details about the AAdvantage Aviator Crimson Elite World Mastercard and JetBlue Plus Card has been collected independently by ClassyBuzz and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

Disclaimer: The data included in this text, together with program options, program charges and credit out there by bank cards to use to such applications, might change from time-to-time and are offered with out guarantee. When evaluating affords, please examine the bank card supplier’s web site and evaluate its phrases and circumstances for probably the most present affords and knowledge. Opinions expressed listed here are the creator’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, lodge, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, authorized or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included inside the publish.

The feedback on this text usually are not offered or commissioned by the financial institution advertiser. Responses haven’t been reviewed, authorized, or in any other case endorsed by the financial institution advertiser. It’s not the financial institution advertiser’s accountability to make sure all posts and/or questions are answered.

The editorial content material on this web page is predicated solely on goal, impartial assessments by our writers and isn’t influenced by promoting or partnerships. It has not been offered or commissioned by any third occasion. Nonetheless, we might obtain compensation whenever you click on on hyperlinks to services or products supplied by our companions.