Best Airline Credit Cards of November 2025
Updated: Oct 23, 2025
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The best airline credit card is one you can actually use, so start with the airlines that serve your community, then focus on rewards and perks. Choosing between a branded airline card and a general-purpose travel card can come down to whether you are tied to a specific carrier or can consider multiple airlines.
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and many other national, regional and local media outlets.
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The best airline credit card is one you can actually use, so start with the airlines that serve your community, then focus on rewards and perks. Choosing between a branded airline card and a general-purpose travel card can come down to whether you are tied to a specific carrier or can consider multiple airlines.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
The best airline credit card is one you can actually use, so start with the airlines that serve your community, then focus on rewards and perks. Choosing between a branded airline card and a general-purpose travel card can come down to whether you are tied to a specific carrier or can consider multiple airlines.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
The best airline credit card is one you can actually use, so start with the airlines that serve your community, then focus on rewards and perks. Choosing between a branded airline card and a general-purpose travel card can come down to whether you are tied to a specific carrier or can consider multiple airlines.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
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NerdWallet's Best Airline Credit Cards of November 2025
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for Flexible redemption and a big bonus
The New United℠ Explorer Card: Best for United Airlines
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card: Best for Booking with any airline
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: Best for American Airlines
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Best for Delta Air Lines
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Best for Southwest Airlines
Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card: Best for Alaska Airlines
JetBlue Plus Card: Best for JetBlue Airways
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®: Best for No-annual-fee airline card
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Best for Premium airline card
Aeroplan® Credit Card: Best for International airline card
Best Airline Credit Cards
| Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Choosing an airline credit card
The first step in choosing an airline credit card is determining whether an airline card even makes sense for you, especially compared with a general-purpose travel credit card whose rewards aren't tied to a specific carrier. An airline card can be a good choice if you regularly fly the same airline and do so often enough that the benefits you get from the card justify the annual fee.
The more you fly a particular airline, the more able you are to rack up enough miles for a free flight or seat upgrade and use those rewards for a flight you want. Checked bags are a big consideration because most major airline cards include a checked bag fee waiver, which can be valuable and quickly make up for the annual fee.
If you fly mostly one airline, choose a card from that carrier. If you regularly fly a couple of airlines, you might even consider getting cards for both. In choosing among a major airline’s credit cards, a primary differentiator is airport lounge access. If you think lounge access is worth it, get the premium card but be prepared to absorb a hefty annual fee. Beware that a lower-tier, no-annual-fee airline card probably won't include free checked bags.
» LEARN MORE: How to choose an airline credit card
Making the most of your airline credit card
Make sure to link your airline card with your frequent-flyer account — that’s how some airlines determine whether you qualify for free checked bags. And with some airlines, notably United Airlines and JetBlue Airways, you must use your airline card to pay for your tickets in order to qualify for free checked bags.
Many airline cards have no foreign transaction fees, so they can be a good choice to use while traveling abroad. Because airline cards typically give you accelerated rewards for airline purchases — usually 2 miles or more per dollar spent — use the card for airfare, in-flight purchases and other airline-related expenses. More generally, optimize your card by learning not only all its features but also details of the frequent-flyer program it’s linked to.
» LEARN MORE: Getting started with frequent flyer programs
How much is an airline mile worth?
Airline credit cards earn frequent-flyer program miles every time you use the card, but the value of these miles depends both on the airline and how you redeem the miles.
To better understand what miles are worth, NerdWallet researched the cash prices and reward-redemption values for hundreds of flights. Our results:
Keep in mind that the airline values are based on main cabin economy tickets and exclude premium cabin redemptions. See our valuations page for details about our methodology.
Our valuations are different from many others you may find. That’s because we looked at the average value of a mile based on reasonable fare searches that anyone can perform, not a maximized value that only travel rewards experts can expect to reach.
You should therefore use these values as a baseline for your own redemptions. If you can redeem your points and miles for the values listed, you are doing well. Of course, if you are able to get higher value out of your miles, that’s even better.
» LEARN MORE: How much are travel points and miles worth?
