Best airline credit cards of July 2024
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“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.
BLUEPRINT
Updated 5:02 a.m. UTC July 1, 2024
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When choosing the best airline card of 2024, know that you’re not limited to a specific carrier’s card to get the best value. While cobranded airline cards may come with free checked bags and priority boarding perks, other travel-centric card benefits and point redemption values can often outmatch those offered by carrier-specific cards. Here’s our lineup of the best airline credit cards of 2024 to help you find the best card for your travels.
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The Platinum Card® from American Express
Best airline credit cards
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best airline credit card.
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card*: Best for everyday earning.
- Aeroplan® Credit Card*: Best cobranded airline card.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best for high earnings on travel spending.
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for lounge access.
- JetBlue Plus Card*: Best for award booking rebates.
- Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card*: Best for a companion fare and valuable miles.
- United Club℠ Infinite Card*: Best for United fans wanting elite perks.
Why trust our credit card experts
Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 85+ cards analyzed.
- 14+ data points analyzed.
- 5-step fact-checking process.
Best airline credit card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Best for everyday earning
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
*The information for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best cobranded airline card
Aeroplan® Credit Card
*The information for the Aeroplan® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best for high earnings on travel spending
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Best for lounge access
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Best for award booking rebates
JetBlue Plus Card
*The information for the JetBlue Plus Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best for a companion fare and valuable miles
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card
*The information for the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best for United fans wanting elite perks
United Club℠ Infinite Card
*The information for the United Club℠ Infinite Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
Earn 70,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days.
Get 60,000 bonus miles plus Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer. To qualify, make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Why it’s the best
Earnings add up fast with the Chase Sapphire Preferred with an elevated rewards rate on flights purchased through Chase Travel℠ and an above-base rewards rate on flights booked direct. You can easily justify the $95 fee with up to $50 in hotel credits annually, a 25% bonus on rewards redeemed for travel through Chase Travel and access to all of Chase’s valuable hotel and airline transfer partners. When you add in the generous welcome bonus, it’s easy to see why the card often tops the list of the best travel rewards cards.
Pros:
- Transfer points to 11 airline and three hotel loyalty program partners.
- Points worth an elevated 1.25 cents apiece on redemptions through Chase Travel.
Extensive travel protections and insurance.
Cons:
- No lounge access or trusted traveler program credits.
- Other cards have higher earnings on general travel spending.
- Highest earning rates require booking through Chase Travel.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $95.
- Rewards: 5 points per $1 on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per $1 on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per $1 on all other travel purchases and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fees: $0.
The information for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
Jaws dropped when the Capital One Venture X hit the market offering unlimited visits to airport lounges, lucrative rewards on travel booked through Capital One Travel and a high flat-rate on everything else — all for a lower annual fee than other premium travel cards. With a solid list of transfer partners, a $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, anniversary bonus miles, and an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (up to $100), this card has changed what’s possible in a premium card.
Pros:
- Lower annual fee than competitors that also provide lounge access.
- $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel.
- 10,000 bonus miles on each account anniversary.
Cons:
- Elevated earnings require booking through Capital One Travel portal.
- Annual travel credit can only be used in the travel portal.
- Annual fee is still high.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $395.
- Rewards: 2 miles per $1 on purchases, 5 miles per $1 on flights booked through Capital One Travel and on purchases through Capital One Entertainment and 10 miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel.
- Welcome bonus: 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fees: None.
The information for the Aeroplan® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
The Aeroplan Credit Card packs far more benefits than its competitors, including automatic elite status, a path to higher status tiers, an application fee credit for a trusted traveler program, a free checked bag, paying yourself back with points and a 10% points transfer bonus if you hold this card and one earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points. That’s a whole lot of value for a card that doesn’t cost a whole lot to have.
Pros:
- Introductory elite status valid through the end of the year plus the following calendar year after opening an account.
- Offers a path to higher status tiers and monthly bonus points through spending.
- 10% bonus points on transfers when paired with a card earning Ultimate Rewards.
Cons:
- Redemption options limited to Air Canada and Star Alliance partners.
- Complimentary elite status provided by the card is temporary.
- Has an annual fee.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $95.
- Rewards: 3 points per $1 spent on dining, takeout and eligible delivery services, grocery stores and directly with Air Canada and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. Earn 500 points for every $2,000 spent in a month (maximum 1,500 points per month).
- Welcome bonus: 70,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fees: $0.
Why it’s the best
On top of best-in-class travel insurance, $300 in annual travel credits, and unlimited airport lounge access, you’ll earn handsomely on your travel spending with the Chase Sapphire Reserve. This includes earning 5 points per $1 on flights and 10 points per $1 on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠ after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points per $1 on other travel and dining and 1 point per $1 on other purchases. You’ll also receive Chase’s highest redemption value (1.5 cents per point) when redeeming points in the Chase Travel portal, but with access to more than a dozen transfer partners you may get even higher value.
Pros:
- Solid earnings on travel spending across the board.
