The Best Airline Credit Cards

‍Airline co-branded credit cards can help frequent flyers who often fly with a specific airline or assist those interested in establishing loyalty with a particular airline. Airlines offer a variety of credit cards that range in benefits and vary from a cost of no annual fee to $595. 

The perks of airline co-branded credit cards can include:

• Free checked bags
• Priority boarding
• Lounge access
• Companion passes
• Assistance in earning elite status
• TSA Precheck/Global Entry credit

However, there are some downsides, too. If you’re not sure if you’ll get the most benefit from an airline card, check out our guide here to determine if one of these cards is right for you. 

Here, we’ll cover the best airline co-branded credit cards and how they can elevate your travel experience. 

It’s also worth noting that you could make good use of this card even if you never fly Air Canada, given how valuable Aeroplan redemptions can be across their wide network of partners. Even if you don’t fly to or within Canada that often, you can still use the miles earned by booking domestic flights with Aeroplan points or using the Star Alliance silver status with United.

Rewards structure: Earn 3 points per dollar on purchases made directly with Air Canada, grocery stores, dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services), and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases. Plus, earn an additional 500 bonus points a month for every $2,000 spent in a calendar month—up to 1,500 per month. 

Travel benefits: 

• First checked bag free.
• Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA Precheck or NEXUS application credit.
• Aeroplan Elite Status: Complimentary Aeroplan 25K Status for a new cardholder for the remainder of the calendar year plus the following calendar year. 
• Travel Protection Benefits: Protections include Trip cancellation/interruption protection, Trip delay protection, baggage delay insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, roadside assistance, and purchase protection.
• No foreign transaction fees.

One thing to note in regard to this card is that, due to recent devaluations, you need more United MileagePlus miles than before to book international award tickets. If you don’t plan to spend a lot on this card, it would be difficult to accrue enough points for award tickets. 

Unlike American Airlines Loyalty Points program, where you can earn elite status through credit card spend alone, a limitation of this card is that you must fly on United in order to attain elite status. Basically, although cardholders earn PQPs, spending on this credit card alone contributes very little to earning elite status. 

Rewards structure: Earn 4 miles per dollar on purchases with United and 2 miles per dollar on dining and all other travel( defined as airfare, trains, local transit, cruise lines, hotels, car rentals, taxicabs, resorts, rideshare services, and tolls). In addition, earn 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases. 

Travel benefits: 

• United Club Membership: Primary cardholders and eligible travel companions can access more than 45 United Club locations and participating Star Alliance-affiliated lounges worldwide. Current United Club members will be reimbursed for the unused portion of the United Club membership once approved for the United Club Infinite credit card.
• Premier Access services: Where available, receive priority check-in, security screening, boarding and baggage handling privileges.
• Free first- and second-checked bags.
• Earn up to 10,000 Premier qualifying points (25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases).
• Primary cardholders can book award flights in United Economy on United or United Express with 10% fewer miles.
• A Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS fee credit up to $100 every four years
• Receive 25% back in statement credits on food, beverage, and Wi-Fi purchases onboard United-operated flights.
• Award ticket upgrades: The primary cardmember who has MileagePlus Premier elite status and their companion traveling on the same reservation.
• The primary cardholder is eligible to receive Platinum Elite status in IHG One Rewards
• Receive up to $75 in statement credits for IHG® Hotels and Resorts purchases charged to your card through December 31, 2023.
• Primary cardholders can enroll in Avis President's Club.
• One year complimentary DashPass membership for DoorDash and Caviar
• Travel Protection Benefits: Protections include Trip cancellation/interruption protection, Trip delay protection, baggage delay insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, roadside assistance, and purchase protection.
• No foreign transaction fees

This card can only earn up to 1000 PQPs so it does not necessarily help you achieve elite status with United Airlines as you would need 5000 PQPs just to reach Premium Silver, the lowest level elite status. Rather, this card is valuable if you are looking to decrease United flight costs through benefits such as one free checked bag and 25% discount on in-flight purchases and simply earn miles through everyday purchases. 

Rewards structure:  Earn 2 miles per dollar on purchases with United, such as tickets, seat selection, and inflight food and beverages. Also, earn 2 miles per dollar on dining, including eligible delivery services such as DoorDash. Cardmembers also earn 2 miles per dollar on hotel stays when booked directly with the hotel, including phone reservations and websites; third-party booking websites are excluded. In addition, earn 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases. 