Ask our credit card experts
Paul Soucy
Paul SoucyWHEN SHOULD YOU GET AN AIRLINE TRAVEL CREDIT CARD AS OPPOSED TO A GENERAL-PURPOSE TRAVEL CARD?
If you're already a regular traveler on a particular airline, one of that airline's cards may be able to pay for its own annual fee just in the bag fees it saves you and the extra miles you can pile up through spending. But don't expect an airline card to get you around the world in first class. Also note that while many airlines have no-annual-fee cards, these cards are light on benefits and don't usually include free checked bags.
Paul Soucy
Director of Content
Meghan Coyle
Meghan CoyleWHEN SHOULD YOU GET AN AIRLINE TRAVEL CREDIT CARD AS OPPOSED TO A GENERAL-PURPOSE TRAVEL CARD?
Even though general travel cards earn more flexible points, I think it's worth getting an airline card for the extra immediate perks, such as free checked bags, priortity boarding, a way to spend toward elite status, companion tickets or flight credits, and lounge access. Just make sure you fly that airline often enough to use the benefits.
Meghan Coyle
Editor & Content Strategist
Claire Tsosie
Claire TsosieWHEN SHOULD YOU GET AN AIRLINE TRAVEL CREDIT CARD AS OPPOSED TO A GENERAL-PURPOSE TRAVEL CARD?
If you're likely to spend over $100 in checked bag fees with a single airline each year, it's a good idea to check out that airline's branded cards. Many offer waived baggage fee benefits, and the savings can quickly eclipse the annual fees.
Claire Tsosie
Managing Editor
Craig Joseph
Craig JosephWHEN SHOULD YOU GET AN AIRLINE TRAVEL CREDIT CARD AS OPPOSED TO A GENERAL-PURPOSE TRAVEL CARD?
An airline-specific card is great for someone trying to get fast-tracked elite status on the airline, particularly if your primary airport acts as a hub to a specific airline. However, the miles you earn are often difficult to redeem without significant planning, and they tie you to a specific loyalty program. A general travel card often lets you transfer rewards to travel partners, providing enhanced flexibility. For that reason, I'd recommend a general travel card for most people.
Craig Joseph
Lead Writer
Kenley Young
Kenley YoungWHEN SHOULD YOU GET AN AIRLINE TRAVEL CREDIT CARD AS OPPOSED TO A GENERAL-PURPOSE TRAVEL CARD?
I view airline credit cards as a means to an end. They are excellent vehicles for sign-up bonuses if you're planning a trip, and they also give me permission to check a bag, since that's often free for cardholders. But I couldn't care less about perks like priority boarding (last thing I want to do is spend MORE time on the plane). And longer-term, general travel credit cards are far more valuable and flexible — because their rewards are more valuable and flexible.
Kenley Young
Managing Editor
WHEN SHOULD YOU GET AN AIRLINE TRAVEL CREDIT CARD AS OPPOSED TO A GENERAL-PURPOSE TRAVEL CARD?
If you're already a regular traveler on a particular airline, one of that airline's cards may be able to pay for its own annual fee just in the bag fees it saves you and the extra miles you can pile up through spending. But don't expect an airline card to get you around the world in first class. Also note that while many airlines have no-annual-fee cards, these cards are light on benefits and don't usually include free checked bags.
Paul Soucy
Director of Content
WHEN SHOULD YOU GET AN AIRLINE TRAVEL CREDIT CARD AS OPPOSED TO A GENERAL-PURPOSE TRAVEL CARD?
Even though general travel cards earn more flexible points, I think it's worth getting an airline card for the extra immediate perks, such as free checked bags, priortity boarding, a way to spend toward elite status, companion tickets or flight credits, and lounge access. Just make sure you fly that airline often enough to use the benefits.
Meghan Coyle
Editor & Content Strategist
WHEN SHOULD YOU GET AN AIRLINE TRAVEL CREDIT CARD AS OPPOSED TO A GENERAL-PURPOSE TRAVEL CARD?
If you're likely to spend over $100 in checked bag fees with a single airline each year, it's a good idea to check out that airline's branded cards. Many offer waived baggage fee benefits, and the savings can quickly eclipse the annual fees.
