Updated: 3 days ago
Airline-specific cards can be great for the perks, and the best airline credit card will give you benefits like free checked bags, priority boarding, and in-flight discounts. However, you can often earn more miles by using a flexible points card and transferring the points to your airline program as needed. We’ll cover both, so you can find the top airline credit card for your situation.
The Best Airline Credit Card Offers of May 2020
We’re pretty passionate about airline miles, having earned and redeemed millions of them ourselves, and helping clients redeem more than half a billion points over the past decade. And during that time, we’ve learned which credit cards give you the best bang for your buck, whether that’s earning airline miles directly, or taking advantage of rewarding cards that let you convert points to miles.
In general, it makes sense to get the credit card for your primary airline, the carriers that serve your local airport, or really any airline that you fly more than once or twice a year. The benefits of the cards easily outweigh any annual fees, plus you can typically earn tens of thousands of airline miles just for applying for the card and meeting a minimum spend. Here are the best airline reward credit cards available today:
The companion fare offer alone makes this card a no-brainer, not to mention the bonus 40,000 Alaska miles which are very valuable due to their current award chart. Current Offer Current Offer British Airways has a distance-based award chart which is extremely lucrative for short-haul travel, as awards outside North America start at just 4,500 Avios one-way. Given that short flights are often disproportionately expensive when paying cash, I’ve found Avios to be invaluable. Current Offer This card gives you a full Admirals Club Membership for you and access for guests traveling with you, in addition to complimentary Admirals Club® Lounge access for authorized users. Current Offer Current Offer Card Details Current Offer Current Offer Current Offer Card Details
Alaska Airlines Visa® Business credit card
• Get 40,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare from $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from just $22) with this offer. To qualify, make purchases of $2,000 or more within the first 90 days of opening your account.
• Get Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ from $121 ($99 plus taxes and fees from $22) every year! That's right, EACH YEAR on your account anniversary get a companion fare from $121 ($99 plus taxes and fees from $22). Valid on all Alaska flights booked on alaskaair.com with no blackout dates.
• Save with a free checked bag on Alaska flights for you and up to six other guests on the same reservation.
• Earn 3 miles for every $1 spent directly on Alaska Airlines purchases and 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
• NEW! 50% off Alaska Lounge day passes and 20% back on inflight food, beverage and Wi-Fi purchases when you pay with your card.
• Get exclusive access to discounted redemption levels when you redeem miles for hotel stays at over 400,000 properties using Alaska Airline Hotels.
• Earn unlimited miles and travel with no blackout dates and no international transaction fees.
• Enjoy many money saving benefits, 800+ destinations, more than a dozen global airline partners and a low annual fee of $50 for the company and $25 per card.
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Card
• Limited Time Offer!
• Get a $100 statement credit, 40,000 bonus miles and Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ from $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22) after you make $2,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
• Save with a free checked bag on Alaska flights for you and up to six other guests on the same reservation.
• Get Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ every year! EACH YEAR on your account anniversary get a companion fare from $121 ($99 plus taxes and fees from $22). Valid on all Alaska flights booked on alaskaair.com with no blackout dates.
• Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases and unlimited 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases. And, your miles don't expire on active accounts.
• Enjoy 20% back on all Alaska Airlines inflight purchases and 50% off day passes at the Alaska Lounge when you pay with your new card.
• Redeem miles with no blackout dates on any of Alaska's 1,200 daily flights or choose from over 800+ destinations with more than a dozen global airline partners. Plus, get exclusive access to discounted redemption levels when you redeem miles for hotel stays at over 400,000 properties using Alaska Airlines Hotels.
• Plus, no foreign transaction fees and a low $75 annual fee.
• Earn 50,000 bonus Avios after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
• Plus earn an additional 50,000 bonus Avios after you spend $20,000 on your purchases within your first year of account opening.
• 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL
• 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations, plus 1 Avios per $1 spent on all other purchases.
