The best airline miles credit cards enable you to earn frequent flyer miles with every purchase. And many of the credit card offers listed below come with bonus points that allow you to earn a free plane ticket very quickly. The offers are organized 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 will list airline specific cards. These are ideal if you frequently fly on the same airline.
Best All-Purpose Miles Cards
Editor’s Pick: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns top honors for an all-purpose travel rewards card. Its 2x points for every $1 spent on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide and 100,000 bonus points for new cardmembers who meet the spend requirement lead the pack in the travel category.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- Earn 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases with the card in the first 3 months. These points are worth $1,250 in travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- Get 25% point bonus when you redeem points for travel through Chase
- $0 foreign transaction fees
- 1:1 point transfer to leading frequent travel programs at full value
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get up to $60 back on an eligible Peloton Digital or All-Access Membership through 12/31/2021.
- $95 Annual Fee
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- One-time Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 within your first 3 months.
- Earn 2X miles on every purchase
- Receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
- Miles aren’t specific to any airline or hotel, so they can be used anywhere
- Travel when you want with no blackout dates
- Miles won’t expire for the life of the account
- No foreign transaction fees
- Transfer miles to more than 10 travel programs.
- $95 annual fee
American Express Gold Card
- Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $4,000 within your first 6 months.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants. This includes takeout and delivery, as well as Uber Eats.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- 1X points on other purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash: Add your Gold card to your Uber account and each month you’ll get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S.
- $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to $10 in statement credits each month when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factor, Ruth’s Chris, Boxed, and participating Shake Shacks. Enrollment required.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees, making this an excellent card for international travel.
- Annual Fee: $250.
- Rose Gold is back. Choose between Gold or Rose Gold.
- Terms Apply. (See Rates & Fees)
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
- Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 within your first 3 months.That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- $300 Annual Travel Credit. Through December 31, 2021, gas station & grocery store purchases will count towards earning your Travel Credit.
- 3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit.
- 3X points on dining at restaurants & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- $0 foreign transaction fees.
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™
- Select Up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre?®
The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Welcome Offer: Earn
75,000100,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases with the card in the first 6 months. - Earn 10x points: During the first 6 months of card membership, you earn 10x points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the U.S., on up to $25,000 in combined purchases.
- Earn 5X points on for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, and on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- Credits: The card now offers a number of credits, including a $200 Hotel Credit, $240 Digital Entertainment Credit, $200 Airline Fee Credit, $200 Uber Cash, $300 Equinox Credit, and a $179 CLEAR Credit. See terms and conditions.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply. (See Rates & Fees)
Best Airline Specific Miles Cards
Editor’s Pick: My favorite airline card is the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card . It gets my vote for three reasons. It offers an excellent signup bonus of 40,000 points after you spend $1,000 in 3 months. And it’s a great airline to fly.
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
- Welcome Offer: Earn 10,000 bonus miles after spending $500 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer expires 4/1/2020.
- 2 Miles Rewards: Earn 2 miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide and on purchases made directly with Delta.
- 1 Mile Rewards: Earn 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
- Receive a 20% In-Flight Savings in the form of a statement credit after you use your Card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and audio headsets.
- No foreign transaction fees
- No Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply. (See Rates & Fees)
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you make $2,000 in purchases on your new card within your first 3 months months. Also earn a $200 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 3 months. Offer expires 7/28/2021.
- Earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.
- Check your first bag free on Delta flights
- Priority Boarding.
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
- Earn a $100 Delta Flight Credit after you spend $10,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year
- Terms Apply. (See Rates & Fees)
British Airways Visa Signature
- Signup Bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus Avios after spending $5,000 within your first 3 months.
- Welcome Offer #2: Earn a Travel Together Ticket after spending $20,000 within your first year of account opening.
- Each year you make $30,000 in purchases on your British Airways Visa card, you’ll earn a Travel Together Ticket good for two years.
- Earn 5 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL within your first 12 months from account opening, thereafter earn 3 Avios.
- Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel within your first 12 months from account opening, thereafter earn 2 Avios.
- Earn 1 Avios for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
- Earn 40,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
- 6,000 bonus points after you’ve had the card for one year
- 3 points per $1 spent on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services), for the first year.
- 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest purchases
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Earn unlimited points
- No foreign transaction fees
- No blackout dates or seat restrictions
- Bags fly free
- Annual Fee: $99
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
- Earn 40,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn 7,500 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- $75 Southwest® travel credit each year.
- Four Upgraded Boardings per year when available.
- 20% back on inflight drinks, WiFi, messaging, and movies.
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services), for the first year.
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest purchases.
- Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Annual Fee: $149
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
- Earn 40,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
- Anniversary Bonus: 3,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary
- 3 points per $1 spent on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services), for the first year.
- 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- No blackout dates or seat restrictions
- Bags fly free and no change fees
- Redeem your points for flights, hotel stays, gift cards, access to events and more
- Annual Fee: $69
United Explorer Card
- Signup Offer: Earn 40,000 Bonus miles after you spend $2,000 on purchases with the card in the first 3 months.
- Second Bonus: Get an additional 10,000 miles when you spend $6k on the card in the first 6 months.
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United purchases and dining and hotel stays
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA Pre?® Fee Credit
- 25% back on United inflight purchases
- Check your first bag for free when you use your card to purchase your ticket
- Priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95