Claire Tsosie
Managing Editor
WHEN SHOULD YOU GET AN AIRLINE TRAVEL CREDIT CARD AS OPPOSED TO A GENERAL-PURPOSE TRAVEL CARD?
An airline-specific card is great for someone trying to get fast-tracked elite status on the airline, particularly if your primary airport acts as a hub to a specific airline. However, the miles you earn are often difficult to redeem without significant planning, and they tie you to a specific loyalty program. A general travel card often lets you transfer rewards to travel partners, providing enhanced flexibility. For that reason, I'd recommend a general travel card for most people.
Craig Joseph
Lead Writer
WHEN SHOULD YOU GET AN AIRLINE TRAVEL CREDIT CARD AS OPPOSED TO A GENERAL-PURPOSE TRAVEL CARD?
I view airline credit cards as a means to an end. They are excellent vehicles for sign-up bonuses if you're planning a trip, and they also give me permission to check a bag, since that's often free for cardholders. But I couldn't care less about perks like priority boarding (last thing I want to do is spend MORE time on the plane). And longer-term, general travel credit cards are far more valuable and flexible — because their rewards are more valuable and flexible.
Kenley Young
Managing Editor
Should you consider a no-annual-fee airline card?
The three biggest domestic airlines all offer credit cards with no annual fee, as do some smaller carriers. Among the big players:
American: American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®.
Delta: Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card.
United: The New United Gateway℠ Card.
No-annual-fee airline cards are best for people who don't travel regularly but still want to earn airline miles — those who get a psychological boost from "getting closer to a trip" with each purchase. NerdWallet doesn't recommend no-annual-fee airline cards for frequent flyers because while they earn miles (often at comparable rates to annual-fee cards) and sometimes entitle you to a discount on in-flight food and entertainment, they lack the most valuable benefits of carrying an airline card:
Annual-fee airline cards generally include a free checked bag for you and at least one other person traveling on your reservation. With $40 bag fees now standard, this perk alone can save a couple $160 on a single round trip, enough to make up for the typical annual fee. As a rule, no-annual-fee cards do not include free bags.
Annual-fee airline cards usually give you preference in boarding. Some airlines call this "priority boarding," others call it "preferred boarding." It generally means that you're allowed to board the plane after the passengers with elite frequent-flyer status but before everyone else. No-annual-fee cards don't give you any head start on boarding.
Annual-fee airline cards offer richer bonuses. New cardholder bonus offers on cards with fees are typically hundreds of dollars more than on no-annual-fee cards.
For hardcore travelers, top-of-the-line cards with annual fees well over $500 may offer all of the above plus VIP service, access to the airline's airport lounges and other luxury perks.
If you fly a single airline a couple of times a year and you regularly check bags, you'll easily save more money with an annual-fee card than with a no-annual-fee option. But if you're dead-set against paying annual fees in any case, consider skipping an airline card entirely. Consider a no-annual-fee general-purpose travel credit card whose rewards can be used on any airline (or any other travel expense), or get a good cash-back credit card and save your cash rewards for your next trip.
» LEARN MORE: Best no-annual-fee travel credit cards
Other cards to consider
Travel enthusiasts have multiple options besides airline cards, notably general travel credit cards. These cards provide travel rewards without tying you to a single airline. Their rewards usually apply to a wide range of travel-related expenses. And general travel cards tend to be simpler than airline-specific credit cards. So if you spread your flying among several airlines or don’t fly that much, a general travel card may be a better choice than an airline card.
You might not need a travel card at all, if a different kind of rewards credit card is a better fit. Indeed, a NerdWallet study found that most people — including many travelers — would get more in rewards with a cash-back card than with any travel credit card.
Finally, if you fly different airlines but prefer a particular hotel chain — or if you would just prefer free nights to free flights — consider getting a hotel credit card.
Methodology
NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best airline credit cards based on overall consumer value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of consumers and for flyers loyal to a specific airline. Factors in our evaluation include:
Annual fees, including any first-year fee exemptions or waivers.
Rewards earning rates, both for spending with the airline and for non-airline spending.
Value of each point or mile earned.
Redemption options. This also takes into account the size and scope of the airline offering the card: What can you actually do with your rewards?
Bonus offers for new cardholders.
Ongoing bonus opportunities.