• 10% off British Airways flights starting in the US
• Every calendar year you make $30,000 in purchases on your British Airways Visa card, you'll earn a Travel Together Ticket good for two years.
• Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad.
• Simply tap to pay with your contactless British Airways Visa Signature Card. Just look for the contactless symbol at checkout. It's fast, easy and secure!
• Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
• Admirals Club® membership for you and access for up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you
• Earn 10,000 AAdvantage® Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) after you spend $40,000 in purchases within the year
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
• Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
• First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation
• The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 15.99% - 24.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi's discretion.
Earn 40,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
2 points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases and Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partner purchases. 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
Earn 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. In addition, earn a $100 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 3 months.
Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card
Earn 45,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. In addition, earn a $100 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 3 months.
United℠ Explorer Card
40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants, on hotel stays and on purchases from United. 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
See more credit card offers from these airlines:
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What Is The Best Airline Credit Card For Miles?
We are constantly asked about the best credit card for airline miles, and the answer may surprise you. I’ve flown well over 100 different airlines, and personally fly an average of 400,000 miles a year in international first and business class — and most of that has been made possible by leveraging airline miles.
So you can believe me when I say I know the best airline credit cards for miles, and that it usually isn’t actually an airline card — instead, you’ll earn more points more quickly with a flexible points currency issued by one of the major bank credit cards. Depending on the card you choose, you can maximize your mileage earning with cards offering big category bonuses. We try and earn at least two miles for every dollar we spend, which is pretty easy these days. With a combination of various cards, we’re maximizing our miles by earning:
- 5x points on flights, restaurants, and certain hotels
- 4x points on dining worldwide, and U.S. supermarkets
- 3x points on travel, restaurants, shipping, Internet, cable & phone, advertising, and gas stations
- 2x points on everyday purchases
The specific categories vary by card, so if you tend to cook at home you’ll want to consider a card that offers bonuses on groceries or supermarkets, while someone who eats out will do better with a card offering a bonus on restaurants. As you’re doing your research, think about what purchases you make most frequently, whether your budget will allow you to meet the minimum spend to earn the welcome bonus in time, and what your travel goals are.
In addition to the airline credit cards, you’ll want to consider our top picks for other rewards cards that let you earn the most airline miles:
Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to United, Hyatt, and many other programs. The card is also great for everyday spend given that it offers double points on dining and travel. This is probably the most-used card in my wallet. Current Offer While the annual fee is high the card comes with lots of benefits that help negate the annual fee, including a $200 Airline Fee Credit, which gives you up to $200 a year in baggage fees and more at one airline. Current Offer Card Details Membership Rewards has many transfer partners, including Aeroplan, British Airways, Delta, and Singapore, and this card lets you earn great bonuses in the categories that many of us use most often. Current Offer Certain versions of ThankYou points, including the ones offered with this card, can be transferred to airline partners at a 1:1 ratio, which gives you more options for aspirational travel. Current Offer Card Details While the annual fee is high the card comes with lots of benefits that help negate the annual fee, and this is a great welcome bonus on this card. Current Offer Card Details Get 50% more points on each large business eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to 1 million additional points per calendar year. Earning 4X Membership Rewards® for small business expenses is an awesome return, and we especially like that it automatically applies to the categories you use most in a billing cycle, rather than having to choose just one or two each year. Current Offer Card Details
The Platinum Card from American Express
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.
5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. 5X Membership Rewards® points on eligible hotels booked on amextravel.com. Enjoy Uber VIP status and free rides in the U.S. up to $15 each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. As a Platinum Card Member, you can enjoy access to the Global Lounge Collection, the only credit card airport lounge access program that includes proprietary lounge locations around the world. Receive complimentary benefits with an average total value of $550 with Fine Hotels & Resorts. Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
American Express Gold Card
Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership.
Citi Premier℠ Card
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
• Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel including gas stations
• Earn 2 points per $1 spent at restaurants and on entertainment
• Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
The Business Platinum Card from American Express
Earn 50,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 and an extra 35,000 points after you spend an additional $10,000 all on qualifying purchases on the Business Platinum Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
5X Membership Rewards on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com (Hotels must be booked and paid in advance to be able to use the benefit).
