The Best Airline Credit Cards

Updated:
A Delta airplane climbing into a bright blue sky after takeoff in the USA

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After over 19 years of traveling the world, I’ve lost count of how many free flights and upgrades I’ve had thanks to collecting points and miles. I’ve been able to enjoy free flights, upgrades, lounge access, and more — all without spending any extra money.

While the perks of airline cards aren’t often as impressive as high-end travel cards, you always want to have the card of a few airlines so you have free bags, extra points per dollar spent, lounge access, and more.

There are two rules to know when picking an airline credit card: first, always get the card of the airline you fly the most. You always want the perks that come with it. Second, when looking for a new card, go with the biggest bonus. Once you have the card of your favorite airline, find one that has a big bonus since you’re just using it for the points for a free flight, not because you’re loyal.

With every airline having more than a few card options to pick from, I laid out my favorite card for each airline below.

The Best Airline Credit Cards for…

Below, you’ll find a detailed review of each card, including the perks and cost, so you can pick the best airline credit card for your travel style and budget.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express

Annual Fee: $0 first year, $150 thereafter (See Rates and Fees.)

50,000 Bonus Miles

Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Delta is my favorite domestic airline and, if you’re a casual Delta flier or live near one of their hubs (including ATL, JFK, LAX, SLC, and DTW), this is a great choice for a low-fee Delta card and double points on many purchases as well at free checked bags and Delta credit.

  • 2x points on Delta purchases
  • 2x points at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
  • Free checked bag on Delta flights
  • $200 Delta flight credit after you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year
  • 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app (discount not applicable on partner-operated flights or on taxes and fees)
  • Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
  • $100 Delta Stays Credit: Get up to $100 back per year as a statement credit after using your Delta SkyMiles(R) Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
  • No foreign transaction fees.

If you want a Delta card that offers lounge access, check out the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. It’s $650 a year (See Rates and Fees) but is the best choice for Delta loyalists.

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Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

Annual Fee: $0 the first year; $99 thereafter

50,000 Bonus Miles

Earn 50,000 bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening

For frequent fliers of American Airlines, this card offers 2x points on American Airlines purchases and includes a lot of perks when you fly, such as priority check-in, preferred boarding, free checked bags, and more.

  • 2x points on American Airlines purchases
  • 2x points on restaurants and gas stations
  • First checked bag free on domestic flights (for you and up to 4 companions traveling on the same reservation)
  • Priority check-in (where available)
  • Preferred boarding (after priority boarding but before economy boarding)
  • 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
  • No fees for authorized users
  • No foreign transaction fees

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United? Explorer Card

UnitedSM Explorer Card

Annual Fee: $0 the first year, $150 thereafter

60,000 Bonus Miles

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

The UnitedSM Explorer Card is a great all-around card for anyone who regularly flies United. As with all airline-specific cards, there are a variety of benefits to take advantage of when flying United flights. This is a solid option if your home airport is a United hub.

  • 2x points on United purchases
  • 2x points on dining
  • 2x points on hotels when booked directly
  • Free first checked bag – a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip.
  • Priority boarding
  • Visit the United ClubSM with 2 one-time passes each year for your card anniversary
  • Up to $120 credit for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
  • 25% back on United inflight purchases
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Earn 25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases with your Explorer Card (up to 1,000 PQP in a calendar year)

Learn More

The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Annual Fee: $695 (See Rates and Fees.)

Up to 175,000 Bonus Points

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount.

This is one of the best premium cards out there — if you take advantage of its luxury benefits. This card unlocks lounge access, elite status benefits (enrollment required), travel perks, special hotel discounts, and luxury goods and service credits. It’s my favorite premium credit card and, when the statement credits are used correctly, it more than pays for itself.

  • Earn 5x Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on the first $500,000 spent per calendar year)
  • Earn 5x Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com
  • Travel insurance coverage including secondary car rental insurance, trip interruption and cancellation, lost luggage reimbursement
  • Up to $200 in airline credit (on one qualifying airline, must choose airline in advance, on incidentals only, not airfare)
  • Up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. (The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.)
  • Up to $199 annual CLEAR® Plus statement credit (covers an annual membership) per calendar year (subject to auto-renewal)
  • Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. (Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.)
  • $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
  • Up to $50 biannual Saks Fifth Avenue credit
  • Up to $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month (enrollment required, includes Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal)
  • Up to $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.

Learn More

Read My Review

 

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Regardless of which airline you prefer (I’m a Delta guy, myself), don’t leave free flights on the table. Pick up one of these cards and start collecting points and miles today so you can enjoy free flights, perks, and upgrades for your next trip!

For a full list of all my favorite points-earning credit cards, visit this page here.

Stop paying full price for travel!

Download my free guide to points and miles and learn how to use points and miles for free travel! It's how all the pros travel so much! In this guide, I'll show you:

  • How to Pick a Credit Card
  • How to Earn Up to 10x Miles on Your Spending
  • How to Redeem Your Points
  • And a Ton of Other Money Saving Tips!
Points and Miles

    Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

    Book Your Flight
    Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

    Book Your Accommodation
    You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

    Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
    Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

    Want to Travel for Free?
    Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

    Need a Rental Car?
    Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best — and cheapest — rental for your trip!

    Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip?
    Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

    Ready to Book Your Trip?
    Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

    Non-Affiliate disclosure: All information about Chase Cards has been collected independently by Nomadicmatt. Chase Cards are no longer available through Nomadicmatt. All information about Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Nomadic Matt. Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is no longer available through ThePointsGuy.com.