Travel benefits: 

• United Club Access: 2 United Club one-time passes per year.
• Free first checked bag.
• Priority boarding.
• Earn up to 1,000 PQPs: Earn 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) for every $12,000 spent on purchases with the United Explorer Card (up to 1,000 PQP in a calendar year) that can be applied toward your Premier status qualification, up to the Premier 1K® level
• Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS application credit.
• Receive 25% back in statement credits on food, beverage, and Wi-Fi purchases onboard United-operated flights when you pay with the United Explorer Card.
• One year complimentary DashPass membership for DoorDash and Caviar that provides unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders.
• Travel Protection Benefits: Protections include Trip cancellation/interruption protection, Trip delay protection, baggage delay insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, roadside assistance, and purchase protection.
• No foreign transaction fees.

Read our review of the United Explorer Card

A hefty bonus miles sign-up bonus coupled with strong earning categories will help cardholders accumulate miles fast. Alaska Airlines' strong network of partner airlines and recent addition to the Oneworld Alliance also gives cardholders access to booking spectacular international getaways on airlines such as Qatar Airways, Japan Airlines, and Singapore Airlines. 

Rewards structure: Earn 3 miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases such as flights and inflight Wi-Fi. Plus, earn 2 miles per dollar on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services, and local transit (including rideshare) purchases. In addition, earn 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.

Travel benefits: 

• Cardholders can earn Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare annually after spending $6,000 or more in purchases every 12 months from the open date anniversary of the credit card. 
• Priority boarding.
• Cardholders receive a 20% rebate in the form of a statement credit for inflight purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi onboard Alaska-operated flights when using the Alaska Airlines credit card.
• Alaska Lounge Membership Discount: Cardholders receive a $100 discount off an annual Alaska Lounge+ Membership purchased with their Alaska Airlines credit card.
• No foreign transaction fees.

For frequent Southwest flyers who often travel with someone, this card offers a way to help attain a Companion Pass, which allows you to bring your companion with you on any flight for basically free (you just pay the taxes and fees). 

The introductory welcome offer for this card counts towards the 135,000 points required to receive a Companion Pass. Additionally, a unique benefit is that cardholders receive 10,000 points towards a Companion Pass each year. Southwest’s Companion Pass is a great deal as it is valid through the end of the year in which it is earned, plus the entire following year. For example, if you earn the pass in July 2023, it would be valid until December 31, 2024 (for this reason it's best to apply toward the end of the year (Nov-Dec) so that the sign-up bonus and points earned from minimum spending are credited to your account by January, maximizing the companion pass for all of 2024 and 2025). Other benefits include 7,500 miles annually on the cardmember’s anniversary, four upgraded boardings per year, 25% back on inflight purchases as a statement credit, and $75 annual Southwest Credit.

Rewards structure: Earn 3 points per dollar spent on Southwest Airlines purchases. Cardholders also earn 2 points per dollar spent on Rapid Rewards hotel bookings, car rental partners, local transit, and commuting (including rideshare). The card earns 2 miles per dollar on internet, cable, phone, and select streaming services in addition to 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases. 

Travel benefits: 

• Receive 7,500 bonus miles every year on cardholder anniversary. 
• Receive 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year. Qualify for a companion pass by flying 100 one-way flights or earn 135,000 qualifying points. 
• 4 upgraded boardings per year when available.
• Receive 25% off inflight purchases in the form of statement credits when using your Southwest card to make purchases inflight. 
• Unlimited tier qualifying points (TQPs): Earn 1,500 TQPs toward A-List status for every $10,000 spent on your Southwest card. No limit on how many TQPs can be earned. 
• $75 Southwest credit. 
• No foreign transaction fees.

The card earns 2 miles per dollar in several categories of everyday spending, such as dining at restaurants or purchasing groceries at US supermarkets—not a huge amount compared to some other cards. However, it does offer travel protections, a benefit is not always included in other comparable mid-tier cards. 

Rewards structure: 

• Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.

Travel benefits: 

• Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• ENHANCED! $200 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases in a year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
• Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
• Receive Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
• NEW! $100 Delta Stays Credit: Delta SkyMiles(R) Gold American Express Card Members can earn up to $100 back annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com.
• Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
• Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• With Send & Split(R), you can send money and split your Card purchases with any other Venmo or PayPal user, directly from the Amex App. Enroll today.
• Terms Apply.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

The AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard is an excellent choice for those looking to establish loyalty with American Airlines. With the introduction of Loyalty Points, card members can earn elite status purely through credit card spend. This card is also useful because virtually no transferable currency credit cards include American Airlines as a partner, so this gives you a solid method to earn AA miles. 