American Express Business Gold Card
Earn 50,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $5,000 in qualifying purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points in your top 2 monthly spend categories -- 4X points applies to the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these 2 categories each year.
The Best Airline Credit Card With No Annual Fee
For the most part, in order to take advantage of all the potential perks and rewards that come with using an airline credit card, you’ll be paying at least a moderate annual fee. After all, these benefits have to be paid for somehow! That being said, if you don’t fly quite enough to justify the cost of an annual fee, but still want to earn miles, there’s a tie for the best airline credit card with no annual fee available today:
Current Offer While it might not be the best option for the savvy traveler, it’s nice to see an airline with a no annual fee credit card. People often want to have a card from a brand they like, and lots of people like Delta. For a no annual fee card, the card is more generous than I was expecting. Current Offer
• Earn 10,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles and receive a $50 statement credit after making $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
• No Annual Fee
• Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services
• Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
• Earn 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
• Save 25% on inflight food and beverage purchases when you use your card on American Airlines flights
• The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 15.99% - 24.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi's discretion.
Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card
Earn 10,000 bonus SkyMiles after spending $500 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership
Most people, however, can do a bit better by choosing a non-airline card. If you aren’t flying enough to where the annual fee would be offset by free checked bags, in-flight discounts, etc., you’d probably be better served by a flexible points card. You’ll usually earn more points for every dollar you spend, and those points can be used towards paid tickets (so you can earn more miles!), or transferred directly to your airline miles account when you’re ready to use them:
This card offers strong rewards for small businesses. No other card matches it for base earning on up to the first $50,000 per year. Current Offer Card Details If you make frequent transactions in a month the Amex EveryDay cards are a great option. In addition to accruing points in bonus categories, these cards offer an additional incentive based on how many times the card is used in a month. This can be quite lucrative, especially as these cards accrue Membership Rewards points. Membership Rewards points can be transferred to airline partners for the best value, or used to pay for all or part of your flight, prepaid hotel, vacation or cruise through amextravel.com. Current Offer Card Details
Blue Business Plus Credit Card
Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
2X Membership Rewards on everyday business purchases up to $50,000 with no category restrictions
Amex EveryDay® Credit Card
Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $1,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.
2x points at US supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1x); 1x points on other purchases. Use your Card 20 or more times on purchases in a billing period and earn 20% more points on those purchases less returns and credits.
If you’re serious about finding the best airline credit card for miles, most individuals will actually want to look beyond the airline they fly most often. Airline credit cards offer some fantastic perks, and you should definitely take advantage of the in-flight benefits and the great welcome bonuses on the cards. For long-term spending, however, you can earn even greater rewards by choosing a card that earns flexible points on the purchases you make most often.
I have an AA Executive Elite MASTERCARD FROM CitiBank. The travel protection benefits are completely misleading. I recently had a travel delay of approximately 2 hours from Zurich to Philadelphia. As a result, I missed my connection. As a result of destination change 3 months prior to departure, American did not automatically put me on the next available flight from PHL to BDL (Hartford, CT). I was on standby for the last flight of the night, for which I did not clear. American offered me a hotel voucher for a particular hotel, but the hotel was sold out, and the voucher was not honored. There were no available flights for another 24 hours, so I booked Amtrak from Philadelphia to my final destination of Springfield, MA. I submitted a reimbursement request with the credit card insurance carrier. The claim was denied because the originating flight delay was a delay of less than 6 hours. This is a completely useless benefit with regard to any flight delay that causes a missed connection. So any flight delay later in the day that causes a missed connection will never result in a reimbursement benefit. A one hour delay later in the evening can result in being stranded and an overnight stay in the connection city. Have you done any analysis of the various travel insurance benefits being offered by different credit cards. I’m discouraged, as this is a $450 annual fee card. I believed that I had travel protection; turns out I did not.