Best Airline Credit Cards of November 2024 (Updated Monthly)

The {name} is our choice for the best airline credit card because it earns up to 5x points on flights and its rewards aren't limited to one airline's loyalty program. Cardholders can book any flight to earn bonus rewards and redeem points for tickets on any airline. Its points are worth 25% more when booking flights through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, and if your preferred flight isn't available, you can convert points to cash and book directly.

Additionally, Chase Ultimate Rewards® has 14 airline and hotel partners where you can transfer points for a potentially higher value. Furthermore, the {name} includes valuable protections in case your "]trip is delayed, canceled or interrupted or the airline delays your baggage, making it the best airline credit card for international travel.

The {name} is the best miles credit card for beginners because of its simple earning structure and flexible redemption options. Cardholders earn {rewardsRateDesc}

The {name} includes several premium-level perks without the high annual fee. These perks include two complimentary lounge passes each year and reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees.

The {name} is United's "]{fee.annual.text}-annual-fee travel card, designed for those looking for the ability to earn airline miles without having to pay to keep their card each year. While you won't get perks like free checked bags or priority boarding with this card, it does offer a pretty good earning rate on everyday purchases and a 25% discount on in-flight purchases.

Additionally, it includes a {purchaseIntroRate} which provides extra time to pay off purchases, including an airline ticket for your next vacation (after that a {purchaseGoToRate} APR applies).

The {name} offers the best collection of airline perks of any American Airlines credit card for a reasonable annual fee of {fee.annual.text}. The card includes the first checked bag for free for you and up to four travel companions, which saves at least $30 per person each way.

Cardholders also receive preferred boarding to get on the flight faster and a 25% discount on in-flight food and beverage purchases. When you spend $20,000 before your renewal date, you'll receive a $125 American Airlines flight discount on a future flight.

For small business owners who often travel for work, the {name} offers numerous valuable benefits. The card lets you {rewardsRateDesc} Big spenders earn 50% bonus miles on everyday purchases after spending $150,000 each year. Plus, you can earn up to 60,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) toward elite status based on your spending.

When redeeming miles, you'll get a 15% discount on award travel, which stretches the value of your rewards. You also get a multitude of airline perks, like access to both Delta Sky Club lounges and Centurion Lounges, complimentary upgrades, Main Cabin 1 priority boarding, free checked bags and more.

The {name} is our choice for the best business airline card because it allows businesses to maximize rewards on some of the most common business spending categories. You can {rewardsRateDesc}

Additionally, you can add employee cards for free with individual credit limits and reporting for each card. Points earned can be redeemed for travel, cash back, gift cards and more, or they can be transferred to more than 10 airline and hotel partners. It also includes travel and purchase protection to cover your trips, purchases and cell phones.

{name} cardholders have access to one of the best collection of airport lounges of any airline or travel credit card. In addition to Priority Pass and Escape Lounge benefits, American Express has its own Centurion Lounges exclusively for Platinum and Centurion cardholders. Plus, cardholders can enter the Delta Sky Club lounges for free when flying on Delta Air Lines.

Although cardholders don’t get dining credits at Priority Pass restaurants, this card is chock full of benefits for travelers, including automatic Hilton Gold and Marriott Gold status (enrollment required).

The {name} lets you earn - Detailed Guide"]Premier status with United just by spending on the card. Cardholders can earn up to 8,000 PQPs per year; 500 for every $12,000 you spend each year. This is enough to qualify for Premier Silver status or for Premier Gold if you also take 24 one-way flights. While flying on United, you get complimentary access to the United Club lounges, two checked bags free on each flight and Premier Access benefits, including priority check-in, screening, boarding and more.

The {name} offers complimentary upgrades for all cardholders regardless of your status with the airline. Plus, cardholders receive upgrade priority over other passengers with the same elite status and fare class. This card also helps Delta passengers earn elite status faster based on their annual spending. You can earn up to 60,000 MQMs each year (15,000 for every $30,000 you spend) and an MQD waiver (after $25,000 in purchases), which qualifies you for Gold Medallion status.

Consumers with bad credit can build a positive credit history with the {name}. It reports to all three major credit bureaus and cardholders may qualify for an automatic credit limit increase after just six months. The card includes unlimited access to your credit score so you can track your progress in building strong credit habits.

While the {name} doesn’t offer airline-specific benefits, it does give you unlimited {rewardsRateDesc}. It also waives foreign transaction fees, so you won’t pay hidden charges when making purchases outside the U.S.

Travelers who are carrying debt can benefit from the balance transfer offer from the Barclays {name}. You'll get a {balanceTransferIntroRate} (Followed by a {purchaseGoToRate} APR.)

This provides more than one year to pay off their debt without incurring any interest charges. The card also provides good benefits on American Airlines and travel protections on all flights purchased with the card, including a companion ticket each year you spend at least $20,000.

The {name} gives you one companion ticket each year when you renew the card without having to meet an annual spending requirement. The ticket is good for one Main Cabin domestic round-trip ticket anywhere Delta flies. Your trip is covered by the card's travel protections, plus you'll receive priority boarding, the first checked bag free and other benefits when flying Delta. Plus, you can earn up to 20,000 MQMs and an MQD waiver based on your annual spending.

