Best Airline Reward Credit Cards
Airline reward credit cards are financial products that allow cardholders to earn points or miles for purchases made using the card. These points or miles can be redeemed for various travel-related benefits, such as free or discounted flights, seat upgrades, and access to airport lounges.
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In addition to earning points for everyday spending, airline reward credit cards often come with a variety of travel perks and benefits. These can include priority boarding, free checked bags, and travel insurance. Many cards also offer bonus miles for spending within specific categories, such as dining or travel, and some provide a substantial sign-up bonus after meeting a minimum spending requirement within the first few months. While these cards can offer significant value to frequent travelers, they often come with annual fees and higher interest rates. Therefore, it's important for potential cardholders to weigh these costs against the benefits they expect to receive and to ensure they can pay off their balances in full each month to avoid interest charges.
Chase Sapphire PreferredView AllChase Sapphire Preferred - Premium travel rewards credit card with flexible points.
American Express PlatinumView AllAmerican Express Platinum - Luxury credit card offering premium rewards and travel benefits.
Citi AAdvantageView AllCiti AAdvantage - Citi AAdvantage: rewards credit card for American Airlines travelers.
Delta SkyMiles American ExpressView AllDelta SkyMiles American Express - Travel rewards credit card for Delta Airlines frequent flyers.
United Explorer CardView AllUnited Explorer Card - Travel rewards credit card for United Airlines enthusiasts.
Southwest Rapid Rewards PriorityView AllSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority - Premium loyalty program for Southwest Airlines frequent flyers.
Alaska Airlines Visa SignatureView AllAlaska Airlines Visa Signature - Rewards credit card for Alaska Airlines frequent flyers.
JetBlue Plus CardView AllJetBlue Plus Card - Rewards credit card with travel perks and no annual fee.
Capital One Venture RewardsView AllCapital One Venture Rewards - Travel-focused credit card with rewards and flexibility.
Barclays AAdvantage Aviator RedView AllBarclays AAdvantage Aviator Red - A travel rewards card offering airline benefits and bonuses.
Best Airline Reward Credit Cards
1.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Chase Sapphire Preferred is a premium travel rewards credit card known for its generous benefits and versatile earning potential. It offers cardholders 2x points on travel and dining and 1x point on all other purchases. The card features a substantial sign-up bonus, access to travel insurance, and no foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for frequent travelers. Additionally, points can be transferred to various airline and hotel partners, enhancing their value for redemption. Its robust rewards structure and flexibility make it a favorite among travel enthusiasts.
Pros
Generous sign-up bonus- Great travel rewards
- Flexible redemption options
- No foreign transaction fees
- Comprehensive travel insurance.
Cons
High annual fee- Limited bonus categories
- Points expiration policy
- Requires good credit score
- Complicated redemption process.
2.
American Express Platinum
American Express Platinum is a premium credit card offering from American Express, known for its exclusive benefits and rewards tailored for affluent customers. Cardholders enjoy luxurious perks such as access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide, comprehensive travel insurance, and personalized concierge services. The card also features generous points on travel and dining purchases, along with annual travel credits. With a focus on enhancing the travel experience, the American Express Platinum card embodies prestige and unparalleled service in the world of premium finance.
Pros
- High rewards rate
- extensive travel benefits
- concierge service
- airport lounge access
- premium customer service.
Cons
- High annual fee
- limited acceptance
- foreign transaction fees
- complicated rewards structure
- requires excellent credit.
3.
Citi AAdvantage
Citi AAdvantage is a credit card partnership between Citibank and American Airlines, designed to reward frequent travelers. It offers cardholders the opportunity to earn AAdvantage miles with every purchase, which can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and other travel-related benefits. With features such as bonus miles for new cardholders, priority boarding, and access to exclusive travel perks, Citi AAdvantage aims to enhance the travel experience for its users, making it a popular choice among airline loyalty program enthusiasts.
Pros
- Earn AAdvantage miles
- Travel perks
- No foreign transaction fees
- Sign-up bonus
- Flexible redemption options.
Cons
- High annual fee
- Limited airline partners
- Foreign transaction fees on some cards
- Complicated reward structure
- Customer service issues.
4.
Delta SkyMiles American Express
Delta SkyMiles American Express is a co-branded credit card partnership between Delta Air Lines and American Express, designed to reward frequent travelers with exclusive benefits. Cardholders earn SkyMiles on every purchase, which can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and other travel perks. The card offers features such as priority boarding, free checked bags, and access to Delta Sky Club lounges, enhancing the travel experience. With various tiers available, it caters to different spending habits and travel preferences, making it a popular choice among Delta loyalists.