- Unlimited visits to lounges from Priority Pass and Chase Sapphire Lounges.
- $300 annual travel credit is automatically applied.
Cons:
- High annual fee.
- Highest earnings require booking through Chase’s travel portal.
- Transfer partners can be accessed with cards that have much lower annual fees.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $550.
- Rewards: 5 points per $1 on flights and 10 points per $1 on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠ after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points per $1 on other travel and dining and 1 point per $1 on other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fees: $0.
Why it’s the best
Since its launch in 1984, the Amex Platinum Card (terms apply, rates & fees) has set the standard for premium travel cards, offering the most robust lounge access, hundreds of dollars in annual credits and unparalleled earnings on flight purchases. However, its high annual fee and the complexity of using the credits have generated many critics. Despite that, this card has many fans, especially among global travelers. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Pros:
- Access to more lounges than other travel cards.
- Lucrative rewards on travel booked directly with airlines as well as the travel portal.
- Lets you choose your preferred airline for using an annual airline fee statement credit.
Cons:
- Credits are often complex to use.
- Earnings are poor outside flights and prepaid hotels booked in the portal.
- High annual fee.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $695.
- Rewards: 5 Membership Rewards® points per $1 for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year, 5 points per $1 on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and 1 point per $1 on other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership.
- Foreign transaction fees: None.
The information for the JetBlue Plus Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
No other card on this list promises a 50% rebate on inflight purchases and 10% of your points back when redeeming for flights. With the JetBlue Plus Card, you’ll also get 5,000 bonus points on each account anniversary, plus you can spend toward Mosaic elite status and earn points that are easy to redeem with no blackout dates or limited award availability.
Pros:
- 10% points rebate when redeeming for JetBlue award flights.
- Receive 5,000 bonus points on each account anniversary.
- Free first checked bag for up to three travel companions on JetBlue flights.
Cons:
- Fixed redemption rates for points meaning no opportunity for outsize value.
- Limited transfer options.
- High annual spend requirement to earn Mosaic elite status.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $99.
- Rewards: 6 points per $1 on eligible JetBlue purchases, 2 points per $1 at restaurants and eligible grocery stores and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: 50,000 points after spending $1,000 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full within the first 90 days of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fees: 0% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
The information for the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
If you want to earn highly valuable miles and a companion pass to bring someone with you on a flight, you can get both with the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card. You’ll also get free checked bags for up to six travel companions, a 20% rebate on inflight spending and discounts on an Alaska Lounge+ Membership. Plus, you can qualify for 10% bonus rewards on all card spending if you have a qualifying account with Bank of America.
Pros:
- High-value Companion Fare available after meeting spend requirement each year.
- Free checked bag and priority boarding on Alaska Airlines flights.
- Provides bonus earnings on gas, EV charging, cable and streaming services and local transit spending.
Cons:
- Limited flight options to the East Coast and Midwest.
- Few benefits for infrequent flyers.
- Companion fare limited to just Alaska Airlines flights.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $95.
- Rewards: 3 miles per $1 on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases, 2 miles per $1 on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services and local transit purchases and 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: 60,000 bonus miles plus Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days account opening. Plus, an additional 2,500 miles after adding a cardholder as an authorized user in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fees: None.
The information for the United Club℠ Infinite Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
With a price point that’s cheaper than a United Club lounge membership, the United Club Infinite Card offers access to United lounges any time you fly with United — regardless of your status or what cabin you’re flying in. This is a much simpler route to lounge access than qualifying for elite tiers or booking a more expensive seat, and few cards offer this access for unlimited visits. Plus, you can earn bonus rewards on United spending as well as qualifying points toward status, free checked bags for you and a companion and trusted traveler program application fee credit.
Pros:
- Full United Club membership while paying less than the standard membership cost.
- Elevated earning rates on United flights, dining and travel.
- Travel perks like free checked bags, priority boarding and 25% back on inflight purchases.
Cons:
- High annual fee.
- Lounge access is only permitted if you’re flying with United or a partner airline.
- United miles have undergone numerous devaluations in recent years.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $525.
- Rewards: 4 miles per $1 at United, 2 miles per $1 on all other travel, dining including eligible delivery services and 1 mile on all other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: 90,000 miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fees: $0.
Methodology
Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings. We only included cards that offer airline rewards and have no foreign transaction fees. Factors we considered included:
- Annual airline rewards values: 43%.
- Welcome bonus value: 14%.
- Free checked baggage perk: 12%.
- Annual fee: 10%.
- Annual credits: 5%.
- Flexibility of the rewards earned: 5%.
- Airline elite status: 4%.
- Global Entry or TSAPrecheck application fee reimbursement: 2%.
- Lost luggage coverage: 1%.
- Baggage delay coverage: 1%.
- Trip delay coverage: 1%.
- Trip cancellation coverage: 1%.
- Companion certificate perk: 1%.
Should you get an airline credit card?