The {name} is the best airline and hotel credit card because it offers the highest earning power of any card when shopping for hotels, flights and rental cars. You'll earn {rewardsRateDesc}.

Cardholders also receive an annual $300 travel credit for Capital One Travel and 10,000 bonus miles when renewing the card. These miles can be transferred to 15+ airline and hotel partners.

The {name} is the best card for earning Delta SkyMiles because it earns bonus miles on household expenses while charging a reasonable fee. It even includes a $100 Delta flight credit when you spend $10,000 each year, which can cover the card's annual fee. The Delta Gold card offers numerous perks when traveling on Delta including free checked bags and cardholders save 15% when booking award flights.

The {name} is the best airline credit card for people who "LUV" to fly Southwest because it offers the best value out of any of the consumer cards, even with the higher annual fee. Cardholders receive an annual $75 Southwest credit that automatically applies to Southwest flights paid with the card plus it includes 7,500 Rapid Rewards points each year at renewal. Plus, you can board the plane earlier with four complimentary Upgraded Boardings each year.

The {name} lets you earn a large number of - Detailed Guide"]United MileagePlus miles for a reasonable annual fee. The card includes a welcome bonus that requires less spending than many travel credit cards on this list. Cardholders also {rewardsRateDesc}.

Plus, you get two United Club passes each year, and you can get a jump start on United elite status with up to 1,000 PQPs based on your spending each year.

Flexible point cards, like the [data-lightrail id="92"]{name}[/data-lightrail] and the [data-lightrail id="2240"]{name}[/data-lightrail], usually beat out co-branded airline cards in terms of rewards earning power. Since they typically earn rewards at a higher rate than a co-branded card, and you can transfer rewards into many airline programs, you're best off with a flexible points card if you're simply looking to earn miles for a free flight.

However, if you're interested in airline perks like elite status, free checked bags and airline lounge access, you should check out a co-branded airline card like the [data-lightrail id="56"]{name}[/data-lightrail].

If you're loyal to one airline, then a co-branded credit card makes a lot of sense. You'll generally earn more miles by using an airline credit card to purchase your tickets. Airline credit cards tend to offer elite-style benefits when flying with that airline, like priority boarding, free checked bags and airport lounge access. Additionally, some airline credit cards include welcome bonuses, spending bonuses and other perks to help you earn elite status.

For travelers who focus on price or flight schedules without worrying about which airline they take, a general travel card is best. Occasional travelers rarely earn elite status, so it makes sense to find the best price or routing when choosing flights. A general travel card earns bonus rewards on any airline, and its rewards are redeemable for any flight without worrying about award availability.

Certain airlines will be better for certain destinations, so it's essential to have a goal in mind when collecting miles. Some airlines don't fly to certain parts of the world, or take strange routes to get there. For example, Southwest Airlines is popular in the U.S., but it doesn't fly to Europe or Asia. Similarly, JetBlue flies to many popular destinations, but travelers often have to fly through New York or Boston to get there.

Additionally, some airlines charge taxes and fuel surcharges that can make booking award travel challenging. For example, you may want to avoid British Airways Avios if you're planning a flight from the U.S. to the U.K. While British Airways Avios are valuable on certain flights, you may have to pay surcharges on trans-Atlantic flights almost equal to the cash fare.

Frequent travelers are generally better off with a premium airline or travel credit card to maximize rewards and benefits on their flights. Occasional travelers, on the other hand, may be better off with a general travel card since they may not fly the same airline each time. Additionally, a credit card without an annual fee, like the [data-lightrail id="990"]{name}[/data-lightrail], might be a better choice for someone who isn't going to travel frequently.

Airline and travel credit cards have fees ranging from $0 to $695, so there's a broad spectrum of choices to match everyone's budget. Even if you can afford a higher annual fee, you should analyze the card's earning power and benefits to determine if they're worth it.

Paying an annual fee often makes sense for frequent travelers because the card's benefits will more than make up for it. However, some occasional travelers can justify paying an annual fee, even if they only fly once or twice a year. The [data-lightrail id="17"]{name}[/data-lightrail] includes the first checked bag free for the cardholder and up to four travel companions on the same reservation. American Airlines charges $30 per bag for a domestic flight, so a family of four can save up to $120 on every one-way flight.

Airport lounge access can be expensive while traveling as well. The [data-lightrail id="2240"]{name}[/data-lightrail] includes complimentary access for all cardholders at Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass airport lounges. Instead of paying for food in the airport terminal, visit one of these lounges for complimentary snacks, drinks and Wi-Fi.

Aside from paying for flights, think about where else you spend the most money each month. Airline and travel credit cards often include bonus categories that align with the spending habits of their customers. The categories and bonus multipliers vary by card, so compare your options before applying for a new credit card.

The [data-lightrail id="92"]{name}[/data-lightrail] earns bonus points on dining, while the [data-lightrail id="851"]{name}[/data-lightrail] gets bonus points on groceries at U.S. supermarkets. Business travelers can earn a bonus on shipping, online advertising with the [data-lightrail id="1112"]{name}[/data-lightrail].

Airline and travel credit cards often include other perks that might be more valuable than the miles you earn. These perks may include airport lounge access, annual travel credits, reimbursement for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry and travel protections. The travel protections step in when your trip is delayed, canceled or interrupted, if your rental car is damaged and when your bags are lost or delayed.