Which Airline Credit Card Is Best for Me?

Frequent flyers need a credit card, but so do infrequent flyers. The question for many who take to the skies is whether an airline-branded credit card is a good fit for them. If so, which one? If not, what kind of credit card should they be using?

Choosing an airline credit card starts by looking at your flying habits. If you’re loyal to one airline — or you could be loyal to one airline — then it’s natural to look at that airline’s branded card offerings. But if you spread your business among multiple airlines — or you want to retain the ability to do so — you may be better served with a card that offers flexible benefits.

Major airlines offer branded credit cards for different types of travelers. Each carrier has a flagship card designed to appeal to the broadest swath of the flying public, which is where we usually recommend people start. Most airlines also have a high-end “club” card that gets you into the airline’s airport lounges. Some have a no-annual-fee option. And in the past few years, more airlines have been rolling out middle-tier cards with better benefits (and higher fees) than their flagship cards without the VIP perks of the club cards.

Here are some good cards from each major airline:

SS rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars.

Annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $150.

Why the United℠ Explorer Card is our pick for United Airlines: It’s not a high-roller card that gives you unlimited access to airport lounges or automatic upgrades to first class. But it comes loaded with perks you won’t find in other airline cards in its class. Of course you get a free checked bag, priority boarding and bonus miles on purchases made with the airline. But you also get lounge passes, a statement credit for TSA PreCheck®, Global Entry or Nexus, primary rental car coverage and more. If you fly United even occasionally, you should be able to get strong value out of this card.

• 5 miles per $1 spent on hotel stays purchased through United Hotels.

• 2 miles per $1 spent on purchases from United.

• 2 miles per $1 spent on restaurant purchases.

• 2 miles per $1 spent on hotel accommodations purchased directly with the hotel.

• 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Bonus offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

SS rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Why the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® is our pick for American Airlines: If you’re flying American regularly, it’s worth taking a step up from the airline’s mass-market card and enjoying the perks of the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®. Those perks include richer rewards on travel, four lounge passes a year, a variety of spending credits and the card’s headline feature: a companion certificate every card anniversary, which is good for a single round-trip qualifying domestic flight in the main cabin. The certificate alone can be enough to offset the annual fee.

• 6 miles per $1 spent on eligible AAdvantage Hotels bookings.

• 3 miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases.

• 2 miles per $1 spent on restaurants, including takeout and delivery.

• 2 miles per $1 spent on eligible Rides and Rails purchases, including taxis, rideshares and public transit.

• 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Bonus offer: For a limited time, earn 90,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $5,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.

SS rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $150.

Why the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is our pick for Delta Air Lines: This was the first airline card in its class to push its annual fee above $100, which took some of the luster off the Gold. With multiple competitors having now joined it at that higher price point, we can view it in a less-harsh light. For frequent Delta flyers who don’t want to shell out hundreds of dollars more per year for one of the airline’s higher-end cards, this is a solid option with bonus rewards in major spending categories, a generous checked bag benefit and a good bonus offer. Terms apply. Still, it lacks some of the perks you might expect to find on a card in its class, such as a credit for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry.

• 2 miles per $1 spent on Delta purchases

• 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants worldwide (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S).

• 2 miles per $1 spent at U.S. supermarkets.

• 1 mile per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.

Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

SS rating: 3.9 out of 5 stars.

Why the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is our pick for Southwest Airlines: The dramatic shift in Southwest’s operating model has made the airline’s branded credit cards more valuable than ever, and this card has the best perks within the portfolio. The airline now charges for checked bags, but this card can get you around that fee. Southwest is also transitioning from open boarding to assigned seating, but this card gives you boarding benefits under both the old and new systems. You also get a strong welcome offer, a big anniversary bonus, a boost toward the Southwest Companion Pass and A-List status, and other benefits.

• 4 points per $1 spent on Southwest purchases.

• 2 points per $1 spent at gas stations.

• 2 points per $1 spent at restaurants.

• 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Bonus offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

SS rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

Why the Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card is our pick for Alaska Airlines: This card, tied to the joint rewards program of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, is about as close to a no-brainer as you can get if you’re a regular traveler on Alaska (or if you can be). The standout feature is the Companion Fare that you can unlock each year with a relatively low amount of spending. Toss in free checked bags and a handful of other perks, and you’re likely to come out ahead. Keep in mind, though, that Alaska’s operations are concentrated mostly on the West Coast, so this card just isn’t going to be an option for a lot of people.

• 3 points per $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases.

• 2 points per $1 spent on gas, EV charging and local transit, which includes ridesharing, trains, tolls and ferries.

• 2 points per $1 spent on cable and streaming services.

• 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Bonus offer: Get 70,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer. To qualify, spend $3,000 or more on purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.