The benefits you probably want most in an airline credit card are those that improve your travel experience and save you money. For most people, that means free checked bags, priority check-in lanes, boarding the plane sooner and even a rebate on inflight purchases of food and drinks. Most U.S.-based airlines have a card offering these perks — many for annual fees around the $100 mark.
However, if you’re looking for enhanced benefits, you might consider a card with a higher annual fee to get bonus earnings on travel spending, lounge access and annual travel credits. A companion ticket or points rebate can also provide significant value for frequent flyers.
“Even if an airline card comes stuffed with perks, if you rarely fly the airline you likely won’t use the benefits. No two travelers are alike, so pick an airline card that aligns with your flying preferences. This might mean a cobranded card with the carrier that you fly with the most, or a general purpose travel card with the ability to fly any airline and enjoy lounge access.”
— Robin Saks Frankel, USA TODAY Blueprint lead editor credit cards.
How airline credit cards work
Airline credit cards work just like other credit cards when making purchases. You swipe to buy, get your monthly statement and pay the balance. Along the way, you’ll earn rewards you can redeem for future flights. Airline cards also tend to provide travel-related perks such as free checked bags or a reimbursement credit for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee.
How much are airline miles worth?
The short answer: It depends on how you use them. If you use your airline miles for a gift card, they might be worth 1 cent each or less. If you redeem your Alaska Airlines miles for a ticket to Asia in business class, your miles might be worth 7 or even 10 cents apiece toward that expensive ticket. Conversely, with programs like JetBlue TrueBlue or Southwest Rapid Rewards, points tend to have a fixed value around 1.3 to 1.5 cents per point on nearly every redemption.
How to maximize your airline credit card
To maximize your airline credit card, you need to actually use its benefits and ensure the rewards categories align with your spending. A credit card with bonus earnings on restaurant purchases won’t help if you tend to cook all your meals at home.
Decide what benefits you want from a credit card — such as free checked bags or lounge access — and what the actual dollar value is for those benefits. Then, see if a credit card provides what you’re looking for with an annual fee lower than the cost of the benefits. If you can find that in a card that also has earning rates that align with your spending (groceries, dining out, streaming services, etc.), that’s a good match.
What is airline elite status?
Airline elite status is usually obtained from a combination of flying a certain number of miles and a certain number of flights. With U.S.-based airlines, however, earning status has shifted largely toward how much you spend with the airline each year. Elite status provides perks like preferred seats, complimentary checked bags, early boarding and even access to the airline’s lounges before departure. You also might get upgraded to business class or have access to a priority check-in line at the airport. How you earn status varies considerably across airline programs.
Are airline credit cards worth it?
An airline credit card is worth it if it provides more value to you than the cost to obtain it. Take the JetBlue Plus Card, for example. It provides a free first checked bag on JetBlue flights for you and up to three companions on your same reservation. Given that checked bags typically cost $35 each on domestic JetBlue flights, a family of four could save $280 on a round-trip itinerary. The card’s $99 annual fee is worth it here.
But a solo traveler who usually flies with just a carry-on bag might struggle to get enough value out of the card’s other perks to justify the annual fee. Look at the benefits you’ll realistically use and the value they provide, then compare that to the annual fee to see if an airline card is worth a slot in your wallet.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Policies vary widely, though many became more friendly during the pandemic. On one end, Southwest, Delta, United, Hawaiian and JetBlue say your airline miles don’t expire. With Frontier and Spirit you need activity on your account every 12 months to avoid expiration, and every 24 months for American Airlines.
Paying for travel with a credit card can provide extra protections for your trip, such as trip cancellation insurance or baggage delay insurance. Those benefits are on top of rewards you can earn from paying with a card that offers extra points or miles on flight purchases.
This will come down to preference. The best rewards are the ones you can redeem efficiently for flights to your intended destinations. If United regularly offers flights (on its own planes or with partners) from your home airport to where you want to go, those might be the best miles for you. For other people, it could be Air Canada points.
However, earning flexible points that you can use with multiple programs will provide you with more options. A general travel card is the best path for most people as they earn flexible rewards.
It depends on the lounges you want to access and the airports you’ll be traveling through. For the Amex Global Lounge Collection, the Amex Platinum Card provides the best access. This includes Centurion Lounges as well as Priority Pass lounges (enrollment is required). However, if you’re just looking for Priority Pass lounge visits, numerous cards offer access. The differentiator will be the additional lounges, such as Chase Sapphire Lounges or Capital One Lounges. If you’re looking for access to a specific airline’s lounges, then a card from that airline is likely your best bet.
To decide if a card is worth its annual fee, look at the benefits you’re getting and what value they provide. If the value is higher than the annual fee, the card is worth it. Be sure to consider the extra rewards you earn, complimentary checked bags or preferred seats, lounge access, statement credits and other perks in your evaluation.
For rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page.
*The information for the Aeroplan® Credit Card, Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, JetBlue Plus Card and United Club℠ Infinite Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
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