Airline credit cards are often underrated compared to flexible travel rewards cards, but they can be just as valuable for loyalists of a specific airline.
Like more generic travel cards, airline credit cards let you earn rewards on your everyday spending that you can redeem for free flights. The main difference is that you’ll typically earn rewards directly in the currency of an airline’s own loyalty program, meaning you can’t transfer your points elsewhere or cash them out. In exchange for less flexibility, airline cards typically reward cardholders with airline-specific perks like free checked bags, rewards program status, and discounts on flights or incidentals.
Most major airlines in the US — including Delta, United, American Airlines and Southwest — have their own credit cards, and the rewards structures, benefits, and annual fees can vary widely among them. Choosing the right airline card requires careful consideration of how often you plan to fly with a specific airline and how good the card itself is. These are the best cards from major airlines, as vetted by our editors and experts.
What are airline credit cards and how do they work?
Airline credit cards reward users with points or miles from an airline’s frequent flier program, which can be redeemed for flights with that airline.
Sometimes you can use those airline points to book flights on a partner airline, too. These types of partner bookings can help make your points go much further, though the value may vary with each booking.
However, they’re not as flexible as general travel credit cards. In most cases, you can only earn and use rewards with the airline the card is tied to. You earn rewards by using the airline credit card on day-to-day purchases. These points can later be redeemed for free flights.
Some airline credit cards offer bonus points for different categories, like restaurants or grocery stores. You can check the value of airline miles by dividing the dollar cost of the airfare by the number of miles or points required to book it.
What experts are saying about airline credit cards
While airline credit cards can be a boon to those who travel with one airline often, credit expert Julia Menez advises caution.
“Most people dive into airline credit cards before they really need to,” Menez said. “I would recommend that most people who are getting into the points game focus first on flexible points from Chase, Amex, Citi or Capital One, where you have options to move them to a variety of different airlines.”
While frequent travelers might get a good value from an airline credit card’s perks, the occasional traveler would be better served by a general travel credit card that earns points that can be used with many different airlines.
“If you are a frequent flier, [card] benefits really can add up, especially if you’re constantly checking a bag and saving that $35 or so every [flight],” Menez said. “But for most people — where they’re just taking a couple of vacations a year — they would get a lot more value out of focusing on flexible points rather than particular airline cards.”
Credit expert Gerri Detweiler said that an airline card should only be considered by travelers who are loyal to one brand.
“If you travel a lot then you [probably] want a travel rewards card – if you’re loyal to an airline or a hotel chain, consider a card with rewards that are specific to that particular brand,” she said.
Using a general travel card, like the Capital One Venture cards or Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, would suit you better if you don’t fly with just one brand every time you travel, Detweiler said.
It all comes down to deciding what you need, and what best fits into your budget, credit expert Beverly Harzog said. “I always tell people, look at your budget, look at your expenses, what do you spend money on? And also, look at your wallet, what kind of cards do you currently have?”
“If you have a cash-back card and you want to start traveling, depending on where you live and what airlines you like to fly on, a travel rewards card or an airline-branded card might be [a good addition],” she added.
Travel credit cards can help you tailor the kinds of rewards you want to earn and where you can apply them. Airline credit cards are good for cutting back on expenses with your favorite airline, but you’ll want to make sure that’s how you want to use them.
Who should get an airline credit card?
Airline reward cards are best for those who travel frequently with one airline and thus don’t mind the inflexibility of the rewards. Those who fly frequently can take advantage of airport lounge access, waived baggage fees and priority boarding.
The value of these perks can add up. For instance, if you check a bag often, waived baggage fees can add up to hundreds of dollars in annual savings. Plus, early boarding often guarantees overhead bin space, giving you more legroom and less stress.
If you’re not loyal to any airline — and you prefer to fly whichever airline offers the best deal — an airline credit card might not be the best choice. Instead, consider a travel credit card, a cash-back credit card or even a business credit card that lets you redeem your points with a variety of airlines.
Pros and cons of airline credit cards
✅Pros:
❌Cons:
- Limited options to redeem points earned
- Annual fees might outweigh the value of the card’s perks
- Limited options for which airlines you can fly with
How to maximize your airline credit card rewards
To get the most out of your airline card, turn your rewards into future flights. Planning ahead can help, as the best flight deals on points often disappear 10 to 11 months before the actual flight date.
Be sure you’re using your card where it earns the most. For most airline cards that includes purchases directly with the airline, but some cards also earn elevated rewards for rideshares, eating out or gas.
How to choose the right airline credit card for you
First, you’ll have to examine your flying habits. If there’s one airline you prefer over the others — and you’re on the move enough to warrant the cost — take a look at that airline’s credit card offerings. See which set of perks best matches your needs.
If you opt for an airline credit card that carries an annual fee, make sure you’ll use the card enough to justify it. That means spending enough to qualify for any annual credits and being able to take advantage of all of the perks it offers, whether that be TSA PreCheck or airport lounge access.
Alternatives to airline credit cards
If you don’t fly exclusively with one airline, consider a general travel card instead. They offer rewards for most travel purchases, which can then be redeemed for travel or transferred to their travel partners.
How to apply for an airline credit card
Follow these steps to apply for an airline card:
- Find a card that matches your travel habits.
- Go to the card issuer’s website to complete a secure application.
- Fill out the application with all of the required information.
- Use your card responsibly and always pay on time.
FAQs
Some airlines may set expiration dates for miles, but others don’t. Take a look at your card’s terms and conditions to see.
How many miles do I need to earn a free flight?
It’ll vary from airline to airline and depend on your destination and schedule. Mile values are volatile and will fluctuate with a variety of factors, including whether it’s peak travel season or even what day of the week it is.
Are airline miles and credit card miles the same?
They’re similar. Airline miles are generally earned by being a frequent flier member as well as from co-branded credit cards, while credit card miles are typically earned from spending on specific rewards cards. What differs is what you can do with them. Credit cards that earn miles typically have more redemption options than co-branded airline cards.
What are the benefits of an airline credit card?
Some common benefits of an airline credit card include:
- Waived checked baggage fees
- Priority boarding
- Lounge access (during some, not all, itineraries)
- Accelerated airline status qualification
- Complimentary or reduced companion fares
- No foreign transaction fee
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credits
- Generous sign-on bonus
How do airline cards compare with travel rewards cards?
While airline credit cards offer rewards in the form of an airline’s miles or points, general travel rewards credit cards have their own systems. General travel credit card points can be used to redeem travel (with partner airline and hotel programs) through the card issuer’s travel portal. Each travel rewards program also has the ability to transfer points to selected partner airline and hotel programs, which can make your points go further.
General travel rewards credit cards tend to offer superior return rates and, since they cover a much greater range of purchases, they are often the better option. Points may also be worth more cents per point when transferred strategically, making the return even greater.
Even the best airline credit card is typically less flexible than general travel cards, since your options for redemption are much more limited. Given their relative inflexibility, airline credit cards are best for travelers who want to take advantage of airline-specific perks. If you often spend on upgraded boardings or checked bags and you always fly with the same airline, these cards can save you money on those incidental expenses.
If you’re not loyal to one airline, rarely check bags or don’t fly enough to justify frequent flier status, a general travel credit card will likely provide more value, since those points can be used with many different airlines.
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