The best airline miles credit cards enable you to earn frequent flyer miles with every purchase. And many of the credit cards listed below come with bonus points that allow you to earn a free plane ticket very quickly.
We organize the offers into two categories. First, we list those all-purpose travel cards that offer excellent rewards. With these cards, you can use points or miles on any airline. Then we list airline-specific cards. These are ideal if you frequently fly on the same airline.
Best All-Purpose Miles Cards
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Get 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months.
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $95
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months.
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $95
American Express Gold Card
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $4,000 in the first 6 months.
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $250
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months.
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $550
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $6,000 in the first 6 months.
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $695
Best Airline Specific Miles Cards
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Earn 10,000 bonus miles when you spend $1,000 in the first 6 months.
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $0
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Earn 40,000 bonus miles when you spend $2,000 in the first 6 months.
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $99
British Airways Visa Signature® Card
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Earn 75,000 Avios when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months.
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $95
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is a good choice for those who enjoy flying Southwest Airlines. It allows all reward points to count towards a Companion Pass, which is a free ticket for a friend (minus taxes and fees). You will also enjoy 6,000 bonus points a year on your cardmember anniversary. Southwest allows two free checked bags per customer, even if you don’t have a credit card.
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Limited Time Offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months.
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $99
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Limited Time Offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months.
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $149
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months.
Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% of the amount of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
Annual Fee: $69
United Explorer Card
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus miles when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months.
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $95
Full List of Travel Credit Cards from Our Database
1X to 4X points
$199
80,000 Points
2X to 6X Points
$125
75,000 Points
1% to 5% cash back
$95
$750
1x to 2x Miles
$99
65,000 Miles
1X to 3X Miles
$550
60,000 Miles
1x miles
$450
50,000 Miles
2 to 3 points
$149
50,000 Points
1.5X - 2X Points
$95
50,000 Points
1x - 5x
$95
50,000 Points
1% - 5% Cash Back
$0
$500
1.25x miles to 5 miles
$0
20,000 Miles
3x - 26x points
$99
140,000 Points
1x to 5x Points
$695
120,000 Points
1.5% to 5%
$0
None
What Is an Airline Mile?
Airline miles are a reward system issued by credit card companies and airlines. You can earn reward miles when flying with a specific airline and by spending money on your credit card. You can redeem miles for discounted flights, seat upgrades, and even free flights.
The original concept is a mile flown is a mile earned. However, you can now earn “miles” for filling your car at the pump, dining out, or making your everyday purchases. It can be easier to think of them as points rather than miles.
How Do Airline Miles Work?
You don’t need a credit card to earn miles (points) with a specific airline. You can sign up for an airline loyalty program and earn points every time you fly with them or with one of its partner airlines. There are three major airline alliances: Star Alliance, Oneworld, and Sky Team.
Oneworld includes American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, and 12 other airlines. Star Alliance has United, Air Canada, Lufthansa, and 23 other member airlines. Sky Team members include Delta, Air France, and 16 other airlines. These airline alliances let you accumulate points with any partner airline, so you don’t have to join multiple loyalty programs.
With a travel credit card or an airline credit card, you can earn miles every time you make a purchase. To redeem your points, you can transfer them to a specific airline or use them for cash back and merchandise. Keep in mind that points are worth the most money when you exchange them for airfare.
How to Choose an Airline Credit Card
The best airline credit card is the card that’s best for you. First, ask yourself if you prefer one particular airline. Do you always choose Southwest if you have a choice? If so, getting that airline’s credit card might be a perfect fit for you. A general travel card might work better for you if you don’t have a preference. Find out if there’s an annual fee and then weigh the fee against the card’s benefits. If you travel internationally often, also look for a card with no foreign transaction fees.
Many general travel cards offer substantial welcome bonuses, which could get you closer to a free flight, but you have to spend a certain amount of money in a certain amount of time. If you don’t already spend that much money monthly, or can’t pay the balance off right away, it’s probably not worth it.
Airline Miles Cards vs. Travel Rewards Credit Cards
An airline card is co-branded with one specific airline (and their alliance partners). The rewards for that airline are generous, but they only apply to airfare and maybe a few other travel perks, like a free checked bag or airport lounge access. A travel reward card offers a broader selection of benefits. You can transfer your points to get benefits like free airfare, hotel stays, or even take them as a statement credit (although they’ll be worth a lot less if you do). One is not necessarily better than the other: it depends on how you travel and what you want to do with your points.
FAQs
What is the easiest airline credit card to get?
Most airline credit cards require a good credit score. If your credit score isn’t above 690 or so, you can still apply, but your approval isn’t guaranteed. Try to find a card with no annual fee, and see if you can do a preapproval first. That way, your credit score won’t get dinged in case they turn you down.
Should you buy airline miles?
Probably not. The only time it makes sense to buy airline miles is if you’re a few short of getting a free flight and you’re booking it right away. Many airlines offer deals on miles, but you have to weigh the cost vs. the value (like you should do for everything). In most cases, you’d be better off earning them through purchases.
Final Thoughts
The best airline credit card for you is the one that fits your lifestyle. If you live near a specific airline hub or if you prefer to fly with a particular airline, check out those credit cards first. Weigh the benefits against a general travel credit card and decide which benefits you’ll take advantage of most. Remember, if you travel internationally often, you’ll also want to choose a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. Finally, credit cards with annual fees usually offer greater benefits but it’s not worth it unless you know you’ll take full advantage of all the perks.