If you fly AA often, the card helps you accumulate miles relatively quickly as each American Airlines flight booked with this credit card provides 2 miles per dollar (though this amount is lower than some other cards on this list). You can also utilize the other card benefits such as free checked bag, priority boarding, and discounts on in-flight purchases. On the flip side, one downside of this card is that it does not include any travel protections, such as flight cancellation or lost baggage insurance. 

Annual fee: $99

Rewards structure: Earn 2 AAdvantage miles for every $1 spent at restaurants, gas stations, and eligible American Airlines purchases, along with 1 AAdvantage mile per dollar on all other purchases. Also, earn 1 Loyalty Point towards elite status for every eligible mile earned from purchases. 

Current welcome offer: Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first three months of account opening.

Travel benefits: 

• First checked bag free.
• Preferred Boarding: Cardholders and up to 4 companions on the same reservation are eligible for Group 5 boarding. 
• Receive 25% in savings on inflight food and beverage purchases when using the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select credit card on American Airlines-operated flights. 
• Earn a $125 Flight Discount certificate after spending more than $20,000 on the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select credit card within your credit card membership year.
• No foreign transaction fees.

Citi’s most premier airline co-branded card, the Citi AAdvantage Executive credit card, is particularly valuable if you are already an AAdvantage elite or are aspiring to become one. The card has a strong earning structure of 4 miles per dollar on American Airlines purchases. Benefits include a free first checked bag, Admirals Club membership, a boost towards elite status, and a host of statement credits on rideshare and food delivery services. 

One downside to this card is the lack of travel protection, so although you may earn AA miles faster, there is a risk of being uninsured in the event of flight delays, cancellations, and lost baggage. Further, this card’s $595 annual fee can be difficult to justify if you are not fully utilizing the card’s most valuable benefits, such as the Admirals Club membership and the statement credits. 

Rewards structure: Earn 4 AAdvantage miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, and after spending $150,000 in purchases in a calendar year, earn 5 AAdvantage miles on eligible American Airlines purchases for the remainder of the year. Plus, earn 10 AAdvantage miles for every $1 spent on eligible hotels booked through aa.com/hotels and on eligible car rentals booked through aa.com/cars. In addition, earn 1 AAdvantage mile per dollar on all other purchases. Also, earn 1 Loyalty Point towards elite status for every eligible mile earned from purchases. 

Travel benefits: 

• First checked bag free.
• Cardholders and up to 8 companions on the same reservation are eligible for priority check-in, priority airport screening, and Group 4 boarding privileges.
• Receive 25% in savings on inflight food and beverage purchases on American Airlines-operated flights. 
• Admirals Club membership: The primary cardmember receives full membership access privileges to Admirals Club® lounges. An Admirals Club® membership includes access to other airline lounges and clubs with which American Airlines may have reciprocal lounge or club access privileges. 
• Additional Loyalty Points: The primary credit cardholder will earn 10,000 additional Loyalty Points for fulfilling one of the following: 1.) Earning 50,000 Loyalty Points, or 2.) Spending $40,000 in purchases in the qualifying year of March 1, 2023 – February 29, 2024. Further, if in the same qualifying year, the primary credit cardholder earns 90,000 Loyalty Points, the primary credit cardholder will be awarded an additional 10,000 Loyalty Points.
• Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA Precheck Application Credit
• Travel Protection Benefits: Protections include Trip cancellation and interruption protection, Trip delay protection, Lost baggage protection, and Car rental insurance coverage.
• $120 Rental Car Credit Avis or Budget. 
• $120 Grubhub credit. 
• $120 Lyft credit.
• No foreign transaction fees.

AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®

• Annual fee: $99
• Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles after making your first purchase and paying the $99 annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days.
• Rewards: Earn 2X AAdvantage^® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1X AAdvantage^® miles for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
• Foreign transaction fee: None

Who it’s best for:

The American Airlines AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® has a low annual fee and an easy-to-earn welcome offer. To earn 60,000 bonus miles all you have to do is make one purchase and pay that and the $99 annual fee in full. Like other airline co-branded cards, this card gets you one free checked bag and preferred boarding.

Pros:

• Welcome bonus is easy to earn
• First checked bag free

Cons:

• $99 annual fee
• Must spend $20,000 to earn the companion pass

‍Learn more about the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®.