SS rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars.

Why the JetBlue Plus Card is our pick for JetBlue Airways: JetBlue loyalists will quickly discover that this card is a great deal. Beyond its generous rewards rates and introductory bonus, cardholders receive a bundle of benefits, including an ongoing annual point deposit that helps make up for a good chunk of the annual fee. Plus, every $1,000 you spend on the card earns one “tile” toward the 50 needed for elite Mosaic status with the airline. Other perks include free checked bags, priority boarding and redemption bonuses when redeeming points for flights.

• 6 points per $1 spent on purchases made directly with JetBlue Airways.

• 2 points per $1 spent at restaurants.

• 2 points per $1 spent at grocery stores.

• 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Bonus offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days, with the JetBlue Plus Card.

The biggest downside to using a general-purpose travel credit card to book flights rather than an airline-branded card is the lack of carrier-specific perks. Free checked bags and priority boarding are pretty much standard on airline cards with annual fees, and these cards may also offer lounge access (either full or limited), in-flight discounts, certificates for free or discounted travel, and more.

On the other hand, general-purpose cards don’t lock you into a single carrier. They typically earn bonus rewards on flights with any airline, and their points offer more flexibility. Here’s a sampling of general-purpose travel cards with particular appeal for frequent air travelers.

SS rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars.

Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is our pick for flexible redemption and a big bonus: It’s not a branded airline credit card, but it can deliver almost as much value. It earns elevated rewards in popular spending categories, and you can pool your points with rewards earned on other Chase credit cards, such as the Freedom series of cash back cards. Points can be redeemed for travel purchased through Chase or transferred to one of more than a dozen partner airline and hotel loyalty programs. Those partners include major airlines like United, Southwest, JetBlue, British Airways and Air France/KLM, as well as major hotel chains such as Marriott and Hyatt. Meanwhile, the card’s strong sign-up bonus starts you off on a good foot. This card might not have everything you’re looking for, but it’s got an awful lot for the price.

• 5 points per $1 spent on all travel purchased through Chase.

• 3 points per $1 spent on dining (including eligible delivery services and takeout).

• 3 points per $1 spent on select streaming services.

• 3 points per $1 spent on online grocery purchases (not including Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).

• 2 points per $1 spent on travel not purchased through Chase.

• 1 point per $1 spent on other purchases.

• Through September 2027: 5 points per $1 spent on Lyft.

Bonus offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

SS rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Why the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card is our pick for booking with any airline: This is a general-purpose travel card that rewards you like a branded airline card. Many general-purpose credit cards try to steer you toward their own booking portals by offering higher reward rates for flights purchased there. The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card doesn’t play that game. You earn 4 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines. It’s offers an even higher rate on bookings directly with hotels. An annual airfare credit takes a big bite out of the fee, and there’s a good bonus offer, too.

• 4 points per $1 spent on airfare booked directly with the airline.

• 5 points per $1 spent on hotels booked directly with the hotel.

• 3 points per $1 on other travel and dining purchases.

• 1 point per $1 spent on all other qualifying purchases.

Bonus offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip.

SS rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

Why the American Express Platinum Card® is our pick for VIP perks: It’s not cheap, but this card comes with a long, long list of benefits that ultimately rival what you find on the top-of-the-line cards from the airlines themselves. You get rich rewards on flights booked directly with airlines or through AmEx. The lounge access is unmatched — including American Express’ own Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs when flying that airline, and several other networks. And there are thousands of dollars in credits, including for things like TSA PreCheck/Global Entry, CLEAR+ and incidental airline fees. (Terms apply; enrollment required for many benefits.) Redemption options for points include travel booked through AmEx or transferring them to airline and hotel partners like Delta, Marriott and Hilton.

• 5 points per $1 spent on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express, on up to $500,000 spent per year.

• 5 points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked through American Express.

• 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Bonus offer: You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Terms apply.

SS rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Why the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card is our pick for no annual fee: As discussed, the biggest drawback to booking flights with a general-purpose credit card instead of a branded airline card is that you don’t get perks like free checked bags or priority boarding. But no-annual-fee airline cards generally don’t give you those things either. So if you’re dead-set against paying a fee, consider a card that offers flexible rewards across multiple categories. That’s the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card, chosen as the top no-annual-fee travel card in the 2026 SS Best-Of Awards. You earn triple points with airlines, on other travel and transit, at restaurants and gas stations, and in other categories.

• 3 points per $1 spent at restaurants.

• 3 points per $1 spent on travel and transit.

• 3 points per $1 spent at gas stations (and electric vehicle charging stations).

• 3 points per $1 spent on popular streaming services.

• 3 points per $1 spent on select phone plans.

• 1 point per $1 spent on other purchases.

Bonus offer: Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s a $200 cash redemption value.