Noteworthy perks such as free checked bags, priority boarding, free or discounted companion fares, in-flight privileges or discounts, and airport lounge access.
Because airline credit cards range from bare-bones $0-annual-fee options to perks-laden club cards with fees in the hundreds of dollars, cards are rated relative to others in their class. What someone is looking for in a $0 card is different from what they'd expect in a $100 card or a $650 card, so different fee tiers are assessed differently.
» LEARN MORE: How NerdWallet rates credit cards
Frequently asked questions
How do airline credit cards work?
Every time you use an airline-branded credit card to make a purchase, you earn rewards points, usually called "miles." Those miles get deposited into your account with the airline's loyalty program, where you can use them to book free flights. Many airline credit cards also come with perks, such as free checked bags, priority boarding, discounts on in-flight purchases or access to the airline's airport lounges.
How many miles do I earn with an airline credit card?
In most cases, there's no limit to the number of miles you can earn with an airline credit card. The more you spend, the more you earn:
With most airline cards, you earn at least 1 mile per dollar spent on the card.
Spending with the airline itself usually earns extra miles — 2 or more miles per dollar.
Some cards also give you extra miles for purchases in certain categories.
Additionally, most airline credit cards offer new cardholders a bonus as an incentive to use the card. Spend a certain amount of money — say, $4,000 — within the first few months, and you'll get tens of thousands of miles dropped into your account.
The miles you earn with an airline credit card come on top of the miles you earn from actually flying on the airline.
Most frequent flyer programs nowadays earn miles based on how much you pay for a ticket rather than how far you've flown. (The term "miles" is a holdover from the days when the miles you earned were literally based on the miles you flew.) For example, an airline might give basic members of their loyalty program 5 miles per dollar spent on a ticket. Buy a $1,000 ticket, and you earn 5,000 miles. You could get an additional 2 miles per dollar spent by buying the ticket with the airline's credit card. That would bump your total rewards for the flight to 7,000 miles.
How much is an airline mile worth?
There's no standard value for airline miles, although it's helpful to think of them as being worth about 1 cent apiece, on average. The actual value you get depends on how much money you save by redeeming them for a free flight. That, in turn, depends on the airline, the route you're flying, how far in advance you book your flight, and the fare class of the ticket (economy, business, first).
The two key factors here are the price of a ticket and the number of miles you need to redeem for the same ticket. For example, if you redeem 20,000 miles for a ticket that would have cost you $300, you're getting 1.5 cents per mile ($300 / 20,000 = $0.015).
NerdWallet has done extensive research to determine an average value per mile for the larger U.S. carriers. See our findings here.
Can I earn elite status with an airline credit card?
Elite status in a frequent-flyer program entitles you to perks not typically available to casual travelers, such as free seat upgrades, priority boarding, higher rewards rates, fee waivers and other benefits. Airlines reserve this status for their best customers, so elite qualifying is mostly tied to how much business you actually do with the airline — how much money you spend on tickets and how many flights you take. Miles earned from spending on a credit card generally don't count toward elite status.
That said, some airline credit cards offer a boost toward elite status as an added incentive to use their cards. American Airlines' cards, for example, earn "Loyalty Points" that count toward status.
Also, keep in mind that airline credit cards offer some of the perks of elite status, such as free checked bags and preferred boarding.
Do airline credit cards get you free checked bags or airport lounge access?
Many airline credit cards let you check a bag for free. A couple round trips a year, and the money you save in bag fees can be enough to pay for a card with an annual fee in the $100 to $150 range. In most cases:
• The bag-fee waiver typically applies to the cardholder and at least one other person traveling on the same reservation. See major airline cards' baggage perks.
• Some fine print applies. For example, you might not get a free bag if you don't book directly with the airline, or if you fail to provide a frequent-flyer number. See our tips to avoid bag-fee gotchas.
• Airline credit cards with no annual fee generally do not offer free checked bags.
American, Delta and United airlines each offer a premium credit card that gives you access the carrier's airport lounges. Annual fees on "club" cards usually run several hundred dollars a year. Some less-expensive cards might offer limited access, such as a couple of one-time passes or the ability to buy a lounge access at a discount.