Pros
- Earn miles on purchases
- Travel benefits like free checked bags
- Priority boarding
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Delta Sky Club.
Cons
- Annual fee
- Limited to Delta flights for maximum benefits
- High interest rates
- Miles expiration policy
- Foreign transaction fees on some cards.
5.
United Explorer Card
The United Explorer Card is a travel rewards credit card offered by United Airlines in partnership with Chase. Designed for frequent flyers, it provides benefits such as bonus miles on United purchases, access to airport lounges, and travel insurance. Cardholders earn miles for every dollar spent, with increased rewards for dining and hotel stays. Additional perks include priority boarding and a free checked bag for the cardholder and a companion. Overall, it enhances the travel experience for United loyalists and adventurers alike.
Pros
- Earns miles on all purchases
- no foreign transaction fees
- travel perks like free checked bags
- bonus miles for sign-up
- priority boarding benefits.
Cons
- Annual fee applies
- limited airline partners
- higher interest rates
- rewards can expire
- redemption options may be limited.
6.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority is a premium travel rewards program offered by Southwest Airlines, designed to enhance the travel experience for frequent flyers. Members enjoy exclusive benefits, including priority boarding, additional points on every flight, and no blackout dates for redeeming rewards. The program features a dedicated customer service line, complimentary in-flight entertainment, and access to special promotions. With its focus on customer satisfaction and flexibility, Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority allows travelers to maximize their rewards and enjoy seamless journeys.
Pros
- Earn bonus points
- priority boarding
- free in-flight Wi-Fi
- no foreign transaction fees
- travel perks for cardholders.
Cons
- Annual fee
- higher interest rates
- limited airline partners
- potential for overspending
- not ideal for infrequent travelers.
7.
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card offers travelers an array of perks designed to enhance their flying experience. Cardholders earn miles for every purchase, with bonus miles on Alaska Airlines purchases. Benefits include a free checked bag, priority boarding, and access to exclusive discounts. Additionally, the card provides travel insurance and no foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for frequent flyers. With a focus on customer satisfaction and reward opportunities, the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card is perfect for adventurous travelers looking to maximize their journeys.
Pros
- Earn miles on purchases
- no foreign transaction fees
- flexible award travel options
- access to Alaska Lounge
- travel insurance benefits.
Cons
- Limited international destinations
- higher annual fee
- less extensive partner airline network
- potential blackout dates
- mileage expiration policy.
8.
JetBlue Plus Card
The JetBlue Plus Card is a travel rewards credit card designed for frequent JetBlue flyers. Offering generous points for every dollar spent on JetBlue purchases, the card also provides benefits such as a substantial sign-up bonus, no foreign transaction fees, and an annual statement credit for in-flight purchases. Cardholders enjoy perks like priority boarding and a complimentary first checked bag, enhancing the travel experience. With the ability to earn TrueBlue points, the JetBlue Plus Card is ideal for those who love to travel with JetBlue Airways.
Pros
- Earns TrueBlue points
- no foreign transaction fees
- first checked bag free
- 50% discount on in-flight purchases
- travel insurance benefits.
Cons
- Annual fee applies
- limited airline rewards
- higher interest rates
- points expiration policy
- not widely accepted outside JetBlue.
9.
Capital One Venture Rewards
Capital One Venture Rewards is a travel rewards credit card designed for frequent travelers who seek to earn rewards on their purchases. With a straightforward earning structure, cardholders earn unlimited 2x miles on every dollar spent, along with a generous sign-up bonus. The card offers flexible redemption options, allowing users to use miles for travel expenses, including flights and hotel stays, or to erase purchases from their statement. Additional perks include travel insurance and no foreign transaction fees, making it an ideal choice for globetrotters.
Pros
- Great travel rewards
- Flexible redemption options
- No foreign transaction fees
- Sign-up bonus
- Easy-to-use mobile app.
Cons
- High annual fee
- Limited travel partners
- Interest rates can be high
- Requires good credit
- Foreign transaction fees on some transactions.
10.
Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red
The Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red card is a travel rewards credit card designed for frequent flyers and American Airlines enthusiasts. It offers valuable benefits, including earn miles on every purchase, a generous sign-up bonus, and no foreign transaction fees. Cardholders enjoy perks such as priority boarding, a free checked bag, and access to exclusive airline offers. This card is ideal for those seeking to maximize their travel rewards while enjoying enhanced travel experiences with American Airlines and its partners.
Pros
- Generous sign-up bonus
- No foreign transaction fees
- Free checked bag
- Travel benefits with American Airlines
- Easy rewards redemption
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Cons
- High annual fee
- Limited to American Airlines
- High interest rates
- Complicated rewards structure
- Less flexible points transfer